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I was in a matatu a few days ago when I heard an interesting conversation between a lady conductor and a passenger. After establishing that they knew some villages and people from their rural home and laughed about a few things from the past, they exchanged contacts.
The conductor told the new friend, “Save my name as Phyllis Conductor, or any other way that will remind you of me.”
The new friend said, “That is very good because you never know what can come up and I give you a call.”
From this conversation, I derived three important money and investment lessons:
1. Be proud of what you do
The conductor did not pretend or feel ashamed that this lady passenger was traveling home after work. She is happy where she is and accepts the fact that we all cannot do or be the same thing – each person has a specific fate.
The friend was not ashamed either to proudly talk with a ‘mere conductor.’ It is a sign that they have a positive attitude.
With such an outlook in life, you get doors of opportunity being opened for you. The conductor actually ‘sold’ herself a bit during the conversation. She said she had completed her driving course and was attending weekend classes (when she is off duty) for her diploma course.
For sure, if this passenger gets a chance to fix this conductor, she will not hesitate to give reference.
The problem with many of us is that we keep complaining. You have a job, but you dismiss it in conversations as hopeless, swear about the ‘useless’ company you work for and say how your salary is just peanuts.
What this poor attitude does to your mind is that it sends signals that you are the victim. With victim mentality dominating your feelings every day, you are unlikely to exploit your potential.
Even if you get ‘peanuts’, look at them in a positive way – what can you do with the money to improve yourself? How much can you save towards a certain project which can boost your income to the level you feel that you are adequately compensated?
Get something (a dairy cow, business, the like) on the side and let that extra income flow to boost the amounts you receive every month.
2. Grow your networks
Networking is vital in our professional and financial growth. When you get a chance, talk about your skills. They say women, unlike men, don’t talk much about themselves or their strengths as they wait for others to acknowledge their skills. A man does something small and shouts about it from rooftops.
3. Blow your trumpet
Sometimes it is the only thing that stands between you and that job that will give you the greatest opportunity to earn that seven-figure salary. Have you noticed that colleagues considered to be loudmouths by ‘normal’ staff are the ones who get opportunities when they arise?
When you win an award, announce it. Don’t take the trophy home and keep it in the shelf – just display it on your desk for a while. Bask in your success. It is not bad that you won, you deserve it and must be proud of your achievement.
4. Keep your eyes open
Your eyes must always be wide to spot new opportunities. The cheerful conductor knows she will not be in that position forever so she has gone back to school to improve her worth when it comes to competing for the slim job opportunities in the market. And she is not afraid to tell the new friend if a better offer comes up, she will be glad to take it.
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