E-mail your name, country, mobile number, occupation, & facebook/twitter URLs (if any) to tayo at tksola dot com, and I’ll send you a FREE copy of my detailed PDF report titled “10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind.”
Category Archives: My DN Travel News
Teach Your Child to be Brave Despite School
In Seth Godin’s manifesto – titled “Stop Stealing Dreams (What is school for?)” he wrote, under item 33, titled “Who will teach bravery?” as follows:
“Bravery in school is punished, not rewarded. The entire institution is organized around avoiding individual brave acts, and again and again we hear from those who have made a difference, telling us that they became brave despite school, not because of it.
Harvard Business School turns out management consultants in far greater numbers than it develops successful bootstrapping entrepreneurs. Ralph Lauren, David Geffen and Ted Turner all dropped out of college because they felt the real challenges lay elsewhere.”
Now, that’s a powerful indictment of traditional schooling – at the highest level too. And it’s not the first time we’ve heard of drop outs making it in life ahead of peers who finished formal schooling.
One would have expected it to be the other way round. And it used to be – back in those days when jobs in industries awaited such dedicated school finishers.
But so much has changed today. That’s why now, more than ever, parents need to help their kids get an education relevant to the new times we’re in.
Conformance and Obedience Will Not Save You – or Your Child
It’s been over ten years since I bought Robert Kiyosaki’s “If you want to be rich and happy, don’t go to school?” from Amazon.com using a Virtual MasterCard I acquired via Netspend.com. I still smile when I recall the phrase Netspend appended beside every commission they charged, in the transaction history.
It read “Small price for getting to the end of NO” 
I imagine that was meant to make us (i.e. card users) feel good about letting them take about a dollar per transaction. For me however, it was okay. I was in Africa, and could not have obtained it any other way.
More seriously, back then I was just as passionate as I am now, about learning everything possible to empower my kids to discover their purpose early in life.
I got that book via internal company mail from the London office. It arrived in a box along with 2 others by Kiyosaki (“Rich Kid Smart kid” & “Rich Dad, Poor Dad“) during my final 2 months in Guinness, as Training and Technical Development Manager (I’d sent in my resignation, in November 2001).
Robert’s book confirmed my feelings about traditional schooling. That fuelled my desire to break whatever remained of the hold it had on me. So, embracing self-employment (something I’d dreamt of doing for years) became even more appealing to me – just as certain colleagues called me “crazy” for qutting my high paying job!
Ironically, I learnt some were laid off a few years later. They were apparently “replaceable”! Most never saw it coming. The fears that made them avoid preparing for that possibility eventually made them lose out – despite the fact that they obeyed, and conformed, as school taught them!
Times Have Changed – But Our Schools Are Reluctant to Catch Up
We owe our kids a duty to prepare them to take smarter decisions in their lives. And we cannot pass that duty to anyone else.
It will never be wise to leave such an important responsibility to our kid’s teachers.
Many parents have gotten away with it in the past – especially during the industrial age. Back then, schools taught kids to be the kinds of employees industries needed. However, since then the world has moved on. We are now in a fast changing information and technology driven global community.
The nature of teaching our schools need to provide has also changed.
Sadly, many school administrators, teachers and parents still fail to realise what this means for them.
Many kids are entering the real world as adults, only to realise they’ve been very inadequately prepared for the challenges they are confronted with.
Seth shared a quote published in the New York Times, credited to Rebecca Chapman, literary editor of “The New Inquiry”, an online journal:
“My whole life, I had been doing everything everybody told me. I went to the right school. I got really good grades. I got all the internships. Then, I couldn’t do anything.”
I have experienced what Rebecca describes above first hand – as a graduate job seeker, and even worse when I became an entrepreneur. And I hated it.
We Must Not Let School Impact Our Kids In The Same Negative Manner!
I’ve vowed to do everything in my power to control the impact of formal schooling on my kids.
I urge you to do the same for your child. Teach and encourage her to be brave in spite of whatever she sees or hears in school. Let her understand that risk-taking and courageous acts in particular, are not to be avoided.
For example: Asking questions others may be scared to ask; proposing alternative ideas others may be afraid to voice; exploring subjects, issues or places others are reluctant to investigate; taking steps to achieve goals or objectives or dreams that interest or appeal to her. And so on.
Doing things like the above will enable her achieve valuable self-education, and ultimately gain extraordinary insights into life.
You must also make yourself also a worthy role model by walking your talk, so s/he can be inspired to follow your example.
If you do the above, your child will enter the world better prepared to succeed, in any area of endeavour s/he ventures.
And YOU will harvest peace of mind from that knowledge alone.
Does Your Boss Trust You on the Job? (3 Ways to Find Out The Truth)
You need to get an accurate answer to this question. They may not show it. But if your superiors don’t trust you completely on the job, you may lose career advancement opportunities. And you could even be in danger of being declared redundant.
Here are 3 Checks to Help You Establish How Well Your Boss Trusts You
Now, unless you’re a mind reader, it goes without saying that these checks will not tell you everything. They will however give you a fairly reliable indication of where you stand with your boss in this regard.
And that’s all you really need. (I say this based on 7 years of applying them successfully, to get recognised and rewarded as a high performing employee in a corporate multinational.)
So, here are the checks:
1. What Does She Say?
Sometimes you’ll hear snippets from the corporate grapevine. This may not always be a reliable source. However it can be useful.
Performance appraisal interviews/discussions can also be very useful. But it also depends on how open your boss is about his/her feelings. It will often be a great opportunity to get answers and gain valuable insights.
So, be bold, but tactful. Ask questions, and make requests, to find out.
For instance you could suggest that s/he give you a shot at handling an area of work or task that you’ve never been assigned. Listen carefully to the response, and watch the body language. You’ll often be able to tell.
2. What Does She Do?
a. How often do you get called on, when an important or crucial task is to be implemented?
Those are often periods when decision makers simply cannot afford to take chances with anything going wrong.
If you never get picked to hold fort during such times, be concerned. Except if you were assigned something of greater importance elsewhere.
This rule applies in all areas of endeavor. Even in team sports. A very good measure of a coach’s confidence in a player is often evident from the roles s/he gets him/her to play – especially in important matches.
Another example: If your boss has to go on a planned annual leave, or a week’s break, how often do you get picked to fill in for him/her? If “never”, and you know you’re theoretically “qualified” to get picked, you should definitely be concerned.
b. Another scenario: When a department head from a sister factory calls for help saying “Can you give us your best hand(s) to help us out over here?”
Who does you boss send over to help?
If you rarely get picked, that’s like being on the bench all the time in a football team. When there’s a need for the organisation to “shed staff weight”, you could be a prime candidate.
c. Sometimes you’ll also gain useful insights during normal work periods.
When something goes wrong while s/he’s not around, who does s/he call to find out what went wrong?
And who does s/he task to find ways to rectify it – or to lead others to do that?
How often does s/he call YOU under such situations?
And when you get called, does what you say, or do, get accepted as adequate? Or does s/he call others to double-check what you’ve said and done?
If you keep getting second guessed, that is not a good position to be in either. It suggests you’ve given him/her cause to doubt you!
If that happens, determine why what you say (or do) never seems to satisfy him/her. Then make necessary changes in your work related behavior.
3. How Does She React?
Sometimes your boss may have to be away at short notice. It could be unplanned (like a sudden temporary secondment, or a domestic matter that makes him take time off from work).
During such periods, the team will usually take orders from other decision makers, who may be less familiar with individual team members.
Under such situations, responsibilities for tasks may get handed out differently from what the substantive job holder (i.e. your boss) would do.
You could as a result get assigned to handle tasks that your boss has never previously given you the opportunity to do.
How she reacts on being told (while still away or when s/he returns or calls in), can give you a good idea of how well s/he trusts you on the job.
After the Checks, What Next?
If you were honest with yourself in doing the above, you’ll have gotten a decent idea of how your boss rates you.
A period of one month is enough to be really sure.
If what you learn indicates you’re rated highly, then keep doing what you’re doing – and if possible, do more.
But if you discover you don’t rate well, do a serious self-examination to find out where you’re falling short.
TIP: Study those who seem to be rated better and find out why. Some bosses play favorites – but that is easy to detect. Otherwise, you’ll often find that simply emulating those rated highly, will eventually bring you into reckoning.
Final Words
Results focused decision makers want people they can RELY on, to deliver outcomes that will move the organization forward.
If you deliver performances that make your employer think about you in that manner, you can expect a rewarding career in that organization. It’s that simple.
How to Make Drinks You CAN SELL, from Peels of Pineapples & Nine (9) Other Fruits!
If you’re someone looking for a viable business venture to start, this is ONE I assure you cannot go wrong with.
Over the past 2 months, I’ve watched with growing frustration huge quantities of pineapple rind get thrown away by vendors who sell the fruit here in Calavi.
And I’ve often imagined that the same thing happens across the country.
Yet, a little knowledge about what can be done with these leftovers can easily create useful income generating employment for others – or enable the vendors earn additional income.
That’s why I’m really excited about this new service I’m launching!
Finally, I can offer ideas and support to people interested in making use of wastes from fruits like Pineapples and others, to earn decent income.
INTERESTED?
E-mail your name, country, mobile number, occupation, & facebook/twitter URLs (if any) to tayo at tksola dot com, and I’ll send you a FREE copy of my detailed PDF report titled “10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind.”
You see, when I left Guinness to start my own outfit, I always planned to use my brewing background to complement my Agro-based activities. I’ve always wanted to launch my own range of “home brewed” drinks.
What I Offer
I intend to share elaborate details of how to setup different fruit based drinks production outfits on this blog. There will also be recipes of all kinds based on trials I’ll be conducting.
My purpose is also to encourage interested persons to consult or hire me to help them setup production units, or prepare feasibility studies for them.
And, I’ll also be helping myself in the process.
For instance, I’m already approaching potential investors to partner with me to start my own Pineapple peels-based drinks production outfit (with a unique twist I’m keeping to myself for now) here in Benin Republic. It’s going to happen soon.
So take a look at the flyer I’ve created below, and follow the instructions in it to take advantage of my offer.
Finishing My Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide: Between Samuel Agossou, & Benin’s Songhai Integrated Farming Centre
It’s been an interesting experience trying to implement my plan for finishing off this guide. So far I’ve only established working relationships with micro operators who have backyard rabbitries they run. (I’ll confess though, that other activities have eaten into time I could have put into following up more effectively).
I already have videos and photos following the ready access they’ve granted me to their facilities. I’m currently helping one look for restaurant and hotel operators interested in placing bulk orders from him.
For my purposes however, I need access to much larger operations, to make this guide more useful for those who will use it.
That’s why I’m keen to connect with Agossou and Songhai.
1. Samuel Agossou
One aspect of my plans that’s not progressing well is my search for Samuel Agossou, a Beninese farmer who reportedly bred 700,000 rabbits in 7 years, bought a house for his family from profits, and pays each of his 12 employees $25 US Dollars monthly.
Watch this video about him:
I found out about him 4 months ago through some foreign NGO’s website.
I’ve read about the 2011 IFAD workshop held at Cotonou’s Palais Du Congress (Google it), where he was discovered.
And I’ve also read this PDF TerraViva report published by IFAD which proves (?) he’s based right here in Benin Republic.
In my article, I mentioned meeting with members of an NGO based in Cotonou (CINC), who were also featured in the above mentioned TerraViva report.
However, they also did not know Agossou.
Why I Want to Meet Agossou
My purpose is to request an interview with him to be published as a special feature in my Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide (see http://www.tayosolagbade.com). He gets a FREE complimentary PDF copy of the finished guide.
I also wish to offer him ideas (e.g. income generating uses of rabbit pelts and other by products), and support, to prepare learning resources to train interested others.
It is my considered opinion, that this amazing gentleman’s expertise can be used to boost agro entrepreneurship and related income, not just in Benin, but across the entire continent of Africa.
I’ve Written Emails to IFAD & Gotten No Responses
And after my last post in which I mentioned reading an IFAD TerraViva report about him, I’ve written emails to IFAD.
I requested their help in retrieving contact details he must have submitted as a participant in the 2011 workshop.
A. Ms Abelle Dossou Houessou – Consultant, Acting Country Programme Officer,
IFAD
Below: Screenshot of e-mail I sent to her
I basically requested possible data to contact him. No response came back to me.
b. I then decided to write directly to IFAD, using the details on their website.
Below: Screenshot of e-mail I sent to IFAD
Again, I got no response to my email.
It’s All So Strange – This Silence In Spite of Volumes in Web Pages and PDF
This makes me wonder what exactly to think. Could it be that the people who told me Agossou does not exist are right?
If yes, does that not by implication make IFAD look bad, considering all the elaborate coverage they have given this guy on their website, and publications?
2. Songhai Integrated Farming Centre in Porto Novo
During my very first week here, on the 4th of April to be specific, I travelled from Cotonou to Porto Novo, to drop off my proposal to the director of the popular Songhai Integrated Farming Centre.
I’ve known Father Godfrey Nzamujo since 1987 or so, when I read about the Hunger Project Award given to him, in the monthly African Farmer magazine I subscribed to at the time.
Back then I was a student of Agriculture in the University of Ibadan.
People who know me well will easily attest to the fact that once I develop solid interest in anything, nothing – absolutely nothing – can make me drop it.
Right through my five year stay in the university, as well as during my 7 year sojourn in paid employment in Guinness Nigeria, I tracked progress made by Nzamujo. Word spread about his work. Newspapers did feature reports on him/the centre. At a point, transcripts of speeches he gave began turning up on some websites.
Songhai eventually put up a website.
However I remain quite dissatisfied with what they currently do with that website. This is not about web design or technology. It’s the USE to which they put it that I refer.
They can get more tangible value from it. In my letter, I offered NO FEE learning events to help them make their website generate reliable passive income streams for them.
There is so much they do they can monetize digitally – including their “information and expert know-how or expertise”!
Not everything has to be done physically and in person.
A well conceived Web Marketing Plan can help this wonderful organization serve many more people.
Some people cannot afford to travel to Benin, but they need access to the amazing wealth of information and education the Songhai centre offers.
Such people can be effectively served what they need via the website. And the centre can reap financially rewarding benefits in the process.
People do it every day on the web. Songhai has everything it takes to do the same. And their graduates can learn how to use the web in the same way to reap MORE rewards as experts in their fields.
I’ve been doing it since 2007 with my Cost-Saving Farm Business Support Website, where I offer my feed formulation handbook and sofware for sale. And I do not even have a farm business on ground yet!
I met with key officers at the centre, who advised me on how to drop off my proposal to the Director (who had travelled). They made it clear that he alone can review my offer.
Below: A screenshot of the letter I dropped off with the secretary in his office:
Since then, I’ve tried calling by phone, but each time I’ve been informed he travelled.
Under such circumstances, very little looks possible for the moment. So I’m thinking of a stunt I can pull to get the director’s serious attention 😉
Got any ideas I can use?
When You Have No Money, You’re No Good…Right?
Wrong! This dilemma confronts many people in their daily lives. And yet it’s such a simple thing to master. Just adopt the right mode of thinking – and your ability to achieve any goals you set your mind on, will be dramatically enhanced.
“Aside from being ostracized for my clothes, the kids called me poor a lot. And to their thinking, if you were poor, you were no good.” – Ben Carson in “Gifted Hands”
Insights from the Life Story of Ben Carson (the Famous American Brain Surgeon)
As a child, Carson had to pass through school struggling with crippling poverty. He and his brother had only their mother to care for them.
And she, lacking formal education, was a bit limited in her ability to provide for all their needs. So, quite often, Carson had to attend classes in clothes that got him picked on by classmates. And they also called him poor.
Like he noted in his book (“Gifted Hands”), many of those who did the name calling were actually not better off, and therefore really had no basis on which to call someone else such names.
He however added that being a teenager at the time, that little bit of insight escaped him. What’s more, he also (wrongly) assumed that those kids were better than him because they had 2 parents and he had one.
The points made in the above paragraph, are worthy of note for parents.
What we take for granted may be life saving “education” we can give our kids. Mrs. Carson gave her sons a lot of pep talks about being self-confident and never feeling inferior. But they did not always apply it. Thankfully however, they put it to use often enough to achieve noteworthy success in life.
Carson’s story indicates that our kids needs to be constantly reminded that not having – or being poor – does not make them less than anyone.
Ironically, sometimes even we, as parents, need to remind ourselves of the same thing
But What If You Lack Clothes & Suddenly Get Invited to Dinner With Rich Associates You Just Met?
This can – and does – happen. If it happens to you, take heart. Many have been there, and survived.
Some people may be lucky to have friends or relatives they can call to loan them clothes or shoes to wear. Or even to lend them money to go shopping.
But others may lack access to such helpers.
You probably believe attending that meeting could lead to the change of fortunes you desire. Yet presenting an appearance that creates a poor impression could derail everything.
What is one to do in such a situation?
I’ll tell you: Your ability to express yourself in an engaging manner (i.e. your conversational skills) CAN save you.
Learn to communicate in a manner, that commands the serious attention and interest of anyone in your company – no matter how sophisticated they may be.
You will not need special clothing to make an impact on people in this manner.
And compared to your dressing, and looks, your words have the power to leave a more lasting impression on those you relate with.
Here’s a true story that illustrates the above point quite effectively.
A “Tramp” Uses His Speaking Prowess to Befriend a Rich Businessman & Get a Job (True Story)
This story is taken from Dale Carnegie’s excellent book titled “How to Win Friends & Influence People by Public Speaking”.
One rainy day, a man (let’s call him John) dressed like a tramp knocked on the office door of a successful business owner (call him Jack).
When Jack first saw John standing in the rain, in his tattered clothes, he almost asked him to leave. But something in John’s manner – the way he carried himself, and looked at him – made Jack decide to speak to him.
John proceeded to express himself in impeccable English language, that instantly captured Jack’s attention and interest.
As they spoke, Jack’s impression of John completely changed. He no longer thought of him in terms of his outward appearance. John explained the circumstances that led to an unexpected change of fortunes for him. By the end of their conversation, Jack was so impressed that the next day, he arranged for John to be given a job!
Moral of the Story: Your Lack of Money or Material Possessions is NOT a Fatal Handicap
Never let anyone make you feel less than you are. It does not matter who they are, or what they have.
I know from personal experience however, that this can be quite difficult to believe – or remember. Especially when you have no money in your pockets. Or you’re wearing cheap (or deteriorating) attire, around people dressed exquisitely.
It’s even worse if they turn out to be snobs, who go out of their way to belittle you.
So yes it will be hard to do. But when you have no alternatives, put your persuasive speaking skill to use.
That’s what John did in the above story.
If you do not yet have it mastered, start today, to develop your ability to express yourself convincingly.
It is a competence that cannot be bought with money. Yet it can gain you access to money – and a whole lot more e.g. respect, recognition, admiration, fame, great friendships, leadership etc.
Dale Carnegie’s book offers a wealth of information that has helped many people reap such benefits. Read others as you go on.
Good luck.
The World Will Step Aside For YOU, If You Know Where You’re Going…But DO YOU?
“The world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going” – Abe Lincoln
Wise words, from a very great man, who survived serial failures for more than half of his life, to become president of the most powerful country on earth! Do you know where your life is headed? Have you found your purpose in life? Are you in the right business, or job? Are you studying the right course or learning the right skill(s)? This article describes detailed information – and a solution – that can help you.
2 Months Ago, I Became a Location Independent Entrepreneur
Saturday 1st June 2013 made it exactly 2 full months since I arrived in Benin Republic on my slow trip across West Africa.
It’s been interesting, and I’ve learnt a lot. Not just about this country, but also about the people, culture, the food, business life and even a little politics.
When I arrived here, I could already communicate in French, verbally and in writing.
However, it had been over 14 years since I last got exposed for a prolonged period of time, to people who could converse with me in that language.
So, I was naturally rusty. The last 2 months have seen me working hard to get back my fluency. And I’m succeeding tremendously.
In fact, my success has been so challenging to those I relate with here (very few speak any English where I’ve chosen to live), that some now insist they want to do what I’ve done.
So, now they try to speak to themselves in English, reminding each other playfully that if I can do it, they can as well. And I always tell them to go for it!
Are You Pursuing The Right Goals In YOUR Life?
This is one of the major messages I’m trying to pass to people through my work. YOU have within you the capacity to do anything you set your mind to.
Nothing can be worse than failing to achieve your God-given potential. Your creator himself would frown at you for it.
Each one of us has been gifted with certain unique abilities and talents, with which we are expected, indeed required, by our creator, to make the world a better place.
We are supposed to use our gifts to add value to others around us. And it is by so doing, that we will ultimately fulfill our purpose.
The vocation you settle on, should be one that enables you make the most of your God-given abilities to be of service to your fellow human beings.
Why Is It So Important To Choose The Right Goals?
Well, if the creator did not think it would make any difference, he would never have given you such unique abilities. We would instead ALL have the same abilities. But we don’t. So that’s a clue!
The problem is many of us grow up without being helped to identify what makes us special. And so with conditioning from our societies, we blend in with others, and lose our uniqueness.
Then when we later run into people who have discovered themselves, and are forging ahead in making an impact on the world, we marvel at their seeming awesomeness.
What we however fail to realize is that we possess a similar capacity to be awesome. Indeed, ALL of God’s creations have the SAME innate capacity to be awesome – EACH in a unique way!
When You Find Your Purpose, You Become Unstoppable!
The fact that your friend runs a restaurant business does not mean that what you should. You need to carefully evaluate the qualities you possess, to narrow down to what’s best for you!
That’s what I’ve done at every stage of my life. It helped me discover my purpose back in 1995, as a young Graduate Trainee in Guinness. As a result, I made myself a force to be reckoned with at the highest levels in that organization, within 5 years.
It’s the same process that I’ve followed since becoming an entrepreneur. You are reading this – ten years after I started – because I did find my purpose!
Once you discover your true purpose, everything changes. You develop a driving passion to progress it DAILY. And nothing that gets in your way daunts you. You literally become unstoppable!
My Coaching for Self-Discovery Service Can Help YOU
Sign-up for my “Situation Analysis” chat on Skype. The session lasts 30 minutes to one hour.
Apart from questions I’ll ask, and insights I’ll share with you, you’ll also get a 2 page PDF report from me 24 hours afterwards – specifically prepared for you, based on our chat.
It will contain a 4 week DAILY action plan. If diligently followed, that plan can help you make sense of where you are, and what you need to do to find your purpose, and gain fulfillment.
I offer no silver bullets. No one can.
However knowing practical steps to take, to discover your real purpose, can be a liberating experience.
You will no longer wonder if you’re doing the right stuff or not. You will be led to it.
And even if you’re already sure about your purpose, my report also includes real-world relevant tips about how to boost your capacity to fulfill your purpose.
Don’t let yourself waste away. Choose to unleash yourself on the world in a positive way today.
I can help you. Click here to sign-up for my Situation Analysis chat for starters.
No. 92: Caution – A Prospect With Money May Be Bad For YOU! (3 Tips)
People are not the same in the way they approach pursuit of set goals and objectives. You may be willing to be focused and committed. But your new client may not.
That’s why even when they have money, some people may not be good for you as clients. And if you take them on, things could end badly for you. You therefore need a reliable system to evaluate prospects, so as to choose clients who are a good fit for you.
This issue of my speaking IDEAS newsletter discusses 3 checks you can use to protect yourself.
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Is this email not displaying correctly? Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter Date: Monday 3rd June 2013 No:92 Title: Caution – A Prospect With Money May Be Bad For YOU! (3 Tips) Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [234-803-302-1263] Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here Hi, Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.
No. 92: Caution – A Prospect With Money May Be Bad For YOU! (3 Tips)**** ********** NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: 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 ********** People are not the same in the way they approach pursuit of set goals and objectives. You may be willing to be focused and committed. But your prospect may not. That’s why even when they have money, some people may not be good for you as clients. And if you take them on, things could end badly for you. You therefore need a reliable system to evaluate prospects, so as to choose clients who are a good fit for you. This issue of my speaking IDEAS newsletter discusses 3 checks you can use to protect yourself. Human Beings Are UnpredictableIf you’ve been reading my speaking IDEAS newsletter, you know I advocate using public speaking as a business marketing strategy. So, in addition to pocketing a fee for speaking, it can get you hired to do what you do as an expert. Delivering a speech requires you to be in control of yourself. That’s relatively easy. However, working with people to achieve a preferred outcome can be more challenging. And that’s because it involves the unpredictable human variable – outside of yourself. Three (3) Checks You Can Use to Avoid Taking On a Wrong ClientFirst, I assume you’ve already established that the client has the means, and is willing, to pay you. What follows are 3 useful checks you would be wise to do before saying yes to such a client – even if s/he offers loads of money. If you want long term success, and would like to build on your successes, adopt them for use with clients. 1. Willingness to Commit Required Time & Effort?You need the commitment of a client as the decision maker in her company, to get your work done. If she’s a solo entrepreneur, you’ll need her to be available to supply agreed data, finish tasks, review progress or take other decisions. Get formal agreement on this. Else you may end up being accused of failing to deliver to the deadline, when in fact you lost time chasing her around to keep appointments with you. This happened to me more than once. I’ve learned my lesson well! 2. Clearly Defined (and Realistic) Expectations?What is the final outcome to look like? Does she know what she wants? If yes, is it something you can deliver? If no, let her know. Propose viable alternatives. You’re the expert. Show that you know your stuff. Don’t let the lure of money being offered trick you into saying YES, when you should say NO! I use an MS Excel based Functional Requirements Specification (FRS). The client fills in the fields. We review the list together. In certain cases I point out something I do not think can be delivered (or measured) as specified. Or one not covered by the original scope of work. Eventually we sign off the FRS. The client later uses it to check that I’ve delivered what s/he paid for. If you cannot get a prospect to complete this process with you, it would be unwise to start work. Indeed, this process can guide you to quote a better fee for your remuneration – and get her to accept! 3. Readiness to Take Ownership?What about when you finish the job and hand it over? Will she put your solution to use or implement the agreed actions as prescribed? Let’s say you’re a physical fitness/weight loss expert for instance. And you’ve spent 12 weeks with an obese client – providing lessons on proper nutrition, and conducting physical fitness training sessions. How can you be sure this client will CONTINUE to apply what s/he has learnt from you? You could say it’s not your business. I however argue that if you indiscriminately take on clients who don’t follow through, you’ll end up shooting yourself in the foot. Question: How? Answer: They are likely to make you look like what you offer does not work. You’ll consequently have fewer success stories to tell future prospects. Consider also, the real possibility that such people may choose to deny they’re at fault, by claiming your methods did not work for them! Final Words: Always Check to Be Sure You Can Help a Prospect Succeed Before You Say YESTake Burt Dubin for instance. He has helped many wannabes become highly paid international speakers over the past 25 years. But to achieve this feat, he does not take on all comers. People actually have to apply for consideration! Here’s what Burt said while speaking with Clarissa Burt on her show:
It is this precaution he takes, that enables Burt guarantee success in the speaking business to clients. He KNOWS those he picks will diligently invest needed time and effort, to get results that will earn them MORE than they pay him! I believe all service providers should emulate Mr. Dubin. So, next time somebody comes waving money in your face for your services, don’t get so carried away. Take your time to check that the person will be a good fit for YOU, as a client. Your success depends on this. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did, because like Burt, you’re likely to have tonnes of testimonials and success stories for use in winning over more “good fit” clients. Need More Details of How to Make The Above Ideas Work for YOU?If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter, send me a message using this request form (with “Re: Caution – A Prospect With Money May Be Bad For YOU! (3 Tips)” in the subject line).
Have a lovely week!
Tayo K. Solagbade* Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist *Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa Mobile: 234-803-302-1263 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 Entrepreneur. 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. 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). Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook. ================== Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?Here’s a tip: 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. Comments?What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts! Share this issue!Do you know anyone who might benefit from reading this newsletter issue? Why not hit the forward button now, and send it to him/her with a short recommendation. You can also use share it via your social media channels. Thanks in advance.
What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class). At least that’s how I like to think of them! All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here] Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) . . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.
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What Do Quotable Quotes Have to Do With Your Writing Success?
Everyone knows how to use quotes. Some of us also come up with a few that others end up using.
But certain people are responsible for producing some very profound ones (e.g. Emerson, Edison, Socrates, Plato, Hemingway, and many other great minds).
And we all accept that they were truly inspired.
But do people credited with voicing such memorable quotes just come up with them at will? Or is there a process they undergo that leads them to uncover such deep truths?
I once heard a radio presenter use the following quote (credited to a famous American celebrity):
“Success is the result of good judgement. Good judgement is the result of experience. Experience is the result of bad judgement”.
This quote means failures we experience (as a result of bad judgements), actually teach us the lessons we need to learn, in order to make better judgements that will enable us succeed
Edison himself once said:
“Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”
Anyone who knows Edison’s story, will readily acknowledge that he uttered those words based on very personal experience.
Today, Many Are Unwilling to Acquire Necessary Experience to Achieve Success
Today however, it appears many people are unwilling to view failure as useful in any way. They look down on anyone who fails – or appears to be failing.
They even avoid failure (by refusing to take any risks), and will often hide all evidence of it when it does happen to them.
What’s more, fewer people are willing to invest time and effort to acquire real or practical experience in their chosen vocations or fields of expertise.
And yet, this is an essential requirement for becoming more capable of making good judgments – as is confirmed in the above quote.
So many people seem to be in a hurry to succeed.
They have no time or patience to learn or apprentice. They just want to jump in and get made INSTANTLY. If the opportunity comes up they’ll even cut corners. Such bad judgement eventually leads them to failure. But they refuse to learn, and so repeat the mistake, again and again.
Incidentally, this problem is quite widespread amongst many who engage in writing as a vocation online.
That’s why we have people who engage in spinning articles, stealing content, plagiarizing others and so on. They simply cannot convince themselves to do the required honest work to get the results they want.
Authentic Success Cannot Be Had By Cutting Corners
Thankfully, Google, other search engines, as well as discerning internet users increasingly ignore them.
Like the earlier mentioned radio presenter pointed out, many successful people we know actually started by recording a lot of failures, till they learnt enough to succeed.
It’s so easy to use quotes. But DOING what the quotes say is a totally different proposition.
Those we quote, often drew from their own experience based knowledge to utter such deeply inspiring and/or enlightening truths.
By following the same process of doing, we can also develop noteworthy expertise in our various fields of interest. And we’ll eventually begin to discover – and share – truths that others will want to put on marble as quotable quotes!
Final Words: Quotable Quotes Come from Paying the Price of “Experience”
It won’t matter how much – or for how long – a person engages in self-delusion. Without practical experience, s/he is unlikely to achieve sustainable and noteworthy success, in any vocation.
When we hear quotable quotes, they often readily make sense. Sometimes we even wonder why we never thought of them ourselves.
And that’s often why they become quotable!
Those who utter them have often been exposed to visual, physical, psychological or even emotional experiences that made them arrive at such powerful insights.
Just like Quotable Quotes, Authentic Writing Success will only come to people who pay the price of experience…by doing it right .
And that, is what “quotable quotes” and “writing success” have in common.
I’ll leave you with the following quote by Ernest Hemingway (taken from Maria Popova’s article on Brainpickings.org). It offers insights relevant to the theme of this article:
“There are some things which cannot be learned quickly and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man’s life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave.” – Ernest Hemingway
Just like Edison, Hemingway’s life story reveals that he made the above assertion based on deep personal experience.
The rest of us would be wise to emulate them.
Should You Worry If Your Child NEVER Gets In Trouble? (4 Tips)
What I propose in this piece is likely to be a bit controversial. But you probably already know I have no problems voicing my opinion
Read this article with an open mind and you will see the point I’m making.
I’ve explained in past articles that intelligent mistake making is an effective way to learn. It is also my experience based opinion, that the best time to learn is when your failures result in minimal damage.
And one such period is during childhood.
1. Succeeding In the Real World Requires Strength of Character
My failures (and they are MANY!!) as an entrepreneur, convince me I’m right about this.
These devastating failures came despite the fact that I’d excelled academically right through university…and also enjoyed rapid career advancement for 7 years as a well paid, high performing manager in a large multinational.
But one thing saved me during those periods of severe trials and tribulations.
It was the mental toughness/character I formed in my teens.
Without it, this daily Self-Development Nuggets blog or my weekly speaking IDEAS newsletter would not exist. Neither would my books, custom Excel-VB spreadsheet software, Web Marketing Systems development service, YouTube educational/demonstration videos, or Cost-Saving Farm Business Support Service.
My point is: I’m just one guy. But for over 2 decades, people have asked me how I manage to do many different things so well – and at the same time – with seemingly endless passion.
If truth be told, it has to do with a decision I took early in life, due to a crisis I suffered (See 2. below).
And that is why I’m convinced getting in trouble early in life can be VERY useful preparation, for succeeding – in spite of adversity – in adult life.
2. How Getting In Trouble Helped Me Develop Strength of Character (True Story)
I started getting into trouble very early – before I clocked 10 years e.g by stealing money from my mother’s purse, and pieces of meat from her pot. I eventually got caught and punished.
At the age of 10, in my first secondary school year, I stupidly let four older classmates copy my answer scripts (and they did so verbatim!) in the promotional exams. We got caught and asked to repeat the year.
My parents moved me to boarding school, in another state (six hours away), to start over.
I did well right into my final year – and even got appointed Health Prefect.
Then I got into trouble again….and was suspended for 2 weeks!
I (along with another prefect, and others) skipped classes. Then we caught, roasted and ate bush rats (and even chickens reared by teaching staff – including the principal’s) – in the dormitory!
We got suspended just a few months to the final certification exams.
Thankfully, I passed the exams, due in no small way to a threat by my Dad. He basically said that was the only way I could get his forgiveness.
Facing the consequences of my actions forced me to toughen up mentally.
Knowing others are whispering about what you’ve done can be painful. I loathed myself!
While serving my 2 week suspension, I resolved never to let myself feel that way again. That decision has since helped me overcome many great temptations in my adult life (no exaggeration).
3. A Child Who Never Gets In Trouble: Is That a Good or Bad Thing?
Real character is formed – and tested – through exposure to challenges.
It may be hard to accept, but getting in trouble is one of the most effective ways for kids to learn what not to do. And as long as they are repentant, kids who get into trouble often turn out okay.
Many even tend to mature into better rounded adults, than those who don’t get into trouble.
If you think back to your own childhood, you may probably recall it was the same for you.
A child who gets into trouble, give us an opportunity to peek into his/her true tendencies.
As a parent (and I always tell my kids this), I prefer a child who periodically gets into trouble, to one who never does.
Sounds crazy I know, but it’s not.
Reflecting on my personal experiences and studying others makes me believe this.
A child who NEVER gives problems can be a time-bomb waiting to explode in adulthood.
I’m not saying a child who does not get into trouble will end up badly. No. But s/he may end up lacking the capacity – and competence – to deal with adversity in adulthood.
It is also my considered opinion, that the parent of a child who does get into trouble, if attentive, can gain useful insights into what the child will or will not do.
And that can be useful.
4. How You React As a Parent Is Very Important
Smart parents will use the opportunity to mould their child’s evolving character.
That’s what my parents did for me, with the feedback they gave me each time I went wrong.
And that’s why I’m already doing the same thing for my kids – starting with my 14 year old son.
Do the same for your kids. Avoid excessively rebuking (or worse, condemning) them.
If you check properly, it’s likely that some people in living history have done similar (or worse) things, and still gone on to noteworthy achievements in life.
So, when your child gets into trouble, aim to help him/her do the same.
At the end of the day, that’s really what life is all about.