Money & Life: An Inevitable Rat Race?
I had a friend back in the days who we were both prospective writers, she was in South Africa trying to publish her books, and I was in Nigeria, trying to land spoken word gigs so I could make money if I was ever going to get a shot at publishing mine. As for her, she was already getting gigs and being paid some cool money.
She wrote some maiden books, in which she acknowledged my contributions in making her an established writer, and then about 5 years later, she wrote more books, became an established writer, traveled the world for gigs, and made a lot of money for herself, now the status quo changed, her group of friends changed, I was no longer the man that drove her muse, she became friends with some equally rich published writers, who were quite wealthy.
Climbing Ladders, Comes With A Downside
Who would blame anyone?
In my case, I never made it as a writer because the system crippled my abilities with a lack of opportunities. I had the chance to monetize my talents, but there was no opportunity to do so.
In fact, my friend who went on to become a great writer wasn't a better writer than I was, she was always thinking I'll be the one to break out and become a best seller, but she was the one who actually did and this is why we shouldn't underestimate the power of luck that's gotten by having a good system that works.
Tipping The Scale
Or The Causality Of Things?
Let's face it, some of the people with the best talent in the world might die broke and unfulfilled and that's because some of the enablements we have in life are not even enough to make wealth. Generally, we might attribute this to having a system that doesn't work or attributing it to the unfairness in the human system.
Another bizarre thing is that there are people who will work hard, and do everything in life within their capacity, but they'll still die broke, unable to land that dream job, or that life-changing opportunity that will crown all their efforts. In reality, life isn't proportional, the element of causality when it comes to making wealth is hardly functional.
Living A Life Of ROI
Thisis is why a person who signs papers might be making money while they sleep while people who are actively working day and night are being exploited and don't even earn enough money for the times when they're awake and working. There are people in life who have been dogged, worked hard, and gotten good degrees, originally they'll feel their efforts will automatically translate to results, but the reality is that life isn't automated, there's no certainty even in the face of assurance.
Some people inherit wealth that guarantees them stability, but it still doesn't mean that having this stable wealth will ensure longevity. Longevity is guaranteed when their endeavors with this money yield income, and this income would have to exceed their expenditure for this stability to continue.
Yet, some people end up unlucky even if they had the element of luck working for them in the beginning
However, one of the reasons why people work hard is that it broadens their prospects, but having the opportunity to become a prospect, might signal progress on the surface, but if one's effort doesn't unlock the desired result, every time, money and resources they've put in will not count.
There's no certainty that one's effort will ever amount to the result especially if it's no longer in their power to determine so. One of the reasons why life is unfair is that we cannot determine our future 100%. We can only put ourselves in a good position and hope things work out, then there's the aspect of working hard in the wrong endeavor at the wrong time.
it's like heading to the river bank very early to prevent the rat race that comes with competition, but the person who comes latest goes home with the biggest catch
But, we can never run from the rat race of life
Can we?
some people are playing unfairly, tipping the scale to ensure that the misfortune of others becomes the reason why they become lucky. So even if we've attained a comfortable position in life, especially when it comes to money: fiat currency, and crypto, there's that constant fear that we might lose it because of external factors which we might not be able to control.
This shows that irrespective of the position we are in luck, it's logical when we attribute it to luck especially when there are better and qualified people. But life isn't about being better or being more qualified, it's about adaptability, resilience, and relevance.
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Your friend was lucky to be in that good system which favours her to change her status quo. Sometimes I feel sad when I see those who aren´t up to the standard making it more than someone who has the skill and is ready to jump out of the rat race but the system is kind of unfair to such an individual. Why will that be? This is the power of connection and the right people who control the system.
Just as you have said, we can never predict our future completely and we just have to do our best and hope to get lucky someday so we don´t keep moving in the rat race forever while being broke.
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Exactly, the system she was in was a big impact. She is still writing, travelling the world and getting paid big bucks. However, she acknowledged I was a better writer and could have made it big, I didn't, she did and it's one of those things you'll think about to realize that a good system and luck really pays so much.
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Nawa oo. The best is to keep praying because, in my tribe, they will say he who has a head does not have a cap to fit in and he who has a cap does not have a head.
Life's certainly unfair haha, sometimes I feel I deserve better, but sometimes I just appreciate God.
That is the best oo. In all, let´s appreciate God because we don´t know what may happen next.
You are right about every point you made.. luck work for people randomly and it is not to be forced
Yes, it does
👍👍👍
Well, at least you can say, 'I knew her when...', albeit a poor consolation prize. I guess you're in the category of making money in your sleep though, given the crazy world of Hive ;)
Hope you're well
This is true, I guess, I can say I knew her when we were both hustling to become relevant in the writing business.
Categorically, this is true, hive has made this possible, I will finally key into this when I establish something in real that can replicate what hive does for me.
well we've been hustling through the bear market, it's tougher than ever. How about you?
Buffet says if you don't find a way to make money works for you ....you will definitely work the whole of your life time till you die,...this is a reality we live in constantly battling to get out of the rat race but as much as we try the more.wr become entangled in the web.
Some persons were born with a golden spoon which gave them some leverage in life, remember the richest man in Africa and Nigeria didn't make it to that height on self made basis but rather he came to meet investment already laying wait for him....
Have you also noticed that 70-80% of the rich folks in the world made it on their own ...like they have to leave school to look for something else, and struggle to make a living.
I believe in one thing and that is if I don't relent back out of fall off with this mindset I know I will get out of the rat race alive...and thus create undying wealth for my next generation to never get back in the race.
This is pretty much how it is, we always try to do so much forgetting we are not the ones in total control of our lives. Just like you have said, hard work is not what determines ones success most times, we know that there is one who is above every one and that is God. He can see everyone and he knows our hearts also but he is also ready to give us what we want if only we could just ask it from him while doing what pleases him.
So many people today claim they believe in God and they are praying to God but the answers are not forthcoming and they say God does not answer prayers, well the truth is God does not answer a prayer that is asked amiss and he also knows what is best for us also.
I believe that when I need something and it isn't forthcoming, then it means I'm not doing something right or I don't really need that thing, I just try to look on the bright side of things and avoid worrying so much because those worries are the next step we will take to our downfall if we are not careful.
We are just like a pot in the hands of its Potter, so playing smart won't help us at all in the race of life, we have to let the Potter do his work and even when it's not what we want, we should appreciate it and trust his decision.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful piece, it's truly not about how far but how well 👌.
Thanks for looking at it from this perspective, I believe that hardwork is not what guarantees success. This is even more psychological. I feel that God has given us more dominion more than we know. For example, some of the Things we pray to God for in Nigeria, is what some people overseas comfortably enjoy. So sometimes God can do nothing over what's in our capacity to provide for ourselves. So sometimes we might not be asking amiss, we might just be in the wrong system with ill luck.
Hahaha, that's funny sha, well do you know that even in that country if ill luck people are still enjoying so many things that some are not and vice versa in other countries too. The thing is God knows what we need and he will give it to us when we asked in faith and do his will.
Most times we try to rely on our might too much and at that point we get it all wrong. Just like the rich fool in the Bible, he had a very good harvest and instead of him to share with those that are lacking, he went ahead to build a bigger barn to store his harvest and God took his breath of life from him.
At the end, he was not able to enjoy as he wished to, others that did not work for those things were the once that enjoyed it. Yes, some things can be an hindrance to us and that is when we get to realize that we can't do it alone and we run to God.
As much as it is expected of us to up our skills for better opportunities we can't rule out the element of luck and connections, this is relatable, I have trained some at work, passed on the experience, and two, are doing quite well.
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The element of luck is enormous in our endeavors, this I must say, because we just need it to crown our efforts.
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It's too bad but not everyone has the luck. She took the chance and she made a successful career. It's too bad but nobody knows if her life is better off now with or without that chance though. The system is a bit rigged but there isn't much you can do about it.
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Luck and a workable system is important for nurturing one's ambitions. I think she was luckier than me because she had the opportunity to hone her abilities to the right audience
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Same old Rat Race with new obstacles 😎😉
Money and life is indeed an inevitable rat race. Your friend was so lucky to have attained the height she is today. Would I blame her for not maintaining the close relationship like before? Apparently no..such is life. We get to climb to a higher ladder, making new friends and saying a good bye to your old friends though that's not the case of everyone.
I have imagined why some people with a good talent still die broke whereas others will not struggle to make it in life. Truly, connection, luck and grace can do the trick
Well, the future is unpredictable..we can only Keep working hard, who knows what tomorrow holds.
I want to reach that level that my ROI will be speaking for me while asleep 😂
I wouldn't even expect her to be friends, it's the social construct and I expected it to be so, I just didn't think it'll be a worse as that, thinking we were writers and shared many beautiful memories. But like you've reiterated, things change, levels change and sometimes people choose to move with people of their class and nothing lesser.
It's easy. Life's unfair to a certain extent. Sometimes our efforts doesn't replicate the height we get to, but I'm going to keep trying my best, irrespective.
You're a big woman, I think you're there already.
Atimes life is unfair, he who has head has no cap, and he who has a cap has no head to wear it upon, it's well
Yay! 🤗
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Interesting insights. Yes, many things influence economic success, with root causes (an unfair system) and precipitate causes (not trying hard enough). On the other hand, I have been told that writing books is not a prosperous business either, haha. But writing books could make your ideas persist for countless generations.