There’s a saying, “Dig your well before you are thirsty.”

What that means is simple: prepare for what you need before the moment you need it.

When I was in university studying entrepreneurship and a myriad of other subjects, my focus wasn’t limited to lectures or textbooks. I intentionally read books that aligned with where I envisioned my future.

One of the most impactful books I encountered was Generational Wealth by Nicholas Charles and Antoaneta Proctor — two UK-based experts on family wealth. They presented a highly relevant perspective on multi-generational wealth: wealth with the explicit intention of passing it on to the next generation and beyond.

THE TWO PILLARS OF LONG TERM WEALTH

The book challenged my thinking by highlighting what every financially successful individual prioritizes:

1. Asset Preservation – safeguarding the value of what has been built.
2. Succession Planning – preparing the right people to carry the vision forward.

You can spend decades building an estate, investing wisely, or growing a company — but without a capable and prepared successor, the fruits of that labor can be squandered. If you haven’t prepared the next in line for stewardship, you may have to entrust those assets to an outsider or institution.

The sobering reality:

• 70% of family wealth is lost by the second generation.

• 90% is lost by the third.
  
  This isn’t just a U.S. phenomenon — similar proverbs exist in cultures around the world.

VALUES BEFORE WEALTH

Wealth preservation is not only about financial strategies; it’s about values. The Bible is filled with examples of succession among kings — some ruling justly and others squandering their inheritance. The difference was rarely about resources; it was about character and stewardship.

This made me ask myself:

• What values do I want to leave to my successors?
• What systems should I build today to ensure those values endure tomorrow?

After all, what is the use of building a city if you don’t have people capable of maintaining and improving it?

WHERE AI FITS IN

I don’t believe AI is the entire solution — but I do believe it can be a powerful tool for structuring systems and identifying talent. The future lies not in replacing people, but in repurposing them — aligning their natural gifts with meaningful work.

When you enjoy your work, you care about the outcome. When you care, you steward well.

MY DEFINITION OF GENERATIONAL WEALTH

To me, generational wealth isn’t just money — it’s:

• Passing on values that cultivate discipline, diligence, and prudence.
• Building systems of thought that guide wise decision-making.
• Creating opportunities for implementation through companies, programs, and platforms that endure.

This is what I build for.

FINAL THOUGHT

This blog is more than just reflection—it is my blueprint of values, systems of thought, and frameworks for how we architect our ecosystem within the African continent. Every principle shared here is a building block toward sustainable impact and true generational wealth for our people.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”— Proverbs 13:22

— Early Boykins III