I started my journey to financial freedom this season, 2001. What has kept me focused all these years is my desire to be free, free to do what I want to do, and be what I was born to be.
That desire has given me focus, which I consider to be the engine or powerhouse for the journey.
The moment desire and focus are sorted out, other things seem to sort of fall in place, and you attain cruise mode.
How do you get to desire? I really don’t know, to be honest with you. We all wish for better things, year in and year out, but we don’t do anything about it. I can give you definitions and formulas, but the fact is, very few really have the desire to go for it.
Do you really desire it?
Desire is not passive. There is an active component that makes you take action. Without action, what you are left with is just a wish.
I have pondered on this for a while, and had some discussions with fellow “ponderers”. How come a hundred people attend a motivational seminar, catch fire, jump on their feet, get super inspired, vow to make the necessary changes to make it happen, then go home, and then…poof! Back to ground zero.
A year later, out of the hundred, maybe only one or two are left standing. About sixty or more got home, and reality put out the fire. The rest attempt to get started, but got talked out of it by friends and family, or started doing something, but give in at the first appearance of adverse circumstances.
My fellow “ponderer” asked:
“How come hundreds attend seminars, read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Richest Man in Babylon, etc, but are still where they were, doing what they always did?”
I had no pat answers. I went philosophical. I remember a phrase from my Pastor that hit me between the eyes. I went for it:
“A truth declared before its time will fall on deaf ears”.
My theory was that there is a time we really listen and hear. It happens when we have learned our lessons thoroughly in the school of hard knocks. Having been bruised and battered by adverse circumstances that brought about wrong decisions we made in the past, we are ready to learn.
When we are down to nothing, we are ready to listen. If everything seems to go well, we think we are doing okay, we have no need for advice or counsel. Most folks seek a counselor or adviser when they are in trouble. At that moment, they are ready to do anything. They had run out of options.
I know there are folks who are blessed with mentors who take them by the hand and guide them in good times; hence they do not need to enroll in the school of hard knocks.
I don’t know how to get you to desire freedom, desire it strong enough to discover your God-given dreams and talents, develop them, and go for your dreams. You alone can take yourself to that place called desire.
Before 2001, I was a quintessential couch potato. Back then in Nigeria in the 90’s, most TV stations were not 24-hour stations. I normally watch TV until they shut down around 1.00 am. Sometimes I doze off, to be woken by the hissing sound from the TV. I knew how each station signed off. Some stations had a funny sign-off message. One said, “Good night. Remember to switch off your TV set”.
I knew each station’s program off-hand (about ten stations). I watched every film, documentary, musical, you name it. While watching some films, I can tell you the plot up front.
My life was one predictable cycle: wake up – work – visits/church – TV – sleep – wake up.
The moment I got my wake-up call in December 2001, I started reading. I started doing something. I started learning new skills. TV has become a distant memory. I catch up on news through newspapers online and with colleagues at work.
It is like a force is driving me, the force of desire; the desire to break free from the rat race and be myself.
If you lack that push and focus, it means you lack desire. Pursuit is proof of desire. When you desire, you set out in pursuit. You are ready to pay the price. Some things may have to give way for a season. Some friendships, some favorite past times, your favorite black box in the sitting room, some favorite fattening foods, etc.
Going the distance
It is hard to go the distance without desire. Don’t leave home without it. Desire will make you live below your means, drive a cheaper automobile, wear cheaper clothes, and live in a not-so-exclusive neighborhood. You know you can afford a better car. You know you can afford designer apparel. The Joneses in your income bracket are high up there on the image ladder. It hurts sometimes. But you know what you are doing. It is called delayed gratification. Sacrificing today, for a better tomorrow.
Because of desire, you spend your time differently. There are things you would love to do, places you would love to hang out, but you can’t because you have more pressing issues that have to do with progressing towards your dreams.
Sometime soon, you will have all the time in the world to do that. You can even do a Richard Branson.
Permit me to quote the Bible in closing. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silent, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
Everything has a time and season. A major key to success is discerning the times and seasons of your life, and acting accordingly.
Your dreams will not come true all by itself. You have to desire it. You have to pursue it, one step at a time, one day at a time. If you are in hot pursuit, keep going. If you have not started, take a step back, and really figure out what you really desire. Catch the fire and run with it.
The era of New Year resolutions is over. It is time for plans, goals, action items, and timelines for implementation. Transit from wish to desire, plan to action. Keep on keeping on.
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