As part of the 'trial and error' process of building a Community Wealth Fund, I am starting an Investment Stokvel with a few friends here in the UK, and a bigger group in South Africa. The idea of 'team saving' is not uniquely South African. A friend pointed out that 'village savings societies are particularly common particularly common in Bangladesh, Central America and East Africa. Apps now exist for stokvels in Kenya, transfers via Mpesa and the data collected can be used by banks for credit assessment thus allowing small businesses to formalise.'
The advantage of team-effort is the secret relationship sauce that holds it all together. Investing can become part of our culture. When building becomes something that is as normal as a five-day-work-week. As normal as four weeks of leave a year. Church on Sunday. Rugby on Saturday. Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper. Passports and Borders. Monthly paychecks, mortgages and year-end parties. There are various things we do because that is what the people around us do. Gradually over time, patterns become accepted and repeated. Some benefit us. Some need tweaking. Some need starting.
I am a big believe that what you do on any given day isn't that important. What is important is what you do every day. Habits. Patterns. Loops. Defaults. It is in the repetition that actions soak in deep. In the repetition that things of value are built. One brick at a time.
I want it to become a thing for people to separate their identity from their jobs. To separate their ability to survive from their inherited usefulness to society. I believe part of that is in building together. In creating the daily habits, that with time, will create strong foundations, weather-proof walls and a creative space for us to thrive.
The advantage of team-effort is the secret relationship sauce that holds it all together. Investing can become part of our culture. When building becomes something that is as normal as a five-day-work-week. As normal as four weeks of leave a year. Church on Sunday. Rugby on Saturday. Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper. Passports and Borders. Monthly paychecks, mortgages and year-end parties. There are various things we do because that is what the people around us do. Gradually over time, patterns become accepted and repeated. Some benefit us. Some need tweaking. Some need starting.
I am a big believe that what you do on any given day isn't that important. What is important is what you do every day. Habits. Patterns. Loops. Defaults. It is in the repetition that actions soak in deep. In the repetition that things of value are built. One brick at a time.
I want it to become a thing for people to separate their identity from their jobs. To separate their ability to survive from their inherited usefulness to society. I believe part of that is in building together. In creating the daily habits, that with time, will create strong foundations, weather-proof walls and a creative space for us to thrive.
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