To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. – Oscar Wilde
Much time has been spent. That’s right. Spent. Very little has been invested. Like many, I spent much time waiting. Waiting for opportunities and to apply for that job.
However, time came when I had to learn the hard way. That meant leaving childhood ways behind. I had to become a man. Which meant waking up from my unnecessary slumber. Learn a thing or two about the real world.
Below are a few things that changed and continue to shape the trajectory of my life. Coupled with what you already know, they can change the course of your life and maybe career direction– give you a sense of purpose.
Learn to write effectively
Our communication is in writing. From drafting CVs and motivational letters to finally emailing them. The unfortunate thing is that miscommunication and/or misinterpretation occur. That’s something about writing.
Hastily drafting emails has cost me more than I can say. Poor writing has undermined my potential as a person and my chances of getting a job. Even more, poor writing has often led to my business proposals being rejected. So learning to write today is a non-negotiable.
A side hustle is good for your career and your cash
Even after being employed for a few months, I still wind up with no money. I realized that, my salary is never enough. Through rough seasons, I had to learn that a side hustle could’ve been a working option.
Side hustle or you can call it apart-time job, is worth it. For some people it can even open up new career opportunities, help in staying relevant and become another financial stream.
Develop a work ethic
This is vitally important for anybody’s career success. It means desiring to see growth daily. Without it, career-wise, you’ll be stuck and feel lifeless. It’s simply having disciplined work life. Always strive to be the better you. As someone once said, you’re only better than the person you were yesterday.
Understand investment basics
I have had to work and see thousands slip away. Some call it witchcraft. Some call it bad luck. But, I learnt that my spending has been uncontrolled. I knew nothing about making money work itself up. Learning basics in investment is an investment in itself. It gives your money a chance to compound.
With these earlier in my career arsenal, I could be somewhere today. You don’t want to regret like I did, before fully embracing them. Learn them. Do something about them. Head knowledge isn’t enough. Applied knowledge is what works out here.