We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are - Max DePree

Are you engaged in more activities outside of yourself than for yourself?  Do you enjoy hanging out with your friends more than by yourself?  Have you found yourself working so hard that you don’t even have time to spare for yourself?  Are you spending all of your time working for someone and no time developing your gifts and natural endowment or pursuing your passion? 

If you answer yes to any of the above queries, it is time to mind your own business!  Oftentimes, due to financial constraints and the difficulties of life, most people tend to put off their passion for their pension.  I encourage you not to “hang up your boots” so soon in life, for there is hope for the future!

The current global economic downtrend has set the platform for people to mind their own business; if there is any time in history to mind your own business, it is now.  Research shows that there is always an explosion of business startups globally after recessions or economic depressions.

 That is to say, people are forced to concentrate more on their ideas, calling, passion, talents, special abilities and knowledge when there are no jobs to go to.  The secret is you don’t have to wait to lose your job before you start minding your own business. Seize the opportunity by riding on this wave of change.  The stage is rightly set for you to step into the dream you have long desired to accomplish.  Conventional wisdom teaches that adversities and challenges are often the window of opportunity to birth our dreams.

“Mind your own business” is a phrase often used to admonish us to stop meddling in other people's affairs and concentrate on ours.  To be highly successful in life, you need to focus your attention on maximizing what you love doing. Most times, what I find with most people is that they tend to substitute their purpose with their pension when they secure a job.  Don’t misconstrue what I am trying to say here, you can work diligently and wholeheartedly for someone and still mind your own business. 

Also, not all of us are going to be visionaries or entrepreneurs but we can still mind our own business regardless. You can implicitly fulfill your purpose helping someone fulfill theirs, but the sooner you acknowledge this and keep at it, the better.  This could save you from a whole lot of headaches and ghoulish competition.

The story of Mexican-American writer, Victor Villasenor best known for the New York Times bestseller novel Rain of Gold, exemplifies someone who minded his own business even when he was doing menial and seemingly insignificant jobs. 

Raised in Southern California, Victor Villasenor was an illiterate because from childhood he suffered from dyslexia until his adulthood.  Victor had a passion to become a great writer and asked God for grace.  He worked for ten years as a laborer, digging ditches and cleaning houses but Victor never let go of his passion.  After he has been taught how to read, Victor spent most of his leisure at work reading voraciously and devouring more than five thousand books.

He meditated on favorite openings and scrutinized paragraphs and sentences; before long, Victor started putting sentences together by himself. Eventually, he wrote nine novels, sixty-five short stories, and ten plays; and sent them all to publishers.  All his writings were rejected by the publishers, with one publisher sending a rejection letter which read, “You’re kidding.”  Victor Villasenor rather used the rejections from the publishers as a catalyzer to hone his talent until the opportune time.  In 1972, after 260 rejections, Victor sold his first novel which was captioned “Macho” and numerous books thereafter.

Today, Victor Villasenor’s body of works includes a number of non-fiction books, all used in schools throughout the United States of America. He is also an accomplished speaker, giving inspiring lectures, which have earned him numerous awards and endorsements, including the Founding John Steinbeck Chair appointment. 

Could you imagine what would have become of all the books buried in the spirit of Victor Villasenor had he not minded his own business?  Consider the millions of people including the American students who are now beneficiaries of Victor’s natural endowment. 

When you choose not to step into your calling or follow your passion in life regardless of the challenges, you deprive the world of the right to partake of the hidden and precious treasures entrusted into your care to deposit into the world. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity,” says Albert Einstein.

The following are 9 reasons why you should be minding your own business in the midst of the current global uncertainties:

Live Life on Your Terms: Minding your own business is the genesis of having options in life and control of one's destiny. "There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way," according to American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet, Christopher Morley.

Generational Wealth Transfer : As the world's richest individuals approach retirement, the next three decades will see trillions fall into the hands of their younger family members—the biggest wealth transfer in history from one generation to the next, according to a new report. Interestingly, further studies show that “African-American and Hispanic families are about five times less likely than white families to inherit money and when they do inherit money they inherit less than white families.” In other words, families with middle income status would have difficulties transferring wealth to the next generation owing to their inability to invest in businesses and create wealth presently. But I challenge you as you read this article to resolve to sacrifice today to do what most of your contemporaries wouldn’t do so you can position your lineage in a strategic and influential places in the future.

Build Economic Security: Research shows that, the pension schemes of most of the advanced countries are running empty. Western nations are now encouraging their citizens to consider optional investment vehicles that would take care of their old age after retirement. Gone are the days when employment was used as a security leverage against retirement. One of the sure ways to secure your future financially is to mind your own business. American author, financial advisor, motivational speaker, and television host, Suze Orman suggests that, “Anything that gets people to think harder about their financial security and take some responsibility is a good thing."

Earn A Living Doing What You Love: One of the vital choices in life is for a person to choose to pursue his/her passion instead of their pension. You stop working the day you start doing what you love. When you choose to do what you love and do it with agility, soon the world would put a high premium on what you do. “The law of work seems unfair, but nothing can change it; the more enjoyment you get out of your work, the more money you will make,” says American author and humorist, Mark Twain.

Change and Affect Lives: Minding your own business elevates you to impact the world.  Immunologist, Anthony Fauci said, "I believe I have a personal responsibility to make a positive impact on society."

Contribute To The World: You get the opportunity to add your voice to the global conversation by using your gifts, talents, and specialized knowledge to make the world a better place. Canadian writer and leadership expert, Robin S. Sharma believes, "Success is not a function of the size of your title but the richness of your contribution."

Create Employment: "For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference" says British entrepreneur, Richard Branson.

Opportunity to Exhibit your Gifts and Talents: You get the chance to showcase your natural endowment to the world without limitations, control, or pressure of pleasing your "over- demanding and never satisfied” boss.  "Put your talent into your work, but your genius into your life," advised Irish author, playwright, and poet, Oscar Wilde.

Spend More Time Pursuing Your Passion: You discover the road to success the day you start pursuing your passion in life. According to author, Whit Hobbs “Success is waking up in the morning, whoever you are, wherever you are, however old or young, and bounding out of bed because there’s something out there you love to do, that you believe in, that you’re good at – something that’s bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again today.”

The days of go to school, get good grades, secure a good paying job, go on retirement and get your pension, is over. There is no more job security in the workforce globally; you could go to work in the morning and by the close day you would be either retrenched, downsized, or simply fired.

As you resolve to courageously step out of the line and stand out by minding your own business, i encourage you to “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do," Pope John XXIII. Discover Your Greatness!

The Author is a motivational speaker, preacher and entrepreneur.