DON'T PUT  A CART BEFORE THE HORSE (cont'd)

I am pleased to have you there.  In my last posting on the above subject, I counseled the youth that putting a cart before the horse like engaging in pleasure in place of hard work will lead to retardation and hinder progress in life.

Another way of putting a cart before the horse is to "start helping others", when you also need  help.
What do I mean?  You have just finished your Senior Secondary School, OND or its equivalent and you by divine providence secure a job of say N1,200,00 per month or N14,400.00 per annum, . My friend you are not in any way close to being THERE!. I am not saying you should not thank God for it, but what am saying is that don't begin to think of settling down yet.   In fact you have not started.  Meaning that this salary is just a "mean" and not the "ends" you remember the definition of economics?  Listen, don't relax and begin to cater for your uncles children, and begin to send School fees and probably sending money to different relations.  It will be assumed that you have already made it.  What you need to do at this point is to "take cover", don't tell them that you have got job.  To tell your relations that you have got job is to begin to receive various "applications" and request letters from different directions, some will even advise you to get marry, after all you have a job.

What you should do at this point should be the following but not limited to it:

(1)  Set a target date or year with which you want to do this job, especially where the future does not look bright in term of growth.  to keep working without a target number of years to spend in an office is to continue working open ended, even when the pay hardly meet your financial need.
(2)  Determine how much you want to save or keep aside out of this amount.  No matter how little, there must be a deliberate determination to save some amount (Rich Dad and other books suggested 10%) if for instance, you save N120.00 for 1 year it will give you N1,440 multiply by five years will give you N7,200.
(3)  Decide to improve your self - you have to position yourself for promotion or advancement.  When you fail to improve yourself academically you will remain at foot of the ladder or a subordinate.  If you are a diplomat, make sure you go back to complete your HND or even secure a direct entry admission.  You may decide to go part time (which is not the best because it take longer time) or full time which takes a shorter time to complete.
(4)  Don't indulge in luxurious life - a simple 14" TV and a tape recorder for music will be ok.  Don't begin to subscribe to Satellite Cable TV like DSTV, MyTV, etc.  All these will create a hole in your
pocket and become a liability. Until I come your way again, please don't put a cart before the horse