1) COUNTING ON YOUR ACADEMIC INTELLIGENCE: I admire academically intelligent people but I admire people who are smart and creative more. You shouldn't just rely or bank on academic intelligence. Your academic intelligence may not get you a decent 9 to 5 job in Nigeria nowadays talk less of the guarantee of it transforming into financial success. Academic Intelligence needs to be integrated into creativity and smartness; call it 'street wisdom' if it pleases you. It takes an academically intelligent person in ICT to lecture you on the in and out of the Internet but it takes a smart and creative person to know what to do with the Internet that can be lucrative.

2) BEING TOO CAREFUL: It's good to be careful or cautious but being TOO CAREFUL is not a factor that promotes financial success. I know you must have heard the saying: 'No risk, no reward'. In every endeavour that's capable or worthy enough to bring financial success, there's an element of risk(s) attached to it. He who sits at home always sees nothing but home. A man who's too careful won't start a business because he feels it might not turn out successful. He won't start a project because he feels if it fails, he would have lost his money...but be smart enough to separate worthy risks from risks that are not worth taking. Not all risks are worthy to be taken. The truth is that, you are either successful in what you do or you die trying to be successful in it. Life itself is a risk; take bold steps today and take some worthy risks!

3) HAVING THE MENTALITY THAT EVERYONE OWES YOU SOMETHING: Nobody owes you anything. I repeat, no one owes you a dime! Such mentality that people owe you something one way or the other can get you stuck in the muddy waters of self-pity. Placing hopes on friends and family members as a gateway to financial success is an open invitation to heart-attack. If they are willing to assist you in any endeavour or project, fine but don't bet on such. The odd for such a bet doesn't have limit. I've seen people who keep complaining that they have friends and families who won't help. It has been years now and they are still complaining!

4) TRYING TO AVOID MAKING SACRIFICES: Sacrifices are meant to be made whether we like it or not, as far as making a headway is involved. A man who has refused to make sacrifices has deliberately chosen failure. Our ancestors knew what they wanted from their gods so they made sacrifices of goats and other animals. In that same way, we all need to make sacrifices to life itself in one way or the other. Whatever deity you believe in may not be relevant here. Sacrifices come in different ways. It could be time, money, attention, resilience or determination, physical or mental efforts, etc. The bottomline is that sacrifices must be made. The fisherman who wants a big catch must go to the deeper parts of the river. Many of us have been so blinded by miracles, signs and wonders, put up by conmen who are usually seen as religious leaders that we tend to forget the natural law of sacrifices; efforts must be made. It's not a case of abracadabra. Even folks who attained financial success through 'illegal' or dubious means made efforts; they made sacrifices!

5) TAKING A CAREER PATH TOO RIGIDLY: In a world filled with uncertainties, one needs to be flexible as regards financial success. If an endeavour isn't bringing what you expect, take a closer look at the prospects and see if it requires you making a U-turn. Don't waste time on a single endeavour for too long with no visible prospects. Try other things. One thing we usually fail to understand is that success, in whatever form, is measured within a REASONABLE degree of time. If a baby is born, you travel for a decade and come back only to find out that he or she is still the same size you last saw him or her, I'm sure you would be shocked! That's how success is in whatever ramification it comes. It's not limited to a specific time frame but it's expected to grow within a reasonable time.

Thanks for reading.
Good day!!!

This is very true. Nice post. I will also like to add one more thing that affects a lot of Nigerian graduate financially.
The Money can solve it all mentality. This is the idea that money can solve everything. Most graduates believe that when you have money everything can be solved, that they can just start their business and the money will just make it all work. In as much as a part of this is true, it is a very poor financial mentality, as this erases the need for adequate planning, strategic thinking, creativity and tactical reasoning in solving a problem. Moreover, it discourages them from starting little with what they have. They think it's when they have all the money their idea will work well. If many graduate sit down to think logically and find a way to make their ideas work without so much money, I believe the rate of unemployment will not be on the high as it is now. Therefore, rather than wait to have all the money before starting out a business, try and follow this model; Think big, Start small, Grow fast.
For more information on how to be free financially, kindly visit Pagefinancials.com/blog/

Nice writeup

The average Nigerian man has a largely bloated sense of entitlement. He thinks govt and society owes him so much.