30K-PER-MONTH PAY, 30M-PER-MONTH TARGET: YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE 10% OF THAT FOR YOURSELF!

Dolapo Ojobanikan

Dolapo works with a mortgage/real estate firm in Lagos

It’s just funny when I hear people have a marketing or sales job paying N25-35k for meeting a target of 20-50 million naira. What?! The worst part is that they can be sacked at anytime, no form of job security, nothing!

But “people” never pause to think that if they could hit 50m within a month, they could probably get N5m to start up something for themselves by pitching strategic, unique and potentially profitable business ideas to these same HNIs (high networth individuals) who can easily part with N50m. It gets to a point where you need to start arriving at decisions that make economic sense.

I understand that the economic situation of the country can sometimes push one to take desperate measures. But as a graduate, you need to take some time out to make some calculations here: N50m target, N25k salary (plus insults and lack of motivation from the supposed managers). You’re a graduate. Opportunity cost… the alternative forgone..

You may say that starting and running a business is not meant for everyone. But for those facing the aforementioned situation, would you advise that they continue on that path?

In this generation, we need to start thinking above and beyond. There are so many business ideas yet unexplored, so many of them that can be expanded on and made better.

A teenager in South Africa recently created a product which allows you have a shower without water. He’s obviously made.

I’m not writing this piece to judge anyone’s decisions especially not when it comes to choosing jobs in this our economy. I’m just saying that before you take that job that you know that you will complain about/regret all day and all night, the same one that will not even be able to pay your transport fee round the state in search of clients, think more than twice. Have a plan. If anything, if you take the job, use it to build a network, get HNIs and build good and honest relationships with them.

There’s this story of a girl that was on a N25k salary with a target of N50m. She met about N25m the first month I think. At the end of the month, she was threatened (with a sack) if she failed to meet up with her target the next month. She was able to meet with around N12.5m and true to their word, they sacked her. Now, she was unemployed after just 2 months. She’s of course looking for another job that’d probably entail the same terms and conditions which truly is not her fault…. the situation is bad all round in Nigeria. But I need you to work with the opportunities here for a bit. If you can can convince people to part with about N37.5m in 2 months as an individual, I truly respect you! You are my role model…. I want to be like you when I grow up :).

However, think about the possibilities which are ultimately endless! Don’t you think that if you developed a proper and solid business plan, discuss with these same people, they can part with at least N5m? And isn’t N5m enough to start up at least quite a number of businesses (some even on a large scale). People have become multi-millionaires/billionaires with far less.

Truth be said, in the age we are going into now, an office job (especially a mediocre one) is just not going to cut it. Well, if you have your ultimate dream job, I’m happy for you. Please be wise enough to begin saving from day 1. No matter how seemingly secure your job is, don’t act like it. Even if it eventually is secure, you will retire one day definitely….what will you have to fall back on then? Say you start your career at 25, with the perfect job (I’m assuming the wonderful pay is a major factor for its perfection) you might be able to retire voluntarily at 40.

Think about this, if you leave your present job now, do you have the funds that can enable you sustain your present lifestyle for the next 6 months? If you don’t, I’m afraid that you are in big trouble (including me :().

On the other hand, if you don’t have that ultimate job, you have to be extremely calculating to move on to the next level. I guess at the end of the day, it has to do with your plan, your future, your priorities, the standard of life you want to live……

I for example envisage the following in my life….

Now, you understand….

And I don’t want to do anything illegal, neither do I want to do anything immoral. Nobody has to tell me to work extremely smart, hard, long and well! There are so many success stories…so many!

As a wise man once said, “Challenge yourself to do better and better. Remember, growth starts with a decision to move beyond your present circumstances…… (friends don’t let friends lose focus)

Remember, hardwork and diligence truly pay!