“Any day we declare public holiday. we lose money, in practical terms the customs, our ports generates about N1 billion to N1.5 billion a day, so any day they say public holiday that is N1.5 billion gone. And Nigerians love holidays, if Christmas falls on Saturday we will say we want to have Monday as holiday but to us it’s a pain because we are now looking at it in terms of raw cash.” – Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), Comptroller-General of Customs, on Public Holidays in Nigeria
Smart governments that want economic growth for their nations take care to create conducive environments on a continuous basis for businesses to flourish. When I was in paid employment, my mental attitude about random holiday declarations was one of joy and excitement.
Due to the fact that I kept long and busy hours in the workplace at Guinness Nigeria, I always welcomed the opportunity to take a break from the intense routine.
What I never realized was the impact of those sudden announcements on business decision making and planning.
It never occurred to me that a lot of planned activities often got disrupted by those public holiday declarations. What was more, the frequent decision to extend holidays declared over many days, sometimes into weekends, often worsened the impact on business.
By the time I became self-employed, I experienced first hand the very bad sides of those random public holiday declarations
For instance, I once met with a prospective client who wanted me to commence work on a web development project needed for a project his company was launching. There was a lot of work to be done, and other parties involved that I had to meet with to progress the job.
We agreed that I would pick up the agreed advance payments cheque the next day (Thursday), so that I could then prepare my content generation questionnaire and send to him on Friday.
He was due to travel over the weekend, and had emphasized that he wanted work to proceed as agreed over the weekend (he’d paid extra for that to happen).
We parted amicably, both of sure that we had covered all necessary ends. I got home that night and immediately began preparing a folder on my laptop for the project documents. Then I went to sleep.
The next morning I woke as early as 6.00a.m, had my bath and got dressed, and was headed out of the house when my wife asked me where I was going. Surprised, I replied that I had an early appointment with the client I’d told her about few days earlier. That was when she dropped the bomb – saying a public holiday had been announced the night before!
Not only was that day – Thursday – a holiday, but the Friday as well as as Monday of the coming week has also been declared holidays as well!
My head was spinning. It was not the first time this had happened to me. And I could not help feeling stupid for failing to check news about current affairs, like I’d vowed to myself in the past.
A quick call to my client revealed he was also just learning of the announcements. And it had affected plans he’d made for other aspects of his business, including orders he’d placed for inputs to be used in the production process he operated.
Long story short, we were forced to put most of our plans on hold. Even if I picked up the cheque, the bank would not be open to cash it in. Back then, electronic bank transfers and ATM cards were not yet available. So, the options were quite limited.
The above experience is just one of many. And the multiplier effect was such that others outside of myself were affected.
For instance, people I needed to pay for their own products and services also had to wait till the holidays ended and I got the money. Same applied to those who my client had to do transactions with – including employees, and suppliers.
And that’s why the quote credited to the Customs boss is important – and relevant to all other aspects of the economy. Decision making by government about public holidays must be done with careful consideration for the potentially negative impact it can have on income-generative activities of businesses and the country at large.
Therefore citizens who demand for holidays at random, and who demand for extensions of such breaks, need to be aware of these problems directly related to their occurrence.
We need to be more responsible in the ways we ask for concessions from our governments.
Government on their part need to stop being needlessly sentimental and to deliberately educate citizens on the above implications of granting holidays and extended holidays at random!
In this issue of my Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, I feature a UK based Nigerian expert who overcame the perpetual discouragement and frustration of being born into potentially crippling poverty (that saw him hawking groceries on Nigerian streets between the ages of 13 to 21 years!), to become a highly recognized and successful international Speaker, Business Growth Coach and Marketing Consultant.
To give you an idea of the impact he’s making in his immediate market, consider this:
NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.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)
WHEN YOU BUY BURT DUBIN’S SPEAKER MENTORING PRODUCTS/SERVICES – LEARN MORE HERE!
1 of 2: PUBLIC SPEAKING –Meet a Nigerian Expert Who Speaks to – and Coaches – British CEOs to Succeed
In this issue of my Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, I feature a UK based Nigerian expert who overcame the perpetual discouragement and frustration of being born into potentially crippling poverty (that saw him hawking groceries on Nigerian streets between the ages of 13 to 21 years!), to become a highly recognized and successful international Speaker, Business Growth Coach and Marketing Consultant.
To give you an idea of the impact he’s making in his immediate market, consider this:
You don’t get asked to host an event of that status unless organizers are convinced you know your stuff!
So, not only does this rare breed Nigerian expert know his stuff, but he is also exceptionally gifted at communicating what he knows in a manner that enables others easily learn from him.
How do I know all this you wonder?
Especially since I’m NOT based in the UK??
…and I have never even met him in the flesh myself???
I was then based in Calavi – a town outside Benin Republic’s commercial capital – Cotonou. In that email, he’d complimented me on the work I was doing online – through which he’d found me.
He later signed up for my newsletter. After some weeks we had a few Skype phone conversations in which we shared details of our backgrounds and experiences from our past lives. We struck it off right from the start – the synergy was almost palpable!
As time went on, he expressed an in interest in connecting with Burt Dubin (whose speaker mentoring products and services I promote), and that further deepened our relationship.
He has since commenced a mentoring program under Burt Dubin’s tutelage, and is now dramatically boosting his name/brand marketing reach and impact, towards reaching his primary target audience: small and medium business owners.
For me, it’s been interesting to study this gentleman whose story of rising from grass to grace is so compelling.
By way of interest, this is NOT the first time I’m writing about this Nigerian in diaspora.
Back in 2013, I actually transcribed a 1 hour video interview he granted Andy Brine, into a verbatim text based PDF transcript, which remains available on this blog (click here) for download by interested persons.
That PDF’s introduction section explains why I go to such lengths to transcribe video recordings to text version. But briefly here I’ll say my purpose is to distill ready–to-use wisdom from experiences shared by authentic achievers, into a format that others can learn from – regardless of their limitations.
You see, watching a 1 hour video on Youtube, even for people who have FREE Internet, may not always be convenient. Also, even when it’s convenient, or you have the time to watch it, not everyone will find it easy to EXTRACT useful lessons from what they see/hear in the video, to improve their lives.
As a Performance Improvement Specialist, I have a passion for studying people and processes, and identifying why one person may do better than another person, when both are exposed to similar preparation and opportunities. The insights I’ve gained from doing the foregoing, over the past 2 decades have taught me to offer useful information and education to those who need it, through as many different channels, and in as many different formats as possible.
People differ greatly in their styles – and rates – of learning, as well as in their abilities to apply what they learn to productive ends.
I believe this exceptional Nigerian expert’s success story perfectly illustrates the point I’m making…
Despite myriad obstacles he had to face in his formative years, right into his early 20’s, he doggedly explored a variety of learning avenues, to find a path to the success he wanted. [NB: You can read the story here – &/or download the PDF]
It is my considered opinion, that a major reason why his success is so noteworthy is that his journey was far from smooth, and involved lots of interruption. Not many people who do what he does (as a speaker, business coach and marketing consultant), had to pass through similar trials before arriving.
The success and recognition he enjoys today proves that he both learned his lessons well, and also developed the ability to apply what he learned to excel in his chosen vocation – regardless of the adversity he faced.
THAT, is what makes him exceptional – and it’s the reason why he’s been chosen to host a BCTC seminar, which is the first of its kind in the history of the Chambers!
Incidentally, apart from having Skype phone conversations with him, I have also listened several times to recordings of Efe delivering his trademark speeches to CEOs.
Without any attempt at exaggeration, I can confirm that he is a truly effective speaker. In other words, I share the sentiments expressed by those interviewed in the above video about him!
Final Words: Efe’s example proves ANY Nigerian/African can excel internationally as an EXPERT in his/her field
Like I said in a Facebook post last month, Efe’s rising profile and growing success as a Business Coach, Speaker and Marketing Consultant in the UK market and beyond is something that should make Nigerians and Africans proud.
Not only does his success make it obvious that being competent can work wonders, his story also proves that ANYONE can do it – no matter where you come from, or how disadvantaged your circumstances.
It’s true that not everyone offers solutions that are relevant to the needs of the international market place.
However, I’ve found that many Nigerian/African experts who DO HAVE such solutions rarely target the international marketplace.
Speaking with some of them revealed that MANY feel it’s impossible to win clients/buyers outside their immediate markets (Nigeria/Benin or Africa).
Yet, the Internet has made it so much easier today, to make powerful marketing impact across the globe, at low to zero cost!
A truly competent expert should be able to command serious attention, recognition and income in his/her chosen field or specialty – ANYWHERE.
All it takes is to set challenging goals that you then pursue vigorously, on a never-ending-basis. Then use the web – creatively and intelligently – to share your work with colleagues and potential clients/buyers in other parts of the world.
Sooner than later, they’ll begin to take positive note of you.
A branded Facebook business page (integrated with a response-generating website/blog) is a proven way: Potential clients (local or international) will often take what they see on YOUR page as indicative of value you have to offer.
If you use your marketing platform right, it will make potential clients take notice of, then connect with – and ultimately buy from – you.
My point is you can get noticed (and paid) for what you do, by people OUTSIDE your immediate/local market – who fit your target audience profile.
This is something I have done – and continue to do – myself, in the multiple disciplines I’m engaged in as a multipreneur.
I am regularly contacted online by – and have phone conversations with – enquirers from within and outside Africa (Uganda, Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Canada, UK, Philippines, Australia, India, Israel, Pakistan, Argentine, Mexico etc), regarding products and services I offer (especially my growing range of Farm Business Solutions).
Every now and then, some go on to send payment to me from their respective countries…
That’s why I know what I propose works. I have countless stories I share with my clients and audiences on how it has worked for me for YEARS.
I learnt this strategy by studying Burt Dubin, who has served clients across multiple continents remotely, using the web for 3 decades.
Efe Ohwofasa was featured as one of the invited speakers at http://www.embracelove.co.uk/the-speakers.html (alongside Camilla Carr, Sue Stone, Noel Lockyer-Stevens, Sarah Haywood, Juliet Vorster, Dr Krishan Ramyead, Victor Chetcuti and Paul Newton)
5. Learn more about Efe Ohwofasa on his website at www.focusguru.com
experts-who-speak. Starting – Monday 13th April 2015 – it MORPHED in name and content served, to a 2 part Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, to better serve them.
You just read the “Public Speaking IDEAS” part above. What follows below is the “Web Marketing IDEAS” part.
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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.
“If you want to achieve sustainable success in business (especially in a volatile market place like Nigeria), it’s in your best interest to develop interest in
current affairs and politics, because those are the two key ingredients that really keep this country from having a stable sociopolitical climate.
And for as long as that stable sociopolitical climate does not exist, every person running a business will probably have to sleep with one eye open.” – Tayo K.
Solagbade
It’s FREE for all my Web Marketing/farm business clients, and ALL members of my Inner Circle as well as for ALL subscribers to THIS newsletter.
SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS OF THIS SPEAKING/WEB MARKETING IDEAS NEWSLETTER
Did you know that as an expert in your field you can make more money by speaking professionally? Or do you already speak-for-money, but want to know
how to do it better AND/OR how to make more money even when you do not speak?
If you said YES to any of the above, THIS offer is for you.
Burt Dubin can teach you to do ALL the above and more. You can learn from him via direct mentoring (regardless of distance) or using the many home study
HERE’S AN ADDED BONUS YOU GET FROM ME, IF YOU BUY FROM BURT…
If you purchase $1,500 USD or more of Burt’s Speaker Mentoring Products/Service, and choose to promote your speaking business online, I WILL develop and implement for YOU, a Web Marketing System at 50% of my standard fee, and manage it for 3 months – at NO COST to you – as per my Promotional Retainership Offer (See http://tayosolagbade.com/uploads/wms-offer-retainership.pdf).
Burt helps those he mentors (experts-who-speak) to Position, Package, Promote, and Present* themselves successfully to clients (*He calls
them the 4Ps). That’s why it’s no surprise that on Burt’s website, considerable space capital is devoted to useful business marketing articles as well as products.
It might also interest you to know that MANY years back, Burt established himself as one of the best marketing minds in the world. To really put this FACT in
proper perspective, I’ll provide more specific details in form of an example.
A few years ago, Burt contributed an article to a powerful publication titled “The Most Effective Articles Ever – By The World’s Top Marketers“. That 574 page ebook features timeless marketing advice from 71 of the world’s top marketers – including Jack
Trout, Joe Vitale, Yanik Silver…and Burt Dubin.
That’s ample proof that (in addition to Public Speaking), Burt would be a great resource to learn business marketing from!
Full Disclosure: I represent Burt as Sole Agent for his products/services, which means if YOU buy from him, I get paid.
But that’s NOT the main reason I represent and recommend him. I have benefited in many ways by learning from Burt. Through his writing, his audio recordings,
and from directly relating with him.
Before we teamed up in 2011, I’d been studying his work and adapting it to succeed in my work from way back in 2002. It does not matter what part of the world
you’re in. If you know how to adapt them to suit your peculiar local needs, Burt’s ideas and strategies WILL work for you. I am living proof of it!
That’s why I never tire of CONFIDENTLY recommending him to others.
If you need help putting the ideas shared above to use, let me know HERE.
A live example, including a complete audio recording of a program Burt created from scratch–on a topic he knew nothing about and never, ever presented before!
See how you, guided by your personal Learning Guide, (Presentation Magic), can do this too and thrill audiences as often as you want.
Presentation Magic Manual with new pages added plus 3 audio CDs.
“(Tayo Solagbade) is amazing and I think he is going to produce some impressive results online…” – click here to read full comment by Patrick Meninga (US based 6 figure income blogger who gained fame for building a $2,000 per month adsense website and selling it for $200,000).
—————————–
“Tayo, I honestly believe you are one of those who will succeed at anything he does. Your commitment and effort has been outstanding….Thanks for all your hard
work since I’ve been here – you will be sorely missed. I don’t need to wish you good luck, you have the ability to make your own luck. – Andy”(R. Jones)*
*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to
various groups and organizations, including the Centre for Management Development, University of Lagos, Christ Baptist Church, Volunteer Corps, Tantalisers Fast Foods
and others.
In May 2012 he was the Guest Speaker at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development’s Annual Semester Entrepreneurial Lecture at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.
and workshops on his key areas of focus and interest to interested audiences (Email tayo at tksola dot com for details).
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, and then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.
He is an Associate Member of the UK Institute & Guild of Brewing, a 1997 National Finalist of the Nigerian Institute of Management’s(NIM) Young Managers’
competition, a Certified Psychometric Test Administrator for Psytech UK, innovator of Spontaneous Coaching for Self-Development™ (SCfS-D™), and Founder of the Self-Development Academy Limited.
Visit Tayo Solagbade Dot Com, to download over over 10 performance improvement resources to boost your
personal and work related productivity.
====
[IMPORTANT NOTE:====
On 4th May 2014, Tayo’s 9 year old domain (Spontaneousdevelopment dot com), which hosted his website, was taken over by Aplus.net.
Within a few days however, Tayo used his advanced self-taught web development skills to build a SUPERIOR “reincarnation” of it the website http://www.tayosolagbade.com.
But updates are still ongoing to URLs bearing the old domain name in most of the over 1,000 web pages, and blog posts
he’s published.
If you experience any difficulties finding a page or document, email Tayo at tksola dot com.
I just registered to visit Agra Innovate Nigeria (Agricultural Exhibitions & Conference), on 24 – 26 Nov 2015, at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria.
If you’re a Farm CEO, aspiring Farm CEO/enthusiast or stakeholder, I recommend you sign-up as well.
“Agra Innovate is a landmark international event which many of you have come from far and wide to attend. That Informa – the global giant in business exhibitions – has decided to focus on Nigerian testament to the fact that Nigerian agriculture is now on the world stage.” – Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank; Past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria & Keynote speaker at Agra Innovate Nigeria 2014
Imagine having new buyers/clients regularly discovering (and reaching out to you), without your spending on adverts, fliers or paid business promotion channels in general?
I’ve done THAT for YEARS in selling my unique range of products/services to high profile buyers in and out of Africa.
See proofs (photos and screenshots) along with tips you can use, in the rest of this article.
[HINT: This newsletter issue features 2 TRUE, and very recent/interesting stories. But it’s a bit LONG. Don’t have time to read online? Request a FREE downloadable PDF version by sending email to me with “ROBOCOP” as the “title” via tayo at tksola dot com]
Date: Monday 2nd November 2015No: 217 Title: Attract More Buyers at ZERO COST Even While You Sleep [Hint: I Meet A Past Online Buyer in Lagos Face-to-Face; This is Like Having ROBOCOP On Steroids as Your 24/7 Business Marketing Manager]Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]Blog URL:http://www.tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggetsLast Week: Read articles published on my blog hereNewsletter Archive (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to viewIs this email not displaying correctly?View it in your browser.[Click to view Archives]
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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.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**********
WHEN YOU BUY BURT DUBIN’S SPEAKER MENTORING PRODUCTS/SERVICES – LEARN MORE HERE!
1 of 2: PUBLIC SPEAKING –Attract More Buyers at ZERO COST Even While You Sleep [This is Like Having ROBOCOP On Steroids as Your 24/7 Business Marketing Manager]
Imagine having new buyers/clients regularly discovering (and reaching out to you), without your spending on adverts, fliers or paid business promotion channels in general?
I’ve done THAT for YEARS in selling my unique range of products/services to high profile buyers in and out of Africa.
See proofs (photos and screenshots) along with tips you can use, in the rest of this article.
[HINT: This newsletter issue features 2 TRUE, and very recent/interesting stories. But it’s a bit LONG. Don’t have time to read online? Request a FREE downloadable PDF version by sending email to me with “ROBOCOP” as the “title” via tayo at tksola dot com]
ONE EXAMPLE: Just yesterday (Sunday 1st Nov. 2015), I met for the first time with a Farm CEO – Mr. Tunde O.<surname removed for privacy>- who bought my Ration Formulator Software and Handbook bundle (for N20,500.0) about 4 months ago.
That happened at a Feed Mill in Oko Oba area of Agege, owned by Engr. Olopade (an elderly but very knowledgeable man) – who I’d also NEVER met before that day!
[NB: The photos of the 3 of us – shown below were taken, at my request (after the session ended) by Tunde’s “madam” who accompanied him in his car to the venue]
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I’ve been connecting with past buyers of my Feed Formulation Products so they can attend my on-demand FREE workshop
But it’s not been easy to put things together.
Many of those who’d indicated interest had chosen widely differing dates, making it virtually impossible to get the minimum of 5 persons required to justify doing a run of the group training/workshop.
So, I decided to offer them the opportunity to come down on an agreed date for a one-on-one session (still FREE) and/or to buy my Home Study Feed Formulation Video Tutorials DVD.
Most of those who’d indicated interest chose the DVD option. One is yet to get back to me.
But Tunde O.
made it clear he wanted the one-on-one option, as well as the DVDs.
So we agreed Saturday (31st October 2015) which he’d chosen.
However, when I called him on Friday (30th October 2015) he told he was at the time in Portharcourt, and would be taking the next flight back to Lagos, but that he had an unexpected change of plans, and so would not be able to make it for Saturday.
In case you wonder, we were trying so hard because he’d told me he would be going on an overseas trip (he’s a Geophysicist and runs the farm part-time with help from relatives and trusted hands), so this FREE window was the best shot we had – and we’d been planning this for close to a month!
Knowing that, I was not ready to let all our hard work go to waste…:-))
We talked a bit more, and eventually agreed to try and see if we could meet for a short version of the session on Friday by 1 p.m. Our projection that his 45 minute flight would end before then if it took off on schedule.
Unfortunately, by the time his flight arrived from PortHarcourt, where he’d gone for an event, it was already 3p.m – and we were not too keen on braving Lagos traffic to the Oko Oba end, where the feed mill to be used as venue is.
So I began making calls to CEOs of feed mills in the area to ask if they opened Sundays.
They all said NO.
I’d known that would be the likely answer…
But I’m always a never-say-never kind of person. So I began calling feed mill CEOs to ask if they would consider opening briefly & explained our peculiar need.
It took almost all day as I did other work, but last night at 10p.m, I finally reached one CEO (Engr. Olopade) who graciously accepted to personally open the feed mill for us at 4p.m the next day – Sunday, since the mill would naturally NOT be open for work, and the staff would not be around!
I recall telling Tunde – and Chuks – another past buyer that I’ve met once that I’d resolved to find a way to thank Engr. Olopade, for being so flexible minded and obviously humble/unassuming. His kind are truly rare in my experience.
It might interest you to know that I called up to 15 CEOs whose numbers I got from online directories, but NONE said YES to my outrageous proposal…
My never-say-die attitude kept me going despite all the blunt refusals I got from each person I spoke with.
THEN I got to Engr. Olopade…whose mobile number I also picked off an online directory of feed mill business CEOs in Oko Oba…and the story changed…!
It was about 10p.m when we spoke. I requested that he allow me use his Feed mill for a one-on-one training for Tunde, explaining the peculiar circumstances.
Note however that before I called him, we had NEVER heard of one another, talk less of speaking.
In other words were 3 total strangers agreeing to meet!
With the exception of Tunde, who had at least seen photos of me from visiting my website, I and Engr. Olopade had no idea what the person we were to meet looked like.
In fact a funny incident occurred when Tunde parked his car at the Abattoir bus stop outside the Police Station, to wait for me.
When I got there, I began trying to call his number to ask where he was parked.
But I kept getting a busy signal. So I had to redial repeatedly.
While doing that my eyes periodically caught an air conditioned blue Honda parked just beside me with a tall heavyset man at the wheel, and a female passenger next to him.
But each time I dismissed the idea of knocking on the window to ask if it was him, because I could not see him holding a phone to his ear. It was only when my call went through and I told him where I was standing that he looked round and our eyes met.
Then we knew! (Hint: Apparently he’d been using the hands-free feature during the previous call he’d been on!)
Long story short, 24 hours later, we were talking like old friends inside Engr. Olopade’s (he’d driven down in a 4-wheeler) feed mill – which turned out to be equipped with a VERY impressive modern milling system, complete with an extruder etc.
Before leaving, Tunde had taken Engr. Olopade’s business card, promising to get in touch (regarding milling his feeds there), while I stayed back to discuss several areas of potential collaboration with our host.
Believe it or not, we (Engr. Olopade and I) were together for well over an extra hour, sharing experiences and exploring possibilities!
See how the power of intuition and intelligent use of the web can combine to connect you with your target audience of buyers and potential partners??!!
Among other reasons, I share this story as an example of how not giving up/keeping an open mind/thinking outside the box can enable one make progress to achieve one’s purpose when it seems most unlikely.
****Ends****
This story also illustrates the importance of getting your business online via as many platforms as possible.
If Engr. Olopade had NOT put up his company’s details on the directory I would never have found him.
It enables me earn over 80% of my income via online channels, selling my unique range of 100% original products/services.
Now I’m going to be helping Engr. Olopade setup and promote a branded Facebook business marketing page – at NO CHARGE to him – as my way of saying THANK YOU to him, for his generosity.
Later on a Web Marketing System will follow 😉
If you’re an independent professional (e.g. expert-who-speaks or consultant etc) looking to reach potential buyers/clients at low to zero cost, an intelligent Web Marketing System(WMS) is what you need
It is what has enabled me attract clients/buyers from places like Tanzania, Uganda, Canada, Benin Republic, UK, USA, Philippines, and across Nigeria (from states like Lagos, Delta, Kano, Gombe, Zamfara, Abuja, Oyo, Ekiti, Plateau etc) for my services as a Custom Excel-VB Software developer (especially my Farm Business Software), Freelance writer, Web Marketing Specialist, and Expert-Who-Speaks.
They come to me, without my needing to pay for ANY advertising, or distributing flyers etc.
Unless something changed really suddenly – and BADLY, you’ll see that at least 2 of the 10 results Google presents to you on the first page are about me – with respect to the same software i.e. my Ration Formulator.
BELOW: See the screen shots from the Google results page I generated for “feed formulation software” today – Monday 2nd November 2015 – at 14:48 Lagos-Nigeria time:
What you see happens because of the Web Marketing System (WMS) I use.
But getting found is just one way a WMS helps.
A well implemented WMS goes further to make you pop up again and again, when varying search strings are used, related to YOUR offering! That process in which you show up repeatedly then makes the “searcher” believe you are likely to be the one with the most value-adding solution s/he needs.
EXAMPLE [TRUE STORY]: Last night I got an email from Yemi A.<surname removed for privacy> a Farm CEO who’d contacted me via my website about my Ration Formulator back in August 2014 (i.e. over a year ago).
I was in Cotonou (my base) at the time and we’d spoken on phone for quite a while. In the course of our discussions, we found we had something in common. Around 1991, he’d worked in Guinness Benin Brewery, with a senior colleague of mine – Sola Adeniran.
I however arrived as a Graduate Trainee Brewer in 1995, by which time he – the Farm CEO – had left the company. So we never met. But Sola was still around and we ended up working together on several occasions. So as we ended our phone conversation, I responded to his query about how I got into software development, despite lacking an IT background, by telling him to ask Sola.
In order to help him understand, I explained that I enjoyed rapid career success for 7 years in Guinness mainly due to the recognition I got for developing custom applications to replace manual reporting systems, using Spreadsheet programming.
So, when we spoke on phone this morning, the CEO told me he’d attended an event 6 months ago with Sola. I did not ask, but I sensed he must have asked Sola. But this guy was NOT fully satisfied.
After I’d answered all his technical questions about my software, and feed formulation (note that I was – as is my usual habit – the one calling him – the enquirer – at my expense), he asked me to tell him how my app compared with others in the market.
At this point I laughed, and gently teased him saying: Why don’t you just Google “feed formulation software” – I’m sure you’ll get answers readily to that question. You see, I don’t compete. I simply tell people what I offer and leave them to explore available alternatives to make up their minds.
He replied that he’d tried Googling but most of what kept coming up included links to me, which was why he’d come back to me via the last emails we’d exchanged since August 2014 i.e. over a year ago.
That, right THERE, was proof of the power of a Web Marketing System when used the right way on a consistent basis!!
I told him I could not help him any more than I had, and explained that others had found me the same way – including international organizations.
PS: Burt Dubin‘s Web Marketing System Has Brought Him Clients For His Speaker-Mentoring from Multiple Continents for OVER 3 Decades!
Burt Dubin is mentor to some of the world’s highest paid speakers. And those who have learned from him, as well as those who continue to learn from him (including yours truly) found his via his own equivalent of what I call a WMS.
He evolved and refined it over MANY years to the point that it began generating VERY comfortable passive income streams for him. It was by studying systems like Burt’s that I developed what I call a WMS today.
If a veteran like Burt can use a WMS, it goes without saying that you should as well!
experts-who-speak. Starting – Monday 13th April 2015 – it MORPHED in name and content served, to a 2 part Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, to better serve them. You just read the “Public Speaking IDEAS” part above. What follows below is the “Web Marketing IDEAS” part.
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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.
“If you want to achieve sustainable success in business (especially in a volatile market place like Nigeria), it’s in your best interest to develop interest in
current affairs and politics, because those are the two key ingredients that really keep this country from having a stable sociopolitical climate. And for as long as that stable sociopolitical climate does not exist, every person running a business will probably have to sleep with one eye open.” – Tayo K. Solagbade
It’s FREE for all my Web Marketing/farm business clients, and ALL members of my Inner Circle as well as for ALL subscribers to THIS newsletter.
If you are not yet ANY of the above, just send me a message here to let me know. If you want me to send you the full MP3 recording, just say so in your message. NB: If you’re already a client or subscriber, email me via tayo at tksola dot com and let me know you want it Alternatively, click here to request the FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD.
******
SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS OF THIS SPEAKING/WEB MARKETING IDEAS NEWSLETTER
Did you know that as an expert in your field you can make more money by speaking professionally? Or do you already speak-for-money, but want to know
how to do it better AND/OR how to make more money even when you do not speak?
If you said YES to any of the above, THIS offer is for you.
Burt Dubin can teach you to do ALL the above and more. You can learn from him via direct mentoring (regardless of distance) or using the many home study
HERE’S AN ADDED BONUS YOU GET FROM ME, IF YOU BUY FROM BURT…
If you purchase $1,500 USD or more of Burt’s Speaker Mentoring Products/Service, and choose to promote your speaking business online, I WILL develop and implement for YOU, a Web Marketing System at 50% of my standard fee, and manage it for 3 months – at NO COST to you – as per my Promotional Retainership Offer (See http://tayosolagbade.com/uploads/wms-offer-retainership.pdf).
Burt helps those he mentors (experts-who-speak) to Position, Package, Promote, and Present* themselves successfully to clients (*He calls
them the 4Ps). That’s why it’s no surprise that on Burt’s website, considerable space capital is devoted to useful business marketing articles as well as products.
It might also interest you to know that MANY years back, Burt established himself as one of the best marketing minds in the world. To really put this FACT in
proper perspective, I’ll provide more specific details in form of an example.
A few years ago, Burt contributed an article to a powerful publication titled “The Most Effective Articles Ever – By The World’s Top Marketers“. That 574 page ebook features timeless marketing advice from 71 of the world’s top marketers – including Jack
Trout, Joe Vitale, Yanik Silver…and Burt Dubin.
That’s ample proof that (in addition to Public Speaking), Burt would be a great resource to learn business marketing from!
Full Disclosure: I represent Burt as Sole Agent for his products/services, which means if YOU buy from him, I get paid.
But that’s NOT the main reason I represent and recommend him. I have benefited in many ways by learning from Burt. Through his writing, his audio recordings,
and from directly relating with him.
Before we teamed up in 2011, I’d been studying his work and adapting it to succeed in my work from way back in 2002. It does not matter what part of the world
you’re in. If you know how to adapt them to suit your peculiar local needs, Burt’s ideas and strategies WILL work for you. I am living proof of it!
That’s why I never tire of CONFIDENTLY recommending him to others.
If you need help putting the ideas shared above to use, let me know HERE.
A live example, including a complete audio recording of a program Burt created from scratch–on a topic he knew nothing about and never, ever presented before!
See how you, guided by your personal Learning Guide, (Presentation Magic), can do this too and thrill audiences as often as you want.
Presentation Magic Manual with new pages added plus 3 audio CDs.
“(Tayo Solagbade) is amazing and I think he is going to produce some impressive results online…” – click here to read full comment by Patrick Meninga (US based 6 figure income blogger who gained fame for building a $2,000 per month adsense website and selling it for $200,000).
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“Tayo, I honestly believe you are one of those who will succeed at anything he does. Your commitment and effort has been outstanding….Thanks for all your hard
work since I’ve been here – you will be sorely missed. I don’t need to wish you good luck, you have the ability to make your own luck. – Andy”(R. Jones)* *Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).
Specialist and Multipreneur (i.e. a highly versatile/multi-skilled entrepreneur), with a bias for delivering Best Practice solutions to Farm Businesses and others.
various groups and organizations, including the Centre for Management Development, University of Lagos, Christ Baptist Church, Volunteer Corps, Tantalisers Fast Foods and others. In May 2012 he was the Guest Speaker at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development’s Annual Semester Entrepreneurial Lecture at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.
and workshops on his key areas of focus and interest to interested audiences (Email tayo at tksola dot com for details).
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, and then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.
He is an Associate Member of the UK Institute & Guild of Brewing, a 1997 National Finalist of the Nigerian Institute of Management’s(NIM) Young Managers’
competition, a Certified Psychometric Test Administrator for Psytech UK, innovator of Spontaneous Coaching for Self-Development™ (SCfS-D™), and Founder of the Self-Development Academy Limited.
Visit Tayo Solagbade Dot Com, to download over over 10 performance improvement resources to boost your
personal and work related productivity.
==== [IMPORTANT NOTE:====
On 4th May 2014, Tayo’s 9 year old domain (Spontaneousdevelopment dot com), which hosted his website, was taken over by Aplus.net.
Within a few days however, Tayo used his advanced self-taught web development skills to build a SUPERIOR “reincarnation” of it the website http://www.tayosolagbade.com.
But updates are still ongoing to URLs bearing the old domain name in most of the over 1,000 web pages, and blog posts
he’s published.
If you experience any difficulties finding a page or document, email Tayo at tksola dot com.
The following 2 quotes set the tone for this piece…
1.
“Specialization is for Insects A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” – Robert A. Heinlein
2. “Everyone always tells you to focus and choose a niche, but some of the most successful people “refuse to choose.” Steve Martin has always been a great example of someone pursuing more than one career focus. Among other roles, he’s been an actor, a comedian, a novelist, and a professional banjo player, often at the same time.” – “Chris Guillebeau, in his September 28, 2015 Facebook post featuring a link to a September 2015 New York Times article titled “Steve Martin Adds ‘Curator’ to His Wild and Crazy Résumé”
Chris Guillebeau is one of my role models in Location Independent Entrepreneuring. I’ve found he also has a bias for doing more than one thing at a time – which has been a way of life for me for over 2.5 decades(in both paid as well as self-employment, as I’ve explained in past articles linked below)
And through him, I learnt the great Steve Martin achieved globally recognized successes by doing the opposite of what majority believe and advocate to us right from our you: by being a “Jack of Many (not ALL) Trades”…or Multipreneur!
I’ve been criticized for my multipreneuring habit, yet my life’s achievements are proof that it works, for those who know how!
Indeed, I can tell you without any shadow of a doubt that had it not been for my ability as a multipreneur, I would NOT be succeeding as well as I am doing today.
That’s why I’m sharing the links offered in this post with you all. For those willing to look beyond the bias, and learn a new way, there is wisdom to be had from adopting this unusual lifestyle.
Below are links to 2 articles I’ve written to help those willing to listen understand why being a “Jack of Many (not ALL) Trades”…or Multipreneur… can be a viable way of life for those gifted with the aptitude for it.
“I always feel like all these things are linked…You might say it’s extreme to curate an art show and then do an hour banjo show, but it’s not that far off-center to me. And you apply the same principles to both — the first being, you do the best you can.” – Steve Martin in New York Times article titled “Steve Martin Adds ‘Curator’ to His Wild and Crazy Résumé”
Below are screenshots of the Rabbits Fact Sheets. The others have similar sections viz:
Here’s a brief preview….
PART 1 OF 4 – DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
When rabbits eat feed, it quickly reaches the acidic medium of the stomach and stays there for 3 to 6 hours, with little chemical change. Over time, the stomach’s contents are pushed down into the small intestine via stomach contractions, where they are diluted by bile, and pancreas juice.
By this time, food components more easily digested so they pass through the intestinal wall by the blood into cells. Undigested remains stay 1 to 1.5 hours in small intestine then enter the caecum, where they remain for 2 to 12 hours exposed to bacterial enzymes.
Up till this point, the rabbit’s digestive tract works more or less like that for monogastric animals (e.g man). But the difference is that the Rabbit’s proximal colon has dual function – depending on the time of day the contents of the caecum enter the colon:
PART 2 OF 4 – NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
PART 3 OF 4 – FEED INGREDIENTS (Trad/Non-Traditional)
“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.” – Albert Einstein
Despite agreeing with virtually everything else he said in his THIS DAY newspaper article on the recent NBL sponsored Maltina Teacher of the year competition, I TOTALLY disagree with the sentiment expressed in that piece (see quote below) by Olusegun Adeniyi, that suggests he considers science subjects more important than those in the arts, humanities etc.
Nothing could be further from the truth, as I explain in this PDF white paper…AND as the above quote credited to Albert Einstein himself indicates.
This report is meant for parents looking for guidance to help their kids get the kind of education that will equip them to arrive adulthood with the ability to function as happy, competent income earners, doing what they love doing in life.
“In certain ways, I see myself as a non-singing ideological equivalent of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Through his lyrics, I discovered myself, and became passionately proud of being Black
, Nigerian and African. (I named my first son after Fela, for this/his other good sides). My objective is to help others achieve similar Self-Discovery.” – Tayo Solagbade
The photos below show my (now 16 year old) son who got named after Baba 70
The photos were taken when I took him through some areas of Ikeja I used to “pavement-pound”, doing my door-to-door marketing. That was how I worked back then (pre-2012), to find clients for my custom Excel-VB software development service and products (like the Payslip Generator, Hotel Records Management System etc).
I told him how I would park close to Fela’s house, before leaving to “hunt for clients”. AND I also told him MANY stories about how I had to go on marketing all day, most times with NO money to eat/drink.
But back then Fela’s house was a shadow of itself, badly neglected.
I recall I would sometimes see “Seun” – one of Fela’s sons (younger brother to Femi Kuti), come outside from one of the rooms at the top of the building – often shirtless – having returned from a music tour abroad.
Each time I parked there however, I could not help wondering how the house of a legend like Fela could have been allowed to degenerate the way it had. It saddened me greatly.
It goes without saying that I was not alone in thinking this way. Anyone who’d heard Fela’s legend would naturally think the same thing on seeing the house!
One time I overheard a white man with an American accent who’d come to see the house with a Nigerian friend, asking why it looked so neglected.
The response he got missed me, but I’m sure it would have been along the lines of “Search me!”
…And I BELIVE the massive followership triggered worldwide by THAT wonderful broadway show, was the reason things changed for Fela’s house!
That show boosted Fela’s global popularity, leading to overwhelming international demand for news and information about him. Among other things, all-white Afro beat bands springing up in Europe became commonplace. Events of all kinds, art shows etc got organized to share his story.
Nigerians in diaspora who’d previously neglected to mention they knew a Fela Anikulapo Kuti back home, suddenly got infected with the fever.
They became proud to answer questions about Afro beat when asked “Hey, you’re Nigerian…do you know Fela?”
It became “cool” to be associated with the name of Fela…who some had previously called “hemp smoker” and “trouble maker”…!
YES. It is my considered opinion that ALL of the above made it “politically acceptable” for the Lagos State government and other stakeholders to finally ACT.
They provided the funding and support to transform Fela’s historic building’s appearance into something befitting of a true tourist attraction.
But it SHOULD have been done earlier, and not just that, we should have been the ones to tell the world about Fela, from the time he died!!!
I know some will tell me I’m wrong, but I would ask them:
How come NIGERIA’s government waited sooooo LOOOOONG to do this simple deed of turning Fela’s house into a museum????
The truth is NO answer they give can ever justify the delay.
Only in Nigeria can that kind of atrocity ever be committed against a legendary figure of Fela’s stature!
FACT: Before now, MANY educated and enlightened Nigerians would NEVER allow their kids go near Fela’s shrine or even play his music.
When I was young, I recall reading stories in print media about how some Nigerian elites accused Fela of being a bad influence on youths.
They never saw anything good about him, his music or his activism.
All they did was focus on the fact that he smoked weed, and had multiple wives.
Yet today, NONE of those arm chair theorists/phony critics commands the recognition that Fela, and his kids (who are carrying on the Afro beat tradition admirably), enjoy from fans all over the world.
I don’t smoke weed. Never have. Never will.
I don’t need it to function in any way. My creativity is 100% nature driven, and requires no artificial stimulation.
But the fact that Fela smoked weed NEVER made him any less worthy of my admiration.
What he stood for went beyond his foibles.
Indeed, no genius exists without faults – and that should NOT stop us from appreciating his/her ingenuity!!!
Sadly, many of our people – we Nigerians – missed it. As a result, instead of being the ones to SELL Fela to the world, the irony is that the WORLD, led by America, is SELLING our own Fela to us!
Think about it and you’ll see my point.
Which American great did outsiders ever have to help Americans recognize or celebrate?
None that I can think of. And that’s because America always celebrates its own.
That’s why even though Martin Luther King Jr. has African roots and fought slavery, AMERICA was the one that SOLD him to the rest of us.
They went further and set aside a day to remember him, which even here in Nigeria we recognize and join them to observe.
Several years ago, I saw audience members at Benin City’s Igbinedion Education Centre, applauding wildly to the rendition of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech by a student, at an end of year event broadcast on TV.”
Would ANY Nigerian school, before now, have ever let students recite lyrics from a Fela album at ANY event???
Indeed, can we easily find schools today that would even readily permit that to happen?
The answer is debatable…BUT the fact that it is ONLY serves to further underscore the point I’m making in this article, that we do NOT value our own.
Instead we devote needless time, energy and money joining others to celebrate their own geniuses.
In other words, they taught me to have self-esteem: which is what schooling should do. And that makes Fela’s lyrics relevant, for instance, in Civics classes, and his life story relevant for History classes.
Instead, our kids/youths get taught about Mungo Park, Malcolm X, Mahathma Ghandi, Karl Marx etc.
As a result, YEARS after Fela died, we (Nigeria as a nation, and Nigerians as a people) have no formal message about his life and works to share with the world.
Many Nigerian youths today cannot really tell you what he was about. But they can tell you the life history of Michael Jackson!
No “official” Nigeria branded interviews or documentaries were done to capture the history of his amazing life.
And to make matters worse, his house was left neglected for about a decade and a half after he passed on in 1997.
Things only changed when the Americans – JayZ, Will Smith etc – got a glimpse of the life and times of Fela: they instantly knew it was a story worth telling.
So the broadway show was born, about 3 years ago
Eventually, after the show had generated rave reviews all over, they brought it down to Nigeria’s Lagos to show it to Nigerians – last year I think.
They came to show their dramatization of a legend made in Nigeria. They came to show it to NIGERIANS, in NIGERIA.
They came to show it to Nigerians who should have been telling the whole world the story themselves, in their own voice, by their own people.
It thinks it’s sad that it happened that way.
BUT I also believe it probably would never have happened at all, if it’d been left to Nigerians to do it!
And that says a lot about the people – us Nigerians – who Fela fought and died for.
We have SUCH a long way to go where it concerns celebrating our own!
I find it ironic that many well schooled Nigerians (who in the past snubbed Fela and those who followed him) now readily take their white-skinned tourist friends from Europe and America to see Fela’s house/shrine.
We now see/hear them narrating anecdotes about Fela, and getting kids in their posh schools to recite his life story during history classes or celebrations.
Few, if at all any of them would however admit that they NEVER identified with Fela when he was alive!
On one occasion, an elderly relative pointedly told me Fela was a criminal
He claimed to have known Fela from his childhood days, arguing that he’d been “spoiled” by his mother – Mrs. Ransome Kuti.
This elderly relative would later query me for saying Fela was my role model, adding that as far as he was concerned, “the man was a criminal!”
I could not believe my ears, because I recalled once hearing Fela’s music blaring from a music player in this relative’s car, 3 decades earlier.
When I asked why he now called Fela a criminal, he said it was because Fela got sent to jail, and served a sentence for a criminal offence (actually trumped up charges), adding that even his activism was often unlawfully done.
I countered that the logic he employed qualified to make Nelson Mandela eligible for labeling as a criminal too, but he disagreed!
It goes without saying that I tossed his expressed opinion out of the window, and gave it no more thought.
Today, I’m sure the massive worldwide celebration of Fela must be hitting him hard where it hurts most…his ego!
Anyway, I’m glad I finally got to take my son to see Fela’s tomb, and house-turned-museum.
I’ve told him MANY stories about his name-sake, and shown him photos, plus videos of his live shows and interviews for him to watch.
As far as living one’s life in service of others, Fela – for me – is the ultimate role model. He took it to a whole NEW level!
Like I tell all who care to listen, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was the closest I ever came to having a human being I worshipped.
And I live my life today striving DAILY to emulate him in every way possible.
Not just by myself – but also through my kids…who I ALWAYS challenge to be like him in the way they FEARLESSLY stand up for truth, and justice.
PS: To Better Prepare them for Life, Spend Quality Time Sharing YOUR Life Experiences With YOUR Kids
I must not end without saying this….
Regular readers of this blog know I’m currently home-schooling my kids to give them Personal Achievement Education (PAE) – with a special focus on building street-smartness and income-earning-skills to complement their academic education.
Like I continue to point out to parents who will listen, PAE is crucial to giving your child the BALANCED education s/he will need to function competently as an independent adult in society AFTER s/he leaves your home.
My actions derive from the RUDE awakening I got after leaving school – especially when I chose to leave the security of paid employment, about surviving in the real-world’s shark infested waters of our society.
Look around you, and observe the warped values prevalent in society today, and you’ll appreciate the need to adopt a similar strategy, for your kids’ sake!
As far as I’m concerned, due to the TRULY international dimension of the success he enjoys as a freelance writer/blogger, earning steady income in thousands of dollars by CREATING 100% original value adding content for high profile and discerning international clients, coupled with his successful investment of his earnings to start-up an offline cash-flow generating catfish farming business) 21 year old Ibadan based Bamidele Onibalusi is Nigeria’s NUMBER 1 blogger
That’s why he is the blogging role model I will continue to recommend to my kids, ahead of ANY others. Period.
In case you don’t know him, here are some of the grass to grace achievements already earned between the ages of 16 to 21, by this (fatherless-former-teen-startup) blogger who gained Internet fame for his prolific Guest Blogging:
2. Contributed to top websites like: Business Insider, ReadWrite, Under30CEO, Naij.com.
3. Featured in and/or contributed to internationally published books like: The Writers Market 2014, Engagement from Scratch (2011), 2 Billion Under 20.
4. Took a one year break from writing to invest some of the money from his freelance writing into owning an offline (Catfish Farming) business – and now publishes educational articles (and videos) on Catfish Farming for others in the business and those aspiring.
5. Runs a blog to help writers, that is visited dailyby thousands of SERIOUS minded writers/bloggers from across the world (and also publishes a newsletter received by over 10,000 subscribers (including yours truly) – in addition to providing PAID writing coaching for aspiring writers/blogging).
In this regard, I’m looking for role models – beyond myself – for my kids.
By this I mean AUTHENTIC achievers whose successes are not only EXPLAINABLE and VERIFIABLE, but also REPEATABLE and REPRODUCIBLE by anyone who follows guidance they (such achievers) offer.
These are successful people who readily offer information, education, ideas, tips and even coaching/training on HOW to do what they have done – and possibly do better.
The challenge in identifying role models like the above, is that so much “noise” is out here about “blogging”, “bloggers” and those “making it” amongst them – especially in the Nigerian space!!!
For the uninitiated, the “noise” can make it difficult to choose right.
Thankfully, for me, no such problem exists: I know exactly what to look for, to choose right!
In the rest of this article, I offer ideas to help interested persons accurately identify the right role models.
My (never ending) search for such role models to complement my efforts towards coaching my kids, has led me to VARIOUS places locally…and internationally, offline as well as on the web.
Regarding the international aspect, where I have since recorded the greatest successes in my searches, it’s all thanks to the Internet:
I struggled to find AUTHENTIC role models that could be reliably emulated locally. So I turned my attention to the web and voila: I found more than I’d dreamed possible!
The best part was that virtually all of those I found online had useful resources (often in form of write-ups and books) that I could have at no cost. That wonderful opportunity was one that I embraced and it helped me grow my business in various ways.
It is instructive to note however, that since most of my adopted role models were in foreign countries (mostly the USA, Canada etc), I was not able to directly transplant what I learned from them for use locally…
I tried to do that several times, but failed woefully each time.
Eventually, the hardships I faced as a result of my failures FORCED me to do more creative thinking in the use of what I’d learned, till I successfully developed adaptations based on a BLEND of all I’d learned, to meet my unique needs.
The above process enabled me begin to build my success to what I now enjoy today. And that experience is what’s guiding me now in the choice of role models to point my kids to!
Today, I’m giving my kids Personal Achievement Coaching to identify and choose role models whose success stories they can VERIFY. In other words, they are being taught how to identify achievers with traceable roots…and NOT overnight successes whose only testimony is what THEY say…!
I seek for my kids authentic successes through whom they can learn how to succeed with honesty and integrity. These would be potential mentors who also LIVE their lives – publicly and more importantly privately – in a manner that reflects the values they publicly claim to uphold.
In addition, I want my kids to look for role models that enjoy the HEALTHY respect and recognition of their peers or counterparts INTERNATIONALLY – evidence of which would be seen by way of MENTIONS they get in relevant high profile circles!
That is what I seek for my kids, and I’ve told them NEVER to settle for anything less.
Every day, I strive to make myself FIT the above description of role models they are to seek…
At the risk of sounding immodest, I’d say I’m not doing badly on that front, for a guy who’d had to climb back up from repeated setbacks and failure in business for YEARS while carrying the load of a wife and kids.
Having lived with me all their lives, during the times when I struggled to provide for them (to the point that relatives had to bail me out repeatedly), they KNOW I’ve overcome countless odds to establish my brand.
[Hint: Most people fail to realize it’s easier – MUCH easier(!) – to deal with failure, and grow your success, when you’re single/unmarried and especially if you have few or no dependents to feed or spend the income you earn on. I intend to write a book on that!]
Today, my children are aware that I enjoy growing high profile international recognition within and outside Africa for what I do. We often talk about how I am increasingly getting opportunities to rub shoulders with some of the best known minds in my fields of professional occupation and interest.
I’m now preparing my kids to learn how to do – but with special focus on discovering THEIR own natural God-given talents, passions and abilities.
The objective is for them to leverage those strengths to become competent to function independently in society while still in school-age.
Why make them start earning income that early?
Because today’s world requires kids to be better prepared to meet the challenges it presents.
Fewer job opportunities are a reality more and more school leavers will face. Kids who get the kind of preparation I refer to – especially one based on identifying and emulating the right role models – will stand a much better chance of succeeding – and excelling.
For my kids, the ethos in their “coaching” program is therefore self-employment…
Seeking long term or career paid employment will simply NOT be a priority for them, and will only be considered as a temporary stepping stone to owning their own businesses.
Today, countless opportunities exist for young people to own their own businesses without giving up formal schooling. Especially when PC and Internet technology is involved.
I actually discovered him while on a blog owned by an American Writing Coach familiar with his work. My attention was piqued when his credentials were being raved about this group of high profile freelance writing experts.
Especially because they said he was a Nigerian living in Nigeria and just 17years old but already earning over $5,000 USD monthly, serving international clients in Asia, America etc!
Robert Kiyosaki advises making your money work for you – and he stresses that Cash Flow Generating Assets (e.g. businesses) are a proven means to achieving that.
This chap learned enough to know that it was better to sink the money from his online writing business, into a lucrative offline venture like catfish farming, to boost his cash flow generation – rather than spending directly from his writing business’ earnings.
But that’s not all he’s done. Remember I said that authentic achievers always display a readiness to share what they know with others?
See what I mean when I say he’s an authentic role model?
In case you wonder how he began, get this: He is not the only one who knows or tells his story.
I have read articles about him written by others within and outside Nigeria/Africa (some are top names in international blogging!) which provide details about how he began in his early teens – after losing his Dad, and having to drop out of school.
This young man is an excellent example of the kinds of people we should encourage our kids to adopt as role models – especially towards achieving financial success using just PC and Internet Technology.
Today he’s pursuing university education without stress – but ONLY because he used the web to find financial success to return to school. At his age (21), I was in my 4th years, and got money for my undergraduate studies from my parents, since I had NEVER worked for a single day’s pay in my life!
The Yoruba’s have a saying: Ki a ro idi mo aso, tabi ki a ro aso mo idi. Ki idi sa ma pa ofo”
Literal Translation: It does not matter if you tie your bottom around your wrapper or tie your wrapper around your bottom – as long as your bottom is not exposed”
Contextual Translation: Whether you complete your formal education early on in life, or you do so a little later, what matters is that you find a way (income-wise) to get it done.
The moral: Since one needs money on a regular basis to pursue formal education in most societies, you’ll get kicked out of school anyway if you want to continue schooling but cannot pay your fees.
The above is why I advocate that Personal Achievement Education is a better way to go compared to conventional/formal education.
Wonder what the difference is? Watch out for my new book on due to be published soon.
But briefly, Personal Achievement Education (PAE) is what Oni literally empowered himself with. And countless others who rose from grass to grace did the same thing in different parts of the world, to achieve their successes.
PAE is superior because it incorporates Academic Education while exposing learners to information, ideas, opportunities, and experiences designed to enable them identify and develop their real world relevant income-earning talents/abilities/passions to support themselves through life.
PAE is what I’m giving my kids now, and like I’ve told those who’ve raised issues with my approach, especially relatives, the results they get will demonstrate to MANY parents that it’s the BEST way to go, in this 21st century and beyond.
A WORD OF ADVICE: No matter how old you think you are, or how much you think you know about Freelance Writing or Blogging, stay open to LEARNING from others…even if they are DECADES younger than you are!!
In my case, within days of discovering Oni’s YoungPrePro.com (now www.writersincharge.com) a few years back, I wasted no time in subscribing to his newsletter (using an email forwarder I setup via my tksola dot com domain to my GMAIL box for my first son), so as to see possible learnings I could pick up, to boost my efforts to win freelance writing clients, and also to coach my kids.
By way of interest, I knew I was 20 years older than him, but my attitude to life has always been to learn from even a 1 year old…if it helps me. Many Africans struggle to scale this mental hurdle and it hurts them!
Accepting to learn from a younger person does not mean you’re inferior to him/her. It simply means you have enough self-esteem to NOT feel inadequate acknowledging that others may know things in certain areas, that you need to learn!
I soon began sharing Oni’s emails with my first son (who had not long before that time just completed a 6 month weekend practical manual typewriting course).
Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I was unsuccessful in using most of the ideas I got from reading Oni’s blog to get hired to write.
Try as I could, I was unable to get even one Guest Posting opportunity (maybe I did not try hard/long enough)…
But I knew that was not Oni’s fault. I knew it was not that Oni’s tips were not useful.
Instead, my analytical thinking helped me discern what the likely problem was…
My primary target market (farm business) and audience (farm CEOs), coupled with my multidisciplinary profile makes me a fairly unusual case…and that’s why a more flexible approach to blogging (like the one I learnt by studying Patrick Meninga’s model) was eventually what helped me achieve my goals in blogging.
In line with Patrick’s advice, I focused on writing on this blog DAILY, and to use multiple content syndication tools to propagate it to as many channels as possible, to boost my marketing reach and impact.
That strategy has since worked perfectly for me – leading to more sales leads (for my custom f software, information products and ghost-writing services) being generated via Google’s results pages and other channels.
For instance, I currently have 2 Ghost-writing projects in hand (one for a UK based client, and the other for an Abuja based Farm CEO client) – both came from clients I have NEVER met in the flesh.
And that’s apart from passive income I regularly earn from sales of my products – to online buyers..
No matter how you look at it, even if it did not get me hired in the conventional way, my exposure to Oni’s work at least indirectly benefited me…and I know a lot more about blogging as a result…!
As you can imagine, I’m determined to make sure my kids learn from him as well.
Sadly, so many older persons in this part of the world let their egos and concerns about being “older” than another person (e.g they’ll think and even say “s/he is a small boy or girl”) stop them from learning from – or at least being positively influenced by – those who can help them…
My advice: If you want to get ahead in life, DROP that retrogressive mind set, or you’ll have yourself to blame!
“A society’s competitive advantage will come not from how well its schools teach the multiplication and periodic table, but from how well they stimulate imagination and creativity.” –Einstein to Vivienne Anderson, May 12, 1953, AEA 60-716.
If you are a parent to school age kids, mark my words:
You need to get yourself firmly into the driving seat in terms of “educating” them.
Exposure to formal academics, especially via conventional schooling is only one part of what is required to equip young people for the real world.
There is another important but often ignored factor.
To illustrate what I mean, have you ever stopped to ask yourself what happened to the classmates of geniuses like Einstein, Achebe, Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie etc?
How many of them are famous for being exceptional today?
Few if at all any.
The difference is in an intangible non-academic element identified by Edison in his quote above: “imagination and creativity.”
But money cannot be used to buy it. You have to DEVELOP that aspect of yourself. For your kids, you have to support them to develop it too.
Their teachers will rarely be able – talk less willing – to do it.
That’s why it’s up to you to make it happen, if you want your child’s true genius to be unleashed so her full God given potential can be actualized.
The following quote by Einstein provides a fitting end to this write-up by further underscoring the points made here:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. ” – Albert Einstein
I recommend you take a cue from Einstein.
…a multi-disciplinary blog for people passionate about reaching their goals!
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![Email screenshot - [TRUE STORY]: Last night I got an email from a Farm CEO who'd contacted me via my website about my Ration Formulator back in August 2014 (i.e. over a year ago).](http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/yemi-email-4rm2014-to2015.png)
