There is a war underway in Ukraine. As with all wars, terrible things happen to undeserving people and the consequences of the conflict are not all immediately apparent. I am writing primarily for young disadvantaged people in the English speaking world, many of whom will be from ethnic minority communities, but I do think that what I have to say is equally applicable to people of all ages and ethnicities who may be disadvantaged in some way.
I have considered commenting directly on the reasons for and the possible outcomes of the conflict, but that serves no purpose here. What you should consider is the “direction of travel” of the world we live in. In the 21st century, we have had an attack on the American mainland, twenty years of war in the Middle East, a global financial crisis comparable to the great depression, a global pandemic comparable to the Spanish flu of 1918-19 and now the largest conflict on European soil since the Second World War. In all of this, it is generally accepted that the major challenge before us now is man’s influence on climate change. These things are not unconnected; they are symptoms of wider geopolitical realities which are resolving themselves.
The bad news is that there is much more to come, and most of it will be very unpleasant. If you are disadvantaged you have to begin now; to take steps to make yourself as resilient as possible so you are better able to survive the coming decades. These continuing crises cost the government (and ultimately the taxpayer), and hard choices are going to have to be made about where to get money and where to spend it. Inevitably, the disadvantaged will bear the brunt of the pain.
Firstly, you have to take charge of your health. If you are in a country with public or highly subsidised medical care such as the UK, Canada, or Jamaica, or if you are in a largely private system such as the USA, your access to health care is going to go down, whether by market forces (cost) or regulatory actions. The costs of delivering health care are becoming too large for even the largest economies to bear; you need to make sure that your need for medical care is at a minimum. There are simple ways to do this. You do not need to know the name of every possible disease that may afflict you, you just need to understand some basic things. Food is your most important defense against illness. Eat food that has not been processed excessively, eat as many varieties of vegetables as you can get, and avoid sugar no matter what form it takes. Eat to take care of your gut. Many things happen in the stomach, which is the first line of defense against invading poisons. It also produces many substances essential to the proper functioning of the brain and other organs in your body. It is not necessary to understand all the science, but if you want to, here is a good start: it is essential that you eat (and do not eat) to promote your gut health. An easy measure of how you are doing with your health is testing your blood sugar levels. The machines for carrying this out are relatively cheap and the test is simple. What you eat and drink are the biggest factors in results. Watch what you eat and your blood sugar levels, simple.
Secondly, position yourself to earn a living and protect your future. Look for opportunities that are attracting investment. Private sector investment is great, but the biggest investor in your economy, no matter where you are, will be the government. Governments the world over are going to spend a lot of money on defense and related industries. At the basic level, armies will be expanded, and if you are disadvantaged, this is an opportunity relatively easily seized. The military will give you skills and experiences that will prepare you for life. There is a risk of injury and death, but this is not that much greater than the alternatives available in the world we now face. Another growth area is in network infrastructure; the wires and cables that make the internet work. This is massive and growing everywhere. Women need to look to non-traditional fields where diversity and inclusion are mandated. Go to where it is difficult to find women and you will find great opportunities there. Start working early, in an apprenticeship or some other on the job training scheme. Think about university in dollar terms, what will it cost directly, what will it cost in other income you would make from working, and what will you earn at the end, can you pay your bills and pay back the loans? Practical learning and hands-on jobs are the surest way forward if you are disadvantaged. Here is a link to a UK site, but the jobs described here are global.
Thirdly, be careful with your money. You want a lifestyle where you are comfortable living on what you earn and have surplus income to save and invest. Live with your parents for as long as possible, share with friends, get subsidised housing. Contribute to the household if you are in your parents house, aggressively save the money you would have spent on rent. Safety first with savings; you should always have a basic emergency fund. This does not have to be massive, only about a figure of USD 400 in a shoebox under your bed for extreme emergencies. Longer term savings should be in a secure financial institution which does nothing fancy. You are not going to get rich on savings; build it slowly and keep it up with inflation as best you can. Do not panic if you fall behind. Investments should keep you ahead of inflation while being relatively conservative, best done through a low cost mutual fund or equivalent with a long track record of beating inflation. If you are diligent, there will come a point in life where you have some money to be more adventurous. To make a more risky investment with the possibility of higher returns or back yourself in a venture, (everyone should try this at least once in life). This money you have to be able to afford to lose.
Fourthly, build your network. Get to know people you admire and can learn from. Give before you can receive, find out the things they value and how you can contribute. If you are like me, this will not come naturally. You will have to systematically build relationships and invest in them. This is a very powerful tool. The reverse of this is to mentor people in whom you recognise potential. This way you will be surrounded by people who have an interest in your success.
My definition of disadvantage is not being able to shield yourself from the consequences of the actions and in-actions of the elites who operate the world. I doubt anyone reading this would have had any influence on the war in Ukraine, nevertheless, you will bear the consequences, far more than those with the power and responsibility. This is the reality.
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