Category Archives: General

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

Extracting Useful Lessons From Travel Experiences (True Stories & Tips)

Have you ever interacted with an unschooled, but widely traveled person? Stop for a moment and think about any such person you know. They often come across as knowledgeable, and self-confident don’t they?

Now, consider an unschooled person whose soccer skills earned him a high paying pro career, in clubs around the world for years.

We know real soccer legends alive today, who went from rags to riches doing just that. So it’s not like my analogy is far fetched.

By the time these people retire, and move on to other endeavours, it is often very difficult to detect that they did not have formal schooling or were poor.

Why?

Because during their careers, they mix and relate closely with high profile people from all walks of life, and it rubs off.

Those who start out unable to speak English or French or whatever other language is spoken where they play, gradually pick it up, and eventually become fluent.

The club(s) may arrange private coaching to help with learning to use a bank account, adult education classes in language, or any other area s/he needs.

His greatest education will however come from the regular traveling that will happen.

The posh hotels, round the clock access to cable TV, PC enabled Internet, telecom gadgets he’ll use to communicate while travelling. He’ll quickly learn to use them. And that process can rapidly transform a person, such that even his/her immediate family will marvel at how much he’s changed compared to them.

They’ll suddenly find he knows so much about many things because of the wide ranging experiences.

This is the reason a street soccer player/bus conductor, who left his country to play pro soccer, could retire and return to run for ELECTION into the office of President in his country!

He did not come brandishing a university degree or other qualifications.

Instead, he offered himself based on the achievements he’d recorded as a world class pro soccer star, and the work he’d done via his NGO.

I refer here to none other than George Opong Weah, of Liberia.

It goes without saying that many well schooled persons that could have been considered more "competent" were in his country.

But Weah’s exposure, experiences, and financial success, made him believe (rightly or wrongly) that he could be president!

He had traveled widely and related at topmost levels with world leaders. And it was his soccer skills that earned him those opportunities, not formal schooling.

George knew he’d gotten valuable exposure, and he wanted to use it to help his people.

That’s what travel based education does:

It exposes people to ideas, information, and confidence-building experiences that willing persons can use to make a difference wherever they find themselves.

New Ideas That Result In Progress & Development, Are Sometimes Inspired By Exposure to Travel

Many of us do this: You visit a place and discover they do something in a way that you know can be usefully applied where you’re from.

So when you get back home, you share that idea or solution with others, and it’s adopted.

Without travelling, that idea or solution may have remained unknown to you – and your people!

But not all ideas one encounters during travel, will be "attractive" enough for adoption!

One example: The Use of Gari (Cassava Flour) in Benin Republic vs. Nigeria…

Gari is grainy flour made from Cassava.

In Nigeria we use it make a popular meal called Eba (by rapid mixing with hot water). Most homes consume Eba with vegetable stews etc.

People sometimes mix Gari with cold water and sugar, and drink for refreshment.

But here in Benin Republic, back in May 2013, I was shocked to hear undergraduates at the University in Calavi explain that only a person who runs out of money chooses to eat Eba!

To them, unless you’re short of money, you would definitely prefer to eat La Patte (a solid paste, made from Maize flour mixed with hot water) with stew.

That was when I understood why I’d been unable to find a restaurant offering Eba!

It was always “Il ya La Patte”. And I did not like it at all at the time. I do now …which shows how adaptable humans are :-)

Since then however, I’ve discovered a meal called “Agbeni”: a sticky starch paste, a bit similar to Gari in consistency, but NOT the same feel/taste.

But that’s not all that’s different about how people in these 2 neighbouring countries view the same food item…

You see, food sellers in Benin, sprinkle ample amounts of Gari on cooked rice and stew they serve buyers!

When I first saw it, I thought the individual was the one with a "problem".

But later on I many buyers actually requested it.

I must confess that THAT is one "meal" I cannot adapt to!

Gari and Rice simply do not go together…for me anyway.

I explained to my young Beninese friends that in Nigeria where I come from, anyone seen eating such a combination would be seriously laughed at.

They retorted that anyone seen eating Gari as Eba would get severely mocked in their country. Here, they regard it as a poor man’s meal, because they believe it has fewer nutrients than their Maize based meal.

Different strokes for different folks as they say.

The point to note here however is that with travel, you’ll continually encounter different experiences, which will make you more liberal in your views.

We have a proverb in Nigeria, which says:

"Only the child, who has never been to the farm of another person, thinks his father’s farm is the biggest."

This proverb basically points out the "eye-opening" advantages "travel" (i.e. moving OUT to explore areas beyond your familiar environment) can confer.

Now, to even things out, I’ll share a story that illustrates how travelling can also help us discovers similarities between "different" cultures…

An Encounter With a Meal, In Scotland, Which Reminded Me of a Nigerian Delicacy…

During 6 weeks of traveling across the UK on an International Brewing Course (organised by the UK’s Institute and Guild of Brewing in 2000), we were one afternoon treated to a buffet in a Scottish brewery somewhere in Edinburgh, if I recall correctly.

The cooks there served us "Haggis", a meal we were told was made from the internal organs (heart, lungs etc) of animals like goats and sheep.

For those of from Guinness Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries, Haggis was wonderful!

In fact, in my case, it reminded me of a delicacy prepared by my wife’s people – the Igbos – called Isi Ewu (Goat Head pepper soup).

It’s made by crushing and cooking a goat’s head with vegetable, spices and pepper, which is served in a bowl, with the eyes, tongue, ears etc.

We’d been moaning about not having enough meat in our meals.

For some of the delegates from companies in Europe and America who were vegetarians, it was not as exciting as they would have wanted.

Thankfully, they were offered alternatives they liked.

Again, the experience carried lessons for each person who was willing to take them.

I discovered, for instance, that not everyone in the UK ate mainly plant based meals.

…and that some people in the UK also eat internal parts of animals like we do in Nigeria!

Your Child Can Do Formal Schooling, AND Simultaneously Acquire Travel Based Education

Interestingly, one can actually start by traveling within one’s neighborhood, local government/county, state, or country.

So what I propose is not necessarily something you’ll have to put major funds aside for – at least not right away.

Many people live in areas they have never explored. And so when asked, do not even know what people do or how they live around them!

Yet, choosing to take long leisurely walks around, can open your eyes to new discoveries that would elude you, if you stuck to your daily routine to/from work.

If doing that can be so enriching for you, think how beneficial doing it could be for your child!

If you fear for his/her safety, go out together.

Take pictures. Make notes. Point out useful sights, and discuss what you discover.

When you have more time and money, take trips further away from home.

You could go, for instance, to the next town or city.

See if you can stay over at a friend’s, to save money.

If time is short to cover all possible areas you’d like to see on one visit, plan to do return visits.

That way you can even avoid incurring hotel or motel accommodation bills.

After all you won’t be in a hurry as if competing with anyone. It would be just you and your child, spouse or family.

While on the road keep looking and learning. There’s often a lot of useful things to see!

Sometimes you may find it wise to drop your car, and go by local transportation e.g. bus, train or subway, hired taxi etc.

That way you retain energy, and stay refreshed to make the most of the journey.

The best part is, apart from the useful education s/he will pick up. You and your child would forge a stronger emotional bond in the process!

Years later, s/he could build on what you started – and would most likely do it for his/her kids too.

The multidimensional perspective from travel experiences will enable him/her pursue success more effectively.

By the way, there’s historical proof to back up the above claim…

One example: Marcel Bic credited the travel experiences he had with his father, as having given him the creative base on which to invent his revolutionary cheap and popular Bic biro (and other products).

The lives of many other great achievers distinctly reflect a similar trend.

You Can Work With Your Child (or Family) To Develop a Plan and Implement It

I’m working on such a plan for my kids :-)

And a fortunate turn of events here in Cotonou, has helped me start earlier than I thought I would.

Have you noticed, for example, that English speaking who aspire to speak a foreign language, like French, are often drawn to anyone they discover speaks the latter?

I’ve experienced both worlds, as one who speaks French, and is from an English speaking society.

I travel to and from Anglophone/Francophone African nations, and often get approached by people (usually self-employed professionals and working class persons) who say:

“Hi. I noticed you speaking English (or French) and I ‘d like to improve my fluency by chatting with you whenever you have time.”

Usually, they would have over heard me speaking either language on phone, or with someone.

This frequent occurrence led me to produce my Quick and Dirty Guide to English and French.

I realized I could not cope with the requests, so I developed a solution that ensured I could still help people even if I did not have time.

And the solution happens to be one that earns me income at the same time, and also boosts my credibility and name recognition!

My first buyer was a Beninese medical doctor who met me in a Cotonou Cyber Café, and took my mobile number so we could “chat”.

Both of us ended up being too busy to do that, so I told him to buy my guide.

When he discovered he was to travel to an English speaking country, he got in touch, and purchased it!

One day it occurred to me that my audio recordings of 27 common greetings in English and French, on my CDROM guide, could help my kids learn French faster.

Which would better prepare them to join me here in Benin Republic as planned!

So I bought each child an MP3 player, with memory cards, and copied all the audio files to each child’s.

As stated in my Proven 5 Step Formula for Learning ANY Language in 3 Months or LESS, this strategy rapidly improved my French when I started out.

Final Words: Travel Opens People’s Eyes to Opportunities They Probably Would Not See, If They Stayed "Home"!

And that’s why I say it can be so powerfully educative!

What is considered impossible in one society is probably being done and taken for granted in another.

Just today, I sent email to a catfish farm business CEO in Nigeria’s South-South, that illustrates the above point perfectly.

The email shared details of how another catfish farm owner in the South Western city of Ibadan says he’s using lower cost balanced rations formulated, using Gari and Palm Kernel Cakes at higher inclusion levels.

According to him, he’s getting up to 15% weight increases in his table sized catfish.

If I’d not reached out to the man in Ibadan on phone, the CEO in Uyo would not know of this potentially useful idea.

Now the latter can also get across on phone to the former. Or he could even travel down to Ibadan to learn more and possibly put a similar strategy to use on his farm!

In the same way, when a child from a society where something is considered impossible, travels to one where it’s being done, s/he may realize the TRUTH that people’s achievements are shaped, primarily, by their beliefs and their environment.

If s/he remembers that important lesson AFTER returning to his/her society, it could help him/her become a useful exception in society.

S/he would consequently reject limitations accepted by others around her.

As a result impossibilities would NOT exist for him/her, and success would be inevitable!

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

To Succeed, Extract Useful Lessons from Your Travel Experiences

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You arrive in a new country at night, and check into a hotel. Then at 10a.m you meet your business associate, for a meal. You talk business, and then fly out. Get this: You have NOT really “been to” that country!

If your schedule makes doing the above necessary, I do not quarrel with that.

However, when someone says I’ve “been to” X number of countries, I always wonder if the above example describes the visits s/he’s made.

If it does, I would NOT want him/her to give ME travel tips to any of those places!

A Real Visit Will Go Beyond Interacting With An Isolated Group of Associates Based On a Tight Schedule

For instance, you want to make out quality time to see the sights and learn a little history about them.

You also would want to sample the food and drinks, try out their cultural outfits, and follow local news. Or even listen to folk tales while watching locals at work and/or play etc.

You would do the foregoing over a few hours, to a day or a week – depending on how long you’re there.

Doing the above will make you depart with a more accurate impression of that society than if you’d just breezed through!

I Call It Getting “Immersed” In Your Travel Experiences

Take it from me: Apart from yourself, exposing your child to the above kind of travel, can greatly boost his/her real world relevant intelligence, and know-how, in a way that directly leads to exceptional success in adulthood.

I say this based on my years of personal achievement, and from studying the lives of similar others.

For instance, I’m writing this article in a Cotonou Cyber Café a bit far away from Lagos, in my home country Nigeria.

By 1st April 2014, less than 10 days from now, I’ll have been here for a year, since relocating last year .

What I’ve learnt in that time, enabled me develop new strategies that’s taken my work to the next level.

If I had not travelled down here, those eye opening insights would never have come to me!

I Was Privileged to Benefit From Exposure to Travel Based Education Early In Life

And that’s even when the “travelling” was within the city I lived as a child!

In other words, I use the word “travel” in its normal, as well as a simplistic sense.

Basically, I’m saying MOVE yourself to explore the unfamiliar or unknown places, and people, around you!

At the age of 10, I began leaving home and “travelling” about 2 hours from Olodi Apapa area, to Ojo town as a first year student in Government College Ojo (where Lagos State University is today).

At that age, many of my peers walked short distances from home to their school, or their parents dropped them off at their school gates.

In my case, I got to do it all on my own EVERY weekday.

And those experiences shaped me into the fiercely independent person I am today.

The only regret I have about those early days is that I got into a bit of trouble by joining bad company. But looking back, even that “bad” experience further shaped me for later success!

For Over 3 Decades, I’ve Further Explored Benefits from Travel Opportunities of All Kinds…

This interest in travel was a major factor that influenced my decision to engage in competitive sports from the age of 12.

I’d been told it would involve travel at zero cost to me. I went on to play competitive handball, for school, state and university for about 10 years.

Plenty of interesting travelling happened in that time.

My Studies Also Afforded Me Varied Travel Experiences As Well…

I spent 5 years in a secondary school in Kwara State, in North West Nigeria. Then I did one year of Higher School Certificate (HSC) studies in Kaduna (travelling overnight by train from Lagos, between 1986 and 1987).

Then I moved to Oyo state in the South West for 5 years in the University of Ibadan. After that, I spent one year in Niger state’s remote Vatsa village in Nigeria’s middle belt area, observing my compulsory National Youth Service (NYSC).

It did not end there.

After NYSC I got a job with Guinness that eventually saw me being deployed to serve 7 years in their Ikpoba Hill based brewery in Edo State’s Benin City.

During 7 Years of Paid Employment In Guinness Benin, More Travelling Happened…

I made short visits of a day to 3 weeks to places like Port Harcourt, Owerri, Lokoja, Cameroon and Benin Republic.

Those trips were self sponsored.

On certain occasions, during my journeys, I slept overnight at motor parks in places like Lokoja, Owerri, within Nigeria.

One night, in Kumba, a border town on the outskirts of Cameroon, I slept – along with 11 other passengers – in a mini bus from 11p.m till 5a.m.

This happened in July 1999.

The driver told us it was necessary, to avoid bandits who ambushed night travellers on the road. We were headed, at the time, to Douala, from Ekok, a town sharing a border with Nigeria’s Ikom in Calabar.

I spent 6 weeks travelling across England, Scotland, and Wales, and after that, another week in Cameroon. In these latter cases, the trips were company sponsored.

In All the Cases Mentioned Above, I Actively IMMERSED Myself, to Maximize the Experiences I Had

By this I mean that I went out of my way to explore the environment, speak with the people, taste the foods, ask how to say things in the local languages, learn how to cook local meals, and of course make friends.

I did not simply sit back and look out from the window of the car or bus or train.

Instead I resolved, each time, to gain a clear idea of what the place and the people were like.

This habit proved invaluable to me when I ran into people who had been there before – or who were from there.

Within a few seconds of conversation, I often got complimented on my demonstrated familiarity.

In other words,  I learned to appreciate the diversity of people and their cultures, and to welcome it. Nothing breeds tolerance and understanding than being “immersed” in travel experiences like that.

The people you do that to also feel good about meeting you.

And that could make them welcome someone they learn is from your country even more warmly!!

Final Words: The Benefits You’ll Get Are Multi-Dimensional – Here’s One Example…

In 2001, I was discussing with delegates from other countries on the final day of a one week course on Workplace Coaching Conversations in Douala’s Hotel Akwa Palace.

A colleague from Guinness Nigeria had asked what places could be visited over the weekend and I’d offered some ideas based on my 3 week stay in 1999.

A Guinness Cameroon manager expressed surprise that I’d visited Mendong and Oballa, two places he – who lived in Cameroon – had never been to, saying “Tayo, you have really visited Cameroon!”

That day, he insisted on having me over as a guest in his home for the weekend with his family.

The course facilitator also suggested since I could speak French and had been there before,  I’d be in the best position to join the Camerooninans in implementing their run of the course!

And that’s just one of many ways travel based exposure can open doors of opportunity for you: you become more INTERESTING to others…an essential quality for success achievement!

PS: The second and concluding part of this series on Extracting Success Boosting Education from Your Travel Experiences goes live tomorrow.

In it, I explain how sports persons use educational benefits of travelling they do while engaged in sports, to succeed in their lives AFTER they retire.

And I’ll also offer tips any parent can follow to help his/her child successfully use travel based education to boost his/her chances of success in life.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News

How To Deal Effectively With Risks & Uncertainties To Ensure More Consistency In Your Farm’s Performance

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As a Performance Improvement Specialist, with a bias for Farm Research & Extension Advisory Services provision, I encourage farm CEOs to adopt what I call a BOPMS™ i.e. a Best Operating Process Management System™ for Profitable Farm Management.

When implemented correctly, a BOPMS™ can – among other benefits – enable competent handling of the many RISKS and UNCERTAINTIES that plague our socioeconomic environments in Nigeria/Africa…AND which can lead to the demise of ill-prepared businesses.

This article discusses specific pro-active steps you can take, to minimise the impact of sudden and unexpected occurrences, that frequently occur in our prevailing socio-economic environment.

Implementing them can ensure that your farm business maintains reasonable consistency in output – and profitability.

FACT: Your Farm Is Prone To Risks & Uncertainties

A farm enterprise, like any other business is prone to risks and uncertainties occasioned by changes that may occur in the socio-economic environment it operates. Price fluctuations for example occur/affect all businesses but are more difficult to manage or accommodate in farm business planning and management.

Similarly, increases in wages “approved” via government policy/announcement cannot be easily absorbed in agricultural ventures. This is because the farmer will rarely – if ever – be able to increase his/her price to match the increase in labour so as to maintain his/her profit margin.

Some Examples Of Risks & Uncertainties That Can Affect A Farm Biz

1. Production Uncertainties

Weather changes and disease outbreaks can negatively impact on a farm’s performance. The problem is that the farmer typically may not be able to directly control them. For instance a disease outbreak from another farm may eventually spread to his/her farm. If s/he has taken precautionary steps (e.g. vaccination etc) the damage can be minimised. Weather changes are less easy to plan for however.

2. Price Changes

 Sudden or unexpected changes in farm input and output prices tend to occur often in our economy. And they are particularly difficult to manage. This make farm planning more difficult to practice. Examples are wage increases, transport fare hikes, fuel price changes etc.

3. Government Actions & Policies

The farmer may not get notified early enough of a new government regulation that directly affects his/her farm business BEFORE he enters and commences a new season’s production run! Examples of such policies include guaranteed minimum prices, ban on import of certain essential inputs (e.g. feeds or feed materials) etc.

The farm owner will need to take crucial farm planning and management decisions within the framework of all these actions and policies by government – a very challenging task I dare say, especially in these parts!

4. Actions of Other People

Agriculture is practised by a growing proportion of Nigerians – even now in urban areas. Most of them however operate on small holdings – which are shared amongst a few. The challenge is that if a farmer diligently plans and manages various aspects of the farm and his/her neighbours do not, s/he would effectively be wasting his/her time.

5. Other Risks & Uncertainties

Water shortages, power failure, and other limitations especially caused by poor utilities/infrastructure as is common out here introduce another dimension of risks and uncertainties for the farm business owner to contend with.

Steps You Can Take To Deal With Risks & Uncertainties

The above listing is NOT exhaustive.

It however underscores the need for every farm business owner, to set up SYSTEMS to deal effectively with risks and uncertainties, if the farm’s performance is to be profitable and sustainable.

I offer a few ideas you can use, below…

1. Set definite objectives for your farm business

Decide what exactly you want the farm’s output to be and identify any of the above mentioned “obstacles” that could prevent attainment of that goal.

2. Draw up plans to pursue the objectives

You could for instance decide to start with a hatchery and two grow out ponds and then gradually add more ponds over time till the full capacity of 10 grow out ponds is achieved. This will allow you to gradually build your material and human resources to manage the enterprise in the face of various risks and uncertainties.

3. Implement your plans

There is no point setting objectives and drawing up plans if you do not decisively IMPLEMENT and follow them up to achieve the intended results. A farm business owner needs to make up his/her mind to follow through with whatever plan is decided upon – making needed changes/adjustments as the need arises.

4. Introduce Checks & balances

In our environment, pilfering and deaths resulting from disease outbreaks or accidents occur with some regularity if no checks and balances are put in place. That’s why you will need to entrench diligent record keeping of mortalities (deaths), wastes and losses that occur DAILY and analyse/trend those records to get a ‘feel” for what is “normal”,so that you can promptly detect unusual signs that could point to naughty practices by farm hands or even outsiders who break in.

5. Forecast likely price and output for the future 

You will find it useful to periodically do “what if” analyses to determine how price or output changes you anticipate in the future will IMPACT your farm’s performance. This activity is often enhanced when an automated forecasting software tool is available. Click here to learn how I can build a custom software to do something like this for you.

Summary

You as the farm business owner must ensure your mind is finely tuned to market trends. You need to stay alert to price changes in the market – know when they are lowest and when they are highest and use this knowledge to guide your farm planning and decision making.

For instance it makes sense to plan for your broilers to be ready for sale towards a festive occasion when people usually buy such birds in large numbers, otherwise you may find yourself left with unsold stocks which keep getting fed – very expensively!

That’s why it is said that the EDUCATED farmer is the one who knows the DIFFERENCE between January and July as it pertains to making income.

This article is an educational commercial about an aspect of the Best Operating Process Management System (BOPMS™) that SDAc’s CB Solutions can help you setup for your farm business.

In the BOPMS™, major emphasis is placed on the need to streamline operations(via best practice initiatives) in a manner that allows easy integration of PC automation to reduce time, effort and resources needed PLUS increase output and accuracy in the entire farming process,so that the business becomes MORE profitable. Click here to learn more.

NB: The original version of this article was first published online HERE on 1st June 2007 (i.e. a static html page, on Tayo’s Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas website).

Related

1. What is a BOPMS™ for Farm Improvement? A Mind-Map Based Explanation by Tayo K. Solagbade (Video and Text Transcript)

2. Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas: Order a BOPMS™!

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News

Need Help to Raise Money for Your Farm Business?

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On 2012-04-17 at 23:15:18, Obinna N., a Mechanical Engineer with a well known multinational oil company wrote me saying: “i have a plot of land and i have just raised 2 million naira to start cat fish farming please i need to succeed, i need your help in every way possible thanks”

But I Never Saw That Message UNTIL this Morning: 2 Years Later!

I was reviewing entries in my website contact form enquiries database (some call it "Data Mining"), when I noticed his words.

To this moment, it baffles me that I actually missed such an emphatic message.

And I felt particularly bad, that despite the tone of the message, I’d not been able to reply the author.

So, I placed a call to him from my mobile phone this morning, and when he picked up, we had the following conversation:

I said “Good morning. My name is Tayo Solagbade. Am I speaking with Mr. Obinna N.? “

He replied (in a guarded tone) “Yes. How can I help you?”.

“Do you remember visiting fishfarmingbusiness.com in April 2012, and then coming to my Farm Business ideas website (www.iff.spontaneousdevelopment.com) from there, to send me a message about a catfish farm you planned to start?” I asked

His tone softened as he said “Yes I do.”

I went on “Did I ever get back to you with a reply at all?”

“No, I don’t believe you did.” he answered.

At that point, I told him how I’d just noticed his message for the first time, while reviewing my website contacts database.

I then asked if he had been able to start the business as planned.

He confirmed that he had, adding that the farm had 12 ponds, but that he’d so far only been able to stock 8 of them.

In response to my subsequent query, he confirmed that he’d been raising the catfish to table size, in the 8 ponds.

For the remaining 4 ponds, he told me he was trying to raise funds towards stocking them.

He also mentioned that he had started a hatchery, but for now engaged the services of an external resource person, to do the hatching for him.

He however added that he had plans to learn to do the hatching himself  in the near future.

Speaking with him, I sensed that this gentleman was very serious minded about the venture he had started.

And that made me resolve to offer what little help I could, to help him progress towards his goals.

So I told him I knew a financial consultant who might be able to help him with raising funds that he needed.

I however emphasized that I was making no promises whatsoever, that this person would succeed in getting him the needed funding.

He said he would be interested in finding out what the person could do for him.

So I told him I’d send more details in an email later on.

I also noted that I would include other information I felt he might find useful.

About 1 hour ago, I sent him the promised e-mail message.

After doing that, it occurred to me that many other farm business owners, could find what I’d told him useful as well.

Some might even wish to gain access to the contact details of the financial consultant I sent him.

That’s what made me decide to publish excerpts from that message as part of THIS blog post.

If you’re a farm business owner, and after reading what follows below, would like me to send you the two JPEG images of the financial consultant’s business card, and flyer, just get in touch with me via tayo at tksola dot com.

NB: If you have NOT someone previously made contact with me as a farm business owner, I WILL require you to FIRST of all call me on +229-66-122-136, so I can ask you a few questions.

===Email Message Excerpt Begins===

Dear Obinna,

Re: Your Request of 2012-04-17 at 23:15:18 On My Website

Our phone discussion about one hour ago refers. It still baffles me that I never saw your web contact form request (see my email), but it was great to learn you’ve started, and are doing fairly well.

I’m also glad that I can offer some information that may prove useful towards helping you take your business to the next level. Especially regarding raising funds to stock your remaining ponds.

PART 1:

See JPEG images of Mr. Adeniyi E.’s complimentary card and flyer attached to my email.

I’ve known him since April 2007, when he convinced Mr. Temitayo F., (his boss, at the time, and MD of ….Hospital…in …Lagos) to engage my services.

Over the years, we’ve gotten quite close, especially in the process of helping him and his team, make use of my Payslip Generator software, in preparing salaries for over 100 staff of the hospital.

I got to witness the results of how he REPEATEDLY, helped the company raise funds from their hospital’s bankers (and how he used their cash flow income to successfully pay it back!), by leveraging his inside knowledge and expertise as a seasoned auditor, and financial expert.

Indeed, when he departed to start his consulting on… he left them a brand new ambulance (purchased via yet another bank facility he helped the hospital secure), as a parting gift!

In 2008, he even helped me setup an accounts system, for a manufacturing client I built a custom production management software for in Surulere.

This is what informs my confidence in referring you to him.

However, like I have told you, understand that you MUST do your own DUE DILIGENCE, and also take responsibility for the outcome of your choosing to act on the information I supply.

NB: I have NOT spoken to Mr. Adeniyi E., about you. I assume you’ll let him know I gave you his details. But if you want me to speak with him first, let me know. It would be my pleasure :-))

PART 2:

Below, I offer links to articles I’ve written, that I believe you may find useful (some are published as Guest Posts on a popular ago-business website – www.africabusinesscommunities.com):

A. To prepare your farm towards getting a loan/grant facility.

B. To pursue ways to cut your feeding costs.

C. To setup a sound farm operations data recording and report generation system to aid timely, and cost effective planning/decision making.

====Begins====

1. Five Powerful Tools for Accurately Measuring Your (Farm) Business’ Health

http://www.africabusinesscommunities.com/index.php/rss-abc-blogs/200894-5-po

2. Five Proven Ways to Boost Farm Profits without Raising Prices – By Tayo K. Solagbade

http://www.africabusinesscommunities.com/index.php/rss-abc-blogs/200661-5-proven-ways-to-boost-farm-profits-without-raising-prices

3. Reducing Catfish Feeding Costs (A Secret Weapon) – Part 1 of 2 – By Tayo K. Solagbade

http://www.africabusinesscommunities.com/index.php/rss-abc-blogs/200529-reducing-catfish-feeding-costs-a-secret-weapon-part-1-of-2

http://www.tinyurl.com/tksBPArticle3

4. Reducing Catfish Feeding Costs (A Secret Weapon) – Part 2 of 2 – By Tayo K. Solagbade

http://www.africabusinesscommunities.com/index.php/rss-abc-blogs/200576-reducing-catfish-feeding-costs-a-secret-weapon-part-2-of-2

http://www.tinyurl.com/tksBPArticle4

5. Why You Need a Best Operating Process Management System (BOPMS) for Your Farm Biz

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/pfmgr.html

http://www.tinyurl.com/tksBPArticle5

6. To Succeed, Make Working in Your (Farm) Business More Attractive to Employees

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets/to-succeed-make-working-in-your-farm-business-more-attractive-to-employees/

http://www.tinyurl.com/tksBPArticle6

7. Practical Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Home Study Video Series – Now Available!

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets/your-practical-feed-formulation-compounding-home-study-video-series-is-now-available/

http://www.tinyurl.com/tksBPArticle7

====Ends====

I wish you well in your venture, and do let me know if there is any other way I can be of service :-))

With kindest regards,

Tayo

===Email Message Excerpt Begins===

Final Words: Do You Need Funding For Your New, or Existing Farm Business?

If yes, I feel a need to point out that you’ll need to have good farm operations and financial records.

Without those, it will be near impossible for any funds source to accurately evaluate your business for eligibility. All farm operations or production data must be diligently recorded daily, for all aspects of your business.

That is what your financial adviser will refer to, in order to help you prepare a loan package.

If you’ve not been keeping accurate and regular records, you need to start now, before you seek funding support.

And that’s why the articles I listed in the above message, about the need to adopt Best Practices in your farm business, are important.

Make time out to read them.

One of them even explains Five Powerful Tools for Accurately Measuring Your (Farm) Business’ Health.

Those are Financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be used by investors, or financiers, to decide whether or not to award your farm business, the funding you seek.

Goodluck!

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

Coming Soon: Practical Livestock Feed Formulation (and Compounding) Home Study Video Series

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Update: The Home Study Video Package is now available – click HERE.
I share below, my personal story as a practical example of how you can monetize what you know in different ways, You will learn how a combination of requests from buyers, and difficulties meeting unique challenges they faced with what I had, helped me conceive an idea for a new product to fully meet their needs!

I’ve been responding to enquiries from prospective attendees of the Feed Formulation Workshop scheduled for Saturday 15th March 2014.

And I’ve also been following up with subscribers to my mailing list, who I recently sent an email invitation to, for the event.

My attention has been mainly focused on those who are past buyers and already members of my Farm Business Ideas club.

You see, it’s always best to target people who have a potentially long term interest in what you offer.

People who are serious minded about achieving their goals in the area you offer solutions.

Such people will rarely take anything you do, or say, lightly.

This is why I get between 12 to 23% open rates in the email broadcasts I send to my Farm Business Ideas mailing list.

I love Mailchimp.com: Their automated email newsletter manager helps me see exactly what’s going on with my subscribers.

As a result, I know which of my broadcast messages they respond most to, and that guides me to send more of such kinds of messages.

For instance, I have three main groups of mailing lists I write to.

But the farm owners group has been by far the most responsive. Following them is the Public Speaking Ideas newsletter subscribers group. And bringing up the rear are those who subscribed to get my SD Nuggets blog updates.

Now, I recognize there will be overlapping areas of interests.

Indeed, I’ve found that some subscribers from other groups, have also consistently shown good responses to broadcasts I’ve sent to the farmers group.

What I’ve been able to deduce over time is that such persons often aspire to start their own farm businesses in the future.

Many are actually still in paid employment, but thinking of starting on the side.

So in subscribing to my blog updates, they wanted to access my career development and self-development articles as well as the Farm Business and Entrepreneurship articles.

And This Probably Explains Why They Order my Farm Workshop Products (Even Paying N10,000.00 for DHL to send it to Them!), Instead of Coming for In Person Training

One example. Today alone, I have spoken with three different persons, two of whom are still in paid employment. The third is self-employed but quite busy.

They all expressed interest in attending the event, but the date was just not right for them.

I had however been expecting that to happen…

You see, I’d heard about the fuel scarcity crisis that had gone on for 2 weeks (but is now clearing up I’ve been told) in Nigeria.

That had made me worry about how easy attendees from outside Lagos would find it to attend.

And that group (i.e. Farm CEOs based outside Lagos) happen to make up over 90% of those on my mailing lists!

This made me decide to create a special video series to ADD to the home-study pack I sell normally.

That way, interested persons would have a viable alternative to traveling down for the event.

And it would mean savings in traveling costs, hotel costs, and energy!

When I mentioned this option, every one of them told me to let them know when the videos are ready!

No surprises there ;-))

Indeed, I wonder why I did not think of it earlier.

Based on the above, I’ve now decided that…

For those who will physically attend the event, a recording of the LIVE proceedings will be done and put on one CDROM.

And a copy will be handed to each person before s/he leaves.

Subsequently, I’ll pack that along with the video series created, and offer it as a Complete Home-Study Package on Practical Livestock Feed Formulation and Compounding.

This will make it unnecessary to organize LIVE workshops in future, except for people who request it.

I believe this is the way to go, because today, more people use a similar strategy to enable learners cost-effectively and conveniently.

Below Is a Template of the Message I Normally Send to Buyers of my Products

===Start of message template===

Hi <name of buyer>

Find attached the following:

A. A physical copy of your personalized version of the Feed Formulation Handbook

B. A CD ROM containing the following:

1. Your personalized copy of the 70 page PDF Feed Formulation Handbook

2. Your personalized copy of the Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator software which auto computes ration formulas using the Pearson Square technique described in my Feed Formulation Handbook.

3. Your personalized copy of the detailed PDF user guide for the Ration Formulator

4. Your personalized copy of my 30 page PDF annotated pictorial introduction to livestock feed formulation ingredients.

5. A copy of my PDF report titled “10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Feed Formulation”

6. Lastly, a PDF invoice covering the payment you made.

C. A printed copy of the invoice covering the payment you made and listing the items delivered to you via email, and physically.

See the email I’ve sent to you for FULL instructions and other details you need to make use of the Ration Formulator™ software.

Note that this extended version of the software stores 3 FORMULAS for easy retrieval (*Space for 7 EXTRA feed ingredients is also now provided in the table).

And it allows you to export them into a separate worksheet outside of the application. I’ve sent it FREE to every past buyer who requested it.

As a FULLY paid buyer, you will also get ALL future upgrades FREE.

Note also that your payment makes you a member of my Farm Biz Ideas club – meaning you get 40% discount on ALL my other products and services.

Read full details of what you get as a member of the club at : http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/workshop_ffhb_ideas.htm

With kindest regards

Tayo K. Solagbade, <location, date, time> (NB: I may be in Lagos or Cotonou, or elsewhere, when responding to the order)

===End of message template===

Once the Video Series Is Added, Buyers Will Be Able to Learn Practical Feed Formulation In Their Homes!

Once the complete self-study video series is ready, I will add an extra line in the above message stating that the CDROMs containing the videos are also enclosed.

Are you interested in learning the theory and practice of feed formulation at your own pace? If yes, you’ll want to pick up my home study package!

Interested persons would simply place their orders, and I’d send the package down via courier.

Just like I’m currently in the process of doing for a Farm CEO who sent in payment from Uyo.

The video series will be ready from the date of the forthcoming workshop i.e. Saturday 15th March 2014.

For details of how you can order them, click here to send me a message.

Final Words: You Can Also Monetize What You Know Like I’m Doing!

All you need to do is think creatively.

If there’s something people currently pay to learn from you…or something you know well, that people would be willing to pay for, you can write a manual and/or create a home study video series “teaching” it.

That way, people can buy those “learning resources”, instead of having to meet you physically, or online, for a LIVE session.

[NB: In this part of the world, poor connectivity, and high costs make online learning a bit unattractive for now e.g. webinars, even when free! This is why offering videos they can watch on their own PCs makes sense for me and my buyers, for instance.]

We see successful experts offering “home study” packages like those described above, but it never occurs to us that we can also offer it.

To protect yourself however, you may want to tie sales of this offer to some others.

In my case, as shown above, the video series is bundled with my handbook and software. That makes it more valuable to the prospective buyer.

And by implication, your offer becomes open to a larger number of potential buyers, including persons limited by distance, free time, money etc.

The best part is you do the work once, and reap passive income repeatedly into the future!

General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting

Asking Questions Can Stop People From Exploiting You (Lessons From My Seme Border Experience)

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I took the picture below, today at the United Bank of Africa (UBA) branch, on the Nigerian side of Seme border. I stood outside because the hall where the ATM machines stood was too hot for me. The air conditioners had broken down, and a long queue of people had built up.

I took the picture below, today at the United Bank of Africa (UBA) branch, on the Nigerian side of Seme border. (tayo-uba-seme-7thMar2014)

Since I considered myself “highly inflammable”, I felt it was safer to stay out of such a hot area, till my turn came to use the ATM :-)

A Warri based Farm CEO wants to attend my forthcoming Feed Formulation Workshop in Lagos, Nigeria. I had to cash funds he sent me (via ATM), to prepare his workshop pack of printed handbook and CDROMs containing promised PDF ebooks, my Ration Formulator™ software, video tutorials etc.

Why Did I Not Use ATMs Within Benin Republic, You Wonder?

Believe me, I’d have loved to. It would have saved me over 2 hours of to/fro commuting I had to do from Cotonou, to the Nigerian end of the border at Seme, and then back to Cotonou again!

However, since my arrival in this Francophone nation last April, I have been unable to find a single ATM machine with a Mastercard logo on it.

The bank I use (Guaranty Trust Bank) has no branch in Benin. Before travelling, I’d called their support lines,and been assured the Naira Denominated Debit Mastercard issued to me would work “with any ATM Machine in the world.”

Stupidly, I believed them.

Then one day in Cotonou, I visited a branch of UBA, and asked where I could use the ATM.

The lady asked: “Is your card Visa?”

I replied that it was Mastercard.

She then told me the machines would only recognise Visa cards!

Since then I’ve come to learn that in virtually all the Francophone African nations, the ATM machines most widely available have Visa logos on them.

Isn’t is strange that my bank’s people did NOT know that???

So I’m in the process of opening an account with another bank with branches across most countries. In the meantime, I have to visit the border, as explained above, to cash funds sent by buyers.

But that’s not why I’m writing this article.

Asking Questions Can Stop People From Taking Advantage of You!

I’m writing this piece to share a true story that you can learn from, about why it’s good to ask questions.

You see, after I’d cashed the money I needed, I headed back to the Benin Republic end of the border. As usual, I made sure to pass through the relevant passport stamping and yellow card inspection points.

But Today, I Had a Series of Truly Odd Experiences Crossing the Border!

At the Nigerian end, I entered the left side of the Immigration’s container office, and with a few seconds got my passport stamped out, and handed over the N100 payment always demanded.

Next I entered the room on the right, where another immigration officer looked up at me.

I recognised him from a previous encounter (He’d insisted the photo in my passport was of a person who looked much older than me, even though we looked alike. I’d laughed in his face, to his displeasure. Then I told him the person to blame was his colleague at the Immigration Passport office in Ikoyi who took a photo that made me look older!)

I greeted him politely: “Good morning Sir. Nice to see you again.”

He grunted “How are you?” as he inspected my passport and scribbled my details in his journal.

I replied that I was fine. Few seconds later, he was done. Then he looked up and said “N200”

“Huh?” I replied in confusion, wondering what he was asking for.

He said “Pay N200” Mr ehm (looking again at my passport now) “Tayo Kayode Solagbade”.

I knew what to do: PLAY DUMB…

So I said “I don’t understand Sir. Last time you asked me to pay, I told you I’d already paid N100 in the other office, and that normally my details are just recorded here. After I leave here I only pay N200 at the Beninese entry point where my passport is stamped in”.

He said “Last time you said that I let you leave without paying, but it’s not a right you know?”

I replied “Well I’m sorry sir, it’s just that I’ve never had anyone ask me to pay twice before. What I’m familiar with is what I just said.”

Realizing I wasn’t going to give in, he looked away and said: “Okay, forget it. Take your passport.”

“You mean I can go Sir?” I deliberately asked

“Yes, you can go. Have a nice day” he replied impatiently handing my passport to me.

I took it, and thanking him – politely again – left.

As I Walked Towards the Benin Republic Entry Point, I Felt the Worst Was Over. How Wrong I Was!

Just as I passed a post mounted next a barricade to stop cars, a guy dressed in jeans and t-shirt, called out to me. He was standing right next to a uniformed immigration officer who looked at me with disinterest as I responded.

I walked back to him and said: “Yes?”

He said “Can I see your passport?”

Feeling he was an immigration officer not dressed in uniform for some reason, I gave him the passport. He looked at it, then handed it back. Next he asked “Do you have any money on you?”

That got the alarm bells ringing in my head. But again, since we were right next to a uniformed officer I chose to play along. “Not much I replied.”

“How much CFA and Naira?” he pressed

By this time I was getting irritated and it showed on my face. “Why do you want to know?” I asked evasively.

He said: “It’s because of the bad people who carry fake money. That’s why we’re checking. Just let me see what you have on you, and if none of it is fake, you can go.”

I looked over at the uniformed man and he was paying us no attention, even though I knew he could hear us. I dipped my hands in my pockets, and showed him a few one thousand naira bills.

He said “Is that all?”

I replied that I had a few CFA coins. He nodded and said “Okay, sorry to have disturbed you.”

As I Walked Away, I Did Not Know That Yet Another Strange Experience Awaited Me!

Just as I neared the Benin passport stamping post, I heard someone call out to me.

He was not in uniform, and was dressed in jeans and t-shirt, like the guy I’d just finished with.

Now, this individual was not standing next to any post or barricade. It was just a short distance to the Beninese entry post.

“Let me see your passport” he demanded.

Without thinking, I gave it to him, wondering why this unusual set of checks were happening repeatedly.

Suddenly, just as he opened the passport, I saw a hand reach out from behind him and snatch it.

Then the person stepped out smartly dressed in a green guinea brocade. He was a slender, fit looking guy who looked to be in his thirties.

He handed my passport to me and motioned for me to follow him, as he walked briskly away.

I looked back and saw the guy I’d been with quietly step backwards behind a parked trailer.

Now I was totally confused. Before I could say anything the guinea brocade guy said

“How could you just give him your passport like that?” he asked

“I don’t understand why you people behave this way. Why didn’t you ask him for his identification first. Don’t you know those guys are just thieves? If you’d stayed long there, they would have robbed you of all the money you had on you” he finished.

I was opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water, in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

“I thought he was a non-uniformed operative” I said lamely.

“But you should have confirmed. These guys are everywhere and you people must be careful” he countered, all the while walking briskly towards the Beninese end.

I could not help feeling that once again a guardian angel had been sent to save me, in one of my rare moments of zero street smartness!

As I thought about what had just happened, my encounter with the first guy began to make sense.

His role had apparently been to check if I had money on me!

By getting me to show it to him, the others watching got confirmation of that.

As I walked away, he must have signalled the others down the road to work on me. And I guess this gentleman who’d intervened, had seen the progression of events and decided to act.

“But why are such people being allowed to carry out criminal acts right at the Nigerian end of the border, with all the government and security operatives present?

Would it not have been better to simply round them off, and keep them out, rather than let them rob people under their noses?” I asked.

I rephrased that question twice. He ignored my queries on both occasions. So I shut up, thinking to myself that such absurdities are what make corruption difficult to fight in Nigeria.

A few moments later, we arrived the Benin end.

I thanked him and promised to keep his warning in mind when next I visited the border.

Final Words: Lessons You Can Learn (and Also Teach Your Kids!)

Notice from the story that I successfully used questions, and subtle resistance, to avoid being made to pay more than I was supposed to pay.

But I was later almost fooled by crooks allowed to roam freely within an area that should have been secured against their entry!

That’s to say one should always be alert at all, times, even in a supposedly secure area!

So, Here Are Useful Lessons I Learnt From This Experience, Which I’ll Also Be Sharing With My Kids

This is especially important, in these times that kidnappers and other evil people have gotten more daring and creative in Nigeria.

1. Once a person is not in uniform, asking for his/her identification becomes necessary, before you do whatever s/he asks!

2. In addition, check and ensure that the identification provided is authentic.

3. If you’re not sure how to do that, insist on involving a uniformed officer (in the case of a child s/he should call out to another adult for help).

4. Try checking to also be sure that whoever you call is not party to the arrangement!

5. And lastly, do not let him/her (or them) take you to a corner, or remote or secluded area. Insist on staying in the open, or as close as possible to the officially designated areas with security.

It goes without saying, of course, that no one can be 100% effective at detecting efforts to con him/her.

However, keeping the above points in mind, and staying alert to tell tale signs you observe, can save you.

Lastly, keep your faith in your creator strong. And make sure to do His will at all times.

That way, even if you’re unaware of the bad intentions of those you’re relating with, your God will send a guardian angel to pull you out of there!

It’s happened to me VERY many times.

Believe, and the same will happen to you as well.

PS: By the way, the above final tip, has nothing to do with religion. It works for anyone who truly believes – and acts with faith – IN the creator. That includes even a person who practises NO religion. I’m living proof of that!

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

Invitation to Practical Livestock Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Workshop – By Tayo K. Solagbade

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This workshop reveals ALL The Secrets needed for ANYONE to become Proficient in Poultry (Even Livestock) Feed Formulation AND Compounding! Two farm business owners (from Warri, and Umuahia), have confirmed their interest. Both are past buyers of my Feed Formulation Handbook and Ration Formulator™ software.

DATE: Saturday 15th March 2014

Time: 11a.m to 5 p.m

Venue: Premises of a Feed Milling company in Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos, Nigeria.

Fee: N35,000 (Thirty Five Thousand Naira)…see item 1., under section B., below for discount option.

FLYER - Invitation to Practical Livestock Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Workshop - By Tayo K. Solagbade

A. Seven (7) Practical Benefits to Attendees

1. Manual demonstration of worked examples, practical tips, and illuminating insights into the science of feed formulation using an improved (weighted average based) version of the Pearson Square computation technique.

2. Demonstration of ration formulation using my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ software.

3. Demonstration of practical feed compounding using the ration formulated above.

4.  In-depth exposition on critical considerations in selection and use of feedstuffs – including discussion of nutrients/energy values of local feedstuffs, anti-nutritional factors etc

5. Special focus on exploration of low cost alternative feed ingredients to cut feed compounding costs

6. Discussion of nutrient requirements of different poultry and other livestock types (pigs, rabbits etc)

7. Essential features of rations for different groups of livestock and review of Sample/Pre-formulated rations used for production in real-life settings

B. Six (6) Bonuses for Attendees

1. Past buyers of at least N8,000.00 worth of my products get a 40% discount to attend.

2. A CDROM containing a full video of workshop proceedings – you’ll be able to watch and re-watch to reinforce your learning..

3. A printed and bound physical copy of the feed formulation handbook.

4. A CDROM containing the new EXE version of my Ration Formulator™.

5. SPECIAL BONUS: Free Copy of my New Monthly Poultry Farm Manager Software (a N25,000 value)

The CDROM mentioned in 4 above will also contain a fully functional copy of my monthly Poultry Farm Manager.

See full details of the new Poultry Farm Manager’s features in this PDF preview/offer document (click now).

Here’s an article in which I explained why I chose to create the above mini version of the original Poultry Farm Manager app which handles ONE year of farm data (Price = N250K) and is described in THIS Youtube video.

I want to help farm business owners visualize how an Enterprise Information System like the Poultry Farm Manager, can increase their chances of farm business success.

That’s why I’m offering this new app free to attendees who run poultry farms.

To give you further insight of how this app can help you, I’ve published a short story article on my blog about an entrepreneurial couple.

It describes how they used their EIS software, in conjunction with best practice strategies to solve challenging problems in their layer farm.

Click here to read it or go to www.tinyurl.com/FarmBizStory1.

For Further Details About the Workshop…

Email your name, mobile phone number and address to to tayo at tksola dot com

I look forward to meeting you!

Tayo K. Solagbade

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

Web: www.boostyourfarmprofits.biz

PS: Unable to make it for the workshop holding on Saturday the 15th March 2014?

If you’d like to know when next another run of the workshop will hold, get in touch using the contact information supplied above.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Short Stories, The Farm CEO

Story: After Resolving Layers Feeding Problems, Selling Increased Eggs Output Became a Headache!

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[UPDATE: 16th February 2021] Click here to download a print ready PDF version of this post, that you can read offline.

PDF-Story: After Resolving Layers Feeding Problems, Selling Increased Eggs Output Became a Headache!

A young couple tackles unexpected challenges in running their commercial layer farm. This story illustrates how Cost-Saving Best Practice ideas, tools and strategies, can be used to solve problems, and boost long term farm performance/profits.

=Story Begins=

Chike looked at the growing layers of egg crates in the farm shop. They were rapidly running out of free space to put new arrivals from the farm.

Ever since they returned to using the right quality ingredients – based on their derived ration formular – their 8,000 layers had been producing eggs at a Hen Day Percentage (HDP) of between 70 to 75% daily.

And this had translated to over 25% increase in egg collections, compared to what they were getting before.

To keep track of the farm’s Key Performance Indicators(KPIs), Chike and Shade (his wife), had always used their Poultry Farm Manager software.

In addition to other KPIs, it auto-computed the daily HDP for each of the layer pens.

Then it plotted the daily value for each layers pen into ONE line chart. This made it possible to compare the performance of the groups of birds in the different pens.

So far the plotted lines remained fairly close together, and had now stayed above 70% for over 4 weeks.

This assured Chike that the birds were all doing fairly well.

Screenshot: Layers Key Performance Indicator Line Charts – Plotting Daily HDP Percentages

Layers Key Performance Indicator Line Charts - Plotting Daily HDP Percentages

But the situation had been quite different, over 2 months earlier.

The couple had noticed a progressive downward sloping of the plotted HDP lines.

From well above 75%, the points plotted had dropped under 70% and plunged below 60% within 2 weeks!

It was an alarming change, and did not appear to be slowing down at the time.

Shade had posted data from the Farm Production Records Form filled by the farm hands, into the spreadsheet software on the Monday starting the 3rd week of the drops in HDP values.

What she saw had made her quickly call Chike on the phone

“I think we have a problem. The HDP just dropped below the 60% lower limit. These birds are not doing well at all!” she said

“But we’ve checked and confirmed there’s no sign of infection. We’ve diligently used all relevant medication in their feed.  What else can we do? “ Chike replied.

Shade said “Chike,  think it’s time we took a look again at what we’re feeding them dear. I know we asked Jero the last time and he said he was using the ration formula we gave him.

But I have a feeling we’re still missing something at that end.

Look, even when one has a good ration formula, you know compounding the ration properly is another matter entirely. How are we sure the feed being bagged for us, is actually properly compounded to deliver the benefits of our ration formula?”

Chike was quiet for a while. Jero was his friend, and he felt it would be unfair to subject him to suspicion in a way that could damage their relationship.

But he also realized that his wife was making a good point.

So he agreed.

And they paid Jero an unannounced visit at his feed mill on a day/time he’d mentioned he would be producing the next 2 tonne batch of feed for their farm.

They were shocked to discover that Jero had quietly changed the composition of feed agreed, to reduce costs, while still selling to them at the normal prices.

This was their long term supplier, with whom they had had a contract arrangement to produce bagged feed, since they started out 4 years earlier!

They also found out he’d been using weevil infested maize grains from an isolated silo, to compound rations for unsuspecting farmers.

That explained the growing presence of weevils they’d noticed in some batches of feed.

It was heart breaking for Chike especially.

He and Jero went way back.

Jero tried to explain. His operating costs had risen due to the fuel scarcity crisis. He’d had to run his diesel generator for much longer periods, and the costs had really eaten deep into his cash flow.

That was when he recalled the isolated silo of grains.

Normally he would never have considered using it, but he was running low on the good quality stock of maize.

So he decided to mix a little from the infested one with each batch of feed. Then when he got no negative feedback, he’d increased the amount added.

It was the eventual impact of poor quality ingredients on the bird’s performance that led to Chike and his wife paying him the visit.

Chike and Shade had always felt they needed to have their own feed mill.

They knew it would enable them have closer quality control on the feed manufacturing process for their birds. And they’d been pursuing funding with their bankers for that purpose.

Following their discovery of Jero’s deceit, they renewed their efforts.

Their bankers eventually agreed to finance the setup of a 2 tonne feed mill.

The feeding problems soon became a thing of the past: And then another problem reared its head!

They were not the only ones who had eggs to sell. What was more, two new farms had also commenced operations on the other side of town.

With the couple’s own dramatic increase in production, a glut of sorts had occurred.

Unfortunately, there was no festive season around the corner to look forward to.

Normally, festivities meant purchases would increase, and they could quickly sell out excess stocks of eggs.

But it was just late August. Christmas was still far away.

The couple’s farm shop store rarely got half filled. This was because the market women often came daily to buy between 5 to 50 crates (in groups).

However, these women always bargained hard. And they had no loyalties to anyone.

They kept communication links with competitor farms through friends and other sellers.

Chike knew they often compared prices offered from his shop with that of other farm owners, and used that to negotiate concessions etc.

He did not mind giving in, as bulk sales often made up for it.

However, during glut periods, the women tended to really get mean.

That had been the case since the start of this week. They had been coming around but not buying.

Instead they would claim Mr. A’s farm was offering them N10 less or even lower.

The women knew many farmers were scared of letting the eggs get spoilt from over staying in storage.

Their farm shop stores were not built for long term storage. Poor circulation of air and presence of rodents were a major concern.

And this often made farmers accept exploitative offers from the market women during glut periods.

Chike Naturally Felt Betrayed, and a Little Bitter

These women had been buying from him for the 4 years since he and his wife started their farm business.

He had often let them take products away without in full, sometimes without paying at all – so they could pay later.

Some had even come so close that he loaned them money to pay their kids school fees, and they paid back as they sold the eggs they collected on credit.

Yet, during periods like this, some would gang up and basically try to eat their cake and have it.

If one was weak, s/he would end literally giving the farm away out of fear of being stuck with excess eggs no one would buy.

As he stood thinking, the mini van – filled with another load of eggs from the farm – arrived with his wife behind the wheel.

They’d let the driver go a month before. He’d complained about the work load and demanded an increase in salary they could not afford at the time.

They were now wondering if that had been a wise decision, as it was beginning to tell on them.

The bus was filled with eggs from yesterday’s production.

And as she joined him, Shade handed him the Farm Production Records form. The handwritten entries showed the birds were not relenting in churning out more eggs as at the the second collection for the day.

It was the only time he’d ever found himself wishing the layers would NOT do so well!

“What are the women saying dear?” Shade asked

Chike replied saying: “The same thing they said yesterday. They basically want us to sell to them at cost price, or they’ll not buy as much as they normally do. They claim some other farm is offering more. I’ve asked them to consider the cost of transportation to get the eggs from that other farm. But they insist it does not matter. But you and I know it does. They just want to take advantage of the situation” he replied in resignation.”

As he said those words, Chike recalled a conversation they’d had with Bello (their Farm Business Best Practice Consultant), about their sales and marketing strategy.

Bello had pointed out that it was risky to depend too heavily on individual, low price buyers, especially as they (i.e Chike and Shade) aimed for much higher farm output.

He noted that apart from the stress of handling smaller transactions, there was also the challenge of emptying the store in a timely manner, to avoid build back to the farm.

It occurred to Chike that THAT was exactly what they were facing.

Bello had advised reaching out to businesses that made regular use of eggs and chicken meat (for disposal of old layers).

He’d recommended that Chike and Shade make special bulk offers to such businesses (e.g. hotels, restaurants, bars, catering outfits etc) – possibly with an agreement to either let them pick up the products from the farm shop, or to transport it to their premises for a fee.

The objective would be to establish a long term arrangement with as many such potential bulk buyers at possible. That way, as they found need for more buyers, they could simply call them up.

Bello had warned that succeeding with the strategy would require some persistence. But he’d also assured that it would work quite well, once in place.

Now resolved in his mind, Chike grabbed Shade by the arm, and said “You know. I think we can do better than what we’re doing now. At the level we’re operating, we cannot simply let these women hold us to ransom like this. Do you remember what Bello told us to try doing?”

“You mean reaching out to owners of hotels and restaurants to buy from us on contract basis?” asked Shade

“Yes. I think it’s what we need to do. Apart from ensuring we no longer run out of possible buyers, we’ll also be able to sell out faster, since these kinds of people would buy in bulk” said Chike.

Shade said “Hmm. I think you’re right. But it won’t be easy, as Bello said. However, given the experience we’re having in the hands of these women, I think we now know it’s better for us to explore that option. In fact, even if there was no glut situation, selling out faster in bulk appeals to me.

It means we’ll have more free time, and worry less about managing large stocks of eggs in the stock. We’ll just need to keep those we approach informed of the next availability of bulk eggs stocks for purchase.”

“Well, we better get started then.” Chike said, with a note of excitement in his voice.

“Let’s begin with the hotel near the roundabout on the way to the Governor’s office. When I was still working with Business Machines Limited, we used to hold our sales training sessions in their meetin ghalls. We might be able to strike something off with him.”

=Story Ends=

Take Away: Do Your Marketing BEFORE You’re Ready to Sell!

The above message is not necessarily jusf for poultry farmers.

If you’re a farm business owner, I doubt that I need to say much more here.

My message is this:

a. Adopt Best Practice based Continuous Improvement Systems in your farm business, to help you avoid and/or resolve potentially serious problems.

b. Do your marketing well ahead of when you will have need for buyers to take your farm products off you!

That way, you’ll make better profits, and also go through less stress.

Need help in making use of the above ideas?

Shoot me an email via tayo at tksola dot com – or use this form.

Disclaimer

The above story is a work of fiction in its entirety. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance they may bear, to actual events or locales or persons, be they living or dead, is entirely coincidental. I’m going to say that word again: COINCIDENTAL. Thank you :-))

*****Click here to download a PDF Describing the Low Cost Version of my Poultry Farm Manager****

Click here to download a PDF Describing the Low Cost Version of my Poultry Farm Manager

Screenshot: Layers Daily Operations Data Entry Table – Showing Computed Mortality Rates, Feeding Rates, Egg Collections and HDPs per cage line of birds.

Layers Daily Operations Data Entry Table - Showing Computed Mortality Rates, Feeding Rates, Egg Collections and HDPs per cage line of birds.

 

 

Screenshot: Layers Key Performance Indicator Bar Charts – Plotting Monthly Mortality Rates Alongside HDP Percentages

Layers Key Performance Indicator Bar Charts - Plotting Monthly Mortality Rates Alongside HDP Percentages

General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Public Speaking

No. 130: Speak For a Worthy Cause!

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As an expert in your chosen field there’s no doubt your aim is to prosper. Focussing on your “business” and avoiding distractions is therefore essential.

However, in this issue I explain why speaking for a cause you believe in can also help you progress, even as it can contribute to dramatic improvement in the lives of others around you!

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Click now to view the latest issue of Tayo Solagbade's Public Speaking IDEAS page

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 24th February 2014

No:130

Title: Speak For a Worthy Cause!

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

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

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

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

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No. 130: Speak For a Worthy Cause!

As an expert in your chosen field there’s no doubt your aim is to prosper. Focussing on your “business” and avoiding distractions is therefore essential.

However, in this issue I explain why speaking for a cause you believe in can also help you progress, even as it can contribute to dramatic improvement in the lives of others around you!

So, Tayo, Where’s This All Coming From?

Well, since last December, when I went home to spend the holidays with my family, I’ve been thinking a lot about my country, Nigeria.

Sadly, nothing had changed since 1st April 2013, when I left. If anything the situation was worse!

All through my 3 week stay with my wife and kids, we kept buying fuel to power the generator so we could have electricity.

I felt that during such a festive period, especially with me being around, it would be unfair for the kids to not be able to at least watch movies, and charge the MP3 players I bought them etc (It was Christmas for heaven’s sake!).

My sentiments derived from what I saw back in my Cotonou neighbourhood, where families live simple, stress-free lives (regular power supply, drinkable water, and DIRT-CHEAP food etc).

And they are far from being rich.

Many do not own cars. Most use motor bikes. But, they are COMFORTABLE, and contented. Very rarely do you hear them raise their voices to their kids, or themselves.

They don’t experience enough stress to warrant that!

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Simply put, without being rich, they live well.

In contrast, EVERY single day I spent in Nigeria really tested my patience!

I had to do my writing against the combined noises from at least 8 generators of different sizes from neighbours in my compound and next door, along with mine.

And this noise, with attendant fumes, often remained through the night – because the heat made many people leave their generators on, so they could use the fans to keep the kids cool!

Yet, many of these people own their own cars.

Compared to my neighbours in Benin Republic, you would imagine they would be living better.

The truth is they are not!

People hurling insults at, and speaking impatiently to one another, is a very common sight in my country. People are under so much pressure from a variety of sources…

There’s only so much stress the human mind can take!

Yes. This is the truth. Life is needlessly harsh in my country.

Costs of everything – especially food – keep rising because lack of power makes most people resort to SPENDING scarce money to generate their own electricity.

They then pass such extra expenses to the products and services they sell.

And it’s a vicious cycle – because every Nigerian is affected…even the rich.

Before I returned to Nigeria, after my father’s 80th birthday celebration, I watched him put on a rechargeable battery powered fan that was given to him as a gift.

He left it on and fell asleep under the cool breeze for over 4 hours!

In his duplex, my father has a powerful inverter that can supply electricity to the house for 3 days, without being recharged.

The problem is sometimes the power company does NOT supply power for over a day (sometimes many days!). And when they do supply power, they cut it off in a few hours.

So he has to buy fuel and run his generator to charge his inverter i.e. he spends DOUBLE just to have power!

[NB: To make things worse, despite not supplying power, Nigeria’s power company sends out bills often totalling crazy figures, to users monthly. Anyone who does not pay gets cut off the grid. I believe Nigeria is the only country where people are forced to pay for power NOT provided. And most PAY too. Amazing!]

Think about it. My father is 80 years old. And he lives with my mother who is in her late 60s.

Both live alone. Yet they have to worry about buying fuel worth over N1, 000 every other day, and also going through the stress of starting and stopping the generator etc.

In Cotonou, I see aging people like them, who are retired, living without stress every day!

Sadly, Nigeria’s Elite Remain Divided In Their Approach to Demanding Change

Sadly, Nigeria’s Elite Remain Divided In Their Approach to Demanding Change

Which brings me to the point I wish to make. My country is blessed with many highly intelligent and (presumably?) well educated people in their 30s, 40s and above.

Many call in on TV and Radio programmes to speak intelligently on why Nigeria continues to make citizens suffer the above indignities.

And they should know – since everyone of them has to deal with those challenges daily. The only difference is that some people have greater means (money, resources etc) than others.

So we feel the pains to different extents. But we all feel it.

The elites are often the best placed to influence government. But most feel since they can afford to generate their own power, they won’t “break a leg” over it.

Yet, the poor, who suffer the most, do not have the means to make themselves heard!

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that some elites are not trying to do something.

It’s just that many seem to have individual ulterior and selfish motives driving their actions. And this is being exploited by the government they challenge to weaken their ranks.

Final Words: The Need to Speak Up for a Worthy Cause

I personally feel the benefit of access I’ve had to places where ordinary people live better, in other countries, makes it imperative that I speak out, on what can be done.

This is not an attempt to preach at anyone. One need not get abusive either. But the truth must be told.

Below is a screenshot of an opinion I recently posted on Facebook, in which I spoke my mind about the RIGHT way to evaluate whether or NOT a country is really doing well.

Screenshot of a comment I recently posted on Facebook, in which I spoke my mind about the RIGHT way to evaluate whether or NOT, a country is really doing well.

I did not have to say the above.

But my conscience would not let me rest. And my intuition drove me to “speak up”…

When I was typing those words, I felt like I was in trance. I just kept typing on my Blackberry till the end. Then after I posted it, I felt so drained. That was when I knew I’d done the right thing!

As an expert, you can put your critical thinking skills to use for the benefit, not just of yourself, but also of society in general.

Honest others will recognize your selfless actions for what they are.

Over time, this can boost your reputation, and open doors of opportunities you never even imagined!

However, if you’re doing well, and things are going wrong , with people around you being oppressed, abused, or denied their rights and you say/do nothing, your INACTION will say a lot about who you are.

And one day, you WILL pay the price for your being that way!

Have a great week :-))

The Need to Speak Up for a Worthy Cause

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

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Tayo K. Solagbade*

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

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

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Smart Exercising Will Keep You Fit, Healthy and Alive - Click to read

Click to read article titled: 'Smart Exercising Will Keep You Fit, Healthy and Alive'...and ONE other. 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. 

 

Using MS Excel® Solver for Least Cost Feed Formulation Can Be Easy - But Also Dangerous (How to Protect Yourself) - Click to downloadDownload above PDF

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THEY WROTE…

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

—————————–

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

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

———————–
Click here to contact Tayo… 

SD Nuggets Blog™

 New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:
No. 129: Speak (& Act) From Your Heart, or You’ll Sabotage Yourself

Entrepreneurship[Tuesday]:
Feed Formulation Software Will Not Guarantee Livestock Farming Success (Here’s Why…)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:

Are ALL Nigerians Impulsive Wrong Doers?

To Succeed, Stop Waiting For a Perfect Moment or Idea

Career Development [Thursday]:
A Strategy to Overcome Adversity
Parenting [Friday]:
Why You Need to Nurture the Genius In Your Child

Writing/Blogging[Saturday]:

Automate Your Farm Record Keeping and Accounts to Succeed Profitably
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General, My DN Travel News, Parenting

Why You Need to Nurture the Genius In Your Child

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Did you know? There IS a genius in your child. This article explains what you must do to AVOID stifling it…so s/he can MANIFEST that inborn genius, which can make society a better place for all of us!

Kids Are Often Fearless and Uninhibited

As I’m yet to conclude arrangements to bring my family to join me, I often find myself thinking of my kids when I see children their age, here in Cotonou.

What always strikes me about kids is their seeming inability to understand they have limitations.

Once convinced about something they basically set out to do it, without even considering possible dangers. They are much less inhibited by fears and worries than adults are.

And that state of mind is one that I consider quite powerful, as it can be deliberately nurtured to make any child manifest the genius s/he has within.

Which brings me to an important point I always want to emphasise when discussing this subject…

Everyone Has a Genius in Him/Her – Including YOU, and YOUR Child

If that is so, how come so many people never do anything exceptional with themselves right into their old age?

The answer is that we are taught to be afraid to nurture and manifest our inborn genius. That which makes us special, different, unique or one of a kind.

Who teaches us to do such a harmful thing to ourselves?

It’s society – as represented by the adults we meet in it when we are born and being raised. The result it that we grow up almost completely disconnected from our geniuses.

Indeed, we are afraid to even look inside of ourselves to discover what we SENSE that we are truly capable of becoming.

We live everyday in almost mortal fear, of being found to think or feel differently from others whose approval we seek!

And even though many times we may feel unhappy, dissatisfied or unfulfilled living that way, we prefer to NOT do anything differently.

Again it’s the fear that controls us.

Yet, as kids, we were also mostly “fearless and without inhibitions”…like kids today are.

Think about it: Until a child has been hurt by putting his/her hand in the open flame, s/he will often pay little attention to warnings against going near fire.

We have seen this happen again and again. New born children pass through the same basic process of experiential learning.

Apparently,even though you and I have learnt to be controlled by our fears and worries, we have NO WAY of passing them to our unborn children!

That’s the only explanation for the fact that newborn kids – worldwide – arrive without them isn’t it?

Wow, that means fear, worry, insecurity and similar saboteurs, that keep us from making the most of ourselves are NOT genetic!

They cannot be transferred via our DNA to our kids!!

That’s why a spineless weakling of a man, can father a child that grows into a fearless warrior.

It goes without saying, that the example of Okonkwo the great warrior, and his father, described in Chinua Achebe’s book, was fictional.

The truth is however that many real life examples, matching the description of Okonkwo’s “weak” father abound in history.

This confirms that every human being is indeed unique. And even with limitations genetic inheritance impose, you CAN do more than your ancestors did!

The key is to explore, discover and embrace your inborn genius.

But What Exactly Will Your Genius Look Like?

In my experience, it will be anything you find that you have a passion for, and/or a deeply enduring interest in.

Something that you will never have difficulty devoting endless hours of effort and attention towards developing mastery.

The best part is just like you have it, and need to find it, so does your child.

It is, of course, possible you may not wish to exert yourself so much, or you feel it’s already too late for you (which it never is!).

In that case, I urge you to at least bear in mind, that your child’s genius is most likely fighting, right now, to show itself.

And it is quite possible that s/he is already giving you subtle signs and signals of the above.

When last did you sit down, and quietly observe any of your kids at play around the house?

What did/do you notice seems to be the child’s major preoccupation most times?

What kinds of requests does s/he typically make of you – if any?

My 10 year old Son Began Giving “Signals”, That I Began Noticing, When He Was About Eight

His passion?

Fiddling with and fixing things – especially electrical stuff.

Initially I just thought it was a passing fancy or temporary obsession.

Then we noticed he began finding and keeping tools like screw drivers, and lots of damaged electrical components, parts of mobile phones/other devices (e.g rechargeable lamps, mobile phones and chargers etc).

He soon had a box filled with them.

Each day, after school he’d sit alone fiddling with his collections.

One day, my wife complained that a plug for a device was not working. Our young genuius-in-the-making overheard her, and quickly came running saying “Wait, let me see!”

The mother handed the plug to him. In a flash he went to his box of parts and soon had the plug opened.

Then about 2 minutes or so later he returned with the plug saying “A wire was loose. I’ve fixed it back. Try now, it should work.”

And he said it with a look of supreme confidence. I was mersmerized!

Sure enough, when his mother plugged the device and pressed the switch, it worked!

Since then, I’ve done all in my power to encourage him to continue.

And that includes buying him a complete electrical toolkit as a Christmas present last December (2013).

I intend to have him attend a hands-on training session with a neighbourhood electrical specialist, who started by self-tutoring. And we’ve already decided he will attend a technical college. It’s only logical.

All of this has boosted his interest and confidence.

And he’s already using some of his tools to fix things around the house!

No one needs to push him to work on these aspects. He is naturally motivated by the passion he has.

This is why I have no doubt that he will make the most of himself this way.

I urge you to do the same for your child, so his/her genius can emerge – to the benefit of himself, the family and society at large!