As Nigeria goes through a challenging season of economic paralysis, I want you to remember that nations rarely kaput. Yes, Nigeria and Nigerians would always be around. And despite whatever, Nigeria will remain an opportunity. I share this video about two men I study – Carlos Slim (Mexican billionaire) and Franklin Templeton (stock picker of the 20th century). As things seem to be falling apart with insecurity, remember that the sun will always rise. Do not kill that idea, because Nigeria will always be.
Carlos Slim saw hope at the lowest point of Mexico; his father had told him that Mexico will always be around. Templeton was buying stocks when the world was frozen at the heat of a world war. When others were frightened, these men sojourned and became legends.
If you cannot believe in the human race, you cannot build. If you cannot believe in the promise of the future, forget the idea of starting. Think about the dragonfly: it goes ahead on the current and defines its course, unlike the lifeless feather which is tossed around.
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I study two men – Franklin Templeton and Carlos Slim – for my family investment strategies. Templeton began a firm in 1947, against all odds, at the runs of the World War II. Mr Slim bought anything in his sight at one of the lowest points in Mexican history – the peso was down and markets in ruins. Templeton trusted the human race and bought “useless” stocks. Slim’s father told him that countries do not fail; they always come back. I read about these two
As the weekend arrives, cut off the noise of hopelessness from the newsmakers, and map a playbook that even if there may be paralysis, there will always be a good pasture for those who can think differently and take action. #believe and #action.
Believe that we can rise as a people – a nation that is open, with abundance and shared prosperity for ALL. Yes, one where ALL will rise, not just a few. That was how I closed my speech at the Platform. Translating into that future is a Call to Duty.
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Who are the people telling you that Nigeria is finished or a hopeless place? You can never hear it from anyone capable of building anything, you only hear it from those who function well when everything is smooth. The irony is that legends emerge in the midst of chaos and turbulence, that’s why a leader who led in wartime will always be revered more than the one who led in peacetime, no matter how excellently the latter performed.
Wherever humans exist, there are business opportunities there, whether there’s peace or war, security or insecurity, because humans must find ways to survive, and still push further to thrive; it never changes.
Whether in war torn places or displaced camps, people will still eat, need clothing, drugs, shelter, water; and those shooting guns still need bullets, bombs and more guns; it simply means that businesses are still happening, it never ends.
If you go back in 80s, people complained about bad times in Nigeria, they did same in 90s, they did same in 2000s, and are doing so now. To some people, we are in the worst of times, but comeback here in 2030, you will still hear we are in worst of times; which means, good and bad times are all moving targets, depending on what your mind tells you.
If you fail, you are responsible, and if you excel, you are responsible too, and if you choose to complain all day, you are also responsible for your miseries.
Nothing will ever change because of you, just fix yourself somewhere and make the best out of life, and you will live happily ever after.
Very insightful.