FirstGem.

My mentor invited me for a program organized as part of the FirstGem initiative. At this time I had never heard of FirstGem. I was scheduled to be away on a business trip  so my immediate response to her was I'll be unavailable. 

However for some reason my visa did not come out on time so I couldn't make the trip. I had already planned some other activities on same day of the program when I remembered the invitation. Out of courtesy and respect, I messaged her and said I'll be able to attend and I'll buy my train ticket to come down from Southampton to London where the event was to take place.

The next morning I hurried to the train station. The event was scheduled to start at 10am and I needed to catch the 7.55am train to have any chance of making it on time. When I got to the machine to print my tickets, I realized I had bought a single ticket instead of the open return I thought I had selected. I couldn't afford to buy another single to return home so I decided to buy a coach ticket.

While trying to select my return ticket, I thought what I had seen on the flyer for the program was that it was to end at 1pm; so I bought a ticket for 3.30pm. I figured that gave me ample time for networking. Immediately after buying my ticket, I picked up my phone to confirm again and saw that I was wrong about the time; it was scheduled to end at 3pm. This meant that I had to leave even before the program ended, had no time for networking and had to run to catch my coach as I didn't leave on time giving me blisters on my feet for my efforts. I was able to catch the coach, due in part to getting on an earlier train after running, but mostly because the coach was delayed.

This story is in a nutshell the summary of my financial existence to date. 

I miss opportunities because I do not start early enough; and because I do not start early enough, I am not well prepared; and because I am not well prepared I do not have enough knowledge about the subject matter; and because I do not have enough knowledge about the subject matter, I do not if or when and how much resources to invest.

The main thing I took away from the FirstGem session today: financial savviness is built on the foundation of deliberate action, discipline, consistency and accountability. (I dare say it's not only financial savviness, same applies to my constant struggle to lose weight and stay fit, but that's a story for another day).

Ironically a lot of the things that were said today I have heard from my mother. If I had put into practice half of the things she has told me over the years, I would probably feel very differently and be in a different financial place.

My dad has a saying 'When someone wakes up is his/her morning'. Today 1st September 2018 is my financial savviness birth day. 1st step for me is to understand my net worth and the state of my financial health. I have chosen to start from here because 'one cannot improve what one cannot measure'. After this assessment I will come up with a plan spanned over short, medium term and long term goals.

I always knew I was not on top of things financially, but my thinking was that in my family, my spouse would make up for this shortcoming. Today I learnt that I have been myopic and there are others I can reach out to and lean on to support me in this area of improvement.

FirstGem has provided this platform to teach and empower women (and men) to be financially aware and smart and I am happy I turned up that day. 

This is just the beginning and if you are anything like me - clueless about numbers and avoiding them at all costs - feel free to message me. I'm happy to share the resources I got from the session and we can go on this journey together.

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Get Connected. Stay Connected

Imagine being a member of the most powerful political dynasty in the world like the Bush family; or a member of the most successful real estate dynasty in the world like the Trump family; or a member of the most popular reality entertainment dynasty like the Kardashians; or a member of the most powerful banking and finance dynasty in the world like the Rothschild family; or to bring it home, imagine if you just found out that you are related to Aliko Dangote or Folorunsho Alakija?

I have a cousin who shares the same last name as General Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and she would often times regale us with tales of how she had used that name to open doors for herself while in school and when she started work by claiming a relationship with the General. In truth, many of us would do the same if we were so connected whether falsely or in reality.

But then again, are we not? Could it be that perhaps we do not realize the connections that we have? Because in truth you cannot use what you don't know you posses, just like you cannot give what you don't have. 

If that's the case, please permit to tell you this; YOU are insanely connected. Ephesians  2:19-20 tells us 'You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone.' You belong to an everlasting dynasty with family members whose interests cut across industries. 

If politics is your thing you have St Thomas Moore who is the patron saint of politicians, statesmen and civil servants to show you a thing or two. Is your interest in real estate? Then connect immediately to St Joseph the spouse of our Blessed Mother Mary who, in addition to being the patron saint of workers, is also the patron saint of real estate matters and home sales.

Anyone interested in entertainment be it acting, dancing, music or comedy can connect immediately to St Genesius who was a former entertainer himself; and for all Finance and Accounting related matters, you will do well to hook up to St Matthew the Apostle who as a former tax collector knows plenty about money.

Sometimes we need connections not just for professional purposes, they're also very necessary in taking care of personal matters. 

Not to worry because in this too we're covered. Feel free to hook up with St Joseph or St Francis of Assisi or St Maximilian Kolbe for your family matters. There are also many saints for particular family situations or challenges, you can get more information on http://catholicsaints.info/patron-saints-of-family-matters/.

For those battling one ailment or the other, there are so many members of this dynasty we can call upon. To mention a few are St Padre Pio for pain and suffering, St Theresa of Avila for headaches, St Peregrine for cancer. You can view a more comprehensive list here. https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/30-healing-saints-for-common-ailments.

And if you're generally just going through a tough time and you're desperate and feel like all is lost, I will encourage you to connect to St Jude Thaddeus, St Rita of Cascia or St Philomena. You can read up some more about these saints here https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/four-patron-saints-of-impossible-causes.

In truth our Heavenly Father, the founding father of this dynasty, has got us all covered. So what are we waiting for, it's time to Get Connected and Stay Connected.

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