Category Archives: My DN Travel News

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

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

January 7, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let me know if I can help you further.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————————–

> kaffo2@xyz.com wrote:

>> name = SEGUN KAFFO

>> interest = Feasibility Study

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

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

——————————–

Below is the response I sent to him…

—– Original Message —–

From: “Tayo K. Solagbade”

To: “segun kaffo”

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

Hi,

Your request will require a meeting with me.

Past experience (right into 31st Dec 07) has made me decide to require ANYONE who wishes to meet with me pay N2,500 for that to happen. This amount will be 100% deduducted from the actual fees I eventually charge to carry out a project for him/her.

If however it turns out that after meeting with me s/he decides for any reason not to take it further, only 50% of that amount will be refunded. My apologies for this seeming self-defeating approach, but I have had too much of my time wasted by many people who were merely “curious”.

If/when you are ready, please call me on 0803-302-1263 for further details.

I encourage you to browse through every page on my IFF website (http://www.iff.spontaneousdevelopment.com/) to learn more about what I offer. Call me to clarify any areas.

Regards

Tayo Solagbade

He would go on to call me on my mobile

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

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

===Email Startss===

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

From: “segun kaffo”

To: “Tayo Solagbade”

Priority: Normal

Hi Tayo,

It was a pleasure having a prelimary discussion with you. I am contemplating a poultry project of about 7000 birds in 4 cycles. That is about 28000 for the first year. In the second year, I expect an expansion to about 15000 to 20000 birds per cycle or 80000 per year. It will be a broiler operation.

I plan to site the poultry in the vicinity of Epe. My starting point is to determine the viability of the project. This is where you come in. I need a feasibilty study which will assist me in determining whether to proceed.

This should cover the total capital cost, operating cost, land area required, feed cost/conversion, acquisition of day old, equipment etc.

Before you proceed, I would need to have an idea of what your charges would be – just a ball park figure is sufficient. If the amount is reasonable then I would comission you to proceed. This way I do not waste your valuable time. I propose to pay 25% of your fees to start.

When you are about halfway complete, I will pay another 25% and the balance on completion and receipt
of the study. I hope you will consider this as fair to both of us. Some element of trust is inevitable and I am willing to set the pace with the mobilization payment.

You should be able to e-mail me the work as you proceed. I will pay you by Western Union. Please let me know if you find the above arrangement suitable.

Regards, Segun

===Email Ends===

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

===Email Starts===

Subject: Re: Feasibility Study

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

To: “segun kaffo” <kaffo2@xyz

Priority: Normal

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

Hi Segun,

Your original submission via my website form refers below:

——————————————
>

comments = i am interested in comissioning a feasibilty study/business
> plan for a start up poultry farm and feed mill.

——————————————

I noticed you left out the “feed mill” in the project details you sent
in(see excerpt above from your original web form submission). Was that an
oversight or did you decide to leave it out deliberately? I ask because
inclusion of the “feed mill” has implications for “costing” of the study
preparation.

Ball park figure to prepare the study is N200k. If you choose to include
the “feed mill” then it will be N250k.

As for payment terms, 50% advance and 50% on completion is preferable.You can be sure of getting regular updates thru a restricted (login) access page that I will update with FULL details of progress.

The finished report will come with an automated Excel-VB driven
spreadsheet application that allows you as the “owner” to do what-if
analyses to mimick possible changes that could affect the farm biz plan
costings. For instance if a change in major feed ingredient prices occurs,
projected costs for feed compounding would be affected.

The spreadsheet software containing your original startup data/projection
could be updated in relevant places with the new prices to automatically
generate revised estimates that guide decision making.

This is a critical element in farm planning and management especially for
poultry entreprises that are so capital intensive and RISK-prone even as
they are potentially highly profitable.

I prefer (as I believe most biz owners should) to see the feasibility
study &/or biz plan as a business management tool that can be adjusted as
the project is implemented over time to reflect changes/realities of the
day. Making it “dynamic” is a good way to make effective use of it to
achieve the biz goals one desires.

Hope this helps.

Regards, tayo

===Email Ends===

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 6, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

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

My achievements on the web disprove that myth.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE

Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 6th January 2014

No:123

Title: Boost Your Marketing Success by Using the Web Differently

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

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

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

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

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

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

Click here to view the download page:

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

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

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

**********

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

My achievements on the web disprove that myth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You should also see my Blackberry Pearl 9035.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

———–START of chat————-

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

8:19pmMe: Hi

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

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

8:21pmMe: Yes? No?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8:35pm<NameRemoved>: really?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks.

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

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

———–END of chat/FBK messages————-

Final Words: Change Your Thinking About Using the Web

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

That is the first step towards achieving web marketing success.

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

Good luck!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

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

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

1. Top Shelf [Click here]

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Publications

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

Download Chapter 1 Preview as PDF

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

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THEY WROTE…

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

—————————–

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

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

———————–

Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 122: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	A Quick Guide to 100% Pure & Natural Shea Butter – by Femi Solagbade
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	NEW YEAR Day: Meet the Best Agricultural Radio Program for 2013: Alhaji Luqman Ibidunni’s Global A.I.M.S
Career Development [Thursday]:	Can You Be Trusted to Keep Private Information “Private”?
Parenting [Friday]:	Teach Kids With True Stories and Demonstrations
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	Cost Details of My Poultry Layer Farm Management Software (Attention: Farm Business Owners/CEOs!)
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

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

January 4, 2014 Tayo Solagbade 3 Comments

Dear Farm Business Owner,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, there would be no accompanying charts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Steps I Recommend You Take:

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

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

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

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

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

2. Attached is a workbook containing 3 worksheets:

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

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

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

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

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

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

With kindest regards,

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

Performance Enhancement Specialist & Location Independent Multipreneur

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

My DN Travel News, Parenting

Teach Kids With True Stories and Demonstrations

January 3, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Most kids love people who teach them new things they can put to immediate productive use. If they discover you’re like that, they can even pass up meal times, to pick up some new knowledge or skill from you!

How do I know this?

It’s because I’ve worked with other people’s kids (especially those from six years old and above), and successfully influenced them in that manner, very many times.

I’m Not Referring to Formal Academics Here…

Just like everything else in life, it is important to strike an intelligent balance in providing learning. Academics are just one of a number of learning dimensions to function successfully in society.

However, sometimes parents tend to be busy with their own work. Some feel they cannot afford to take time off to provide other kinds of learning i.e. the non-academic kind. Others feel it is not necessary.

Some believe the child will learn on his/her own whatever is needed in that regard.
My experiences confirm that’s not good enough. No parent should leave his/her child exposed in that manner, to avoidable anxiety, confusion and even potentially traumatizing suffering.

Some Examples of Non-Academic Things Your Child May Need to Learn:

Does your teenager know where the market or shopping mall you do your buy is? Can s/he take over your tasks in the event of an emergency? Does s/he know anything about handling members of the opposite sex? What about how to make common dishes you feed him/her? Can s/he in fact find his/her way around the kitchen?

These are things we often forget our kids will have to do as adults.

Does it not make sense that they learn early how, and get a lot of practise before that time comes?

Based on my painful personal experiences growing up, I say YES!

Coaching Your Child to Learn Such Things Can Be Easier Than You Think

It does not matter the number of sex education books your child reads. The stories YOU can share with him/her will often turn out to be more instructive than all s/he reads in books!

It always amazes me how many street-smart parents fail to pass on their street savvy to their offspring. Instead they pet and pamper them till they become incapable of independent thought or action.

The above situation can doom even an academically talented child to failure in life as an adult.

Apart from telling then stories, demonstrating how to do something kids want to learn about (e.g. making cakes and biscuits…see below) is also an effective strategy. I know because I use is successfully on a regular basis.

The Problem Is: Many Parents Are Not Connecting Enough with Their Kids

That’s often why such parents fail to function as coach-parents.

It’s not about how much time you spend with them. It’s the quality of time that matters.

When they do wrong, give firm corrective feedback, but always have something ready to cushion the impact of what you say to the child.

Usually, it is best to use an activity or subject that’s likely to be interesting or exciting to them.

My kids know what folder to go on my laptop to watch the new You tube demonstration videos I tell them I’ve found. They are often on subjects or themes I’ve identified will be useful for them.

Once they’re done watching, you can be sure they’ll be trying out what they learnt!

The two videos below are recent examples:

After watching the video, two of the boys sat down and immediately put what they learnt to use.

Suddenly, I began seeing small “beer can stoves” all over the house.

Then since I’d brought home the charcoal stove I used to make my pineapple peel cakes, they soon pressure me to show them how to bake cakes using it.

It is noteworthy that getting a charcoal stove started takes a lot of work.

When they first started, the kids bitterly complained that I did not let them add kerosene, to quicken the burning. I told them the ideas of using charcoal bricks was to save money, and that using kerosene would be an avoidable added expense.

So they had to burn paper, nylons, and then fan the embers vigorously for up to 5 minutes continuously. But they kept at it, because they wanted to make the cakes!

See how what they wanted, motivated them to endure, and get used to what they initially disliked?

We made the first batch of cakes on the morning of 31st December 2013. By midnight of that day, the 3 boys were still up working as a team to finish baking the cakes they’d prepared.

The next morning (New Year’s day), I pointed out that the cakes were not fully “cooked”. So they made the charcoal fire again, and put the cakes back on.

You see after their first success “making the fire”, doing it again was no problem!

And that was a major psychological victory for them. Such lessons are NOT learnt in academic class!

Later that day, they proudly showed off the finished cakes (those they’d not gobbled up that is!) to their grandmother. Interestingly, they even discovered how to make biscuits, quite by accident. So this project yielded and extra unplanned benefit

Career Development, My DN Travel News, Self-Development

Can You Be Trusted to Keep Private Information “Private”?

January 2, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Let me be clear about this up front.

What I advocate in this article is not meant to endorse covering up dirty deeds or secrets. In other words, bad things you may know or discover about another person that s/he may wish to keep away from public knowledge.

For instance, a person who habitually shop-lifts, traffics drugs, sexually abuses children, diverts company or public funds for his/her private use etc.

Nothing like that is worth keeping shut about!

So, let’s keep it real here.

You may wish to try getting the person to stop at first.

And so you could refrain from telling anyone, and instead challenge him/her to stop, or own up etc. However, if nothing changes, you will have a duty and obligation to inform relevant persons about it. Possibly starting with his/her (other) loved ones.

Keeping quiet about another person’s dirty secrets, that have a negative impact on the lives of innocent others will make you just as guilty as that person, of those bad things s/he does.

Instead, This is About Respecting the Privacy of Others

When a parcel or envelope, email or letter is marked “Private and Confidential”, any competent user of the English Language knows that means the contents are not meant to be seen or read by just anyone. They will often primarily be for ONLY the addressee.

Now, if someone calls you to have a discussion in private about his/her affairs or plans, and tell you to “please keep this to yourself”, that means he’s being clear that he does not want anyone outside of yourself.

You do not have to be a lawyer to understand that!

Even if s/he does not say “keep it to yourself” (s/he may not even know that you have access to such information!), you should know that THAT would be the right thing to do.

For instance if the person is younger or less experienced that you are, YOU should offer him/her counsel along those lines.

You could say:

“Look, this kind of stuff is not what you’d want to let just anyone know about you. So I advice you limit those you tell based on a need-to-know basis, at least for now.”

That’s what a person worth confiding in should do. That’s what a person who respects the privacy of others does!

One Example: Let’s Say You Work in HR, and So Have Access to Personal Records of Employees.

As a result you know Mr. XYZ who is the new Sales Manager once lost his job, and remained out of work for over 5 years before reviving his career.

And during that period, he had marital problems due to an excessive drinking habit he acquired. This eventually led to a separation from his wife. But he managed to pull his life and career back on track when he got a new job.

Within a few years he recorded exceptional success as a sales representative, and was put in charge of training sales team members. Even more success followed.

And it was on the strength of that success, that he’d gotten the Sales Manager job with your company.

So, unlike most others who regard Mr. XYZ based on his track record of success, a person with access to his personal file may feel s/he knows something “not-so-cool” about him, that others don’t.

But that information would be private, and often confidential. Telling others would be wrong – and sometimes even illegal.

Yet some people use their privileged access to other people, to channel what are often the unflattering details of their private lives/affairs to the attention of the public.

Most people do it for the ego boost it gives them.

They feel it makes them look and sound important, since what the reveal will often be shocking and surprising, and not known by those they tell.

It gives them bragging rights!

But when the benefit you seek to extract has to come at the expense of the well being of another person’s reputation, you harm yourself for the long term.

Even if they do not immediately find out who did it, they are likely to eventually learn it was you through one of those you tell. And that will colour their opinion of your sense of judgment forever.

And your career could just suffer for it – because even your peers and subordinates can contribute to feedback that your company can use, to decide whether or not to promote you.

If a position you’re in line for requires the holder to have the ability to keep confidential information, those who know of your past indiscretions may argue that you’re not competent to hold that post.

And they may go as far as writing a petition to the CEO.

My advice: No matter what you think you know about other people’s personal and private lives, be careful what you say, and how. Indeed keep your mouth shut about it if at all possible! Except an official request is made that you talk about it, you really should not!

Final Words

Outside paid employment this problem also occurs.

Some people go around yapping indiscreetly about what they think they know about others.I personally detest those I discover to be this way.

That’s not just because I feel they’ll talk about me.

It goes beyond that. You see I actually do not care for other people’s “secrets” they feel they’re “gifting” me with! They make me feel compromised – like some kind of partner in their crime of snooping in other people’s lives. That’s something I would never do!

Any good and honest associates such a person has will end up concluding they cannot afford to confide in him/her!

It is for the above reason that I end up EXCLUDING people who continually do the above, from my “inner circle of associates”.

My experience based opinion is that if one does not take such drastic action, they’ll eventually bring one down.

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

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

January 1, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Happy New Year to you!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking

No. 122: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus

December 30, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Modiu confidently assured me he could do it. He said “Just let me have each child’s age. That’s all I need to sew the outfits for them”.And he was going to sew six full outfits in about 4 days (with piles of other people’s fabrics awaiting his attention)! I still struggled to believe it.

Modiu is my Tailor Friend in Cotonou…

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Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 30th December 2013

No:122

Title: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus

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. 122: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus

Modiu is my Tailor Friend in Cotonou…

This happened last week. It was the first job I was giving him. Being the doubting Thomas that I was, I went the extra mile to get my laptop and deliberately show him pictures of ALL the kids in a group photograph, noting which child was what age.

He smiled indulgently at me and said “Don’t worry. I do this all the time. I have a chart here with standard measurements I’ve worked for different ages and sexes. I’m sure I’ll get it right.“

Then he added: “You see Tayo, this is what I do!“

And when he said it, he looked me directly in the eyes. Little wonder that I counted the full fee and gave to him 100% in advance!

But apart from his convincing manner, I also wanted to be sure thoughts of getting his balance did not distract him from giving his very possible best.

Time was short. It was a Tuesday. I had to arrive Lagos Saturday.

As the week progressed, I went around town doing my last minute buying and then retired to the cafe to work into the night. On my way home each night, I’d see Modiu’s lights on, and him bent over working. He had loads of client’s fabrics at different stages of progress. I kept wondering how he’d get around to my “pile”.

Each morning, by 9a.m at the latest, this young, hardworking tailor and his assistant would have arrived. They knew they had lots of work to do.

And they also knew when to say NO, to new work, if/when necessary.

Indeed his assistant told me that Modiu had been turning away new jobs at the start of the week, saying he’d taken on enough and wanted to have some free time into the New Year!

“Now this is a guy who knows his business.” I told myself.

He’d planned his work so he could actually say NO to “excess” clients, to avoid failing to meet agreed deadlines or standards!

All of what I saw made me feel more convinced that I’d made the right decision to have him sew the special year end outfits for my people.

I recall stopping over the second morning at his shop to say “You never asked me for any details about their mother!”

He calmly replied that he would have called me later on, since the first thing he had to do that day was to go and get the fabrics from the market.

“But since you’re here already, please come with me.” he said.

Gently pulling me by the arm, he took me just outside his shop, and pointed to a woman seated on a commercial motor bike, waiting for the rider to move.

“Is she anything in stature like that lady over there?” he pointed at the woman. I looked and found, to my surprise, that my wife actually had a similar build to her!

I said “Yes, I must admit, she would wear just about the same size of clothes as that lady you’re pointing at. How did you know?”

A Sure Sign of Mastery…

I could not help myself. I had to ask.

Modiu smiled knowingly when he heard my question, and said “Ise mi ni” (That’s Yoruba for “It’s what I do”). “I know how to get what I need to do my work properly” he added.

[NB: Modiu speaks French and Yoruba languages fluently. We tend to speak the latter more often. ]

To me (I don’t know about you), it was like magic.

But he acted as if there was nothing to it.

He said he did not really know my wife’s size of course, but since I’d said she was as tall as I was and not slim, he’d gotten a fair idea.

Then he added that if the woman he’d pointed out had not fit, he would have taken me around till we found someone else who did. That way, he got a real-life idea, as close as possible to my wife’s measurement, to work with.

From what he told me, he’d been doing it successfully for years, such that today, old clients who relocated to Europe and America simply send funds down, along with names and ages or pictures of those they want outfits sewn for!

…and they are never disappointed. So he told me.

I wondered what my story would be…

Trying on The Outfits In Nigeria

By 2p.m Saturday afternoon, Modiu handed me a neatly wrapped package containing all the outfits, sewn and ironed.

They looked beautiful, but I still wondered – quietly to myself – if they would fit.

It was such a strange experience for me.

So, I thanked him for finishing the job on time, and promised to call to tell him how they fit.

I arrived my home in Lagos, exhausted, on Saturday night at past 10p.m. The traffic from right after the main border town had been hectic. I knew I was indeed back in Lagos!

When I walked into the estate, the kids were all over me within seconds(I’d called their mother to ask them to help with the bags).

They grabbed my bags and hurried into the compound. The little 4 year old “lady” who was already asleep eventually woke up due to the noise, and soon joined in.

Despite being dead tired, I just had to know how well Modiu had done his job.

So, as they tore at the masks with blinking lights and the other gifts, I told them to pick up the outfits and try them on.

Each child did as s/he was told, and I found myself staring in amazement at them.

The clothes fit them perfectly!

Even their mother who often accused me of exaggerating about good things in Cotonou, agreed Modiu had done a great job despite not having any actual measurements (She later tried on hers, and it also fit well!)

One thing is certain: I’m going to be calling Modiu to say a very big thank you!

Modiu’s Combination of Mastery, Innovation and Problem-Solving Focus Is Worthy of Emulation

I’ve tried to analyze what Modiu does. And this is my experience based conclusion.

Note however, that achieving mastery comes first. Without it, innovation and problem-solving become hard to apply.

Modiu developed a chart of people’s sizes according to age ranges they belonged over the years of doing his work.

Using that chart, he found a way to successfully improvise for customer unable to supply measurements for people they wished to have outfits sewn.

It must have taken time and effort – and probably a few errors (and angry/disappointed clients!).

But over time, with persistence, he appears to have achieved mastery. Then his amiable, positive, problem-solving disposition makes him willing to entertain fears a client may express and to find ways to address them satisfactorily.

[NB: I still feel it’s a risky approach given that growth rates for people vary across societies, with diets etc. For instance a 14 year old in the US is most likely to have very different measurement. Knowing Modiu, when that issue comes up, he’s likely to find a way around it.]

Final Words: Are you a speaker who wants to be a master?

It is my considered opinion, that Modiu’s mastery of what he does, and his attitude to getting around challenges to deliver requested “tailoring” solutions are worth emulating by every expert – including you (i.e. if you do not already do it).

Doing so will make buyers/customers choose you over others.

Many will not even mind waiting in line, just to have you handle their job – like they do at Modiu’s!

In 2014, as an expert-who-speaks, I suggest you make doing the above an objective.

You may wish to start by checking out Burt Dubin’s On Being a Master website. It could be the key to Stellar Speaking Success (like that enjoyed by many coached by Burt over the past 3 decades) for you.

PS: Happy New Year In Advance

Thanks for reading my newsletter all through 2013, and I wish you an exciting and prosperous 2014!

Not sure what your plans are, but I’m here in Lagos, to spend quality time with my familly, into the new year.

My father will be 80 years old on the 4th of February 2014, so there are BIG plans being made to celebrate that.

I’m going to be teaching my kids to make my Pineapple peel cakes – without using an oven – just like I did it some weeks back. You should have seen them get the charcoal stove I brought with me started by themselves – WOW!

They already make and sell the pineapple peel drink by themselves.

If all goes well, we should have a special “batch production” of the cakes and drinks, for “‘Grandpa’s” birthday bash ;-))

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

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

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

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

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

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THEY WROTE…

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

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Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 121: If Others Doubt Your Ideas, You’ve Probably Struck Gold!
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Sometimes Going On Alone Will Be Futile (Hint: I Wrote “Begging Letters” to Keep Going)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	What Should You Really Give to People at Christmas?
Career Development [Thursday]:	N/A
Parenting [Friday]:	Show Others How to Succeed!
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	Must You Quit Paid Employment to Influence Change in Nigeria? (If YES, will you get a FAIR & IMPARTIAL chance to do it?)
Want me to write for you? Click here…

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

Must You Quit Paid Employment to Influence Change in Nigeria? (If YES, will you get a FAIR & IMPARTIAL chance to do it?)

December 28, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I tried posting a contribution to a friend’s recent post, in which one person asked him to quit his job to do something about the problems he was complaining about regarding Nigeria. It’s however morphed from a comment into this 5th issue of “My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better” PDF series :-)) Click here to download and read the PDF

My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

Show Others How to Succeed!

December 27, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

In 2002, I worked as a volunteer maths tutor in an NGO’s weekend(secondary school students) tutoring project.. Having overcome a severe math-phobia (with the help of a private tutor) to get a distinction on my second exam attempt, I had a passion for demystifying maths for students.

I Dreaded Maths in Secondary School…

You see in my family, everybody knew I always struggled with Mathematics. When the results of my first school leaving certificate exams came, I scored a P8 (pass) in maths, but got decent grades in the remaining subjects. It was not much of a surprise to me or others…

That P8 was naturally not up to the required credit, for entry into university. So, I had to prepare for the November/December 1986 General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) exams.

My parents Registered me in Mr. Tony’s Translat Training Centre

Mr. Tony, the maths tutor, was an extremely gifted, and mild mannered Igbo gentleman (who ran Translat Training Centre, a Lagos-Akoka based remedial studies outfit for pre-university students, with his partner. It was quite close to University of Lagos.).

Mr. Tony helped me discover the secret for beating Maths hands down – anytime.

I did not have to learn new skills or read new textbooks. What he taught me was the “strategy” for answering questions. He also outlined guiding principles for coming up with comprehensive “study plans” based on the current West African Examinations Council (WAEC) syllabus.

Anyone who abided by what Mr. Tony said passed. Indeed, most of us scored distinctions!

By the time I took the G.C.E exams, I knew I was going to do quite well in all 5 subjects I’d sat. But I was especially sure of my performance in Maths.

Mr Tony has so drilled me on the preparation strategies that when I took the exam, I actually felt like I’d seen all the questions before!

I recall how my mother smiled indulgently, when I told her I would get the highest grade possible (A1) in maths. She said, “Hmm…just get a credit. That’ll be enough.” I said “Oh you don’t believe me? Well, you wait and see then!” When the results came out I scored A1 in maths, C4 ion English and A3s in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

None of the other subjects mattered though. I’d already gotten passing grades in the May/June exam.

My mother was pleasantly surprised!

In my case, I gained a whole new level of self-confidence. You see, I realised Mr. Tony had been right. He had told me to “forget my fears”, and stay focussed on doing what he taught me. I would go through the rest of my formal schooling life applying this same strategy, with repeated success. And each time I cannot help being grateful for having met Mr. Tony’ who shared his know-how in Mathematics with me.

I can still hear him saying “Tayo, maths is a simple subject.”

When I coached the students at the NGO tutoring project, I told them the same thing!

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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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My experience with Mr. Tony, is why I have a passion for demystifying my successes in any field. It is why I write articles – daily – on this blog on my different areas of interest and expertise.

I want others to learn how I do what I do!

We All Need to Strive to Demystify Success

“The world would be a better place to live in if each person would leave, as an inheritance to posterity, the philosophy, and know-how that brought him happiness, physical, mental and spiritual health and wealth, as did Andrew Carnegie” – Napoleon Hill, in “Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude”

This above quote communicates such a potent truth.

Robert Kiyosaki had already made his millions before deciding to write his best sellers. Today, he makes more money from his investments than he does from selling his books…and with less effort too.

So why does he STILL write and teach? Indeed, why do so many AUTHENTICALLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE (emphasis deliberate!) keep sharing what they know with us?

It’s because they know the above truth. Carnegie’s example is worth emulating. Those who “hide” their know-how and philosophies do themselves a disservice.

People Who Mystify Success Often Have Something to Hide…

Here’s one thing I’ve noticed: Some celebrities in my part of the world, when asked how they made it. One answer they give REALLY annoys me:

They say “Na God O!” (i.e. “it’s God’s work etc”)

For me, that makes no sense whatsoever. Is that supposed to imply God loves only them, and so rewards them with unexplainable success?

Why do they mystify success in that manner?

To me, ANY person who answers the question about his/her success philosophy that way is either hiding something naughty s/he did to succeed, or is a flash in the pan who just stumbled into success.

Such people when posed the same question asked of Henry Ford would most likely NOT have an answer.

Ford was asked what he would do if he lost his entire financial empire…

He replied without hesitating: “I’d have it all back in 5 years!”

How could be so sure?

Because he had achieved authentic success. He knew what he did to get where he was. There was nothing crooked in there!

His was the kind that is repeatable, and reproducible. It’s the kind that you can teach others and if they follow it exactly, they are bound to succeed the way you did if not better.

Another Person Who Demystifies Success Is Burt Dubin

His Speaking Success System in recognised worldwide for helping aspiring speakers go on to become some of the world highest paid/most recognised international speakers.

This is not a sales pitch.

That’s why there’s no URL to click.

But I felt it would help if I added that contemporary example.

Final Words

However, if you have even the slightest interest in improving your speaking expertise in 2014, I strongly suggest you Google Burt Dubin’s name – now, while you’re still thinking about it. Click the Google results page link that appears to visit his website (speakingsuccess.com and/or burtdubin.com) and send him a message.

Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a surprise FREE gift offer from him 😉

You’ll probably thank me for suggesting you do this!

Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Self-Development

Sometimes Going On Alone Will Be Futile (Hint: I Wrote “Begging Letters” to Keep Going)

December 24, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I first encountered the term “begging letters”, from reading a biography of Karl Marx. Many books have been written about Marx, and NONE fail to mention that he wrote “begging letters” (read this one).
That’s why I know that the SMSes/emails I’ve sent to ONE friend (few times in 2002), and many relatives (over the years) as I pursued success, were mostly “begging letters”!

But I often wrote such “letters” ONLY when I’d pushed myself to the limit and could find no other way to progress.

For instance, on more than 2 occasions, I ran out of fuel on Lagos’ 3rd Mainland Bridge, due to lack of cash to by fuel even as I was trying to squeeze in one extra client visit!

Many times the inability to provide for my family made it imperative I ask for help in this manner, even when my pride and fierce sense of independence would be wounded. I had to learn to think of those who depended on me.

I’ll never forget one day few years after I started out.

My second son was down with severe malaria attack. I had no paid projects in hand, and no money. With my wife and kids in the car, I visited Ikeja computer village, and after going from shop to shop for hours, begged a PC dealer who showed interest, to buy my new CD writer (bought for N35,000 some months earlier), for N10k.

Just so I could get money to take my son to hospital.

Believe it or not, he COLDLY offered me N5k, and I gladly took it!

If your business is not doing well, get help to fulfil your obligations. Don’t punish your loved ones because of “foolish pride”!

Oh…how I’ve learnt so much from prolonged exposure to hardship…!

It is for the above reason that I LOVE the quote below – by Emerson – so much:

“When man…is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits, on his manhood, he has gained facts, learns from his ignorance, is cured of the insanity of conceit; has got moderation and real skill.” – Emerson

Here’s something important to take note of:

Not once did I ask for help to fulfil pleasures or pursue trivialities. I literally punished myself to maximize any money I had. Sometimes I’ve eaten ONCE a day. I’ve even gone without food over an entire weekend, just to have money to continue my work at a cyber cafe. That’s why I often produce results with little money!

The above explains why I LOVE this quote by Dan Kennedy…

“I have long taught:: if you can’t make money without money, you won’t make money with money either. And if you’re going to back somebody, pick an entrepreneur who has proven that he can survive without adequate capital” – Dan Kennedy

My experiences informed my decision to write my article advocating – as Kennedy did – giving support to people “worthy”of it – instead of giving it to people who routinely (due to sloth and indifference), rarely have tangible results to show.

Here’s something I read by James R. Cook that further explains how this kind of suffering makes a person GROW (Get his New York Times Bestselling “Startup Entrepreneur” here).

And that’s what I did: I stuck with it long enough – drawing inspiration from quotes like the above, when things got “unbearable”.

Believe me: It is true that BOOKS STRENGTHEN THE MIND!

And that’s why I write so much. I want others to find useful ideas and inspiration from reading my stories, the way I did from reading those of other! It is also why I’m writing a novel, about my journey so far. Names etc will be changed to protect privacies.

Here’s a fact: I have no secrets. I always tell my “whole story” even when doing so does not make me look “cool, calm and collected”.

In my Forthcoming Novel, there will be a chapter titled “The Begging Letters I wrote…”

I’ll publish many of the email and (sometimes bulk) SMS “begging letters” I sent with my LAST kobo when I was hard up.

It is noteworthy that not all those letters “worked”.

Therefore I’ll be adding narratives how I survived those periods. Some people already know parts of this story. But there’s a LOT more!

One thing I can assure you is that those “letters” will make for entertaining reading…:-)))

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

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

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

Below is the response I sent to him…

He would go on to call me on my mobile

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

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

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

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Words: Change Your Thinking About Using the Web

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

Publications

THEY WROTE…

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

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

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

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

Next Steps I Recommend You Take:

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

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

How do I know this?

I’m Not Referring to Formal Academics Here…

Some Examples of Non-Academic Things Your Child May Need to Learn:

Coaching Your Child to Learn Such Things Can Be Easier Than You Think

The Problem Is: Many Parents Are Not Connecting Enough with Their Kids

After watching the video, two of the boys sat down and immediately put what they learnt to use.

So they had to burn paper, nylons, and then fan the embers vigorously for up to 5 minutes continuously. But they kept at it, because they wanted to make the cakes!

And that was a major psychological victory for them. Such lessons are NOT learnt in academic class!

Instead, This is About Respecting the Privacy of Others

Even if s/he does not say “keep it to yourself” (s/he may not even know that you have access to such information!), you should know that THAT would be the right thing to do.

One Example: Let’s Say You Work in HR, and So Have Access to Personal Records of Employees.

Most people do it for the ego boost it gives them.

And your career could just suffer for it – because even your peers and subordinates can contribute to feedback that your company can use, to decide whether or not to promote you.

Final Words

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 122: You Need Mastery, Innovation and a Problem Solving Focus

Modiu is my Tailor Friend in Cotonou…

Time was short. It was a Tuesday. I had to arrive Lagos Saturday.

And they also knew when to say NO, to new work, if/when necessary.

I recall stopping over the second morning at his shop to say “You never asked me for any details about their mother!”

A Sure Sign of Mastery…

Trying on The Outfits In Nigeria

Despite being dead tired, I just had to know how well Modiu had done his job.

Modiu’s Combination of Mastery, Innovation and Problem-Solving Focus Is Worthy of Emulation

Final Words: Are you a speaker who wants to be a master?

PS: Happy New Year In Advance

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

Publications

THEY WROTE…

I Dreaded Maths in Secondary School…

My parents Registered me in Mr. Tony’s Translat Training Centre

Anyone who abided by what Mr. Tony said passed. Indeed, most of us scored distinctions!

My mother was pleasantly surprised!

We All Need to Strive to Demystify Success

People Who Mystify Success Often Have Something to Hide…

Such people when posed the same question asked of Henry Ford would most likely NOT have an answer.

Another Person Who Demystifies Success Is Burt Dubin

Final Words

But I often wrote such “letters” ONLY when I’d pushed myself to the limit and could find no other way to progress.

I’ll never forget one day few years after I started out.

Oh…how I’ve learnt so much from prolonged exposure to hardship…!

Here’s something important to take note of:

Here’s something I read by James R. Cook that further explains how this kind of suffering makes a person GROW (Get his New York Times Bestselling “Startup Entrepreneur” here).

In my Forthcoming Novel, there will be a chapter titled “The Begging Letters I wrote…”

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