Category Archives: General

Don’t Just “Tell” Kids to Do…Be an Exemplary Role Model

When the bundle of currency notes was handed to me by Professor Idowu Oladele (who’d received the payment via his Euro domiciliary account), it was the first time I was setting eyes on the "Euro" in cash . If I sound like a "bush man" by admitting the foregoing, forgive me. I’m just being myself. I do not believe in creating false impressions, trying to make myself seem to know more than I do :-)

I earn income in dollars for some of my products/services, but the cash gets to me often with the help of my sister who works in a bank out here, in Naira. I’ve of course handled both dollars and pounds in cash many times over the years.

Odd as it may sound however, I’d not seen the Euro physically, before that day.

When I got home, I sat my kids down, and made each one take a fifty Euro note and examine it closely, then tell me what currency it was. Maybe it was the Igbo blood that runs in their veins, but all of them correctly announced that it was fifty Euros. Again, forgive me if you think this is no big deal. Maybe my "bush man" attitude is what makes me think it is :-)

Any reader of my parenting articles will know I seize any opportunity to share my experiences of the world with my kids.

Even the smallest of them who turns four in a few months gets my full attention, each time I do this exercise.

It’s not some ego trip.

Far from it. Instead, I do it because I feel driven, even compelled. A strange sense of urgency to pass on as much of my real world experiences to each of my kids possesses me.

I do it so dedicatedly, that their mother has accused me of caring for no one else apart from the kids!

The truth is however that many potentially traumatizing experiences I had struggling to breakthrough in the business world my country are the cause

Those experiences taught me that very little of what I learnt in school, and even less of what I’d picked up in paid employment, would help me succeed in business in my country.

I had to unlearn and relearn so many things that I thought I knew.

And it was such a slow and painful process that exposed me to prolonged periods of humiliation, and psychological suffering. All that time I knew it was not me that was the problem. I knew it was the incomplete "educational" preparation I’d had that was limiting me.

I did not know the ways of the world. That people will often not be straight and honest. That things are rarely white and black i.e clearly defined. I was not ready for the widespread duplicity most people engage in.

In essence, I was simply NOT street smart enough to succeed in business…in NIGERIA!

But soon I learned.

I had to!

I realised no one was willing to help me effect the needed corrections or filling the gaps in my “education”.

So, I took the bull by the horns, as they say, buried my fears and doubts, and began taking the needed steps to find a solution that worked for me.

A careful analysis led me to the conclusion that doing business like the majority would go against my values and ethics. And those I will never compromise.

I therefore decided to channel my energy and efforts into using my creative intellectual skills to attract high profile buyers for my solutions. Time soon revealed most of such people would be better found using my online self-promotion platform.

So, I gradually stopped seeking clients/work offline, and focussed my efforts 99% ONLINE.

Today, all of that silent, but hard work is paying off.

My progress and success rate has really ramped up, especially after I relocated to Benin Republic.

From that time back in April 2013, my work volume and quality simply hit the roof, and I began to get quality sales leads from my online self-promotion.

One day, the opportunity to write the agribusiness research paper on using Excel-VB to develop software for Feed Formulation came.

And the payment being offered for the accepted paper was 2,500 Euros.

As with everything else, I told my kids about it. I sat them down and reminded them how people would phone me after reading my articles on agribusiness. They recalled email alerts from GT Bank for payments ranging from N1, 500 to over N25, 000 for different products and services described on my website.

Then I told them I was in the country to conduct questionnaire surveys for this paper I’d been asked to write by an International Organisation, which had given me a contract, stating it would pay me.

I explained how my co-author Professor friend had sent me the Call for papers document and asked me to write the proposal.

“If they accept the final paper I submit, they will pay us 2,500 Euros. Do you know how much that is in Naira?” I asked.

They all said no. So I got on the web, and did a check of the prevailing exchange rate at www.coinmill.com and did a quick calculation to show them how much money it would be in Naira.

When they saw the figure, the eldest one said “You mean they will pay you that for writing 4,000 words?”I said “Yes. But it’s not just anything that I’ll write. My paper must meet certain conditions they’ve specified. And of course it must offer useful new knowledge/information.”

But I knew telling them about it would not be the same as showing them the real thing if/when it materialized.

This was just too strange a way of making money for them to accept. They would have to see it to believe.

You must understand. I’ve always pushed them to think and write creatively.

I’ve challenged them to write short stories. To think up interesting new twists and angles to real life experiences they have, and then write it out as a short story.

And they’ve been trying to do it.

As you can imagine, with kids – in Africa’s Nigeria, who see little creative effort rewarded – they did not do it with much sustained enthusiasm.

So I knew that if they saw the physical monetary reward of my own writing efforts, it would provide them a more lasting motivation.

They would readily invest more effort – on their own – to develop the habit of creative thinking and writing.

That was why I called the meeting and let them see the bundle of notes.

By the time we finished our meeting, I could see that the three older children in particular, had come away with a new found enthusiasm for the ideas I proposed.

Talking with the 14 year old during our subsequent outing, I could see he was more open to doing more writing, to improve on this one he did months back.

As I’ve tried to emphasize in all of my past write-ups on a similar theme, I do not share my success stories, in order to brag.

Instead, I do it because our society is often devoid of such examples.

And that makes it hard for kids or young people to imagine it is possible, talk less of believing they can succeed in that manner.

Yet they can, if they are properly guided. We, their parents, are in the best position to do that.

As one who succeeds in this unconventional manner, with honest and integrity, I am coaching my kids to discover their own talent for doing same.

The best part is that anyone can still do it all, while holding down a well paying 9 to 5 salary job!

That means you can effectively double your income without needing to quit your day job. There is no better gift one can give a child than this.

In 2014, and beyond, I urge you to help your child develop this additional level of skill and competence. S/he will forever be grateful to you!

SMART Acronym for People Who Succeed (Incl. Infographic)

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

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

1. “S” is for “Serious Minded”

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

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

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

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

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

2. “M” is for “Motivated”

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

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

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

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

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

3. “A” is for “Action Oriented”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. “R” is for “Results Focused”

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. “T” is for “Tenacious”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They are tenacious with a vengeance.

They don’t know when they are beaten.

Nor do they accept to back down.

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

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

Final Words

Infographic - Tayo Solagbade's SMART acronym for people

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

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

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

My answer: I have no idea!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And then put what you learn to use.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guess what?

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

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

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

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

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

“(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).

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“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).

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

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

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

Uncle (Tayo),

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

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

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

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

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To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

————–

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

————–

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

When I’m not hammering away at my laptop keyboard, writing articles, reports and books…or building custom Excel-VB software, I’m likely to be found sleeping, or working to progress further towards my ultimate dream.

That dream is to own what I call a Home-Based Farm-Products-Brew-Pub.

And I’ve nursed it since 1999, when I still worked in Guinness Nigeria.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know about my Pineapple peel based drink(see photos, and a free talk offer) . Read more about it here(i.e. a presentation).

The drinks you see in the photo below, have been pasteurized using a home-based method I learnt online.

[NB: These are 2 different views of the fermented version of my drink – based on a new recipe.]

The drinks you see in this photo, have been pasteurized using a home-based method I learnt online.

You see, I believe PATIENCE is key, in developing food based products.

It’s taken me about 3 months of searching. But I’ve found what I consider the perfect bottle for my Pineapple based drink (see above photo).

Apart from enabling me deliver the kind of product volume I want, it also has a cap that allows me pasteurize the drink inside.

It was important for me to ensure I could do that, so bottles don’t go exploding in people’s faces.

That was why I patiently kept searching for a cost-effective way, that would enable me keep the product affordable for most people.

My New Product: Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…These Ones Baked Without an Oven!

I’ve never baked anything in my life. Not cake or bread. Nothing.

My New Product: Pineapple Peels Based Cakes...These Ones Baked Without an Oven!

But the idea of my brew-pub having its own unique food product, to go with the drink had tickled my fancy for months.

A few days ago, I decided to play around with cake and bread baking. I went online and did lots of reading, and watched many videos.

Then yesterday, I purchased baking materials from Tokpa market, and stayed indoors ALL day, using my beloved Pineapple peels, to bake home-made cakes (I’ll get around to bread baking later).

BUT, I did it all, without using an oven!

Yes. No oven. Don’t believe me? Just wait. I’ll be writing a special PDF report on that before the year runs out.

I know the cakes don’t look so aestetically pleasing, but you must understand that this was my very first try. And believe me when I say I improvised A LOT!

The most important point to note is that what I’ve done, shows I can operate this business even from a village, using locally available materials!

In the meantime, now that my trials with different processes have succeeded (the cakes taste delicious, and are almost 50% cheaper to make!), I intend to use proper equipment to offer the drinks and cakes for sale from my brew-pub.

Virtually 100% of the pineapple peels I use do NOT go to waste!

That’s true. They end up in the drinks and cake – implying massive cost-saving production potential!

But I don’t just put the peels into the products.

To get the right flavour and appearance, I have found certain processing steps need to be taken. And all are cost-effective.

I was in Calavi this afternoon, to drop off a drink bottle, with 2 cup cakes, for my friend Moumouni Toure.

He was not in, so I left them with his brother. And I also gave out some to my neighbours where I live.

But I made it clear that I will not be selling them for now.

Nope. Responding to individual orders at this stage would not be worth my time/effort and I would be unable to cope. Even worse, it would definitely affect my ability to do my other work.

When the pub opens, anyone who wants them can come over. For now, that’s what’s likely to work best for me.

With time, I’ll decide what flavours, packaging and operating procedure will be most profitable to adopt.

NB: One probable exception would be people willing to place bulk orders. I could possibly make out time to fulfill such.

For now, the next step is to get the laboratory analysis of the drinks – and cakes – done

This is so I can tell people – with confidence – what exactly they’re eating or drinking.

I’m an internationally certified brewer, with 7 years of experience working in a globally recognised brewing multinational.

Everything I do, no matter how small my plan for this project is, must reflect that.

Suffice to say, for now, that pineapple peels being the base ingredient, contains considerable amounts of useful nutrients.

Some are described in my report titled “10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind” (Click to download it).

In the next few weeks, I intend to secure bigger living quarters, with the front end functioning as the brew-pub, here in Benin Republic.

I should add that this will be a FULL family business.

Like I noted in yesterday’s article on my blog my kids already make a version of this drink, that they sell in their school in Lagos.

So when they join me here, they’ll fit in instantly.

That’s why I told my friend Moumouni, in an SMS today, that with improvements I’ve now made, this business is DESTINED TO MAKE MY KIDS RICH!

And when (NOT IF) that happens, I – along with my wonderful wife Nkechi – will be the PROUDEST parents in the world!!

Smart Exercising Will Keep You Fit, Healthy, and Alive

Yes, that’s the key to good health, looking young, and LIVING LONG.

Sweating enables your body expel many “bad things” that can weaken it!

I took the photo below, this a.m (Friday 22nd Nov. 2013 at 10.00a.m):

Sweating enables you body expel many "bad things" that can weaken it!!
Sweating enables you body expel many “bad things” that can weaken it!!
Above: Photo taken in 2013 – I was 43 at the time
Below: Photo taken in March 2017 – I was 46+  (will be 48 in 6 months from today i.e. July 2018)

tks-xlvb-code-ethics-flyer

I was doing my usual 20 to 30 minute walk, from my place at Barrière here in Cotonou, to a cyber cafe I frequent at the Etoile Rouge area.

As I approached Agontikon, next to the crossroad, a shop owner friend called out to me.

During our chat he kept asking “Ca va un peu?” (It’s a way of asking: “Everything okay?“) in apparent reference to (and concern about) my sweating.

I kept saying “Oui” (i.e. “Yes”) without adding any details …until it dawned on me to explain…

You see, every day (including Sundays), just before breakfast, I do seventy (70) push-ups – sometimes 100.

That’s followed by some yoga-style exercises for 10 to 15 minutes

After that, I eat and then WALK to the cyber cafe as part of a deliberate strategy to “exercise” my lower body.

When I get to my destination, I wipe myself clean of sweat using a towel I keep in my bag.

And my “exercising mission” for the day would have been accomplished!

I ended my explanation, by making the following statement to my friend:

“Si tu veux rester fort, et tu ne veux pas devenir vieux trop vite, il faut perspirer. C’est très important pour la santé!”

(Translation:If you want to stay strong, and you don’t want to grow old too quickly, you need to sweat. It’s very important for the health!“)

For effect, I added:

“J’ai 43 ans” (Translation: I’m 43 years old”).

His jaw dropped, as he looked me over repeatedly…then he exclaimed:

“Ce n’est pas vrai” (Translation: Not true!).

As I walked away, I laughingly told him:

“C’est la verité (Translation: “It’s the truth”)

And he kept staring at me in what seemed a mixture of surprise and wonder.

If he’s smart, he’ll adopt a similar simple exercise regimen

And so will you, if you do not already do it.

It will keep your body in good form to withstand the daily wear and tear, from the activities and foods you expose it to!

In case you’re wondering, this strategy makes me super-productive. And I do not exaggerate.

One Example:

Last Saturday (16th Nov. 2013), I worked 13 straight hours from 9a.m till about 10.30p.m (without getting up, NOT even to drink water), to finish my 4,000 word agri-business case study paper – for entry into an international research paper writing contest. The paper is about the use of Excel-VB driven spreadsheet automation for Feed Formulation.

That same night, I sent it to my co-author Professor friend in North West University, South Africa.

From 7.30a.m Sunday morning, we spent about 2 hours on phone agreeing modifications. Then he sent the final version to the organisers in the Netherlands via email.

So now, we wait till Tuesday, when the judges will notify us about whether or not it’s been accepted.

[UPDATE (12th Sept. 2015): Should have done this way back in Dec. 2013, when the payment happened. But it kept slipping my mind. The paper did get approved, and I did get paid for it. Read this article: PDF Agribusiness Research Paper] Adoption of PC-Based Feed Formulation Methods by Farmers, Feed Manufacturers and Extension Professionals, in South West Nigeria – Complete my Questionnaire Survey & Download FREE PDF Copy]

The point I’m making is my diligent exercising enables me near-effortlessly get work done – to meet tight deadlines – even if I have to continue for long stretches of time. And I mean physical, as well as mental work.

You see, I believe that without my disciplined dedication to fitness, I could not have gotten that paper done, in combination with other work I had to do. And that included traveling to Nigeria to administer a questionnaire survey to farm business CEOs, and then returning to Cotonou to collate the data for use in the paper!

In truth, many much younger people often find it hard to keep up with me. As do my peers and older persons.

For instance, I’ve had clients and staff go round farm premises with me, after which we returned to the “farm office/house” for our meals.

Subsequently however, they struggled to keep their eyes open, as I tried to explain how the software I built for them worked :-)

The reason this happened was that they often lacked both physical and mental stamina, aka STAYING POWER.

People who succeed usually have STAMINA. If you want to succeed, YOU WILL NEED IT!

And to have it, you must commit to diligent exercising on a regular basis.

As a writer (or expert in any other field), it will boost your productivity tremendously. And your quality of work will also improve!

By the way, nothing I’ve said here is meant to be bragging.

I simply feel it’s important that I share with you a strategy that’s worked quite well for me, over the past 20 years now.

Yes, I’ve been doing it this way for over 2 decades – with great results to show for it!

You don’t need to become some physical fitness guru or anything.

And you’re not necessarily going to be aiming to win any competition against others here. What I refer to is the adoption of a disciplined habit of daily exercising.

In a past issue of my newsletter, I wrote on this same theme. It was titled: No. 94: Use Physical Fitness to Boost Your Productivity (4 Tips).

You should read it.

One last thing…

It might interest you to know, that ever since quitting competitive handball in 1992 (when I left the university), I’ve used this strategy to maintain my fitness right through paid employment, up till today.

Many who know me will confirm this.

And that’s why I’m this confident, that it works. So do use it :-)

(FREE PDF) Using MS Excel® Solver for Least Cost Feed Formulation Can Be Easy – But Also Dangerous (How to Protect Yourself)

Everybody knows a little MS Excel. It’s so easy to use. However, I make sure to warn – from over 20 years of supporting users of Excel-apps I develop – that Excel’s “friendly“ nature is also what makes it a potentially dangerous tool.

Especially for users with inadequate knowledge and experience, or indeed absent-minded competent users: The proverbial Garbage In Garbage Out (GIGO) phenomenon!

Farm industry stakeholders unable/unwilling to purchase my automated Excel apps (which I build to help prevent  occurrence of this potentially devastating problem) often get told, by me, to try using MS Excel to achieve their goals.

To protect yourself, I suggest four (4) practical steps you can take.

Click here to request the FULL PDF report

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

Proven Strategies for Preventing Infidelity (Hint: Why do men cheat on their wives or girl friends?)

On 22nd Oct. 2013, at 4.50 p.m, Edentu Oroso wrote…are men by their nature promiscuous? …Why do men cheat on their wives or girl friends?”

See original post/thread at: www.tinyurl.com/edentufbk2

This is Issue No. 2 in the series on “My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better”.

For past issue(s), click here.

[For a society to achieve full potential, certain moral & ethical values must dominate. One such is marital fidelity. Without it, society will progress little – due to poor integrity amongst adults, and kids they raise.]

Click the image below to download the PDF.

edentu-fidelity

 

An Eye Cannot See Itself (Hint: Are men by their nature promiscuous?)

“An eye cannot see itself. That’s why it’s best to look in the mirror often!” – Tayo K. Solagbade

I always try to look in the “mirror” – literally and figuratively speaking – as often as possible.

By this I mean FREQUENTLY doing a hard and honest self-evaluation.

It helps me identify areas I need to “make a change” for the better (to paraphrase Michael Jackson, from his “Man in the mirror” lyrics).

Sometimes life’s storms (or pleasures!) cause us to forget why we are here. If you’ve discovered your Magnificent Obsession, you’ll understand what I mean. If you’re yet to do that (i.e discover your magnificent obsession), read this article for ideas you can use.

In your freelance writing – or any other vocation you’re engaged in – it’s important you stay true to your purpose, and core values. The things you hold important, and which define you.

People who succeed in life are often those who stay true to themselves.

They typically refuse to betray their consciences in order to gratify selfish desires. They never let themselves forget why they do what they do. And they always strive to put their best efforts into every endeavour they are privileged to partake in.

Simply put, they want to be (as Zig Ziglar put it) “meaningful specifics”, and to make useful impact.

Nothing, in my opinion, beats standing for something worthwhile in life.

It’s about having HONOUR!

But sadly, in today’s world, honour seems to mean increasingly little to most people. The desire for easy advancement has seduced people into forgetting that integrity is worth preserving.

That’s why we keep hearing disappointing news about people we thought were great achievers. They are getting found out for being frauds.

People we have previously celebrated for achieving legendary sporting feats are being asked to return the medals given them. They’re being stripped of titles awarded them. Not because they did something wrong elsewhere, but because it was discovered that they “cheated” to win the medals!

Some even denied for years – boldly too! – till undeniable proof finally emerged.

But Why Do People Feel a Need to Cut Corners So Much?

I’ve written about this in the past. I’m writing about it again, because the trend persists…even grows!

At work, in school, and even in personal relationships. More people seem to  find it hard to stay true to themselves. And to those that place trust in them. From bosses, to clients, friends, and spouses!

So many seem so keen to engage in naughty, soon as they think no one will find out!

And it seems not to matter that they’ve heard about another person getting caught. Indeed sometimes, like Edentu Oroso, a friend, noted, that “sweet taboo” is what really drives some into naughty acts!

In other words, they get a psychological high from being able to do it without getting caught!

What About those Who Cut Corners In Marriage?

The environment in the home, shapes behaviours and habits members develop.

Building homes is therefore key to raising people who value honour and integrity.

If a father and mother lie habitually, their kids may likely grow up seeing lying as normal.

And when it comes to infidelity, the same rule applies!

Lots of people know this. Yet it continues to happen. Sometimes to the most unlikely people too e.g. smart, intelligent, (supposedly) God-fearing!

Edentu Oroso recently started an online discussion on this. And it provoked interesting contributions. He asked “Are men by their nature promiscuous? Why do men cheat on their wives or girl friends?”

At a point, I decide to jump in and offer my opinions. As usual, I ended up writing one of my LONG epistles!

I recently decided to “archive” my ideas on issues to help resolve problems in society in PDF format. My maiden PDF (No. 1.0) was titled Generate Ideas to Solve YOUR Country’s Problems (Hint: Time for a female president in Nigeria?).

The thoughts I expressed on how to prevent marital infidelity, will soon be in PDF format. Once it’s ready, I’ll link to it HERE, and also send to my mailing list.

The Right Mental Attitude Can Help Spouses Stay Faithful!

In the PDF, I advocate a mental attitude for adoption. 14 years of successfully using it (despite storms!) in MY marriage, convince me spouses who do so will effortlessly remain faithful to one another.

Psychologically healthier home environments will result. And they will turn out their kids as “better” human beings into society!

Final Words: Look In the Mirror, and Change Your Ways Where Necessary!

Form the habit of looking in the “mirror” of your life DAILY.

Whenever you do, carefully ask yourself what you see.

A cheating husband or wife? A phony friend, or dishonest business partner?  An exploitative client?

Or do you see an uncommitted freelance writing service provider…who rarely meets agreed deadlines?!

If what you see in the “mirror” is GOOD, then keep doing what you’re doing.

But if it’s not, then – as Michael Jackson sang…MAKE THAT CHANGE…today!

Generate Ideas to Solve YOUR Country’s Problems (Hint: Time for a female president in Nigeria?)

Quick Take-Away: Come up with practical, ready-to-use ideas to help make YOUR country better. I practice what I preach – so this post announces the maiden issue of a PDF series I’ve decided to periodically publish, regarding making MY country of origin better.

I am passionate about influencing positive change in Nigeria.

And I have lots of practical ideas I believe can help transform her. That’s why I often write what some have called “epistles” in most online discussions.

But I recently realized that adding such voluminous content (sometimes 2000 words long!) to another person’s thread can be impolite.

Plus, Facebook makes it difficult to track, archive and retrieve ideas people post, for future reference. Much of it is buried under latest “status” updates!

And I even worry:

“What if Facebook shuts down, or loses all its data?

The above made me decide to put most of my serious musings in PDF form.

This way I can now simply post much shorter comments, and invite interested persons to simply click on a direct download link to read more of my thoughts in a more detailed PDF version if they wish.

I’m starting this maiden issue with the post made by my friend Abel Segun Folaranmi on Facebook on 22nd October 2013, at 4.50 p.m.

He wrote: “Time to have a female president and vice-president in Nigeria.”

Click here to download and read the full PDF…

I’m starting this maiden issue with the post made by my friend Abel Segun Folaranmi on Facebook on 22nd October 2013, at 4.50 p.m.  He wrote: “Time to have a female president and vice-president in Nigeria.”

NB: I’ve created a new category on this blog called “My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better”.

Under it, will appear my detailed musings, on various themes I discuss with others, in PDF form, with direct download links.

Information published in this new category will always be linked to the parenting articles category on this blog.

This is because virtually all the ideas I have, require Nigerian adults to “better parent” their kids, so as to BUILD up a new generation, based on the new ideas being advocated.

If you’re a Nigerian, I hope you find this series useful.

If you’re not, I suggest you challenge yourself, to become more ACTIVE in coming up with useful solutions to move YOUR country forward.

It’s never really wise to leave it all to the guys in government.

Even when they’re willing to do all the right things, they can often do with a little helping hand.

In each of our own indivudual and group corners we can act as CATALYSTS, to bring about positive change, faster and more effectively!

What Video Interviews Don’t Reveal About What It Takes to Succeed

I have a deep passion for analyzing success stories, and extracting useful learning points from them. My most recent obsession has been ESPN’s video about how a guy, born without arms, rose to world class success as a vehicle engineer.

The video however lasts only 7 – short – minutes.

But It Actually Took That Guy 22 LONG Years to “Make It” That Far

That’s how long Richie Parker, and his wonderful parents, worked hard to get where they are today.

And I dare say that those must have been very lonely years too.

T-w-e-n-t-y T-w-o LONG years.

The video makers could naturally not capture full details of what really transpired during those 2 decades.

Yet, for those who wants to know how the Parkers really did it…THAT LONG PERIOD IS what we need to examine!

See screenshot below – which I took from the video.

Sreenshot which I took from the ESPN video about Richie Parker. My kid would have used her hands to caress the dog. Richie, as a little child, had to settle for using his legs!

Above: My kid would have used her hands to caress the dog. Richie, as a little child, had to settle for using his legs!

The video does not say it. But this guy had to contend –right from the day he was born – with the reality of what should have been a crippling disability.

Most people don’t want to endure LONG – and sometimes LONELY – periods of hard work to succeed.

Oh…they love to hear stories of those who did it, and will heartily applaud, even idolize them. But they’d rather NOT have to go the same route to their success!

Which is why quick and easy “formulas” for success sell so well in our world!

Unfortunately, success that is had “quickly and easily”, often departs just as “quickly and easily” :-)

Richie’s kind is however an excellent example of authentic success – the one that lasts, and is reproducible.

But whoever wants it, MUST be willing to pay the price of working hard, and long…most times at least.

Other Victories Richie Has Won DAILY (for Decades), Which the Video Did Not Show Us

It’s possible most people have NOT considered it. But there are other realities Richie has successfully dealt with for 30 long years.

Get this: The ESPN video does NOT tell us, how Richie Parker ALSO successfully does these UN-AVOIDABLE tasks – daily – without arms…

1. Brushing his teeth…applying toothpaste takes two hands for most of us…how does he do his?

2. Taking his bath…how does he turn the tap or shower on…and off?

3. Putting on his shirts, trousers, shoes etc…every day…?

4. Unbuttoning or taking off his trousers to use the toilet…?

I could go on, but so can you. Just think how he does ALL the stuff YOU do without even thinking about it.

For him, it must take him great effort to do each of those things.

And yet, he still does them (otherwise he would not be where he is today).

And in addition to doing them, he does his work just as well as others who HAVE arms, in a field as demanding as vehicle engineering.

Watch the Video and Listen to Richie speak. He is so self-assured!

Watch the Video and Listen to Richie speak. He is so self-assured! He learnt (with the help of his parents) to believe he could do anything he wanted to do.

Listening to Richie Parker, one is left in no doubt that he is supremely aware of his capabilities.

Yet, I’ve lost count of many able bodied persons I’ve ment who are insecure about themselves!

Why is this so?

It’s partly – often mostly – the result of how they were brought up by their parents.

What Mr. and Mrs. Parker did for Richie is what all parents should do for their kids from DAY 1 – to paraphrase Richie.

Make your kids develop and independent and confident mindset.

Let them know they can go through life not .looking to continually lean on, or need others to do stuff for them!

But We Must Not Fail to Give Rex Stump Credit for Making Richie’s Success Story Happen

You see Rex was smart enough to LOOK BEYOND Richie’s (seeming) disability, to see the potential he had, to ADD VALUE to Hendrick.

That’s the way a competent decision maker acts. S/he will always take decisions in the best interests of the organisation, and those he manages!

No room for bias or discrimination here.

Richie’s parents are, to me, the greatest heroes ever!

They coached him to believe in himself and achieve. And they painstakingly documented EVERY way he overcame his disabilities to do just that.

I happen to LIVE for my kids – and I mean that literally.

And when I see other people’s kids, I FEEL towards them, what I feel for mine: a strong desire to help them BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE…and to refuse to live below one’s full potential.

And Richie’s life, to me, presents us all a massive challenge to DO MORE With Our God-given Potential!

And I’ve chosen to respond to that challenge, by LEARNING from his story, and telling others to do the same.

For myself, my kids, and any others who may be interested, I’ve created a FREE, Printable Power Point Slideshow(see cover below).

I created this PowerPoint slideshow (and published it on slideshare.net), to give people with poor (or zero!) connectivity, an alternative means of “learning” about Richie Parker.

In particular, I have considered many in my part of the world, whose circumstances probably make it impossible, or difficult to use the web.

They may never see the video unless someone takes an offline version to them. I plan to do what I can with the offline version I’ve recorded.

But I believe printing out, and sharing this Power Point version I’ve created, will go an even longer way.

Even those of us who’ve watched the video will find it useful to read through the transcript version.

I published it on Slideshare.net since last Saturday 19th Octover 2013 – click here to view it.

The download link appears in this blog post (click here).

Download, print out, and share it FREELY with people OFF the web, who may probably never “encounter” this story otherwise!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO “HEAR” THIS STORY, and BE INSPIRED!!!!

My Pineapple Peel-Based Drinks Production Project UPDATE: Pilot Scale Shelf-Life, and Variable Cost-Reduction “Trials”

This is an update on progress with my Pineapple Peels based drinks production project. I’ll also be posting an update on my Quick and Dirty Guide to English/French soon.

[NB: That next post will include details of how I’ve now partnered with a 2-man Beninois team of language experts to produce chapters 2 to 10 of my guide. These guys run an English language for French speakers “practice” club supported by the high commissioner for a small but respected African country. EXCITING stuff I tell you!]

As for my Pineapple peel based drinks, I’m now done with initial shelf-life trials.

Plus, in the process of exploring ways to cut down production costs, (to offer a range of “flavours” that appeal to different “pockets”), I’ve had a breakthrough of sorts.

You see, normally I have to “cook” (for 15 to 30 minutes) the pineapple peel mixture to get the finished drink I’ve been carrying around (i.e. non-fermented).

For the fermented version, I would post-boil have to wait 48 to 72 hours to let it ferment out, before that version would be ready.

In both cases, I then have to use “home-made drinks” production techniques to “pasteurize” it in “glass bottles”. All of these have cost implications – as plastic bottles simply lose shape when exposed to 60 degrees Celsius of heat.

By implication, what I’ve been carrying around have been partially pasteurized drinks in the real sense.

What I need to offer are versions that people can choose to take away and store for a month or more, without fear of spoilage.

Of course the version to be offered in my brew-pub will be drunk right away on the serving tables.

But people are bound to want to take some away. And I don’t want to be guilty of giving people bottled products that explode in their hands or homes – due to gas from “hidden fermentation”…LOL.

That’s why I’ve been careful to explore ways to kill off residual microbial activity.

The thing is standard procedures are expensive. I’m therefore looking to leverage more nature friendly methods.

You don’t hurry when it comes to food and drinks production i.e. things people will consume.

One mistake with your product, and your reputation may never be reparable. I know this from my training – and experience – in Guinness. And from courses I took for the UK’s Institute and Guild of Brewing (IGB) exams.

Well, in the course of “experimenting”, I actually found a way to get the fermented version ready-to-drink WITHOUT needing to “cook” the starting mixture.

That means I effectively get to cut out the costs of “heating” – which can add up over time, as you know.

To be fair, this option was always there, but I just never felt it was safe enough.

The new technique also allows fermentation to end naturally – killing the yeasts. Again, this implies major savings.

But I’m STILL keen to add an extra layer of “safety”, by adding an antibacterial agent, preferably a natural one, as against chemical kinds which are more common.

Currently reviewing options there…

As for sales, I’ve settled on starting with a home-based brew-pub (brewery-pub).

I actually intended to have a turn-key micro-brewery with 5hl capacity setup. My checks online with guys who install such “mobile” breweries show (not surprisingly), that it’s not cheap to do.

But I’m going to do it.

I have a strategy to start small, and then use my success to “sell” the idea to “partners” to finance the scale up.

That’s why I’ve been shopping for a bigger place to move into, where I can get a local artisan to construct the vessels and other materials I need.

I already have my process flow diagram, and I know exactly how to make the place run with minimal manpower. Since it will basically be in my backyard, and linked to a “pub” type of bar in front (where people will eat snacks with the drink), I’m sure it will work.

I’ve also found a way to link all of that with my work on developing solutions for farmers.

There’ll be more on that soon.

One thing is certain. Before the end of this year, I WILL have six pack versions of my fermented pineapple peel based drinks available for on-demand purchase.

For starters, here in Benin Republic. And there WILL be a “pub” where people can come to eat snacks with the non-fermented, and fermented versions.

And get this: My Quick and Dirty Guide autorun CD/DVD based learning events will hold at the pub – on set dates.

People will be able to participate in “practical speaking” sessions, and also compete to win copies of the complete 10 chapter audio-visual and Excel-VB based version.

 

So, watch this space for pictures and full details.

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