Finance Chose Me

The Internet

I remember my seeing the internet for the first time when I was 14 years old.

For those of you who may not have experienced this, we had to dial up in order to connect to the internet.

I saw possibility for the first time and a new level of curiosity rose up in me. I became very interested in computers and technology from that moment on.

I became aware of the version of operating system we had use of at that time.

I discovered Paint could be used to create art without using paper.

Solitaire, Minesweeper and Pinball were my go to. I really loved gaming so I was excited I could play on my PC.

Information Technology

My love for computers grew even more when I chose to do Informational Technology for one of my CXCs. That was the class I most looked forward to. I even got to play Doom. (It was the end of the year. Don't worry.)

I completed 5th form and decided I didn't want to do 6th form, so I chose to do Computer Studies as an Associate Degree at the Barbados Community College. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The next step for me was to do a double major in Computer Science and Management. I saw there was an option for Computer Science and Accounting, but I bypassed that very quickly. I wasn't doing that.

But the very thing I was running away from, came and chose me when I received my first job. It was an accounting job with a law firm.

Accounting

The reason why I ran away hard from accounting was I struggled with subtraction while growing up. I thought well seeing that I don't have the knack for numbers, there's probably nothing left for me to aspire to. But then I found solace in Computers as a possibility for me to have a career. But I didn't fully understand I was being set up for embracing a career in finance, when I was exposed to Quickbooks for the first time in my life.

It wasn't difficult for me to adapt to it, because I was very familiar with using interfaces while I was at UWI. I had already learnt different programming languages and how to apply the use of them. I realised that once I had a great understanding of the use of the application and the purpose it was serving, it wasn't necessarily about me having a knack for numbers, but it was more about collecting data, inputting the data and generating reports based on the numbers entered.

Believe it or not, I instantly fell in love with accounting. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. And it showed me that my strength, being able to adapt the use of applications, was good enough for being in a career in finance.

The thing about me is, I learn well while I'm doing.

While I progressed in my career, I had an accounts exam that I failed, because I didn't quite understand a few principles. But when I acquired another job at an offshore bank that delved deeper into accounting (involving the many journal entries I had to enter), I understood better and passed that exam when I did it again.

Personal Finance

Although I was brought to another level in accounting, my eyes were opened to another area in finance; personal finance. In offshore banking, there's a particular emphasis on investment. I saw how the investment portfolio went up and in particular how it went down during the financial crisis. And it suddenly dawned on me. People may not be aware of how they could make sound financial decisions with their money. Someone needed to tell them how to do it. That person was me.

Communication

I went into entrepreneurship full time from March 1st, 2012. and this meant I had to learn to talk about myself, which wasn't a strength of mine. But I had to learn to communicate.

I was very shy and bashful back then (I still am to a degree), but being in business pushed me past my comfort zone. I began communicating via a blog offering tips and advice on money management. That brought back to life a skillset I thought I had buried. To grow in any career, you have to be an effective writer.

Not only did communicate via writing, I had to communicate verbally. This was a big hurdle for me to get over. I wasn't necessarily charismatic or could draw a crowd easily, but I had something very important to say. With lots and lots and lots and lots of practice, I would say I've got a pretty good handle on it. Coupled with my ability to write, this made it easier for me to speak publicly.

The area of communication I ventured into that surprised me the most was my publishing of two books. I never thought it would be possible for me to be an author, although while in primary and secondary school, I was commended highly for my writing style.

One book was based on breaking down finances for children. I believe being exposed to the business world and casting my eyes on many financial statements and learning to read them, helped create a product that could jumpstart their understanding from a very early age.

Also, the next book which is a money journal, armed with the series of public speaking engagements I had (not always paid because it's not always about the money), I was able to package a book and produce content which doesn't make it difficult for people to first understand themselves and their money.

Emotional Intelligence

Much of the challenges we tend to experience with money are rooted in some habitual practices from previous generations. We inherit it genetically, so at times there's some level of push back, whether it comes from family members externally or it comes from us individually, internally.

I believe now more than ever (in these present circumstances), people need empathy.

They need not to feel condemned and judged for their present circumstances. They also need to see it's possible with a personalised map they could be guided from where they are to where they want to be.

I've been given that unique gift of compassion. A desire to see people grow from strength to strength. I thought it was a weakness, but it's what the world really needs today.

Final Nugget

I trust this has inspired you to not run away from the very thing you are called to. There are people waiting on you to release that solution they've been looking for.

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