Be your best self to the limit!
While the events of 2020 created financial nightmares for many and underscored the universal need for better financial literacy and improved personal financial management; many persons still came out of 2020 as winners....These people, it appears, were not only financially prepared for the economic fallout caused by the pandemic, but were also prepared for the opportunities provided as well.
As it turns out, many successful people, regardless of their evidential giftedness and hard work, felt that they were largely lucky and undeserving of their achievements. As many of them stated, they were waiting to be exposed by the world as frauds who were just lucky. What these persons were suffering from was the Imposter Syndrome. Just like them, you’ve likely felt like an imposter at some point.
One of my early lessons about money and impulse purchases (making unplanned purchases in the spur of the moment) came from a 5-page comic book story starring Archie and Jughead.
When things don’t go your way, it is so easy to blame any and everybody for their supposed role in your misfortune; everybody but you that is! Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
It has been well documented that Jay-Z is hip hop’s first billionaire. Understanding how he made it to this point provides a great education about investing and financial literacy.
For me, the real lesson came several scenes later in a ‘blink and you miss it’ line from Belfort as the narrator. While receiving a gift from Belfort, Teresa, Belfort’s first wife, questions him about the legitimacy of penny stocks and the ethical nature of how they promote and sell them.....
While many persons have the best intentions when giving the gift of the truth to others, often times the recipient gets distracted by the wrapping. The right message can be said in the wrong way. Consider my encounter with a doorman in Colombia as an example.
...A few years back, at work, I received an email from senior management announcing promotions, raises...... I opened the email and scanned all of the names on the email....The longer I looked, I thought, “it sure is taking long to find my name".....
...When I was younger and wanted to be seen as “cool”, I could not understand why people seemed to be so intentionally uncool. Dressing and acting cool and having people’s approval was important, but these people were not cool and could not be bothered to even care....I realized that was kind of the point, not to be cool but to be happy just being yourself.
WILFRED BAIN 