Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

Feed Formulation Software Will Not Guarantee Livestock Farming Success (Here’s Why…)

February 18, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

“Hi Tayo. I’m Eugene from Malawi and have been following you on and off for quite a while now…”(Full email below).

Eugene asked if my Ration Formulator™ could be used for ruminants (e.g Beef/Dairy Cattle, Goats, Sheeps) and Ducks etc. The short answer: YES. But I wrote him this long one…

==Email Starts==

Hi Eugene,

Thanks for your message.

It’s nice to know you’ve found my work of interest/potential use.

To your question…

Since 2004, when I began selling my Feed Formulation Handbook and the Ration Formulator, I’d say over 90% of my buyers, have been owners of Poultry and/or Fish Farms.

My app uses an improved version of the Pearson Square Computation Technique, to do weighted average ration formulation. And it has proven to be quite accurate in the results it turns out for those two groups of animals.

BUT, the farmer MUST ensure s/he gets “accurate” and preferably reasonable updated nutrient analyses done for the key ingredients used in rations fed to animals. Without this, anything you “formulate” would be a potential waste of time.

Now, in the last 2 years an interesting trend has developed in which MORE enquiries have been coming in from owners of Dairy/Beef Cattle Farms, and others that rear commercial Sheep, Goat and other ruminant operations.

For instance, a Canadian farm project manager who bought it wrote back to say he’d found it quite useful for his work. And he has poultry, ducks and other animals like those you mentioned in his stock.

What I’ve learnt over the past 20 years is that when it comes to feed formulation, it’s best to stick with the basics.

Feed formulation AND compounding are VERY practical activities.

One need not complicate them unnecessarily.

Ruminants (which you listed) for instance, happen to be more effective in making use of what they are fed, than other animals, because of their “enhanced digestive systems.

So, one would aim to achieve least cost ration formulation as often and consistently as possible. And the animals would do the rest.

For least cost formulation, you must actively identify and use locally available and cheaper alternatives to complement (or if possible replace) conventional but expensive feed ingredients.

You must also continually look for ways to combine ingredients most cost-effectively, to yield balanced rations at the lowest possible cost.

Apart from the above, the only other thing to pay attention to is the NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT of the target animal in question.

It’s good you mentioned the animals you wish to formulate rations for.

The question is: Do you know the specifics of their nutrient requirements? Especially their protein, minerals and energy needs?

These three are crucial elements for proper ration formulation. There are of course others – like fibre content, calcium etc.

I’d however say that from what I’ve seen with different animals reared, and what I’ve read about different farms, for most smallholder farmers, chasing those other finer parameters can be needless overkill.

And many won’t have the resources to do a proper job of it anyway. What’s more, quite often the difference in animal performance is often not noticeable.

On a final note, I’m currently working on an improved version of my app, which aims to allow elaborate amino acid balancing.

This is to meet the needs, mainly of farmers who rear animals like pigs and rabbits, which demonstrate noticeable performance sensitivity to amino-acids balancing in their rations.

I’m still testing that version to be sure it does what I want.

But since you’ve not mentioned (that) you have pigs on your farm, I can say my existing app will competently handle ration formulation for the animals you mentioned.

All that’s required is that you have a sound understanding of the science of feed formulation.

AND also ensure you obtain the correct/complete data on nutrient requirements for EACH of the animal groups you want to formulate rations for.

I believe it also goes without saying that you must check that what you obtain agrees with the breed/strain of animal you actually have to work with.

You cannot, for instance, simply adopt data from a generic nutrient requirement published for “Dairy Cows” for instance.

Hope this helps…and sorry about the “lecture”…I sometimes get carried away ;-))))

With kindest regards,

Tayo

PS: Given the kinds of animals you mentionend you rear, I feel the linked article below will prove informative/educational for you:

http://www.livestockkenya.com/index.php/cattle/214-formulating-home-made-rations-for-dairy-cattle

==Email ends===

I’m Not Into The Business of Selling At All Cost!

No I’m not.

You see I want people to only buy what will be useful to them. I also try to properly “inform and educate” them, so they can make the best use of what they buy.

I do this based on a 10 item code of ethics that guides me in ALL my dealings. Click here to read it.

If you notice, I did not just zoom in and tell him how well the software would work for the purposes he’d asked about.

No pushy salesmanship in this “space”

I want people to come to a firm conclusion that the solution I offer is actually what they need.

When people are convinced YOU are the one that can help them, they will trust you to help them get the results they want.

And that’s often when it will be a pleasure to do business with them!

Getting a software app for feed formulation is just one part of what it takes to get your animals to perform.

Other considerations – mentioned above – carry just as much weight.

That’s why I make a point of telling those who connect with me that important truth. If they go on to buy the solution I offer – GREAT. If not, I’d have at least added value to them in one or more ways.

And that would be a great feeling!

Final Words: The Power of a Web Marketing System

Let me end by saying this:

I love periodically sharing real life correspondence I have with enquiriers and clients via my website for 2 main reasons:

a. I believe they provide excellent medium for communicating valuable practical information. The above email is a good example.

b. Another reason I share them is to demonstrate the power that using a Web Marketing System like I do, can give you, in terms of your business promotion.

Using a WMS makes pre-qualified sales prospects (i.e people looking for what you offer) come to you, on their own. They will often be already pre-sold on the usefulness of YOUR solution.

Most times you’d simply have to provide payment details and they just go ahead and buy. This happens to me all the time!

If you want me to help you develop and implement a Web Marketing System for your business, click here to send me a message.

NB: You can read my 3 part series titled “Why You Need a Web Marketing System” – HERE.

My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Self-Development

No. 129: Speak (& Act) From Your Heart, or You’ll Sabotage Yourself

February 17, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Some people speak (and act) in ways that impede their own progress, but often don’t know it. So they blame others, or their circumstances. I explain below, how failing to speak(and act) from your heart amounts to shooting yourself in the foot…which is why you need to STOP IT!

The Need to Be Your Original Self…

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE

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Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 17th February 2014

No:129

Title: Speak (& Act) From Your Heart, or You’ll Sabotage Yourself

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog

Archive (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

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Click here to view the download page:

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**** **********

NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

**********

No. 129: Speak (& Act) From Your Heart, or You’ll Sabotage Yourself

Some people speak (and act) in ways that impede their own progress, but often do not know it. So they blame others, or their circumstances. I explain below, how failing to speak (and act) from your heart, amounts to shooting yourself in the foot…which is why you need to STOP IT!

The Need to Be Your Original Self…

The header for this newsletter reads “Proud African” (scroll up to see it).

That’s what I am.

My primary purpose is to use this newsletter to influence Africa based experts (including my favourites: Farm Business CEOs) – to adopt public speaking to promote their businesses, AND also generate additional income via paid speaking gigs.

To achieve the above goals, I periodically recommend they make Burt Dubin their mentor.

Having said that, since 2006, when I launched my first online newsletter (The Self-Development Digest), experts and professionals from many other parts of the world have joined my mailing list – and some have purchased from me.

The truth is I’ve always added content to this website, with a passionate desire to have my ideas/solutions, transcend geographical boundaries worldwide.

As an Expert in Your Field, You Can Do the Same Thing

And why not? Others are doing it everyday.

Back in 2002, I was a volunteer tutor in a community based NGO that provided weekend Maths and English lessons to final year secondary school students.

One day I passionately expressed the opinion, to a fellow tutor, that the web lacked an authentic African “flavour”.

Most of the content online about Africa/African was NOT being authored by Africans. And I was not referring to news.

Instead I meant “original creative content”. New ideas, concepts, philosophies in the many different areas of endeavour we were engaged.

I told him I felt Africans needed to do more CRITICAL THINKING and contribute solutions that could move the world forward.

Of course there were pockets of that happening here and there. But they were too few and far between online.

He looked at me and said “Well, if you feel that strongly about it, why don’t you start something yourself?”

I realised he’d made an excellent point. And I resolved to do just that.

So I began learning. And then I diligently applied what I learnt to generating content for my work both on and off the web.

In doing ALL of this, I’ve ALWAYS let my heart guide me…

And I honestly believe that has helped me succeed.

Expressing my thoughts about issues – in my personal and work life – back when I was in paid employment, and since becoming an entrepreneur, is a passion of mine.

It sometimes earns me both criticism – and some “haters”.

But I prefer that, to the awful feeling that comes from being untrue to myself…from NOT speaking up, or taking action I know I should take…or from”giving in”!

“I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving in.” – Rosa Parks

[Here’s something noteworthy: My best teachers have been Americans. To give you an idea of what I mean, I wrote an article about a year ago titled “Paying Tribute To 5 Experts Who Made Me“: At least 4 of them are American!]

Over a decade later, www.spontaneousdevelopment.com (this website) offers useful information, education, and solutions, on my key areas of focus and interest. And I get visits/enquiries from all over the world.

As an Authentic Expert, You Have Knowledge and Unique Insights Others Can Benefit From: Are You Speaking (and Acting) From Your Heart?

It’s an important question. Think about it carefully.

If yes, you’ll be doing the world a great service, because your useful ideas will be shared with those who need it.

Note that your “speaking” can happen via your website, blog, newsletter/articles/white papers, audios, videos etc. In other words, even when you do NOT speak at a LIVE event, you can still “speak” via those other media …to a potentially unlimited audience!

Sadly, too many experts I meet out here, who can be powerfully influential in helping others this way, shy away from doing it.

They doubt that they have anything worthwhile to say.

What they fail to understand is that as authentic experts in their chosen fields, the daily experiences they have already equip them to add value to audiences they address.

You only need to have INTEREST, PASSION, and access to EXPERT GUIDANCE (like the “Inside Speaking Business Success Secrets” provided by Burt Dubin), to achieve that outcome.

Many times you can even get started on some basic level, and later on choose to connect with a mentor to help you effectively “package” a flagship offering you can “sell” to audiences.

Sometimes you may not even wish to get paid.

Instead, you may just wish to give back, by sharing what you know with those who need it.

Whatever the case, the reality is that you MUST challenge yourself to speak/act – from your heart – regardless of your fears, doubts, concerns etc.

And you must choose to speak on something you have conviction about. It can even be a subject totally unrelated to what you’re known for.

The key here is YOUR conviction!

Let me illustrate this point, by sharing the interview video of a famous boxer, who delivered a very entertaining, yet seriously ENLIGHTENING “talk” about a subject unrelated to his professional occupation.

His name?

The legendary Mohammed Ali!

This has been labelled “Lost Footage” from an interview done in England (I think) when he much younger. Using great humour, he speaks about how he learnt to deal with racism, from some people, even AFTER winning Olympic Gold for his country!.

Think about it for a moment…

Ali could have chosen to focus on explaining how he got so good at boxing to become champion etc.

And no one would have complained.

But he skilfully used the opportunity of the interviewer’s question, to “inform” and “educate’ his audience about the silly misconceptions promoted by a narrow minded few.

Ali Was an “EXPERT AUTHORITY” In the Eyes of the Studio Audience…Like You Already Are…

In his case, he did not sabotage himself.

Instead, he wisely used the “credibility” he KNEW he had, to drive home crucial points he felt strongly about – to the multi-racial audience he KNEW could/would end up watching that interview).

As one commenter on Facebook said: “He basically gave us a history lesson!”

And he did it VERY impact-FULLY, but without offending.

Amazing!

Ali must have earned for himself that day, GREAT respect from everyone that was there, I’m sure.

That respect would later have carried over into the boxing arena.

Even people who did not have any interest in boxing, would have felt drawn to him, and the sport, because of what he said!

So, speaking his mind boosted his name recognition, and credibility!

Click the image below to watch the video (NB: It’s on Facebook).

Among other things, you’ll learn from that NO MATTER what people think of you, or do to you, it’s wiser to let love, tolerance, and self-control guide ALL you do and say.

Here’s one excerpt from Ali’s speech that drives home the above:

“…I have no racial problems. I don’t go where I’m not wanted. I’m proud…” – Mohammed Ali

Final Words

As you enter this new week, I urge you to go out DAILY, and be YOUR PROUD SELF, no matter who you are, what you do, where you come from, or what you look like.

Make sure you speak (and act) from your heart, at all times – because when you don’t, you’ll effectively be sabotaging yourself.

Now why would you want to do something like THAT???! :-))

Have a great week :-))

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Multipreneur.

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

He earns multiple streams of income providing clients with performance improvement training/coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems, freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

==================

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Publications

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Discover how you can produce a precious memento of you and your program. Capture over 44 model pages you can easily adapt for your use. Engage proven principles that add value to the experience of sitting at your feet and learning from you.

This is a reprise of the historic presentation that launched the Speaking Success System.

No copy of this 2 CD program and 50 page Learning Guide has ever been returned.

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THEY WROTE…

“(Tayo Solagbade) is amazing and I think he is going to produce some impressive results online…” – click here to read full comment by Patrick Meninga (US based 6 figure income blogger who gained fame for building a $2,000 per month adsense website and selling it for $200,000).

—————————–

“Tayo, I honestly believe you are one of those who will succeed at anything he does. Your commitment and effort has been outstanding….Thanks for all your hard work since I’ve been here – you will be sorely missed. I don’t need to wish you good luck, you have the ability to make your own luck. – Andy”(R. Jones)*

*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).

———————–

Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 128: Using Location Independent Multipreneuring to Achieve Public Speaking Success
General[Tuesday]:	Anyone – Including Kids In School – Can Achieve Success Via Part Time Entrepreneuring
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	Do You Want a Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic?
Career Development [Thursday]:	Convert Your Excel Reporting Workbooks to Secure (& Even Money Making!) EXE Files
Parenting [Friday]:	To Succeed, Act with Courage on Your Convictions (Hint: The TRUE Meaning of Valentine’s Day)
Writing/Blogging[Saturday]:	Success Depends on Your Extracurricular Activities, and Not Just Studying!
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Success Depends on Your Extracurricular Activities, and Not Just Studying!

February 15, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Would you focus 100% on your studies, to seal a 1st class degree? Or would you ADD extracurricular activities, and risk missing a sure 1st class? I did the latter and narrowly missed 1st class. But my achievements since then prove I did the right thing. Here’s my story…

Meeting An Old School Mate Who Felt I Did It Wrong

We both graduated from University of Ibadan, in 1992. We had not seen each other since 2005.

During our discussion he recalled that I’d maintained a 1st class Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A) right from our first to 3rd year. But he felt my extracurricular activities made me narrowly miss graduating with a 1st class in Agricultural Extension (which would have been a first for the department).

I recalled that I finished with a C.G.P.A of 5.9. First class was 6.0. It was indeed a narrow miss.

He referred to a club I’d joined – the Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) – in annoyance

To him, that club prevented me from clinching a first class degree. Apparently, from what he said, some of my classmates with whom he’d spoken also felt so.

On my part, I simply smiled and changed the subject.

I doubted I could change his mind. And I was also amused by his inability to see the bigger picture.

But that was understandable. He had become an academic. He naturally still thought in such terms.

I had chosen not to take up the offer of graduate assistantship sent to me by the university, as the best graduating student. (Instead, I accepted Guinness Nigeria’s invitation to become a Graduate Management Trainee/Brewer.)

My experiences have shown me many great benefits of engaging in such extracurricular activities!

I explain below…using 3 main activities I engaged in while on campus

Extracurricular No. 1: Playing Competitive University Handball

The first day I joined the university team in training as a freshman, I won a shirt on the team (NB: I began playing state level competitive handball in my teens, while in secondary school in Kwara state).

NB: In a future article, I’ll elaborate on many benefits university sports persons enjoy (e.g FREE accommodation EVERY year), which make engaging in sports worthwhile. But you must have the discipline to combine it with your studies.

In my final year (1992) I captained both the Independence Hall and University teams. The former I led to win the Inter-Halls Handball competition, while the latter I led, in a severe bashing at the West African Universities Games preliminaries. A bitter-sweet ending for me!

However, despite my heavy involvement in sports, I still graduated top of my class.

Interestingly, I would get an award from the University Sports Council, and my hall of residence in 1992.

Now, my course of study was for for 5 years. I played Handball right from my first year (1987) to my final year (1992) year. Yet, all through to 1989 (my 3rd year), I kept my C.G.P.A in first class range.

So I think it’s safe to say sports did not really prevent me from doing well with my studies.

Extracurricular No, 2: As a Member of Students Farm Research Foundation(SFRF)

In my 3rd year (1989), I joined the Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) – an innovative, self-funding farm research oriented student group in the University of Ibadan.

Most members were Veterinary Medicine majors. Only about 3 of us were studying Agriculture. Every day, we did practical livestock (poultry, rabbits etc) management – including feeding, feed formulation/ compounding, disease prevention and control.

In my 4th year (1990), I was elected “Sales Coordinator”. I was 20. My job involved purchasing feed ingredients and compounding formulated rations for pullets, layers, broilers, cockerels, and rabbits produced (for sales income) on the SFRF farm. I still remember getting my uncle to teach me how to keep track of money I spent using a simple book keeping notebook.

**Here’s why I remain grateful till today, that I got that involved in SFRF:**

My successes today derive from that exposure – none of which I could have gotten in class, or by studying alone. It was practical and very relevant for me as an Agricultural professional!

One Example:

In 2002, while speaking with some farm owners in Lagos, I discovered they lacked proper feed formulation knowledge and know-how. This made their feeding costs high.

So I decided to write my now popular Practical Feed Formulation Handbook and offer it for sale with practical training to farmers. (See a one chapter PDF preview: http://tinyurl.com/ffhbprv)

2 years later, in 2004, I developed my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ software to accompany the handbook following requests by buyers of the handbook, for a faster and less tasking means of doing the Pearson Computation described in it

Recall my friend said SFRF was responsible for my failure to get 1st class?

Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

The above example however shows that the name recognition and sales I’m getting for my expertise in feed formulation has more than made up for those lost C.G.P.A points!

Extracurricular No. 3: As President of Readers’ Club

Looking back, I think this 3rd extracurricular was the one that really led me to “choke” on my work load.

I quickly earned a number of nicknames from my freshman days.

When results of first year exams came out, colleagues noticed that Matriculation Number 52xx3, repeatedly came out tops in key subjects, with scores often in the 70s to late 80s.

They got curious, and soon found it was mine. From then on, many good naturedly began calling me “Iwe” (Yoruba for “book”) and “Material” (short for “First Class Material).

They did not stop there.

Right through our second year, they would check the results once they were pasted on notice boards, and come to inform me of my scores. Indeed at a point, I did not have to bother going to check when results came out. Someone would just say “Hey material…you scored …%!”

It was great to be on campus in those days. There was so much goodwill amongst the students.

My”book worm” reputation was to later get me into “trouble” of sorts…

In my fourth or final year, I got nominated by classmates to be the pioneer president of a “Readers’ Club launched in the department.

But I knew I already had my hands full with sports, and SFRF.

Try as I could, no one was prepared to pass me over. It seemed they felt my nicknames of “Iwe” and “Material” made me perfect for the job.

So I found myself having to arrange meetings, excursions, and do a variety of other tasks.

That Was When I Began to Feel the Pressure…

My study routine, developed from my first year, began to suffer e.g. I began getting to my room too tired to wake up and study from midnight till 4.00a.m, before hitting the tracks by 5.00a.m.

When the final C.G.P.A was announced, I had no regrets. Instead I let others lament on my behalf

I felt I’d gotten the best of all the worlds I’d been in while on campus.

The merit award from the sports council, and my hall of residence, made me feel I’d achieved a decent balance in my university education.

My Extracurricular Experiences Have REPEATEDLY Helped Me Succeed in Various Ways in Life!

I’ve since discovered over more than 2 decades, that I was right!

My sporting background has continued to help me deliver seemingly superhuman work related performances to the amazement of many older/younger persons.

To succeed in competitive sports mental and physical stamina are things you MUST develop. Add to that a rock hard never-say-die mentality, in the face of pain, difficulty, or any other form of adversity.

I’ve explained in several articles on fitness (like this one) that stamina will help one excel in life.

Stamina – both physical and mental – enables me – seemingly effortlessly – churn out articles/reports, create Excel software, and complete web marketing projects, to meet deadlines.

I’ve also given examples above, of how my SFRF experience provided the basis for developing what is today my most popular, and profitable range of farm business products and services.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you should by now have deduced that my SFRF exposure equipped me to write the 4,000 word agribusiness paper I got paid for in December 2013.

And if all goes well, there’s yet another potential benefit of my SFRF exposure headed my way!

Just today, I emailed the final version of a proposal about entering my Ration Formulator™ for an international competition.

When I clicked “send”, my head felt HOT from over 2 weeks of carefully crafting answers to the questions in the “brief” document provided!

It required most responses pegged to 150/200 words. They wanted no long stories…like this article…LOL! But I got it done :-))

In giving my answers, I made a point of stating that my SFRF experience helped me create the handbook and software innovation.

The proposals will be reviewed and selected by an “expert jury”, and contracts will be awarded to the 20 highest-scoring applicants, who will also be invited to a cross-learning workshop etc.

I gave it my best shot. Who knows…my proposal could just get chosen!

Final Words: The Right Extracurricular Activities Can Make Giving Up a Few C.G.P.A Points Worthwhile

The truth – no matter what anyone chooses to believe – is that over 80% of my increasingly popular software and handbook feed formulation solutions did NOT come from my classroom exposure.

Instead, they came directly from the 3 years I spent as a VERY active member of SFRF.

Indeed, no one has ever asked me about my C.G.P.A score since I graduated!

And that’s why I’d advise my child, ANY DAY, to give up a few C.G.P.A points, if it’s unavoidable, to acquire such life changing extracurricular experiences!

General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

To Succeed, Act with Courage on Your Convictions (Hint: The TRUE Meaning of Valentine’s Day)

February 14, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I read a story yesterday about St. Valentine and what happened to him, that resulted in celebration of Valentine’s day.

If the story is accurate, then his was not a Romeo and Juliet or romance tale.

Instead St. Valentine bravely died for what he believed.

A law had been passed barring marriage of young people, because the ruler at the time believed married men tended to be less courageous and commited at war, because thoughts of their wives and children made them want to play safe.

So the law aimed to keep young people from wedlock to ensure the right mindset in those recruited to go to the war front.

St. Valentine found himself sympathizing with many young lovers who desperately went around asking priests to marry them. The priests naturally declined, knowing the law forbade it.

One day Valentine began secretly conducting marriage ceremonies for those who came to him.

He knew it was dangerous but he felt convinced it was the right thing to do.

He was eventually found out and ultimately put to death for his actions.

The narrative ends by saying that on the day he was to die, he sent a note to a young lady (daughter of a top officer in government) who’d reportedly regained her eye sight when he prayed for her while he was in prison.

It was not a love letter though. But he signed it with his name thus: “Your Valentine”.

And that was apparently how the use of “Valentine” came to be.

I believe a quick Google search will bring up a more articulate narration of this story behind the Valentine’s day celebration.

However, in this article I’ve chosen to extract a lesson on courage from the story.

St. Valentine believed he had a duty to help people who loved one another fulfill their dreams of getting married.

He searched his heart and knew failing to perform that duty would be wrong.

So he bravely went ahead and acted on his convictions despite being aware of what could come of it.

Today, the whole world celebrates LOVE using his name!

I believe that in our personal and work lives, we can emulate St. Valentine by acting with courage on our convictions to do things right…AND to do the right things!

I also believe that we need to teach our kids, from as early as possible in their lives, to do the same.

If we do so consistently, the world is bound to become a better place over time.

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News

Convert Your Excel Reporting Workbooks to Secure (& Even Money Making!) EXE Files

February 13, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Below is a screenshot of the 2014 upgrade version of my popular Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator sofware. Do you notice it’s actually an EXE (executable) file, and NOT an Excel workbook…even though it’s in Excel?! Users need not enable macros. Plus, it works on any Excel version (for Windows or Mac). All past buyers get it FREE!

Not many MS Excel experts, talk less users, will know how I converted (actually “compiled” is the word) my Excel-VB driven workbook into an EXE file.

I’ve read on many forums that it’s even impossible. :-))

Some of those who said this are respected, knowledgeable experts in the use of the MS Excel application, for software development.

A few referred to the use of Visual Basic 6 COM tools. But that’s too much hard work…or manual labour.

I own a copy of the Professional Excel Programming manual, and know what using VB6 to create EXE apps involves. Right from the first day I read it, I knew it was not something I’d readily settle for.

So I kept searching. Especially online.

You see, I always knew I would need to be able to convert my automated workbook applications to EXE versions. Mainly to secure my code (knowledgeable developers will tell you VBA password security is a joke. It can be cracked within seconds), and also deploy my apps more professionally.

The only reason I waited was that I wanted to have enough user feedback to incorporate as many valuable features into my software as possible.

Since 2004, I’ve been doing that with my Ration Formulator. Today I have had buyers from across Nigeria, and outside Nigeria/Africa. Some have been so forthcoming with feedback that they have helped improve the app’s functionality greatly!

Last Friday, a prospective buyer of the Ration Formulator who’d called me on phone, sent an email asking:

“Does the software work with a Mac laptop?”

I responded as follows:

“As long as you have a fully functional installation of MS Excel on your PS, my Excel apps will work on it without problems.”

(NB: I sent this response with every sense of responsibility. I’d done my homework by reviewing the features of MS Excel 2011 for Macintosh.)

He promptly sent this response:

“Ok. I’ll let you know when I make payment.”

And he did that the next day.

24 hours later, I sent him the latest (2013) upgrade version of the app.

The next day he sent me a screenshot showing a compile error, that popped up when the app was opening in MS Excel on his laptop.

After thinking about it a while, I recalled that I’d introduced the use of API calls in the 2013 upgrade of the app, to enable use of modeless forms. It was the only change I’d made without considering the MS Excel 2011 for Mac, that I did to the application.

Here’s the reply I sent to him(with the above screenshot image of the new EXE version of the Ration Formulator):

He wrote back to say “thanks”. (And tonight, I’ll be sending him the promised modified version to see if it will run OK.)

Your (or Your Company’s) Important MS Excel Workbooks Can Be Converted to Secure, & Even Income Generating EXE Versions!

I’ve seen various ways companies put spreadsheets to use. From my time in paid employment (over 7 years), as well as the ten years I’ve been a spreadsheet solutions developer for client companies.

Many of those workbooks contain years of hard work from collaborative efforts of highly skilled persons.

They build complex formulas to generate valuable performance indicators for reliable decision making. Most times off-the-shelf apps that can offer similar customized reporting output are impossible to find.

And that’s why it makes great sense for such individuals/businesses to protect them as EXE files!

One example…

Back in 2009, I was contacted by the expatriate regional project manager for a well known petroleum exploration company.

He’d found my Excel-VB Solutions Development website, while “Googling” online for an Excel expert in Nigeria. I was still based in Lagos, Nigeria, at the time.

After a face to face meeting in Ikeja, he eventually invited me to their Freeman house office on Lagos Island, for a meeting with the head of the finance section, and his assistant.

They proceeded to show me a massive, and complex, tax computation workbook application.

It was about 45MB in size!

They wanted me to rebuild for easy comprehension by less Excel-competent users. The person who’d built it had left.

Long story short, I told them what needed to be done, and how I proposed we proceed. The next day they called to inform me they were pleased and wanted me to start work.

But I never did go on to do that project…because we could not agree on when my first payment would happen.

I wanted a one-third advance retainer. They wanted to pay me from the third week after I’d started work.

The point I’m however making is that if they had in-house Excel-VB programming expertise, they would have been better off.

Coupled with the know-how to convert the modified app to EXE version, they could even have made a product that could even be licensed to other companies. Especially considering it was a tax computation workbook!

But then again this is an oil service company we’re talking about. They probably did not need the money!

Having said that, I believe they would still have appreciated the extra security of having such a sensitive workbook in EXE form.

It would be impossible to illegally view the formulas or copy them or the code in it.

But they would still be able to post data, and save changes made to the data, in the EXE version!

If you’re a financial consultant, tax expert, or a professional who builds complex workbooks (E.g. quantity surveyor) for your work, this should interest you.

If you’d like to learn more about how to convert useful MS Excel workbooks you built, into such EXE versions that you can even sell…

Like REAL professional software, complete with installation routines, contact me for details….

I’ll send you details of the amazing features and functions you can get!

You probably already have a specially built workbook you use to quickly compute personal income taxes for client employees.

Or to generate payslips, or to compute company taxes, profit and loss reports etc.

The solution I refer to can help you convert your workbook into an EXE version you can sell to clients, or other consultants, and earn even more money!

Get in touch for details of how to begin today.

Career Development, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Do You Want a Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic?

February 12, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

A recent email from one of my newsletter subscribers read (in part) as follows: “Tayo, pls can u guide me on university education in Benin Republic? Ranging from the standard ones to qualifications and range of tuition fee as well as accommodation.”

Sadly, I was only able to send her links to a list of approved universities published on the Nigerian Embassy website, and to the website of a client who is a top decision maker in one of the leading universities here.

In truth, what she wanted was a WHOLE lot of information that cannot be found in one place!

Here’s the detailed response I sent to her…

“I’m not sure what your understanding of my work is, and especially how I operate here in Benin Republic.

The truth is I do not have access to that kind – and volume(!) – of information on private universities here.

Even people who OWN or work in them would struggle to give you all you’ve asked for!

My Suggestions:

1. I have a client: www.nanaarnold.com who is a top decision maker in one of such private universities.

You may contact him via his site to see if he can help you.

Note that you take full responsibility for your subsequent actions in this regard.

2. Check with the Nigerian embassy.

The ambassador once published a list of accredited institutions and their approved courses at http://nigerianembassybenin.org/?page_id=633

You may wish to contact them for additional guidance.

3. I’m an entrepreneur based here.

My work in the area of web marketing/freelance writing brings me in periodic contact with stakeholders in the industry.

I can do a detailed survey of the accredited schools along the lines of your enquiry, and prepare a comprehensive table on which the different institutions can be compared, to aid your decision making.

But that would be a lot of work, and it would be for a professional fee.

Hope this helps

===End of email reply===

After sending the above email, I realized I could have added a 4th suggestion:

4. Consider taking a trip down to Benin Republic for a few days to see things for yourself.

Plan to come in early in the week – say from Tuesday.

You would have possibly printed out the list of approved institutions and courses from the Embassy website. If possible you could visit the Ministry of Education in Nigeria to get the list.

Indeed it is likely they would also be able to give you a more comprehensive list that includes all approved courses offered by EACH institution.

Armed with that, you would then visit Benin Republic, and go to the equivalent ministry of education office here, to obtain get the full contact details of the institutions on your list.

Once you get that, the next step will be to call and/or visit each one to find out the details you want.

If any have website addresses, you could start by checking them out online.

But only START by doing that…do NOT stop there!

My experience however strongly indicates you would be VERY wise to STILL plan a physical visit to each school to establish what they really have to offer.

Or what would be the point of traveling ALL the way down to Benin in the first place, if you then did NOT visit their premises in what is such a small country?

What’s more moving around in Benin is generally not a problem. So you will rarely have to worry about traffic or any other annoyances.

Final Words: “My Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” – Coming Soon

I did not like the fact that I was unable to help that email enquirer on such an important matter. Considering that I’m based here, and engaged primarily in freelance writing online and off the web (of articles, reports and guides on different subjects), I believe I should help out in this area.

So, that email has now made me resolve to do the necessary detailed research and investigation to come up with a comprehensive guide to “Private Universities in Benin Republic”.

I’ll offer it as a new information product from my website.

This is because it’s obvious – from what I’ve seen over the past 10 months – that many people (parents and students) looking for reliable and unbiased resources to help them make their choices.

Hopefully, what I come up with will fill that need, to some extent.

If you’d like to be notified when the “Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” becomes available, fill and submit this form, to join my mailing list.

Entrepreneurship, Parenting, Self-Development

Anyone – Including Kids In School – Can Achieve Success Via Part Time Entrepreneuring

February 11, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Photo 1: Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 – My 10, 14, and 12 year old sons, and the 50% pineapple peel based cakes they baked WITHOUT an oven. All they used was the charcoal stove, a heavy metal pot, and flour, sugar etc that I brought ALL the way from Cotonou…LOL!

Now They’re Selling Their Cakes!

Yep. I found out just yesterday afternoon, when I called to speak with them.

Actually, I called to scold them for leaving their rooms, and most of the house disorganized.

Their mother had complained about that the night before.

So I decided to call and speak with the boys. One is a teenager already, while the other 2 are approaching that age, but the restlessness of youth makes their attention span notoriously short.

I started with the 12 year old, asking him why he’d left the sitting room un swept and disorganized. He mumbled a number of excuses.

None of them held water. But I played along.

Then I told him I would call by 10p.m to ask if he’d done his chores. And if he had not, he and I would have issues. He knew what I meant, and promised he would get it done.

I had a similar chat with the 10 year old.

The 14 year old, this time around, was not at fault. He has had to support his mother a lot since I began traveling, and the many different roles he’s playing have made him mature beyond his years.

He’s become extremely capable in terms of handling house hold chores, including cooking.

The teenage excesses still come over him at times, but he’s learning to better manage them.

I told him to follow up with his younger brothers and make sure they did what they’d promised to do.

Just as I was about to end the call, the 10 year old (he’s always the one who leads these initiatives) snatched the mobile from his older brother, and exclaimed: “Tayo, we’re now selling our cakes!”

It was like a repeat of how they told me they had started selling their drinks.

I asked: “Really? Where?”

“In our school. Our classmates bought all the ones we took to school yesterday!” he replied.

“How much do you sell them?” I asked.

“N50!” he replied in an excited voice “They bought everything, and told us to bring more.”

Photo 2: The 14 year old has a finger in his mouth. That’s where most of the first set of cakes they made went…before they recently began selling them…lol!)

As Shown Below I Also Brought Them the Cake Cups I Used In Cotonou

The price he mentioned was one we’d agreed on before I returned to Cotonou. That day we sat down and did simple costing of the inputs, to agree a reasonable selling price for each cup cake.

Our computation came to roughly N55.

Photo 3: Heavy metal pot my kids use for “non-oven” baking of the pineapple peel cakes. I also brought them the Cake Cups I used to make mine back in Cotonou

In Cotonou, I’d seen many people, towards the Christmas celebrations selling similar cake sizes for 150 FCFA.

This amounted to approximately N50.

So we agreed they should try selling the cakes at that price.

I Had No Idea If They Would Find Buyers or How/Where!

I just told them: Try and sell them(just as I did after teaching them to make the drinks)…LOL

For one thing I noticed the first set of cakes they made using my “zero-oven-village-charcoal-stove-baking” method tended to be a bit undercooked.

(That did not however stop them and their sisters from gobbling everything up. They really had fun making cakes with over 3kg of flour I brought with me, plus another 2 kg I bought before I left. All the cakes were eaten up. No attempt was made to sell. Kids!!!! LOL)

I later found the cakes undercooked because they were not keeping the charcoal bricks burning. As a result the heat tended to diminish with time.

So I told them to let each cakes batch stay longer, and to fan the embers for longer periods.

As You Can Imagine, An Oven Would Have Made All This Hassle Unnecessary…

That’s true.

However, the improvisational approach I used helps people – especially kids – discover how to use their creativity to do things inexpensively.

And it also equips them with valuable life skills.

The way I see it, as young Africans, it’s useful for them to know how our traditional cooking “equipment” work.

Who knows where they’ll find themselves in future!

Anyway, considering that they now make sales, and buyers want more, it’s safe to say they’ve now gotten the “Cooking Time” for their cakes right 😉

Next Step: Getting Them to Understand Why They Must Re-Invest – & Save – Money They Make

I told the 10 year old I was pleased with what they had done, and to “Keep it up!”

But he was not done yet…

He quickly cut in to say: “Tayo, tell Mommy to give us N300, so we can buy more flour and sugar, to make more cakes.”

That request reminded me of a mistake they had been making since they began recording sales.

They’d showed me wooden piggy banks they put their money in. But it rarely stayed there. They always found ways to spend it all!

In fact, the last time I spoke with their mother, she complained they got money from her to buy sugar, flour and other ingredients for making the cakes and drinks.

But they never brought home the money from sales. Instead they spent it on snacks right in school!

Since they are kids, this was not surprising, and I expected it.

I told him to give the phone to his mother. Then I told her to give them the money, BUT to demand that they hand over sales they make to her.

The next step I have planned is to sit them down, and explain why they must plough back part of their sales income to purchase materials for the next production.

And I’ll also tell them why they have to save some of what is left.

Final Words: One Thing I Know From Coaching Kids Over The Years…

If you explain it clearly to them, so they see the benefits, you will NOT need to chase them to do it.

For now, I’m letting them enjoy the feeling of being able to make the classmates part with N50 for each of the cakes they make by themselves.

I know it’s a wonderful feeling, and it will inspire them to think of more ways to put their skills to use.

I urge you to do the same for your kids.

Entrepreneurial skills of this kind can prove crucial for their achievement of success in their adult lives.

Children find activities of this kind exciting/challenging, so interest is unlikely to be lacking.

And as shown above, they can do it, while still schooling full time!

1. Involve Your Kids in Your Dream, and They’ll Succeed Too

2. When You’re Not Working, Create a Bigger Dream (Hint: New Product – My Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…Made Without an Oven!)

3. Are Your Kids Ready to Succeed in Your World?

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Writing/Blogging

No. 128: Using Location Independent Multipreneuring to Achieve Public Speaking Success

February 10, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I began my “Location Independent Multiprenuring Travels” across West Africa, on 1st April 2013 – about 10 months ago. The amazing successes I’m achieving (some described below) convince me one MUST be willing to take greater risks, to move to higher levels of achievement.

If I’d remained in Nigeria, I doubt I’d have achieved this much by now! (Want to know why I chose to relocate to Benin Republic? Click here).

This is why I share my experiences on my website. I want people to learn (from reading about how I use myself as a “guinea pig” of sorts) what they can do to advance towards their goals in life.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE

Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 10th February 2014

No:128

Title: Using Location Independent Multipreneuring to Achieve Public Speaking Success

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.tayosolagbade.com/blog

Archive (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

As a subscriber to my mailing list, you get to access over 10 potentially useful books and reports.

Click here to view the download page:

Can’t find it? No problem. E-mail me via tayo at tksola dot com and I’ll send you another. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to signup.

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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

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No. 128: Using Location Independent Multipreneuring to Achieve Public Speaking Success

If I’d remained in Nigeria, I doubt I’d have achieved this much by now! (Want to know why I chose to relocate to Benin Republic? Click here).

This is why I share my experiences on my website. I want people to learn (from reading about how I use myself as a “guinea pig” of sorts) what they can do to advance towards their goals in life.

Thanks to a New Facebook Friend for Asking Me a Question

This issue of my newsletter is an update of sorts about my Location Independent Multipreneuring, which is taking me “slowly” across West Africa.

If not for a new Facebook friend that I’ll simply call D.M, I’ll probably not have gotten round to writing it. She sent me a Facebook message asking:

“So, are you still travelling across Africa?? What are you up to?”

Her enquiry, as I told her, came in as I was contemplating writing an update on my blog about my travels. So I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone…by writing to answer her, and at the same time end up with a new article update to publish under the “My DN Travels” category on my blog.

Yes I Am Still Travelling…Across West Africa…But Slowly…

I’m working to deliberately achieve name recognition and promote my products/services to more members of my target audience, in West Africa, who may not yet be so web friendly.

And they are many – especially business owners (for some strange reason) – who are like that.

My strategy is to use what I call my Public Speaking for Business Marketing System (PSBM)™ – which I conceived/began using in Nigeria back in 2002 – to get their attention and interest at zero cost.

I’m actively creating awareness about what I can do to help groups and organisations. And I’m doing it in a way that, over time, MOVES them to invite me to contact me.

From there, as has happened in the past, some may engage me to do deliver my products and services.

Here are some of the activities I’m focussed on…

1. Zero Cost Book Publishing Information & Education for Writers

For instance, I’m trying to get the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) in Ghana, to bring me in to speak to/coach their members.

This is with respect to using web based Print On Demand Publishing to get their physical books published and delivered to a global paying audience at zero cost.

I’ve been selling physical copies of my own flagship Self-Development manual, using web based zero cost Print On Demand publishing, since 2005 – when I met with the PAWA president during a 2 week stay in Accra.

He’d been quite excited by the idea of not needing to pay hefty fees to traditional publishers to get books in print, for sale locally or abroad.

But he wanted me to send a physical copy of my book which I’d shown him online. A few months later, I sent a copy through a friend that I stayed with in Accra, who worked with a bank.

I never heard back from him, but I mentally resolved that I’d follow up at the right time. I believe that time is now here.

See my self development bible which is physically shipped worldwide on sale www.lulu.com/sdaproducts.

2 months ago (December 2013), I also got paid for writing a 4,000 word agribusiness research paper for an international organisation. Apart from visiting Nigeria to conduct a questionnaire survey, I only had to sit down and write based on what I knew!

A few days ago, I got email notification that my 500 word short story titled “The Deadly High School Students Street Fight” did NOT get selected for phase 2 of an international competition I entered it for.

I sent in my submission from the competition website on the night of the very last day for entries – 31st December 2013 (while others were watching movies).

Many such online (free-to-enter) writing contests exist. A Google search will yield useful links to follow.

I argue that any writer, who feels s/he is good, and lacks “funds”, can start by entering for such contests.

There are cash prizes (up to $3,000 USD) to be won by finalists. If/when you win, you can channel such earnings to boost your writing career.

Why not? It’s better than sitting at home moaning about how no publisher will give you a chance!!

Many writers across Africa don’t know it’s possible. Even today. Yet most complain of “lack of money” to get their book ideas published/sold, or to support their writing dreams.

I aim to help them out through their organisations.

2. Farm CEOs Benefit From Connecting With Me Too!

I also use variants of the above approach to promote other solutions I offer to farm business owners (e.g. my popular Feed Formulation Handbook and Ration Formulator Software).

To get my foot in the door, I aim to visit and become familiar with the different cultures in each country. [NB: I’ve visited some in the past (e.g. Ghana and Cameroon), and I’ll be exploiting contacts made back then to achieve my goals.]

Then based on unique insights I gain from my interactions and observations, I use my writing to offer them new ideas, information and education.

Lots of real life story telling about experiences I had in places like Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, and here in Benin Republic, is done, to “sell myself” as credible and authentic, AND therefore worthy of trust.

Over time, this and other approaches, make business owners and organisational decision makers discover me, and they often go on to connect with me.

It IS a slow process. But it works. And it Has a Very Long Lasting Marketing Reach and Impact

For instance since starting my travels on 1st April 2013, by coming to Benin Republic, I’ve had many more prospects readily make enquiries (and sometimes purchases) of my Ration Formulator software from in and out of Africa. E.g. Tanzania, Cameroon, S/Africa, Kenya, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Canada, USA.

It’s been amazing to see how writing about what I do DAILY, on my blog, with periodic reference to my travel experiences is making more people connect with me.

I’ve had buyers from all over Nigeria (east, west, north and south).

Just yesterday I fulfilled another N12,500 order for my feed formulation software.

The buyer called my Nigeria mobile line just as I boarded a bus headed to the Benin Republic border, from Lagos (where I’d gone to attend my Dad’s 80th birthday anniversary celebration).

The best part is however that I now get email and phone requests from Nigerians in Diaspora

They often request my advice (often making it clear they’re ready to pay or offer “ownership”) on market opportunities in Nigeria/West Africa, for business ideas they’re considering investing in e.g. fish farming, milk importation etc.

A few days ago, I made a recommendation to one such group that contacted me via Facebook. If they adopt it, and choose to have me implement it, I may be going across W/African markets to conduct a survey of imported milk products, towards writing a feasibility study for the decision makers to consider.

3. Farm Products Based Micro Scale Business Development Coaching

Then locally here in Benin, I’ve developed a pineapple peel based drink and cakes range, which has gotten me noticed at the Nigerian embassy here in Cotonou.

For instance, see www.tayosolagbade.com – where my on-demand talk about using peels from pineapples (and 9 other fruits) to make drinks that can be sold.

The subject interests people here, because pineapple is a national product, sold and consumed everywhere – daily. The tonnes of peels/rinds get thrown away.

What I have done proves it can be recycled. That has significant income generation and job creation potentials/implications.

I aim to get support to travel the region giving my flagship talk and training to interested groups.

A Beninese professor was at the Nigerian embassy, when I showed the bottled drinks to a top officer back in September.

He insisted on driving me to his home (hours away) in Kasato, outside Cotonou, to meet his entire family.

After I gave a brief overview of how I began making drinks using the peels, he scolded the kids who were students in the university saying: “This man only got here a few months ago, and look what he’s already doing in our country! Why can’t you do the same?”

Later I was treated to a sumptuous meal. And when he dropped me off that night, he told me he would want me to come give talks to his students at the national language centre.

This year, I believe we’ll be able to make something happen in that regard.

The Chamber of Commerce Administrator for a certain Francophone nation here in Cotonou, has been one of my most fervent advocates.

After eating the 50% pineapple peel cakes I took to his office in December (he’d tasted the drinks 2 months before) he told me to send him all my promotional materials in French.

I’ll get around to that soon. I’d proposed going to their country to give talks on the subject.

4. Public Speaking for Business Marketing (PSBM) & Web Marketing Coaching

I’m using 1 to 3 described above, to build up to THIS number activity…

Back in June 2013, I developed (and have since begun selling on CDROM) Part 1 of a Quick & Dirty Guide to English Language for French Speakers…and to French Language for English Speakers. There are 9 other chapters planned.

I’m now convinced that I can offer live “English public/speaking conversation practise sessions” for people at the brew pub I plan to open. Sales of my language guide, and the practice sessions would attract patrons to events I organise in my pub.

Like I said, things (including ideas) just seem to fall in place over time…:-))

My various activities have led a Cameroonian (web marketing) client, who is part-owner of a Private University here, to request that I deliver talks to students in the institution.

Hopefully we’ll be able to agree terms etc.

My key offering, as a I travel, is however a “Talk on How to Use Public Speaking – & Web Marketing Systems – for Zero Cost Business Marketing”.

With the successes I now have under my belt, I’m certain this aspect of my plans will take off in 2014.

Final Words: What You Can Take Away…

That sums up the latest update on where I am in my work/travels, and what the near future looks like ;-))

But here’s something I’d like you to take away from all this…

You see, I did not start out knowing what the future held for me.

Yet I took the step to begin the journey, after realizing I needed to change my “environment” to succeed better.

Then I made sure that I never let a single day pass, without taking firm action to progress my plans.

What I found, over time, was that other things I needed began falling in place. I just had to proceed with faith and persistence.

Some Would Say I lead a Charmed Life. That I was/am lucky.

The truth is however that I have paid (and continue to PAY) my dues!

If you think doing any of the above the way I do them is easy, think again.

But I LOVE what I do, so it comes easy to me.

Find what YOU love to do, and apply a similar approach to the above – with faith/persistence. You’ll eventually find yourself succeeding, seemingly effortlessly, no matter what anyone says or does!

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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1. Top Shelf [Click here]

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3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Publications

Burt Dubin’s latest book: “On Being a Master”

Download Chapter 1 Preview as PDF

Visit the “On Being a Master” website

177 Wow! Wow!

Showmanship Stratagems

Discover these secrets of making your programs more interesting and valuable to your clients and audiences now.

more information

Burt’s Flagship Album

This is the product to own if you can own only one. Why? Because in it you discover principles of platform mastership available to you nowhere else at any price.

With its Money back if not delighted Guarantee hardly any are returned.

Find out why

Presentation Magic

Presentation Magic Manual with new pages added plus 3 audio CDs.

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How To Create a Great Program Manual

This is a reprise of the historic presentation that launched the Speaking Success System.

No copy of this 2 CD program and 50 page Learning Guide has ever been returned.

more information

Download above PDF

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THEY WROTE…

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*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).

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Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 127: Master FEAR, and You’ll Achieve Mastery In Any Field
General[Tuesday]:	Happy 80th Birthday to our SUPER DAD!
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	Proof That Poverty Cannot Make People Steal…If They Don’t Want To (A True Story)
Career Development [Thursday]:	Do We Really Become More Prone to “Forgetting” As We Grow Older?
Parenting [Friday]:	Why Your Child May Need a Liberal Arts Education to Succeed
General[Saturday]:	You Can Agree to Disagree and Still LOVE (Tribute to my father at 80!)
Writing/Blogging [Sunday]:	The Deadly High School Students Street Fight (A True Short Story I Submitted to the 2013 GKBCinc Short Story Competition) Achieve Writing Success by Reading More Frequently and Deliberately
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

My DN Travel News, Self-Development, Short Stories, Writing/Blogging

Achieve Writing Success by Reading More Frequently and Deliberately

February 9, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Late last year, I decided to begin writing short story pieces. Click here to read my first ever (500 word) attempt titled “The High School Students Street Fight”, which I entered for the GKBCinc Short Story Competition on 31st December 2013.

I intend to write many more short stories. Most will be based on real life experiences I’ve had, but written in a language that will appeal to kids as well as adults.

My plan is to challenge myself by deliberately entering each piece for ANY available online competitions. Or offline ones that do not require much registration hassle.

Why This Interest in Writing Short Stories?

You see, I’ve noticed that people love to read stories…often fiction or part fiction. They love to read novels – be it fiction or those based on real life events.

I happen to have lots of stories from real life experiences to share.

Over the years, I’ve noticed formal non-fiction writing does not appeal to all those who stand to benefit from the lessons offered in my writing.

But I’ve observed that most people react positively to true story pieces I write.

So, I’m deliberately adopting the use of short stories, to reach out to more members of my target audience.By infusing more entertainment – and less formality – into my writing, I aim to succeed more often in getting my message across to people who need to “hear” it.

I’ll be doing it based on the categories I focus on (e.g. career development, self-development, parenting, entrepreneurship, writing/blogging etc).

To this end, I have now created a Short Stories category to aid people who may wish to search for my write-ups that fall into this new area.

I’m Also Doing It to Help My Kids Become More Competent Writers and Readers

You see, I pay a lot of attention to what my kids tell me about school. I ask them questions about what they learn, their teachers etc.

What I learn convinces me I need to help my kids learn to use self-study techniques to complement whatever they get in school.

My passion for self-education drives me to challenge them to work hard at developing self-tutoring skills.

Succeeding with self-tutoring requires forming a healthy reading habit.

The problem is traditional schools, the way they operate, often make learners develop an aversion for reading.

When reading is not felt to be pleasurable, by the learner, s/he will avoid it wherever/whenever possible. And that will happen a lot when s/he is outside school …where it is unlikely to be “formally required”.

I noticed this was affecting my kids. They did not like being told to read – except it was a comic or magazine with fun content.

So I began encouraging them to think up and write short stories of their own.

To give them ideas, I suggested they read short story books by other authors, and to refer to narratives of traditional African folk tales.

The process has been slow, but so far I’ve gotten the 14 year old to complete one short story, while the 10 and 12 year olds are working to finish their first pieces.

Starting a Parent and Children “Self-Publishing Venture”

I have decided we’ll publish – both online and off the web – a collection of our short stories as a family, in one book, that will be offered for sale.

Years of experience working with kids and young people tells me this strategy can help me boost their natural interest in reading and writing.

I believe when my kids see their names and stories in print, they’ll get excited. Then even if only ONE sale happens, it will inspire them to think of writing more!

And that desire to write more, with coaching I provide, will make them want to read more as well.

Why will this happen?

It’s because the writing process often benefits greatly from reading that is done by a person. And they will discover that, as they participate in this exercise.

Many Great Writers Are Reputed to Have Started Out as Great – Often Voracious(!) – Readers

This is true. And it makes a lot of sense does it not? Very common sense I might add!

But one thing to note is that the quality of what is read is crucially important.

When you read “junk”, your development as a writer is likely to suffer. That’s why great writers recommend reading books by great authors…and nothing else.

Again, it’s just simple common sense.

I’m going to apply that common sense in coaching my kids to develop sound reading/writing skills.

And I aim to help them acquire the ability to earn tangible income using those skills.

Publishing My First Ever Short Story Is the First Step

As I’ve mentioned earlier in this piece, I intend get “The High School Students Street Fight” published as one of a collection of short stories to appear in a book by me and my kids.

Read my 14 year old son’s article titled “The Fool Who Thought He Was Wise (A 14 Year old’s Useful Story About HIV Aids Prevention)”. It will also be included…possibly with changes to make it a more compelling read.

For now, I’ve published my first ever short story (500 words) on this blog – click here.

I’ll try and make our collection of stories have illustrations to make each one interesting, especially to kids.

Today’s advanced PC and Internet technologies make doing the above relatively easy, convenient and affordable.

In fact it can even be done very cheap or at zero cost – if you choose to use Print On Demand Publishing – like I do, and which I strongly recommend.

NB: Read my 2005 article titled “How I Discovered Zero Cost Print On Demand publishing.” AND another titled “Do You Really Have To Find A Conventional Publisher? (A Case for Print On Demand Publishing)“

That’s why I believe more parents may find it useful to adopt a similar approach, to help their kids develop more real world relevant reading and writing skills.

My DN Travel News, Short Stories, Writing/Blogging

The Deadly High School Students Street Fight (A True Short Story I Submitted to the 2013 GKBCinc Short Story Competition)

February 9, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

As the screenshot below shows, this piece – my first ever (500 word) attempt at writing a short story – was not short listed for phase 2 of the GKBCinc Short Story Competition that I entered it for on 31st December 2013, the LAST day for entries! But I’m glad I sent it in anyway.

I now invite you to read the 500 word story (it’s actually based on real events that happened to me), and let me have any comments, or suggestions you think can help me improve.

Compared to writing non-fiction (e.g technical agribusiness cases studies and reports) where I excel, I’m a baby in this field :-)) But I intend to write many more (click here to learn why). And I’ll take all the help I can get!

==STARTS===

The Deadly High School Students Street Fight

| 500 words (Excl. title)

It was almost 9p.m. Oyat was seeing Dele off to the train station, outside the school premises.

Suddenly, Dele said “You know, considering Dagbo’s threats after you got him suspended indefinitely, maybe you should not have come out this late. I hear someone who crossed him landed in hospital with a cracked skull, after being attacked by unknown persons!”

“I’ve heard similar stories too” muttered Oyat.

They reached the mango tree next to the ticket office. Dele went in.

As Oyat waited, he thought about what Dele said, and realised he was right.

Then, at that very moment, he felt like someone was watching him.

Looking round, he thought he saw a figure hurriedly step back into the shadows behind the mango tree. The person had a heavy set frame that, strangely enough, reminded him of Dagbo.

When Dele returned, Oyat looked back again, and saw a cat come out from behind the tree!

He felt stupid. Half-laughing, he turned to Dele saying “Now you’ve made me start imagining things. I thought I saw Dagbo hiding behind the mango tree, but it was just a cat!”

Dele laughed saying “Forget it. He can’t try anything with people around. Let’s sit. I’ve got a great story!”

Dele was a great storyteller. Though Yoruba too, he was born and raised in the famous Kano city, spoke flawless Hausa, and knew many fascinating northern folk tales. About twenty of their school mates soon gathered, as Dele mesmerized everyone.

Time passed quickly.

At a point, their school mates began leaving hurriedly, looking nervous.

Soon, they were down to just six!

Then they heard a bottle break, as a gruff voice snarled “Prefect Oyat! Today I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Their 4 remaining friends disappeared, as Oyat and Dele turned to see Dagbo, flanked by his gang members, holding broken bottles, knives, and sticks.

“So it was him I saw behind the tree!” thought Oyat. “The others ran off on seeing the gang approaching” he realised.

“Don’t say anything” Dele warned.

But Oyat, surprising even himself, suddenly screamed in anger : “Coward! Why not face me alone?”

Enraged, Dagbo began to charge towards Oyat, who braced himself, while imagining the next day’s headline reading “A Deadly High School Students Street Fight!” with a picture of him lying in a pool of blood.

Just then a high pitched train whistle rang out.

Passengers in the arriving train, and intending travellers approaching the tracks, soon saw the gang.

Knowing the police could be called in, Dagbo growled “This is not over!”, as they swiftly melted into the darkness.

Oyat heaved a sigh of relief.

Thanking Dele for his courageous show of friendship, Oyat waited till he boarded the train, then waved as it left.

Walking back to school with others, he reflected on Dagbo’s parting threat, and smiled to himself.

Having sat the final exams, he would not be coming back to this town.

Dagbo didn’t know yet, but this was destined to be: A Deadly High School Students Street Fight…That Never Happened!

==END===

==Email Starts==

What I’ve learnt over the past 20 years is that when it comes to feed formulation, it’s best to stick with the basics.

The question is: Do you know the specifics of their nutrient requirements? Especially their protein, minerals and energy needs?

On a final note, I’m currently working on an improved version of my app, which aims to allow elaborate amino acid balancing.

PS: Given the kinds of animals you mentionend you rear, I feel the linked article below will prove informative/educational for you:

I’m Not Into The Business of Selling At All Cost!

Final Words: The Power of a Web Marketing System

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 129: Speak (& Act) From Your Heart, or You’ll Sabotage Yourself

The Need to Be Your Original Self…

As an Expert in Your Field, You Can Do the Same Thing

He looked at me and said “Well, if you feel that strongly about it, why don’t you start something yourself?”

As an Authentic Expert, You Have Knowledge and Unique Insights Others Can Benefit From: Are You Speaking (and Acting) From Your Heart?

You only need to have INTEREST, PASSION, and access to EXPERT GUIDANCE (like the “Inside Speaking Business Success Secrets” provided by Burt Dubin), to achieve that outcome.

Let me illustrate this point, by sharing the interview video of a famous boxer, who delivered a very entertaining, yet seriously ENLIGHTENING “talk” about a subject unrelated to his professional occupation.

Ali Was an “EXPERT AUTHORITY” In the Eyes of the Studio Audience…Like You Already Are…

Click the image below to watch the video (NB: It’s on Facebook).

Here’s one excerpt from Ali’s speech that drives home the above:

Final Words

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

Useful Resources for Speakers

Get Burt’s mentoring at any of the 3 levels below:

Publications

THEY WROTE…

Meeting An Old School Mate Who Felt I Did It Wrong

He referred to a club I’d joined – the Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) – in annoyance

Extracurricular No. 1: Playing Competitive University Handball

However, despite my heavy involvement in sports, I still graduated top of my class.

Extracurricular No, 2: As a Member of Students Farm Research Foundation(SFRF)

Here’s why I remain grateful till today, that I got that involved in SFRF:

One Example:

Extracurricular No. 3: As President of Readers’ Club

My”book worm” reputation was to later get me into “trouble” of sorts…

That Was When I Began to Feel the Pressure…

When the final C.G.P.A was announced, I had no regrets. Instead I let others lament on my behalf

My Extracurricular Experiences Have REPEATEDLY Helped Me Succeed in Various Ways in Life!

I’ve explained in several articles on fitness (like this one) that stamina will help one excel in life.

I’ve also given examples above, of how my SFRF experience provided the basis for developing what is today my most popular, and profitable range of farm business products and services.

And if all goes well, there’s yet another potential benefit of my SFRF exposure headed my way!

Final Words: The Right Extracurricular Activities Can Make Giving Up a Few C.G.P.A Points Worthwhile

And that’s why I’d advise my child, ANY DAY, to give up a few C.G.P.A points, if it’s unavoidable, to acquire such life changing extracurricular experiences!

Instead St. Valentine bravely died for what he believed.

One day Valentine began secretly conducting marriage ceremonies for those who came to him.

However, in this article I’ve chosen to extract a lesson on courage from the story.

Today, the whole world celebrates LOVE using his name!

A few referred to the use of Visual Basic 6 COM tools. But that’s too much hard work…or manual labour.

Last Friday, a prospective buyer of the Ration Formulator who’d called me on phone, sent an email asking:

24 hours later, I sent him the latest (2013) upgrade version of the app.

Here’s the reply I sent to him(with the above screenshot image of the new EXE version of the Ration Formulator):

Your (or Your Company’s) Important MS Excel Workbooks Can Be Converted to Secure, & Even Income Generating EXE Versions!

And that’s why it makes great sense for such individuals/businesses to protect them as EXE files!

After a face to face meeting in Ikeja, he eventually invited me to their Freeman house office on Lagos Island, for a meeting with the head of the finance section, and his assistant.

The point I’m however making is that if they had in-house Excel-VB programming expertise, they would have been better off.

If you’re a financial consultant, tax expert, or a professional who builds complex workbooks (E.g. quantity surveyor) for your work, this should interest you.

In truth, what she wanted was a WHOLE lot of information that cannot be found in one place!

1. I have a client: www.nanaarnold.com who is a top decision maker in one of such private universities.

2. Check with the Nigerian embassy.

3. I’m an entrepreneur based here.

4. Consider taking a trip down to Benin Republic for a few days to see things for yourself.

If any have website addresses, you could start by checking them out online.

Final Words: “My Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” – Coming Soon

I’ll offer it as a new information product from my website.

If you’d like to be notified when the “Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” becomes available, fill and submit this form, to join my mailing list.

Now They’re Selling Their Cakes!

I started with the 12 year old, asking him why he’d left the sitting room un swept and disorganized. He mumbled a number of excuses.

Just as I was about to end the call, the 10 year old (he’s always the one who leads these initiatives) snatched the mobile from his older brother, and exclaimed: “Tayo, we’re now selling our cakes!”

Photo 2: The 14 year old has a finger in his mouth. That’s where most of the first set of cakes they made went…before they recently began selling them…lol!)

As Shown Below I Also Brought Them the Cake Cups I Used In Cotonou

Photo 3: Heavy metal pot my kids use for “non-oven” baking of the pineapple peel cakes. I also brought them the Cake Cups I used to make mine back in Cotonou

I Had No Idea If They Would Find Buyers or How/Where!

As You Can Imagine, An Oven Would Have Made All This Hassle Unnecessary…

Next Step: Getting Them to Understand Why They Must Re-Invest – & Save – Money They Make

But they never brought home the money from sales. Instead they spent it on snacks right in school!

Final Words: One Thing I Know From Coaching Kids Over The Years…

Entrepreneurial skills of this kind can prove crucial for their achievement of success in their adult lives.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 128: Using Location Independent Multipreneuring to Achieve Public Speaking Success

Thanks to a New Facebook Friend for Asking Me a Question

Yes I Am Still Travelling…Across West Africa…But Slowly…

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

**Here’s why I remain grateful till today, that I got that involved in SFRF:**

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)