Knowledge and leverage is thy only hope

I read my first non-academic book in 2016. I was in the final year at the time. My roommate, an avid reader, had a pile of books neatly tucked in his wardrobe.

One of the books changed my mindset about the importance of acquiring knowledge. It’s a small book that teaches discipline and success.

I can’t remember the title, but it’s a book written by one of Nigeria’s respected Pentecostal Bishops, David Oyedepo.

In the book, Bishop Oyedepo emphasizes the importance of dedicating time to study. He says knowledge acquisition combined with self-control can inspire success in any field.

Knowledge: An underdog strategy

Bishop Oyedepo’s book was my first real sojourn into the world of practical non-academic books.

As a teenager, I was interested in video games, soccer and music more than intellectual exercises.

But as I advanced into adulthood, I became aware of the world I was in, a third-world. Here, opportunities are limited only to the outliers and the privileged. And to survive, I must be ready to do what the vast majority find mentally exhausting: Study hard. Work hard. Pray unceasingly. And I must be willing to do it with an underdog attitude.

An Underdog strategy is hard — Gladwell Malcolm

To knuckle down for the sake of knowledge acquisition — through books, a series of online courses, a video explainer, a lecture — for hours is hard, at least for a beginner.

By default, we’re impulse beings. We want to binge-watch Netflix unceasingly, explore our guilty pleasure without control. We could stay 10 hours glued to our phone screen doing nothing productive, exchanging social media bants, Lol-ing and chatting.

“Spontaneity,” an NYT columnist writes “can be a healthy defiance of routine.”

Yet the tendency to act or react with little thought, according to scientists who study impulsive behaviours, has emerged as an all-purpose plague.

Life is unfair. If you grew up with less, consider yourself an underdog. With this title, you could influence the odds in your favour.

How can you, an underdog, win in an unfair world?

Here’s an answer: With knowledge, all things are possible.

Knowledge is crucial, but leverage is indispensable

It’s not enough to acquire knowledge. As a third world native, you must be willing to learn how to apply it through time-tested leverage.

People who study and find innovative ways to apply what they’ve learned — find creative and financial freedom in any chosen profession and career.

Creating innovative ways to apply that knowledge is leverage. Normal is boring. It won’t take you far.

If you create consistent value at your 9-5, it’s normal to stay on the job without finding ways to negotiate better rewards for your diligence and skill.

For businesses, it’s normal to sell excellent products and services, without scaling up or cashing in on leverage.

It’s why you find someone so good at a craft — say, carpentry or car repairs — and isn’t still successful.

Do you know Lifemate furniture (carpentry) and Cars45 (also does car repairs and inspection)?

Have you seen their ads?

What’s the difference between the Lifemate/Car45 and the ordinary guys who are also good at their craft?

Leverage.

So, again, what’s leverage?

Last month, I saw an interesting tweet on my timeline. A tweep complained about being tired of paying for business coaches and mentors with no result in view. She needed nepotism instead.

The buzzword here is favouritism.

Look around. Check politics. See the people who are in a position or contractors who scored government deals or big corporate jobs, besides their knowledge or illusion of it -- someone put them in those positions.

Leverage.

What happens if you don’t know someone who can activate the nepotism clause for now?

In his book, Integrity, Dr Henry Cloud explains how successful people outsmart the competition by building alliances (Leverage).

“As a result, Cloud writes. “They leverage what they do well to much greater heights than just being ‘good’ at their job. They create alliances that make things a lot bigger. They form relationships and partnerships with people like investors, regulators, distribution channels or whoever it is that has the capacity to make what they are doing bigger.”

What’s in it for you?

Competence and leverage are surefire ways to success. Understand the metrics for measuring great work in your field and get to work now, in your 20s, while you still have the energy. Next, master the art of building alliances.

As a third world native, this is your only hope of survival and riches, even if you grew up with no safety nets.

Next week, I’ll write a newsletter about the different types of leverage using practical examples of how Nigerians like Arese Ugwu, the author of the best-selling finance book, The Smart Money Woman, are building alliances.

Kindly let me know what you think about today’s newsletter in the comment section.

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