1. Money
Money is the exchange of value, while currency is the physical or digital medium of exchange such as bank notes or bitcoin. We often think about money as paper notes or numbers displayed in our pay cheques or ledger accounts, but money is more than that. Precisely, money has since time immemorial defined as the medium for exchanging value. This means that the more value you bring into people’s lives, the more money finds its way to you. True wealth isn’t about what you own, but about what you offer and quantified as how much you impact others.
2. Credibility
Think of credibility as the record of your consistency which is not built overnight, but by doing the right things repeatedly over a long period of time, long enough for people to notice and say, “That’s who this person is.” Your credibility is your invisible résumé. Its your reputation that speaks before you do. You can’t demand credibility; you earn it through reliability, honesty, and excellence over time.
3. Credible relationships
Credible relationships refer to the power of borrowed trust. Sometimes when you lack money, you can compensate for this by building relationships with afluent people. Think about it this way: if you walk into a dealership asking for a car worth 32 million, promising to pay in two weeks, they’ll more likely decline because they lack a record of your credibility. But if you walk in with a signed note from Elon Musk vouching for you, they’ll hand you the car keys without hesitation. Why? Because his credibility covers you. That’s why I advise young people: whenever a rich person offers you money, politely decline and ask for his or her access instead. Let them open their doors for you, pick your calls, and introduce you to their network. Access is worth more than cash; because it gives you opportunities that money alone can’t buy.
4. Integrity
Integrity can be defined as doing right when no one is watching. It is who you are when no one’s looking and choosing what’s right even when you know you could get away with doing wrong. It’s not about how others see you, rather, about what your conscience says when you’re alone. Integrity is quiet but powerful. It builds trust, attracts respect, and sustains everything else you achieve.
5. Character
Character is the foundation upon which everything in your life stands, whether love, leadership, trust, etc. When the foundation of a building is weak, even the most magnificent marble - built walls eventually collapse. No amount of charm, talent, or influence can make up for a flawed character. True character doesn’t change with circumstances. Just as the number two means the same everywhere in the world, character remains constant, rain or shine, in public or in private. That’s why God’s character is called holy, unchanging and pure. Your character is your true strength; without it, nothing else lasts.
6. Competence
Competence refers to what you do, as opposed to what you say. Your competence is your ability to do what you claim to know or what your academic certificates speak for you. It’s not about your words, your prayers, or your passion. It’s about your performance. You can’t substitute skill with charisma. People of good character distinguish themselves with excellence and this excellence speaks louder than mere talk. So, the real question is: What can you actually do?
7. Cash
At the end of it all, cash can be considered as the lowest level of wealth because it is the by-product of everything else: credibility, integrity, character, and competence. When these are in place, cash follows naturally. But when money becomes your only pursuit, you lose the very values that attract it in the first place. True wealth starts inside, not in your wallet.
Great 👌 article.
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