WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WORK BEYOND A PAY CHEQUE?

 We live in a money economy and money almost defines everything. From accessing quality health care to good education we need money to survive. There are even places where youths will not allow a person to pass if they are not given money. On the news I saw a group of able bodied youths who wanted to beat up staff of a sports betting company in Busia District for refusing to give them their "return on investment."

As a financial literacy practitioner on a daily Iam asked by the youths( who form the majority in the country, over 70% of the population is below 30 years ) what they can do to get a well paying job? This is a very pertinent question because with the high cost of living it becomes difficult to make ends meet. This explains why it is a taboo to pick up your phone in a taxi(you may not like the consequences). The increase in crime is some how related to the high rate of unemployment among the youths.

Amidst the absence of jobs, there is an emerging pattern that requires urgent attention. Most youths think that it is only money that is a sign of success. This explains why even talented youths would rather stay at home than do humble work that promises little pay. I know of youths who resorted to drugs because they despised little pay at work. Perhaps we can attribute such behavior to limited mentorship at work, home and school. The fast paced nature of the world does not give a parent enough time to pay  attention into their children to know that real success is out of hard work. It is not surprising that there was a youth who was killed by a mob for murdering a prominent businessman in town. 

We need to know that work is not a punishment but rather a blessing. We are living in a society where certain people prefer to be paid before working. In other wards everything is being attached to money. Do youths know that some of the leading executives in companies started as volunteers in their companies? Their focus was to first amass experience and then get paid. They had a clear career plan. Today most youths especially university graduates want instant success. It is not bad to want the success but the price must be paid. I have never seen a storied building that is built in a month. If it is built it collapses very fast.

Brian Tracy in his book the 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success noted that successful people or leaders think long term . This view is supported by Harv Eker in his book Secrets of A Millionaire Mind. Come to think of it how come great leaders such as Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela are still icons in the world yet they are long gone? It is because they had a long term view to life. Why would a group of youths plot to harm innocent people and steal their property such as phones and bags? It is because society is losing its  grip on long term thinking and planning. The youths are characterized by instant gratification. Many have sold their land to buy boda bodas in Kampala. Some have agreed to be illegally transported to outside countries( human trafficking) in hope of a better future.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WORK BEYOND A PAY CHEQUE

1.It begins with having a clear purpose for life

2.Identify successful mentors and coaches

3.Focus on service

4.Career planning

5.Avoid self comparisons 

6.Think long term

7.Embrace life long learning

8.Invest in financial literacy training

9.Embrace humility

10.Live within your means


By and large work gives us an identity. We work to add value to humanity and make a living. The reward of diligent service is a pay. But we can seek to use our work as a ministry for adding value to humanity.

Phillip Kiryowa

Finance and Leadership Coach

+256752615916

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THRIVING AMIDST UNEMPLOYMENT

 Ask any graduate what their worst night mare is and they will inform you that lack of access to a dignified employment opportunity is a big hurdle. Over 70% of Ugandans are below the age of 30 years of age. There are very many reasons why the unemployment rate needs to be addressed. Uganda has over 30 universities and all universities graduate over 300,000 graduates per year yet the formal sector produces on average 70,000 jobs. This mismatch is an indicator of the frustrations that the young people face. It was on media last year when I saw a group of able bodied youths who wanted to beat up staff of a sports betting company for failing to pay for their "Return on Investment" in Bugiri District. Iam not saying that all youths are involved in crime .What am trying to point out is that the probability of a youth without a job being involved in crime is high( after all there is a saying that an idle mind is a devil's workshop). Just this year there was youth who was killed
Read more

A SAVINGS PLAN CAN AID IN FINANCIAL ADVANCEMENT

 I remember during the Trainer of Trainers training conducted by Bank of Uganda we were encouraged to develop a savings plan. This was a key development because without a plan we may live in financial darkness. In my years of providing financial literacy across the country especially youths I have observed that the intangible practices that may be undermined play a big role in the big picture. I have been asked a question, "how can one save yet their needs exceed their income?. It is a tough question but the best practice remains that even in the hardest of circumstances we should prioritize saving .This is because we do not know what the future holds. As humans we forget so fast. Who remembers during the lock down of Covid-19 when people were not working. Life was extremely tough. It was an opportunity to reflect about the importance of savings during good times. A savings plan enables a person to determine why they are saving. It could be for school fees, buying a plot, a car an
Read more

WE CELEBRATE GRADUATION BUT AFTER THAT WHAT NEXT ?

 Uganda is officially dominated by young people. Over 50 %of the population are youths. With a high population the job market also shrinks yet people need to survive. It is the means of survival that create social pressure. The unemployment dilemma in the country can be dissected from different angles and each person or all stakeholders have a critical role to play.  Universities and other institutions of higher learning produce over 300,000 graduates per year. The job creation rate is about 70,000 jobs per year. This means that the job market is narrow. It is a common sight to see over 100 applicants for one job. This is a signal that something drastic must be done to change this trajectory. Development partners such as government, private sectors and donors such as Master Card Foundation are playing a critical role in addressing youth unemployment. In fact this suggests that fight against youth unemployment must be multifaceted.  During graduation season it is justifiable for any stu
Read more