Paying tax is an action whose consequence is good roads, pipe borne water, schools, hospitals among others. In other words, paying taxes is a cost we bear so we can enjoy the benefits of social amenities. When you break the law you pay fines or go to jail depending on the law you broke. Breaking the law is a cost or action which brings the benefit or consequence of fines or jail.
As a kid growing up in Nigeria in the 80s, I didn't have the liberty and privilege kids of today have. My mum made sure that there were consequences for my misdeeds and I thank her immensely for that. I wouldn't be the man I am today without that foundation. When she told me to do something there were two options: I either did it or I did it. On the upside, she also made sure I enjoyed benefits when I did the right things like do well at school, do my homework etc. She was very intentional in raising me. If I did wrong or good I got what I deserved. There was always an outcome of what I did.
In 2016 I was working at Shoppers Drug Mart as a merchandiser whose job was to fill shelves with goods and whatever else there was for me to do. It was Halloween and I had just finished setting up shelves and filling them nicely with chocolate. My boss told me I did a good job. I was finishing up when this woman and her kid came to the shelf to buy chocolate. She offered the kid a couple but in a fit he threw it down. This wasn't enough to show he didn't want what was offered. He went ahead to pull down all the items on the shelf. The mum was begging him to stop his tantrum and bent down to pick up the items. In a very firm tone I told her to stop and told the kid that if he didn't pick up the items I would whoop his a**. He looked at his mum and she told him I was serious. The tantrum ended and he quietly started picking up the items. I was not gonna let a kid make a mess of my work like that. Not on my watch.
An important lesson taught in business management school is cost-benefit analysis. A cost benefit analysis (also known as a benefit cost analysis) is a process by which organizations can analyze decisions, systems or projects, or determine a value for intangibles. The model is built by identifying the benefits of an action as well as the associated costs, and subtracting the costs from benefits. That's the definition for smart people. For people like me who aren't smart, I define it as weighing the consequences of any action before execution. Simple. Right? I like simple things. I define it that way so it becomes applicable to my personal life and finance and not just business management.
From the day you are born every decision taken on your behalf by your parents comes at cost and it will have benefits (value) or consequences. I have decided to use 'benefit' because many people hear 'consequence' and think of a negative outcome. As long as you are under 18 years of age your parents will bear all consequences while you enjoy the benefits. Parents who understand life will make sure you partake in some of the consequences of your actions so you learn from an early age that actions (costs) have benefits or consequences. That's how I was raised. When I became an adult I didn't always do the right things but I knew that whatever I did had repercussions and that I was gonna face them alone. It doesn't matter how you are raised. What really matters is that the criminal justice system exists and will catch, try and send you to jail if you break the law. As an adult, society will hold you accountable to your actions. It's up to you to choose what cost you can afford.
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