How To Become Self-Made

Being self-made means having become rich or successful by your own efforts. It means that you are fully accountable for your own success, and for where you are in all aspects of your life.

So how does one become self-made? It all starts by…

1. LIVING BELOW YOUR MEANS

This is a big one, and also one that took me some time to learn. Believe me when I say I have not always been great with my money, and would have to exercise some serious restraint to not buy the latest pair of Louboutins, and instead use that money to save or invest in my future. If you are 28 years old, have been working for the past 10 years and have nothing to show for apart from acrylic nails, a Louis Vuitton bag and hair extensions, use this as motivation to get your savings in check and start investing for your future. Living below your means takes a lot of self-restraint and discipline, however the earlier you can nail this in life, the more you will be able to path the path to financial freedom.

2. BEING FINANCIALLY SAVVY

It honestly blows my mind when I hear about the number of adults who live paycheck to paycheck. As soon as they get paid for the month, they blow their money on clothes, partying and expensive dinners, and are then left with no option but to literally count the days until their next paycheck comes through. If this sounds like you, it is not too late to turn your bad habits around and get a handle on your finances. Plan, budget and write down your financial goals. Do you want to save a certain amount of money by the end of the year? Write down a goal of how much you need to save each month to hit that number.

3. RESILIENCE

Resilience means having a thick skin, being persistent and to put it simply, not giving up at the drop of a hat. Being resilient is an incredibly important quality to possess. It means being able to push through, even when a number of obstacles are thrown your way. Being resilient is a critical skill for any self-made individual. It means you will not simply give up when times get tough.

4. INDEPENDENCE

Being independent is empowering. It means you are not continually relying on others to do things for you. These days with increasing gender equality, financial independence is becoming more and more critical. I was listening to the radio on my commute in to work the other morning, to hear about a woman who was going through a divorce from her multi-millionaire (and soon to be ex) husband. This woman had entered a competition to win money, as she no longer had a man to fund the lavish lifestyle she had become accustomed to. Most people do not get married with the intention of getting a divorce but with the divorce rate currently sitting at 50%, it is wise to become financially independent.

5. THINK & ACT LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR

These days, online businesses can start with the most basic of tools- a phone and a laptop. Snap out of the 9-5 mindset and start thinking “What can I do that is extra”? “What can I do to make more money”? It is unlikely that simply working 9-5 for a corporation is going to get you the life of your dreams.

Start looking for business opportunities, ideas and investments. Don’t let the fear of failure prevent you from taking that first step! Some of the world’s most richest and most successful entrepreneurs have been knocked back and turned down time and time again, but the difference is they did not let a few set-back prevent them from achieving and realising their dreams!

What are you going to do to take control of your life and become self-made? Leave your comments below!