Investment that changed my Finances - Never give up!

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When I read the introduction to the contest post I couldn’t help but to smile. It is so true, each one of us has been involved in one or other investment in our lives, some successful and others not.

To understand this let’s look at the definition of the word “investment” – “An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation.” This according to https://www.investopedia.com/

Three words stands out for me, asset, income and appreciation;

• Boys playing marbles in the street is investing - acquiring assets
• Girls selling biscuits is investing - generating an income
• Mothers putting their children first - generating appreciation

This contest however is not about investing. No, it is about an investment that changed your finance.

• What is the name of the best investment you have been involved?	USP Designs
• What financial sector does it belong to?	Financial – real estate
• What is the outcome of the investment?	Successful
• Are you still living on the effect of the investment?	Yes
• Would you be willing to go into a new investment anytime soon?	I’ve found one
• If Yes, what type of investment, and what is your plan towards achieving it	The investment is called Steemit. My plan is to invest financial as well keep on doing what I’m currently doing.

As the time and success I’ve experienced on Steemit is too short I cannot write about this platform like my fellow Steemians therefor I would like to tell you about USP Designs, the investment that changed my life forever.

Growing up in a very conservative Afrikaans (One of South Africa “tribes”) there was only two options for me to further my education. My dad told me that I could either become a teacher or I can go study BA Language. Now, I was not going to be become a teacher and I for sure didn’t want to study language. There was thus no other option but to find work.

My dad was not very happy with my decision and told me that I must just remember that I must never ask him for money. Now that was just the challenge I needed! I promised myself that I will make a success and will stand on my own two feet.

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The words of my dad set me on the road of making a success of my life. I set out some milestones and goals. Milestones are those measurable achievements where goals are the things you want to achieve within a certain time.
I found a work in one of the government departments far from home.

Leaving my small town for the big city was a culture shock but it opened so many doors for me. At one stage I had my full time job plus I cleaned stables early in the morning at one of the horse riding schools and I worked as a waiter. I saved the money I made and in the end I could buy a car in cash. I’ve reached that first goal!

Later on I left my job and bought a restaurant and coffee shop. Although I was now a business women in the true sense it didn’t stop me. I read and educate myself on finance. I joined the merchant association of the center, the business forum and the governing body of the school. From these organizations I’ve learned more that any varsity degree could have given me.

Soon I was advising other business people, young entrepreneurs and businesses which were in distress on how to deal with finance and the positions they found themselves in. And that is then also how my story with USP Designs started.
I met the owner and when he learned that I helped business who was experiencing financially difficulties he asked me to help his company.

What I have learned is that so often you help people and companies to get back on their feet but with no financial gain for yourself. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake. I told him that I will help on one condition and that is if I can buy shares in his Company. When he accepted it I had no other option but to hand the restaurant over to my husband and to get become full time involved in USP Designs.

USP Designs was started in 1992 after my friend finished his degree in computer science. He wrote a software package for the real estate office through which they could not only manage buyers and sellers but also list their property on the various property search engines as well as their own websites.

After 12 long years of my involvement in USP Designs we had over 2,000 clients and host over 1,000 websites. We were a “pain in the butt” for the property giants as we served some of the big National and International real estate gurus. We could truly say that we’ve made it!

It was not always easy. I can remember times where we were not sure where we will get the money to pay the staff their salaries but “hell or high water”, somehow we did.

In the end we sold the assets of the Company to one of our competitors and for the last 5 years we’ve been living from our rewards.

Unfortunately I’ve learned that money doesn’t last forever plus boredom can kill you hence the fact that I’m serious about my involvement with Steemit.

My advice to everybody, those entrepreneurs, students and even successful businesses is the following;

• Do your homework!
• Set measurable milestones
• Set realistic and achievable goals
• Be committed
• Keep on learning
• Watch and learn what others are doing
• Keep an eye on your competitors
• The customer is key
• Play it forward and you will reap the reward
• Give it time as success doesn’t happen overnight and
• Never give up!

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Good luck!!

I invite the following friends;
@morpheussa
@oadissin
@Botefarm

#Club75
10% for Steem4Nigeria