Do You Actually Want To Get Rich, Or You Want To Die Trying?

The physician George David said “Wealth is when small efforts produce big results. Poverty is when big efforts produce small results.”

In life, you can get rich (through a premeditated plan, and taking calculated steps). 

But, you can also 'try' to get rich, and worse, die 'trying' to get rich (because you leave everything to chance). 

The choice lies in your hands.

In Nigeria, there is a popular Yoruba saying (which I disdain). My people say, “Some people have come to earth to work, while some others have come to earth to enjoy. But, I have come to collect money (Awon kan waye wa sise, awon kan waye wa jaye. Emi waye wa gbowo)”. I don’t like the saying because it promotes laziness, apathy, a retrogressive and poverty-ridden mindset of ‘If you have to work hard for your money, you are poor’, and 'Wealth is chance so quit trying hard'. 

That is why today, you see a lot of youths and Nigerians seeking the easy way to wealth, worshiping material possessions and disdaining books, or anything that tasks them intellectually. Unfortunately, this does nothing but perpetuate the poverty in the land. 

How? It discourages industry, patience and consistency/persistence in doing the right things, instead, encouraging robbery and fraud, and a ‘make-it-at-all-costs-or-die-trying' mentality. It tells you getting wealth is entirely by luck and 'fate/destiny' and corruption -regardless of diligence.

You don’t have to make it at all costs, neither do you deserve to die...trying. You are better than that!

Where true wealth comes from

True wealth is gotten from studying (books and successful lives/methods around us), thinking (-planning and mapping out our own path), and then acting (on our most dominant thoughts)!

As David George rightly observed, if you find out that you are busy doing a lot (of activities), but getting little results, then you need to review your life starting from who/what methods you studied and are presently following. Or, maybe your nemesis is that you do not even follow any (-have no mentors)! 

Furthermore, ask yourself, “What are my dominant thoughts?” "What picture do I carry in my mind of my future?" By the time you have gotten genuine answers to those, you will know why you seem to be doing ‘big things’ and putting in 'great efforts', but getting little returns.

There is wealth all around you. Be proactive. Be entrepreneurial. Be willing to do what others don’t want to. And watch as they all come in tow, asking for the way.

Some make it look so easy
Agreed, watching musicians on TV lying in wads of dollars, surrounded by scantily-clad sumptuous ladies makes you also dream of the fast and easy life. But do not be deceived, even for them it is not easy.

When you become so good at what you do, people will think it is easy and they too can do it. But how many people can sing like Mariah Carey, or dance like Michael Jackson? How many people can build a company or run a foundation like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs? How many people can make money while enjoying themselves at it? Be not deceived, nothing is that easy.

The church in Nigeria has propagated this unfortunate gospel too

When you go to church, not to seek God, but to ‘seek his hand’, or ‘seek his blessings’, or, get a miracle at all costs.... When you do not sincerely care about worshiping God (the giver), but place your heart and priority on his gifts, you foolishly place the cart before the horse.

The bible already says that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and other things will be added. No matter how long your church has been in existence, no matter how many dead people your pastor has raised, if he encourages you to seek others things first before the kingdom of God, he is pushing you further into poverty, and worse, away from Heaven. What is the joy in being poor on earth and then losing your heavenly reward too?

No, you do not need anymore deliverance! Neither do you need to give more, or come to church more often! What you need to do is circumcise your heart and seek the giver, and not the gifts. Study, Meditate and Act on his word, and you will be prosperous.

What’s your definition of success (destination)?

Finally, whether or not you listen to rap, whether or not you have heard the song or watched the movie, whether you behave like 'Fi-ty Cent' or you have never heard the name before....

If you believe in and carry the ‘Get-rich-or-die-trying’ mentality, you are living life by luck, chance. And I can tell you from experience that you are better off without that mentality because getting wealth and success in life is not a destination...but a journey. You don’t get ‘there’, so quit looking for Eldorado, and stop acting like it takes Eldorado to be successful. 

Start with a purposeful step today towards the tomorrow you dream and desire. You deserve to have it, in your lifetime.

Enjoy life, each and every day you breathe. Appreciate the flowers around, and air (-if the one you breathe is still clean), and your neighbours, and water (if you are blessed to get it clean). Enjoy peace, and the light of the sun.

Be alive. Be successful. And be wise to (know the difference and) be thankful for both!