Last night, Chima Ejiofor posted a cheering link on my Facebook wall with a query ( screenshot below). It was for a BBC interview granted by the renowned Prof. Geoff Palmer (OBE) – which brought back memories from my 7 year career journey in Guinness Nigeria (1994 to 2001).

Chima is of course right in assuming that I would know Palmer.

No one who claims to have been active for any reasonable period in the brewing industry during the past 3 decades can claim NOT to know Prof. Palmer!

His pioneering research work on the potentials inherent in Sorghum for instance, provided a useful foundation for companies like Guinness to respond to the Nigerian government’s ban on importation of Malted Barley back in the ‘90s.

Many brewery trials were done till they successfully developed a system for brewing international quality beer using 100% local raw materials i.e Maize & Sorghum. It was a significant achievement at the time, because Maize and Sorghum had historically been regarded as inferior ingredients in the international brewing industry. They had before then only been used sparingly, as “adjuncts” to complement the Malted Barley.

It was an exciting time to be in the company back then. I learned a lot that I apply TODAY, in helping farm businesses develop Best Practice systems to boost performance.

I have even written several articles documenting some of those lessons. Click here to read a recent one posted last year (2014).

But, here’s what really triggered my writing THIS article…

[NB: I discuss what follows below, with specific focus on Prof. Palmer’s on-going efforts in collaboration with others, to raise the interest of young blacks in becoming scientists, like him.]

You see, after reading the story Chima shared on my wall, my curiosity made me Google for more news about Prof. Palmer.

That was when I came across a September 2010 Guardian interview (read here) he granted.

It was however an anecdote shared by Palmer himself, in that Guardian story that really got me thinking…because it EXPOSED a weakness in conventional schooling systems that Robert Kiyosaki (whose work has GREATLY influenced me) has been WARNING parents about for years.

Above: Screenshot of Prof. Palmer’s anecdote, in which one of the kids he spoke with said “Rio Ferdinand could earn your annual salary in a day!”…and his response.

In my view, Palmer’s response to that comment about his “salary” is unlikely to convince most of today’s young black kids – anywhere in the world – to follow in his footsteps.

It’s true. One cannot argue with his achievements – and the many honours they have earned him.

However, the reality about what today’s world demands, stares kids in the face much earlier in life, than it did those who were kids some decades ago.

They learn much MORE quickly that money makes the world go round – and they see proof of that daily (I know I don’t need to give you examples, I’m sure)!

Kiyosaki said that as a kid, he never liked the fact that his parents never had enough money…and he always wondered why that was so – eventually asking. When his real Dad could not tell him why, he went looking to his friend’s Dad, who had LESS schooling but seemed to know how to make MORE money.

It took him time, but he eventually compared the views of both Dads and decided to LISTEN more to the man he later called Rich Dad in his book.

The problem we have today, as indicated in the comment made by the young boy about Prof. Palmer’s salary – compared to Rio Ferdinand’s earnings as a footballer – is that the life of a researcher effectively promises less security on the financial front.

When Palmer responded that despite not being wealthy, his scientific achievements had earned him “respect”, I believe he missed an opportunity to see things from the perspective of the kids.

What do kids see on TV and in society?

They see people who make a lot of money getting the most attention and recognition…and even respect, from the larger society – including heads of state (Read: Michael Jackson, Pele, Tu Face Idibia etc)..

Robert Kiyosaki wrote that his top educationist father, a presidential award recipient, struggled financially and that money (or the lack of it) was often at the centre of most fights between his parents.

Many people can relate to that from their own childhood, and as parents today!

The above is why I believe that the best way to “entice” or “attract” young blacks to become career scientists, will be to SHOW them that ways exist to get around what they may see as THAT major deal breaker i.e the possibility of significantly LESS monetary rewards.

Ideally, high profile black professionals excelling in scientific fields (like Palmer) would probably be best placed to DEMONSTRATE this via their own lives.

They could – for instance – read and apply recommendations by Robert Kiyosaki about Minding Your Own Business i.e. using MONEY you earn from the profession you are engaged in, to intelligently acquire and GROW Cash Flow Generating Assets, in your spare time, till you become a Cash Flow millionaire – who will keep making more money, long after s/he is retired…without needing to work.

Specific details will be found in Robert Kiyosak’s books, like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Why A Students Work for C Students and B Students Work for the Government, and others. [Full disclosure: I refer to these books because the results I get convince me the ideas they teach work. I do NOT get paid for this. In fact, Mr. Kiyosaki most likely does NOT know I exist!]

Today, in most societies, it does not matter how much you know, or how well recognized you are. If you don’t have ENOUGH money, life (and people!) may not to be so gentle with you.

In other words, you will NOT feel happy or fulfilled IF you lack money to do what you want to do.

Some people like to rationalize when it comes to this, but the fact remains that even the Creator wants us to be rich, because that way we are best able to GLORIFY him!

Our kids today are VERY uncompromising when it comes to choosing careers based on monetary rewards. That is why influencing them requires that we LEARN how to make enough money, and then SHOW them how to do same.

As one who is successfully applying Kiyosaki’s recommendations in my life, I share what I read from his books with as many people as will listen, all the time…

You MUST develop your financial intelligence, and use it to HOLD ON to money you make/earn…and also to make that MONEY work for you, by bringing MORE money into your pockets or bank accounts – without your needing to do more work.

That is the core of Robert Kiyosaki’s message. And he says – correctly too – that what he recommends can be successfully done by anyone, in or out of paid employment.

He also argues that today EVERYONE who wants financial security needs to do it. This is because with very few exceptions, most people will NOT save enough to be able to stop working when they retire from paid employment.

Indeed, if the signs of the economic times are anything to go by (as per welfare systems, and pension packages across the world), many people may retire and find themselves unsure of having enough money to spend in their retirement.

Kiyosaki explains that adopting his recommended approach can help anyone build his/her own financial fortunes, even while in paid employment, to achieve a secure financial future.

To make the idea of becoming scientists command the serious attention and interest of today’s young blacks, we MUST prove to them it CAN give them ALL THEY NEED to be HAPPY.

Being happy ultimately requires having enough of everything you need, to be able to do what you want, when you want, and how you want.

Achieving the above state of being, will often directly or indirectly depend on one’s financial situation i.e. whether or not you have enough money. People cling to poorly paying jobs today, because they want to feel secure that the little they earn from there WILL be available to meet their needs.

But they desire more at the same time, and if sure they will NOT lose, will take up any alternatives that offer more money.

Young people naturally feel the same way as adults, regarding the above. Little wonder their thoughts often readily touch on issues relating to “salary” and money, when they are considering career options!

Unlike the past, in today’s information age, rapid technology based developments make it possible for even 5 year olds to own businesses that make millions.

I once watched an edition of Oprah Winfrey’s show around 2004, in which she interviewed several child (some under 10) millionaires about how they developed their talents and ideas to into big money making ventures – even while still in early stages of schooling.

That was about a decade ago. It goes without saying that more is possible for such kids today!

The point therefore is this: Today’s child may NOT need many YEARS to find prosperity – especially if s/he is helped to discover and nurture his/her God-given genius early in life.

The reality is that most of today’s kids already know this (see sports/entertainment industries)!

Therefore, if we want today’s kids to LISTEN to the suggestion that they follow what their peers may regard as a less appealing career path, we must SHOW them doing so would be worth their while.

Telling them they will earn respect and honours is unlikely to convince many young blacks in today’s world.

You need to develop a solution/formula based on what Kiyosaki recommends.

Then let the kids SEE/MEET someone they admire LIVING well, based on use of that solution (e.g. a “researcher” earning much more than his/her “salary”, via EXTRA passive income – that lasts a lifetime – from cash flow generating assets that s/he continually GROWS in his spare time).

Once you do that, convincing them to follow in the footsteps of that person, will NOT be as much of a hard sell as it currently appears to be, when compared to proven alternatives!

PS: Everything I’ve said here is NOT to detract from the stellar achievements recorded by Prof. Palmer, or the great humanitarian work he’s gotten a lot of recognition for.

My purpose here is simply to offer what I hope will be considered a potentially useful perspective regarding the efforts to “excite black students” about careers in science, as mentioned in the Guardian article I read.