Nobody wants to be born into poverty, but life often happens to many people. There is nobody who is told to choose between poverty and riches, and the person is seen choosing poverty. We don’t even have a say in determining our parents, let alone the economic class or status we are born into. However, that you are born poor does not mean you should remain poor. You should desire to change your background. No wonder, a certain speaker once said that you are from a poor background ends at 30; after 30, you are now the ‘poor background’. This is true because you are the person the younger generation or your children are looking up to. A lot of people who grew up poor want the following as part of their dreams:
Good Foundation: The first thing every poor man or woman wants at a very young age is the right foundation. The truth of the matter is that anybody poor came from a poor background. It is this background that tends to put their backs to the wall financially. In most cases, they grow up to give birth to children with a poor foundation and the cycle continues. A good foundation can come in the form of the right education because the difference between the poor and the rich is the leverage of information at the disposal of the rich. The poor cannot afford such access and leverage even though they really want to.
Good Source of Income: Another thing that those who grew up poor wanted was a good, steady source of income. According to an international report, a lot of people in Nigeria and Africa as a whole are living below one dollar per day. Having a good source of income is imperative to becoming rich and self-sufficient. A good source of income can be a good business or a well-paying job. Anything that puts food on the table consistently is what they really want. Sometimes, due to a lack of a financial system and economic opportunities, they will save to invest and something else will take the money. It becomes a case of a rat race. A struggle to survive. This makes everyone who grew up poor always be in survival mode. The desire for a good source of income may last for a lifetime and it becomes a dream that never comes true.
Good Home: When we see the wealthy ones among us in the society, the first thing that mark them out is their place of residence. Their homes are usually made up of beautiful structures and flowers that are cool and welcoming. It is the desire of every poor man to have a house of his home. A home is not just a place of residence, it is a place of comfort and relaxation. It signifies progress and self-actualisation. Some people even go as far as getting a loan to get or build their own house because that is what they really want.
Good Security: Security of life is a priority. Every poor man wants to play it safe. They want to live long in a safe neighborhood and do things that are safe in the meantime. The fact is that most poor people don’t want to risk anything. They want everything and everywhere to be safe and secured. This is mostly inspired by fear and lack of self-awareness. No wonder, there is a saying in the local parlance that if you show a poor man what it takes to become a rich man, the poor man will choose to remain the way he is.
Good Basic Amenities: The lack of the basic essentials of life is what kept the poor man in his condition. It is this shortage of basic and social amenities that he wants as he grows up. Most of the neighborhoods populated by the poor people are characterized by inadequate or general lack of basic amenities like electricity, water etc. Imagine a situation where people are still using lantern in this twenty-first century when some rich folks are upgrading to solar panels as alternative power supply to electricity. Having the basic amenities available is what everyone who grew up poor wanted badly as they were growing up.
Good Legacy: Most poor people have poor parents who also have poor parents. So, poverty tends to be trans-generational. If one parent had left a legacy of one billion dollars in a trust fund or exclusive account as a legacy for his children, they will never know poverty as they grow up. Also, if the parents had left properties like houses and companies as legacy, the children will never suffer lack of anything as they grow up. They wouldn’t grow up wanting basic amenities or good income because these things have been made available by the deceased parent.
Good Connection: There is a saying that no man is an island. That means that who you are surrounded with as a person matters a lot. This is the reason why it is said that your network determines your net worth. Every person who grew up poor has poor connection. If they were connected to the right people at the right time, their financial portfolio will change dramatically. Connection is what everyone who grew up poor really want as they go through life. It’s an established fact that you cannot do life alone. You need a support system. You need destiny helpers to achieve your destiny.
Good Environment: In as much as connection matters, environment matters too. This is not a case of comparison. It is a matter of equal importance as both complement each other. It should be noted here that your environment can affect your life psychologically, socially and physically. Your environment determine your outcome and outlook in life. Good results are achievable only in a good environment. A man who grew up poor in a poor environment will need to change that environment in other to meet new people and opportunities. Some environment like slums or ghettos can condition you to see poverty as a normal lifestyle but a change of environment will give you a new mindset and experience.
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