Don't use your femininity to acquire wealth

Last week, there was a fiery debate on social media about women giving three ululations once the nurse or doctor announced that the newborn was a girl as compared to four for a boy.

While most of the contributors argued that 'a child is precious whatever the sex' the truth is that right from birth the boy and girl are set apart by society and expectations, including future financial muscle, for either are different.

This difference between the sexes is not just an African problem, the World Economic Forum released its yearly report, Women at Work, on gender equality at the end of October and the figures of women in position at work look grim. It is so skewed that it will take more than 80 years to close the gender gap.

Unacceptably, some women use this state of affairs as an excuse not to excel in what they do unless there is a man in the picture. A woman recently remarked that she was not ready to settle down in marriage until a man she was seeing helped her complete some projects she had started. "If I leave him now, what will happen to my incomplete rental units?" she posed during a debate at an investment meeting.

The truth is, a woman is as good as a man in investment acumen and there are many examples where the iron woman has outshone the man. From the real estate industry to small scale businesses, women are claiming their space, making a statement about their prowess; an achievement at a time.

If you are one of those wallowing in self-pity and using excuses such as it is 'because I am a woman', it is time you woke up and smelled the coffee. That little money you have at the end of the month, if you plan well, will move you to higher heights.

The secret to financial success is to use available resources around you to excel – and this does not necessarily include using underhand means.

Strive to start off small and grow gradually. Gradual because along the way, you learn many skills and make mistakes through which you learn further how to nurture your income and make it work for you better. Get-rich-quick attitude rarely pays well. And if it does, it normally gives no satisfaction to the investor.

Success grown on sweat and tears is sweeter than one handed down on a silver platter.

The fact is, to succeed financially or not, solely depends on you. Let's look at two young women, Jackie and Phanice, who started off their work life together after graduating about ten years ago.

A woman has a God-given ability to discern many things including investment opportunities. While Jackie exploited this ability by working hard and investing in real estate, Phanice decided to reach the destination, financial freedom, through a short-cut.

Jackie saved a fraction of her income and enrolled in short courses that were relevant to her future plans such as business management, investment and entrepreneurship, acquiring skills that prepared her for her dream engagement; running her own business and being an employer by her 30th birthday. Things moved smoothly for her as she walked into her plans at the set time like clockwork.

On the other hand, Phanice had decided to achieve a similar dream through a rich boyfriend. After all, she had reasoned, what can a woman do without man?

The two friends were successful by all standards as they had achieved so much in a short while – driving nice cars, living on the right side of the city and going overseas for holidays at will. Their contemporaries envied them.

One day, Phanice differed with her boyfriend. He took everything he had given her including small gifts. She was suddenly left homeless and ran to Jackie for shelter. Jackie helped her get to her feet. But Phanice had wasted her valuable years during which she would have grown her investment. She is now steps behind Jackie who is a role model to many.

Thus the choice of succeeding and being proud of achievement is in your hands.

photo:elegantblackwoman.blogspot.com