Virtue Series 5: FRUGALITY IN LEADERSHIP
After 6months Mr. Peterson always
changes the company cars. He thinks making a profit of over $6million after tax
deductions in 6months, and having a stable business finance, is big enough to
buy every other thing he needs and live a bit more flamboyant. Funny enough, he
sells this car to some companies that uses it for a minimum of 1year and six
months without having any need for a change. They save some cash by buying it
cheaper, and using it longer. Who is wiser?
It’s fun when business grows
great enough that you experience a constant boom that enhances your financial
stability. But, where lies the wisdom in spending the profits on trivial things
forgetting there is such a thing as economic depression?
Lack of frugality in business
financial management has made many start-ups to plummet and eventually get into
extinction. There is always a new tech-gadget and a new equipment in the
market. But do you really NEED it? There are new and more sophisticated
techniques of getting simple things done. The inventors brought this into the
space because they need to make more money from their creativity (Which is very
good), but friend, do you NEED the change? There are many new business
investment opportunities with juicy promises as outcomes. Your next door neighbor has signed in, your community king has endorsed it, it cost some more
money though! It has great risk involved, there are mixed feelings about it,
but you have some spare cash to try something new. Hey!! Is the risk worth it?
Do you need to?
As a leader you must understand
the difference between NEED and WANT. You must know when a want should be
satisfied and when it should be starved. You should know that frugality makes
you spend not only your money wisely, but also your time and resources. The
call to frugality in leadership is not just about being frugal in financial
expenditure. It expands to being frugal with your time. Spend your time on what
will profit you. Avoid frivolities. Create time for fun too. It includes being
frugal in your allocation and utilization of resources. It’s not easy to come
across most of the resources you use as a leader. Let its use bring utility.
Frugality makes you wiser in
finance, knowledge and experience. It is not a sign of poverty, rather it is a
sign of good financial management. A frugal leader hardly suffers grievous
financial setback. He always has sufficient back-up for the rainy day.
Discipline your appetite and your enthusiasm for more. Pay attention to your
wants when they become NEEDs, that is Wisdom! Remember Benjamin Franklin’s
word’s “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself. Waste nothing!”
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