Category Archives: Farm Biz

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

A Pocket-Friendly Poultry Farm Manager Software for Profit Conscious Farm Business Owners

January 14, 2014 Tayo Solagbade 4 Comments

A growing number of smallholder poultry farmers are impressing me with their drive to achieve best practice improvement in their farm businesses. The increasing rate at which they contact me about purchasing my Excel-VB driven Poultry Farm Management app, is how I know.

That’s Why I Deliberately Bear The Cost of Calling Them on Phone – Both Locally and Internationally!

Yep. That’s what I do. I now make up to 2 calls per week on the average, in response to web based enquiries from farm business owners about that app.

Every time I’ve done it, the Farm CEO has often been taken by surprise.

It never ceases to amaze them, that I can readily make such an expense of effort, time and money, even when I’m not sure any sale will come of it.

Like I’ve told each and every one of them, I do this because I have a vision I want to accomplish.

Smallholder farmers in many countries tend to be limited in terms of resources they can access to really take their businesses to the next level. One key area has always been the dearth of customizable software well suited to the unique needs of the respective farms.

As a result, most have had to improvise using conventional solutions existing in the market.

My vision is to establish trusting relationships with willing smallholder farmers, to equip them to use low cost PC and Internet technology, for running their farm businesses more productively and profitably.

The more they are able to plan for and manage their farm operations in a way that minimises setbacks and delays, the better their fortunes will be.

By proving that I have ability and resources to help them achieve the foregoing, serious minded farm CEOs are likely to regard me as a potentially useful solution provider, to keep around for the long term.

The first step of course, is to get them to give me a chance to show what I can do.

Those who are already members of my Farm Business Ideas Club, have seen that I can truly help them. A good number purchased my Feed Formulation Handbook, and the accompanying Ration Formulation Software.

Most have never met with me in person, yet they have continued as subscribers to my newsletter for over 3 years. Some have become good friends, with whom I share great phone conversations regularly.

But like I said, most of those I have in my network have come based on their interest in finding feed formulation solutions.

Recently, a new group of Farm CEO enquirers has begun to demand my attention

In the past, their enquiries were very few and far between.

This group is interested in my Best Operating Process Management System(BOPMS)™, which advocates use of low cost customizable software applications for proactive farm operations performance monitoring and control.

In several past articles, and also on the Mind Map I created for the BOPMS™, I refer to such applications as Enterprise Information Systems (EIS).

These new group often watch the video presentations I’ve recently put up on my website, and also on Youtube. Then just as I anticipated would happen, the attractive benefits of the featured software solutions and Best Practice System make them submit the web contact form provided on the page.

Up till that point, everything goes according to my projections.

However, when I eventually call them up, I have noticed, consistently – but not surprisingly – that most are not prepared for what I tell them.

Apart from the deliberate profiling I do via question asking, to be sure they are the right fit for my software solution, most are not able to fit the required investment for the app, into their budget.

The Farm Business CEOs that have, so far, reached out to me regarding the Poultry Farm Manager software, include persons from Kenya (2 of them), Cameroon, USA, South Africa etc

By way of interest, one person did get across to me from Iran, but when I called him up, he said “I no speak English. Please send email.”

That was odd, considering he’d filled the web form in English to make his enquiry. Looking back however, I imagine he had a basic understanding of English, and on seeing what the app could do in the video, desired it. Then he probably used translate.google.com to word his enquiry

I should add that due to habit of checking the websites archive of past enquiries, I discovered the same chap from Iran had sent in an enquiry about my Feed Formulation Handbook in 20!0!

All of this goes to further underscore the fact that the web marketing system I use delivers powerful, and lasting/long term benefits.

Tailoring My Poultry Farm Software Solution to Meet the Budget Needs of Small Farmers

Since I really want to help these farmers, I’ve decided to offer them an alternative solution.

Yesterday I told a Cameroonian Farm Business owner who has 1,000 broilers on his farm, that I’ll build a scaled down version of my Poultry Farm Manager, for persons with limited budgets/needs.

He expressed great relief on hearing that.

I promised I would get back to him in one week. But he’s not the only one I’ll be offering this Mini-Poultry Farm Manager to.

All the other smallholder farmers who’ve reached out to me will get an special offer to buy this lower priced, less sophisticated version of my app.

Are a Profit-Conscious Poultry Farm Business Owner?

Do you desire a pocket-friendly priced and ready-to-use app to help you better manage your farm operations, proactively and profitably?

If yes, I urge you to fill/submit the form on this page.

Do so now, to get yourself served my special offer, once the mini version of my Excel-VB Driven Poultry Farm Manager Software is ready.

Believe me, you’ll be glad you did!

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

Quit Your Job? (Some Web Marketing Ideas for Your New Business)

January 9, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

So, you finally bit the bullet and resigned your appointment with your employer after years of meritorious service, to start your own consultancy? And you did it while the ovation is still loudest? Good for you! Most people rarely get rich working for others. No matter what service you want to offer, the web can boost your expert status so people feel more confident hiring you.

I propose the following:

1. Setup a proper website in your name using a Content Management System (Joomla or WordPress) – that will make it easy for you to manage the site yourself (just like you use MS Word or Facebook). See an example I did for a Cameroonian client (a Legal Consultant) in Cotonou: www.nanaarnold.com

This means you will purchase a domain name – e.g. www.yourname.com (long overdue!!) – for $10 approx – for ONE year.

And you would also purchase a hosting account – from $40 approx – for ONE year.

2. Once the site is up, you must use it to get people to take action to contact you. That requires writing new content regularly, and using preferably zero cost channels to promote it. That’s where the work will be.

My method is to use writing to attract visits via the search engines. So, I recommend you have a blog where you’ll publish your new articles and other reports. The purpose will be to establish yourself as an authority in your field or interest or expertise.

As your “content” volume increases, those who encounter it online, who fit your target audience profile, will be won over by it.

They will come ready to engage you. My blog has been central to my webmarketing success:

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets/

Like mine, everything you do on your blog will be automatically linked to your Facebook outlet and your website. See my Excel-VB Solutions page www.tinyurl.com/tksexcelheaven. It has 95% membership from overseas. They talk about my works in their network i.e. free promotion! No wonder I’m getting more foreign enquirers about my Excel-VB driven farm business software.

You will also need to setup a promotional email newsletter which you will publish regularly, to subscribers. It will boost your expert status.

Note that this approach will SAVE you a lot of marketing expense, and eventually boost your generation of quality sales leads.

It does not yield success over night. BUT it always works! You just need to persist.

If you could have served as long and successfully as you did with an employer before quitting, I believe you will be able to generate the QUALITY of content that will make people who need your services see you as a preferred provider.

Over time, they will seek you out by themselves. You will have less need to reach out to potential clients. But even when you do go out, this system will bean instrument you will use to win clients over with less effort, in less time and at less cost.

I call it the Development of a Web Marketing System.

TOTAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED (If I do it for you):

1. Domain Registration (1 year) and Website Hosting (1 year) – N7,500.00

2. Setting up your Web Marketing System (comprising your website, your blog and your promotional Facebook page) – N100, 000.00

IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF

This approach will save you lots of business promotion expenses, and also help you win MORE paying clients. As an expert in your field of specialisation, you can also approach international organisations to write papers or even speak at conferences (for a fee too!).

An updated/quality content, online presence will make those you contact choose you over your rivals!

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

How Much Should Your Start-up Farm’s Business Plan Cost? (Real Life Email Conversation)

January 7, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I get email requests and enquiries of all kinds from visitors to my different websites:

1. Self-Development Education. 2. Best Practice Farm Business Support. 3. Freelance Writing/Web Marketing Systems Development . 4. Custom Excel-VB Driven Software Development

But MOST of the enquiries come from my Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas/Support Service website located at: http://www.iff.spontaneousdevelopment.com.

Initially, most of the enquiries were about my feed formulation handbook. Later, when I put my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator software online, farm business owners began writing in to ask how they could purchase it.

******** Start of Message ********

Subject: Re: Your request for my poultry feed formulation handbook

Hi, You need to purchase the handbook.Click here to read full details of the required investment, the steps you need to take, and what you will get subsequentlly.

Let me know if I can help you further.

******** End of Message ********

With time, visitors began to enquire about my other products and services (e.g business plans, feasibility studies, research papers etc).

Some have emailed and even called me, to know what it would take to have my Best Operating Process Management System (BOPMS) implemented on their farms. A growing number have been writing and calling about my Excel-VB Driven Poultry Layer Farm Management Software, which I recently decided to make available online. A few others have written in with special custom software development needs they wanted me to tackle for them.

As you can imagine, this presents a constantly changing range of requests I have to attend to. And many times, only a few ever mature into actual sales. The reasons for this vary. Sometimes it’s the price attached to my product or service. At other times, it turns out the enquirier is just price shopping, or simply curious.

In the earlier days, about 4 years ago, I actually had a rather high proportion of the enquiries coming from phony prospects. People with no serious intentions, who only derived fun from playing mind games.

It was this latter group that taught me the importance of using carefully crafterd autoresponder messages and other tools to protect myself, and save my limited time and energy for those who really mattered. My strategy has worked quite well, and today, I can say less than 5% of enquiries I get could be said to be from “phony” prospects.

Usually When They Don’t Buy, It’s Because They Have a Limited Budget, or They’re Not Ready

For instance, reproduced below is a web form submission by a guy (a Nigerian who said he was based in Canada), who wrote saying he wished to startup a poultry enterprise in Nigeria.

Like others before him, I was not sure he was to be taken seriously when I saw his web form request. See submission below.

——————————–

> kaffo2@xyz.com wrote:

>> name = SEGUN KAFFO

>> interest = Feasibility Study

>> comments = i am interested in comissioning a feasibilty study/business

>> plan for a start up poultry farm and feed mill.

——————————–

Below is the response I sent to him…

—– Original Message —–

From: “Tayo K. Solagbade”

To: “segun kaffo”

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

Hi,

Your request will require a meeting with me.

Past experience (right into 31st Dec 07) has made me decide to require ANYONE who wishes to meet with me pay N2,500 for that to happen. This amount will be 100% deduducted 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.spontaneousdevelopment.com/) to learn more about what I offer. Call me to clarify any areas.

Regards

Tayo Solagbade

He would go on to call me on my mobile

We spent about 20 minutes discussing, after which he said he would send a formal email specifying his exact needs.

Then Kaffo sent his formal/detailed service request(after we had spoken on phone):

===Email Startss===

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

From: “segun kaffo”

To: “Tayo Solagbade”

Priority: Normal

Hi Tayo,

It was a pleasure having a prelimary 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 feasibilty 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 comission 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

===Email Ends===

I did him a response in which I specified my fees for preparing the document, among other details…

===Email Starts===

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

From: “Tayo K. Solagbade”
<http://webmail.xyzdevelopment.com/src/compose.php?send_to=tayo%40xyz.com<br>

To: “segun kaffo” <kaffo2@xyz

Priority: Normal

Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version | Download this as
a file

Hi Segun,

Your original submission via my website form refers below:

——————————————
>

comments = i am interested in comissioning a feasibilty 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 N200k. If you choose to include
the “feed mill” then it will be N250k.

As for payment terms, 50% advance and 50% 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 mimick 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 entreprises 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

===Email Ends===

The above took place in 2008. I have NOT heard from him till this day.

Maybe that’s because I told him what he wanted would cost N150k (divide that by 140 to get the dollar equivalent), payable 50% in advance.

There have been similar others. I guess they were just not convinced it should cost them so much to get the type of solutions I offer.

Maybe by the time they go ahead and startup their farm businesses without the benefit of guidance from the kind of tools/resources I offer, and they end up “struggling” endlessly to be/stay productive and profitable, they will be ready.

That is, if it is not too late by then.

Final Words: In case you decide you want to contact me about any of my products or services, keep what I’ve said above in mind.

My fees will often be affordable, but rarely be cheap – especially for my services.

If you adopt a long term perspective to the matter however (afterall, it’s unlikely you’ll be running a farm business for the short term), it will become obvious making the required investment for my kind of products/services will be a wise thing to do!

NB: This article is based on excertps from Issue No. 31 of Tayo K. Solagbade’s Self-Development Digest Newsletter published on Mon 6th October 2008 at http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/news/sdacn_Mon_061008.htm

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

No. 123: Boost Your Marketing Success by Using the Web Differently

January 6, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

The massive name recognition and marketing reach/impact I’m getting via my zero cost Web Marketing System baffles many. Most believe if you don’t spend on online ads in some media, you cannot get enough marketing exposure.

My achievements on the web disprove that myth.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE

Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 6th January 2014

No:123

Title: Boost Your Marketing Success by Using the Web Differently

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

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.

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

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. 123: Boost Your Marketing Success by Using the Web Differently

My achievements on the web disprove that myth.

To boost your online self-promotion efforts in 2014 as an expert-who-speaks, adopt the mind set shift, and ideas/strategies I advocate in this article!

Using The Web Successfully Is Rarely About Your IT/Technology “Up-to-date-ness”

I like the sound of that…”up-to-date-ness”…:-))

I’ve found that some people think succeeding with IT depends on using the latest versions and models. Wrong! Anyone familiar with my elaborate online presence, will be surprised to learn that I use what purists would consider very outdated equipment and software.

For instance, I write and do all my Excel-VB coding on a VERY old Toshiba Satellite (at least by today’s standards. It was purchased 5 years ago.)

And I say this proudly. It gives me the results I want, and many times I deliver output that exceeds those of others who use more modern machines and software.

My philosophy is: if it’s not giving problems, and stilll produces the results I want, why change it?

That’s why you’ll find I have Windows XP installed on it, and there’s also a copy of MS Excel 2000 (that’s NOT a typo!) on it, in case I need to develop an app that’s downwardly compatible.

You should also see my Blackberry Pearl 9035.

It’s seen better days, as I’ve flogged it mercilessly since 2 years ago when I bought it.

Many times, I’ve had to teach clients using superior, newer models how to do what I do with my old horse e.g creating and publishing new posts to my blog, with graphics, and also using a blackberry as a modem for browsing via my laptop, saving over N4,000 monthly as a result.

So, it’s rarely about the “tools” and more about the competence, commitment and creativity of the user!

Think about it: Long distance runners from Ethiopia and Kenya who often start out training bare foot, without access to modern sporting facilities have for decades dominated World and Olympic competitions.

Their peers in developed societies, despite all their special diets and conditioning, with their aerodynamic running shoes and wears, are rarely able to match them!

It’s More About Your Ability to Find/Use The Right Mix of User-Friendly Tools and Resources

As an expert-who-speaks in 2014, the way you put PC and Internet technology to use will determine the degree of marketing success you achieve.

Too many of us still think we must get a “certification” in a particular vocation before we can consider ourselves competent to function in it. And we apply that same thinking to others we come across.

This leads to a bias that denies us the opportunity to benefit from the GENIUS of someone who, for example, studied Sociology in the university, but later discovered and developed his God-given talent for Web Marketing.

In trying to decide whose proposal to accept, we choose the person who sends a thick proposal endng with a listing of all sorts of IT qualifications. We tell ourselves “Aha. This person will know all there is to know about helping us use IT and the Internet to successfully market our products and services!“

We blind ourselves to the need to check for real-world relevance of each person’s know-how!

An IT graduate may NOT have a passion for creatively applying what s/he knows in a way that benefits his/her clients in the real world. In today’s world, technology makes it possible for anyone with the interest and willingness, to learn almost anything s/he wants to learn.

And that’s why today we have so many people achieving great successes in fields they did not formally study in. Look around you. I do not need to give any examples. They abound everywhere!

To me, that is a sign that we all need to pay more attention to verifying real world competence, instead of depending on academic credentials in isolation.

You, or Your IT Manager Need Not Reinvent The Wheel, to Market Online Successfully

I say this with confidence drawn from over 8 years of using the web to market physical and digital products/services to buyers within and outside Africa.

Knowing that my target audiences varied greatly in their familiarity with the web, as well as their purchasing power, I had to focus on low to zero cost ways to do it all, until I could be sure what worked best. Then using what I learned, I narrowed down to certain strategies, and this increased my rate of success.

Since I was short of funds, and of time, I had to find ways to do my online marketing faster and with less effort i.e. via Intelligent Automation. And I remain alert to any new opportunities to do that.

Around 2009, I discovered Content Management Systems(CMS). That marked a turning point in the way I used the web.

Before then, I’d learnt and used Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Photoshop etc to create my designs and web pages from scratch. Discovering CMS like Joomla! and WordPress opened my eyes to the invaluable opportunity to focus my attention on what really mattered: CREATING and propagating USEFUL CONTENT for my target audience!

It took time. It took effort. It took persistence.

But today, I know what to do and how – combining the CMS with other Internet resources, to achieve high impact marketing mileage at low to zero cost.

Whenever I speak to others who want to use the web, I alert them to the need to avoid wasting limited time, and resources, manually doing stuff that I get done automatically.

For example: In CMS like Joomla! they are called “Extensions”. In WordPress, “Plugins”.

On my blog, I have a plugin that allows me create all sorts of contact forms, with powerful automation features, without any coding knowledge, and within seconds.

Another allows me automatically choose posts on my blog, and compiles them into a book I can immediately publish. Considering that I have almost 500 posts to plough through, you can imagine that plugin will be a time saver for me, since I plan to publish ebooks for sale on some of my blog categories in the near future.

Without the plugin, I’d have needed a developer, and a hefty sum of money to pay him/her!

In truth, I am yet to have a need for a special feature or function to aid my marketing online that is not catered for by an extension or plugin already existing. (My experience also indicates that if you search long and hard enough, you’ll find a FREE one too!)

So, when I see some people sweating for months to write code to do something they claim to be important for their website or online marketing, I often get saddened. When I point out the mistake they’re making, they conclude I don’t know enough IT (e.g. like a friend of theirs, or an IT employee), to advise them.

A prospect once asked me to explain how a degree in Agric. Extension qualified me to advice him on Web Marketing

That would have been be a valid question, IF I did not have a verifiable trackrecord of success in developing Web Marketing Systems that generate quality sales leads for clients. I tried to show him…he paid little or no attention.

So I asked him: “Which is more important? My academic credentials, or the income generating web marketing results I’m getting online in the real world?”.

He gave no answer, but his body language was enough.

I felt so sorry for him, as I often do for people who let petty biases deny them valuable growth opportunities. The programming done on us from school can be that strong!

A Few Years Later, His IT Manager Requests My Advice on Real-World Use of IT/Internet Technology!

If you’ve been reading my writing a while, you know I do NOT share this to brag. It’s just an example I feel effectively drives home the point I’m making.

What follows below is an abridged version of a Facebook chat conversation session I once had (in 2010) with a young IT manager. He worked with the above mentioned CEO I’d discussed providing web marketing systems development service with.

Like him, and his boss, if you and/or your IT personnel fail to take heed of what I’m saying, your company may be unable to develop an effective online presence that delivers the results you want.

Take a few minutes therefore and read – it could save you a lot of wasted time, effort and money in future!

———–START of chat————-

8:19pm<NameRemoved> is online : Hello Sir

8:19pmMe: Hi

8:20pm<NameRemoved>: I suppose u remember me?

8:20pmMe: You work with the real estate company I visited

8:21pmMe: Yes? No?

8:21pm<NameRemoved>: not real estate, IT company

8:22pmMe: My apologies – I do over 10 sales visits each day. Sometimes gets hazy. Your pix looked familiar, so I accepted your friend request

8:23pm<NameRemoved>: <types company name + address here>..remember now?

8:24pmMe: Yes – I do. Spent quite a while with your boss that day…

8:24pm<NameRemoved>: I’ve been trying to learn PHP & MYSQL bt it`s kinda tedious for me…So I was wondering if u could help me out

8:27pmMe: I told your boss – coding PHP and MYSQL are not competencies one needs to dwell on to deliver the kinds of solutions I offer – except you want to go on an ego trip…I use content management systems that make developing web solutions cost and time efficient. In using them, I only need to know how to TWEAK php and mysql code where necessary.

8:30pm<NameRemoved>: I don`t understand wat u mean?

8:32pmMe: For my work, there is no need to really “know” PHP or mysql in depth

8:33pmMe: What you need mainly in basic knowlegde of html, php, etc that will allow you make adjustments to the code produced by powerful content management systems like Joomla (which is php based)

8:35pm<NameRemoved>: really?

8:35pmMe: Today what is needed are expert developers of solutions that work, not expert programmers who know how to write program code.

8:37pmMe: The problem is Nigerians believe they must write code. My focus is on helping clients develop web solutions that do what they want. Go to joomla.org and LEARN what it means to use CMS like it (there are others) to deliver web solutions for the most sophisticated client needs you can encounter

8:38pm<NameRemoved>: so how can I be getting the codes since I don`t know how to write??? r u serious?

8:40pmMe: Once you understand basic html, you are well equipped to learn how to develop web solution using the NEW generation of tools like CMS. The world has moved on. Programmers are a dime a dozen (common). They have automated the process using CMS. Learn how to use CMS to solve problems, and you will become relevant

8:41pmMe: Forget about becoming a code writer or programmer. It would be a waste of time. What you want to code is likely to have already been coded out there into a powerful all-in-one software like a CMS. Find that software and save yourself the hassle. Then spend quality time THINKING of how to USE that new tool to serve clients, and solve their problems

8:45pm<NameRemoved>: u mean I would be able to develop database driven sites like WAEC, JAMB and all that???

8:47pmMe: Please go to joomla.org, then read and learn. The world has moved on. Nigerians need to learn to do more THINKING. We need to stop trying to prove we are good at writing code. It is NOT about writing code. It is about SOLVING real life problems. Just like GSM phones have replaced the dial phones, so have CMS come to remove the drudgery from development of dynamic database driven websites!!! (This was sent as a message, when his net connection broke off)

(May 29 at 9:26pm)<NameRemoved> Replies via FBK message :facebook chat is really messing up dat`s why I`ve to resort to mailing u…….

I really appreciate ur help…….u r the right man I`ve been looking for all these while. Pls I need u to enlighten me on these CMS and JOOMLA u are talking about. I also need ur phone no. and ur yahoo messenger id so we can chat better. I`m into networking, engineering, I also do web design but I really wanna develop myself in the web engineering part. I`m studying computer science in UNILAG. I`m only doing some sort of part – time work in that company where we met. These are some sites I designed: <supplies 3 website addresses>

So basically, I want to go into web engineering. I want to be developing database-driven sites(PHP & MYSQL) and all that. This is why I need u to show me the way as to how to make use of CMS and JOOMLA.

Thanks.

(May 29 at 9:32pm) I reply via FBK message : I would encourage you to search using Google for many of the very useful resources for learning how to use CMS like Joomla, Drupal and WordPress. In my opinion Joomla and WordPress are the ones you should focus on learning – and I learned to use them FREE online. Just search using “where can I learn to use Joomla” for e.g. Believe me, there are hundreds of manuals and videos available online FREE

…May 29 at 9:33pm I send another FBK message : If I have to teach you, I charge an hourly rate of N3,000. I am not sure that would be a cost effective way for you to go about it. Though you are likely to learn faster.

———–END of chat/FBK messages————-

Final Words: Change Your Thinking About Using the Web

In 2014, I challenge you to change your thinking and begin to use the web the way it’s meant to be used: CREATIVELY.

That is the first step towards achieving web marketing success.

I have supplied a few tips to help you in this article. If you need help to progress further, get in touch with me.

Good luck!

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.

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

Useful Resources for Speakers

Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him.

Burt Dubin’s monthly Speaking Biz Strategies Letter [Signup & get a 7-Part Email Course on “How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker“]

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

1. Top Shelf [Click here]

2. Mid Range [Click here]

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.

You hear performance strategies you can emulate. You shorten your learning curve. You see ways to engage and delight audiences with both content and stories . . . plus you experience a bit of fun.

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

Find out why

Presentation Magic

A live example, including a complete audio recording of a program Burt created from scratch–on a topic he knew nothing about and never, ever presented before! See how you, guided by your personal Learning Guide, (Presentation Magic), can do this too and thrill audiences as often as you want.

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

more information

How To Create a Great Program Manual

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.

more information

Download above PDF

Download above PDF

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. 122: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	A Quick Guide to 100% Pure & Natural Shea Butter – by Femi Solagbade
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	NEW YEAR Day: Meet the Best Agricultural Radio Program for 2013: Alhaji Luqman Ibidunni’s Global A.I.M.S
Career Development [Thursday]:	Can You Be Trusted to Keep Private Information “Private”?
Parenting [Friday]:	Teach Kids With True Stories and Demonstrations
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	Cost Details of My Poultry Layer Farm Management Software (Attention: Farm Business Owners/CEOs!)
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

Cost Details of My Poultry Layer Farm Management Software (Attention: Farm Business Owners/CEOs!)

January 4, 2014 Tayo Solagbade 3 Comments

Dear Farm Business Owner,

Thank you for your interest in and/or enquiry about my Excel-VB Driven Poultry Layer Farm Manager software.

If I sent you a link to read this letter, that most likely means I have already spoken with you.

I have a habit of calling up anyone who contacts me on phone, just to be sure the message is not from a prankster. A lot of that used to happen in the past ;-))

The video you watched is of an app I built for a large poultry layer farm in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria.

[Watch the video on Youtube here or as a Shockwave Flash file presentation here

In 2009, I built a similar one for a 12,000 layer farm in Ogun State, also in South West Nigeria.

It has a range of useful, time and effort saving features. A novice PC user can learn to use it within a day.

The key features and functions are demonstrated and described in the video.

If you’d like to buy the full app “as is”, I offer it at N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), to ALL who agree to fill my questionnaire (ownload here).

You can check what that price comes to in US dollars using this website: http://www.coinmill.com. That’s where all who buy from me from “abroad” do their conversions.

Among other benefits, you become a member of my Farm Biz Ideas club, which entitles you to a lifetime 40% discount on ALL my other products or services.

See full details about the club at this page: http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/workshop_ffhb_ideas.htm

A scaled down and therefore less pricey version (which comes without the menu driven automated KPI charts) of the Poultry Layer manager can be made available for N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).

It would still have the capacity to handle data for 12,000 layers. You would use the tabulated reports of KPIs to monitor the performance of the birds.

However, there would be no accompanying charts.

Please note that that this Poultry Layer Farm Manager app is NOT an accounting application.

Yes, it does income and expense recording and reports weekly, monthly and annually as indicated in the video.

However it’s main purpose is to record daily operations data so as to auto-generate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for determining how well the animals are doing on a DAILY basis.

As data is punched in, the automated charts are instantly plotted for KPIs like feeding rates, Hen Day Percentage, Mortality Rate; Feed to Egg Conversion Ratio.

The trend of the charted data quickly tells you if there’s anything to worry about. And you can then take corrective action.

I call my applications of this kind “Enterprise Information Systems” (EIS).

[NB: For a broiler operation, feeding rate, feed to flesh conversion ratio, mortality rate, growth rate would be the KPIs to measure. The app would have to be modified to compute those indices.]

Next Steps I Recommend You Take:

I have a vision to help small holder farmers adopt intelligent and cost-effective custom software solutions to manage their farm business more profitably for the long term.

This is why I’m being deliberate in finding the RIGHT farm owners to work with.

If you’d like to take this further, I look forward to getting your responses to the requests below (along with any feedback you might have).

1. Please take a few moments to fill and submit the form on the page linked below (ignore the preceding message about Facebook):

http://iff.spontaneousdevelopment.com/contact.html

2. Attached is a workbook containing 3 worksheets:

Note that only the questionnaire and the Functional Requirement Specification (FRS) worksheets in it (i.e. the first 2 – from the left) need your input. The FRS simply requires you to choose features you want to have in your app, by adding an X in the right column. The questionnaire is self-explanatory.

Feel free to ignore supplying any fields for personal information in the worksheets, if you’ve submitted the website contact form in 1.0 above. If there’s any aspect you do not understand, just skip it, and fill those you are clear about. Then SAVE the file and send back as email attachment.

The information you fill into the attached workbook, will give me a better understanding of the kind of farm business you operate, and what your needs are likely to be.

(For instance, there’s a daily recording form that will be printed/hand-filled with farm data, then later used for data entry into the software. We will need to ensure the one I have will work for your farm. If not, I’ll modify it, with your guidance).

I will then get back to you with more accurate information regarding your request.

Thanks for your interest in my work. I look forward to being of service to you.

With kindest regards,

Tayo K. Solagbade (Friday 3rd January 2014, @9.45a.m Cotonou, Benin Republic)

Performance Enhancement Specialist & Location Independent Multipreneur

PS: The above letter is based on a template I’ve been sending out to a growing number of enquirers regarding my Poultry Layer Farm Manager that I recently put up for sale online, after checking that it can be successfully customized to suit the needs of different farm business owners. Click here to visit my Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas website.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better

Meet the Best Agricultural Radio Program for 2013: Alhaji Luqman Ibidunni’s Global A.I.M.S

January 1, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Happy New Year to you!

And here’s one bit of news that will help you start up the new year perfectly – on radio. Especially if you’re a lover of agriculture.

Global A.I.M.S is a company specialized in providing agro-industrial information marketing services. And they are making BIG strides in agribusiness communication nationally.

Infact, their radio show recently won the “Best Agricultural Radio Program for 2013” awarded at the second Farmers National Conference.

Alhaji Luqman Ibidunni leads the team at Global A.I.M.S. And he is the show’s anchor on radio. He also happens to be my uncle…

You may recall I featured a PDF Sheabutter Guide published by my brother Femi Solagbade, yesterday.

Nigeria needs more of its university educated members to put what they learnt to practical and productive use, in ways that can improve the lives of others.

I’m not starting some family or nepotistic campaign here. It just so happens that at this point I feel these two people need to be brought to the attention of my own audience. That’s all.

Those familiar with my Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas know I objectively discuss and feature anyone and anything relevant to the needs and interest of the farm industry stakeholders I serve.

Do you have news of an authentic achiever making things happen in agriculture?

Contact me via this blog or email tayo at tksola dot com.

I’d like to connect with him/her and see how we can tell more people about the great work s/he is doing. Please note that I said “authentic achiever”. I do my due diligence, and I will dig deep to find out if there’s any fluff, or falsehood, in there. Sorry. But we see too much of that in these parts :-))

In the meantime I suggest you visit the Global A.I.M.S at www.greenstudiong.com. You can also email them via info at greenstudiong.com or globalaims at yahoo dot com.

Catch the show on air Fridays at: 89.75 EKO FM from 8.30 – 9.00 p.m (in Lagos, Nigeria).

Below: A picture of the award plaque presented to them at the Second Farmers National Conference in 2013.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

Even When Too Busy, Don’t Stop Marketing!

December 21, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

A badly managed company (or indeed country!) that still makes regular sales will stay “afloat”. Peter Drucker’s famous quote explains why:

“Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two – and only these two – basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are “costs”.

Serving Clients/Customers is Serious Work, but Marketing & Innovation are More Important

Why? Because anyone who’s been in business a while knows that there will be peaks and troughs now and then. Today, potential buyers may be chasing you around, but tomorrow you may be wondering where all the enquirers went!

The most seasoned business owners make continuous generation of good quality sales leads their number one preoccupation.

Ask a hotel owner. His/her focus is on percentage room occupancy, day in, day out. All other considerations are important, but that one stays right at number one!

That’s Why Marketing (Backed by Innovation) MUST Never Stop!

And you should do it through as many channels as possible too. Nothing is too much/little to consider. Sales people talk about keeping the sales funnel filled. At all times, take innovative marketing action to get more potential buyers clamouring to get your attention.

That’s the “funnel” concept. The more they are, the greater the chances that when you attend to one, another will simply pop right in as s/he leaves. Your sales people would be able to maximize time closing sales!

So, even if you’re overbooked now, the last thing you want to do is stop marketing! Instead THINK of ways to close more of those begging sales opportunities, now that they are within reach.

For instance, you could get one of the smart chaps working in another section to undergo crash training in taking orders. S/he could be added to as an extra hand to cope with the additional surge in demand, until it subsides.

If it does not subside, you’ll be making MORE money, and may be able to hire a new (or temporary/contract) employee to play that role.

If that’s still not enough, consider tactfully negotiating a longer response time with those yet to be attended to. Depending on what you sell, this may be a good way to avoid having people get upset.

Of course if it’s an online sales model with a shopping cart, and credit card payment processing, none of this would be relevant.

However, I remain very conscious of the fact that my favourite people (Farm Business Owners) read my articles on Entrepreneurship.

So, the examples provided are sometimes given with them in mind. And for those who do not yet “get it”, I’m on a mission to make farm business owners in developing countries make more creative use of web marketing to promote themselves and their products/services locally and even internationally – for PROFIT

Interestingly, if/when you have to tell intending buyers to give you time due to lots of orders you’re getting, that can actually boost your image and credibility in their eyes.

They’re likely to think “Hmm. S/he must be good to have so much demand and be unable to fit me in!” Some could actually decide to wait till you’re available – just because of that.

So you see, filling the funnel via regular creative marketing can end up helping you achieve a “celebrity” status of sorts. What is called “Authority” status…and why not

Final Words: The Time to Do More Serious Marketing, Is When The “Going Is Good”!

Here’s an instructive historical anecdote…

An entrepreneur who achieved great success over many decades, reportedly often got worried if things were going too well for (what he considered) too long in his business.

Hmm? He got worried whenever everything was going right? Why?

Well, to him, it was a signal that some things were (probably) not working which he was missing.

So during such (seemingly) “good times”, he paid greater attention to every aspect of his operations.

It was through that habit of his, that the company achieved long term success!

It goes without saying that what he did included ensuring marketing and sales did NOT slow down – because only a company that made sales could last that long!

Sometime ago, I read a quote that said:

“A little dose of paranoia is healthy”.

I’ve made a little change to it for any business owners enjoying “good times” to consider:

“A little dose of marketing paranoia is healthy…especially when you’re making lots of sales!”

NB: All I’ve said above applies to every kind of business – including that of the writer/blogger!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

Sell Successfully Using a Mailing List

December 20, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[Quick tip: If you own – or run – an agro-based/allied business, the ideas in this article can REALLY help you. Trust me. I LOVE farmers – and would NEVER steer you wrong :-))]

Are you responsible for creating marketing awareness, and generating sales leads for your company? If yes, then building a mailing list needs to be your number one priority.

Why?

Because most times only people interested in buying will take pains to join such a list. Success in therefore likely to boost sales dramatically (and possibly take your career to the next level)!

However, You Must Do It Right, To Ensure The Right People Sign Up

You want to sell your products and services don’t you? Well then you must do something to make them give up at least their email address – so you can contact them again after their first contact with you.

Note here this “contact” may not only happen online. It can – and does often – happen offline as well. So do not close your eyes to the opportunities to “direct” such contacts to marketing material that’ll make them join your list!

But You Must Be Careful to Attract The Right People

Make sure you only use bait that attracts people likely to be willing to pay for what you sell!

It sounds obvious, but the truth is not everyone gets this part quite well. You see, you must develop a marketing instrument that touches on something that interests them, which is related to what you sell. Then somewhere in there, you offer access to even more – maybe some special ground breaking report or white paper. That what will make them feel a need to come over and signup to get it.

Now, one of the most effective “marketing instruments” with which to propagate the above kind of offer is a website.

On the website, you could have a blog and/or a web based newsletter. Through one or a combination of the foregoing (which are components of what I call a Web Marketing System), you can easily publish and distribute useful and interesting content for your target audience to read.

The key will however be to remember that what you’re doing is just a means to an end – AND NOT AN END in itself!

The profitable end you seek will always be to make as many of those who stop long enough to read your stuff, decide to join your mailing list – swelling it’s membership. To make that happen, you will regularly have new bodies of useful information and education packaged in different forms. Some will be directly access free articles. Others will be members-only articles or PDF reports/other documents that a prospective reader has to signup to get. Some could be available for a fee.

Ultimately, you want to have a situation where over time you are able to build your own community of potential buyers for your products and services. And you’d be able to periodically make them sales offers, while still serving them useful, free information via a your broadcasts.

One kind of downloadable document that can be used – in an article – to get people to join your list is called an “Educational Commercial” or “Edumercial”.

A good example of an Edumercial is my new report on “Using MS Excel® Solver for Least Cost Feed Formulation“.

The following are key objectives you will aim to achieve using an Edumercial:

1. Establish you/your company as an authority on the subject e.g. Shea Butter (if that’s what you sell)

2. Generate enquiries from potential buyers of your Shea Butter range of products

3. Stimulate interest in reader’s minds to tell their networks and contacts about you.

4. Generate visits from people fitting your target audience profile to your website to get more useful information

5. Make your website, and brand/name get picked up – MORE OFTEN – by Google and other search engines when people do searches related to Shea Butter.

6. Save you money, time and effort in promoting your products and services BEYOND the limits of your current marketing reach/influence and impact.

7. Gradually help you collect contact details into a MAILING LIST of potential buyers/sales leads, so you can send notices of new useful stuff you publish and/or announce sales offers of your products.

A mailing list of trusting buyers will not only come ready to pay, but will also tell others about anything you tell them in your email broadcasts.

Hopefully you see what is possible here.

Try to offer marketing content mainly from your blog – NOT just your website

Be sure however, to channel blog RSS feeds to the site. That way people who land on the website will still see the useful titles and click to the blog.

Except your website is already blog based, you may need to do this – especially you use a static html website. The reason is that a blog comes ready-to-use with the instruments for content syndication and archiving that Google/readers want.

And it also makes the process of updating content online quicker, and easier. You can install your blog within minutes, from your website’s CPANEL at NO COST. Just tell your website manager – or if you want, I can help (email tayo at tksola dot com).

You need not spend money on blog design – in my experience based opinion.

Thousands of professional templates are available for FREE, which can be perfectly customized to suit your needs. Later on you can get a paid one, if you wish. Just don’t let that stop you from getting started.

What is crucial is that you aim to generate content to publish regularly on it that will help you build a community of followers, many of who are likely to be in buy-mode by the time they read your stuff and see your good quality products.

Take a look at the number of sales enquiries still being generated from a single interview a Shea Butter expert from Abuja did on this post at NaturalNigerian.com.

And the orders were coming in from all over the world – because most people had been unable to find a RELIABLE source of 100% PURE Shea Butter.

See how this approach of giving useful information away free in the right place, to the right people can generate massive rewards?

As long as you also offer reliable quality of products and services, you can get similar attention from potential buyers. And it will make your company get more “name recognition” both online and off, locally and internationally.

Tips for Generating Your Content

Even if you’re writing from experience, read up on the subject periodically.

This will enable you enrich your articles with additionally interesting information. Where appropriate put in all the references you consulted. No matter how minor. It’s important to acknowledge the sources one reads. Make sure you do NO copying or plagiarizing.

Sometimes I simply write by drawing from past or present experience/observation.

But normally, the standard way I generate content is that I first read lots of material on the subject. Then I sit down and think of a useful angle to write from, that has not been covered by any of the sources I read.

And I try to make sure what I end up with adds useful value to the existing body of information. All of that is done using my own words. That way, my final write-up is free from any duplicate content.

Note that it’s always best not to create the impression you’re trying to “sell” in an edumercial! (Read through my Educational Commercial on Feed Formulation)

That tends to turn readers off. They must believe you’re offering the useful information to help them as a real public service.

That gesture, on its own, will make you appear as a more credible provider to go to as a result!

It’s a bit counter intuitive, but IT WORKS quite well for generating quality sales leads!

Try it. You will not be disappointed. And neither will your bosses/employer!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

SMART Acronym for People Who Succeed (Incl. Infographic)

December 17, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[NB: Post updated – see bottom – on Wed 18th Dec 2013 @2:04pm – causing reset of views counter.] You probably know the popular SMART acronym – a mnemonic – for setting goals and objectives (“S” for Specific, “M” for Measurable etc). I’m not referring to that. Over the past 10 years, I’ve conceived a different SMART acronym, this time in relation to people. Here is my SMART Acronym for People Who Succeed (complete with an infographic)

[Hint: Remember now, we’re NOT talking about SMART project “objectives” here. Its people I’m referring to!]

1. “S” is for “Serious Minded”

How can you tell if a person is serious minded? A simple way is to observe what s/he has interest in doing, as opposed to what s/he is committed to doing.

Consider a business owner who tells you s/he wants more sales in his/her business. Her attitude towards learning what will be needed to make that happen will indicate how serious s/he is.

Many times people express interest in something, but are not prepared to commit the required time, effort and sometimes money, to doing it. That’s why people attend the same business marketing workshop and 6 months later, some have succeeded in growing more business, and others have not!

People who are committed to achieving their set goals never let anything interfere with doing what is necessary to make that happen. Not friends, relatives, habits, hobbies or pleasures of any sort!

People I consider SMART are serious minded about pursuing their valued personal goals.

2. “M” is for “Motivated”

Serious minded people will usually find it easy to be motivated. This is because their commitment to achieving their goal drives them.

A motivated person is one who has found a reason to go out and do something. I often talk about having a Magnificent Obsession – an expression I got from a book I read – about having a major life purpose.

People I consider to be SMART in terms of my definition are men and women who have found their purpose. They wake up KNOWING exactly what they want to do, and where they need to go.

Usually, they would have worked the day before to a point, then upon stopping thought ahead (and even dreamt about) steps they would take from the next day!

Such people “hit the ground running” each morning. SMART people are motivated in that way!

3. “A” is for “Action Oriented”

Jim Rohn wisely noted that “Motivation alone is not enough. Motivate an idiot then you have a motivated idiot”.

Understand the context in which Mr. Rohn made that statement by checking the dictionary meaning of an “idiot”. What I’d call a contemporary definition of an “idiot” is provided at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot

So, Mr. Rohn was right. An idiot can indeed be motivated and still be unproductive.

But such persons generally occur in the minority in larger society.

So, here we’re looking at normal people who fail to take action despite being motivated. Why? I say it’s because they let their motivation wear off. And how do they do that? It’s by failing to find an anchor for it in their daily lives.

For instance, lots of successful people reveal that they build a vision of their dream on paper and hang where they’ll see it everyday. Then they create a tasks list which they check off at the end of each day, to help them get the feeling of moving closer to achieving their dream.

Anyone who claims to be motivated, and can still find a reason not to follow the above example is definitely NOT action oriented!

4. “R” is for “Results Focused”

Now, someone can be serious minded, and not be motivated to get results that matter.

Don’t believe me? I’ll give you a good example.

I see them everyday. People who are always busy (doing little or nothing worthwhile that is!). You will struggle to get them to give you a few minutes of their time. Always in a hurry they are. Rushing off to meetings, to keep appointments etc. But at the end of each day, or the week, few of the truly important things ever get done!

I used to work with such people. You could agree at this week’s brewery meeting to have Work Instruction drafts written for use in training a new set of operatives coming in. They’d always assure you it’d be done. All week you would chase them via phone, and even visit their offices.

Yet, at the end of the day, nothing…or very little happens. And you may have to do it all yourself, to meet the deadline!

People I call SMART are not like that. They produce results. When they tell you I’ll send you the finished paper in 24 hours, better be ready, because that finished paper WILL arrive by then, if not before!

5. “T” is for “Tenacious”

I use tenacity interchangeably with persistence. And I love the following quote, which, to me, perfectly captures the full meaning:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence; Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” – Ray Kroc (Founder of McDonalds)

Believe me, dear reader. Even with all the moral and financial support in the world, people still fail due to lack of tenacity.

A guy who has money bags backing him, and family root for him to run swim a world record breaking distance can choose to quit before getting to the finish line. And it will often not be that s/he could not finish. Instead, in his/her head the desire to keep going, to refuse to fail, would have died.

When I quit paid employment with Guinness Nigeria, Andy R. Jones, the expatriate brewery head of Guinness Benin in Edo state (apart from what he wrote in Xmas cards sent to me) said – repeatedly – during a departmental send-forth part organised in my honour: “Tayo simply refuses to fail”. And he told stories from the times I worked in the brewery reporting to him.

Basically, I never sat back and let things go wrong. Until the very last second I would come up with new ideas and action steps that could be used co-opt others and try to save things or get more done. Many times I succeeded.

I did not know Andy Jones was taking note of my actions!

So you see, people I call SMART, never give up.

They are tenacious with a vengeance.

They don’t know when they are beaten.

Nor do they accept to back down.

In fact, I would say they have what Burt Dubin calls bulldog blood.

And guess what? You get the transfusion(of bulldog blood that is) simply by reading the words and believing, then taking ACTION, until you get what you want!

Final Words

These above described 5 key qualities must be consistently demonstrated by an individual, if s/he is to qualify to be called SMART by me.

Err…but who exactly am I, to go around changing definitions up on people, and dictating whether or not they can be called SMART?

Indeed, why should anyone take this my new application of a well known acronym seriously?

My answer: I have no idea!

Except of course you consider the fact that I happen to consistently achieve exceptional performance levels in virtually every area of endeavour I venture. And I have done so, consistently, for more than the last 2 decades of my life!

I achieved that level of reckoning by being SMART in paid employment – as described above. That was about 12 years ago.

Today, I’ve already recorded similar superlative levels of performance, as an entrepreneur. And it’s attracting the same kinds of feedback and commentary that I got while earning a salary.

Once again, the common element that runs through it all is my diligent commitment to being SMART in line with my definition.

To top it off, those who have been coached by me get infected with this virus of mine too

As a result, they subsequently go on to record success levels that surprise those who know them and even themselves. I have many testimonials, hand written to me, from teenagers, to young people in their early twenties, who just had to let me know!

They became SMART, as per my above definition, and their lives were changed for the better.

You can achieve similar results for yourself, if you feel you need such. Simply read and re-read the 5 different description of the SMART acronym’s components.

And then put what you learn to use.

It’s simple to understand, but may not be easy to do.

Yet if you see it through, you’ll never look back again. And those who know you will regard you with amazement!

UPDATE (Wednesday 18th December 2013 @2:04pm Cotonou): My SMART Acronym Does Not Aim to (& Cannot) Replace or Contradict The Original SMART Acronym!

I touched on the above fact at the start of THIS article, when I first published it yesterday p.m. But experience has taught me it pays to CLARIFY properly. Some people are experts at jumping to VERY wrong conclusions!

My “SMART” acronym is not meant to invalidate the standard, original acronym we all know and use in setting goals and objectives. That original SMART acronym is powerfully useful, and I LOVE using it.

What I have done is to conceive of one to be applied to PEOPLE. That’s all. Just a little change in perspective, based on something people already use.

So, just like you would check for each of the 5 components (S, M, A, R, and T) in a goal or objective, I would check for each of the 5 qualities I’ve described for my SMART acronym in people.

Guess what?

9.9 times out of 10 I have found that people who have those qualities tend to succeed more often. And that is what this is all about. A “gauge” of sorts that anyone can apply to check him/herself for “success readiness”!

But I’ve presented my idea DELIBERATELY in this manner, seemingly contradicting what people know, just to raise eyebrows – and in the process get their attention…hee hee hee :-))

Hopefully, I’ve gotten some people thinking and talking.

If any person(s) have been “upset” by this article (which would be surprising, since the “SMART” acronym is not anyone’s relative or private property!), I’d suggest taking a chilled bottle of Coke, and letting off steam please. It’s Xmas season! Thank YOU :-))

=======WHAT PEOPLE WROTE=========

—————————–

*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).

———————–

“From:”Obadiaru, Osawemwenze” <email address deleted >

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:27:30 +0100

Uncle (Tayo),

Greetings to you from your boy. How are you doing?…All
is well here in Benin and everybody is really been bugged again by this ISO audit thing.

All the same you have set a standard, that nobody will dare to go below. I really miss
you sir, your words of encouragement, your pressures, your drive, your humor and
every thing about you. But in consolation, I try so hard to follow your footsteps, which
I have been doing little by little, and I am sometimes amazed at the things I do.

…I look
up to you, and really desire to someday dedicate a major success in my life to you, for
the little while I spent with you has been a turning point in my life. I will always be

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

———————–

“To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

I appreciate all your effort. It is through you I knew the difference between Schooling and Education and its also through you that I knew that mathematics as a subject can be answered in many ways. I am very grateful.” – Ifeanyi Okeke, SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

—————————-

“To Mr Tayo Solagbade…you made me understand what the world speaks.” – Adepoju Samson, SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

—————————–

“Mr Tayo Solagbade…he has educated me so that he had touched that thing in me that motivates me.” – , SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

“The speaker, Mr Solagbade, is an authority in his field. (He is) an achiever who is able to carry his audience along with him in his message/speech” – Baker A.T, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“There’s a lot more to learn (experience wise) from the speaker(Tayo Solagbade)…Honestly, he gave so much within a short time. I learnt a lot without writing much. It’s amazing!” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“Your (talk) encourages people not to depend on sycophancy to achieve their aims. People are also encouraged to leave the level of mediocrity. One needs to look inwards and make use of one’s potentials to reach the greatest heights. I hope this
is not the last session we will be having with you” – Ezemba C.I (Miss), Teacher, Corona Schools

————–

“The (talk) is very (useful for) those who want to up-grade themselves. The older generation who think they have come to the end of their career would find it very very useful to rejuvenate their attitude, interest and empower themselves to greater goals.” – E.C. Sarsal, Corona Schools

————–

“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

————–

“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

————–

“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

————–

“(The talk was) ‘very useful’ (and the speaker was) ‘excellent’…Good insight for the much needed Human Revolution to drive creativity in this nation.” – Oma Williams, Director, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“A very worthwhile exercise. The package can however be improved by making it organisation specific.” – C. I. Okeke, AD/Research Consulting, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“The speaker, to me, is quite an inspiration to the young generation” – Nwaokokoh Eddy Azuka, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“This is a celebration of Change Management, quite an appropriate and timely presentation at CMD to Stimulate Change.” – Binuyo, Francis A. (Mr.), MDO I, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village, Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“Well this is my first seminar and I think I have gained a lot…I am on NAPEP attachment to the centre for a while, but generally speaking I think you are good and can go even above the sky. I wish I could get in touch with you for more lectures (on) Self-Development, as regards Career Development or probably Personal Development.” – Sanwo Pamela A., Unemployed Graduate, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

————–

“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“The training course and approach used was a good and kind of unique one, – talking about the mind map.” – Odunlami Olaitan. O. Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“The practical real life experiences (made) the seminar more realistic…The seminar fuels my heart to develop myself the more.” – Kemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“The training was a new dimension to the act of personal effectiveness, was less of theory but of tested and proven principles. Keep it up!“- Oluwakemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“This is an academy that will go a long way in helping to develop the youths of this country. Keep up the good work.” – Alake Oluwayemisi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“(Tayo Solagbade) is a very good speaker who was able to communicate his (ideas) effectively without boring me and wasting no time. Within the short time he spent, he gave loaded and relevant information/(ideas) which were superb.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“The presenter was superb. He dealt with the topic extensively, citing real life experiences that (were) personal to him.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“The facilitator (Tayo Solagbade) has done so well, and he has made me to feel that the sky is not my limit but the start, if I can apply all the personal effectiveness principles appropriately.” – Onifade Olajide, – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“I was very impressed with the speaker (Tayo Solagbade), his integrity, method of delivery and what he had to say. This should not stop here. I personally need access to those books and if pointed in that direction will be happy. Also, I will be happy if (I can be shown) ways to apply oneself to the concept of Self Development as regards my job as a teacher, that will help me to be a better time manager.” – Teacher, Corona Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos.

————–

“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“It has been a very useful session which can make people or employees wake up from lethargy. It is a wake-up call for continual hope and rejuvenation for speed to higher ground to life aspiration.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

————–

“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

————–

“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“…The Ten Ways on Self-Development inspire me to the marrow, and henceforth are going to be (the) guiding ideologies, principles and work concepts in my life.” – Oduye Olumuyiwa, Corona School

————–

“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

————–

“The general comment I will like to make is that I can call this seminar a vision seminar. So my comment is that you can make this vision a wider vision by having a complete textbook on it.” – Assistant Teacher, Corona School

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking

No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

December 16, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

It does not matter if no one in your family, or village, ever created anything noteworthy. Neither does it matter if others in your field think it’s a waste of time being creative. As a child of the omnipotent creator, you have the ability to create and innovate. Used wisely, it can help you achieve your dreams, and even change the world for the better!

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Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 16th December 2013

No:120

Title: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

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

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.

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

**********

No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

Virtually Everything We Use Today is a Product of Human Creativity

Right now, you’re most likely reading these words on a mobile phone, laptop or desktop computer, via an Internet connection. And this is happening regardless of your physical location.

The devices used to achieve that are products of creative ideas conceived by some people. The clothes we wear today, the shoes, cars we drive, airplane we travel in.
All those modern day wonders and conveniences. It took some ordinary persons like you and me, thinking creatively, to bring them to life.

In the Intellectual Field, Creativity Provides Food for the Mind and Soul

Magical personalities have graced this plane with their presence. They made lasting impact on our lives through their creative thoughts, words and works. Examples I especially love to use are Zig Ziglar (the best example of a Motivational Speaker I’ve ever seen) and Jim Rohn (Recognised as the World’s Foremost Business Philosopher).

Years after their departure, their words remain relevant. When we read them, we often wonder (at least I do!): “Wow. How did he think of saying it so perfectly?!”

Those two men operated at a superior level of creativity to their peers.

Just like Burt Dubin is in entirely superior class of his own…as far as the business of Public Speaking & Mentoring of Public Speakers is concerned.

Take it from me: I’ve done a careful comparison of the most “visible” experts in that area for over 10 years. And I know Burt is right out in front.

If you think I’m saying this because I’m his agent across Africa, think again.

Here, let me help you: Go and read some of my articles from when I’d never even had any direct contact with him…like this one published on Ezinearticles.com way back in 2006 (Burt and I teamed up in 2011).

What Sets Burt Dubin Apart from Other Public Speaking Coaches/Mentors/Trainers?

I’ve always referred to him, just as I have to Dan Kennedy, Terry Dean and others whose works have influenced me.

But with Burt, it’s been his mastery of Public Speaking and Business Marketing acumen that have always stood out for me!

That, as well as the superior level of creativity he passionately brings to bear. The depth or wisdom and hands-on expertise he possesses is unmatched.

I make a simple statement of fact, dear reader. No exaggeration.

It might interest you to know that many who undergo Burt’s mentoring, along with others who are his colleagues, call him a “master”. Hmm…some food for thought there if you’re trying to choose a mentor :-))

Are You Scared of Owning Your Creativity

By owning their creativity, the above mentioned achievers have (are) impacted (impacting) the world.

But what about you? Are you doing the same? Or are you afraid?

I can ask you that question today, because I conquered my fear when I was 27 years old, and a green-horned duty shift brewer, on my first night shift in Guinness Nigeria, Benin Brewery, Edo State..

That night, I found myself facing an army of brewing and bottling hall operatives unable to work for over 5 hours! This happened because I made a calculator error for an important beer additive that resulted in beer that could not be bottled.

So, while I waited for the next available tank to be processed, the men had to sit idle. It was terrible. And I felt that way too. I could already see my boss looking sternly at me and asking “But Tayo, it’s just a simply percentage estimation!”

Yeah, it was simple. But it was also prone a lot of errors since we used a hand held calculator. I’d expressed that concern before my turn came to go alone on night shift. But the senior brewer had told me “Look, you cannot computerize everything”.

So I let it go. And the worst that could happen did happen! [Click to read full article in a new window. I titled it “How To Turn A Major Blunder At Work Into A Career Advancement Opportunity“. Then I later re-titled it “Failire is a Shrewd Instructor…Listen to it, and You’ll be Better Off“]

My Fear of Getting Criticised and of Letting My Creativity Loose, Died That Night in 1997!

I leant a hard lesson that night: to never ignore anything my intuition (or what Burt Dubin calls “Inner Voice”) tells me.

By the end of the year, I’d developed 4 other applications that totally eliminated the need for manual recording or report preparation in the brewing department.

Most of those achievements happened between late 1997 and 1998, and I did it all in my spare time. That’s including writing a management research paper that I presented at the National Finals of Nigerian Institute of Management’s Young Managers’ Competition (placing 5th overall – after I badly flopped in my presentation!).

By way of interest, my paper got special mention from the judges of that event for a concept I developed for mass balancing in beer waste estimation. I called it TWUF™ i.e. Total Waste Unaccounted For. I’d actually used it to successfully uncover an apparent (false) beer waste problem at the filler machine in the packaging department. More on that in a future article.

My career in the company took off right after that. By the time I left to start my business, I’d done even more, gotten promoted, sent on overseas training, and successfully acted in Senior Management roles.

Creativity Based Success Leaves a Trail

A careful look at my disposition as an entrepreneur will reveal I’ve stayed true to my decision about never letting my fears get the better of my creativity.

That’s why today, I’ve created a range of sophisticated, yet low cost Custom Excel-VB driven software, to serve smallholder farmers e.g my popular feed formulation handbook, its accompanying Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator, the Poultry Layer Farm Manager etc.

This group, especially in my part of the world, has hitherto been grossly neglected by developers – who tend to chase big companies etc.

I found a way to develop solutions that solve pressing problems faced by such farmers, and now offer it in an easy-to-replicate manner. When I started out, many people told me I was wasting my time.

I ignored them.

Instead, I used my creativity to make my solutions appealing to other industries as well. As a result, over the years, I’ve built Excel-VB driven customizable software for hospitals, hotels, fitness clubs, medical clinics and so on.

All the while, I kept my eyes firmly fixed on my primary target audience: Farm Business Owners.

By the time some of them began “biting” at my marketing “bait”, I had success stories from those other industries to show them. It was only a matter of time before one of them paid. And since then, it’s been a wonderful experience having these farm owners/enthusiasts from across the world reach out to me for help. I am truly living my dream!

To Achieve This level of Reckoning, I Have Had to Fearlessly Own My Creativity!

I had to believe I had it in me. And that it had nothing to do with my genes, and everything to do with how I think!

But this message is not about me, or about Burt Dubin…or the others mentioned.

It is aimed at anyone who may feel they have nothing to offer the world. Those who believe they can only be assistants to others who make things happen.

Know this: You can impact the world from your own small corner in it!

So, as an Expert in Your Field, I Challenge You to Approach 2014 With a New Focus and Drive

Aim to develop a more unique and original approach to doing what you do. It should be one that can help not just you, but also your peers and industry. As a farm business owner, you can conduct on-farm trials to lower feeding costs etc. Document what you learn in a way that others can comprehend.

What if you were to share that “Indigenous Knowledge” via a little blog of your own?

You’d be surprised. Farmers in other parts of the world could be excited to learn that new technique you use to cheaply feed your broilers or catfish!

And who knows what could come of it? A funding organisation could invite you to give a lecture on the discoveries you’re making!

Look at the attention I’m getting (in and out of Africa) just by providing information products and custom software for farm businesses. I don’t even have a farm of my own – but I’m adding value to farm businesses!

If I can do it, then a farm business owner willing to be creative can do it even better!

All we need is a willingness to use our God-given creativity. With the power of the Internet, never has it been easier to achieve the foregoing, than now!

Have a lovely week!

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

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.

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

Useful Resources for Speakers

Burt Dubin’s monthly Speaking Biz Strategies Letter [Signup & get a 7-Part Email Course on “How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker“]

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

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.

more information

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

Download above PDF

THEY WROTE…

—————————–

*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).

———————–

“From:”Obadiaru, Osawemwenze” <email address deleted >

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:27:30 +0100

Uncle (Tayo),

Greetings to you from your boy. How are you doing?…All
is well here in Benin and everybody is really been bugged again by this ISO audit thing.

…I look
up to you, and really desire to someday dedicate a major success in my life to you, for
the little while I spent with you has been a turning point in my life. I will always be

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

———————–

“To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

—————————-

—————————–

————–

“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

————–

“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

————–

“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

————–

“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

————–

“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

————–

“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

————–

Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Always Be a Dignified Professional (Especially When a Client Is In a Hurry and/or Demands Lower Fees!)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	To Succeed, You Need to Treat Money With Respect
Parenting [Thursday]:	Involve Your Kids in Your Dream, and They’ll Succeed Too
Career Development [Friday]:	How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results
Career Development [Saturday]:	How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results – Part 2 of 2
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Like I’ve told each and every one of them, I do this because I have a vision I want to accomplish.

The more they are able to plan for and manage their farm operations in a way that minimises setbacks and delays, the better their fortunes will be.

Recently, a new group of Farm CEO enquirers has begun to demand my attention

However, when I eventually call them up, I have noticed, consistently – but not surprisingly – that most are not prepared for what I tell them.

Tailoring My Poultry Farm Software Solution to Meet the Budget Needs of Small Farmers

Are a Profit-Conscious Poultry Farm Business Owner?

I propose the following:

As your “content” volume increases, those who encounter it online, who fit your target audience profile, will be won over by it.

It does not yield success over night. BUT it always works! You just need to persist.

TOTAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED (If I do it for you):

But MOST of the enquiries come from my Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas/Support Service website located at: http://www.iff.spontaneousdevelopment.com.

With time, visitors began to enquire about my other products and services (e.g business plans, feasibility studies, research papers etc).

Usually When They Don’t Buy, It’s Because They Have a Limited Budget, or They’re Not Ready

Below is the response I sent to him…

He would go on to call me on my mobile

I did him a response in which I specified my fees for preparing the document, among other details…

The above took place in 2008. I have NOT heard from him till this day.

Final Words: In case you decide you want to contact me about any of my products or services, keep what I’ve said above in mind.

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 123: Boost Your Marketing Success by Using the Web Differently

Using The Web Successfully Is Rarely About Your IT/Technology “Up-to-date-ness”

It’s More About Your Ability to Find/Use The Right Mix of User-Friendly Tools and Resources

You, or Your IT Manager Need Not Reinvent The Wheel, to Market Online Successfully

For example: In CMS like Joomla! they are called “Extensions”. In WordPress, “Plugins”.

A prospect once asked me to explain how a degree in Agric. Extension qualified me to advice him on Web Marketing

A Few Years Later, His IT Manager Requests My Advice on Real-World Use of IT/Internet Technology!

Take a few minutes therefore and read – it could save you a lot of wasted time, effort and money in future!

Final Words: Change Your Thinking About Using the Web

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

Publications

THEY WROTE…

The video you watched is of an app I built for a large poultry layer farm in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria.

If you’d like to buy the full app “as is”, I offer it at N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), to ALL who agree to fill my questionnaire (ownload here).

A scaled down and therefore less pricey version (which comes without the menu driven automated KPI charts) of the Poultry Layer manager can be made available for N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).

Please note that that this Poultry Layer Farm Manager app is NOT an accounting application.

Next Steps I Recommend You Take:

This is why I’m being deliberate in finding the RIGHT farm owners to work with.

The information you fill into the attached workbook, will give me a better understanding of the kind of farm business you operate, and what your needs are likely to be.

However, I remain very conscious of the fact that my favourite people (Farm Business Owners) read my articles on Entrepreneurship.

Final Words: The Time to Do More Serious Marketing, Is When The “Going Is Good”!

Sometime ago, I read a quote that said:

I’ve made a little change to it for any business owners enjoying “good times” to consider:

However, You Must Do It Right, To Ensure The Right People Sign Up

But You Must Be Careful to Attract The Right People

Now, one of the most effective “marketing instruments” with which to propagate the above kind of offer is a website.

One kind of downloadable document that can be used – in an article – to get people to join your list is called an “Educational Commercial” or “Edumercial”.

Try to offer marketing content mainly from your blog – NOT just your website

You need not spend money on blog design – in my experience based opinion.

Take a look at the number of sales enquiries still being generated from a single interview a Shea Butter expert from Abuja did on this post at NaturalNigerian.com.

Tips for Generating Your Content

Note that it’s always best not to create the impression you’re trying to “sell” in an edumercial! (Read through my Educational Commercial on Feed Formulation)

1. “S” is for “Serious Minded”

2. “M” is for “Motivated”

3. “A” is for “Action Oriented”

4. “R” is for “Results Focused”

5. “T” is for “Tenacious”

Final Words

UPDATE (Wednesday 18th December 2013 @2:04pm Cotonou): My SMART Acronym Does Not Aim to (& Cannot) Replace or Contradict The Original SMART Acronym!

=======WHAT PEOPLE WROTE=========

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

Virtually Everything We Use Today is a Product of Human Creativity

In the Intellectual Field, Creativity Provides Food for the Mind and Soul

Just like Burt Dubin is in entirely superior class of his own…as far as the business of Public Speaking & Mentoring of Public Speakers is concerned.

What Sets Burt Dubin Apart from Other Public Speaking Coaches/Mentors/Trainers?

But with Burt, it’s been his mastery of Public Speaking and Business Marketing acumen that have always stood out for me!

Are You Scared of Owning Your Creativity

My Fear of Getting Criticised and of Letting My Creativity Loose, Died That Night in 1997!

Creativity Based Success Leaves a Trail

To Achieve This level of Reckoning, I Have Had to Fearlessly Own My Creativity!

So, as an Expert in Your Field, I Challenge You to Approach 2014 With a New Focus and Drive

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

Publications

THEY WROTE…

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

…a multi-disciplinary blog for people passionate about reaching their goals!

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)