Africa that I know...

Africa that I know has strength, vigour and capabilities in all ramifications. Why are we belittling ourselves? Cultivating inner awareness, introspection and reasoning can be more effective than meditation and prayer. We lived greater part of our years as apologetic creatures who do more of prayers than working. I mean structural and intellectual works that imbibe promotion and growth.

We often subject ourselves to neurotic subservience before the Western world. It's high time Africa re-told its story. Enough of pictures of crying starving babies to get aid. What is the essence of celebrating annually Malaria Day, AIDS Day, Tuberculosis Day...?

These mediocrity must stop! We need to show our progress and successes.

THRIVE BEYOND SUBSIDY

The fuel pump price increase that greeted Nigerians on January 1st 2012 has made us almost forgotten the euphoria of New Year. It’s in fact a leap year! In reality, the hike in prices has come to stay hence we need to brace up to the task of making our little (in economic perspective) income count. As individual and/or business owners enormous challenges beckon in 2012. At this critical time or times ahead, information is key!

The road to abundance and prosperity starts in your own mind. Many people believe that government policies and their impact will help them to succeed. Many feel that subsidy on every commodity in the land will make things better. Do not forget that life itself is built on the concept of ‘give and take’. When government gives you succor in one hand (e.g. subsidy), it impoverishes you in the other (e.g. tax).
Still others maintained status quo of blaming the economy, taxes, the removal of subsidy on Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) and countless other factors which are beyond the control of most people.

While all of these issues do have an impact on our collective abundance and prosperity, they are all inconsequential compared to the most important factor of all your focus. Energy flows to where attention goes. What you focus on has the greatest impact on your abundance and prosperity. Now more than ever, it’s important to realize that YOU and YOU ALONE hold the keys to your financial success.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter what happens in the Senate, House of Representatives, Aso Rock or any place else. The only thing that matters is what happens inside of YOU.

The fact is, you can still make money and enjoy a wonderful lifestyle regardless of what’s happening in the economy. All it takes is focus, simple knowledge, and realizing how powerful and resourceful you really are.

Sadly, many people relinquish their personal power by inadvertently giving it to other people, institutions and the government.

Personal power is also dissipated when we listen to the news, especially political and economic news, most of which have been terrible lately. Please note! I’m not saying to ignore economic and political news. That would be irresponsible.
But what I am saying is to not let it sour your entire outlook on what is and isn’t possible financially. According to Loesje “99.99% of what happens is not on the news.”
For many people, bad economic news is a self-fulfilling prophesy. It gives them an excuse to complain and be negative instead of being positive and focusing on opportunities to succeed.
Here are tips for thriving in times like this:

1 - Start Your Own Business
I’ve been urging and showing people (even here) how to start their own businesses for a very long time. It does not matter whether you are having a salaried job, start part-time business in the area of your utmost interest.

If one of your goals in life is to achieve material wealth and financial independence, one of the quickest and surest ways to achieve those results is through owning a business of your own. Period!

Owning a thriving and profitable business beats investing and speculating in the stock market.

It teaches patience and money sense: two qualities needed to make a fortune. If you already have a business, make it better by engaging in strategic thinking.

By taking advantage of tough time to think strategically, you can spot new opportunities you didn’t think you had. This includes tapping new markets, launching new products, streamlining operations and countless other growth-oriented maneuvers.

In effect, this will open a new stream of income for you.

2 - Pay Close Attention to What You Think and Say
During tough times, it’s easy to get into the habit of thinking negative thoughts, criticize and making negative comments, especially when the mass media makes it easy for you to do so.

Constantly thinking and talking negatively will only serve to bring you down. And it affects everyone around you. Before you know it, you’ll end up in one of those self-fulfilling prophecies mentioned earlier.

Stay informed, but don’t keep repeating what you hear on the news. Remember, energy flows to where attention goes.

Monitor your thoughts and speech at all costs. According to Frank Outlaw…
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny”.

By focusing on the positive, you’ll also do wonders for your creative thinking which allows you to come up with solutions to your problems. It also allows you to see new opportunities.

3 – Practise Frugality
In other words, take a sharp axe to your expenses. Tighten up your spending pattern. Not too many people like to talk about this, but if you want to thrive during uncertain economic times, it may be the perfect time to take a serious look at every single one of your personal expenditures.

Actually, this is good practice at ANY time, regardless of how much or how little money you have.

George Clason said and I quote “Do not confuse needs with wants. All are burdened with more desires than they can gratify.” This may be contrary to what prosperity teachers would teach you. It is a principle – you either maximize your income or minimize your expenses; or better still achieve both. Mind you, reducing your expenses does not mean that you don’t have enough money. I believe it tells the world that you are smart enough to handle more money.

Watch and moderate your spending on recharging phones, home Internet, running generators and cars; and boost your savings. Common! ‘tis doable.

4 - Stay Employable
Are you saying that I am contradicting myself? Nah nah…far from it. Inasmuch some of us even majority are still in salaried employment we still have to address this subject matter. Believe me, the uncertain moments may force businesses to downsize as we sail into the year proper. There’s no such thing as guaranteed employment anymore, but keeping your skills on the leading edge will go a long way toward staying as employable as possible. Within the ambit of your income, engage in courses and programmes that will add value to your career. At very least, make sure you're reading the latest books and leading blogs in your field.

However, a well-conceived personal business is always the last resort to keep you going when other doors are shut.

5 - Count Your Blessings Not Your Problems
If you really take stock of all the things you do have in your life, I bet you will be amazed.

Too often people focus on what’s missing in their lives and as a result, they ignore the riches they do have; like a great family, a loving spouse, wonderful children, fantastic pets, loyal friends, and a wonderful ideas-driven group like JUST Leadership Foundation. Do you know that that freedom you possess to think, act and relate is a blessing? In the affirmative, it is!

Focusing on your blessings will cause you to feel grateful. In the words of Charles Dickens “Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

And when you feel grateful, you create a shift in your thinking from the negative to the positive.

Being positive opens the doorway to your mind. Only when its open, can opportunity can jump in.

Your Financial Destiny is in Your Own Hands. Grab it!

‘Segun-Martins Ogunyemi, is a professional accountant, brand and management consultant. He is the Principal Consultant of Pro Logic Ideas Consulting, Nigeria.