Category Archives: My DN Travel News

2 Dangers of Using Social Media As Your Business Home

If you promote your business primarily by using social media as your base platform, you’re likely to shoot yourself in the foot. And very badly too. Read this article to learn 2 important reasons why you will be better off using your own website as a base, while your social media profiles function as secondary marketing channels.

Like every results focussed business owner, you work so hard promoting your business using Social Media as your primary marketing platform.

However if you continue doing this, you’re likely to hurt your business more than you can help it.

1. You Need To Be In Control of What Happens To Your Brand’s Marketing Vehicle

What if one day the Social Media websites you depend on change their rules and terms?

They’ve done it before. They all do it.

These Social Media entities are constantly testing, tweaking and even reinventing. They like to set trends.

The implication is that you’re never really in control of your primary business promotion channel.

Google, for instance, keeps giving website owners grief by changing the rules just as people are getting their website search engine optimization back on track.

LinkedIn.com recently restricted access to my profile claiming they noticed suspicious activity in my account. They asked me to send proof of my identity. I sent my scanned international passport weeks ago, but I don’t think they’ve unlocked it.

2. You Need To Build A Professional Image

Luckily for me, my core business promotion medium is my website (www.spontaneousdevelopment.com), and the blog (www.sdacademy.org) linked to it.

Social media simply serve as secondary support channel.

I strongly recommend you adopt a similar fail safe approach.

You can get a wordpress or Joomla based website up and running at zero cost. Both come as free installations with most web hosting accounts. These 2 Content Management Systems make it easy for even a non-techie to update her website. The former is however easier to learn and has a larger user base.

Don’t go for free website hosting services. That would amount to the same thing as using Facebook or Twitter as your base.

Purchase a hosting account from a reliable provider. If you run a business, you need to own the primary business marketing medium you use.

The truth is that you will never have a final say over a free yourname.blogspot.com blog – the company hosting it will.

Even if they don’t change anything, you must remenber that online companies offering free services can shut down operations anytime.

Many pocket friendly web hosting companies abound online. A good example is www.hostgator.com who I’ve found to quite supportive and flexibly responsive to client needs (note that I’m not an affiliate – but with the great experience I’ve had with them, I plan to be).

You can purchase cheap but reliable hosting at $60 to $70 from my experience based assessment of the average person’s needs, from working with clients in different industries since 2004.

Most hosts will register a domain name for you free for the first year if you purchase a full year of hosting. You then pay approx $10 per year from the 2nd year. That comes to $80 max per year for both domain registration and website hosting.

As you can see, a website can be run on a shoe string budget.

Try as much as possible to register a domain name that reflects what you do.

Also make sure your business email address is based on your domain. You don’t look professional when you display an email address based on Yahoo’s free for all email service!

If you are concerned about email storage problems with respect to exhausting the disk space provided by your host, simply set your domain based mails to automatically foward a copy of every mail that arrives to your free (Yahoo.com, gmail etc) email account inbox.

Then you will be able to free up space in your domain based email box by deleting from the oldest to the newest.

Final Words: Take Action Before It’s Too Late

I’m writing this from Porto Novo in Benin Republic, at the famous Songhai Integrated Farming Centre.

Like I said on my website on Monday, I’m travelling across West Africa offering educational talks for businesses, organisations and solo entrepreneurs.

The main theme is how they can use Web Marketing in conjunction with Public Speaking for low cost but high impact business promotion.

What I’ve told you here is what I’ll be telling people out here.

I urge you to adopt the above approach, to protect all the hard work you’re doing to build your brand.

And I suggest you get started as soon as possible.

Goodluck!

3 Ways Travelling Can Prepare Your Child To Succeed (Features Pix of a Cameroonian Michael Jackson :-)

Picture below is of a guy I named “Cameroonian Micheal Jackson”...Your child is likely to see unique and exciting sights like those in the pictures below, if s/he travels and explores beyond the world she already knows.

This enterprising chap was doing an impressive version of Michael Jackson’s moon walk in Douala’s Marché Mokolo (Mokolo market). Hundreds gathered to watch him for over 10 minutes. I’m not a dance expert, but I think he did a great job of it!

Pix 4. Cameroonian Micheal Jackson!

Marcel Bich (now late) was the manufacturer and cofounder of the cheap, disposable Bic pens, razors and lighters. I once read an interview in which he revealed that travelling with his father really provided him an education that schools could never have given him. This insight apparently served him well – considering that he built great wealth, by creating cheap but highly desirable products.

1. Travel Helps You Demystify Life In General

In 1982, as a 12 year old, I began playing competitive handball for my secondary school and over time got invited to the state team (but always got dropped before most major competitions!). This was in Ilorin, Kwara state.

Moving to the university in Ibadan in 1987, I secured, from my first year a regular first team shirt on the varsity and hall teams. As you may know, travel to and from competition in different places happens a lot in sports.

It was during these formative years that I developed my passion for taking photographs and traveling.

When I eventually became a brewer in Guinness Nigeria, Benin City, most of my colleagues knew that about me. After completing my 3rd night shift in a row (earning 3 days off), I would take off on a trip to a state I’d never visited before, just to see what it was like. I was restless and hungry to explore and discover and learn. I still am.

At 3.00a.m in the morning I’ve walked the streets in different cities during my crazy travels as bachelor (mostly when I was off shift duty, or when I was on annual leave).

I once travelled by night across the border from Ikom in Nigeria to Ekok in Cameroon. Then I took another bus headed for Douala. But we had to stop (and sleep in the bus!) at 1.00a.m in Kumba. Then at 5.00a.m when the driver said it was safer, we resumed.

While in Cameroon, I moved around Douala and Yaoundé on foot and by car – mixing with the locals, to practice my spoken French, in the hope of becoming fluent. My hosts sent me to stay with a family friend at Mendong – a rural community – where I got a real feel for something close to the village life there. It was exciting (see photos below).

I ate local meals like Bobolo (solidified rubbery cooked starch meal made into long fingers) with roasted fish, as well as Achu (a delicacy made from Cocoyam, popular with the Akum people).

Pix 1: Eating Achu with my host’s wife

(NB: I made these digital copies of the original photos from my 1999 visit to Cameroon using my Blackberry Camera before leaving Lagos last week. The phone’s video and picture recording has been acting funny since then. At the bottom of this post is the ONLY picture I took that I’ve been able to retrieve since getting here. It keeps giving an error message. I’m looking at downloading all my data and formatting the memory card. Gremlins…?)

Pix 1: Eating Achu with my host’s wife

On my return journey to Nigeria (having no funds) I was forced to travel across the Atlantic Ocean for 12 hours, under heavy rainfall, from 7pm till 7a.m. Along with many others the means of transportation was a large rickety motor powered boat!

2. And It Opens Doors to New Friendships, and Exciting Opportunities

Anytime I run into Cameroonians, we usually hit it off instantly because they are often pleased to hear me speak so knowledgeably about areas some told me they’d never been.

For instance, while in Yaoundé, I went on a trip to a place called “Oballa” where I attended a convention organized by a youth group supporting the Cameroonian president. I did it just on a whim. But it was a journey that took some hours from the city. When I returned at 10pm, my host was amazed to learn I’d gone that far. She’d never been there!

Pix 2: Standing in front of country house in Mendong

Pix 2: Standing in front of country house in Mendong

Looking back I sometimes wondered if I had not gone too far – but the thrill I felt from seeing what others simply talked about based on hear say, convinced me I had not. That exposure also taught me some people voice opinions about things they do not know.

When you travel – and you stay open minded (especially if you start at a young age) – you develop a flexible view of the world. Your views and opinions become more balanced because travel exposes you to the variety that the world has to offer.

It helps you realize that your small corner of the world is just that – your tiny little corner! Outside it, a much bigger world exists that for the most part operates very differently from the perception you have of your world.

Pix 3: One the road to Kumba – an SUV was stuck in the mud (imagine that!)

Pix 3: One the road to Kumba – an SUV was stuck in the mud (imagine that!)

Pix 3: One the road to Kumba – our bus was also stuck in the mud (I'm the one in the black T-Shirt looking back at the camera

Like I revealed in my article about my journey across the Atlantic Ocean in 1999, I was to reap the rewards for my efforts at learning French the hard way in 2001. Guinness Nigeria selected me along with four senior managers to attend a one week International Coaching Conversations Facilitators’ Workshop held in Hotel Aqua Palace in Douala.

During that week, my colleagues would witness me speaking French with the expatriate Managing Director of Guinness Cameroon, who later announced to them that he was impressed. What’s more, during the course, when the possibility of having facilitators from Nigeria come over to collaborate with those in Cameroon.

The expatriate female course coordinator from the UK noted that if anyone from Nigeria was most prepared to play that role, it was me. I was already familiar with the place, the people and the language.

It goes without saying that going back in Nigeria, my senior colleagues with whom I attended the course regarded me differently. One actually announced that my achievement had made him resolve to learn French as well.

It did not end there. Maurice Diekem, a manager with Guinness Cameroon, would – at the end of the course – invite me over to his home and hosted me from Friday till Sunday. He took me round town in his SUV, to meet friends – and even arranged for me to visit those I’d stayed with when I
visited two years earlier.

And that’s what travel can do for anyone who indulges in it!

3. Your Creativity Is Stimulated By Exposure to a Variety of Worlds

Well travelled people – especially those who did it from when they were young – tend to be open-minded, and creative. My personal experiences indicate that extensive travel offers powerful educational benefits useful for achieving personal advancement.

Indeed many well schooled people who do little or no travel, will often be at an instant disadvantage when pitched against less schooled, but well travelled counterparts. I’ve actually seen this happen repeatedly in real life.

Exposure to a variety of experiences can be most enriching. Human beings learn best from experience. And when you have an opportunity to travel to different places, you get the unique privilege of seeing the way things are done in different climes.

Your brain gets greatly stimulated from discovering that different societies achieve the same goals using different methods. It makes you realize that beyond what the smartest people in your world know or think, there are equally smart (if not smarter) people in other places who know better ways to do the same thing!

The problem is when a society comprises mostly people who know no other ways of living, few, if at all any of them, will believe things can be done differently.

If progress is to happen, it starts with people thinking differently from the way they always have.

You/Your Child Can Travel Through Others – But it’s Best To Do It Yourself!

With the help of Tim Ferris, and others like him, many people are able to fulfill (to some extent) their dreams getting exposure to other worlds. The Internet itself makes that possible in many ways.

You could possibly do that – especially if your work and personal responsibilities leave you little room to do otherwise.

However, for the sake of your kids, you might want to do more.

I say this because ultimately, the best way to really do this would be to get out of your comfort zone and go where you’ve never been. And find ways take your family with you.

Get away from the safety nets you’ve put in place for yourself. You need to be willing become vulnerable all over again – like you once were as a baby – so you can learn to walk (figuratively speaking) all over again.

By the time you’re done, you’ll find you have a totally new, much smarter perspective of life and what it’s really about.

You may not even have to travel far. There are places within your country or region you can explore which will greatly enrich you.

Final Words: Let Your Kids Become Well Rounded Personalities

Some people only know the routes leading to and from their homes, office, church, clubs and other venues in their immediate neighborhood. You can do better than that.

This is especially important for your kids. Let them grow up to be well rounded personalities that others would enjoy interacting with for their balanced perspective and depth of insights.

Travel based education will give them that.

So, why not let them have that in addition to the normal schooling you’re giving them?

One Last Thing…

By way of interest, I still do the travel thing as often as I can. This time as an entrepreneur.

In 2005, I visited Ghana on an exploratory business trip for 2 weeks.

And this month (April) I launched a new plan to do it at a higher level – as a Location Independent Entrepreneur (who earns income from both online and offline activities).

Right now, I’m writing this from my hotel room in Cotonou, Benin Republic. I arrived here Monday 1st April 2013, and will be exploring opportunities to travel slowly across West Africa, over the months that follow.

Click here to read full details of what I’m offering to do to help Africa based professionals and business owners improve their ability to succeed.

 

Who knows…if you’re a decision maker in West Africa, you may wish to invite me to give one of my No-Fee talks to members of your group or organisation (?) I already have exciting stories of my experiences to share with audiences. I’d love to hear from you(click)!

Pix 5: Framed hand crafted map of Benin Republic bounded by neighboring West African states – displayed in the reception of a hotel.

Pix 5: Framed hand crafted map of Benin Republic bounded by neighboring West African states – displayed in the reception of a hotel.

Going The Extra Mile, Can Make You A High-Flyer At Work!

This is another in a series of articles I have committed to writing, to help career persons in paid employment. If you aspire to climb high, as fast as possible, up the corporate ladder, in the organization you work for, this article can help you. I outline practical steps you can take to set yourself up to succeed as quickly as possible – based on real life successes I achieved as a high performing employee in a multinational corporate organisation.

First, You Need To Understand the Formal Rules & Requirements

When you think about it, you’ll realize that most of what a person needs to get ahead in life is an understanding of requirements and rules. It’s the same thing in paid employment as well as elsewhere.

In sports for example, you need to know what rules guide the playing of a particular sport, so you do not go against them. It’s the same thing in paid employment. You must also understand what is expected of you – to qualify for a promised reward from the organization e.g. a salary, bonus, commission, promotion etc.

Talk to your boss. Read the company handbook (if available). Talk to experienced hand, the Human Resources department etc. Once you know the requirements and rules, you can then devise a plan(s) of action that you can use to excel based on those set conditions.

Next, Find Out What the Unwritten Rules and Requirements Are

There are sometimes unwritten rules and requirements, based on an established work culture and/or past occurrences.

Accepted alternative ways of doing things that may not be formally documented. If you are not familiar with them, it could hurt your ambitions. Sometimes it pays to know what you can get away with – or tested ways of getting things done, and what not to do.

Identify those knowledgeable about such workplace subtleties. There are people like that everywhere. They have exceptional social skills. What the French call Savoir Faire (know-how). They often have their ears to the ground about what’s worked – or has not.

Spending time with people like that can open your eyes to opportunities you probably would never discover otherwise. You would be able to make use of that information when needed.

Street-wisdom is important. No one can be perfect, but it’s best to learn as fast – and often – as possible, to increase the chances of success. Knowing the unspoken rules and requirements, and how to make the most of them is one way to acquire street-wisdom.

True Story: How Ignorance of an Unspoken Rule Can Hurt Your Ambitions

As a young brewer, my senior colleagues who had been on the job five or more years before I joined often regaled me with entertaining anecdotes. One especially instructive one was about a young brewer whose boss asked him to perform an unauthorized procedure in the production process. This was to recover lost time and achieve the target output.

Being a greenhorn, the brewer naively implemented the instruction without requesting a written instruction to that effect. Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong did. It was a mess that cost the company a handsome amount in hours lost and product damage.

But during the investigation, the brewer’s boss bluntly denied ever instructing him to go against standard procedure. The young man literally broke down in tears, surprised at how his boss had disowned him. Luckily, the management decided to let him off with a warning, since he was new on the job.

Five years later that brewer would always warn new brewers to insist on a signed memo from their superior in the event that they face a similar challenge.

Now that is an example of an unspoken rule that could determine your success or failure in the workplace.

Also, Know the Company You Work For, and Be Clear About Your Role in It

By “knowing the company” I mean getting to know who the decision makers at different levels of hierarchy are. Your boss, and his/her boss, and the next, until you get to the top.

Each of these people will communicate his/her desired result, typically derived from a need to achieve the company’s goal, to his/her subordinate(s). At some point, the desired result will be translated into specific tasks for people at your level.

So long as each person does his/her assigned bit, the overall company goal will often be accomplished.

Once you gain this understanding, it will be easier to appreciate the role you have to play in the entire scheme of things in your position of responsibility. It is the lack of understanding of how the role they play, fits into the big company picture, that makes many employees fail to take their jobs as seriously as they should.

This limited insight also prevents them from seizing opportunities that appear, to proactively introduce improvements that would help the company excel.

Go the Extra Mile to Know A Little Bit About Other People’s Jobs & Help Them!

Just as is the case in life, the key to becoming a high flyer in an organisation, is to possess real world relevant competencies, which enable you deliver results your company wants.

So once you’ve taken the steps outlined above, the next smart thing to do is to go out and get as much exposure to varied workplace experiences as possible.

If you know you really want to excel, to be a really high flyer in your company, do this with resolute tenacity, and integrity.

Do it every day, and at every opportunity you can get. Learn everything you can about how others do their jobs, and then actively explore ways to help them do better whenever you can.

Those who are sincere, especially those who benefit from your efforts ,will appreciate you. Eventually, word will get around about your versatility and passion for being a great team player. People often like a team player who can be useful in many ways to them.

There will always be the cynics and critics who see only the negative side of what you do. Ignore them. Snide remarks, nicknames etc…those will only last for a while.

Once you begin to achieve your goals, those same people will show unmasked admiration for you – and some may even ask you “How did/do you do it? What’s your secret?

Question: Can This Plan Work?

Answer: Yes. It worked for me. I became a high-flyer, gaining company wide recognition for my achievements, within 3 years of joining a large multinational corporation – using the steps outlined above.

After another 3 years, I had achieved career advancements that put me well ahead of others ten years my seniors on the job.

If I could do it, then so can you.

TIP: Click here to view details about my past life in paid employment. The link opens into a new window – scroll down the right column to About Tayo…In a previous life. You can request my full PDF resume using the form).

On that page, you will also see scrolling testimonials from others that I coached (even after leaving the company) who wrote to thank me for the progress they made by applying the strategies I taught them –which I’ve described in this article.

And if you want, I offer customisable talks and coaching programs on-demand to interested groups and organisations. I’m currently in Benin Republic as part of a slow trip across West Africa. If you’re a decision maker, you can invite me over to your country, to speak to members of your team. Click here to learn more.

If I (and they) could do it, then so can you :-)

Update: Checked into hotel (Why I’m keeing my destinations and location secret for now)

Hi,

I’ve just checked into a hotel room in the capital of a Francophone West African nation. You have take my word for it for now that I AM really outside Nigeria :-)

At least my family knows I’m telling the truth – as does Burt Dubin who I’ve already emailed from my Blackberry on arrival.

About Blood Sucking Vampires

Later in the week I’ll explain why I’ve kept my destinations and location a “secret” for now: it’s due to the activities of people Chris Guillebeau says a friend of his called “Blood sucking vampires who want you to fail”. More on this later in the week.

Thanks to Burt Dubin for letting me know the link to the newsletter in the first email broadcase that went out this morning  was bad. Here’s the newsletter proper.

I hope you enjoy reading it.

Hunting for the Super Star Commercial Rabbit Farmer

I’m going out to find my 700,000 rabbit breeding entrepreneur based in this city tomorrow morning. My plan is to request an interview with him, which I’ll publish as a video, audio and text. Then I also intend to see if I can get his consent to use photographs from his facility (which I’ve seen in videos) in my work in progress guide on Commercial Rabbit Farming.

Hooking Up With Handballers

I’ve discovered Handball courts looking in excellent condition out here – and a lot of people seem to know about the game. That’s great because I intend hooking up with active players to see if I can join them in training. That’s a strategy I’ve found quite effective for breaking myself in whenever I’ve travelled. When people see that you’re a lover (better still a  competitive player) of their sport, they warm up to you.

There’s Power Supply!

Oh yeah…in case you’re in Nigeria, and wondering: YES, there’s electricity. And YES the people take it for granted. They expect to have it. I’m certainly glad I don’t have to plan to stop over at the fuel station this evening to buy fuel into  kegs for my generator!

Got some work to do tonight – have to create a slideshow presentation for meetings I’ll be having later in the week.

See you later – will upload the photos I’ve taken later in the week.

How to Jump Start Your Speaking Career (7 Steps) – By Burt Dubin

NEWS (Nigeria) : Expert Jump Starts International Speaking Career by Traveling Across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur.

This issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter is based on text transcript excerpts I created from Burt Dubin’s recorded responses to a question from a caller to a SpeakerMatch teleseminar.  Sandy (according to the host – Brian Caplovitz) called in saying “she was a great speaker but no one knew her, and she wanted to know what steps she could take, to jump start her career”.

From here on, you have my partly paraphrased version of Burt’s response…

Now this will not be an encyclopaedic answer…It will be the best I can give you in a couple of minutes.

1. You Absolutely Must Have, Must Have, Must Have A Website

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW FULL ISSUE

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

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Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter

Date: Monday 1st April 2013

No:83

Title: How to Jump Start Your Speaking Career (7 Steps) – By Burt Dubin

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,

Thanks to Burt Dubin for letting me know the link to the newsletter in the first email I sent was bad. Here’s the newsletter proper. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Click here to About My Entrepreneurship Adventures As I Travel Across West Africa

No. 83: How to Jump Start Your Speaking Career (7 Steps) – By Burt Dubin

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

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.sdacademy.org 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 :-)

**********

NEWS (Nigeria) : Expert Jump Starts International Speaking Career by Traveling Across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur.

This issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter is based on text transcripts excerpts I created from Burt Dubin‘s recorded responses to a question from a caller to a SpeakerMatch teleseminar. Sandy (according to the host – Brian Caplovitz) called in saying “she was a great speaker but no one knew her, and she wanted to know what steps she could take, to jump start her career“.

From here on, you have my partly paraphrased version of Burt’s response…

Now this will not be an encyclopaedic answer…It will be the best I can give you in a couple of minutes.

1. You Absolutely Must Have, Must Have, Must Have A Website

I’m not going to tell you how to build a website here. But do research. See what other speakers’ websites are about. Look at my website burtdubin.com – well it’s not so much a speaker’s website, as a speaker’s mentor’s website.

There are however principles there. Among the principles, be live on your website. I’m live on my website! You’ll see me there. And say the things to respond to the interests of the people who are your market.

Don’t talk about how good you are. Rather refer to the various ways in which you make them look good and be good. Speak about benefits for them, and not about you.

2. Start an E-zine

For example I have an e-zine. Mine happens to be a monthly. It’s out there every month normally as a rule. Usually goes out the first Tuesday of the month (I sometimes miss by a couple of days).

So have an e-zine, and in that e-zine address issues and concerns of interest to the market that you serve. And somewhere in there, invite them to contact you to talk about engaging you, to speak, to train, ah to educate – whatever it may be that you do.

To signup for my e-zine, see the end of this article.

3. Develop Personal Qualities That Will Make You Succeed

You need to deeply believe in what you do. You need to have character. Strength of character. You need to have authenticity.

You also need to have integrity. Resolute integrity: There are no degrees in integrity. There’s no such…there’s no such thing as a partial virgin. You are or you aren’t. Well that’s how integrity is. You have it or you don’t!

If you have all of these things, and if you have “Fire in your belly”. If you absolutely will not give up – you will be reasonably equipped to get off to a good start.

Now on top of all that, there’s something else too…

4. Make Yourself An Expert On Something

Be an expert on something. Don’t be an expert on something people won’t pay for.

Be an expert on something the world needs.

If you deal on personal development, be an expert on something that helps people develop. If you deal with organizations and most of us do, then you must think in terms of what’s going on within the organization.

What do they want? Well let me tell you something about what organizations want.

Number one: They want return to shareholders. In other words they want to make money so they can pay their stockholders money.

Number two: They want the presidemt, the CEO, the managing director to look good.

These are the two top concerns.

There’s a third one: The Chief Executive, the CEO of the organization wants to look good himself or herself as the case may be.

How does this happen? By enhancing productivity. By enhancing profits, By enhancing sales. By market penetration.

Now I have just named 4 things: Productivity, profits, sales, market penetration by enhancing the ability, relationships, communication.

Now these are various topics which any speaker can learn about by doing research. Make of yourself an expert at some aspect of something organizations want.

Make yourself so skilled at understanding that, and then tie that in with what’s going on in that organization, within their market, among their people.

And do it with fluency, with passion, with deep belief.

5. Know The Major Market for Speakers & What Their Decision Makers Want

For speakers the major market is the Association Market – Professional and Trade Associations (especially in North America).

Let me tell you what is on the mind of the decision maker who can hire speakers for trade and professional associations.

More than anything else, they want perpetuation of dues income. Write that down. Perpetuation of dues income.

Why? Because dues are the oxygen of the organization.

Without dues they’ve got nothing. What do you do? What will you say that will help them get their members to renew every year?

What else do they want? They want members to come to the meetings.

This is because most associations…my own the National Speakers Association for instance, generates more revenue from their annual meetings than from their dues!

That’s how most associations are. Now if they want members to come to the meeting, what must they do?

They must give members value. They must invite speakers that will address issues close to the hearts, the interests, the needs, the challenges the concerns, of the people who are coming to the meeting.

6. Get Useful FREE Resources from My Website

If you want to be added to my list click here. You’ll see a little sign in form.

And not only will you start to receive the current issue when the next issue comes out. But there will be a place there to go to see on my blog, a year or 2 of past issues, all of which are free. All of which are good. All of which reek of wisdom, as does this transcript of my teleseminar call as a guest on Brian Caplovitz’s SpeakerMatch Radio.

I know you know that. No ego in that. It’s simply the truth.

Also on my website, you’ll find 35 downloadable and printable articles by me, all full of more speaking business wisdom. This is a passion of mine. This is what I’ve studied with the ardour of a lover. I don’t know how to put it, I just love this business!

And I love seeing people succeed in this business, and make the difference they wanna make in the world. And so get all of that stuff which is FREE – FREE, FREE, FREE! I won’t even know you’ve gotten it, because I don’t see who goes and downloads my stuff.

7. To Get Started Even Faster, You Can Hire Me!

And if you want, I am a Mentor for Speakers in Africa and across the world. You can send me an email and enquire(click now).

I have products that you can invest in, all with a one year money back guarantee. All of that. I won’t let anyone lose when they do business with me.

My clients succeed as you may know. You’ll see a bunch of blurbs by my clients (click here to view now  – some of them earning several hundred thousands dollars a year. And I’ll tell you this – with phone numbers by the way, these are real people!

So, get started jump starting your career…and Good luck! (If you need more inspiration, read this past issue of the Speaking IDEAS newsletter titled “How to Do the Impossible (5 Tips You Can Use)

Quote by William Hutchinson Murray about the importance of making a commitment to a practical implementation of a plan to achieve one's goal

NEWS (Nigeria) : Expert Jump Starts International Speaking Career by Traveling Across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur

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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, call me on 234-803-302-1263 or email tayo at tksola dot com.

Alternatively, send me a message using this request form (with “Re: How to Jump Start Your Speaking Career ” in the subject line).

SD Nuggets Blog

New posts from last week that may interest you!
Public Speaking

[Monday]:

Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:

Self Development [Wednesday]:

Career Development [Thursday]:

Parenting [Friday]:

Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Click now

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

Mobile: 234-803-302-1263

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

Tayo Solagbade is a Performance Improvement Specialist & multipreneur. He works with individuals/businesses who want to achieve highly profitable outcomes, and also with parents who want to raise real-world competent children.

Tayo 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).

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).

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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.

View Tayos video tutorials and demonstrations on Facebook Productivity Tips, Web Marketing, and for his Custom MS Excel-VB driven software applicationsConnect with Tayo on LinkedIn.comConnect with Tayo on Facebook.comConnect with Tayo on Twitter.comConnect with Tayo on Google Plus

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.

Get mentored by Burt Dubin - coach of some of the world's highest paid public speakers

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Why A True Entrepreneur Cannot Fail

“There is no such thing as an entrepreneur who failed. Only one who gave up.” – James Cook, author of the Startup Entrepreneur.

There will always be good and bad times in life. But during hard times, the mind can play tricks on you. The successes you’ve achieved before could even begin to look ordinary. Negative remarks about your situation can really deal your self-belief a blow. Especially, when they come from those close to you. What will YOUR story be? This article offers insights to help you intelligently persist in pursuit of your dream.

Carry Yourself with Confidence at All Times

Anywhere you go, display infectious enthusiasm in relating with others. The confidence you have in yourself should show in the way you carry yourself, and also how you speak.

No one will believe in you if you cannot show that you believe in yourself!

Therefore keep your chin up at all times – even when things are bad (in your estimation). Be proud of yourself for having the guts to do something meaningful with your life.

“Without enthusiasm, one cannot be convincing. Moreover, enthusiasm is contagious and the person who has it, under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.” – Napoleon Hill

When You Refuse To Give Up, People Will Talk About You – Get Used To It!

When you persist in pursuit of your dream, you’ll be around longer. That means more people will get to know about you – and what you’re trying to do. And if you keep acting with confidence and enthusiasm, you’re bound to attract scrutiny from people who feel intimidated by your unwavering self-belief and faith.

That’s why I believe one of the best signs that you’re making progress is when people start talking about you. And they may not always have nice things to say!

“Talk good about me, or talk bad about me. So long as you’re talking about me, it’s all good”.

I’ve heard/read the above saying in varying forms over the years. And I’ve found it to be true. So, don’t let it bother you.

Tuface Idibia and M.I did a song together that I love for its lyrics. Especially the part that goes thus:

“If nobody talks about you, then you are nobody.”

And they’re right.

Think about it, if you did not matter; if you were not making an impact that was being felt, would they devote their time and energy to talking about you?  The fact that they’re doing that means you matter. And it also suggests what you’re doing directly or indirectly challenges them in one or more ways.

Quite often I’ve found that those who talk about me, sometimes with malicious intent, are those who see that I’ve carried on in spite of myriad setbacks. They see that I’m never going to stop. That probably explains why some have even plotted/schemed with others to bring me down. No exaggeration here.

That’s the way of the world. You need to understand that everyday that you get up to go after your goals, you WILL prove such people wrong. And some are bound to be driven to try and redress that imbalance.

How far they will go, will depend on how desperate they are, and the nature of checks and balances existing in the society you operate.

But one thing is certain. No matter what they do, as long as you never give up, your success is inevitable.

Keep that it mind. And you’ll never fail. Period.

Get Coaching Support

If you’re passing through a difficult phase and need guidance to enable you persist intelligently signup for my Performance Improvement coaching.

You’ll learn how to use every period of adversity you experience as a stepping stone to the next level of success you desire. And suddenly, you’ll find yourself welcoming adversity anytime it makes an appearance, because you’ll be confident of your ability to overcome it to get where you want to go!

Click here to learn more about how I can help you.

Now That YOUR Website Is Up, What Do You Do Next?

NB: This original version of this article was first published online on 2011-11-04 (November 2011) on my 9 year old spontaneousdevelopment.com domain (now defunct).

I visited the venue of the “Getting Nigerian Businesses Online”(GNBO) 5 day event (at Grandeur Events Centre at Billings way, Oregun) on day 2 – Tuesday 1st November 2011 – and was intrigued by the turnout of Nigerian business owners to take advantage of the offer:

The packed venue was a reminder of the fact that PEOPLE love freebies!

Due to other commitments I did not however plan to stay long.

I quickly made enquiries about stages involved in getting the promised FREE websites up (so I could pass the details on to interested others), and learnt the only payment required was for domain registration.

That made sense, since Google’s hosting came FREE. The customised system used by the providers is based on Google’s FREE wizard driven SITE BUILDER interface.

Before I left, I struck up a conversation with one CEO who was leaving, after having setup up his site. In the course of our discussion, I asked him:

Now that you’ve gotten YOUR website up, what next?…What will you say on it?…How will you do promote it?…Are you going to be placing adverts on TV, Radio, in papers, or on Facebook, Google?

Guess what? He thought I was “blowing grammar!”Needless to say our discussion did not last long. Hmm, I guess NOT everyone sees what is possible. Some people are just OK doing what others are doing.

I started building websites FREE for clients over 3 years ago, because I understood this often overlooked, but crucial point.

Many prospects often asked me in surprise “But why do you build websites free? How then do you make money?

I always pointed out that advancements in web technology now equip ANYONE, including 5 year olds, to build dynamic/database driven websites with a few clicks, and without ANY technical knowledge.

An example is Joomla! – a powerful open source Content Management System used by millions to build websites. Yet another is WordPress. So, what I do is get clients to pay me for content copy writing, and custom automated web marketing systems development.

Sadly, many web professionals out here failed to “get it”, and suggested that I built sites FREE, only because my design skills were poor.

In reality however, I never waste my time doing much design. Way back in 2007, I began offering to do it FREE – using 3rd party customizable templates and themes for clients.

If a client insists on a particular aesthetic appearance that I cannot fit into my FREE design offer, I encourage him/her to engage someone to get it done to his/her “tastes”.

But I emphasize that s/he make sure to provide usability features and functions I specify, to enable me develop and implement a Web Marketing System that works – using the finished website design that is handed over to me.

With this GNBO FREE offer (promoted via TV, Radio, Print media and online) to millions in their target market, I’m certain that not a few of those short sighted developers will be having nightmares right now.

For me, many GNBO beneficiaries are now potential Web Marketing clients I can approach!

To make money, you need to make salesBuilding a website is only the FIRST step in the process.

Making your website BRING you potential customers should be your focus.

If you don’t have a plan for making that happen (a plan that should ideally influence the building/design of the site itself), your website will be a DRAIN pipe for your money. Period.

Now That Your Site Is Up, I Propose You Take (At Least) The Steps Below

These are basic components of a plan I would recommend. You can learn about other components, by reading other articles I have written on business marketing.

1. Your Website Content:

This should ideally happen during setup. But it’s never too late. Your site’s content should be response generating i.e. compelling enough to make some visitors contact you, or respond to your offer(s). Evaluate your content. If you can’t do it yourself, hire a competent specialist to give you a CONTENT CRITIQU! E. S/he can help you re-write it, should that become necessary. If you need help, call me.

2. Your Mailing List:

You NEED to generate sales leads, that you can follow up. If setup right, your website should periodically HARVEST contact information of potential customers, into your website mailing list. Mailing list software with signup forms abound.

Many hosting providers offer single click installation of these tools. Offer freebies on your site, to entice visitors to leave their names, emails, phone numbers etc. Over time, you will be able to MINE this data, to achieve financially rewarding responses.

3. Your Follow Up:

2 ideas readily come to mind here.

Launch a branded website newsletter, and an Article Marketing campaign. Use your mailing list software to send messages at decent intervals to subscribers – intelligently making product/service offers and announcements in those broadcasts, every now and then. Keep at it long enough, and you’ll notice MORE subscribers and opportunities to close sales will come up.

Ignore Nay Sayers: Adopt A Custom Web Marketing Plan & Make It Work For You

“Where everyone thinks alike, no one is doing any thinking” – Anon

Sometimes it’s just NOT smart to follow the majority.

If there’s someone who KNOWS the importance of being different, and who used it to get AHEAD, to the benefit of himself, and MILLIONS of people worldwide, it’s SIR RICHARD BRANSON.

Here’s what he recently had to say about ANOTHER person who CHANGED the world, by THINKING differently….

—————Starts————-

“Sometimes, pursuing your vision means that you will have to ignore others’ warnings and even jeers…As you pursue your own entrepreneurial vision, take heart if building your company involves (confronting) obstacles and ignoring your critics.

Pursue your passion; admit when you encounter something you are not good at, and either delegate it or find a way around it (even Jobs hired great professionals to lead public relations efforts, and he famously formed alliances with Apple’s competitors, IBM and Microsoft); and when things go wrong, pick yourself up and keep going. This is an adventure that takes courage and conviction.

Throughout his life, Jobs encouraged everyone he worked with to “Think different.” It is advice I have taken to heart. He meant entrepreneurs; he meant you…”

Richard Branson (Branson on Sunday), “Steve Jobs, an entrepreneur who thought differently.” Sunday Punch, October 30, 2011

—————Ends————-

Final Words

Back in February this year, I wrote an article on a similar theme. I hope you find it a useful read:

You-Cannot-Beat-Competitors-If-You-Keep-Doing-The-SAME-Things-They-Do

Contact me if you need further details or need any clarifications.

 

Can You Be Trusted?(Real Life Farm Business Sales Conversations With People Just Like You)

Quick Take Away

This article recounts some entertaining but true stories, about how I’ve had to go the extra mile, many times, to earn the trust of prospective buyers of my feed formulation software and handbook over the years, to get where I am today.

The fear of getting scammed can be a real impediment to making sales to locals and foreigners, as a Nigerian living in Nigeria.

You’ll enjoy reading this, even as you gain valuable insights!

Introduction

When trust is lacking, smooth functioning of socioeconomic activities will be disrupted.

Think about the things you take for granted daily. For instance the money you save in your bank.

You do so because you “trust” that the bank’s personnel will always do their jobs right, so you never lose money.

What If A Buyer Sends Payment And It Does Not Reach You (On Time)

But we all know that things can – and do – go wrong sometimes.

This could happen when someone accidentally posts money sent to your account by a buyer into the wrong account.

You consequently find yourself telling the buyer that you have not received the alert for the payment she says she’s made.

That can be quite embarassing and disturbing, for both parties.

I should know. Something like that happened to me a few months ago.

And if you know anything about the “trust status” that prevails in the society I operate in, then I’m sure you can imagine how the man who sent the N13,000 ($80 approx), from out of state in Ibadan, to me in Lagos, must have hounded me by phone and email!

I took no offense though, because I understood. Out here, trust is a bit of a scarce commodity.

Majority of such transactions have been known to end with someone receiving requested payment and then failing to deliver the promised product or service. Or sometimes he could deliver a substandard product or service.

We’re supposed to be in the electronic age, where payment processing happens in an instant.

But I’m “fortunate” (yes – that’s how I like to see it!) to live and work in a society that’s yet to be fully integrated into that age in real time for now.

So in serving local buyers, I still have to offer mainly traditional payment options (but for international buyers I use globally accepted and more convenient online platforms).

It’s not that local electronic payment systems don’t exist. They do. However, the poor level of trust (that word again!) that persists out here makes most people wary of using anything they consider not to be tried and tested.

And can you blame them? Of course not!

The various fraud related crises that have recently rocked the stock exchange and banking sector have not helped matters in this regard, as you can imagine :-)

It Happens All Over The World, But It’s The Frequency And Scale Of Occurrence That Differs From Society To Society

Yes, it does happen everywhere.

No part of the world can lay exclusive claim to having good people.

Bad people can be found in all societies.

Even the holy books studied by the religious feature anecdotes about them.

It is however the presence of such naughty people in large numbers, and the resultant excessive frequency of their “trust destroying” activities that raises cause for concern.

One Almost Safe Medium Of Operation For Scam Artists

Once bad people discover a place exists where they can indulge without inhibition in their negative habits, they’ll naturally tend to congregate there.

And that’s why one place people can readily get “duped” or “scammed” is online, on the web.

The attributes that make the Internet such a powerful instrument for positive business and societal advancement, are the same ones that make it a potent weapon in the hands of dishonest and fraudulent people.

Therefore if you want to successfully use the web for personal or business purposes, your ability to inspire TRUST in the minds of those you relate with, matters quite a lot.

These days, so many people make false claims about personal achievements in order to sell their products and services. It’s so difficult to know who’s telling the truth.

Even in face to face situations the same problem can rear its ugly head. But it’s online that it really seems to proliferate.

My Question To YOU: Are You Worthy of The Trust of Others?

Can those you relate with take you for your words?

Do you deliver what you promise, no matter what?

Most honest people would probably feel offended by the above questions.

For them, this would amount to having their integrity questioned.

I can relate to that. I would feel the same way too.

Some True Stories About How A Lack Of Trust Can Hamper Business & Societal Progress

I had my integrity rudely and painfully called to question just this morning. It was during a phone conversation with a young man – Basambo Abdulraheem – who had visited my website.

He had asked for my feed formulation handbook in the web contact form message he originally sent in.

When we spoke on phone and I mentioned my promo offer (for past enquirers) of the handbook bundled with the software for N12,500 instead of the regular N18,000 price, he got interested.

After I told him the required terms and mode of payment, he suddenly balked, saying:

“But you know I’m in Ilorin, and you’re in Lagos. How do I get the bundle after I’ve paid into your account?”

I replied that most buyers (from various parts of the country) had received their personalised versions of the software and handbook, as email attachments.

I noted that only Ben Oshionya (who was based on the outskirts of Portharcourt) had – in 2008 – paid to have the printed and spiral bound handbook (and a CD containing the software and PDF handbook version) delivered to him by hand.

Fortunately, a young friend of mine (Ebenezer Oloyede), had been headed back to University of Portharcout that weekend.

This saved Ben from having to pay extra for courier delivery. In addition, Ebenezer was familiar with my Excel software and was able to show Ben how to use it.

Despite the above long winded explanation, Basambo was still not convinced. And he made that fact clear by saying:

“Hmm, but you know this is Nigeria now. How can I be sure you will send it?”

I felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over me.

Without mincing words and despite my efforts to supply what I considered proof, this guy was calling my integrity to question!

Initially I felt annoyed. But I soon calmed down knowing he had every right to be skeptical. Afterall he had no reliable means of verifying any of my claims.

To go ahead and pay, he would have to take what amounted to a massive leap of faith, like past buyers had done.

But not everyone can however get to that level of conviction easily. Especially if they feel the money they have to part with is substantial.

So I supplied additional information he requested via SMS, with my best wishes.

Maybe in the near future, Basambo Abdulraheem will get convinced enough to take that leap of faith :-)

Even A Cameroonian Neighbour Got Cold Feet At The Last Minute

Arnold Epanty from next door in Buea, Cameroon exchanged a series of emails with me to get payment details to buy my handbook.

We’d agreed to use Western Union. When the day came however, the poor chap got cold feet (I think).

My email follow ups yielded no responses.

Interestingly, he’s stayed subscribed to my mailing list. So who knows – maybe one day he’ll return to complete his purchase…

…just like the next gentleman I describe below did, 3 years after walking away from the same transaction!

A Prospective Buyer From Ibadan Goes Away, Then Returns Over 3 Years Later, To Buy!

Once again the problem was a severe lack of trust.

Here’s how it happened:

When Oladipo Mann first phoned me about buying my handbook and software in 2009, he was not comfortable with the fact that I told him I worked from home, when he asked where my office was located in Lagos.

You see Dipo was calling from Ibadan, in Oyo state where he lived and worked.

In asking for my office address, his purpose was to use the knowledge that I had one, to reassure himself that I ran a traceable operation.

So when I said I did not use an office, he bluntly announced that if that was the case, he could not confidently pay money into my account from Ibadan.

I assured him that I understood his fears, and advised him to go with his gut instincts, noting that I would be available if/when he chose to return.

Now, what happened next is interesting.

Persons who submit enquiries via my website are told to agree to have their email addresses added to my mailing list.

As a result of the above Dipo began receiving my monthly Self-Development Digest newsletter (which this blog replaced this year), in addition to my periodic email updates in which I announced latest articles etc.

One day, sometime in August this year, after I sent out an email broadcast announcing the latest of my guest posts published on Africabusinesscommunities.com, I got an email from Dipo asking me to send him my account details, so he could make payment for the software and handbook bundle.

When I saw his name in the email, I immediately recognised it, and wondered what had suddenly made him decide it was safe to send me money – which was now even a larger amount than we had discussed over 3 years before (I had since raised my prices for both items).

I replied his email by asking him to phone me. When we spoke, I teased him about his decision to return to make payment.

He gave what amounted to the same “excuse” that Basambo Abdulraheem gave i.e “You know anything can happen in Nigeria”!

Today, Dipo’s flattering rating and testimonial can be seen and read on the sales page for my Feed Formulation Handbook in my online store –here.

It Took A Phone Conversation With A Past Buyer To Convince This Kano Based Prospect To Make Payment

In a previous post, I mentioned that Yakubu Ibrahim (who runs a poultry feed mill in Kano state) only went on to send payment AFTER I had given him the phone number to speak with Bello Hassan, a buyer from last November, who owns a farm in Niger state.

I still recall getting Yakubu’s SMS which read:

“I talk(ed) to Bello. I will pay tomorrow by God’s grace.”

All he apparently needed was the reassurance that I could be trusted to deliver.

Now, I could have given him any other past buyer’s phone number to call.

But knowing that Bello Hassan hailed from the north, like Yakubu, and that he would probably also speak to him in Hausa language, made me choose Bello.

Without meaning to brag, the fact that Bello let me give out his mobile number to Yakubu, and then went on to take the call days later, is proof that I enjoy great trust with Bello.

To get an idea of why that is so, read the excerpts (on this BLOG)of my responses to many queries Bello sent me, after buying my software and handbook in 2011.

In my usual manner, I ensured I went the extra mile to meet his needs.

And he acknowledged my efforts by eventually writing to say:

Thanks Tayo. I’m quite satisfied with your answers to my questions.

Little wonder that he had no difficulty recommending me to Yakubu one year later, when I contacted him.

That’s the power of earned trust!

A Phrase That Is Reflective Of Bad Experiences Those Who Use It Have Had

I refer here to the “anything can happen” phrase used by people like Basambo when they’re scared of getting scammed…

This naturally informs their attitude towards taking the risk of sending payments on mere “trust”, resulting in a huge “trust-gap” that prevents honest business operations from taking place smoothly!

The consequent outcome of the above is stunted progress and development in the society where such a situation persists.

That’s why Nigeria currently suffers the indignity of being locked out from using online payment platforms like Paypal.

Even our banks’ Mastercard and Visa debit cards are accepted on limited websites online.

For instance, I own a GT Bank naira denominated debit Mastercard, which works well with my Resellerclub.com account for my domains and hosting reselling business.

But for renewal of the hosting for this – my flagship website – with hostgator.com, my UK based brother-in-law has to use his credit card or paypal account to effect payment.

Why? Because hostgator’s payment processor rejects my GT Bank card!

And they’ve advised me that there’s nothing they can do, as my card apparently does not meet the minimum requirements.

The trust element is greatly lacking where the self proclaimed giant of Africa is concerned!

To Boost Trust In Your Society, Start By Being Trustworthy Yourself

Sometimes it’s not dishonesty or greed that leads a person to under deliver when others choose to trust him to deliver what they send payment for.

Incompetence can cause that to happen too.

Therefore don’t offer products or services you are not competent to deliver.

And for those that you have the capacity to handle, resolve never to be found wanting.

Aim to go the extra mile where necessary (but within reason and without going overboard), to satisfy those who give you their trust by paying to get your products or services.

One example: As I type this post, I’m putting finishing touches to a specially prepared PDF userguide and video tutorial to be sent to Yakub Ibrahim – in Kano – via email.

I got him to send his own list of feed ingredients, with corresponding prices and nutrient values, so I could use them in creating those custom learning resources for him.

This is in fulfillment of the promise I made to support him till he gets used to working with the software.

Note that he made 100% payment nearly 2 weeks ago, and I already sent him the package with the generic user guide.

So it’s not like I’m looking forward to some extra payment.

And that’s the way it should be!

Lesson From A “Real Man Of Faith” Who Sent Payment From The Other End Of The World, With A Bucket Load Of Trust!

Ronald V (surname restricted for privacy), a Canadian gentleman recently purchased the Ration formulator from me, by sending the money via Paypal.

Today we’ve linked up on Google+ over 3 weeks after he sent me the payment.

And we continue to exchange emails as he puts the Ration Formulator to use for preparing feed for animals on the large farm he oversees.

Being from outside Africa, one would naturally imagine he would have had more reason to be skeptical about sending money to this end.

I have no idea what background checks Ronald conducted before calling to speak with me on phone that day.

But suffice to say that he made it clear he wanted the Ration Formulator, and that he was aware I was based in Nigeria – and knew enough about the risks involved…

“What a man of faith!”, I thought to myself at the time. (Please note that I use the word “faith” in a strictly non-religious sense here. The dictionary meaning and interpretation therefore applies.)

Imagine my surprise a few days later when in response to my query about the acronym he typed into my website request form’s field for “Company”, he revealed it to be the name of a large religious group, in which he functions as a priest!

And for effect, he signed off THAT email with “God bless you” and his official title i.e. “Father Ronald” :-)

What an interesting revelation that was. A real life priest had delivered a powerful lesson on how to trust with faith!

That’s an example worth emulating by the rest of us.

By way of interest, my recent blog post true story on how I had to battle against multiple misfortunes before I could deliver the Excel ration formulator to Ronald will probably make you laugh.

If I did not know better, I would have said some evil forces conspired to try and stop me from fulfilling that order within the 24 hours I promised. Read below, to see what I mean!

You can read it: here.

End Of Year Promo Offer

This offer will remain open until MDT of 15th January 2013.

I offer you (or others you know) my Automated MS Excel Feed Formulation software, bundled with my popular feed formulation handbook at a promotional discount. See details below:

1. Watch my video demostration for the software on my Youtube channel (click)

2. DETAILED PDF USER GUIDE FOR THE Software can be downloaded from here

3. The sofware price is N10k.

But in the Xmas spirit, if you buy on or before the deadline, I’ll send you my fully printable 70 page Feed formulation handbook PDF for N4k instead of N8k (see it on sale for $82 approx. at the online store.)

So, instead of paying N18k, you get to pay N14k to buy both the software and handbook – saving N4,000.

UPDATE(14th Dec. 2012 at 10.42a.m Nigerian time): Pay N10,500 and get the bundle!

My attention has just been drawn to the fact that last year’s bundled offer price of N10,500 is what still appears on the FAQ/sales page here!

I have no idea what went wrong as I vividly recall updating that page before announcing this year’s N14,000 offer.

In light of the fact that many have already seen the lower offer, and as a gesture of goodwill, I’ve decided to bring the price down to N10,500.00.

All you need to do is subscribe to my mailing list to qualify to pay that special price.

Follow the instructions provided on the sales page..

You can call me on 234-803-302-1263.

How I Discovered And Used Print-On-Demand (POD) Self-Publishing For The First Time

Preview

POD technology is today widely used worldwide by millions of people as a means to create a wide variety of printed products. Examples include branded gift items, like t-shirts, caps, stickers which have high quality graphic designs printed on them.

Then there are the written publications – books, technical manuals, special reports which have front and back cover designs that have to be printed and bound to meet professional publishing standards. With traditional techniques, getting all these done used to cost huge sums.

Today, POD technology makes it easy for virtually anyone to do a lot more. In this short piece I share with you the story of my search for and eventual discovery of this solution. (True Story by Tayo Solagbade, Founder – Self-Development Academy Limited)

Background

In May 2002, as part of a business marketing strategy for my work on Self-Development Education, I began delivering – on formal invitation – a FREE one-hour talk titled “Ten Ways You Can Use Self-Development To Create The Future You Want”. The talk was based on my experiences in using practical self-development techniques to achieve consistent improvements in my ability to do anything I was engaged in.

What I wrote about in the talk were ten steps I always applied that enabled me excel as an Manager in Guinness Nigeria Plc over a 7 year period(up till the time I voluntarily resigned to start my own business), and which I was convinced would enable me succeed as an entrepreneur.

After delivering the talk to a variety of audiences, including employees in different branches of Corona Schools, students in the University of Lagos, members of a Church Youth Fellowship and others, I converted it to an automated ten week email auto responder course, which was eventually subscribed to by over 30 persons from within and outside Nigeria.

Some subscribers were from Exxon Mobil, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and NTP UK. At a point, I got emails from subscribers who wanted copies of the entire ten week course, in book form that they could purchase.

But at the time, I only had it all in MS word, certainly not in ready-to-publish book format! I tried printing and binding at a business center – this turned out to be not only cumbersome, but also expensive, and led to variable print/binding etc quality. It just did not work.

So I Went Searching For A Printing/Publishing Establishment – And Almost Fainted In One!

I paid a visit to a publishing outfit in Ikeja, here in Lagos, and was fortunate enough to meet the Printing Press Supervisor, who kindly took out time from his work, to provide me with specific details of what it takes to publish a book – I mean the kind that small – 1 or 2 title – publishers (like you and me) would want to produce.

He explained that the larger the order, the cheaper each book unit becomes – which made sense!

Some finished book samples by known authors in the fields of education, tourism etc in Nigeria were shown to me.

One of the books (approx. 250 pages long) cost N104.30 per unit for a first printing of 5,000 copies i.e. costing N520,000.00! The other book was a bit bigger(and of higher quality) and cost N125.00 per unit for printing of 2000 units i.e. N250,000.00 cost!!

I almost fainted as it became painfully obvious that I could not afford this method of publishing.

NOTE that since the time the data used in the foregoing example was obtained in 2002, inflationary pressures in the Nigerian economy are very likely to have pushed the prices quoted further upwards – what with fuel prices increases and other policy changes.



Discovering the First FREE POD Company

Some weeks later while browsing on the net, I stumbled on a website http://www.cafepress.com that claimed anyone from any part of the world could FREELY use their resources to produce various physical products like books, branded T-shirts, mugs etc for sale to customers across the world.

They would only charge a little commission on EACH item purchased. If no sale is made, they charge nothing. I quickly signed up for this service.

By the time I checked the book publishing learning center on their website, I realized there were a lot of competencies I lacked which would be required for me to get my book ready for publishing with cafepress.com

It was not until May 2005, that I felt I had adequately understood how to typeset my document to meet the POD’s publishing requirements; use Adobe Photoshop to design my book covers, and also use the various tools provided on the POD’s website to upload my book/setup my online store.

By January 2004, I had acquired self-taught commercial web design skills, involving using applications like Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash to create graphics for websites I went on to build for four(4) paying clients in 2004. The learning experiences I’ve had now enable me guide others who wish to do what I have done so it takes them less time and effort. And that is one of my reasons for writing this article.

Update (17th Nov. 2012): Many New POD Self-Publishing Options Available Today 

Since writing this article back in 2006, other self-publishing media like Amazon.com’s Kindle have emerged. However, it has been my experience for instance that limited access to these media exists for publishers from my part of the world.

This is why http://www.lulu.com, which I have now used for over 6 years, remains my preferred Self-Publishing platform. Virtually all they offer is accessible by users from any part of the world.

What’s more, they’ve added useful improvements to automatically get your books distributed on as many viewing platforms as possible.

A notable introduction is the option to assign ISBN number to your book while using the wizard to publish your book.

I am well aware of Amazon’s http://www.createspace.com and others which offer useful solutions to writers looking to self-publish.

However, I have chosen to use the one I have personal experience in, as a basis for explaining the POD Self-Publishing process.

It goes without saying that you, the reader, will choose the one(s) that appeal(s) to you the most.

What is important is that you explore intelligent strategies to promote the book(s) you publish using this system.

In my case, I have over the years developed unique promotional strategies based on my Web Marketing System. The experience I’ve gained has been especially useful in creating awareness about my newest ebook (see details at end of this post).

Final Words: A New Lagos Based Conventional Publisher With More Viable Offers For Writers

On a final note, I offer this tip for writers intent on working with a brick and mortar publishing house out here.

About 2 years ago, I attended an elaborate event organised by Chimamanda Adichie’s foundation at which individual participants in a creative writing course she’d conducted formally “graduated”.

That was where I first learnt about www.kachifo.com and the high profile local book publishing service they offer.

Compared to the “dinosaur-like” print house I mentioned visiting earlier in this piece, Kachifo.com offers what appears to be a refreshingly viable alternative.

You cannot however take what I say here as an endorsement or recommendation.

Please do your own due diligence, and take your decision based on the conclusions you reach.

Goodluck!

NEW EBOOK – ACHIEVE YOUR WRITING GOALS!

My latest ebook (WHY YOU KEEP FAILING TO ACHIEVE YOUR WRITING GOALS! (10 Habits That are Holding You Back and How to Change Them for Good!), is now on sale in my online store at www.lulu.com/sdaproducts.

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