A few years back, I had the opportunity to visit a Barrister friend of mine at home. He and his family lived in a sprawling house outside London. I was impressed and so we got talking.
Our success is similar but our story is different. He came from a rich family as his late father was a property and business magnate who left a lot of assets behind. My friend on his own is a very good Barrister whose wife is also a lawyer. They have done well. On my own,
I came from a poor background and I inherited nothing from my parents but God, with the able support of my wife who is a Child Specialist, helped me. We worked our way up.
On leaving his house, I started reflecting on life. How easy is it to get to the top?
Very easy and very difficult. If you are from a good home with great wealth and you are not lazy or irresponsible, you will succeed without much sweat. Your parents will live something for you and that becomes a platform to rise.
Manage whatever is left for you well and you will rise to prominence.
On the other hand, if you are from a poor family like me, the journey is longer. Growing up, I was raised by a single parent, lived with several families including a vicar, was a houseboy, could not afford
to go to university in Nigeria due to having no sponsor, got to England and spent over 10 years fighting the Immigration authority, sponsored myself to the university through working day and night, worked at Macdonald’s, London Underground, with a cleaning company and took
loans to attend the law school. It took me another 7 years to finish paying the loan. The pain was too much and the journey was very long. I was not inferior to those who made it easily because of their family background but my poor background delayed me.
In all, I am still grateful to God.
Don’t disengage from my story. Many are depressed today and downcast because they are struggling in life. They have no helper. Many are graduates who cannot get a job because they have no connection.
Many have brains but they have no funds to pay for their education. Many are suicidal because nothing seems to be working. Amos 7:5 “Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small”.
I say to you that God will help you. Isaiah 41:14 “ Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel”.
You can do what the successful people are doing. You can build a mega church.
You can build a successful business empire. Don’t look down on yourself. Success is not in how big but how you got there. Someone looked at me years ago and said “do you know the background of that pastor with a megachurch and connection with all the top people in the country”?
I said no. He said “His father left a lot of wealth for him and the wife is also from a rich family. His father also introduced him to the powerful men and women in the country before he died”. So friends, don’t kill yourself trying to be like that man or woman.
Their background is different from yours. Be yourself and run your own race.
In conclusion, our children should not go through the same pain we went through. Let us strive to leave something for them so that their rising can be faster. God will help us.
Do not waste resources. Do not play to the gallery. Do not try to be like that privileged friend. Quietly build your own empire. God, the helper of the common man will help you. Also, seek to know as knowledge is power.
Choose your friends carefully and be humble enough to learn from them. Finally, tell your children your story and train them on how to manage resources. I see you win!
Dele Olawanle, is UK base Lawyer, Author
You can reach him on twitter @Dolanwale
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