Entrepreneurial Motivation
"Mind Your Own Business"
Entrepreneurial Motivation - introduction
Are you spending all your time in other people’s business? Is your energy and effort spent minding other people’s concerns?
I am not referring here to gossiping, rumour mongering or any such vice. I am referring to the thing that makes thousands of people in this country get up early in the morning, leave their families and their homes and make a mad dash through crazy traffic like it’s the end of the world.
That thing is work. More specifically, it is employment. Whether in the formal or informal sector it is the dominant activity in many of our lives throughout the world. It is a necessary evil for most of us because deep down we would rather not be working for anyone else, but somehow we accept that it is the only way to get by.
Once the paycheck arrives at the end of the month we feel relieved, though only for a little while, that we have our needs met. By the 10th of the month the waiting starts all over again. We have to endure the rest of the month until the next paycheck.
That is a reality for a lot of people, not only in Zambia, but throughout the world. We have become slaves to our salaries. “Making a living” is killing us. It should be making our lives better.
Entrepreneurial motivation - who are you working for?
When you go to work everyday, whose purpose are you fulfilling? It is the purpose of the company or organization you are working for. You are employed to help your organization achieve its objectives. If someone else took over your position they would still do the same things you do in order to achieve the organization’s objectives.
If you are working for an individual the same reasoning applies. You are working to fulfill the purpose given to you by that individual. In both cases you are minding someone else’s business.
Entrepreneurial motivation - you are not what you do
However the situation gets more complex: many of us have been led into the belief that the organisation’s purpose is our own purpose. We whole-heartedly take up the cause of the organisation as our own. Our thoughts and ideals slowly but surely come to be replaced by those of our workplace. We become the perfect employees.
What’s wrong with that? Everything. You are not what you do. Your work is not who you are. Unfortunately, our education system hasn’t helped in this regard. It has trained us to become what we study. If you study law you become a lawyer, studying auto mechanics makes you a mechanic and studying cooking makes you a cook.
“The mistake in becoming what you study is that too many people forget to mind their own business. They spend their lives minding someone else’s business and making that person rich.”Those are the wise words of Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.
Entrepreneurial motivation - minding other people's business
When you mind someone else’s business they may be achieving their objectives, but you are definitely not. It doesn’t matter how big your salary is. The fact is your boss or the owner of the business will always make more money than you. Why not mind your own business and make your own fortune?
Entrepreneurial motivation - work to develop yourself
Firstly, it should be a way of learning and getting more knowledge and skills. People that work simply for the purpose of getting paid are often not the most productive people. It is those that realise the value that working is adding to their knowledge and skills as individuals that always perform better and that are always ready for the next challenge.
Such people know that what they will get from their job will ultimately help them to mind their own business by equipping them with what they need mentally to be able to fulfill their own purpose.
Entrepreneurial motivation - work to invest
Secondly, working should be a means of being able to meet your basic needs whilst you work on your real purpose. Everything worthwhile takes time to build and become self sustaining and profitable. During this building phase you obviously need something to help you along.
Entrepreneurial motivation - work for financial independence
Thirdly, it should be a way of raising the finances needed to be able to mind your own business. Your salary is not meant to be spent as soon as it is received. Robert Kiyosaki says “the poor and middle class work for money. The rich have money work of them.”
Some of the money you earn should be utilized in helping you to become financially independent. It should be invested. That may be in the form of having a business, buying stock or shares or anything else, so long as your money is growing. Your money should be put to work for you.
Entrepreneurial motivation - delay gratification
Unfortunately, the more we earn the more we spend on luxury items. Everyone wants an expensive car and a humongous house. That’s good. Just make sure that you get those things after you have built up a good financial base. Would a smaller house and a cheaper car not do in the meantime? Of course it would. Maybe you can invest the rest of the money into something that will yield far greater benefits in the long run.
The employee mentality is what keeps most of us slaves to the economy and other people. We need to stop minding other people’s business and start minding our own. At the very least we should do both. But do both well.
Entrepreneurial motivation - conclusion
Paul the apostle said “that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you… that you may have lack of nothing.” This statement was made close to two thousand years ago. Are we so slow to learn that up to this time we don’t understand its message?
As a dreamer, you need to understand its significance and mind your own business. Never lose track of your vision for your life. Do not ever get so busy making a living that you forget to live your life.
You are all you can be. Go on and be it!
I hope you have enjoyed these articles on motivation and that they will be of benefit to you as you reach out to your dreams.
Return from Entrepreneurial Motivation to Newspaper Articles on Motivation
Articles on motivation - Lessons from a baby
HOME
Other Books By Dr. Moses:
Power Principles For Purposeful Living
"Powerful And Life-Changing Lessons On How To Maximise Your Potential And Live Your Dreams"
Power Principles for Fearless & Abundant Living
"How To Let Go of Fear and Embrace Prosperity"
In the POWER PRINCIPLES series of books, Dr. Moses Simuyemba, "Africa's Success Coach", shares his knowledge, experience and insight to help you in overcoming your personal challenges and limitations and inspire you towards the life you desire and deserve: a life of greater purpose, free of fear and full of abundance.