This article was inspired by a piece I read in the March 23rd Edition of The Sunday Punch. The columnist, Nigeria Ex-Footballer, Adokiye Amaesimaka, hit the nail on the head by stating the importance of planning to one’s future.
We all have been innundated in the media with stories of people serving the nation and being abandoned at their times of need. We see ex-sportmen, service men and different categories of people lamenting how they have served the country and how they have suffered neglect after retiring.
Taking members of the 1980 Nation’s Cup as an example, Adokiye wrote how they were feted by everybody that matters then. They were given cars, houses, lands and money that could better anybody’s life. Years after, only a few amounted to something while so many of those players are languishing in penury and living from hand to mouth.
When all of the players got all these rewards, only a few thought there is still a future and a lot thought about living for today. Investment in the future was not in the disctionary of so many and the outcome is visible for all today.
While the likes of Adokiye, who became the Chief Justice and Commissioner of Justice in Rivers State, Segun Odegbami, Christian Chukwu and a host of others can be proud of who they are today, some have died in penury and a lot are still struggling to make ends meet.
The truth of the matter is that we either sow in the Rainy Season or regret in the summer. So many old people are struggling today not because the nation has been unfair to them, but because they failed to plan when they were supposed to. How many of our parents ever told us the government never paid their salaries back then?
If someone works for 35 years and still can’t have anything to show for it, we should blame the person and not the system but unfortunately the reverse is the case. How many of these people ever bother setting aside something for the future? Like so many I have met, they always think things will forever remain the same. Poor thinking!
I know of an old couple, both ex-teachers, that live on the investment they made while in active service. I don’t think I ever saw them going to queue in the sun or rain for pension. I also know of a man that told me he regreted not thinking about the future when the going was good and the money was rolling in from all corners. He said when his friends adviced him to invest, he told them the money cannot stop flowing. He is definitely not enjoying that decision.
An unplanned life is not worth living at all and you must NEVER live such a life. Remember there is a future ahead of you and you must begin to plan today what you want your tomorrow to be like. let me leave you with a golden word I learnt years back. It had a great effect on me then and it will do same to you:
“The only regret we will have twenty years from now, is not for the things we did, but for the things we fail to do.” - Mark Twain.
I don’t pray you regret how you have lived today, tomorrow, so begin to plan your future TODAY! 
April 11th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Bola,
With guys like you around,alot of us have no choice but to take ACTION now that will result in a better life tomorrow.The awareness is spreading.On a daily basis ,more and more people are investing in stocks and real estate.Wealth creation comes from making sarcifices and self denial.Invest only 10% of your monthly income wisely and you will be amazed what that will come to in a few years’ time!!!One is expected to invest while one is still active.That is the true meaning of saving for the rainy DAY.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:27 am
i quite agree with you.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
thanks for that wonderful article but i want to ask a question?is it that the countary is not been fair to them or that they were not fair to themselves.there are many pple that ve served the nation and that means all attention will be shifted to their on side and others should not be cared for.anyway you ve said it all.investment is the watch word and thank you dear for that article and do ve a wonderful night rest.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
This is really a timely advice to your readers and i think this message should be amplified by all.The advent of internet marketing has given us all options to plan for old age.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Nna,
thanks for your great advice. It is true that the knowledge of investment is spreading at a GREAT speed. People are having their eyes opened now that things used to be before.
We can all become an agent of change as well.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Thanks yemmy.
Chi, hop you are doing great. Quite a long time. Well, deductions can be made from the article. People are unfair to themselves by failing to invest in their future
God bless you my sister
April 12th, 2008 at 5:51 am
oluwamuyiwa,
true talk. Let’s all help spread the message. The Internet, trully, has made things easier for us than ever before.
Have a GREAT weekend
April 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I did not realise the important of investment befor, and i now understand it and i have invest alot.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hi Bolly,
I think proper plan,focus,determination and lots of Action can get one to wherever one desire in life.couple with series of motivational articles
one is get from you.
If their is anyone on naija motivation who is yet to write down is future plan should do so right away because that’s only way you can make your plan tangible.
To our success
Thanks Bolly
April 16th, 2008 at 4:52 am
adedoyin,
I am so happy for you. Keep it up my man
April 16th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Shibra, you are always GREAT!
Thanks for the blueprint you have highlighted because they work and the truth of the matter is that we all NEED plans because they serve as road maps to achievement.
Thanks man.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Hi Bola,
It is being said that any one who fails to plan always plan to fail.we all need to plan in order not beg in future.We should learn to plan by investing for the future, likewise the Government need to plan for the future of its workers by at least giving them a roof over their head after service so that they will have a good environment to bring up the leaders of tomorrow.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:22 am
SUCH IS LIFE.LIFE IS FULL OF MYSTERIES.MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT WHEN THEY HAVE ABOUNDANT OF MONEY THERE PROBLEM IS OVER. SOME PEOPLE ALSO BELIEVED THAT WHEN THEY WORK VERY HARD WITH ALL THEIR STRENTH AND ABILITY, THEY WILL BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND VERY RICH.SOME PEOPLE ALSO BELIVED THAT WITH PRAYER AND PURPOSEFUL PLANNING THE SKY IS NOT EVEN THEIR LIMIT.
FOR ME I CHOOSE TO BELIEVED THE LAST OPTION BECAUSE OUR ENVIRONMENT AS AN AFRICAN PARTICULARLY NIGERIA IS EVIL. THE TRADITION IN AFRICA IS THAT WE ALLOW GOOD THINGS TO DIE AND MAKE BAD THINGS TO SURVIVE, IF SEE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO ACHIEVE GOOD THINGS ,INSTEAD OF US TO ASSIST THE PERSON WE BECOME JEALOUS AND SAD. WHAT YOU HEAR NEXT IS THAT THE PERSON JUST DIED MYSTERIOUSLY. HOWEVER, A NEW NIGERIAN HAS STARTED WITH YOU SIR MR ADEBOLA ONI.PLEASE,YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT NIGERIANS ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT OF THEIR PROBLEM ,YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING TREMENDIOUS. PLEASE KEEP IT UP. GOD BLESS YOU IN JESUS NAME. AMEN
April 18th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Thanks Bola,
A life without plan is just like a house build on a sandy soil. But a planned life is that house that was built on a solid rock which can withstand any wind. Let us plan for our future.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:35 am
i want to add this little proverb to the topic under discuss i quote “as u lay your bed as u will lad on it”
April 19th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Favour,
we can never disagree that we need future plans. Talking about the government, it is a known fact that they don’t care and it is not wise to leave one’s future in the hands of those who care less about it.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:50 am
well said olajide. We need plans and we need prayer as well. It is not of him that wills… That is what the scripture says.
God bless you man
April 19th, 2008 at 4:59 am
True representation Williams.
When the storm comes, the house that stands is the one with a solid foundation that can NEVER be shaken.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Thanks for that contribution Murtala. Have a great weekend.
God bless you
May 1st, 2008 at 5:33 am
Great post Bola,
If someone works for 35 years and still can’t have anything to show for it, we should blame the person and not the system.
Failure to plan is planning to fail.
Regards.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:36 am
True talk Charles but unfortunately the reverse is the case.
Thanks for your great comment.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Spot on! Maturity is indeed the ability to delay gratification in order to birth a desired future. We cannot eat our seed and expect a harvest tomorrow. No matter how difficult the terrain is, there would always be those “4-wheel drives” that would stylishly overcome. However, we must realise that true enduring wealth is strategically and systematically built over time, and never stumbled upon.
Note: HYIPs and high risk Speculating (with respect to Stocks, commodities and Forex) may promise great and quick returns, but they are usually unsustainable and eventually ruin many. We must learn to invest patiently and wisely.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:51 am
“we must realise that true enduring wealth is strategically and systematically built over time, and never stumbled upon.”
I can’t agree less with you on this.
You are indeed a GREAT man and I am so happy to have you here!
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 am
Yes our depends on our planning,a good one lifts our head up while a bad one bring us down.which i don n’t pray for.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Thanks for your comment Amedu. You are blessed.