Three Steps To Financial Freedom You Should Know For Business And Personal Success Part III

Everyone has a basic need for money. Money answers all things. This fact leads to one reason why people pursue money madly.

Secret 3: Everyone craves money.

Originally, money as currency – coins and paper[bank] notes did not exist in a society. Are you worth your salt? Yes, people earned salt as a salary! What would modern society do without this essential preservative with so many other uses? Eventually, goods were traded in exchange for other goods, human cargo such as slaves, or currency.

Gold has value; and this is evident by the gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus. They travelled to Herod’s palace to search for a king. Apparently gold was among the wealth of their country and available there; or it could be found in a neighbouring society.

 Christopher Columbus, who sailed west hoping to reach the East, found gold among the natives of the islands now known as the West Indies. The Spaniards craved gold; and Arawaks were enslaved through a system known as encomienda. These natives were not accustomed to arduous labour as they lived in a communal society.They worked to obtain only what they needed for survival; so they experienced no greed. Eventually, the Arawaks died, some from European diseases and others from suicide.

After Columbus, slavery and piracy dominated the history of the region.  African were captured and traded as commodity for goods in what became known as the Triangular Trade.In the New World, the slaves who crossed the Atlantic Ocean in overcrowded ships were sold at auction.

 Slaves provided money and goods; so the slaves dreamed not only of freedom from slave taskmasters but their own financial freedom. Through provision land which they farmed, slaves began to live a healthier existence. Emancipation freed slaves and gave them basic rights in society. Now, their descendants can be financially free- wealthy if they desire it.

 Making money assumes so many forms. Have   you heard the term  ”gold digger”? Have you ever met one?  Such   a person cares more about your money than your welfare or well- being. You are the gold mine; and the primary purpose is to tap every vein and claim the treasure! Relationships develop; and some prove beneficial to growth. However, some are instigated with one goal in mind –money.

This desire for your money may result from employment, an inheritance, winning a huge prize or even a life insurance policy. On the road to financial freedom, gold diggers will hitch a ride with you. Know how far to go; or better still, refuse them the ride. Anyone who is not an asset is a liability. Let wisdom and understanding ride with you!

Are you a millionaire? Such a status is within reach. Do you know that being a millionaire begins with taking care of pennies or one cent coins? Take  a one cent coin on Monday. Double the amount you have saved on Tuesday. Now you have three cents. Add three cent more ; and on Wednesday you have saved six cents. By Thursday the six cents has become twelve cents; and on Friday it is twenty four cents. At the end of Saturday, you have forty eight cents; and on Sunday, there are ninety six pennies! How much money would you have saved at the end of the month by using this method?

 Many joggers have saved the coins they found during their morning or afternoon exercise; and they used the funds for their vacation! During an outdoor lesson in which I employed the idea of looking for pennies, some students found quarters, dimes and nickels   too. The first class collected almost four dollars.  Classes that followed the first class on the treasure hunt recovered at least two dollars in lost change.

 One large old mayonnaise jar that my brother and   I filled with pennies yielded almost sixty dollars! We did not have the time to roll the coins so   I gave the jar filled with coins to a charitable cause. Whether in one cent pieces or in dollars, money has value.

What would you do if someone gave you one million dollars? Would you be able to manage it wisely? Do you know that many lottery jackpot winners are broke within five years? Sudden wealth causes some people to spin out of control and giddy dance with folly.  Do you know that one million dollars, if invested wisely, can produce sufficient interest to meet the survival needs of a wise individual? Money, like fire , is a good servant but a poor master.

 Money infidelity collapses many marriages and partnerships. Before marriage or any business partnership, each individual involved should know about the collateral of the other person as well as his/her debt. The individuals have to decide whether they will maintain   their own account as well as a joint one. They should know the spending habits of the spouse or partner. Does he/she have to hide items after a shopping trip?

Many horror stories exist about financial infidelity. In one case, the spouse, who had filed for divorce, sold the furniture and traded in the car for a newer model. After that, the spouse withdrew most of the money from the joint savings account. The wife, in this case, was left with the bill for furniture, car payments, no alimony, two children and an ex- husband who was delinquent in his   support of the family.

Before the partnership, marriage, divorce  or separation happens, discuss the survival plans and make some of your own. Money fidelity is a matter of trust in financial matters.

An abundance of money or the lack of it need not determine financial freedom. Having money- lots of it – depends on your earnings, spending and saving habits.

 Do you need to earn more money at your job? Begin to develop the skills and qualifications that the new position demands; then take the necessary steps forward so that you will be the prime choice for a promotion.  Do you find that you are overlooked in spite of your qualifications   and skills? You can change jobs or create a new one! Why should you be unhappy with your career?

Often, necessity and taking a divergent path can open new and exciting opportunities.  One individual bought a table at a patio sale. The owner was leaving town. The mahogany table needed some retouching;  and the person, after checking prices locally, determined how much profit could be obtained by restoring it. That table was sold for a handsome price; and the money received was invested in other items.

Beachcombing is free; and the treasures found can be sold or used to create craft items. During one of my walks along the beach at low tide, I found some clay pebbles, the right colour to be used as decorative stones between the slabs in the front yard. They would keep down the weeds too. However, when I showed my pebbles to family members and friends, they created excitement. They may be bits of pottery!

Collecting coins, banknotes, stamps and post cards were interests I developed as a teenager. One of my students saw my stamp collection and began collecting too. When he brought his stamp collection for me to view,  I noticed that he had obtained some very valuable stamps! He offered me some of his 'lucrative' stamps; but I declined them, accepting only a First Day Cover.

 Recently, after reading an article on coin collections, I realized that I have some very valuable silver coins. Some date from the 19th century.  I can sell some of them for their high silver content. A few years ago, I had more coins in my collection; but someone who knew their value decided to evaluate the resources and claim their wealth.

This person was shrewd, yet wise in a sense.Some people leave an inheritance; and after they die the children discard their wealth! I am ready to take the highest bid for my coin collection!

Craving money is natural. The desire to own money can be traced back to man’s need to work and provide for him/herself and  a family. Marketers, especially those online, know about this craving.

When one is provided with an offer, the most basic question is its benefits. People want to know how the product or service will improve their present life and lifestyle. The next question is what action or steps are necessary to achieve the desired results or goal.

 One recording artist felt that baring herself in public during a promotional video would propel her records to the top. Celebrities jockey for a chance to be in the forefront of the news, increase ratings and earn more money. In order to obtain money, some people think it is necessary to show and tell it all.

What will you do for money? Will you kill, steal and destroy in order to feed the money habit?  Does the excitement of being chased fuel your desire to possess money at any cost? Will you scheme and create scams, duping people shamelessly because of money?

Money is my servant not my master. When I call money it comes to me peacefully to meet my needs and those of my family, friends and even strangers. Since I am a wise master, money comes to me easily.  Come ,money, come.

The problem that confronts many people regarding money is hoarding it. You came into the world empty handed; and you will take nothing with you. One man, who wanted his wealth to be buried with him, had a wise wife. She had a cheque [check] made; and she placed it in his hand just before the morticians closed the casket!

Instead of hoarding wealth, spread it thin. Keep a base for you and your family- enough to live comfortably. Honour your mother and father as well as those who have nurtured you  in your quest for success.

One friend, who was thrilled when I gave her a gift of ribbon bookmarks with my poetry, remembered me when she settled her estate. She stopped me one afternoon and after placing some money in my hand, closed it tightly, giving me precise instructions. This friend had seen me often with my car filled with children; and when she talked about her children, I talked about mine. Although her gift was not thousands of dollars, those children and countless more, are still benefitting from her gift.

Most of all, honour God first for it is He who gives the power to get wealth. Jesus noted the gift of the widow who gave a small offering; but she was not wealthy. Yet she gave; and it was a sacrifice.The rich ,young man- in contrast- could not accept what Jesus told him because he was very rich . Money was his master not servant.

 Follow these secrets and you will be financially free. Money is your servant; call it to meet your needs!