Daily Independent (Lagos)
8 January 2009
column
Hello wonderful people of this great country. I want to start by first wishing you a prosperous new year. The year has started very gentle and harmless, though heavily pregnant with pleasant and unpleasant surprises. My prayer for every one of us that have seen the beginning of it is that this same year will not see our end in Jesus name.
I was with a stockbroker the other day and he was recounting the various woes that befell investors the past months and how many are today wishing rather that they are not alive and I cannot but think of the power that controls the nature, which most often we neglect.
If about this time last year any of those investors were told that they would lose their money in the market, most of them would have contested it, calling such a person a prophet of doom. It is important to note that whatever goes up must surely come down, when the market was going up by the day speculators greedily invested heavily and the result is what we are seeing today.
Today, I want to sound a note of warning which might not go down well with all but those that have ears to hear, should heed the warning. My prayer for you is that you will have a listening ear to hear and an understanding heart to understand what I have to share with you.
Greed is one of the major problems we have in Nigeria. It is the reason why our political leaders embezzle our money only to stash it in their private accounts in foreign countries. It is the reason why we celebrate thieves and corrupt leaders than recognise and reward honest and straight-forward men and women. It is also the reason why mothers would encourage their daughters into prostitution.
Greed is a killer of its possessor. If you don't want to end your life this year then watch your appetite for more money, think of what you will do to help humanity and put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged rather than how fat your account will be.
Sometime last year, I got into FOREX trading, which initially had great promises, I took my time to learn it and eventually invested money and started live trading. It was not long after wonderful gains greed got into me and I lost all the money. The effect of this great mistake affected my life and that of those that invested in the same business with me. Relationships were affected just because I gave room to greed, but that is how it nearly ruined me.
2009 is going to be great and wonderful, but only for those who would be content and take steps only as the power that controls the universe direct. Do you want to stay alive and healthy, not planning to jump through the window in suicide? Then, say no to greed when it knocks on your door this year.
It is written in the Holy Bible about the Israelites when God told them to go out and gather manna. Those that gathered much had no excess and those who gathered little had no lack. Many of them went out to gather more than they needed, but the excess got spoilt while those that gathered little had no lack.
This year, think more of how to invest in the life of men instead of the capital market or in any other investment opportunity. This might not sound entrepreneurship but I must tell you at this junction that entrepreneurship is not about becoming the richest man in the world and denying yourself sleep but about your contribution to the lives of others. It is about finding solutions to the problems of others through your initiative. It's about being a solution.
The life of a man does not consist in the abundance of what he has, all ends in six feet at the end of the day. Take time to think about your life this year and re-channel your energy towards good works. With the little you have, you can create jobs that can employ others. Don't live all for yourself, live for others this year and you will not sink.
Have a nice time in the New Year.
If you desire to read more of my past write-ups then log on to www.worldchangersng.blogspot.com or send mails to abbagreat @yahoo.com
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