Dear Fellow,
I had seen an ad on TV before spreading the message. I was excited about heralding the message among my folks, not minding if I was commissioned for the job or not—and yes, I wasn’t commissioned for the job. If my folks get on the programme and reap benefits that was enough reward. So, I spread the message among them, as I know those who will value and make the most of the information. I also attached a disclaimer to the message saying that I did not know anything significant about the programme offered by the organisation.
Barely half an hour afterwards, I got a message from one of my folks who is an expert on the programme and all else related. She said not knowing about it now is not good. She said it is too important a knowledge to have now, as the dividends grow into the future. Then she mentioned that she would deliver a lecture on the programme in the following month. I said I would keep tabs on it, but she said not to worry—that I would get a notice from her.
About an hour later, another good Fellow called to discuss the programme. No, he did not get a direct message from me but felt obligated to follow up even if the message was sent to a group he and I are part of. This man is an oldie on the alumni association’s WhatsApp group, where I sent the message.
We had only met once before that call. It was at the first meeting of the year of the association in my city. He walked in a few minutes to the start of the meeting that day and found my classmate and I having a good time talking and laughing when he came around. Grey and comported, he walked to the table where we sat, accepted our regards and pleaded to join us. He brought life to the setting from the moment he made the first step towards where we sat. And he did not kill the joy of the time we spent together.
“You said you did not know about shares and stocks in that message you sent to the group, did you?” he said. I admitted.
He picked it up from there and gave me a rich lecture on shares and stocks for a long and memorable forty minutes. A moment I will never forget. He did so well that I still talk about shares and stocks more frequently than ever before that call. He went so down to the basics, I could argue that if he taught me the same way he did when I was 4, I would understand what he taught. More so, he did that on a phone call.
Admitting ignorance is the beginning of knowledge. By doing so, you declare an opening to be occupied—an opening for knowledge to occupy. If given the opportunity, people are willing to help others out of their ignorance. Had I kept mum about my ignorance, I would not have lost only a chance to be educated towards a successful life, but also an opportunity to deepen my relationship with the oldie from my alma mater.
And what’s more, he said to read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki—that book I failed to finish on two different streaks. Yet, I will return to it again—I now have a defined objective. I hope to share my findings when I am done.
Before then, I would appreciate your insights on Kiyosaki’s masterpiece. If you have read it, what are your thoughts on the book, especially on the concept of stocks and shares?
Your LetterMan,
Tongjal, W. N.
I love the velvety flow of this piece. I am glad that this touches on one of the questions I was asking last week. Thank you for encouraging me to ask more.
I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad but the concept of shares and stocks was not clear to me. May I also say that I would reach you personally for a "rebroadcast" of the lecture you had over the phone?
Because you see, I must as admit that I only know much as touching shares and stocks.
Cheerio!