This week, our writer discusses making his first million and the detours he encountered to get there. He finds out making his first million isn’t as valuable as his first lesson on patience and fulfillment. Which would you rather prefer — a million at 22 or sustaining millions at 55? You choose.
I made my first million this year.
It wasn’t exactly how I wanted it. I must’ve pictured a victory parade — myself riding on a horseback on a sunny afternoon with my warrior boots dangling as my horse gallops, spear in my hand as my entourage of friends march out victorious from the city of poverty.
But nope, it wasn’t that glorious. It just ‘happened’. I remember writing a song at the peak of my arrogance last year titled ‘Legit’. At that time in my life, I had an internship offer waiting in England — it was to earn me close to a million a month in wages — my arrogance was deep and deliberate. So while my offer was waiting in England and I was preparing to write my IELTS, I wrote this song titled ‘Legit’ (You never see admission you don dey get school father). The song streamlines incomes to “Daddy Money” and “Yahoo Money” and then I boast and say — nah, not me. I’m not cut out of those types of income — I’m self made! I made me.
Clown.
England didn’t happen for certain reasons which I touched on Friday letter 02. But even if I went to England to earn that money, there’d still have been elements of ‘Daddy Money’ because he paid for my visa fee and IELTS. Look, sometimes we get too arrogant that we deny the privileges we enjoy, the privileges that have made us — regardless how insignificant. If I’m saying nobody paved the way for me — how is Julius Berger supposed to feel? How?
I’m a pretty intentional person. When you combine extreme intentionality with the social media influences we come across nowadays — it pushes us to do certain things we didn’t exactly thing through.
I’d not gone to England to take up my internship offer yet I’d drafted my “I just made my first million” tweet. It’s the audacity for me (You never see admission you don dey contest for Class Governor.)
You can blame me. Do it, that’s fine. You can laugh at me, I’m doing that at myself now. But we’re modified everyday by the fact (albeit unconsciously) that folks our age celebrate certain landmarks via tweets and social media posts. We honestly start doubting the validity of our own dreams when we cannot make the same claims they make. But I’m here to tell you — like my baby told me over the phone last night when I got another disappointing mail — She said — it’s a journey. That’s what it’ll always be.
You should be more concerned about your destination than your speed! Recognize the difference between a car race and a marathon, life is the latter. What’s more important? Making your first million at 22 or sustaining your millions at 55? It’s the long game that matters. Let’s learn how to set ourselves up for long-term successes and only consistency provides that!
I eventually made my first million this year in a joint venture with my Dad. My song ‘legit’ is cringing right now at the sound of Daddy Money. Anyhoo, it wasn’t the type of profit I could make and not be responsible for my younger siblings in certain ways. I’d put in Daddy’s money into a business so it was only right I paid everyone’s allowances as well as that of a cousin in need. Charlie, what would you settle for — a tweet to celebrate your first million or the fact that you’ve paid everybody’s allowances conveniently 4 months in a row?
What do we know and why do we keep competing with facades?! Henry, Tade, Nkechi — Why do you compete with stuff you know nothing about? Why do we compete with trees when all we see are the green leaves and the stem — we see and know nothing about the roots!
I understand that sometimes comparisons are valid and you can excuse someone whose life is fixated in that reality. It’s fine if oppression stares you in the face. But as much as you compare, don’t let it derail you. Don’t let it fast track a process that would have been better done in stages. It’s hard to advise this because I’m guilty myself — Don’t let it fast track life.
If God isn’t done working, don’t be done waiting.
