₦airaland Forum

There’s a common saying among Nigerians: “chasing the bag.”

It’s like a remix of the classic "chase your dreams" motivational quotes.

Now, while "chasing" doesn’t necessarily mean running like Usain Bolt on a track, many believe that one day, they will miraculously catch the bag like a cat finally pouncing on a rat that has been mocking it for years.

To them, all they need is a working update or, as some call it, "format" that will teleport them from the trenches to soft life.

And truth be told, updates exist.

Maybe it’s a secret Instagram hack to get freelancing clients. Maybe it’s some software for draining a victim’s crypto wallet (we won’t say too much). Or maybe it’s just a philanthropist’s grant for small businesses.

But here’s the catch...these updates are guarded like Fort Knox. Those who have them treat them like ancestral secrets passed down from generation to generation. If you’re not in the inner circle, forget it. By the time the information reaches you, the update has expired like yesterday gala.

And then, the relay race starts again, you start scrambling for the next update.

The Problem With This Method

Imagine a village where almost every household owns a gun but has no food. Instead of hunting, everyone sits outside, waiting for manna from heaven.

Then, one day, one wise man actually picks up his gun and goes into the bush. Fortune smiles on him, he kills a big animal. Now, the whole village suddenly wants a share.

Of course, he has two options: Guard his meat with all his heart. Share it freely, knowing full well that tomorrow, they’ll be back begging again.

Between you and me, we both know he’s most likely choosing option one.

So, I ask you, why are you still folding your arms, waiting for another person to hunt for you?

The Better Option

Learn a skill.

Not how to hunt antelopes, but how to build something valuable.

I won’t tell you which skill to learn, that’s like telling someone the one food they must eat for life. But what I can tell you is that it takes a combination of skills to build wealth. But if your goal is just to be comfortable, maybe mastering one skill will do.

Look at the wealthiest people you’ve ever met.

They’re not just good at one thing; they’re world-class in a particular skill and at least above average in many others. Hard skills, soft skills, it doesn’t matter.

They have mastered their field like the back of their hand or, at least, the business side of their field.

You may say, some are lucky like the rich grandfather here, a government connection there. But even then, it takes skill to manage and grow wealth. Even staying in the good books of those in power, election after election, is not a game of luck; it is a game of skill.

So these people may not be the best coders, writers, or designers, but they have one crucial advantage: their skills are outcome-driven, not morality-driven.

And let’s not lie to ourselves, if the game is about chasing updates, some people are just better at it than you.

That’s why the person who brought the last update is more likely to get the next one before you. Because he has mastered the art of finding updates while you’re still sitting, waiting for someone to feed you.

So, instead of running in circles like a Wi-Fi router trying to connect, pick up a skill and build something that doesn’t expire

Or, you know, keep chasing updates. Just don’t be surprised when you’re still waiting for a "format" at 50.