Secret You Need to Succeed Despite Facing Storms of Adversity in Life

[If you’re reading this, you’re likely to appreciate the private and confidential coaching support service I offer titled “Spontaneous Coaching™* for Mastery of Adversity & Personal/Career Success Achievement!” and my article titledWhy You Need to Become a Master of Adversity to Achieve Long Lasting Success“. Learn more about them at the end of this piece]

The principle discussed in this article is a key reason I am successful at what I do today, using my Web Marketing System to attract and convert buyers for my custom Excel-VB software, from within and outside Africa.

Any person who does intellectual work (like Excel-VB coding or freelance writing for clients like I do) knows that you’re unlikely to do your best work when you are worried or upset.

And that is often the state of mind one has when experiencing storms in one’s life!

Countless people fail in life when they try to go after their dreams because they let the storms that erupt in their lives stop them!

I offer ideas to help YOU make your story different, based on what I have done – and continue doing!

Without this understanding, I would not – today – have the international following I enjoy at zero cost, from clients and potential buyers. Neither would I be on record for making total strangers from various countries find my work compelling enough to send me payment for what a Nigerian CEO once asked me; “Who’s going to pay you for that?”

Storms will come and go in your life.

Lots of things can – and may – go wrong at various stages in your evolution as a human being. Your best friend or partner may betray you. The investment you make could turn out bad. A client project could go badly wrong.

As Murphy’s law states: “Anything that can go wrong will!”

And that’s why you need to have an unshakeable belief in yourself – and in your creator, no matter what happens to you. Those are the 2 most important things to do!

Once you achieve that highly evolved state of being, in which you understand that NO EARTHLY STORM (imaginary or real) can change your fortunes for the worse, unless you let it, you will have the courage to stay focused at getting back on track regardless of what goes wrong.

This is why NOTHING has ever kept me from taking my brand to the next level over the past 15 years.

I have experienced all sorts of adversity, pain, suffering, delays, disappointments, setbacks – some causing me extremely humiliating embarrassments – in my personal and work life.

Sometimes those I could call loved ones were responsible for visiting severe hardships on me!

But in ALL of it, I always knew that I just needed to focus on what mattered most – and that is NEVER QUITTING i.e staying focused on doing what I LOVE doing, with even more passion than before!

For me, THAT meant continuing to diligently build and market my custom Excel-VB software and other solutions to the right target audience with my trademark infectious enthusiasm and my unrelenting passion/determination!

Guess what?

This strategy has NEVER failed me!

Indeed, quite often, my periods of greatest tribulations have brought out the best in me in terms of the QUALITY of work I do, resulting in better rewards from clients I connect with!

The same can be YOUR experience if you apply the ideas I’ve shared here, in your own life.

I wish you success!

TIP: This article’s topic is actually one of 5 Guiding Philosophies I recommend for adoption by anyone looking to achieve authentic, reproducible success in Making Money Developing Commercial Quality Custom Excel-VB apps to Sell Internationally. Click here to read it.

 

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

RELATED RESOURCES

1. Spontaneous Coaching™* for Mastery of Adversity & Personal/Career Success Achievement!

sc

2. Why You Need to Become a Master of Adversity to Achieve Long Lasting Success

PII 061: Tayo Solagbade’s Five (5) Guiding Philosophies for Making Money Developing Commercial Quality Custom Excel-VB apps to Sell Internationally [Lessons from Over 10 Solid Years of Personal Experience]

Over the past 10 years, I have shared true stories of how I’ve used my Web Marketing System to attract and convert buyers for my custom Excel-VB software, from places like Canada, United Kingdom, Philippines (UAE), Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and many states in Nigeria, my country of origin.

Today, many have become good friends and are in my Farm Business Ideas club where we periodically interact with my focus being to help them make better use of my solutions to achieve their goals.

In this week’s issue of my Performance Improvement Ideas newsletter, I offer insights into the thinking that guides me in developing commercial quality custom Excel-VB apps for clients that I sell internationally.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Tayo Solagbade's Performance Improvement IDEAS(PI Squared) Newsletter

Tayo Solagbade’s
Performance Improvement
IDEAS
(PI Squared) Newsletter

Monday 10th April March 2017

Logo - Tayo Solagbade's Self-Development Academy


NB: This PI Squared newsletter will be published weekly, on Mondays, in place of the Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, starting from today – 15th February 2016.
I’m reinventing my Monday newsletter content and theme, to accommodate my vision of serving the growing audience of serious minded individuals and organizations reaching out to me, with information, education. news and research findings designed to help them do what they do better.

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

View Tayo Solagbade's video tutorials and demonstrations on Facebook Productivity Tips, Web Marketing, and for his Custom MS Excel-VB driven software applicationsJoin the SD Nuggets community on Facebook.comConnect with Tayo on Twitter.comConnect with Tayo on Google PlusConnect with Tayo on LinkedIn.com

PII 060: 4 Annotated Pictorial Guides You Need for Using Tayo Solagbade’s Popular Livestock Ration Formulator

Over the past 10 years, I have shared true stories of how I’ve used my Web Marketing System to attract and convert buyers for my custom Excel-VB software, from places like Canada, United Kingdom, Philippines (UAE), Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and many states in Nigeria, my country of origin.

Today, many have become good friends and are in my Farm Business Ideas club where we periodically interact with my focus being to help them make better use of my solutions to achieve their goals.

In this week’s issue of my Performance Improvement Ideas newsletter, I offer insights into the thinking that guides me in developing commercial quality custom Excel-VB apps for clients that I sell internationally.

Note that I said this is MY thinking.

The peculiarly difficult circumstances that prevailed in the socio-economic environment I had to operate from when I was a startup over 10 years ago, till today, taught me that these 5 guiding principles were worth abiding by.

I therefore recommend them to you – especially those of you based in my part of the world, and in particular members of my Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club

  1. Don’t Try to be a Genius

When you’re building custom spreadsheet software, experience has taught me that it pays to keep things simple and not try to reinvent the wheel or overly impress the client.

Pay attention to the things that matter in terms of what the client needs and avoid trying to intimidate the client with what you may consider your skills.

Fail to do this, and you may cause the client to lose patience with you, or worse.

What’s more, you could end up shooting yourself in the foot while trying to dazzle him/her – by getting something wrong and not being able to rectify it without looking bad!

  1. Don’t Sacrifice Functionality for Bells and Whistles

This is simple and commonsensical. Yet many developers have a tendency to ignore it. And it costs them a lot.

Few users embrace an application that does not offer user friendly and intuitive interfaces for them to work with.

Indeed, in my part of the world, majority of my clients’ users readily requested that I make the app so simple to use that they would NOT need to learn to use MS Excel so much.

When I asked why, most often told me they had no desire to get to know MS Excel itself more than necessary, to get their work done.

This means you must understand the mindset of your client. Not all of them will accept that they need to change – and some will insist you give them what they want. if you can’t, they will walk away from you – and you will make few or no sales, talk less of getting referrals!

  1. Focus on Making Your Excel-VB Software SOLVE The Client’s Problem

This is the most important.

You custom spreadsheet software can be friendly and intuitive to use. And it can offer useful; features. But if it does NOT address the felt-need of the client, s/he is unlikely to see it at useful!

Some developers make the mistake of thinking what they consider useful or important is what their clients/users will also consider useful/important.

That will not often be so. Indeed, my experiences over the past 10 years developing custom spreadsheet software for use by clients in a wide variety of industries indicate that most clients have radically differing expectations about what their apps should be able to do.

If you want to succeed in selling your product and yourself to them, as a solution provider, you MUST learn to LISTEN to what they say, and ensure what you deliver does what they demand.

Then, if you so desire, put some little icing on the cake, by going the extra mile to do more of what you may consider useful, and explain to them how it can help.

Quite often, the fact that you already met the needs they considered most important, would make them more willing to adopt whatever else you propose.

But if you don’t meet the needs that matter to them, they may balk at adopting anything else you offer.

That’s just the way it is.

  1. Always Remember That You’re In Business to make Money!

This is self-explanatory – and based on simple common sense!

The problem is not many developers seem to have a firm grasp of how to apply it in doing their work.

You need to avoid getting carried away by the love and passion you have for your work. Otherwise you could end up giving away the entire farm.

Nothing stops you from adopting promotional strategies that require use of discount concessions or free services.

But it is crucial that you KNOW for sure, when to start and where to stop. Be clear in your mind what you will NOT do for free, and what you can do for a discounted price.

Also take time to create a justifiable basis for whatever pricing model you adopt. One that ensures you do not come across as trying to exploit or overcharge the client, but at the same time enables you earn optimal remuneration for the work you do – or for the product you build and offer for sale.

No matter how good you are, if you do not have a sound understanding of how to get paid for what you do as a developer, you are likely to struggle a lot, to make ends meet.

This issue tends to be a problem for a lot of people because adequate (sometimes NO) attention is paid to learning the business side of doing what they do. Especially the aspect that has to do with finding profitable paying clients!

You owe yourself a duty, an obligation even, to make your story different – if you want real success!

  1. Never Let The Storms In Your Life Stop You From Doing What You Do!

This is a key reason I am successful at what I do today!

Any person who does intellectual work knows that you’re unlikely to do your best work when you are worried or upset. And that is often the state of mind one has when experiencing storms in one’s life!

Countless people fail in life when they try to go after their dreams because they let the storms that erupt in their lives stop them!

I offer ideas to help YOU make your story different, based on what I have done – and continue doing!

Now I had so much to say about this final point that I ended up writing what I felt would be better served to my readers as a separate article. So, click the link below to read it.

Secret You Need to Succeed Despite Facing Storms of Adversity in Life

 

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

Next week, I’ll formally announce the availability of my 2016 Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Home Study DVD.

Last Saturday, 8th April 2017, I sent out a formal final notification to club members, shown below:

================Starts================

My 2016 Excel-VB Home Study DVD is a compilation of ALL the text and video tutorials I’ve sent out to my Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club members over the past year.

Pay ONLY N5k on or before MNT today Sat 8th April 2017, to get it, PLUS 1 year membership of my club, so you can learn more.

Reply YES to claim this offer.

cdlabel-2016-hometudy

===============Ends===================

NB: Today, Monday 10th April 2017, I make the same offer, but at N10k, to my mailing list – including the CEOs of over 30 ICAN Accredited Tuition Centres I connected with over the past year

Excel-VB Driven Ration Formulator

Click to view larger screenshot

1. Click here to learn more about this app – watch demo videos etc

2. Click here to watch a 4 part video in which I demonstrate how to use this app to formulate rations using real life data sent to me by an Algerian PhD student.

Click here to contact me about purchasing this product.

EXCEL-VB DRIVEN POULTRY LAYER FARM MANAGER SOFTWARE

Click here to download a detailed PDF user guide and watch 15 screen shot user guide tutorials of the Monthly Poultry Farm Manager that I now offer Farm CEOs.

Click here to watch a screenshot demonstration of the Excel-VB Driven Poultry Farm Manager I built for a client farm business in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria.

Click here to contact me about purchasing this product.

SDN Blog™

New posts from last week*

Monday:

[Wednesday]:

N/A

[Thursday]:

[RECOMMENDED] What Makes a Sow Eat Her Young? [Tested Ideas You Need to Eliminate the Problem]

[Friday]:

N/A

[Saturday]:

N/A

[Sunday]:

The FARM CEO (Issue 78): 50 Most Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas, 100 Agribusiness Ideas for 2016, 2016 Seven most profitable agribusiness ideas for a willing entrepreneur in Kenya

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Best Practice Farm Business Support Specialist & Founder of the MS Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club and Competition

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

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

Tayo K. Solagbade is a Location Independent Performance Improvement

Specialist and Multipreneur (i.e. a highly versatile/multi-skilled entrepreneur), with a bias for delivering Best Practice solutions to Farm Businesses and others.

Since 2002, he has earned multiple streams of income providing individuals and organizations with personal development training and coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems/web hosting, freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

Tayo is the author of the Self-Development (SD) Bible™ and the popular Livestock Feed Formulation Handbook. He is also the developer of its accompanying Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ and the Poultry Farm Manager™ software.

He has delivered talks/papers to audiences in 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.

On 1st April 2013, Tayo (who reads, write and speaks the French language) relocated to Cotonou, Benin Republic to begin slowly traveling across the West African region.

His key purpose is to deliver talks, seminars 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 (October 1994 to December 2001) as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer to Training & Technical Development Manager, and later acted in senior roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

In addition to constantly challenging the status quo and influencing positive work changes, he built a reputation for using self-taught spreadsheet programming skills (starting with Lotus 1-2-3, and later moving to Excel Visual Basic) – in his spare time – to develop Automated Spreadsheet Applications to computerize manual report generation processes in the departments he worked. Over four(4) of his applications were adopted for brewery level reporting.

Tayo holds a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, having graduated top of his class – with Second Class Upper Division honors – in 1992. 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 (SDAc).

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Daily Self-Development Nuggets blog – on which he also publishes The Farm CEO Weekly Newspaper (sent via email to paid subscribers) and his Weekly Performance Improvement IDEAS newsletter.

You can connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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.

Click “Tayo, What Happened to SpontaneousDevelopmentDotCom ?” to read a detailed narrative about how the above event occurred :-))

Here’s an article Tayo wrote, to inspire others to defy adversity, and bounce back to even greater reckoning at what they do EVERY time:

Succeed by Emerging from Adversity Like a Phoenix

(TayoSolagbade.com launches extra Hosting plan with FREE Web Marketing!)

And he wrote the one below, to explain why losing a domain name, no matter how old, NO LONGER determines your online success or otherwise:

A Proven Strategy to Find Profitable Buyers Regardless of Your Domain Name
==================

View Tayo Solagbade's video tutorials and demonstrations on Facebook Productivity Tips, Web Marketing, and for his Custom MS Excel-VB driven software applicationsJoin the SD Nuggets community on Facebook.comConnect with Tayo on Twitter.comConnect with Tayo on Google PlusConnect with Tayo on LinkedIn.com

Home |About | Contact | SD Nuggets™ | Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS | Web Marketing Systems | Freelance Writing | MS Excel® Heaven™ | Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas

The FARM CEO (Issue 78): 50 Most Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas, 100 Agribusiness Ideas for 2016, 2016 Seven most profitable agribusiness ideas for a willing entrepreneur in Kenya

In this week’s issue of the Farm CEO newspaper, I feature 3 new reports, from different websites, about latest farm business ideas/opportunities available to be had in Africa.

As the popular saying goes, IDEAS rule the world.

This blog – and my brand showcased via tayosolagbade.com as a whole – is a product of YEARS of hard work, mixed with lots of blood and sweat.

I have kept it going DESPITE myriad encounters with adversity. including countless attempts by MANY naughty others to pull me down by trying to discredit me/the solutions I offer.

My advice to YOU, the reader of the ideas featured in these reports is that you MUST understand that making successful use of the ideas described will require that you adopt the same NEVER-SAY-DIE mental attitude I have used to build the name/brand recognition I enjoy via this platform today.

Like it or not, some people WILL at some point find it necessary, to try pulling you down. Whether they succeed will be entirely up to YOU.

Have a good read!

======

1. 50 Most Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas

Preview: Agriculture industry specifically in India is at the crossroad of a new revolution. The entire food chain is supposed to be modernized and the production is expected to be doubled in the coming 10 years. Apart from domestic demand, this industry brings in huge export prospects. At present agri-business may involve either an input or a produce or service and encompasses items such as:

Continue reading…

https://99businessideas.com/50-most-profitable-agriculture-business-ideas/

2. 100 Agribusiness Ideas for 2016

Nigeria is one of the most developed countries in Africa. In fact, she has progressed tremendously in the service industry of late. She has also improved immensely in the information and communication (ICT) industry. According to World Bank reports, over 50% of the total GDP of Nigeria lies within the service industry. –

Continue reading at: http://www.worryfreeworker.com/100-agribusiness-ideas-2016/#sthash.eoCsyAJR.dpuf

3. 2016 Seven most profitable agribusiness ideas for a willing entrepreneur in Kenya

Do you know that Agricultural businesses are the most lucrative businesses in the world?

Apart from the low-cost of start up and running the business, agricultural businesses turn out a huge profit of up to 100%. With the increase in unemployment, young people in Kenya are now embracing agriculture which was erstwhile considered a dirty business reserved only for the poor.

Continue reading ..

http://www.farmerstrend.co.ke/2016-seven-profitable-agribusiness-ideas-willing-entrepreneur-kenya/

 

[RECOMMENDED] What Makes a Sow Eat Her Young? [Tested Ideas You Need to Eliminate the Problem]

Below are links to 2 different pages I found discussing this problem in a useful manner that others can learn from:

  1. http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/savaging-of-piglets.aspx
    This is an interesting article from the National Animal Disease Information Service in UK
I think this discussion forum has the best answer I’ve seen so far. I am a bit tired, so will have to stop here. But I think you can use the answer provided by one of the contributors – which I have reproduced below. It’s the most practical, and is given by an experienced and well known member:

What he said at the end is an example of the best practice requirement I told you about.

you can cull sows for twenty years and never eliminate this problem, understand it and it will go away for ever.

The above implies that you MUST aim to find a PERMANENT solution by UNDERSTANDING every aspect of your farm business operation!
============Below  is a preview of his full contribution – Starts===================
==================Ends=================
NB: This post is based on excerpts from a support email I sent to a Piggery Farm Business CEO/Financial Consultant who recently joined my Farm Business Ideas club. He has been experiencing this problem of sows eating their young on his farm, and had on several occasions expressed his frustrations to me about not being able to identify the root cause, and find a permanent solution to it.

Graduation Day at the 2 week Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying Workshop [Re: Empower Your Daughter to be Her Own Boss With Minimal Resources Via Vocation She Can Build on to Excel]

Yesterday was “graduation” day for my 8 and 11 year old daughters (and their much older fellow trainees) at the venue of the 2 week “Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying” workshop organized by the Lagos State Government.

I’m still suffering from cumulative fatigue: I’ve practically been out of circulation over the past 2.5 weeks taking them from home to the venue and STAYING with them till evening, to bring them back from Monday to Friday.

But it felt all worth it seeing them carryout their final assignments of doing makeup on the faces of the “clients” they were asked to bring along.

I took the photo below, outside the event hall about 30 minutes after the presentation ceremony had ended and item 7 (chop-chop) was ongoing.

temi-olu-friend

My 2 daughters are dressed in the Ankara worn by all the other trainees.

The girl to the right is the daughter to the wonderful hairdresser lady who plaited their hairs. My 11 year old daughter did the makeup on her face as part of her final “practical”.

Then each girl had to do makeup on her own face – with no assistance from anyone. That was fun to watch – as it was a strange experience for both of them.

My (soon-to-be) 8 year old girl initially protested that she could not do it!

But she was told that was the requirement for completion. So she had to focus and do it.

What you see in the above photo is the result of her first ever attempt at applying makeup on her own face, instead of someone else’s lol

Note that they wore “Gele” during the ceremony, but which they took off right after the event – that’s indicated by the dark band along their hair lines in the other photo.

Sadly, some glitch caused most of the photos taken by the 11 year old’s Smartphone to render in relatively small 320 x 240 pixel sizes – like the 2 below!

a. The 11 year old inside the event hall

temi-gele

b. The 8 year old inside the taxi I hired so  we could get there on time, AFTER we discovered we’d lost my ATM card and wasted valuable time trying to find it (details in the full post to come later)!

olu-gele

We still do not know what went wrong.

The other photos that are larger were taken by me using my Blackberry. But I was too busy guarding their makeup kit/tools which were scattered all over the floor, as they worked, to take as many photos as I would have loved.

Luckily, the organizers hired photographers, who took several photos of them that I’m hopeful we’ll be able to get copies of for whatever price they command.

As I noted earlier, my girls were the youngest participants at the event – in which we had attendees my age – and even older!

The 8 year old in particular, got LOTS of attention from guests (and the instructors) who came to record videos of her as she worked on her own client’s face.

So many commented on the fact that she was not intimidated/was confident and actually knew what to do and how.

Compared to her older sister, however, her “makeup” work was not so well finished.

But the instructors say she’s headed in the right direction and that with practice, she’ll get much better.

When she was called out to receive her certificate from the Guest of Honour (a “Honourable” from the Lagos State Government”), the MC introduced her saying “Ah, yes, this is our youngest participant!”

That caused the audience to exclaim even more than they had when the first saw her tiny figure walking up to collect the certificate!

It was VERY important to me that she (and her sister) have THAT experience of going out to shake hands as she did, with a VIP – who bent down to speak words of encouragement to her.

When she returned, the glow in her face told me all I needed to know: She LOVED the feeling of a sense of accomplishment it had given her.

I was therefore not surprised that she eagerly continued repairing the makeup on the face of her client, who had accidentally rubbed off some of the makeup.

Her 11 year old sister was also keen to preserve the work she’d done. So much so, that when she noticed her own client trying to use a facial wipe on her cheeks, she playfully patted her hand away saying:

“Ah, don’t spoil all my hard work O!”

This post is meant to just give a few highlights. The full story – ending with my admonition on Best Practice Parenting will come later.

I have a back log of work to dig into right now, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get it published, but photos etc will appear in the piece I will be writing on this wonderful journey to vocational skills empowerment my girls have commenced!

PII 060: 4 Annotated Pictorial Guides You Need for Using Tayo Solagbade’s Popular Livestock Ration Formulator

Every now and then Farm CEOs who just purchased my Farm Business Best Practice Management apps call or send emails to ask for help with getting up and running using them.

That’s why I provide step-by-step explanations about how to use my popular Excel-VB Poultry Farm Manager, using four annotated pictorial guides that give quick tips about how to use the software.

In this week’s issue of my Performance Improvement IDEAS newsletter, I explain the steps involved in using the Ration Formulator, using each of the pictorial guides.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Tayo Solagbade's Performance Improvement IDEAS(PI Squared) Newsletter

Tayo Solagbade’s
Performance Improvement
IDEAS
(PI Squared) Newsletter

Monday 3rd April March 2017

Logo - Tayo Solagbade's Self-Development Academy


NB: This PI Squared newsletter will be published weekly, on Mondays, in place of the Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS newsletter, starting from today – 15th February 2016.
I’m reinventing my Monday newsletter content and theme, to accommodate my vision of serving the growing audience of serious minded individuals and organizations reaching out to me, with information, education. news and research findings designed to help them do what they do better.

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

View Tayo Solagbade's video tutorials and demonstrations on Facebook Productivity Tips, Web Marketing, and for his Custom MS Excel-VB driven software applicationsJoin the SD Nuggets community on Facebook.comConnect with Tayo on Twitter.comConnect with Tayo on Google PlusConnect with Tayo on LinkedIn.com

PII 060: 4 Annotated Pictorial Guides You Need for Using Tayo Solagbade’s Popular Livestock Ration Formulator

Every now and then Farm CEOs who just purchased my Farm Business Best Practice Management apps call or send emails to ask for help with getting up and running using them.

That’s why I provide step-by-step explanations about how to use my popular Excel-VB Poultry Farm Manager, using four annotated pictorial guides that give quick tips about how to use the software.

In this week’s issue of my Performance Improvement IDEAS newsletter, I explain the steps involved in using the Ration Formulator, using each of the pictorial guides.

Click here to download the guides in a zipped folders.

I created and began sending them to buyers as extra “quick start” learning tools, when I noticed more Farm CEOs who bought the app had difficulty making out time from their busy schedules to read the detailed PDF guide I send each buyer.

Download and study these 4 guide images.

Print them out if you prefer.

Either way, they will help you quickly learn to use the app.

If you need any help making sense or use of the information provided, let me know.

Note that you will have cause – in using the software to – “try” using variable values for feed ingredients, until the Pr+ value, Energy level and other important parameters for your feed turn out the way you want them.

Recall that you need a SOUND understanding of feed formulation principles (such as those described in the feed formulation handbook) to make effective use of this software.

The common saying – Garbage-In Garbage Out – in relation to computers applies firmly here!

Guide 1 – Nutrient Composition Table

Click UPDATE SETTINGS on the Ration Formulator’s Menu to access this table

guide-1-nutrient-composition-table

The nutrient composition tablie is in a different worksheet from the ration computation table, which has formulas. New ingredients added to the nutrient contribution table instantly appear in the computation table’s drop menus.

For every ingredient that is chosen by the user in the computation table. All corresponding nutrient values (Protein, energy, calcium etc) entered for it in the nutrient table instantly appear in the corresponding columns in the computation table – via a database function.

No need to type new values in, each time a new of different ingrendient is added. This app is futuristic in that it enables users easily add new ingredients or completely replace old ones and their nutrient without having to temper with the spreadsheet etc. So s/he gets to focus on formulating the ration, rather than worrying about modifying a spreadsheet.

The user clicks an ingredients name in the in-cell drop menu or via the floating data entry form. Clicking an ingredient’s nae will post it in the cell and the database functions in the table will instantly cause its computed nutrient values to appear along the same row (drawing from the nutrient composition table where they would have been posted initially: A drop menu is also used to choose “fixed” or “variable” label to assign to each ingredient.

Guide 2 – Computing a Ration Formula Using the Excel-VB Driven App (Steps A to D)

guide-2-computing-a-ration-formula-using-the-excel-vb-driven-app

At “A“: Type target protein value you want in the final feed into “Tgt Pr+(%).

Below it, enter total kg of feed you want to make.

At “B”: Use the drop menus to choose the crude protein sources you want to use. If you choose more than ONE CP source, you MUST choose “Mixture” at “C” in”Variable No. 2” under Pearson Square Inputs

Once the above is done, click the REFRESH button. The software will  generate values for in the “Estimated %  To Use In Ration” section (below section “C”).

At “D“: You will now enter the generated values into the data entry fields for EACH ingredient at “D“. Then finish by clicking REFRESH to generate the ration formula.

Drop menus provided next to each ingredient name allows you specify if it is a Variable or Fixed ingredient. The app’s computation takes this into consideration. If you forget to make up the totals to 100% the app will throw an error alert and force you to find and correct the mistake BEFORE you can progress.

The table’s total protein should equal the target Pr+ value you want in the ration you’re formulating. If not, check the total % in ration (should be approx 100%) in the table. Sometimes minor changes to the variable ingredients will be needed to get the target protein right. The kcal ME/g Calcium, Fibre (should ne within the desired range for your animals).

You will check Ingredients Cost (Naira). Compare to your budget. Make adjustments if needed – possibly using cheaper alternatives. Note that the app instantly inserts user entries in the data form, into the correct location on the spreadsheet. The user need not interact with the spreadsheet at all. And when the right formula is obtained, it can be stored (by clicking the “Store this formula” button on the worksheet and/or printed out by clicking the “Print Preview” button on the worksheet.

Guide 3 – Error Handling to Ensure You Get Reliable Ration Formulas

The app formats relevant formula cells in the password protected ration formulation area. They turn red when “invalid”.

guide-3-error-handling-to-ensure-you-get-reliable-ration-formulas

If the error is not corrected, the user will not be allowed to move beyond that stage. In the instance below, the TOTAL% in ration is less than 100%. The user must clear whatever caused that error before s/he can continue with the ration formulation.

In contrast, manual Excel workbooks created for feed formulation typically allow such severe errors go unnoticed, since no in-build error handling exists.

Bear in mind that this application has evolved over the years, based on feedback from users, to improve the “reliable and safe use”. The original version built in 2004 was not as enhanced as this.

Guide 4 – This app generates THIS print-ready Pearson Square formula and diagram page

The app is based on an improved version of the Pearson Square technique. It generates a print-ready formula and diagram. At the bottom of the print page, the user is reminded using a set of bullet points of rules guiding feed formulation based on this ration formulation technique.

guide-4-the-app-generates-this-print-ready-pearson-square-formula-and-diagram-page

Excel-VB Driven Ration Formulator

Click to view larger screenshot

1. Click here to learn more about this app – watch demo videos etc

2. Click here to watch a 4 part video in which I demonstrate how to use this app to formulate rations using real life data sent to me by an Algerian PhD student.

Click here to contact me about purchasing this product.

EXCEL-VB DRIVEN POULTRY LAYER FARM MANAGER SOFTWARE

Click here to download a detailed PDF user guide and watch 15 screen shot user guide tutorials of the Monthly Poultry Farm Manager that I now offer Farm CEOs.

Click here to watch a screenshot demonstration of the Excel-VB Driven Poultry Farm Manager I built for a client farm business in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria.

Click here to contact me about purchasing this product.

SDN Blog™

New posts from last week*

Monday:

[Wednesday]:

N/A

[Thursday]:

N/A

[Friday]:

[RECOMMENDED] My Lord, Tell Me Where To Keep Your Bribe? – By Niyi Osundare (Renowned Nigerian poet)

[Saturday]:

N/A

[Sunday]:

[RECOMMENDED] Understanding Relative and Absolute Cell References in MS Excel

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Best Practice Farm Business Support Specialist & Founder of the MS Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club and Competition

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

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

Tayo K. Solagbade is a Location Independent Performance Improvement

Specialist and Multipreneur (i.e. a highly versatile/multi-skilled entrepreneur), with a bias for delivering Best Practice solutions to Farm Businesses and others.

Since 2002, he has earned multiple streams of income providing individuals and organizations with personal development training and coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems/web hosting, freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

Tayo is the author of the Self-Development (SD) Bible™ and the popular Livestock Feed Formulation Handbook. He is also the developer of its accompanying Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ and the Poultry Farm Manager™ software.

He has delivered talks/papers to audiences in 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.

On 1st April 2013, Tayo (who reads, write and speaks the French language) relocated to Cotonou, Benin Republic to begin slowly traveling across the West African region.

His key purpose is to deliver talks, seminars 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 (October 1994 to December 2001) as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer to Training & Technical Development Manager, and later acted in senior roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

In addition to constantly challenging the status quo and influencing positive work changes, he built a reputation for using self-taught spreadsheet programming skills (starting with Lotus 1-2-3, and later moving to Excel Visual Basic) – in his spare time – to develop Automated Spreadsheet Applications to computerize manual report generation processes in the departments he worked. Over four(4) of his applications were adopted for brewery level reporting.

Tayo holds a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, having graduated top of his class – with Second Class Upper Division honors – in 1992. 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 (SDAc).

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Daily Self-Development Nuggets blog – on which he also publishes The Farm CEO Weekly Newspaper (sent via email to paid subscribers) and his Weekly Performance Improvement IDEAS newsletter.

You can connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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.

Click “Tayo, What Happened to SpontaneousDevelopmentDotCom ?” to read a detailed narrative about how the above event occurred :-))

Here’s an article Tayo wrote, to inspire others to defy adversity, and bounce back to even greater reckoning at what they do EVERY time:

Succeed by Emerging from Adversity Like a Phoenix

(TayoSolagbade.com launches extra Hosting plan with FREE Web Marketing!)

And he wrote the one below, to explain why losing a domain name, no matter how old, NO LONGER determines your online success or otherwise:

A Proven Strategy to Find Profitable Buyers Regardless of Your Domain Name
==================

View Tayo Solagbade's video tutorials and demonstrations on Facebook Productivity Tips, Web Marketing, and for his Custom MS Excel-VB driven software applicationsJoin the SD Nuggets community on Facebook.comConnect with Tayo on Twitter.comConnect with Tayo on Google PlusConnect with Tayo on LinkedIn.com

Home |About | Contact | SD Nuggets™ | Speaking/Web Marketing IDEAS | Web Marketing Systems | Freelance Writing | MS Excel® Heaven™ | Cost-Saving Farm Biz Ideas

The FARM CEO (Issue 77): GFIA – Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, 5th Commercial Farm Africa

This week’s issue of the Farm CEO features previews and links to websites for agro-based events in Africa.

1. GFIA – Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture

GFIA is the world’s largest exhibition and conference showcasing innovations in sustainable agriculture across all types of food production. So whether you want to improve productivity, increase profits, save natural resources, or overcome the challenges of climate change, there are hundreds of solution providers exhibiting with working products to help your business remain competitive and sustainable for the long-term.

http://www.agri4africa.com/index.php?dirname=docs_08events

2. 5th Commercial Farm Africa

14-15 Mar, 2017 – Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA

Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro

According to an UN report, the world population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 & 9.7 billion in 2050. In order to feed the growing population, countries around the world are looking for arable land for agri investment to ensure their food security. Africa with over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land seems a natural choice for investors!

http://www.cmtevents.com/aboutevent.aspx?ev=170310

[RECOMMENDED] Understanding Relative and Absolute Cell References in MS Excel

Last week I sent out (via email to club members) the promised 100MB step-by-step screenshot tutorial demonstration video showing how to create a dynamic formula that copies across ALL cells in a table of any size, using a mixture of absolute and relative cell references.Next week, I will do a step-by-step analysis of the various parts of that formula, explaining the components of the syntax, so you can fully understand how it works.

Before then, this week, I have compiled previews and links to 3 websites offering useful explanatory information about relative and absolute cell addressing as used in different Excel versions (see below).

I do this to ensure you have access to other useful online resources that you can learn from – outside of me.

I strongly recommend you read each of the articles, to boost your understanding of these powerful concepts.

If you need help making sense of any of it, do not hesitate to contact me.

1. Excel 2013:Relative and Absolute Cell References

Introduction

Video: Cell References

There are two types of cell references: relative and absolute. Relative and absolute references behave differently when copied and filled to other cells. Relative references change when a formula is copied to another cell. Absolute references, on the other hand, remain constant, no matter where they are copied.

Continue reading…

2. USING ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE REFERENCES IN EXCEL 2010 FORMULAS

You can use three types of cell references in Excel 2010 formulas: relative, absolute, and mixed. Using the correct type of cell reference in formulas ensures that they work as expected when you copy them to another location in the worksheet. Formulas and functions are at their most useful when using references, so you need to understand them.

Continue reading…

3. Relative vs. Absolute Cell References in Spreadsheets

In working with spreadsheets, you need to know about relative vs. absolute cell references.

Here is the issue: when you COPY A FORMULA that contains cell references, what happens to the cell references?

Usually the CELL REFERENCES will CHANGE! If you copy a formula 2 rows to the right, then the cell references in the formula will shift 2 cells to the right. If you copy a formula 3 rows down and 1 row left, then the cell references in the formula will shift 3 rows down and 1 row left. These are called “relative” cell references, since they change relative to where you copy the formula.

Continue reading…

[RECOMMENDED] My Lord, Tell Me Where To Keep Your Bribe? – By Niyi Osundare (Renowned Nigerian poet)

The good Professor Niyi Osundare wrote the poem below quite a while back about Nigeria’s Judiciary and Legal Profession.

Sadly, his words remain ever so relevant today.

This is one of many reasons I argue that most conventional “schools” offer limited real world relevant preparation – especially in a society like Nigeria.

We are supposed to be trained in learning and character, when we pass through school. Character is so important for long term success achievement in adult life.

What we see in today’s Nigeria indicates very little of character building happens in the schooling majority of our population gets.

If that was not the case, we would not have such a dominant majority eagerly engaging in and supporting blatant wrong doing for personal gain. Societies where schools work are not like that!

The Professor eloquently describes the sad state of affairs in our country today, in the following words:
===

My Lord, Tell Me Where To Keep Your Bribe? – By Niyi Osundare (Renowned Nigerian poet)

My Lord

Please tell me where to keep your bribe?

Do I drop it in your venerable chambers

Or carry the heavy booty to your immaculate mansion

Shall I bury it in the capacious water tank

In your well laundered backyard

Or will it breathe better in the septic tank

Since money can deodorize the smelliest crime

Shall I haul it up the attic

Between the ceiling and your lofty roof

Or shall I conjure the walls to open up

And swallow this sudden bounty from your honest labour

Shall I give a billion to each of your paramours

The black, the light, the Fanta-yellow

They will surely know how to keep the loot

In places too remote for the sniffing dog

Or shall I use the particulars

Of your anonymous maidservants and manservants

With their names on overflowing bank accounts

While they famish like ownerless dogs

Shall I haul it all to your village

In the valley behind seven mountains

Where potholes swallow up the hugest jeep

And Penury leaves a scar on every house

My Lord

It will take the fastest machine

Many, many days to count this booty; and lucky bank bosses

May help themselves to a fraction of the loot

My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?

My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?

The “last hope of the common man”

Has become the last bastion of the criminally rich

A terrible plague bestrides the land

Besieged by rapacious judges and venal lawyers

Behind the antiquated wig

And the slavish glove

The penguin gown and the obfuscating jargon

Is a rot and riot whose stench is choking the land

Behind the rituals and roted rigmaroles

Old antics connive with new tricks

Behind the prim-and-proper costumes of masquerades

Corruption stands, naked, in its insolent impunity

For sale to the highest bidder

Interlocutory and perpetual injunctions

Opulent criminals shop for pliant judges

Protect the criminal, enshrine the crime

And Election Petition Tribunals

Ah, bless those goldmines and bottomless booties!

Scoundrel vote-riggers romp to electoral victory

All hail our buyable Bench and conniving Bar

A million dollars in Their Lordship’s bedroom

A million euros in the parlor closet

Countless naira beneath the kitchen sink

Our courts are fast running out of Ghana-must-go’s*

The “Temple of Justice”

Is broken in every brick

The roof is roundly perforated

By termites of graft

My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?

Judges doze in the courtroom

Having spent all night, counting money and various “gifts”

And the Chief Justice looks on with tired eyes

As Corruption usurps his gavel.

Crime pays in this country

Corruption has its handsome rewards

Just one judgement sold to the richest bidder

Will catapult Judge & Lawyer to the Billionaires’ Club

The Law, they say, is an ass

Sometimes fast, sometimes slow

But the Law in Nigeria is a vulture

Fat on the cash-and-carry carrion of murdered Conscience

Won gb’ebi f’alare

Won gb’are f’elebi**

They kill our trust in the common good

These Monsters of Mammon in their garish gowns

Unhappy the land

Where jobbers are judges

Where Impunity walks the streets

Like a large, invincible Demon

Come Sunday, they troop to the church

Friday, they mouth their mantra in pious mosques

But they pervert Justice all week long

And dig us deeper into the hellish hole

Nigeria is a huge corpse

With milling maggots on its wretched hulk

They prey every day, they prey every night

For the endless decomposition of our common soul

My Most Honourable Lord

Just tell me where to keep your bribe.

*   Large, extremely tough bags used for carrying heavy cash in Nigeria

** They declare the innocent guilty

They pronounce the guilty innocent

Prof. Niyi Osundare

Empower Your Daughter to be Her Own Boss With Minimal Resources Via Vocation She Can Build on to Excel [Case Study: Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying]

Last Sunday (26th March 2017), I sent a Power Point slide show with the photos shown below, to the facilitator of the “Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying” training workshop being attended by my daughters – with the following message:

Hi Madam,

Photos of (the girls’) Makeup Practice On Each Other – Sun 26th March 2017

Please let’s have your feedback.

Yesterday’s attempts were not so good. They kept fighting each other. But today, went better :-)

They will work on each other’s faces early tomorrow morning, before the class begins – as you have advised on Friday.

Below: Eye brows and eye shadow makeup done by the 8 year old, on her 11 year old sister.

The instructor later noted to me, when we met on Monday, that the 2 girls needed to better draw the brows to include a distinct “arch” and “tail”. They have since gotten much better at doing that – but have been told to do lots more practice at home this weekend.

makeup-done-by-oluoma-ontemi

makeup-done-by-oluoma-ontemi1

makeup-done-by-oluoma-on-temi2

makeup-done-by-oluoma-ontemi3

makeup-done-by-oluoma-ontemi4

Below: Eye brows and eye shadow makeup done by the 11 year old, on her 8 year old sister.

makeup-done-by-temi-onoluoma1

makeup-done-by-temi-onoluoma2

makeup-done-by-temi-onoluoma3

makeup-done-by-temi-onoluoma4

Below: Before and After photos of the 8 year old’s eye lids as the 11 year old worked on her

The instructor noted that they had yet to grasp the “blending” of the colours used, as reflected in the distinctly visible line between the 2 colours used.

shadow-before

shadow-after

Today was the 2nd day of “Gele Tying” in the Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying Workshop they’ve been attending

They were taught to use  a very challenging multiple pleating technique made popular by the wife of a top Nigerian politician in the South West region of Nigeria.

It was however noted that the ease of reproduction of this style depends on the fabric from which the Gele itself is made – with Aso Oke, being the recommended, and which gives the best look.

In the photo below, my 11 year old daughter has her Gele done that way, using a fabric different from the recommended Aso Oke

gele-tying

Believe me when I say this entire experience has been, for me, MOST enlightening and inspiring.

This business of Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Typing requires application of major creativity and ingenuity by practitioners.

It’s been so exciting watching the instructors demonstrate how to mix colours to create amazing eye shadow effects, for instance.

The trainees also got told how to use various kinds of brushes to achieve different looks in the course of making up a client’s face.

Very little is left to guessing or trial and error – and that’s why it’s a vocation that commands enduring interest and respect!

This makeup business is both a science and an art: That’s why I am certain it’s a viable vocation to venture into – and the long term success reported for many practitioners confirms  it.

What’s more, it has few entry limitations, making it open to anyone willing to do the work required to learn and to create.

Little wonder that the 2 week workshop has on attendance females of virtually all ages (including several older than myself) and backgrounds.

All worked together in what was mostly a cordial atmosphere, to learn from the very helpful instructors, and also to share with one another, what each person knew.

Some had been in the business already and only attended the training to brush up and learn new tricks of the trade.

Others, like my girls, were complete novices – so they got lots of coaching attention from the older ladies, which was pleasing to see.

It goes without saying that I’ve resolved they will be taking the formal 1 month training on offer, from the course facilitator, at her studio. 

Yep. This is the kind of EDUCATION that I consider most valuable as a foundation for success in life.

One can build on it to acquire all other forms as one goes along, but it will provide a valuable means of income earning to do all other stuff, without needed too much help (if at all any) from others.

This Cosmetic Makeup and Gele Tying business is one that can empower ANY female of any age to be her own boss with minimal resources.

It’s VERY scientific  in nature – requiring a willingness to learn how things work and practice till mastery is attained.

You simply cannot cut corners, because your client will always demand value for her money.

So, if the finished makeup you do on her face, or the Gele you tie on her head, fails to meet the standard you promised, your brand will suffer.

She will protest, and most likely tell others, or at least refuse to give you referrals.

None of that will serve your needs. That’s why those who succeed in this business tend to be disciplined and serious minded.

I believe this is why the ladies I observed all through the 2 week period were so serious in their disposition to doing what they were being taught.

They knew it was not a matter of writing some paper exam, but of being able to DEMONSTRATE mastery of the art of makeup – repeatedly, and consistently.

Here’s the best part: You can start out with a budget that is comfortable for you, and scale up as you succeed with client jobs you get.

This is because there will always be clients willing to pay you at your level of competence.

I have been told of locations in Lagos where young girls do Gele tying for only N500.00, and others where the lowest rate you can get the same service is N5,000.00!

Some of the ladies at the training explained that they can do full facial makeup for N2,500.00, because they are not so well established – noting that there are places where the lowest rate you can get the same service is N5,000.00!

All one needs to do is simply start with what one has and gradually work towards serving the market that pays more of what one wants, over time. If you work is good, the clients will hire you. People LOVE to look good!

In essence, the demand is there – Nigeria being a market in which females constantly demand for makeup services in various areas.

Smart ladies attending university would find acquiring this kind of skill useful in resisting peer pressures to fool around with Sugar Daddies to survive on campus etc.

And those ladies not on campus would be equally empowered to resist attempts by men or any other persons to control or manipulate them. This kind of business will make any female an empowered, independent woman in her own right!

That’s what I want my girls to become.

What about you?