TUNDE OYEDOYIN
Tunde Oyedoyin is a London-based personal finance coach and founder of Money Intelligence Coaching Academy, a specialist academy of personal finance. He can be reached as follows: +447846089587 (WhatsApp only); E-mail: tu5oyed@gmail.com
I was in the office keeping an eye on the Olympics the other day when a colleague fiddling with his phone asked if I’d been following the games. Yours truly instinctively answered with “Oh yes.” What he didn’t know is that there’s a lot in it as takeaways.
By way of introduction, I’ve always fancied the Olympics and will naturally free up plenty of time to watch as much of it as possible.
Getting to know the backstory of some of the athletes is like the other side of the equation. It’s equally worth its weight in gold.
Thus, when the greatest show on earth was to come to Athens twenty years ago, yours truly gave the readers of the Sunday Guardian newspaper a treat by doing a series on the “Legends of the Olympics”. Messrs Emeka Izeze and Jahman Anikulapo occupied the editor-in-chief and Sunday editor’s chairs at the flagship at the time.
Over a week ago, the idea of finding a common denominator between the Paris 2024 Olympics and personal finance stayed on my mind. And here we are, folks.
Without a doubt, the Olympics motto of “faster, higher and stronger” is the driving force behind both the artistry of a Simone Biles, and the competitiveness of the just retired Sir Andy Murray. That same spirit is the motivation that brought athletes of all sports from all the corners of the world. So, what that says is that you and I can use the same motto to chase down those financial goals that we set for ourselves back in January.
In other words, go faster, aim higher and stay stronger. Whatever those financial goals are, let the drive and doggedness of the athletes be a springboard in putting some springs in your feet. If you’ve only achieved five of the goals you listed, make this Olympics period the time you build your resolve to not get discouraged. Assuming you’ve not managed to put some savings aside every month, stay strong and maintain your discipline. If you’ve been ticking the box and gradually squeezing out ten thousand Naira as savings since January, you may even want to stretch yourself and aim higher.
Here’s the thing. If you’ve never had anything in common with the likes of Rafael Nadal, Lebron James and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, let this ongoing greatest show on earth be the time to use the Olympics motto of “faster, higher and stronger” to make that happen. Go faster as you snap yourself off the salary advance. Stay focussed as a Lebron James and be determined to put in the work ethic of a Nadal.
Don’t let the cost of living crisis derail you. Aim higher and try taking your savings up a little from this month onward.
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