Initially, making my first investment was straightforward because I was eager to get started. I invested according to my plan, but I found myself checking the platform almost every day! Some platforms were transparent, allowing me to see my daily interests, which provided me with a bit of peace of mind. However, I soon realized two important things: first, investing is not a quick money-making scheme; it requires patience and commitment. Second, the more I invest, the greater the potential return on my investment. I had to adopt a long-term perspective, viewing my investment as a fund set aside for future needs or reinvestment.
After much critical reflection, I recognized that I had yet to identify the root cause of my desire to invest. I hadn't truly asked myself why I wanted to invest in the first place. The root cause is connected to my ultimate goal: to earn more. However, I must remember that investing is a long-term commitment, and I should not rely on it for emergency spending if I want to break free from being dependent on my salary.
I faced two needs: I wanted to invest for the future while also being able to spend as needs arose, and to become less dependent on my salary. To achieve this, I decided to learn a skill that would enable me to earn more money without interfering with my job, which is currently my primary source of income.
Eventually, I narrowed my options down to two skills: learning solar installation and catfish farming (specifically, catfish hatching). I found that solar installation was more challenging to learn because the training hours conflicted with my work schedule. I only had weekends available for learning, which didn’t feel sufficient. As a result, I paused this plan until further notice.
On the other hand, catfish farming was much more attainable, and the learning hours did not clash with my job. However, I faced challenges related to the cost of the training and the distance to the learning location. After conducting some research, I managed to find a closer place to learn, but paying for the training was another hurdle. I had to motivate myself and use my savings to afford it. Fortunately, my teacher was understanding and allowed me to pay in installments.
This decision was one of the toughest I made in 2025, and I clearly remember that period, as it was a time when I weighed less because I was carefully rationing my funds to save for the training.
After about 2-3 months, I completed the learning process and felt the need to practice what I had learned. However, this required money. I gathered all the savings I had and decided to invest in catfish hatching. Many people believe that this business is very capital-intensive to start, regardless of how small the production may be.
I asked myself two crucial questions: Would my salary be enough to feed my family? The answer was no. Would farming (catfish hatching) provide for my family? The answer was yes, and I could potentially retire from this if it was God's will. I decided to take the plunge and risk it all. I prayed to God for guidance, and that was how my journey as a catfish breeder began.
If I found myself in a similar situation again, I would take the risk all over. Truth be told, it has not been easy physically, mentally, financially, or emotionally. However, it is the work of my hands, and I strongly believe that God will bless me and make it prosperous.
This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in the hive-learners community for the Week 198 Edition 3, and the topic to be discussed is ONE BIG RISK.