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Showing posts from January, 2020

The scam of 8am-5pm... The Lagos life

They say resumption is by 8am and closing by 5pm. Huge scam!!! When actually the time starts to count the very moment you wake up to prepare for work, be it 4am (or 3am for some Lagosians). The management care less whether you sleep on the roadside in a gridlock after you clock out of work, you must by 8am the next morning report for duty. December 2018, I witnessed fully what Lagos workers call life. I arrived Lagos by 7pm and headed for my accommodation at ibeju...to cut the looong story short, Lagos traffic ensured I got to ibeju 12mins past 1am midnight. Yes you read that right 1:12am! That is not even the essence for the story. In the causeless gridlock that caused the delay, there was a staff bus of accelerate TV beside us. I saw the staffs already asleep in the bus. The lady closest to the window where I was seating, had her head against the window in high discomfort trying to catch some sleep, but she didn't have the space like the man beside her who was already in Dream

Education is key, but skills open the doors.

Education has become the key to a keyless door in Nigeria. The door evolved but the key did not... People now call education and it's certifications a scam because it opens no doors or only ancient of doors and not the modern evolved doors to good living.  Knock and it shall be opened is the only spiritual solace for the common masses who have this obsoleted key useful only for the wall of fame display and useless to open the doors to good living. Three ways to get the door opened in Nigeria: First an "inner connect", second an "inner-inner connect" and third, the right remote control. Knock and if you have a 'connection' inside, the door will be opened otherwise you must work to have what it takes, the remote control, to open it yourself. Become the best skilled at what you do to the point you become unignorable. Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank (Prov 22:29).

The business of money

One motivational speaker once made a grave statement that "if money is what is delaying your business, then you're are not ready". I was very surprised, because it came from someone who's business started with and was a beneficiary of several seed fundings. Could he have forgotten? One problem I have with most motivational speakers is that some of them are not real and down to earth with the truth. Instead of greasing the platform, they raise the platform for others coming. I wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to stop others from reaching and beating them. Truth be told, money is in the wrong hands. Those with the ideas lack the capital resources and those with the capital resources lack ideas. When resource meets idea, then a business is birthed. This a vital truth for every entrepreneur. I agree money may not be everything to a business, but money is still a very thing to starting a business, in fact the integral thing to some businesses. I mean tell th

"But I regret to inform you....". An Open Letter to Governor Seyi Makinde

“But I regret to inform you”… Many entrepreneurs who have at one time or the other submitted sponsorship proposals to companies will be familiar with the sentence used for this article’s topic. The phrase is usually preceded by a long interesting story of how wonderful the idea in your proposal is and how viable the idea is to become something great. The reader/entrepreneur will be elated by the appetite wetting complementary write-up and in full expectation of a life-changing deal at the end,only to be stunned with the phrase “but we regret to inform you”…. Honestly, at this point, I care less what reasons are given for the rejection. Many wonderful business ideas and creative contents are still lying on the desk of many entrepreneurs for lack of adequate funds, resources or partnership to pursue the business. We don't have to blame the big companies that reject our proposals to spend on frivolous events. If only the state government can recognise the importance, richness, op

How to sack your CEO!

First and foremost, why in heavens name would you want to sack your CEO? But on another thought, it may at some point, become necessary to do so! What do I mean? I was at a time researching into the strategies of a big gaming brand in Nigeria and upon surfing their website for info, I came across a grave error. The web developer wrote Chief Execution Officer instead of Chief Executive Officer. You say it's typo error right? Well, maybe yes or maybe not. Out of the abundance of the mind, the hand may have written! There may have been a CEO (Chief Execution Officer) troubling workers in the office. In some workplaces, the working environment may be so toxic that it is difficult to pursue personal ambitions or dreams. The work culture may be killing (executing) the personal dreams or side businesses of the workers. Most workers have dreams of what they intend to achieve on the job or in a side business while they work. However, many companies see this personal ambition of their

How to start your own business

Many worry a lot about starting a business of their own. They worry about how to go about it and whether it will be a success. Let me share some tips with you on how to start. Start with a dream ! Dream about what you intend to make out of business life. Fantasize about how your business will make you millions and how you will spend the millions. Dream about seeing yourself driving in posh cars, receiving accolades and awards. Daydream about going on expensive vacations with your family with your business profit. Make sure you dream big, and I mean really big. In my own dream, I see myself buying over Aliko Dangote. #funny Step two: Write down your dream . When you are satisfied with the mightiness of your dream, begin to write it down. Start with developing your dream into a business plan, that will detail your business services, target market and marketing strategies. Do your research and consult experienced people in the industry of your business if need be. Step three: Wa

How to resign to start your own business!

How to resign and start your own business It is as easy as just taking a stroll to your HR with your resignation letter and drop it on his or her table. Yes you read that right! However, before you take that giant stride to drop the letter, kindly and carefully read the story  below. In 2016, I got a sales executive job at a Fintech company. It was a tough job to meet the sales target and the sales department leadership was headed by tough bosses who gave no room for excuses. After months of tireless work under stringent working conditions, the management took a grave decision with a repulsive demeanor that led to the resignation of all sales executive in the branch on the same day. That was my first encoun ter with resignation.  I was at home for some months trying to run my own design outfit, but brokenness soon chased me out to seek another job and It didn't take long before I got another offer and began work. Let me tell you, if you have content in you, recruiters