Nengi Phil-Ebosie: How Much?

Do you realise that whenever you see something on sale that you are attracted to or you want to buy, the next question you ask is how much?

When we ask “HOW MUCH”, what exactly do we mean? It simply means the subjective value placed, which influences the price you pay or willing to pay in exchange for that which you want, need or desire.
With relevance to this topic, it means how much do you want it? How much are you willing to give to make it happen?

We often ask the question when we want to ascertain the price of an object or service. I have never heard of anyone going to the shop in search of a dress, stepping up to the cashier and just handing over whatever amount he/she wishes and then walking out of the store. I believe that before you even go to the counter to pay, you would check the price tag and base on your budget or how desperate you want the dress, will then pay for it. If the value you place on the dress equates the price tag on the dress, you will then hand over the amount to the cashier in exchange for the dress.

I am throwing the question back to you. What will it cost you to achieve your plans, of what value are your desires or the knowledge you so desire to acquire? Or let me rephrase, how much are you willing to give to make it happen.
I noticed that as human, we often assert higher value to anything that cost so much. In this case, it may cost you your time, money etc.

How much time have you spent in acquiring or broadening the knowledge you require to translate plans to actions? We all had such huge plans for the previous year, how much of it did you accomplish?

You have been planning to start that sewing lessons to improve your fashion design skills since ‘thy-kingdom-come’. So, what’s stopping you? Clearly the question of “HOW MUCH” still remains open.

You hate your job and believe there is no career path but are you willing to take up a volunteer job in a field you love? I ask again, “HOW MUCH” do you want that career change?

Perhaps you want to improve your knowledge on financial management to grow and manage your finances, how much time have you spent with knowledgeable experts in the field or reading articles/ books to grow and manage your finances.
I get it, we all have the issue of procrastination and indecision but I have never heard anyone procrastinate their way to success and I doubt it’s going to change anytime in the future (Celestine, Chua)

Tell you a story of a friend who wasn’t particularly happy with her job but she still kept at it until one day, she realised she wasn’t getting anywhere in her career with her present job.

Do you know what she did? She resigned and took up a volunteer job in the field of her dream with no pay. Tough one I must say but she is gaining the adequate experience in the field and is very happy with her career decision.

What determines your “how much” would depend on;

• Intrinsic value—Measures actual value both tangible (Market value) and intangible (Copyright, trademark)

• Relative value—Measures the attractiveness of one investment/plan/ desire in comparison to another.

• Absolute value.—The real value that can be derived.
How badly do you want to complete your “HOW MUCH?” Some goals and plans have overstayed their welcome.

Strategies to help with achieving your “HOW MUCH”
• List out the goals you want to achieve.

• Set deadlines, timelines or milestones for desired achievement.

• Get an accountability partner. Trust me your accountability partner will hound you until you have accomplished the set-goal/s.

• Mentoring.

• Thank goodness for social media, you can follow experts or people you look up to. You will surely get motivated or pushed to move forward by seeing their accomplishments or read their blogs.

• You can reclassify your goal/s.

• Finally, JUST DO IT.

There is no hard and fast rule but these suggested strategies basically are key to contend with and assist in dealing with our various “HOW MUCH”.

Photo Credit: Edward J Bock 111 | Dreamstime.com