As I said in the research paper I presented at the Center for Management Development, a dangerous craze to acquire paper qualifications in order to secure jobs or higher positions has overtaken many in today’s Nigeria.
They have lost sight of so many things they can learn through diligent application of self-development. By “things” I refer to knowledge and skills, which can enable them achieve superlative performances on their jobs (and in their lives).
We need to go back to first principles!
Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie etc have started the revolution of the self-help and self-development culture. We need our managers (in fact everyone!) in Nigeria to join in like those in the USA have already done.
In today’s world, it’s no longer just a matter of what you “have”, but what you CAN DO that will determine how far you can go!”
You can buy countless certificates to get others to "respect" you (or at least say that they do) and give you recommendations for promotion or employment. However, one thing that you will not be able to buy, is the knowledge and skills that will ultimately be required to deliver satisfactory levels of performance on that job after you may have arrived there.
If you are lucky to be in a place where mediocrity reigns, this might not pose a major problem – since no one would notice any difference! Otherwise, it would only be a matter of time before someone starts asking questions about how you got the job in the first place – when she notices how inept you are on issues relating to doing it to the required standards!
I challenge you to start living in the real world today – by developing REAL WORLD relevant competencies
Stop focusing on acquiring paper qualifications, and begin to invest time/effort in developing (in addition to formal qualifications) REAL LIFE knowledge and skills.
One area where this is of crucial importance is your attitude to money – especially spending of money! To succeed in ANY area of endeavour, you will need to manage your spending more consciously for instance.
Many in paid employment – if asked – would be unable to account for money they spent 24 hours earlier.
This is because they often spend with the "assurance" of another inflow of salary to replace whatever they spend.
Hence, they never bother to be "thoughtful" about money issues.
I was like that too. I now know better and act differently. Years of severe lack of money, which caused me major pain, humuliation and heart break REALLY taught me a hard lesson.
Today, I do NOT fail to treat money with respect, and I always challenge my kids to do the same.
To learn my lesson, one of the things I did was to buy a little book titled "The Millionaire next door" from Amazon.com (in addition to Kiyosaki’s books).
I discovered from reading it that many wealthy people keep detailed WRITTEN records of their daily expenses. They also regularly review those records, and plan subsequent spending more prudently based on what they learn.
That is one of the secrets of their wealth accumulation!
I have since begun doing tracking my own expenses DAILY, and I must tell you that my money management ability has improved dramatically as a result.
You will find it useful to do the same, and to also teach your kids to emulate you.
Do yourself a favour today. STOP thinking the future will take care of itself. STOP assuming things will always be as good as they currently are.
DON’T allow yourself to be taken by surprise when the inevitable down times come.
PREPARE yourself now.
START living in the real world – TODAY!