The "ITCH" factor

As soon as you or your close family set sights on starting a new venture or doing something simple as renovating your house or purchasing a new phone, out of the blue appear before you some of your annoying relative(s) in the form of cousins,uncles & aunts, lets just call them the mosquito squad, either with a bunch of unconventional ideas of their own or advices that often lead you nowhere. They talk about the success story of Global billionaires and how we should follow their lead, and create a legacy that inspire our children and children's children. The more we begin to contradict their beliefs, the lengthier their "I have a dream" speech, so it is better to keep our mouth shuts for the eclipse to pass. Now, their mentoring play card  can be categorized into the following phases:

1. Mindgames 

Once you get to share your idea of the projects that you want to execute, the squad tries to manipulate you, emphasising more on the unforeseen consequences, even if  they don't really exist at all in the first place. You are fed with the so much negative vibes that you start to question yourself and might even consider dropping your plans and objectives. In other circumstances, they might give you hopes of  introducing you to the right resources that can help you attain your goals, however falling for their sugar coatings would only give you a reality check that fancy words are just fancy words and produce no productive results. Now, a few might pass the first stage with flying colours, thinking to themselves that they are free from the clutches of the envious for once and for all. Unfortunately this is as wrong as it gets as the second phase awaits them with a much higher dose of annoyance. 

2. The Overseer

After you are done with the initial phase, the so called mosquito squad will take up the role of an overseer, analysing your every move, ongoing works and actions. While you proceed with all the tasks that you have in front, evading all the turmoils, they perfect their skills as a layman's whistle blower, finding fault in even the most efficient things,and delivering your progress report that you never asked for.

3a.The Secret Coach

Finally if you somehow manage to make your project a success, then the squad takes up all the credit and will be more than happy in lecturing everyone about the influence they had on your project. Moreover, the success party you might intend to celebrate within your family circle, will be co-hosted by the mosquito squad, though you will be the one paying for all the expenses.

Now if the unfortunate happens, then they will appear before you as:

b.The critic of critics

When your longtime vision crumbles or when you incur irreparable losses in your project, then the same bunch will point their fingers at your inability in making your vision a reality. Unfortunately, their voices are heard everywhere in your family circle. In some cases they appear to be sad, though they are having a wonderful time inside their heads. A few others may sometimes make prejudiced statements or play the war of words on you, but ultimately would try to ease your mind, with certain things that might have added value to your efforts, had it been produced before you in the first place; however, their words and promises will never become fruitful actions under any circumstances.

So, no matter the challenges you face, believe in yourself, and always show respect for the old saying "Hard work pays off ". At the end of the day, it is always your close family that sticks with you till the very end. So never ever take them for granted.