If there is anything I have learnt about human potential, it is never to underestimate anyone’s ability. By mere looking at a person you cannot easily tell what they are capable of. A few months ago, this reality hit me one more time as I interacted with Tom, an illiterate taxi moto rider who has a business mind that is as sharp as that of a business mogul. 

As Tom took me home on his moto, I decided to engage him in a conversation in order to get an idea of what kind of thinking people of his level are at. I was fascinated that the man is seriously investing from that simple and easily overlooked job.   

Tom earns about Rwf7,500 every day. Out of that, he spends not more than Rwf2,500 and makes sure that every morning his wife deposits Rwf5,000 on his bank account. So at the end of the month he has saved around Rwf150,000 (which many well-dressed people you see in offices don’t earn by the way!)  

He is aware that saving alone without investment is like keeping seed and refusing to plant it, in which case it would not grow. In any case one would consume it all and be left with nothing. With this knowledge, Tom started the journey of investment by paying for his motorcycle (he had started with someone else’s). Next, he bought a second motorcycle and employed another person to ride it and pay him daily. 

Two years later, he used his monthly savings to open a business where people would come and watch movies and games on a pay TV. Today, on a weekly basis, he earns a net profit of about Rwf30,000 from that business and saves it on the same account with the savings from the motorcycle business. As we discussed, I noticed his concern was now to get new areas in which to invest in next.

I shared with Tom my thoughts about various investment options. I encouraged him to stay focused and not be waved away by the desire for luxuries until the right time. I told him about the cycle of money growth and explained how far his wealth would have reached in a decade if he continued saving and investing as he was doing. 

As I got off from the motorcycle and bade him farewell, I concluded with this statement: "I will not be surprised if 10 years from now you are a millionaire!” 

This man knows the price of investment. He is ready to sacrifice some of the pleasures of today for the sake of tomorrow’s harvest. He knows that without planting you cannot expect to reap.

To prosper materially, we have to learn to postpone gratification. We must see what we have not only in the light of its value that we see today, but rather the value we foresee tomorrow. We must make that decision to plant our seeds instead of eating them. 

If you have no investment of any sort, instead of laughing at motorcycle riders and other illiterate people around, learn from Tom’s story and get out of your comfort zone.

Bake is the MD, World of Inspiration, & Founder of the Authors’ Forum in Uganda.