“ I have lots of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly“
Oprah Winfrey
Life must be lived from your perspective. Always from your perspective because you know best where you are from and most importantly where you are going.
For this reason, don’t always expect people to jump and become your cheerleading squad. In fact other than your true friends, most people will be in your corner as long as they can get something out of it. And if you are not careful you could find yourself living from other people’s perspectives.
So, who should you avoid, like the plague? Let’s get to it.
1. The ” It can’t be done” gang.
The doubters: There are 2 kinds.
a) Those who have known you for a long time; but sadly, have not been part of your journey of wanting better for yourself. They are not aware of the changes you are making to become a better you. They only see you through your past capabilities and weaknesses.
Do Not Listen to Them.
Do you know why? Because they don’t know your life from one end to the other. They only know what your life was but have no clue of what it could be. So go on, dream, and dream big, and then wake up every day with a purpose to see a new dawn for yourself.
b) Those who are projecting their own weaknesses. They seem to believe because they can’t do something successfully, then it follows that no one near them can do that particular thing successfully.
Stay far away from the projectors.
2. The flavor of the month folks.
I can just bet you have one of those people in your life. They are always coming up with the next deal, always seem to know the next big gold mine, and have an angle on how they can sort your life. The thing is their own lives are never that together as they don’t seem to succeed in what they do.
Yet the minute you mention that you are trying out a business venture, they can’t wait to jump in with their 2 cents and offer to link you with the guy who will magically turn your Kshs. 1,000 to KShs. 1 Million.
For your sanity alone, please avoid this guy. If nothing else they are not good for your blood pressure…
3. The shortcut guy.
My people, you will understand this especially if you have ever needed services urgently from a government office and there is no way to predict how long to finish the process. You might yield to the temptation to look left right and center for any friend or relative remotely connected to
that government office.
The same is true of life, when people disregard, the importance of going through the process. The process is key in refining and getting the best out of us. You can imagine when you start your business and a friend doesn’t seem to understand why you won’t take shortcuts to get ahead.
Integrity is in short supply these days, but sustaining a shortcut life is costly.
It may cost you more than you are willing to pay. When you know what you want to achieve in life, stay the course, because more often than not, slow but sure finishes and even wins the race.
4. The lazy lot.
Nothing worthwhile comes easy, let me repeat that, nothing worthwhile comes easy. And it is as simple as that.
If you work it, it will work. If you do not work it, do not expect any other results.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer in working smart, but the key thing is to work.
Put in the effort and most certainly you will reap the rewards do not give in easily. For instance, it may take you some time to build up the kind of emergency fund you need; you may require time to get your 3-year business to break-even point or even some time to lose that weight that crept up on you. I know, I know let me stop while I’m ahead, but you do get the point.
Enough said.
5. The constant discourager.
If I had a shilling for the kind of “friends” who, at every turn has a reason for why I’m not doing it right and I will fail miserably, I don’t think I would need to work another day in my life… You know those friends to whom you have made clear, your chosen path in life, and lo and behold, they are there at every point to discourage you.
You call them with your new discovery of a way to save money on your monthly shopping, then Wham! They gut you by saying how your discovery is soo… last decade and how they know of an even better place and wait for it, they have always known about it and lastly how do you not know shop
there?? Wait, do these people qualify as our friends, still?
Every time you think you have scored a deal, and you try share your good news, you end up feeling like the biggest loser there is!
For this kind of ” friends”, if you cannot completely avoid them, move in complete silence. Learn to guard your peace. Do not discuss the costs you have incurred, your growth prospects, and least of
all your financial plans.
The wet blankets will take the wind right out of your sails…
I have learned in my personal finance journey, it can get a little lonely, plus people will not always understand you. They may not understand why it is important to you to carry a doggy bag for your lunch instead of ordering in but guess what, you know best how to deal with your debt
situation ASAP or grow your savings so you can up your investment portfolio.
So, get your noise-cancellation headphones and get on with making your life the best that it can be!
To your success…