Category Archives: Entrepreneurship

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Why You Need “Sales & Marketing Education” – Even If You’re a “Job Seeker” or Employee! (Based on a True Story)

October 23, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I sat down for one week in 2002 (my start-up year), and wrote what is now my popular Feed Formulation Handbook (photo below). It was based on my knowledge/experience as a key member of the self-funding Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) in the University of Ibadan. But…my first sale did NOT happen until 2004! (NB: But it came early, and with feedback that led me to build the Ration Formulator software that now accompanies the app).

By way of interest, my decision to write the book came after I read Michel Fortin’s “10 Commandments of Power Positioning” and “Burt Dubin’s Why & How to Get Published”(click that link if you want to know what those guys said that made me decide to write a book).

It took me just ONE week to type all 65 pages in MS Word – but 2 years to make my first sale!

I know several people who’ve written books but keep waiting to get it published with a big name publisher, to make the “selling” process easier. Well, in my case, I could not be bothered. I went into selling mode as soon as I got it printed out from MS Word onto A4 paper, and spiral bound (more on this later).

Like I said, it took 2 solid years to make my first sale of that book.

I KNEW the subject inside out, having been involved in formulating and compounding rations for livestock we (SFRF) reared commercially on the university’s research and teaching farm.

We never had to beg for patrons to give us money etc.

It was also 100% run by us, the students. We had lecturers as patrons, but they only gave advice. They never interfered.

And we had a bank account, managed by elected executives who ran the foundation’s affairs competently.

I know all this, not just because I was a member, BUT because I was an active one. In fact, within ONE year of joining, I got so active that in my second year as a member (a year before my graduation), I was elected (without my indicating interest in contesting!) as “Supplies Coordinator”.

That executive position enabled me get to see the inner workings of the executive team.

It was impressive to observe the professionalism that undergraduates displayed in their affairs back then. As Supplies Coordinator, I often had to work out the ration formulas or get them from the Project Coordinator (the overall head) and then get the needed funds to visit the feed mill to have them compounded.

I would then return with a pick up van of compounded and bagged feeds to be used for 2 or more weeks. An exciting experience it was!

Sometimes I would be told a particular ingredient was in short supply, and I would have to use my knowledge of ration formulation to choose a suitable substitute ingredient to replace it in the ration without significantly affecting the ration’s formulated balance etc.

You must understand that despite being a “foundation” we were PROFIT focused. So, it was important to get things right as often as possible.

To ensure we could repeat our success, we kept good records. We frequently reviewed the performance of our chicks, layers, broilers, cockerels etc, over time, against different batches of formulated ration fed to them.

That guided us on what ration formula to use in future. And it was that diligence that led us to make healthy profits by keeping our feeding costs low while boosting productivity.

These are the same factors I try to point out to Farm CEOs. They are not complex, but they require diligence to get right. And that was why I wanted to explain in my book, how we derived such cost-effective ration formulas to reap healthy profits.

We did so well, that we were able to organize end of year parties, and even give ourselves gifts of eggs and chicken to take home!

When you have seen and experienced something on such a deep personal level, it’s NOT hard to talk (or write!) about it…

That was why the contents of that book that’s still purchased today by Farm CEOs (and those aspiring) for N8,000.00 came pouring out of me in just ONE week!

But selling the book proved to be much more difficult than writing it!

Once I was done, I went out and printed/spiral bound a copy.

Then I printed flyers and began visiting farm businesses all across Lagos.

Each day, as I found free time from my other business startup activities, I drove to farms in Ipaja, Egbeda, and even as far as Epe, then back to Oko Oba in Agege.

I even went to farm support experts in the Ministry of Agriculture. And YES I did meet with leaders of farmer groups/associations about introducing my book to their members…but nothing ever came of it, other than “Ok. No problem. Call me later, and let’s talk“, then “Ah, let me call you back after I leave the meeting I’m going for now“…LOL!

In essence, I was unable to make a sale!

Stupidly, I tried placing small classified ads in some newspapers and magazines. For 2 years I tried selling it that way.

Even then, NO SINGLE enquiry came in!

Have you ever experienced being SURE that something will work, but having to contend with the reality that it just is NOT working?

Well, that was my experience with my Feed Formulation Handbook in those startup years.

I knew the contents would be cherished by livestock farm owners looking to lower their costs of feeding, and boost their farm output.

And that was why I felt it was best to go straight to them and show them the book: Makes a lot of sense that way doesn’t it?

Well, I found out the hard way, that it was NOT the best way to go about it!

But I did not know what I was doing wrong until the rejections and lack of sales FORCED me to go back and re-read Michel Fortin’s book and Burt Dubin’s articles…

I read a few others too…

Then I sat down and did some deep reflecting on what I had read.

Within a few days the insights began to come to me…in trickles. I realized I had been doing the marketing bit completely wrong.

I had read those write-ups the first time around without INTERNALIZING the most important lesson…

That lesson was that you MUST ESTABLISH authority status FIRST, to make profitable buyers seek YOU out – and so that YOU don’t have to go looking (or is it “hunting”?) for them!

I’ve since learnt those lessons well, and even come up with a few of my own.

The book has been on sale via my online store as a downloadable PDF for years now. I sell it as a spiral bound book, and also email it as a PDF attachment to buyers from within/outside Nigeria who send payment directly to me, instead of using my online store.

All I had to do was change the way I was trying to sell.

I did NOT need to go back to school, or get another degree to make that happen.

Instead, I only had to pick up some Unconventional Sales and Marketing Education – the kind that is NOT taught in schools!

And it so happens that one of the 2 main gurus I learnt what to do from (who is world renowned in his field, and recently turned 80 years) describes himself as a high school drop out!

I have to say though that I was lucky, to have persisted in digging long enough to find out where I was going wrong. Otherwise I would have probably ended up frustrated – or concluded I was a failure…

Now, hat I’m saying here applies to job seekers, as much as it does to those who choose to start their own businesses

Most people often miss this…Sales & Marketing Education – of the right kinds – can often help with Passing Job Interviews!

In other words, with the right experience based sales/marketing “education”, YOU can record better results in searching for jobs than those who lack those abilities.

Among other benefits, your “know-how” will guide you right from when you write and submit your resume, to what you do and say when invited for the job interview!

Look around you, and you’ll see signs that this is true

Carefully observe people as they relate with one another – and you will see that WE ARE all in the business of WINNING one another over.

Maybe it’s to make them like you, or to make them give you something you want. We are all trying to “influence” one another!

Every now and then you are trying to “sell” a point of view or perspective to others, in a way that makes them LEAN towards your line of thinking. That makes them TRUST you more.

And when they trust you more, they are more likely to make decisions in YOUR favour.

This is why companies pay celebrities handsomely to “front” for their products by making them BRAND ambassadors. They know fans will tend to “adopt” something if they see that someone they admire, respect or trust (e.g. a celebrity), ENDORSES it.

So, to succeed, just LEARN how to gain the positive attention, interest, and ultimately TRUST, of those you need to decide in your favour.

It could be a prospective employer, or a potential client…a pretty girl or handsome chap…

Once you can win their “trust”, you will find that those who really need you, or what you offer, will choose you more often, over any others they may be considering.

And that’s what results in success…

In my case, that’s what leads to successful selling of my Feed Formulation Handbook, my other books, in addition to my Excel-VB software as well as other solutions I offer.

Yet, you must remember, that I basically had to go and discover how to succeed like this on my own. I had to re-learn and unlearn MANY things I was taught in school in the process too!

So, here’s my challenge to you: ASK YOURSELF...

Why don’t our schools teach US what we need to EXCEL in the real world?

Why do we so often leave school and then find we need to go and learn so many others things in order to succeed in the real world?

[NB: A possible exception is if we find paid employment that readily suits formal schooling we got. But that’s harder to find these days]

And why is it that when we retire, resign or get kicked out of our jobs, and we start our own businesses, one thing we struggle the most with is how to profitably MARKET whatever we offer???

To take this further, let ME now ask YOU this…

Don’t you think that our schools should be teaching us “sales and marketing that works” LONG before we are due to enter the real world?

Isn’t that what school is meant to do i.e. to EQUIP us with the knowledge and skills to care for ourselves in the real world ?

Even YOU in paid employment right now…these thoughts also apply!

For instance, should you NOT be learning “sales and marketing that works” in preparation for your inevitable departure from your salaried job???

After all, when that happens (e.g. you retire), you may have to “open a grocery shop, or supermarket”…or even start a consulting firm or cookies factory (ALL of which will benefit and do better with effective sales and marketing)!

The implications are however more far reaching that most people readily see…ASK YOURSELF this second set of questions:

What is school teaching MY own kids right now????

What has school BEEN teaching MY own kids since I began sending them there???

Does any of it include the stuff mentioned above, that is likely to determine their ability to succeed by profitably “sell” themselves???

If NO, what can I do to “CORRECT” that deficiency in the “education” my kids are getting???

Now that I’ve gotten you thinking all these (scary?) thoughts, what will you do?

Or should it be what CAN you do?

I say CAN, because there is indeed something you CAN do to change things if your questions reveal the need for that to happen!

Let me refer to myself from this point on…

Here’s what DRIVES me, to keep writing on this theme at every opportunity.

It’s also pushing me to TAKE concrete action to coach my kids to be better prepared for the real world.

Example 1: Their recent Selling Skills Development Project

At the end of August 2014, I made my go out to try marketing their cup cakes, to compare with how they sell to their classmates in school. It was a most revealing experience for them. I shared photos in my Facebook album.

Example 2: Our forthcoming book titled “How We Cheaply Make Cup Cakes without an Oven or Cooker (PDF) – By Tayo, Fela, Emeka,and Chika SOLAGBADE

Just before leaving Nigeria during my last visit earlier this month, I got them together to quickly record a video in which they demonstrated the process they follow in making their cup cakes using only a pot and charcoal stove.

I’m now using the photos and video clips in writing a book that we will jointly publish as co-authors, for sale in my online store.

The purpose? Click the sneak preview cover image below to find out in the PDF report I’ve published about it.

You see, dear reader, EVERY single day that passes, I ask myself: What can I do to SPARE my kids the painful hassle of re-learning – AFTER SCHOOL – in order to succeed in life that I experienced???

Hassles that made me a clueless “job seeker” post graduation.

Humiliating hassles that made me a “clueless” startup entrepreneur for years after I quit my job to run my own business in the real world!

These are HARSH truths, but I use them to keep myself awake to the realities my kids are bound to face, if I leave them to learn based on the SAME system that I passed through!!!

That’s what makes me determined to show them that a better way exists.

In fact, let me share a secret with you: If I have my way NONE of my kids will EVER become an employee.

I’ve told them this already, and we are all agreed on it in principle.

Judging from the way things are going for us right now, we’re already headed in that direction e.g. with our plans for a family based business.

What will YOUR (and YOUR children’s) story be???

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

How Exposure To Poverty & Trial-By-Fire Can Be Deliberately Used To Prepare People To Succeed

October 22, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[NB: This article is based on lessons I learned from my real life personal experiences, as an individual AND a parent] The concept of “Trial By Fire” can be successfully applied in different social settings. The ultimate purpose of a “Trial By Fire” approach should however always be to help “participants” discover and/or develop FURTHER their innate abilities and capabilities, to the point where they can truly function at their FULL potential.

No matter how we look at it, helping people to perform at their optimal best is the most important way to bring about progress and development. The “Trial By Fire” approach provides a tested and proven “fast-track” avenue through which these valuable twin goals can be achieved.

Exposure To “Poverty” Can Prepare A Person To Be Successful

Poverty often manifests in form of a lack of money, and painfully limited access to basic necessities and conveniences.

People born into poverty often find early responsibility and attendant hardship thrust on them as a result. Biographies have been written of great men and women who in their formative years, had to help their parents out by doing odd jobs to earn income to feed the family (Walt Disney for instance sold newspapers as a child to complement his father’s efforts).

But just as their situation caused (often serious) pain, it also toughened them.

In other words, t hey learnt to “fight” to get what they wanted. They did so sometimes driven by the knowledge that their parents or siblings waited at home for them to return with “something”.

This acceptance of early responsibility, and the fighting spirit/mental stamina they developed over time became useful qualities. Especially when they turned their attention to their chosen vocations.

Walt Disney’s early struggles for instance, must have taught him the discipline of hard work, which helped him relentlessly pursue his dreams to build an empire that survives till today.

Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha while being interviewed on a radio program (I recall vividly) said:

“All I know is Jay-Jay Okocha sold Oranges on the streets of Lagos“.

Think about it a minute.

This was a man whose accomplishments in his profession(football) cannot be ignored internationally. Yet, when confronted with evidence of widespread adoration for him based on those achievements he chose to recall what could probably qualify to be called the most humbling moments in his entire lifetime.

As has been confirmed by numerous research studies, and real-life stories of other great people, periods of adversity can often bring out the best in a person. So much so that s/he develops qualities that will ultimately enable him/her archive notable success in the future.

Okocha, by that statement obviously recognized those harrowing days of living in a single room with his mother and sisters and selling oranges to sustain them, as instrumental to the development of the never-say-die mental attitude that led him to achieve success and fame as a footballer.

“Poverty” Can Be Deliberately Used To Develop Talent In People

Poverty imposes severe lack of resources which the affected person(s) need to function effectively in their current situation. I believe the concept of “poverty ” can be extended beyond the more common one that relates to poor people, and applied in a more general sense.

You could for instance talk about poverty of “good leadership”, which may result in slow development in a nation or poor performance of a company.

In essence I am saying that poverty can be translated to mean “lack”(deliberate or accidental) of resources or environment normally required for effective functioning of an individual, group or organisation.

The above implies that deliberately putting individuals or groups into controlled environments of “poverty” and/or “hardship” similar to those they are likely to encounter in real-life, can help them.

Apart from boosting their mental toughness, they are likely to develop “survival skills and abilities” that they can successfully use to achieve improved performances at work/in life, even when their actual circumstances are limiting.

For instance, it is well known that creativity tends to flourish when there are limited resources, which force people to explore alternative routes to achieve their intended goals.

Without the challenge introduced in form of the removal of ready access to the needed resources, most people would rather not apply any sustained intellectual effort towards finding a better way to do the same thing.

The above principle is used in military training. Soldiers are exposed to various adverse conditions which if they successfully undergo make them tougher and readier to meet the “enemy”.

The use of simulators in various spheres of training endeavours(e.g. pilot training etc), also provides some evidence that this is an approach that has proven merit.

In summary, “poverty” imposes the test of “Trail By Fire” on persons born/thrust into it, equipping those who “pass”, with competencies that help them excel later on in life.

Organisations (and even societies) which want to develop high performing members can learn from nature. They can utilise the “Trial By Fire” approach (like some progressive ones already do) to develop management talent of their people, and ultimately record exceptional employee performances.

Steps You Can Take To Develop Talent Using The “Poverty/Trial-By-Fire” Approach

1. Create a deliberate atmosphere of lack (i.e. artificial scarcity) or hardship THEN Demand those in it to deliver the same results that would be expected if they had all that they needed.

For instance if you want to start up a new arm of your company – you may choose NOT to let the parent company give the managers of the new company ALL the money and resources they need.

Instead, it would be smarter to give them a little, and then challenge them to find their own feet by working hard to start earning income, as quickly as possible, to keep going.

That way, they get to learn the important (and sometimes harsh/hard) lessons that you learnt – which enabled you build the parent company to the level at which spinning off new subsidiaries like theirs become possible.

Such lessons would equip them to run the NEW company profitably.

2. Watch out for the reactions of those who are challenged in this way – Note those who reject the assignment. Identify those who take action to get the described results by improvising and being creative.

3. Decide on the next level of challenge(s) to throw at your “proteges” – depending of course on how they have responded up to this point.

4. Take them out to the real world and see if they put what they have learnt/discovered to use as the opportunities to do so arise.

5. Provide qualitative, experience based feedback. Those you put through this process will need guidance from someone with the right mix of knowledge and experience, to make “sense” of what they have gone through.

You will ensure that they get this guidance by way of feedback delivered in a manner that enhances each person’s self-esteem, thereby boosting enthusiasm to work harder to achieve the needed learnings/results.

The concept of “Trial By Fire” as described in this article can be successfully applied in different social settings

It could be at home with your kids, in the workplace with employees etc. One must however always remember that the ultimate purpose of a “Trial By Fire” approach is to help those to whom it is applied discover and/or develop FURTHER their innate abilities and capabilities, to the point where they can truly function at their FULL potential.

FINAL WORDS: A Mistake Some Parents Who Rose from Rags to Riches Often Make

Some parents who rose from lowly beginnings where they had to overcome severe hardships to achieve notable successes sometimes vow they will never let their own kids suffer the way they(the parents) did. In a sense this feeling is understandable.

The problem however is that in trying to make sure your kids do not “suffer”, you may end up making them “weak” – by over protecting them – so that they grow up incapable of withstanding challenges that life may throw at them in their bid to achieve their own goals.

You need to realise that YOUR contact with poverty and its attendant hardships contributed significantly to making you capable of overcoming those challenges.

If you really want to help your kids, you may need to seriously consider periodically exposing them to similar experiences in ways that will teach useful lessons they can draw upon later in life.

This article has described some potentially useful approaches that YOU can apply to learn those empowering lessons – and which you can also teach your kids.

I urge you to do both.

NB: This article is based on excerpts from a write-up originally published Online on 6th July 2007 via www.spontaneousdevelopment.com and Ezinearticles.com

Entrepreneurship, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Self-Development

Learn How to Achieve Superior Success as a Location Independent Entrepreneur

October 21, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[Hint: If you’re a YOUNG African keen to MAXIMIZE your God-given potential, I wrote this article with YOU in mind] Most people who follow my work online know that I relocated to Benin Republic from Lagos-Nigeria on 1st April 2013.

From my very first night in a Cotonou hotel, till today, as I write from a cyber cafe in Cotonou, I never stopped writing my blog posts EVERY Monday to Saturday (sometimes Sunday) all through that transition period.

The few people I chose to confide in asked me how I expected to find my way in a country where I knew no one…

Most did not know I’d learnt to read, write and speak French way back in 1999.

And of course I knew no one when I arrived Cotonou. But I knew my CREATOR – and that was enough.

PLUS…I knew I had the mental stamina – and FAITH- to deal with the challenges they rightly anticipated I would face in a new country.

Examples: Going without food and sleeping on the streets for days. Both happened more than once. I have proof to back those claims up – and will write in detail about it in my next book – with names and photos of persons (helpers guided to me by the Creator) with whom I became friends here in Cotonou DURING those periods.

For me, it’s so strange that those who doubted me were those who claimed to believe in God and attended religious events.

I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again…

They are the ones who make the most noise about having faith – calling it the “assurance of things yet unseen”.

But their words and actions in their daily lives often contradict what they claim to believe.

That was why they failed to believe a person who expressed unquestioning faith in his creator’s ability to guide him to success!

Looking back, I think the fact that I did NOT profess a particular religion made them too biased to see that my SPIRITUALITY was more important than whatever religious leanings they had! And that mental attitude holds so many people back today from manifesting their full God-given potential.

Pity.

For those who had no issues with my religion or faith, few – if at all any – understood the logic of my decision to move…

What, they asked, can you possibly find in that small and poor country, that is NOT available in Nigeria in greater abundance?

One of them pointed out that few people there would be able to afford my services and even fewer would be interested.

I tried to explain to them – but they just did NOT get it.

They do GET IT NOW, I can tell you that: my success makes sure of that!!

You see I did NOT come looking for clients in Benin (even though I NOW have several, who sought me out on their own!)

What I wanted was uninterrupted power supply and better socioeconomic conditions under which to build my online brand to find profitable buyers.

Nigeria could not (yet) give me that – 10 years of trying had told me that clearly.

So I had to find an environment that would give me what I needed to FLOURISH like I knew I could.

Several years earlier, a chap I’d met in Lagos and told that I had a dream of becoming an internationally recognized entrepreneur had called me on phone one night to mock me, asking:

“Old boy how far now? Shebi you said you are going to be international. What are you still doing in Naija now?” (and he burst out laughing many times as he spoke).

You may not believe it, but I felt really sorry for him – and others (there were others!) – who mocked me at various times in my journey to recognition and success.

You see, I had something they ALL could not see. But it was not money, and it was certainly not connections!

Instead, what I had was a deep seated CONVICTION that I could achieve the goal I’d set my mind on.

I did not have a clear idea of how that end would come about, but as a student of success, past experience had taught me to NOT worry about such things.

When you keep at it, what you need to make the next level of progress WILL appear.

I’m NOW living that dream that I once had…just like I knew I would!

In Nigeria it would have been hard to build my online presence to be this robust…and profitable.

But in Benin, I do it almost effortlessly.

I can work as long as I want and rest when I like, while creating new material to offer to a potentially profitable buying audience.

What’s more my cost of living over here is about 3 times LESS than it would be in Nigeria.

From food that I eat, to cutting my hair – even Internet connectivity is MUCH cheaper!

And I can go about my affairs with minimal worries any time of the day (even after midnight) – no crazy traffic, area boys, or naughty police men etc to deal with.

That’s why I’m moving my family over to join me!

Today, I describe myself as a Location Independent Multipreneur…and rightly too!

I AM a multi-skilled entrepreneur with a proven ability to earn income (a growing portion being PASSIVE) regardless of where I am.

I get contacted by – and hired/paid by buyers from various countries.

My online presence is NOT an ego trip. I mean many different and useful things to many different and results focused persons. They find following – and connecting with – me BENEFITS them in various ways.

I am not a musician or comedian – so one cannot say it’s because they want to be entertained that they come to me.

However I do offer a form of entertainment as well – only it comes along with information and education

Simply put, I have become a meaningful specific – as Zig Ziglar advised EACH one of us to be!

However, it did not happen overnight. Neither did I get here by thinking and acting “normal”.

Instead, I had to challenge myself to MANY times deliver near superhuman performances. And I continue to do that.

This website – www.tayosolagbade.com (which started out 9 years ago as www.spontaneousdevelopment.com) – with its rapidly growing mass of useful resources, is proof of this.

More people (even old clients) continue to ask me how I do it…

How do you manage to write all that stuff, build all those apps, then write and build for your clients as well, PLUS respond to emails etc?

The answer is simple: I found my passion, and I channeled my energy and focus into it.

Then I found a way to offer it to a global audience – increasing my ability to get rewarded for doing what I do!

And you know the best part? This strategy requires very low to zero capital to get started and/or make MASSIVE progress. I am proof of it!

Today, I want to help others do the same – including YOU, if you are interested…

Your age, gender or education does not matter.

In 4 to 8 weeks, I can guide you to discover what to do and how.

But you must be ready to do the work. And you must be ready to make the investment.

To learn how to be a Location Independent Entrepreneur (or better still a Multipreneur like me), click here to learn more about my Coaching Service – then follow the instructions at the end of that piece.

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

No. 164: Develop the Ability to Monetize Your Ideas (True Story)

October 20, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

As an expert-who-speaks, potentially useful insights (i.e. IDEAS) about your field or subject may come easily to you. However, successfully implementing them in a way that equips you to earn ADDITIONAL income can prove difficult, if you lack the know-how.

This article uses a true story to explain why acquiring the know-how to monetize your ideas can make you more successful.

Below is a screenshot of my old Microsoft Excel Heaven Software development service website – as it looked 7 years ago, in 2007…

SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE

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

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 20th October 2014

No:164

Title: Develop the Ability to Monetize Your Ideas (True Story)

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/sdnuggets

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

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

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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

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IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS newsletter is published online on the “reincarnated” version of my Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog. I continue to put finishing touches to the content. If you encounter ANY bad/dead links, and you can spare the time, email them to me via tayo at tksola dot com. Thanks in advance

No. 164: Develop the Ability to Monetize Your Ideas (True Story)

This article uses a true story to explain why acquiring the know-how to monetize your ideas can make you more successful.

Below is a screenshot of my old Microsoft Excel Heaven Software development service website – as it looked 7 years ago, in 2007

[NB: The website is now located at www.excelheaven.tayosolagbade.com and currently being re-built. Learn what happened to spontaneousdevelopment.com here]

The text on the above page explains how I single-handedly created the market for my apps in Nigeria. Since then, I’ve gone on to win buyers even outside Africa.

In 2002, I became self-employed with the intention of using my IDEAS about spreadsheet automation to inform, educate and possibly inspire others in paid employment

I wanted them to achieve spectacular results like those I recorded while an employee in Guinness (click here to read details in my resume).

During that 7 year period, I basically functioned as an in-house custom spreadsheet software solutions developer. Wherever I worked, if I noticed spreadsheet automation could improve data recording, handling and report generation, I wasted no time in using my skills to make it happen.

But it was an informal role the company never asked me to play – and I never got paid for it. But I LOVED doing it.

Since I never bothered anyone to give me anything to make my ideas work, I rarely encountered any resistance from anyone.

Indeed, due to the fact that the solutions I developed very often addressed areas of pressing need in terms of report generation accuracy and speed, most times they ended up being formally adopted for use.

I succeeded in the above manner because in addition to my ideas, I had the know-how to make my ideas work.

In life, sometimes a person will have an IDEA, but s/he may not have the know-how to implement it successfully. This is why some people need to recruit others with the know-how, to whom they then explain what they believe is possible (in form of their IDEAS).

Henry Ford did that with the enginerrs he employed to build his first car engine. But not all of us will have employees we can challenge in that manner

When you are an independent consultant or solo entrepreneur, it may not be as straight forward as that …

Typically, you will have to reach out to some other person with the know-how.

Sometimes however, such a person (typically called an “expert”), may be limited by training or bias, from seeing what the person with the IDEAS (who can be called the “visionary”) is seeing.

That happened to me a lot in those early years – until I decided to become self-sufficient.

I had ideas about new and better ways spreadsheet automation can be used to solve real life problems. And I was convinced they could work.

So I invested hundreds of hours developing the ABILITY to implement my ideas e.g. building Excel-VB apps to formulate rations for livestock, to automate Payslips Generation, to Manage Poultry Farms etc.

Then I also learnt how to PROMOTE them successfully to the right target audiences for profit.

The above led to my eventual success – and that’s why I argue that to succeed more, it’s best to intelligently acquire the know-how to make your ideas work.

One of the reasons I quit my job in Guinness over a decade ago (despite the great pay and career promise), was that I kept feeling stifled with regard to using my ideas.

I often got spreadsheet automation (and other) ideas I wanted to implement. But due to the limitations imposed by roles and positions, I had to hold back or even abandon them.

It wasn’t that anyone stopped me.

Instead, going further was seldom easy to justify with regard to my job description and formal responsibilities.

Even the spreadsheet automation solutions I’d gotten adopted had initially earned me stinging criticism from colleagues and superiors who failed to see the potential.

The situation made me feel like I needed more room to apply the ideas I had – especially with regard to spreadsheet automation.

It became clearer to me that I would always be limited in terms of how far I could go, if I remained in paid employment. As time went on, a series of other events led me to the conclusion that I needed to be free of the restrictions imposed by a 9 to 5 job, to really explore the implementation of the ideas I had.

Eventually in December 2001, I quit my job and went out to offer my Spreadsheet Automation Solutions to the bigger world.

I soon found out within a few months, however, that even “experts” who taught “Advanced MS Excel” in business schools, did NOT have an inkling of what MS Excel-VB automation could do for business users!

It was a rude awakening: My initial thinking had been that I would easily find willing allies amongst such people – and even those who ran software programming schools – to implement my ideas.

In fact, I even (VERY wrongly) assumed I would meet some who could comprehend what I did with Excel-VB code.

To my astonishment, they often ended up speechless on seeing my apps!

Some were however not impressed – like one Indian faculty head of a popular ICT school in Ikeja, Lagos-Nigeria, who bluntly told me (after I proposed teaching MS Excel-VB there):

“No one will buy software you build with MS Excel – that’s not even real software! Come and register with us to learn real programming!”

I smilingly thanked him and left – knowing that he was wrong, and determined to prove it.

You see, I had the unique advantage of having ALREADY developed such solutions for serious business use in a multinational. So I knew I only had to find the right audience in the real world.

It is on record today that my custom Excel-VB driven software get purchased by buyers from both within and outside Africa (and in case you didn’t know it, Professional Excel Programming has been big business worldwide for decades).

Indeed, my MS Excel Heaven Facebook page has over 60% of its fan base from Asia – especially India!

Here’s another point worth taking note of…

Employees in client companies have approached me to teach them Excel-VB – and some revealed they attended certification courses in the same ICT School I mentioned above!

Yet they ended up working as employees in IT departments of my client companies!

Out of curiosity I asked them why they did not start their own businesses…

Their answers showed they lacked the know-how to monetize their expertise in the programming languages they learnt, by creating solutions they could sell profitably.

Their “school” did not teach them that “small” but crucially important bit!

So you see, they had the knowledge and skill – but lacked the know-how to monetize it!

As a result, the best they could do was to take up paid employment.

That was the difference between me and them.

But unlike them I did NOT have a single ICT certification or qualification.

Yet, I was able to successfully take my self-taught “programming skill” and monetize it.

I continue to do that today(e.g yesterday I published part 1 of 4 in my new Ebook series on Best Practice Farm Business Management, which is a compilation of past articles, and related MS Excel calculation workbooks. Click here for more

The best part is that (unlike when I was in paid employment) I do NOT have to wait for anyone to give me permission to do any of the above.

When I started out, I knew I had to be able to “promote” my ideas effectively. So I began searching for information and education that could help me – such as articles, reports etc.

The Internet proved very useful in this regard.

Indeed the web remains my number one self-development resource till date [Tip: By the way, before you spend ANY money learning ANYTHING, try searching to learn it free online…you’ll be surprised how much money you save!].

Now, since I knew what I was trying to do was a bit unconventional, I focused on finding write-ups that offered insights beyond the usual stuff.

With regard to MS Excel-VB Solutions Development, I actively studied experts online who offered their insights.

One man really stood out for me: Pierre LeClerk.

His easy-to-understand tutorials, and sample workbooks opened my eyes to better ways to offer my solutions in the real world. And he told lots of real life stories based on his decades of experience working with internation clients that inspired me.

His website has tended to morph in name and form over the years. Last time I checked, it was at http://www.excel-vba.com/ – but you may do well to simply Google his name.

Apart from LeClerk, the big fat book titled Professional Excel Development that I purchased online in 2007, helped me take my know-how to a whole new level

On the aspect of “finding buyers”, painful past experience had taught me that placing adverts in print newspapers about my Excel Automation Service was a total waste of time.

Even today, despite the fact that I have created a lucrative niche market for my Excel software, I would still NOT place an advert in any print medium (or indeed online) to sell them.

That’s because conventional “advertising” does NOT work well with solutions like mine!

What I have found works is contained in business promotion write-ups by experts like Michel Fortin, and especially Burt Dubin.

Both preach(ed) the importance of using your writing to set yourself apart from the crowd, in a way that makes those who need anything you want, find your offers compelling.

I quickly devoured every write-up on that theme that I could find from both men.

They were a lot, but when you are HUNGRY to learn, “a lot” will rarely be enough. For instance…

a. Michel Fortin’s “Ten Commandments of Power Positioning” remains a bible or sorts for me.

b. Burt Dubin’s “Why and How to Get Published” taught me to use my writing to profitably promote myself/my works at zero cost.

It is the wisdom from their works that has enabled me successfully grow my income by creatively monetizing my ideas and my know-how again, and again, and again – for YEARS!

I’ve written in more detail about what I learnt from those 2 gentlemen in a past tribute article.

My recommendation is that you study their works, if you want to get similar results.

To get started, click here to read that tribute article I wrote about them and 3 other gurus, 2 years ago. It contains links to some of the pages on their websites. And you can of course Google their names for more.

Have a great week :-))

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Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.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 organisations 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 organisations, 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 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.

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 his Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS

newsletter(which he uses to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

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

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

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—

NEW: Your Practical Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Home Study Video Series Is Now Available

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FREE TALK: How a Best Operating Process Management Sysem (BOPMS)™Will Earn Your Farm MORE Profits!

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THEY WROTE…

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

—————————–

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

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

———————–

Click here to contact Tayo…




SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 163: Use These Real-life Business Plans, to Speak With Investors About Your Poultry Farm Start-up
Entrepreneurship[Tuesday]:	Why You Need to Become a Master of Adversity to Achieve Long Lasting Success
Self-Development/Parenting [Wednesday]:	Smart Web Marketing Makes Multidimensional Marketing Success Possible
Career Development [Thursday]:	10 Practical Strategies To Help Your Employees Produce Better Results
Parenting [Friday]:	The Company You Keep (Even Online!) Determines The Quality of Life You Live (Practical Ideas You Can Use)
Writing/Blogging/Entrepreneurship [Saturday]:	[NEW E-BOOK] 10 Highly Educative Articles on Best Practice Farm Management for Profits
Want me to write for you? Click here to send me a message

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

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

[NEW E-BOOK] 10 Highly Educative Articles on Best Practice Farm Management for Profits

October 18, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[UPDATE: The ebook went LIVE in my online store a few minutes ago…click here to view!]

[This 55 page e-book goes LIVE at www.lulu.com/sdaproducts tomorrow Sunday 19th October 2014] It’s a compilation of 10 of my top performing Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas articles. They were written on the Best Operating Process Management Systems (BOPMS)™ theme I have advocated for adoption by farm businesses over the past decade (see Table of Contents below).

Several of the articles featured in this ebook are found on 3rd party websites as Guest Posts(See Table of Contents further down)…

Over the past decade I have written articles, developed best practice systems and developed built low cost custom software to help farm CEOs.

To consolidate my efforts, especially as I continue to win clients (and subscribers) from within and outside Africa, I also compile my write-ups into eBooks, for easy reference.

A growing number of farm business owners (and those aspiring) have been asking for copies of several of my past articles. So this is a good way to help them find what they have in once place.

In addition, those who are farm support experts and other stakeholders, including educators and trainers, will find this eBook series useful, as they can republish in their own media (e.g. websites, offline magazines, email newsletters etc.

The table of contents on the next page indicates the ten (10) articles available in this e-book – which is actually part 1 of a 4 part Farm Business Best Practice Educational E-book Series. The other 3 e-books will go LIVE over the next week.

For every paid buyer, you can get your FREE copies of the MS Excel workbooks and other documents (or links) referred to in the articles featured here by sending me a message via http://www.tayosolagbade.com/pfbizplan.html (then email me a copy of your purchase invoice via tayo at tksola dot com), and I’ll get back to you.

If you have any queries or request please do not hesitate to email me via: tayo at tksola dot com or use the contact form located on my flagship website.

Reprint Permission:

As a paid owner of this eBook, in line with the offer made of the sales page in my online store at www.lulu.com/sdaproducts, you can freely reproduce – without making alterations – ANY of the articles contained in this e-book for use on your website, or in any other medium or publication, as long as my byline and copyright information are printed along with every article.

Please use the following byline with each article:

This article is one of ten (10) contained in Tayo Solagbade’s Ebook titled “Best Practice Farm Management ( & Performance Measurement) for Profits”. Tayo Solagbade (www.tayosolagbade.com) works 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. Download your copy of one or more of his Farm Business Best Practice Educational E-books from www.lulu.com/sdaproducts. You get full reprint rights for articles in them!

I hope the ideas I share in my e-books help you become more productive in starting up and running your Farm Business.

Yours in Best Practice Farm Management for Profits,

Cotonou, 18th October 2014 @ 2:32p.m

PS: When the e-book goes LIVE tomorrow, you will be able to access it in my online store at www.lulu.com/sdaproducts.

If you have any queries or request please do not hesitate to email me via: tayo at tksola dot com or use the contact form located on my flagship website.

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

The Company You Keep (Even Online!) Determines The Quality of Life You Live (Practical Ideas You Can Use)

October 17, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I have a relatively tiny Facebook friends list (<300). So one would imagine I’d readily accept every friend request I get. Instead, accepting a friend request – for me (especially since I moved to Cotonou in April 2013) – actually involves SCREENING people as if for employment…those I subject to that process just NEVER know it…LOL!

But seriously – you will NOT believe the lengths I go to check – and DOUBLE check them, and their backgrouds – in every way possible.

I do this ONLINE (and even OFFLINE), going as far as reaching out to friends of friends to the person who added me as a friend.

I rigorously screen friend requests as above, because I want GOOD QUALITY people, who can ADD VALUE to me as “friends”…

I want that because I WORK HARD to be that kind of friend to others – both on and off the web.

The above is why I also periodically WEED my friends list.

For instance, I’ve had funny “conversation” attempts by some friends I made about 2 years ago…

Some send messages like “Sup…!” and “T-boy…!” – without saying much else.

And then, if in a bid to be polite (thinking maybe the connection cut off the full message), I respond with a “Hi…can I help you?”… they follow up with some silly link etc…argh!

Look I don’t know about others out here on the web, but I want to be PRODUCTIVE, and I need to be connected with people who can help me do that.

If achieving the above means I’ll end up with a micro-sized friends list, SO BE IT!

I’d rather have top quality interactions with 5 clued up friends several days in a YEAR, than endure mind numbing relations with 5,000 “air heads” every day!

NB: It goes without saying that I am comfortable with having the same rules applied to me by those who have ME on THEIR friends list.

But why am I making a case based on Facebook in particular, you wonder?

Actually, I’m only using Facebook as a point of reference.

Generally, my message is directed at all people as they relate with one another online or offline.

However, we all know that a vast majority of today’s population across the world go through daily life glued to their PC and Internet related tools and resources.

Most of them use Facebook – which now has users across the billon mark.

But they also use several other platforms.

On their phones they are constantly messaging one another via “Whatsapp”, “Messenger” etc.

In essence, so much talking is happening today and a lot of it is in small chunks of often severely abbreviated words.

I once read somewhere that we now have some people who think and speak in “Tweets”, and I agree!

My observations indicate that some of them are even journalists, whose spelling skills now “suck” as a result – thereby punishing readers!

The situation is so bad now, that those who feel what should be a normal “need” to think, speak and write words normally, struggle to “get through” to such “Tweet” brained persons.

The latter’s minds can often not hold a train of thought beyond the volume allowed for Tweeting.

I exaggerate not: There ARE adults and young people like that out there today!

And they are in such numbers that those who are NOT like them appear to be the ones who are NOT normal.

Ultimately, this is why the quality of thinking and social interaction today is deteriorating.

To protect myself from the decay, I choose to filter out people who are THAT shallow from getting too close in my social space.

In this article, I’m asking you to do the same thing too – for your own good.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t condemn or reject them. And I’m NOT asking you to either!

For those I perceive to be willing to be coached and influenced to IMPROVE themselves, I make the effort to stay connected.

But if after a while I get the impression I’m “pouring water in a basket” (i.e wasting my time/efort or “Mo nda omi si akpere” – as the Yorubas would say), I generally avoid them.

The truth is that it is unwise to try and save the world, if those in it are NOT interested.

Make it clear that you are available, to any persons who are willing to be helped. If anyone comes, do what you can.

Otherwise, keep your peace. You have enough to occupy you in pursuit of your own self-improvement and ultimate self-actualization.

Final Words: My message in this piece is for both adults and their kids.

To achieve your goals in life, especially in a way that adds value to others and the society, you will sometimes need to be ruthless in the way your choose those you spend your time with.

Not just in person, but also on the web.

Those you give your conscious attention to (e.g. online) determine the THOUGHTS you nurture.

If they are “no-good” people (and you know what I mean by that I’m sure!) then you are going to end up with MORE “no-good” (aka useless) thoughts that you need.

By implication, you will be wasting your valuable, and non-recoverable, time!

Life is just too short to spend it with people UNWILLING to add value to YOU or society.

Challenge them to step up, and if they don’t seriously consider WALKING AWAY!

Like we say in Africa: A word is enough for the wise!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News

10 Practical Strategies To Help Your Employees Produce Better Results

October 16, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

To get your team members to put in their BEST efforts at all times, you need what I call a Workplace Performance Improvement philosophy. One that will inspire them to willingly do their jobs AND even take up MORE as the need to do so becomes obvious – without seeing it as extra work! I discuss ten (10) strategies you can employ to make the foregoing happen.

1. Promote Creativity

Encourage an atmosphere for creativity to flourish. This can be done by actively engaging the minds of employees by involving them in taking crucial decisions about issues concerning the way they do their jobs.

Additionally, requesting their contributions towards solving problems affecting their jobs – and recognising/rewarding them accordingly – would stimulate creativity. Invite them to make and/or send in ideas/suggestions.

Be receptive to them as they do so. Apply tact in rejecting “bad ideas” to avoid withdrawal.

2. Discourage “Blame”

You will need to explore effective ways of telling them what YOU want. It will also help greatly if you create an atmosphere where BL:AME is NEVER welcome and where instead the focus is on problem analysis/solving for IMPROVED productivity.

For instance you would encourage everyone to concern themselves with WHAT went wrong and WHY – and NOT with WHO DID IT.

In this way, when the WHO issue arises during problem solving, people responsible for the workplace activity/process under scrutiny will feel safe enough to admit where they erred, thereby helping the team QUICKLY UNDERSTAND and solve the problem.

3. Entrench Informal On-The-Job Coaching

What is your mental attitude about each employee’s ability? Do you believe you can help them become better or have you given up on them as “unchangeable” or ‘hopeless”?

I suggest you adopt the former attitude because NO one human being can come to you as a perfect employee. It will often be up to you to “guide” those who work with you to do so in THE manner you believe will help the organisation get the results it NEEDS.

You need to enhance the skills of your employees by providing (and encouraging) spontaneous job-based coaching to complement whatever formal training they are exposed to.

For instance you would latch on to ANY opportunity to carryout informal coaching of your reports etc, towards helping them understand how management utilises the information they document, and why it is so important for documentation to be accurate and complete.

4. Employ Multi-dimensional Peer Pressure To Enhance Best Practices

You could tactfully/subtly use peer pressure to inspire positive attitudinal changes amongst the workforce. It is normal in most workplace to have “Star” workers and average workers.

The challenge for you will be to find a way to make the “Star” worker share(or “infect” others with) his/her expertise, knowledge and positive work ethics. With proper encouragement, you will find that such individuals readily develop the instinct to help others perform better on the job.

The other average workers are likely to see the “recognition/respect” the “Star” worker enjoys, and consequently appreciate his/her efforts to help them. Plus they would be interested in acquiring improved competence through him/her.

Properly done, this strategy can greatly reduce the amount of direct effort you and other “leaders” need to put in to get improved on-the-job performances.

5. Insist That Everyone See The Big Picture

You will need to insist your team members ALWAYS remember to view their jobs from a broader perspective and not narrow into their micro activities.

Task each individual in a specific unit of the department for instance to study what goes on in the other units in the department even though s/he does not have to work there(yet). They should make it their business to know/understand what the next man’s job involves.

This is important because many times they have to interface with the person on the other side of the fence in doing their own jobs.If they understand what his/her job entails they will more readily appreciate how their actions (or inactions) can affect the person.

Getting them to do this will break down the mental barriers that many people build because they work in physically separate divisions or sections of the same organisation. .

The result will be that communication happens more readily/freely thereby making it possible for workplace activities to proceed more successfully to the company’s benefit.

6. Endorse ‘Leading” And Make “Bossing” Unfashionable

Make it obvious that “No bosses” are wanted in your workplace, and that only leaders are welcome.

The difference between these two types of people is that the former seek to DOMINATE others in a bid to get them to deliver results, while the latter work to INSPIRE others to perform.

7. Advocate Intelligent Mistake Making

You will need to discard the “Shoot the messenger” mentality – if it exists in any form. You MUST make it SAFE for people to make mistakes.

If you allow a blame culture to take root in your workplace, people will begin to HIDE their mistakes, and will rarely ever own up – causing major problems for the company.

Mistakes that do not get stopped via corrective feedback to those responsible will get repeated and lead to customer complaints, losses/wastes etc.

If you want people to develop on the job, you must be willing to accept that they WILL make mistakes on the job – because they are human! Your role will be to help them learn from those mistakes and work hard to AVOID repeating them.

Anytime a person fails or makes a mistake, s/he must be made to identity and understand the cause. S/he must learn to use failure as a learning platform.

8. Create Micro-Businesses

You could get individual departments to see themselves as mini businesses within the larger company. And the department heads can choose to regard the different units within their departments as MICRO businesses within each departmental MINI business.

Each micro business will have a MISSION which would basically be to achieve a RESULT that must be delivered. Or to complete a TASK that must be performed successfully.

All of which will enable other micro business(es) and the MINI business to achieve their own goals – which are all linked to the organisation’s overall purpose.

At each level (Macro, Mini and Micro), the relevant team members would decide on their individual mission statements – drawing from what they have to do within the bigger departmental unit.

This approach allows all members of the organisation to get a more tangible indication of what is required of them. They are therefore better able to understand what they need to do and why.

9. When Introducing Change(s), Ensure Those Affected UNDERSTAND Why

How do you go about introducing/implementing change that you deem necessary? When people do not understand why the way they work – for instance – is being changed, they can resist it sometimes in subtle ways that can have very harmful consequences for the organisation.

You need to take pains to explain to the team members – especially those affected (positively or negatively) by it – WHY the change is being made, so they ‘feel” involved and understand the THINKING behind the decision.

Over time, their appreciation of management’s expectations from them (and its “thinking”) in relation to their jobs will improve.

10. Make Open & Honest Communication A Well Advertised Policy

In many organisations – especially those with large workforces – sometimes the majority of employees tend to hold the (mistaken?) belief that the company’s profits are exorbitant, and that management is unjust and unfair.

This is what causes the typical situation where employees unions maintain a confrontational posture towards the company’s leadership – viewing decisions/policies with suspicion etc.

It would help if you – and others in senior/leadership positions – make a conscious effort to formally (and informally) communicate management’s positive sides. More importantly, your actions should inspire trust and confidence amongst the workforce.

Employees should for instance not (or no longer?) have to contend with what someone once described as “closed doors and tense, guarded statements“.

As one poster I came across on a factory wall once put it : “Limited Information or No Information = NEGATIVE information“.

When the employees speak with one member of the senior management team about “what’s going on”, the information s/he gives MUST be reasonably consistent with what another “senior” person would supply at any other time on the same subject.

FINAL WORDS : Central to all that I have said above is the need to create an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and appreciation between and among ALL members of the organisation’s team

Make your people feel recognised – and reward them when possible – for the effort they make every day to do their jobs well.

Doing this, in addition to applying other ideas like those outlined above is very likely to make your employees deliver more VALUE on their jobs everyday they come in – without need for financial incentives of any sort.

Click here to learn about the Workplace Performance Improvement Learning Events I offer…

NB: This article is based on excerpts from a piece written and first published online by Tayo K. Solagade via www.spontaneousdevelopment.com – and Ezinearticles.com – on 18th September 2007.

Entrepreneurship, General, My DN Travel News, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Smart Web Marketing Makes Multidimensional Marketing Success Possible

October 15, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Wherever and whenever possible, it makes sense to use EVERY single activity you spend money on to PROMOTE your business. A Web Marketing System makes that possible i.e it equips you to use ONE stone to kill many birds.

With a Smart Web Marketing System you’ll seldom need to to spend any more money than you did to setup the system, to generate quality sales leads.

Just ACTIVELY and DILIGENTLY TALK/WRITE about what you do – in creative ways – DAILY, or as often as possible via as many channels as possible.

As you continue, different people will encounter different aspects of your web marketing content. They may find something that interests them, and also tell friends, relatives or associates about other stuff that does not, but which they feel could interest others.

I’m sure – sometime in the past – you told another person to check out a product or service you came across, because you thought it might interest him/her?

Well, that natural process is what smart web marketing plays on to get you quality attention from potential buyers.

The best part is that with your Web Marketing System, you can make most of it happen automatically – with little need for you to stress yourself.

Would it not be best to use the interest generated by your marketing efforts offline, to ATTRACT people likely to be interested in what you offer?

Would that not be a good way to use the same money you’re spending in your offline marketing?

Is your website linked to your blog (I assume you have a blog?), as well as your Facebook and Twitter pages? If no, then you are really doing yourself a lot of harm.

I assume here that the content on your website and blog gets periodically updated with potentially useful/interesting information for your target audience(?)

Without that, having the other online channels linked to it would make no useful difference to your marketing reach and impact online.

A web marketing system involves integrating the above mentioned resources, in a way that enables you update all of them at once. That way you get to make optimal use of your time and efforts.

If you are not doing the above currently, you’re leaving that powerful marketing arsenal comprising your website, blog, and Twitter/Facebook pages to go to waste.

The results I get by doing what I’m recommending in this article, equip me to offer YOU these insights.

I’ve shared countless stories in past articles on this blog, about how doing the above helps me win high quality buyers for my products and services.

It continues to happen, even today, and most times I do nothing more than add new web marketing content to the mix – making creative changes each time!

You can get similar results to mine. Finding buyers who pay well, does NOT have to be so hard!

If you need help, click here to contact me.

Smart web marketing makes it possible to use MULTIPLE offers to attract potential buyers – or generate sales leads.

There is NO reason you should not be giving MASSIVE exposure to ALL the products and services you offer via your website: it’s ZERO COST!

But it’s not just by putting up photos, videos and description/prices that you’ll succeed.

No.

You have to offer a tantalizing mix of content creatively produced, over time, to WIN the T-R-U-S-T of those you want to sell to.

Many times this will be because such people have others who offer what you do (or something similar) in mind at the same time as you.

That’s why you must place emphasis on the word: T-R-U-S-T !

A very wise saying goes thus:

“People will listen to you if they like you. But they will only buy from you if they trust you.”

To sway prospective buyers’ decision making in your favour, your ability to churn out continually a steady stream of compellingly useful content, WILL go a long way to work the magic you need!

This is what I have done, and continue to do, on a regular basis:

It is what makes total strangers, from within and outside Africa buy from me, and even RETURN to ask for my help in other ways.

I want to help others who are willing to do what it takes succeed like I do, in USING LESS money, time, effort and resources to boost their marketing reach/impact and win new buyers.

Single dimensional success is NOT as rewarding or beneficial as multidimensional success.

Smart use of a Web Marketing System makes the latter possible.

It happens to be what I do. And I do it quite well too.

The best part is that I use this strategy to sell to both online and offline clients – making GREAT savings of time, effort, money and resources in the process!

I also happen to be convinced that ANYONE can do this…IF s/he is willing to put in the needed effort.

Once again, if you need help to use the ideas I’ve shared above, click here to contact me.

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, General, My DN Travel News, Self-Development

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

October 14, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Are YOU experiencing discouraging delays, disappointments, or setbacks in life, and struggling to deal with them? If YES, this article can help you.

“Ona kan o gba oja” – a Yoruba saying – translates literally as: “several routes can be followed to the market”. It is often used in a figurative sense e.g. if an entrepreneur’s marketing strategy fails to work, it suggests exploring alternatives – instead of beating one’s head against the wall.

That mental attitude CAN help you turn things around and make the most of even the worst situations.

Incidentally, that is what has helped me succeed in virtually every area of endeavour I’ve ventured in life.

One example: A few years ago, while still based in Nigeria as an entrepreneur, certain “failures” made me begin toying with the idea of using Web Marketing to find 80% of my clients.

I was still doing offline marketing, to win projects with offline clients at the time (around 2010). But several unpleasant experiences had made me decide there had to be a better way to earn a living.

Apart from not getting paid as well as I wanted, I was periodically exposed to abuse and exploitation in various forms (some I’ve touched on in past articles e.g my article titled “One Major Reason Why People Avoid Entrepreneurship[True Story]“).

I wanted a way that would expose less frequently to the unpleasantness I was experiencing.

The idea occurred to me that I did not need to meet people face-to-face before they would buy from me – even in Nigeria/Africa.

By this time, many people had been reaching out to me via my articles marketing on Ezinearticles.com. A good number were from outside Nigeria and some as far as Europe, America and Asia.

However, the mindset I had at the time was one that kept me from believing I could get those foreigners to look beyond the issue of my being in Nigeria, and buy from me.

My past efforts, back in 2004 to 2006, had made me believe people were not willing to risk sending payment to Nigeria – due to the reputation given us by email scammers etc.

But my dissatisfaction with the results I got from working exclusively with offline clients DROVE me to try harder.

I eventually gained enough insights/experiences about how to do it – though it would take time.

So I began making more deliberate changes to my website content offers towards “wooing” potential clients from ANY part of the world with the QUALITY of useful content I offered.

The main purpose was to build my mailing list, which I then planned to “mine” for sales – with periodic offers.

Today, I can tell you that plan has worked WAY beyond what I imagined possible.

Indeed it continues to work. I now have a growing number of clients within and outside Nigeria/Africa who have NEVER met me in the flesh.

Yet, these people who have sent me payments for many of my products, and services, remain on good terms with me till today.

And more are in the process of joining them as I type this e.g. via my new 2-in-1 poultry farm business plans offer and others.

When I first began trying to use web marketing the way I do today, people told me nobody would buy from me without meeting me in person.

Some even subtly insinuated that I was a comedian for thinking anyone would send money to buy my so called “Excel software” for 5 to 6 figures.

Well, they ALL know now that they were wrong!

It’s all on record that total strangers – Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike send me as much as N75K to purchase my apps (e.g. the Monthly Poultry Farm Manager) – without meeting me.

But it takes diligence, and patience to use web marketing to attract these kinds of buyers from this part of the world i.e. Africa.

[NB: To build custom Excel apps from scratch, I’ve had clients pay from over N50k to as much as 5 times more – depending on the project scope etc.]

Being competent at what you do matters little with regard to how well you will be able to “market” it online. You will have to LEARN a new set of skills to do the latter effectively.

When I was doing it, I had no one. I had to believe alone that it was possible to use the web to sell my unconventional products and services.

And I had to do that, because I had lost money doing the direct marketing stuff. So I had more or less no viable options beyond that…

For instance, I once placed an advert in Guardian newspaper, for a seminar in Lagos, then produced lots of flyers and handouts, and went sharing them all over the place.

The venue I paid for was a plaza (La Monarch) at Opebi, in the Ikeja area of Lagos-Nigeria.

That day, NOT ONE SOUL turned up, despite several enquiries, and even people who showed interest in my flyers.

Would you believe that I still went ahead and created a VIDEO of myself talking about that disaster?

In fact I later regaled audiences I got paid to speak to (e.g. 16 management trainees at the Tantalizers Fast Food Restaurant chain’s Festac Headquarters), about how to use such a setback as a stepping stone!

Not only did it get people to laugh, they also saw that I refused to let ANYTHING get me down – instead used it to challenge myself to find another way to stop it from being a total failure.

Are YOU experiencing discouraging delays, disappointments, or setbacks and struggling to deal with them, as you pursue your goal(s)?

If yes, let me tell you that what you are experiencing is NO BIG DEAL.

And do you know what? You can still succeed, if you adopt the mindset implied in the Yoruba saying earlier mentioned.

There are many routes you can follow to achieve that goal(s) you set for yourself.

The problem is you may NOT be seeing the other possible ways to go about it right now, because you have not given it the required thought.

If you do the needed thinking diligently, you are likely to discover that you only need to make slight modifications and inclusions to your strategy. Once you do that, new possibilities will become even more apparent to you – and then you’d simply need to take ACTION!

Like Burt Dubin says – “You’ve got to roll with the punches that life throws at you”.

If one strategy does not work, the way you first tried it, and then re-try in a different way, for the same or a different audience.

Then PUT IT BACK out there in the marketing space (making sure it’s the RIGHT one) and PUSH it in your target audience members’ faces with DOUBLE determination!

Now that is the spirit that sets REAL entrepreneurs apart from the “wannabes”!

Never let yourself get too easily upset when things go wrong. It’s NOT a good way to be if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Big or small – all entrepreneurs are people who never let setbacks keep them down.

In fact WE thrive on it!

The truth is that those delays, disappointments and setbacks are just a taste of what is still to come: There will be many more, in different forms. How you respond to them is what matters.

Ignore what ANYONE – be they close to you or total strangers – may say or do, during this period of your struggles!

If they laugh, laugh with them.

If that’s too hard for you to do, calmly take a walk to get some fresh air and THINK up new ideas you can use.

[Tip: Read my article titled “Do You Know How To Deal With People Who Mock And Ridicule You?”]

No matter how bad you think it all looks RIGHT NOW, if you adopt the right mindset, YOU can still come away with a major win!

But, it may not be the way YOU planned to win…which is why OUR Creator is so great :-))

You see, while we’re looking east, He may have plans of success coming at us from the West!

I hope you see my point.

We don’t need to worry about what he’s cooking up for us. Instead, we just need to KEEP doing our own bit with diligence and integrity.

Just continue to take firm steps forward towards the goals we passionately desire, with faith and determination.

That’s what we need to do to play our part in the relationship we have with him. Once we do that, he will do the rest.

What I just said above is based on more than 2 decades of my personal experiences achieving the goals I set my heart on, by applying “Absolute & Unquestioning Faith”.

Every human being is capable of doing that. And if you do it with persistence, you WILL connect successfully with your creator, and He will help you OVERCOME any visitations of adversity!

Need Help? Signup for my “Master of Adversity” (“MA”) Coaching Support Service!

I’ve come to the realization that some people will need will need help on a formal level, to deal successfully with adversity, to ENABLE them achieve their valued goals.

This is because not every one comes naturally gifted with the ability to be “relentless”.

…AND not all of us can “self-tutor” on how to do it either.

Some of us will need “coaching support” to develop the right Mental Attitude for dealing with delays, disappointments, and setbacks at different times in our evolution as individuals.

Without it, even those who do not like YOU will find it easy to upset you and make you fail!

But that does NOT mean you are weak, or incompetent. It only proves that you are HUMAN!

My confidential coaching support can help…fill/submit THIS form to request details.

Through it, I can give you more personalized and comprehensive support.

The decision is however yours to make.

Remember this: When things are not working as we want them, frustration can set in!

The reality is however that every human being feels frustration.

What is crucially important is that YOU NEVER let it get you down!

That is the key to succeeding at anything in life – no matter how hard or tough it gets.

I’ll end this by linking you to an article I wrote years back, about dealing successfully with frustration…

It’s titled “How to Make Yourself Immune to Frustration” (click now to read it)!

I wish you well.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

No. 163: Use These Real-life Business Plans, to Speak With Investors About Your Poultry Farm Start-up

October 13, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Starting today, I now offer for sale – with free customization – TWO Poultry Layer Farm Start-up Business Plans (prepared for/purchased by a client in South-West Nigeria).

The first is for funding of a 1,000 layer farm, while the second is for funding of a 1,700 layer farm.

Both contain 100% REAL LIFE data.

They were prepared for the client’s use in approaching investors to part-fund his project with him, in exchange for agreed return on investment.

If you’re looking to raise funds to either start your own Poultry Farm businesses or to expand what you already own, take a look at THIS offer.

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 13th October 2014

No:163

Title: Use These Real-life Business Plans, to Speak With Investors About Your Poultry Farm Start-up

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/sdnuggets

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

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

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IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS newsletter is published online on the “reincarnated” version of my Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog. I continue to put finishing touches to the content. If you encounter ANY bad/dead links, and you can spare the time, email them to me via tayo at tksola dot com. Thanks in advance

No. 163: Use These Real-life Business Plans, to Speak With Investors About Your Poultry Farm Start-up

Starting today, I now offer for sale – with free customization – TWO Poultry Layer Farm Start-up Business Plans (prepared for/purchased by a client in South-West Nigeria).

The first is for funding of a 1,000 layer farm, while the second is for funding of a 1,700 layer farm.

Both contain 100% REAL LIFE data.

They were prepared for the client’s use in approaching investors to part-fund his project with him, in exchange for agreed return on investment.

If you’re looking to raise funds to either start your own Poultry Farm businesses or to expand what you already own, take a look at THIS offer.

It goes without saying, that you cannot go empty handed to SPEAK to a prospective investor.

Even if s/he is a relative, you stand a better chance of being taken seriously, IF you show you’re well prepared. A good way to do that is by showing up with a well prepared formal plan.

This is why my offer comes with a FREE business plan preparation/customization option EACH buyer can take advantage of.

Below this preamble, is a screen shot of the offer page announcing my 2-in-1 real-life poultry layer farm start-up business plan bundle (with ZERO COST customization) offer.

Further down on that page, I also hint at the fact that I’m currently compiling my top performing articles on Farm Business, Public Speaking, Parenting, Career Development & Entrepreneurship, for use in publishing what I intend to be a long running e-book series on EACH of those categories.

In other words, I will be publishing an e-book(s) on each of those categories , by selecting what I assess to be the best performing set of my (over 700) blog articles.

As a subscriber to my newsletter, I’ll be offering YOU a hefty 25% discount to purchase ANY of the new books you choose, once they go LIVE in my online store.

You can view screen shot images, and read details about the 4 new e-books on Farm Business on the offer page.

The screen shots display sets of articles I’m currently reviewing on the each of the following themes:

a. Farm Business Startup (Information, Education & Inspiration

b. Farm Business Feed Formulation

c. Farm Business Marketing &

d. Best Practice Farm Management ( & Performance Measurement) for Profits

The 4 new Farm Business Best Practice Educational E-book should go LIVE in my online store this week.

Learn more on the offer page…!

Click here to continue reading on the offer page.

Have a great week :-))

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Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

Farm Businesses and others.

freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

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).

newsletter(which he uses to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

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

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

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

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

1. Top Shelf [Click here]

2. Mid Range [Click here]

3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Publications

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

Download Chapter 1 Preview as PDF

Visit the “On Being a Master” website

177 Wow! Wow!

Showmanship Stratagems

Discover these secrets of making your programs more interesting and valuable to your clients and audiences now.

more information

Burt’s Flagship Album

This is the product to own if you can own only one. Why? Because in it you discover principles of platform mastership available to you nowhere else at any price.

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

Find out why

Presentation Magic

Presentation Magic Manual with new pages added plus 3 audio CDs.

more information

How To Create a Great Program Manual

This is a reprise of the historic presentation that launched the Speaking Success System.

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

more information

Download above PDF

Download above PDF

—

NEW: Your Practical Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Home Study Video Series Is Now Available

Click here to learn more

FREE TALK: How a Best Operating Process Management Sysem (BOPMS)™Will Earn Your Farm MORE Profits!

Download above PDF

FREE TALK: 3 Zero Cost Strategies to Attract Profitable Buyers for Your Farm Products!

Download above PDF

NEW: Coaching Program for Farm Products Marketing Success

THEY WROTE…

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

———————–

Click here to contact Tayo…




SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 162: You Need Childish Enthusiasm to Achieve Uncommon Success
Entrepreneurship[Tuesday]:	Start Something You Never Need to Retire From (Hint: Why We All Need to Emulate Muhammad Ali – the BOXER, and the MAN!)
Self-Development/Parenting [Wednesday]:	SNEAK PREVIEW: How We Cheaply Make Cup Cakes without an Oven or Cooker (PDF) – By Tayo, Fela, Emeka,and Chika SOLAGBADE
Career Development [Thursday]:	FACEBOOK AUTOMATION: How to Auto-Schedule New Posts to Appear On Your Facebook Wall At a Future Date or Time (For BUSY People Who Need to Save Time!) – FREE PDF Download
Parenting [Friday]:	Creating Your OWN Original Content is Definitely NOT Beyond YOU (Practical Ideas YOU Can Use)!
Writing/Blogging/Entrepreneurship [Saturday]:	Why More People Prefer Teaching Others, to Doing What They Teach
Want me to write for you? Click here to send me a message

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

It took me just ONE week to type all 65 pages in MS Word – but 2 years to make my first sale!

But selling the book proved to be much more difficult than writing it!

Have you ever experienced being SURE that something will work, but having to contend with the reality that it just is NOT working?

But I did not know what I was doing wrong until the rejections and lack of sales FORCED me to go back and re-read Michel Fortin’s book and Burt Dubin’s articles…

That lesson was that you MUST ESTABLISH authority status FIRST, to make profitable buyers seek YOU out – and so that YOU don’t have to go looking (or is it “hunting”?) for them!

I did NOT need to go back to school, or get another degree to make that happen.

Now, hat I’m saying here applies to job seekers, as much as it does to those who choose to start their own businesses

Look around you, and you’ll see signs that this is true

So, to succeed, just LEARN how to gain the positive attention, interest, and ultimately TRUST, of those you need to decide in your favour.

So, here’s my challenge to you: ASK YOURSELF...

The implications are however more far reaching that most people readily see…ASK YOURSELF this second set of questions:

Now that I’ve gotten you thinking all these (scary?) thoughts, what will you do?

Example 1: Their recent Selling Skills Development Project

Example 2: Our forthcoming book titled “How We Cheaply Make Cup Cakes without an Oven or Cooker (PDF) – By Tayo, Fela, Emeka,and Chika SOLAGBADE

You see, dear reader, EVERY single day that passes, I ask myself: What can I do to SPARE my kids the painful hassle of re-learning – AFTER SCHOOL – in order to succeed in life that I experienced???

What will YOUR (and YOUR children’s) story be???

Exposure To “Poverty” Can Prepare A Person To Be Successful

Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha while being interviewed on a radio program (I recall vividly) said:

“Poverty” Can Be Deliberately Used To Develop Talent In People

Steps You Can Take To Develop Talent Using The “Poverty/Trial-By-Fire” Approach

The concept of “Trial By Fire” as described in this article can be successfully applied in different social settings

FINAL WORDS: A Mistake Some Parents Who Rose from Rags to Riches Often Make

The few people I chose to confide in asked me how I expected to find my way in a country where I knew no one…

For me, it’s so strange that those who doubted me were those who claimed to believe in God and attended religious events.

For those who had no issues with my religion or faith, few – if at all any – understood the logic of my decision to move…

Several years earlier, a chap I’d met in Lagos and told that I had a dream of becoming an internationally recognized entrepreneur had called me on phone one night to mock me, asking:

I’m NOW living that dream that I once had…just like I knew I would!

Today, I describe myself as a Location Independent Multipreneur…and rightly too!

I am not a musician or comedian – so one cannot say it’s because they want to be entertained that they come to me.

However, it did not happen overnight. Neither did I get here by thinking and acting “normal”.

More people (even old clients) continue to ask me how I do it…

Today, I want to help others do the same – including YOU, if you are interested…

To learn how to be a Location Independent Entrepreneur (or better still a Multipreneur like me), click here to learn more about my Coaching Service – then follow the instructions at the end of that piece.

Below is a screenshot of my old Microsoft Excel Heaven Software development service website – as it looked 7 years ago, in 2007…

No. 164: Develop the Ability to Monetize Your Ideas (True Story)

Below is a screenshot of my old Microsoft Excel Heaven Software development service website – as it looked 7 years ago, in 2007

In 2002, I became self-employed with the intention of using my IDEAS about spreadsheet automation to inform, educate and possibly inspire others in paid employment

I succeeded in the above manner because in addition to my ideas, I had the know-how to make my ideas work.

Sometimes however, such a person (typically called an “expert”), may be limited by training or bias, from seeing what the person with the IDEAS (who can be called the “visionary”) is seeing.

The above led to my eventual success – and that’s why I argue that to succeed more, it’s best to intelligently acquire the know-how to make your ideas work.

The situation made me feel like I needed more room to apply the ideas I had – especially with regard to spreadsheet automation.

Some were however not impressed – like one Indian faculty head of a popular ICT school in Ikeja, Lagos-Nigeria, who bluntly told me (after I proposed teaching MS Excel-VB there):

Employees in client companies have approached me to teach them Excel-VB – and some revealed they attended certification courses in the same ICT School I mentioned above!

So you see, they had the knowledge and skill – but lacked the know-how to monetize it!

Yet, I was able to successfully take my self-taught “programming skill” and monetize it.

With regard to MS Excel-VB Solutions Development, I actively studied experts online who offered their insights.

On the aspect of “finding buyers”, painful past experience had taught me that placing adverts in print newspapers about my Excel Automation Service was a total waste of time.

What I have found works is contained in business promotion write-ups by experts like Michel Fortin, and especially Burt Dubin.

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SPECIAL PRODUCT FEATURE

“Inside Speaking Business Success Secrets”

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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:

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:

Useful Resources for Speakers

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Publications

THEY WROTE…

Over the past decade I have written articles, developed best practice systems and developed built low cost custom software to help farm CEOs.

The table of contents on the next page indicates the ten (10) articles available in this e-book – which is actually part 1 of a 4 part Farm Business Best Practice Educational E-book Series. The other 3 e-books will go LIVE over the next week.

Reprint Permission:

Please use the following byline with each article:

PS: When the e-book goes LIVE tomorrow, you will be able to access it in my online store at www.lulu.com/sdaproducts.

I rigorously screen friend requests as above, because I want GOOD QUALITY people, who can ADD VALUE to me as “friends”…

Some send messages like “Sup…!” and “T-boy…!” – without saying much else.

Look I don’t know about others out here on the web, but I want to be PRODUCTIVE, and I need to be connected with people who can help me do that.

But why am I making a case based on Facebook in particular, you wonder?

I once read somewhere that we now have some people who think and speak in “Tweets”, and I agree!

To protect myself from the decay, I choose to filter out people who are THAT shallow from getting too close in my social space.

Final Words: My message in this piece is for both adults and their kids.

If they are “no-good” people (and you know what I mean by that I’m sure!) then you are going to end up with MORE “no-good” (aka useless) thoughts that you need.

1. Promote Creativity

2. Discourage “Blame”

3. Entrench Informal On-The-Job Coaching

4. Employ Multi-dimensional Peer Pressure To Enhance Best Practices

5. Insist That Everyone See The Big Picture

6. Endorse ‘Leading” And Make “Bossing” Unfashionable

7. Advocate Intelligent Mistake Making

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

====
[IMPORTANT NOTE:====

Get Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring
for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

====
[IMPORTANT NOTE:====