Moving on to the realm of financial dreamers, one of my personal favourites, Mr Conrad Hilton. Conrad Nicholson Hilton. What a dream and what a dreamer. Conrad Hilton started one of the world's biggest hotel chains from where? Take a wild guess folks...(wait, don't go running to search just yet,) let me help you a little...
- He took a big-time loan from HSBC.
- He cashed in on his inheritance from his dad, the Empire State Building, which he sold for a lot of money and started his hotel chains with.
- He got funds from the Illuminati, an organization which his grandfather was a grand patron.
- He blackmailed the Queen into funding his business because he was once the Queen's sister's lover and had lurid pictures of them in compromising positions.
And the answer is Option....None! Actually, he started his hotels dream from his family house! Originally his father's idea when economic downturn hit his family bad, Augustus 'Gus' Hilton added extra rooms to the family house and turned it into a boardinghouse, Gus made his sons (out of whom Conrad was the first) pick people coming to their hometown of San Antonio at the bus station and lodged them in their boardinghouse for $2.50 a day. This was Hilton's first introduction to the hotel business. While working with his father, Conrad saved as much as he could because he didn't enjoy the monotony of Gus running the business.
Much later in life when he found himself in Texas trying to make a name for himself by trying to buy a bank (how ambitious of a guy that didn't even have a college education to his name at the time), he hit on the idea of starting his hotel when he saw the opportunity in the hotel business outweighs that of his banking dreams, while resting in the lobby of the Mobley hotel in the process of trying to get a room. He bought the Mobley hotel instead of the bank and renovated immediately and the course of his life changed for ever. He added what turned out later to be value-added services to his hotel and what do have years later? 500 hotels in nearly every corner of the planet...and his celebrity great-grand daughter smoking the herb, releasing a wack music album, making an even wacker (or is it wackier?) sex video, and making good ole Conrad turn in his grave. Paris Hilton is not shocking anymore folks, the world is used to and bored of her mad antics and attention-seeking way of life.
As far as dreams are concerned, all dreamers have one common problem...money. Funding any dream is the biggest headache folks. In order to do this you might have to dig into your savings account and that, ladies and gents, is the crux of the matter. Allow me to ask, Lagos, "Do you have a savings account?" I see several heads nodding, many of us can't count the number of savings account we have with numerous banks with the digits of both hands. Savings account, are you kidding? We have many. Really?...Ok, Lagos, how many of us have that wonderful card given to one and all upon opening a bank account? You know that plastic card with the magnetic strip or chip called the Any Time Money card. Yes! Your good old ATM card. Is your ATM card allowing you to save money?
As far as real savings is concerned, which by and large is connected to the fulfilment of dreams, ATM cards and the conventional savings account cannot help bring dreams to reality. Reason being you're just one zip! and PIN code away from a withdrawal. You cannot achieve capital building or fund raising this way. In January, you have 750,000 naira in your account, zip! zip! zip! you're down to 500,000 maybe even 250,000 naira. I know it's all for legitimate reasons, but have you taken time to think about tomorrow? Have you thought about saving for your dreams?
How do you start saving? There are several ways of achieving this which I won't try boring you with right now (besides we treated that earlier, in case you've not seen my previous blogs may I suggest you go through my blog archive.) The question is, "How do I save if I don't have much and I'm determined to try?" Remember, folks, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. Lets start with the basics, a savings strategy (if I can call it that, don't have a name for it. yet) How many of us have heard of the 30-30-30-10 or 3:3:3:1 strategy? It works this way...
- Divide your income into 10 parts or ratios.
- 1 part or 10% goes to tithing. (for folks who are religious and BELIEVE in God, the real God and not a "higher power".)
- 3 parts or 30% go to everyday, sundry life like paying bills, food, shelter, clothing, transportation, overhead and other things.
- the last 3 parts or 30% go into savings; and savings in this case refer to financial security or protection which insurance offers. What you could keep for tomorrow, not the immediate next-day tomorrow or next month but the days far ahead, the days to come.
The 3:3:3:1 savings strategy is very practicable, very possible even in present day Nigeria. One just has to be determined and ready to make sacrifices. The strategy can be modified as the individual deems fit. The thought in the minds of many a Lagosian is "But I hardly make enough money as things are." My take on that is very simple...Start by living within your means. Don't bite more than you can chew.
- Don't go shopping at Mega Plaza where Alaba can serve your present needs.
- Don't fill your closet with T.M Lewins when you can manage other brands.
- Don't take "that girl" to the Palms, shopping till she dropped and return home to a bowl of garri and 'kulikuli' (you'd be lucky even if you can afford that after some babe's reckless shopaholism.)
Good things take time in coming folks. Rome was not built in a day. You might not start cashing upon you insurance policy the day you buy it but it will mature one day, be it 5 years, 7 years, maybe even 10 years. One thing is certain, the policy will reach maturity and what do you get? Your savings plus interests (guaranteed at attractive rates that banks can't dream of matching now) and no hidden or administrative charges will be removed from your funds. An insurance policy is a viable savings/investment plan, you can ask people you know running one and they will tell you. Telling you that is my job and that's why you should contact me.
One of my dreams is to have my kids call me while I'm on vacation in Monaco or the Maldives and bicker about who'll give me the biggest 60th birthday anniversary if he/she hosts the bash. That comes after I must have saved enough to put them through good schools and given them good advice. I've taken the first step by starting a savings plan that will lead to a win-win situation between my insurance company and me. What's that giant dream you're carrying in your mind all these years? Be brave, be gutsy, be determined and like Conrad Hilton, save your way to your dreams. My name is Olumide Ogungbemi, my numbers are 07033588160 and 07056989820, and I'm an insurance marketer with Standard Alliance Life Assurance Limited.
No comments:
Post a Comment