On Monday 29th October 2001 at 2.00am in the morning, armed robbers “visited” the house where I was living with my family on Ikpoba Hill in Benin City. These guys numbered about five and ALL carried sawed-off shotguns! They didn’t call out for us to come and open the gates – they simply blew the locks off!
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Today, I delivered a one hour talk to members of the media unit of (name removed for privacy) Foundation, in Ota, Ogun State Nigeria. It was a small group. But no speaking event is EVER small. As such, I prepared for it like I was going to speak to members of a CEOs club.
Here’s something that’s very useful to keep in mind.
When potential clients are considering your services they often have fears that influence their decision making.
Among other things, they want to make sure they get what they pay for. And they also want to see how they can pay a reasonable fee (read: as little as possible) to get everything they want.
Let me explain by sharing details of a discussion I had with a “friend” who referred me to a new client. He said the client had received enquiries from potential partner organizations about teaming up.
However, the latter wanted to learn more about the client’s organization, so they could be sure they were on the right track. Not surprisingly, they asked for a website – among other things.
The client told my “friend”, who happened to be a member of the board. The latter went out to speak with several website developers. But, according to him, each one he spoke with did not say anything like what he knew I always told my clients I would do for them.
For instance, I explain that what I deliver as a website will, if used as I advice it should, help the client make more profits by LOWERING cost of sales leads generation, while boosting marketing reach and impact.
That’s a 2-in-1 offer right there.
However, I don’t just say it with words. I actually offer real life examples, case studies and true personal stories, to back up my claims. This was what my friend knew, that made him struggle to accept what the website developers he spoke with told him.
He told me the enquiries from the prospective partners indicated only a website with the features I described would be best to present to them. So he told the client it would be best to contact me, and find out what it would take to have me build such a website for them.
We had a meeting, and the client upon speaking with me, decided he wanted me to handle development of what I told him would be a Web Marketing System.
At the end of the talk, I began preparing the following files to burn on to the DVD I promised to leave for them to study:
1. The Power Point presentation file (which I never used) for my talk titled “Now That Your Website Is Up,. What Do You Do Next? Practical Ideas for Making Profitable Use of a Response Generating Website”.
2. Three MP3 audio files for my 3 part series titled “Why You Need a Web Marketing System(WMS)”
3. A PDF version of my article (on which the talk is based) titled “Now That Your Website Is Up,. What Do You Do Next?”
NB: To get copies of one or more of the above, click here to send me a request.
While I was burning the files on to the DVD using my laptop, the client walked up and said “What will you need to get started on building the website”…and I told him…
You will agree with me, that he would NOT have asked that question if I had failed to deliver a talk that convinced him going ahead would be okay.
First, he was told about me by someone else. Then during a first meeting, I impressed him enough to make him ask how much it would cost to have a WMS developed and implemented for his organization.
What’s more, he was so enthused about the ideas I shared that he requested that I deliver a PAID talk to members of his team, so they could adopt the required mind set I told him was needed to make effective use of the WMS.
Then after I delivered that talk, he was satisfied enough with what he’d heard, that he went on to ask what I would need to start work on the website!
See how it began as a probable sale, and now it’s headed towards a full sale. At each stage I simply had to show up as represented.
If you want to be able to boost your chances of winning prospects over (even if you’re a NGO, this applies!), use this approach. It never fails.
Most of what I said to my client at our first meeting, and the audience during my talk, was based on successes I achieved with my WMS.
I simply told one relevant story after another to reinforce the points I had to make at every stage. And it worked. It will always work. You just need to know how to use it.
If you’d like to learn HOW, click here to tell me.
I am now fully convinced that conventional schooling involves a subtle but severe form of brainwashing. And that’s why otherwise intelligent people who have undergone it sometimes display a baffling tendency to act like mindless robots!
I know of one parent, who not only made his kids undergo the entire traditional schooling process. He also sent the kids abroad, as used to be done years ago, to pursue master’s degree programmes, with a view to boosting their chances of getting jobs.
In fact, they kids started by trying to get employment while still abroad. For over a year, they tried. Nothing lasting came of it. All the while, keeping them there was costing their parents large sums of money. Still they kept hoping coming from abroad with degrees from foreign universities would open doors of high paying employment to them.
When they came back home however, it did not happen as they’d expected.
Many other parents who thought like them also had their own kids doing the same thing.
But that was not all. The global economic crisis had made many in Diaspora begin to return home. Some had lost their jobs. Others had found themselves underemployed.
So, they brought with them a superior mix of competence and experience. And they came home prepared to settle for less paying jobs which offered greater security compared to the scary scenarios that had faced them abroad.
Now, many of these Diaspora professionals would not readily admit this was the main reason they had chosen to return home. Instead they argued that they felt a need to come back to contribute to developing the country.
This naturally put(s) the home grown job seekers at a major disadvantage. Especially given the shaky quality of the graduates being churned out from Nigeria’s local institutions.
Most companies cannot help but go for the better trained and more experienced returnees. And this is the sad predicament that faces many young people who undergo conventional schooling today
The sad thing about the situation is that no one warned them about it happening either. All the while they were undergoing the various levels of formal schooling, their parents told them to work hard at it.
Their lecturers and teachers challenged them to meet all the demands made of them. They were told to think of how bright a future awaited them if they finished well.
Unfortunately, even those who were telling them to do all these things had long passed the route, and were not in tune with the latest developments and realities.
At least not from the perspective of a persons just starting out in life.
As I type these words, I can still recall very vividly, how I had been laughed at SO MANY TIMES in my life as an entrepreneur, by people who used to admire me.
They laughed at, and mock me, often behind my back, and sometimes to my face.
Why?
Because they saw me struggling to make an impact in the real world as an entrepreneur. For all my academic brilliance and intelligence, I was for many years unable to unravel the mysteries of doing business in the real world. Especially the real – and VERY crooked – world of Nigeria, my country.
Also, recognition – and support – from others who value innovative talents, would have come my way faster. Unfortunately, I did not have that benefit, being based in Nigeria.
Now, one would have thought those who saw me excel in school, from my childhood days right through university, and those who saw me excel in paid employment after that, would have rallied round me.
Not all of them. But VERY many of them. And I found it so difficult to understand, because I knew I would never do that to anyone. Instead, I would have wanted to find a way to help anyone in such a situation, who I see working with diligence and integrity, to find a way to succeed.
For well over a decade, I have studied those who did these things, and come to the conclusion that the schooling systems we were all expose to, is what makes people that way.
It makes them lose their emotional intelligence. At least most of it.
They forget how to put themselves in the shoes of others. Instead they delight in making fun of others in misfortune.
I do NOT want my kids to become like that. And I also do not want them to be treated the way I have been treated. That is why I have, for years, been telling them the stories of my entrepreneurial failures, and asking them to compare it with my time in school and paid employment where I excelled.
Using those examples, I have been challenging them to LEARN real world relevant skills to complement the academic training they get via conventional schooling.
If you’ve been reading my parenting articles, you will know I’ve shared many stories about the successes I’m achieving with this approach.
Each one of them will bring his talent based expertise to bear in managing the enterprise (which is to be a farm products based restaurant outfit).
The fact that they already make and sell their own drinks and cakes is proof that we are well on our way. When they finish school, they will each have been running their own micro businesses, in addition to contributing to running the family business as well.
Bottom line is this: They will NEVER need to go looking for employment anywhere.
If they decide not to run their own businesses independently, the family business will be there for them to join. Either way, going into the labour market, to compete for jobs with others who – in a place like Nigeria – would sometimes have paid their way to get degree certificates etc, will NOT appeal to them!
I urge you to start doing it now, or as early as possible, so your child can be sure of the best possible preparation for the many challenges s/he is bound to face as an adult.
Don’t leave this important job to the school or teachers. Believe me, very few of them know (or care) about this problem. You are the one who has a stake in your child’s life. It is more of YOUR business, than theirs.
For the sake of your child, PLEASE take action from today!
Since 2002, I have carefully compared my experiences as an entrepreneur, with my time in paid employment. Especially with regard to the most frequent cause of failure, amongst senior managers and CEOs of small/medium businesses I interacted with on both sides.
That is, a total lack of skill in the very endeavour they are responsible for managing to profitability or productivity.
If you find it difficult to understand how a CEO can be inept in the manner I have described above, be assured that you are not alone in feeling this way!
I struggled with myself for years to BELIEVE what my eyes saw and ears heard as I worked closely with some (NOT ALL) of these people.
What would you say about the decision making competence of a CEO, who pays well over N250, 000 over a 6 month period, to a software developer, but fails to ensure himself or ANY of his staff can competently make use of the application delivered (And that’s despite extensive efforts by the developer to provide on site, hands on training)?
The above (true story) is just one example of how a CEO can be inept.
Now, if you owned shares in such a company, would you feel confident that your investment would be well managed to yield beneficial returns?
I know I would not – and I am certain most others would feel the same way.
Now, this lack of skill or ineptitude is rarely an accident. Instead it is often the result of a lack of discipline – particularly mental discipline. To be honest, I personally consider it to be evidence of mental indolence or laziness on the part of the "guilty" CEO.
Some companies (especially startup or small/medium) fail to succeed in spite of having talented and competent hands reporting to the CEO, in addition to ready access to financing. One possible reason for this failure could be the problem of "CEO Ineptitude".
Below I list nine (9) signs and symptoms a CEO will exhibit that will suggest s/he is inept.
1. Does not (or no longer wants to) know or keep track of operational details that affect the company’s ability to meet its business success goals. The result is that when trends turn bad, s/he rarely notices until it’s too late. The company suffers as a result.
2. Is not (and is NOT keen to become) proficient in using technology s/he pays for (such as a laptop/PC, monthly Internet access etc) to boost his/her ability to make better business decisions.
3. Will not admit it, but is terrified of thinking and/or making "tough" decisions by him or herself. For instance s/he will do almost anything to get even a visiting friend or consultant to help him decide when an unrepentant staff guilty of being repeatedly absent from work should be penalized by way of salary deduction. The business suffers for this, because other staff copy the unpunished staff PLUS diligent staff get frustrated and conclude there is no point sticking to the rules.
4. Always balks at going out and getting personally involved in making sales visits towards generating sales/marketing leads. Instead s/he spends money hiring more sales and marketing personnel than necessary, who then get pushed out to do this unwanted chore – at a higher cost to the company. The worst part however is that the RESULTS they get often never justify the wages "overhead" their presence in the company attracts. Again, the company suffers (this is especially true for a startup or small/medium enterprise)..
5. Hires and pays professional service providers or consultants to develop systems and solutions meant to help the company succeed better, BUT fails to take ownership – and USE – the delivered product, often times to the bafflement of even those s/he paid to provide it (at least those with integrity)!
6. Always pays him or herself lavishly even when the company is still struggling to generate cash flow to meet its business needs.
"The salary of the chief executive of the large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself" –John Kenneth Galbraith (Annals of an Abiding Liberal)
7. Often allows products or services to be sold to customers on credit without putting in place mechanisms for vigorous redemption of receivables. As a result the company suffers from a growing overload of "debts" owed it by customers, even as production or output is stifled by poor cash availability to finance inventory and other routine expenses. Sometimes, this forces the company into taking overdraft from banks at less than friendly interest rates. Once again, the company suffers.
8. Does not READ (articles, books, magazines) to get new ideas that s/he can apply towards developing better ways of managing the business to productivity and profitability.
9. Pays beggarly wages. Believes in hiring for as little as possible, while trying to get as much as possible out of the same hired hands they UNDER-PAY. Does not believe in employee motivation.
The result is that the staff always feel under appreciated and are constantly on the lookout for what they can get and run off with.
Evidence: a high staff turnover rate, which in turn prevents the company from fully entrenching any initiatives introduced by management. So, the company suffers – AGAIN!
"I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs" – Samuel Goldwyn
Except of course you can do something to "correct" the observed inadequacies.
Why do I say this?
Well, the fact is that you can be sure such is unlikely to display any evidence of steady progress over time.
This will be mainly because of the erratic decision making output arising from inept CEO activity like those earlier enumerated. The company will therefore be more prone to negative influences of the market place and industry it operates in.
And that’s why human beings are put in charge to actively THINK and ACT based on daily developments to steer it in the direction of greatest returns on investment.
All of these are of course my experience-based ideas. But you may not agree with them – and you have every right not to.
That will however not mean I am wrong, or that they are inaccurate.
PS: This article is based on excerpts from a write up originally published by Tayo K. Solagbade in his Self-Development Digest Newsletter on Monday 3rd August 2009, via www.spontaneousdevelopment.com
On Saturday (28th June 2014), I’ll be delivering a paid 1 hour talk to members of the Media Unit of an NGO in Ogun state, on the invitation of the CEO, who I met with yesterday, here in Lagos. Attendees will hear stories of exciting successes I recorded via diligent application of ideas I describe in this article.
Below, I use a very interesting interview of a millionaire entrepreneur as a basis for explaining WHY and HOW, having what I prefer to call (as some others do) a – MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, can make you totally immune to frustration in any form.
(To learn more about what it means to have a magnificent obsession, read my Self-Development Bible titled “Ten Ways You Can Use Self-Development To Create The Future You Want”. If you have not yet downloaded it, sign up for access to my downloads page here!)
If you want to be able to repeatedly surprise the “doubting thomases” who question your ability to achieve your seemingly impossible goals, then you NEED to become OBSESSED with it!
This was the main thrust of the message given by Simon Woodroffe OBE, a billionaire entrepreneur/co-founder of the Yo! Sushi restaurant chain in the UK, in an interview text I read reproduced on page 36 of The Nations Newspaper of Wednesday 19th December 2007.
By way of interest I will mention that I came across this interview because I chose to “find something for my eyes to do.
I did not get to see the Club President then (and have not done so till now).
But by borrowing a newspaper from the person seated next to me and reading through it, I discovered this extremely valuable interview of Simon Woodroffe that made the time I spent in that club’s reception worthwhile.
Below I reproduce some of the questions he was asked with paraphrased versions of his answers:
Simon answered that he has found that there is no right way or wrong way. He added that one thing he found common to all successful people is that they (to quote him) “do not go around succeeding all the time”.
Simon explained that successful people are always prepared to make mistakes, or get it wrong (i.e. fail) and suffer the consequences – which frequently will include being “rejected”.
This by implication means that successful people don’t mind taking risks and sticking out their necks to venture into uncharted territory – trying to do what has not been done before. They adopt this attitude and approach knowing that if they fail, they can always get back up and try again.
Simon started by stating that he left school without passing his certification exams at the age of 16 (see details via this wiki encyclopedia link :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Woodroffe ).
He also pointed out that this lack of any formal high school leaving qualification made him adopt a “serious” approach to life early on.
Simon then painted an accurate picture of this situation by explaining that people do difficult things when they have no choice. They do not do difficult things because they want pleasure.
I think this is very powerfully insightful – and YOU should ruminate over it a while, calling to mind the lives and experiences of any successful persons you know.
It is instructive to note that Napoleon Hill described this aspect in his success philosophy by asking the success seeker to “burn all bridges”, so as to be able to maintain the “burning desire” to succeed in spite of the inevitable adversity s/he will encounter.
Simon answered that a significant factor is the willingness of a person to let him/her self be in the right place to make things happen. That is, in addition to being able to identify the specific things that are holding him/her back.
He added that business does not really require a person to prove him/herself to be “clever” and also that life is not as complicated as many people make it.
One more thing he said which I feel compelled to highlight is that he does not think anyone – including himself – is really “very clever”.
He ended by saying that he never woke up with a desire to be wealthy – instead he always woke up in the morning because he was obsessed with making his dream or goal a reality or afraid that all his plans were going to fail.
In essence what Simon meant was that a person who is truly driven to achieve his/her valued life goal will ACT IT. That’s because that DRIVE to achieve it will manifest as an obsession that will see him/her “hit the ground running” every morning, to continue working towards it from where s/he stopped the day before.
That you had a setback does not mean you’re finished. That you’re moving slowly does not mean you will not get there.
You must NOT let others tell you it’s taking too long. They cannot possibly know how long it should take because they are NOT from the future!!!
Your path to success will be unique. Pursue it – with passion and determination, and entertain no doubts along the way.
Believe me when I tell you that soon, you WILL begin to LIVE the life you dream of.
I am doing EXACTLY that already, and sometimes when I think about it, I am still amazed at myself and what I am achieving DAILY.
I should know: my entire life – especially in the past 10 years – makes me LIVING PROOF that this is true.
1. Some introductory information about Simon Woodroffe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Woodroffe
2. “Be Yo! Self” by Simon Woodroffe
Click HERE to read full article
3. The official company website
1. http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/how-to-make-yourself-immune-to-frustration/
Short answer: It depends. But in this article, I challenge Nigerians/Africans to do LESS copying and MORE creating of original content online, for use by others. For years, I’ve sold my own creative digital content to buyers in and out of Africa. (E.g my Ration Formulator, Poultry Farm Manager, Payslip Generator, and PDF Information products like my popular Feed Formulation Handbook).
This is the painful truth.
Creating original digital content (for possible sale) requires little or no capital investment. If you can think originally, and creatively implement ideas that come to you, your chances of hitting on a profitable niche product or service are high.
Sadly, too many Africans remain seduced by the easier option of “parroting” creative content originating from developed societies.
It’s so bad now, that journalists in our part of the world rarely do independent investigation/research of news stories today.
They simply wait for foreign media to publish, and they basically copy and paste to their own platforms.
Today, Nigerians/Africans make use of various web-based resources like Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Facebook.com, Twitter.com, EzineArticles.com, Youtube.com – the list is endless.
Virtually all of these tools cost no money to access. Not surprisingly, numerous Nigerians/Africans find such places most attractive to be online! “Who no like better thing?” as we say in Nigeria. Everyone loves freebies, and there really is nothing bad about that.
Examples include the home based highly skilled software/web developing young Indian; the European/American offering a variety of products for sale online, and the South African providing after hours office phone support service for foreign companies.
In contrast, what we (in Nigeria/Africa) seem extremely good at is rapid adoption of the latest creative content on the web.
Our presence on Facebook and Yahoo! alone is intimidating to say the least. Yet most of what we use them for are NOT value adding in any way!
For instance, if you are a consultant or specialist in engineering, you can choose to include Google adverts for visitors to your site to click – making you some money.
But, you could do even better by developing YOUR OWN branded content – publications/services etc – that visitors can be invited to purchase from you over time.
For instance, you could diligently add useful, relevant content to the site, to:
(a) attract new and repeat visitors
(b) boost their perception of you as a competent/credible specialist in your chosen field
(c) convince them to eventually purchase your information (packaged in various forms) or your services (e.g. consulting you or even inviting you to speak, work etc with them).
Every now and then I hear some chap announce the impressive earnings from his Google Ad words or other money earning scheme available on the web.
Quite often, I cannot help but wonder if he (and other Nigerians/Africans like him) realize they can develop their own original money spinning concepts to be deployed online for OTHERS across the world to use, make money from and share with others!
The big problem we have is that we do not like THINKING.
And that (i.e. thinking) is a crucial part of the creative process needed to develop original concepts.
Another thing we do not like is NURTURING the products of our thoughts into maturity.
We lack that aspect of emotional intelligence, which makes a person give up temporary comfort in pursuit of a valued goal.
Delayed gratification for most Nigerians is something to be avoided at all costs.
Anything we engage in must yield immediate benefit/returns – else we’ll discontinue it as quickly as possible.
Back in 1998, I recall stumbling across a personal domain name service called “Namezero.com”, whose American owners chose to startup by offering EVERYTHING FREE for the first two years.
You got a free domain name (mine was tksola.com), with all the bells and whistles – a personal webmail account with massive storage space at you domain; plus domain URL forwarding and many other powerful features.
They were new on the net, and they wanted to WIN OVER huge numbers of potential customers by PROVING they were reliable and competent.
I signed up, like many other people on the web, and enjoyed a wonderful quality of service from these chaps for those two years.
In 2000 they announced to us via email that retaining our accounts with them would require us to make payment. By then most of us had had enough time to evaluate what they had to offer, and were convinced enough to pay to KEEP what we had with them.
I took up their wonderful bundled purchase offer, and paid for two years, making great savings.
They believed in their idea enough to offer it FREE, and SERVE their potential customers for long enough to win them over as paying customers.
And they gained valuable experience providing their services to potential customers, addressing issues they raised, until the service became valuable enough to be offered at a competitive price.
We can invest time, intellect and energy into developing our own original variants of money-spinning web based solutions.
These would be targeted at the Nigerian/African population, but designed in a way that the rest of the world would still find them attractive enough to buy into.
We could start by writing our own e-books – instead of ONLY buying and selling those sold by others.
Then there are the membership websites offering useful information to a niche market. And there are countless other ways we can use the net to win over people from beyond our shores – using the net.
NB: I have already noted that some Nigerians/Africans already offer solutions like those mentioned. But the numbers are just too few compared to our potential!
Back in the ’80s it was difficult to hold a party playing ONLY Nigerian music. Today, we all know our industry practitioners have continued to succeed in creating new music that is increasingly marketable to an international audience.
We can do the same with our Internet based resources by offering more original content that others will be willing to BUY from us. And the benefits – financially and socio-economically – will be tangibly felt in our societies.
By then, just like people no longer discourage their kids from going into music, we will find that more Nigerian parents will stop frowning at their kids spending long hours on the net or the PC.
Speaking of Yahoo! boys and their online scam activities…
Those of us who depend on income earned via adverts and affiliate programs (e.g. Google ad words) originating from developed societies MUST keep the following in mind:
If those in charge of those programs acted like Yahoo! boys, most cheque payments for their Nigerian participants would NEVER arrive!
And they would not be able to brag about making dollars online! This is why Nigerians starting ventures like I propose must be honest in their dealings.
Paypal is a good example. Until recently, Nigerians could not even make legitimate use of that platform, to transact business online. And even now, with the recent entry into the Nigerian market, Paypal only allows Nigerians to send money. Receiving payments via Paypal remains a NO – NO for us!
The truth is however that, even before Paypal chose to let us in, many of our online money making Gurus in Nigeria have been using “IP hiding” software to register for and use Paypal!
Does that not imply some degree of “dishonesty” on their part?
Of course it does!
See what I’m getting at now?
That’s why most of our Gurus here cannot rub shoulders with their colleagues from developed societies without fear of being found out.
Would it not be better if we started our own online money making systems?
After all, many of us today use ATM/Debit cards that enable online purchases/transactions.
Does that not make PLENTY of good sense?
Would it not benefit us MORE?
And isn’t that something we would all be proud to show to the rest of the world?
I am a performance enhancement specialist. I sell my knowledge and expertise to a niche market – which does NOT include every person online!
So, why should I depend on Google Ads (alone) to make money online?
Should my website not be about me and what I can do to benefit those who need me/my services?
Yes, of course it should – and so should yours!
Visit www.briantracy.com or go to www.burtdubin.com. You will find that they all focus on offering their own content for sale to their visitors. These are individuals like you and I, who chose to “sell their own unique brands”.
In truth, there are circumstances under which I may be willing to incorporate ads on my own website. Especially if they are reliably sensitive to the “context” of my website content(but that’s NOT easy to get!).
However, if you REALLY have – and know – your stuff, I honestly believe it makes a LOT MORE SENSE to offer (via adverts and other promotional strategies) your own products and services for your target audience to buy from you.
Indeed, you will be able to make significantly greater earning margins from sales of your own products than you would from sales of other people.
And that would be in addition to cementing your credibility as an expert in your field in the eye of your potential clients/customers.
To me, that makes bucket loads of SENSE!
What do YOU think?.
PS: This article is based on excerpts from an original piece published on 1st February 2010, by Tayo K. Solagbade – on www.spontaneousdevelopment.com
Over a decade of delivering Best Practice Solutions to Farm Businesses, has revealed one interesting fact to me: Many who own farm businesses in Nigeria, do NOT have formal training in agriculture.
Yet, Despite Lacking Training in Agriculture, They Succeed!
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It was on Sunday 6th July 1997 (my 27th birthday) that this photo was taken, with Nkechi (my wife), using my Olympus Stylus Camera’s timer. She was 22 at the time. It was our VERY first photo together. And it’s the one I LOVE the most! Tomorrow (Sunday 22nd June 2014) she turns 39. I arrived in Lagos today, about 5 hours ago to spend the weekend, and her day, with her.
Our first child was born in 1999. Then I was still in paid employment. After I chose to quit my job in 2002 (2 years after we got married), it became more of a roller coaster ride…
Since then, we’ve been through thick and thin together. And the strains stretched us to our limits. But we stayed strong (with support from loved ones) and NOW, with our kids, we’re one strong family building an exciting future.
Looking back now, it’s clear I chose “RIGHT”. 15 years are more than enough proof of it!
In my case I scored a double in this regard.
That is, in addition to choosing the right partner to LIVE with, I also chose the right vocation.
And just like it’s was not easy getting this far in my marriage, it was not easy finding my feet in my chosen vocation.
Over 80% of what I do to earn a living today requires that I do a lot of creative thinking (e.g building custom Excel Software, Web Marketing) and writing ( web copywriting, freelance writing etc) for clients in different industries – BUT with special focus on Farm Business Owners.
And I did not settle on my line of work by accident.
Instead, it came from a careful review of my life’s experiences and achievements, dating way back to my time in the university.
After graduating with a degree in Agricultural Extension, I got an offer, as Best Graduating Student, to return and pursue a graduate assistantship in Unibadan, where I’d finished from. However, at about the same time I got an offer from a wine manufacturing company, to work as a trainee sales coordinator.
The 3 of us who made it through were taken to meet the MD/CEO, who turned out to be a retired brewer from one of the country’s large multinationals. We were told how his company used very (mostly over) ripe pawpaw fruits to make fermented table wines of different kinds, sold across the country.
I was immediately excited about being a part of that process.
And so I had no difficulty choosing not to submit my application for graduate assistant program to Unibadan (University of Ibadan).
Over a period of 6 months, despite having to go out on trade visits with the Ghanaian Sales Manager for the company, I found time to hook up with my fellow recruits who were based in the lab, and they took me through the entire brewing, fermentation and filtration process employed in making the wines.
It was so exciting for me.
What I was not to know that by going the extra mile the way I did, I was actually preparing myself for the opportunity of working in a bigger brewing company.
During my 5th month working in the small wine company, I found myself in the final stages of the recruitment process being conducted by Guinness Nigeria, for new Graduate Management Trainees.
They also chose to have a selection board debate preceding the final selection interviews. I was elated. My previous experience had prepared me well. What was more, since I was applying for entry into the technical (brewing) function, I knew my time in the wine company would likely be taken to imply I would learn fast.
Thankfully the MD of the wine company had always been like a father. I went to him and showed him the letter, along with my resignation. There was little time left in the offer window. I could not do otherwise. I was not surprised that he expressed happiness for me, and wished me well – even giving me tips about how to excel in the brewing world. We stayed in touch for years.
I joined Guinness and enjoyed an exciting 7 years of rapid career advancement.
Again, this was driven by the fact that I brought my passion with me. The work to be done interested me deeply. But at the same time, I had acquired an additional competence while working in the wine company.
Something told me to take part of my salary and register for introductory computer lessons at Lagos City Computer College. MS-DOS, WordPerfect, DBase, and Lotus 1-2-3 were topics covered, at a very basic level.
I had no PC of my own. This was back in early 1994. Indeed I NEVER owned a PC of my own until 2004 – 2 full years after I became an entrepreneur. Before then I’d used computers in Guinness to develop custom spreadsheet software that automated brewers’ data recording and report generation.
As an entrepreneur, I got clients to provide me a PC with power supply and internet connection where applicable. All of that I negotiated into my terms of work with the client. And they always agreed.
And this has been the case at every stage of my life. I’ve always gone with my gut instinct i.e. how I feel about something.
I never let what others thought influence my decision.
It’s so important to get this right if you do NOT want to go through life making other people’s mistakes.
Listening too much to people about what you should choose can be dangerous. Most people do not know how to put themselves in other people’s shoes.
They are also generally very poor judges of character. In choosing a vocation, if they feel they will not enjoy doing something, they readily conclude others will not either.
In choosing a life partner, if they feel they cannot get along with a particular kind of person, they conclude others will not either.
And that FACT should make you realise the need to TAKE YOUR OWN decision, regardless of what others think or say.
Nothing stops you from considering what you are told.
But always let your heart and good sense do the final decision making for you.
And of course, never fail to let the creator guide you as well.
The problem is most of us fail to pay enough attention to realise it.
Everything I’ve said here is based on decades of hard won experience, dear reader!
And I’ll put up that photo, next to THIS one on this blog (and Facebook), then print out a special framed copy for our home.
For now, I invite you to rejoice with us :-))
Based on this blog’s schedule, I publish “Parenting” articles today, Friday. However on Tuesday, I published a “part-Parenting” article with a message on Entrepreneurship (Tuesday’s topic). So, to even things out, I now feature my email conversation with a Canada based Nigerian, who wanted a “feasibility study/business plan” for “a startup poultry farm and feed mill”.
At the time I’d been getting an unhealthy number of spam messages and phony emails.So, like others before him, I was not sure he was to be taken seriously when I first saw his web form request. And that informed the nature of the initial response I sent to him…
In case you decide you want to contact me on a similar theme (i.e. requesting a feasibility study/business plan), I suggest you read this to the end, so as to get a feel for what is required.
1. Kaffo first sent in this message via my Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas website form:
——————————-
> kaffo2@xyz.com wrote:
>> On 2008-01-09 at 21:32:43,
>> name = SEGUN KAFFO
>> interest = Feasibility Study
>> comments = i am interested in commissioning a feasibility study/business
>> plan for a start up poultry farm and feed mill.
——————————–
2. Then I replied him as follows:
—– Original Message —–
From: “Tayo K. Solagbade”
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:50 AM
Subject: Re: Feasibility Study
Hi,
Your request will require a meeting with me.
Past experience has made me decide to require
ANYONE who wishes to meet with me pay <text deleted> for that to happen. This amount will be 100% deducted from the actual fees I eventually charge to carry out a project for him/her.If however it turns out that after meeting with me s/he decides for any
reason not to take it further, only 50% of that amount will be refunded.My apologies for this seeming self-defeating approach, but I have had too
much of my time wasted by many people who were merely “curious”.If/when you are ready, please call me on 0803-302-1263 for further details.
I encourage you to browse through every page on my IFF website (http://www.iff.xyzdevelopment.com/) to learn more about what I
offer. Call me to clarify any areas.
Regards
Tayo Solagbade
3. Then Kaffo sent his formal/detailed service request(after we had spoken on phone):
Kaffo went ahead and called me on my mobile line. We spoke, I recall, for about 20 minutes, in which I asked one another questions to our hearts’ content! Then we agreed that he would follow up with a formal request, having sorted out the grey areas in his initial enquiry.
Subject: Re: Feasibility Study
From: “segun kaffo”
Date: Wed, January 23, 2008 11:22 am
To: http://webmail.xyzdevelopment.com/src/compose.php?send_to=tayo%40xyz.com
Hi Tayo,
It was a pleasure having a preliminary discussion with you. I am contemplating a poultry project of about 7000 birds in 4 cycles. That is about 28000 for the first year. In the second year, I expect an expansion to about 15000 to 20000 birds per cycle or 80000 per year. It will be a broiler operation.
I plan to site the poultry in the vicinity of Epe. My starting point is to determine the viability of the project. This is where you come in. I need a feasibility study which will assist me in determining whether to proceed. This should cover the total capital cost, operating cost, land area required, feed cost/conversion, acquisition of day old, equipment etc.
Before you proceed, I would need to have an idea of what your charges would be – just a ball park figure is sufficient. If the amount is reasonable then I would commission you to proceed. This way I do not waste your valuable time. I propose to pay 25% of your fees to start. When you are about halfway complete, I will pay another 25% and the balance on completion and receipt of the study. I hope you will consider this as fair to both of us. Some element of trust is inevitable and I am willing to set the pace with the mobilization payment.
You should be able to e-mail me the work as you proceed. I will pay you by Western Union. Please let me know if you find the above arrangement suitable.
Regards, Segun
4. And I responded with this email:
Hi Segun,
Your original submission via my website form refers below:
——————————————
> comments = i am interested in commissioning a feasibility study/business > plan for a start up poultry farm and feed mill.
——————————————
I noticed you left out the “feed mill” in the project details you sent in(see excerpt above from your original web form submission). Was that an oversight or did you decide to leave it out deliberately? I ask because inclusion of the “feed mill” has implications for “costing” of the study preparation.
Ball park figure to prepare the study is <text deleted>. If you choose to include the “feed mill” then it will be <text deleted>.
As for payment terms, (70%) advance and (30%) on completion is preferable.You can be sure of getting regular updates thru a restricted (login) access page that I will update with FULL details of progress.
The finished report will come with an automated Excel-VB driven spreadsheet application that allows you as the “owner” to do what-if analyses to mimic possible changes that could affect the farm biz plan costings. For instance if a change in major feed ingredient prices occurs, projected costs for feed compounding would be affected.
The spreadsheet software containing your original startup data/projection could be updated in relevant places with the new prices to automatically generate revised estimates that guide decision making.
This is a critical element in farm planning and management especially for poultry enterprises that are so capital intensive and RISK-prone even as they are potentially highly profitable.
I prefer (as I believe most biz owners should) to see the feasibility study &/or biz plan as a business management tool that can be adjusted as the project is implemented over time to reflect changes/realities of the day. Making it “dynamic” is a good way to make effective use of it to achieve the biz goals one desires.
Hope this helps.
Regards, tayo
==
A lot has changed over the years. I get much fewer phony enquirers today. So I no longer require face to face meetings or payment of any sort to take on requests of this nature.
However, you WILL have to call to speak with me on phone.
During our conversation I will ask you questions to clarify what you need. And you will of course ask any that you have.
After that exchange, we will continue the relationship via email, Skye chat or other online channels, having established a firm basis of understanding. I will find it difficult to proceed with anyone unwilling to go through this process.
In truth, I’ve never really bothered myself much about winning clients looking for feasibility studies or business plans.
However, I have come across a few enquirers both online and off the web, subsequent to this one.
But in most cases, I sensed they were more scared of me taking off with their money, if they paid in advance as I proposed. Trust is one thing that can be hard to find in the Nigerian society – especially business people.
Since they were not my primary target audience, I did not bother exploring ways to get around that problem.
I’ve written this article – proactively – so if/when they reach out to me (or I notice them), I’ll simply email this article’s URL to them.
That’s how I’ve worked for years, and it makes me very effective and efficient. Many times I’ve used one or two URLs from my blog to convince a prospective buyer to make the purchase of my product s/he is contemplating.
Rather than having to sit down and think/write for him/her, I simply pick one of a number of already published pieces that explains what I have in mind, and send to him/her.
In many cases s/he replies asking “Ok. How do I make payment?”
So, that’s my motivation here.
I want to offer my services to those who need competent help, without having my time wasted by persons who are simply curious.
Click here to contact me if you’re interested.
This article features excerpts from an online chat session I recently had with a friend who works for a multinational, about learning to build Custom MS Excel-Visual Basic Spreadsheet Apps at work. It’s a skill you can QUIETLY acquire, and use to attract career advancement opportunities of all kinds!
Many of my past career development articles (here’s a popular one) offer details. My resume also provides case studies (click here to read).
That’s why I won’t waste time discussing the achievements I recorded using this skill. But I will say this.
Having that skill, and being willing to creatively – and selflessly – put it to use for the benefit of my colleagues and our employer (the company) was the key.
Doing so eventually made me a workplace champion who got rewarded REPEATEDLY with amazing career advancement opportunities!
And I earned those opportunities, in a fraction of the time it took others to record similar career. progress.
Why? Because no one else could do what I could do. And no one else was willing to put in the time, effort and sacrifice like I did. All that made me stand out. And the company’s decision makers took notice – eventually.
The gentleman who converses with me below, works with a large multinational. The details of our conversation are useful in that he asked questions and I offered details that basically spell out what ANYONE ELSE (including YOU, reading this now) may find useful.
Especially about how I can help you learn how to develop Custom Automated MS Excel-VB Software Apps, for your employer – or indeed clients!
TIP: SG is simply a place holder for his actual name, which I’ve removed for the obvious need to protect his privacy.
====Transcript Begins=====
[3/7/2014 2:26:10 PM] SG: Tayo Solagbade, how u dey now??
[3/7/2014 2:27:23 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Hey SG. I’m good. Nice to connect with you again
[3/7/2014 2:27:53 PM] SG: yes ooo, me too.
[3/7/2014 2:28:44 PM] SG: I was looking thru ur self development nuggets and I was amazed at how far u have developed in this area
[3/7/2014 2:28:59 PM] SG: with fact u r also a motivational speaker??
[3/7/2014 2:29:40 PM] SG: I may need your services on Advanced Spread(sheet) usage for my work….what does that look like??
[3/7/2014 2:30:39 PM] SG: I use MS Excel (Spreadsheet) in its basic form but there is d need to apply advanced touch for d sake of efficiency and better output…
[3/7/2014 2:31:33 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Ok. Gimme a moment…
[3/7/2014 2:31:40 PM] SG: ok….
[3/7/2014 2:39:07 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Hi SG. Had to call up a boiler plate response I normally send to enquirers. Take a read through below, then let me know your thoughts. Should take you a minute or two:
[3/7/2014 2:39:21 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Yes, I offer one-on-one coaching, and/or video tutorials and PDF for users of MS Excel in different areas, and at different levels of expertise.
However, most times what I create are custom and “Job Based” learning resources, NOT general/abstract ones.
For instance the learner is asked to specify tasks that s/he wants to be able to use MS Excel to (more) COMPETENTLY carry out on his/her job.
A. What tasks do you want to get done more competently?
B. How do you currently get them done?
C. What MS Excel functions or tools do you feel you need to master, and why?
Then I ask the person to (if possible) supply samples of raw data and/or workbooks s/he uses (dummy data can be posted in them for confidentiality).
S/he would specify what his/her expectations are, in terms of what s/he hopes to learn and be able to do.
Using the information supplied, I am typically able to create:
1. detailed screen shot PDF guides that give step by step instructions, with images, on how to execute each task in Excel.
2. Video tutorials that demonstrate the LIVE process of carrying out each task.
Now, unless the learner does not supply relevant work related sample data and resources (e.g. worksheets), ALL guides and tutorials are created using examples based on the learner’s familiar real life worksheets and data.
This ensures you achieve experiential learning that you can put to immediate use on your job, to achieve your desired goal.
So that’s an outline of my methodology.
Next Steps:
If you decide to take this forward, we need to have a formal “Needs Analysis” Conversation, during which I’ll ask you the above questions, plus others, to get a firm understanding of your needs.
Typically I call you via mobile phone (or Skype if possible).
You will also be able to ask me any questions you have.
Duration: 30 minutes at the most.
NB: Payment of a N10,000 (Ten thousand naira) fee is required to book this needs analysis session.
And it is required 100% in advance.
After the session, I send you a formal PDF report of what I propose to prepare for you as learning resources, and what the required investment is.
I include, in addition, my experience based recommendations of how you can go about learning what you need by yourself, in case the DIY approach appeals to you.
If however, you choose to engage me to prepare the custom PDF guides and/or video tutorials for you, you get a 100% refund of the N10k payment made for the needs analysis session.
Let me know what you think, and/or if you’d like to book the Needs Analysis session.
[3/7/2014 2:40:28 PM] SG: ok, I will be right with you when done reading thru
[3/7/2014 2:40:42 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Ok
[3/7/2014 2:44:48 PM] SG: ok am thru, I will like to book d Needs Analysis Session….but let me inwards and put together the areas I need assistance…..
[3/7/2014 2:45:10 PM | Edited 2:45:48 PM] SG: as for d down payment, it will be handled as required above..
[3/7/2014 3:25:55 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Ok. <text deleted>
<text deleted>
[3/7/2014 4:34:35 PM] SG: I could plan a trip to Cotonou to see you, I’ve been once or twice.
<text deleted>
[3/10/2014 12:06:37 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Just seeing this. Just call +229-66-122-136 when you get in. Interestingly, I just popped in Saturday nite to check details of a hotel in Oko Oba towards Saturday’s workshop on behalf of a Farm CEO who paid to attend from Warri. Wow. The fuel scarcity nuisance’s ripple effect are still being felt out here!! <text deleted>
<text deleted>
[3/10/2014 12:07:39 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Will return to Cotonou this p.m or tomorrow morning. My mobile number in Benin will not work while I’m here, so my number here is best: 08033021263
[3/10/2014 12:08:36 PM] SG: ok
[3/10/2014 12:08:44 PM] SG: I will call u shortly bro…
NB: When the above chat happened, I was in Lagos-Nigeria to see my family. So, about a minute late SG called my mobile line and we spoke a bit more on what he wanted to do, and how I could help. We concluded by agreeing that he would get back to me when he was ready.
Then, late last month, when I was sending out updates to my contacts on Skype, about my domain name change from spontaneousdevelopment.com to tayosolagbade.com, it occurred to me that I had to do same to him – when I saw a Skype prompt that he’d logged on. Note that I was back here in Cotonou by then.
[5/21/2014 10:14:32 AM] Tayo Solagbade: Hi SG.
This is a due diligence update.
Following the events I reported in my email newsletter about poaching of my 9 year old domain (spontaneousdevelopment.com) I’ve moved my website to www.tayosolagbade.com, and reinvented it in line with my new plans.
My new website has links to full details of the events that made me accelerate my plans to launch tayosolagbade.com. Click About Tayo to learn more.
Like I said, this is just an FYI update I’m sending out to ALL contacts – so no one goes looking for me at. spontaneousdevelopment.com
With kindest regards,
Tayo
[5/21/2014 10:15:50 AM] SG: ok, thanks bruv.
<text deleted>
[5/21/2014 10:22:18 AM] Tayo Solagbade: Sorry. Something came up. Have to go offline. Talk later.
[5/21/2014 10:51:10 AM] SG: ok
[5/21/2014 10:54:38 AM] Tayo Solagbade: Back now. By the way, going by your last conversation with me, you may be interested in the Excel-VB software “bazaar” I’m offering – like I said, I’ve reinvented myself. There’s so much value I’ve kept locked up while conflicted about how to go about giving it out. Now, I’m crystal clear…if you’re interested in this one, let me know…See http://excelheaven.tayosolagbade.com/
[5/21/2014 10:56:56 AM] SG: I am interested but d constraint now is u r not in Nigeria so we can meet and I show u d things I want to b able to do with Advanced Excel VB scripts
[5/21/2014 11:00:29 AM] Tayo Solagbade: That’s not really a problem. I come to Nigeria on agreement with clients e.g. people travel from as far as Akwa Ibom, more recently Umuahia, to meet with me in a feed mill premises at Oko Oba in Agege where I take them through the theory and practice of the science of feed formulation and compounding. Once they pay the agreed fee for materials and training, we simply agree date and time, and make it happen. Most happen via referrals from past clients.
[5/21/2014 11:02:49 AM] Tayo Solagbade: In your case, we can agree to meet. Last time I told you a N10k situation analysis fee would be needed. If you want us to meet in the flesh to review and discuss details in the flesh, a N25k payment is all that’;s needed. We then agree date and time and I come to Nigeria for our meeting, which will be in Ikeja (I have a meeting venue that I use).
[5/21/2014 11:03:54 AM] SG: ok…
[5/21/2014 11:04:15 AM] SG: I need these skills in Excel/VB scripting….
[5/21/2014 11:04:31 AM] Tayo Solagbade: Alternatively if you want me to come to your office, you arrange the transportation to/fro. Either way, you can be sure of getting MORE value than you pay for. There’s a lot I can show you how to do that will make you shine MORE than I did in your company
[5/21/2014 11:04:36 AM] SG: I’ve looked through d embedded video, quite nice snippet.
[5/21/2014 11:06:26 AM] Tayo Solagbade: You should dig into the old videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TKSolagbadeSDAc
[5/21/2014 11:09:48 AM] SG: so Tayo, its now N50k down payment??
[5/21/2014 11:10:15 AM] SG: last time we discussed, u said its N10k down payment or so….
[5/21/2014 12:36:52 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Hi SG. Our connection went down here. Back on now. I think you should read BACK through this Skype thread to understand the “payments”.
[5/21/2014 12:37:11 PM] SG: ok
[5/21/2014 12:39:15 PM] SG: I’VE READ THRU…
[5/21/2014 12:39:19 PM] SG: its OK..
[5/21/2014 12:42:37 PM] Tayo Solagbade: Just to clarify: For the needs analysis session I told you I would ask you certain questions via phone/email.
Then I would prepare a formal report for you, with which you could embark on a DIY approach.
That was what the N10k was meant for.
We would NOT need to meet.
Now, if you don’t want to DIY, after getting my report, you could choose to hire me to “coach” you, in which case I would give you a fee for that, once we agree what you need to learn.
Then I would create a variety of learning resources based on my assessment of your job based needs.
However if we have to meet for starters to do the needs analysis, it’s N25K for me to meet with a client in person. But Not N50K.
[5/21/2014 12:46:34 PM] SG: ok…got it.
[5/21/2014 12:46:41 PM] SG: clear now..
====Transcript ends=====
For over 18 years, I have used spreadsheet programming to solve real life problems at first in, and later out, of paid employment.
My resume describes case studies in which I automated daily routine data recording and report generation in the departments I worked. That happened during my short 7 year stay in Guinness Nigeria.
As an entrepreneur, since 2004, I have built all sorts of applications initially for as low as N5,000 for individuals…
As time went on, Hotels, Hospitals, Farms, Consultants etc, began paying me N25,000 to as much as N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) to build custom MS Excel-VB driven software applications for their use.
1. Excel-VB Ration Formulator (which sells along with my popular Practical Livestock Feed Formulation Handbook)
2. Excel-VB Advanced Payslip Generator (Watch video 1 and video 2)
3. Excel-VB Poultry Farm Manager
The above are the ones which I’ve put up and been getting enquiries about, and selling to clients.
However, so many others remain on my PC, that I’ve built for business of all sizes in different industries. You can browse through a one page listing with preliminary descriptions of some of them at .See http://excelheaven.tayosolagbade.com/.
