Mindset shifts you must make to grow in a country like Nigeria
If you truly want to be successful
I posted an article last year about how difficult it is to work from a country like mine as there are so many inherent challenges. In it, I spoke about some of the external challenges that this country has posed to my work and business and how I was able to overcome them with time.
In this article, I want to talk about some of the mindset shifts that Nigerians need to make in order to better position themselves for success. We really need to talk about the basic thought processes of an average Nigerian youth that could pose as huge barriers to personal and work improvement. And this article is about how to get past them and better position yourself for success in any endeavor. So, if you’re Nigerian and reading this, I have 5 things to say to you:
1. School (BSc) is not a hindrance to your success
The rise of bitcoin, forex trading, sports betting and some pyramid schemes in Nigeria has made many of its citizens billionaires overnight. And yes, most of these things have a totally legitimate business model (not all) but we often fail to see the other side of things. This has made many of us to feel like we do not need a certificate or any form of education to be successful.
Now, I’m all for practicality and learning what will help you earn, but the educational system of any country can never be ruled out from the grand scheme of becoming successful. Your first degree, even one gotten in a country like Nigeria, helps you develop critical thinking and analytical skills that help you solve real world problems and articulate meaning from practical issues. Escaping this background would be highly detrimental to your success in any sphere of life whatsoever.
So, if you’re still in school (undergraduate or postgraduate), my advice to you is to sit up and read those books. Yes! Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg didn’t drop out of school because they could not cope. They did because they were working on projects moving at a faster pace than the educational system was taking them. Remember that the next time you want to use them as a reason to not take your education more seriously.
2. Money is not as scarce as you think
If you have interest in learning about money management, you should have come across the phrase “money is attracted to value”. Therefore, in most cases, anywhere there is true value, then such value can easily be exchanged for money. However, many Nigerians and even people around the world generally are always scared of running out of money because they always think of it as scarce and difficult to get.
My advice is that you focus on developing whatever object of value that you can offer to the world in exchange of value. Over time, people will be more willing to pay you money for that value. It could be a product you sell, your knowledge, or the skills you possess. Don’t forget to look for continuous avenues to grow that value. Money is not supposed to be the end but rather the means to an end. And the more you chase it meaninglessly, the farther away from you it will go.
3. Stop complaining about the lack of light
Any Nigerian reading this point would ask “but isn’t that a real problem?” And while I agree that it is true, the truth is that complaining has never solved anybody’s problems. The more you complain about the poor electricity supply in the country, the more likely you are to use it as an excuse to not work. And the goal is to change what we can in our lives to our benefit and try to work with the situations that we can’t change.
So, for now, if you are currently facing electricity challenges where you stay, ask yourself how you can get access to electricity even if it’s outside your convenience. You could decide to visit an eatery close to your house and tap into their electricity while just getting yourself a drink. Or if you have friend who has an alternative source of energy (like solar energy or a generator), you could ask for permission to work there for certain periods as frequently as they would permit. Or, if you can afford it, you can consider getting an alternative source of energy. If you have a day job, you could also decide to stay overtime and get more personal work done using available privileges.
My point is, never see a general challenge of the country as your personal problem, because it’s not.
4. Don’t limit yourself to the borders of this country
I have never been a fan of leaving the country in search for “greener pastures”. This is because this mentality can often be misleading, leaving many Nigerians to think that they can never be successful until they travel out of the country.
But…
There is nothing wrong with aiming outside Nigeria if you have a plan. In fact, the very essence of this point is to encourage you to look outside the country in terms of opportunities and ideas. For example, in order to realize your money growth goals, you can look for investment opportunities outside the Nigerian economy. You could target both Nigerians and non-Nigerians for your next online course or live session. You could apply for scholarships or job opportunities outside the country whenever possible. Anything can happen. Just never place a limit on your goals based on your geographic location.
5. You don’t need to “blow/hammer” before you become successful
Many Nigerians are fond of unconsciously attributing the word “successful” to being rich or amassing a huge sum of wealth. Don’t forget, success is just a word used to denote the achievement of one’s goal(s). This goal may not necessarily be about one’s finances. Many people out there who have money today still feel unsuccessful and even depressed or sad.
And I will say it again, despite the cliché factor attached: Money does not buy happiness!
It buys comfort and ease which may influence your happiness, but it is not the determining factor of it. And no, you really don’t have to be a millionaire to realize this. Think of the last time you set a money goal and you reached it. You were happy at first I’m sure, but over time it became the new normal, and it seemed like all the same problems you were facing before climbed a higher pedestal to where you had reached.
Instead of aiming for just more money in your bank account, aim for things that would make you feel more fulfilled. Do some introspection and find out what really makes you happy except from the acquisition of material things. Go to new places when you can, make more valuable friends, give to people who can never pay you back. I’m not saying you must do these specific things, but I believe money should give you the peace of mind and stability you need to focus on what is truly important to you, and what you want out of life.
Life is not all about how to “blow” or hammer. However ask yourself, why do I really want to make this money? And is it going to take me closer to me true goals in life?
Thanks for reading!
