There is much to learn about life, especially why individuals with substantial financial bases can suddenly go bankrupt. You might argue that the world is unbalanced or unfair in certain ways. But I ask, how would you describe the life of Mike Tyson? The greatest heavyweight champion of all time earned more than $300 million before the age of 35 and went bankrupt at 37. Think of Patricia Kluge, Sean Quinn, Jocelyn Wildenstein, Bernard Madoff, Elizabeth Holmes, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya—all of whom lost everything and had no choice but to start over or spend their remaining time in prison. Nobody is immune to bankruptcy.

The truth is, being at the top of the wealth ladder and earning millions does not guarantee you will die wealthy or leave a legacy for your children. Failure is always lurking, waiting to catch up with you, just as success does. Only those with the MONKEY Mentality can overcome it. Mismanagement, trusting the wrong people, poor decision-making, and faulty sales projections are just a few reasons why entrepreneurs may go bankrupt before noon.

Take, for example, Dr. Raymond Anthony Dokpesi, a Nigerian media entrepreneur born on October 25, 1951, often referred to as Nigeria's Ted Turner. Dokpesi was the creator of the first indigenous shipping line in Nigeria, the first privately-owned radio station in the country, the first global TV station in Africa, and the first TV station in Nigeria to broadcast 24 hours a day. His media empire set the standard for salary structures, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in journalism.

However, Dokpesi faced claims of manipulating the balance sheet, employing deceptive business practices, and mismanaging funds obtained from investors and banks, which led to his bankruptcy. As banks pursued legal judgments to seize his personal and corporate properties, investors began to withdraw. For 17 months, DAAR Communications Limited, the owner of AIT and Raypower, couldn't pay wages, resulting in N1.1 billion in debt. Employees had no choice but to stage a national strike, demanding their wages. In response, the company laid off about 32% of its workforce and downsized top management staff as part of a cost-cutting plan. The company also went public to raise capital to pay off loans, settle wages, and handle legal battles. Like many other Nigerians, my mother donated over N100,000 to the company, as the situation was dire. Eventually, the parent company was sold for about N950 million to repay bank loans.

In 2014, Dokpesi stepped down from the board to pursue a career in politics, and since then, the organization has made a remarkable recovery, delivering high-quality television and radio programming once again. Dokpesi was fortunate to get his business back—you might not be so lucky. Think!