Category Archives: Farm Biz

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking

No. 114: Speaking IDEAS for Farm Support Experts

November 4, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

If you provide farm support products and services, this issue of my weekly speaking IDEAS newsletter will interest you.

That includes experts working with private owned agro-allied companies, government agencies or even Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Yesterday, I listened to a top Ekiti state government official (on Nigerian TV) explaining how they are attracting young people to establish agri-businesses.

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

Date: Monday 4th November 2013

No:114

Title: Speaking IDEAS for Farm Support Experts

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog

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

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

Hi,

Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.

No. 114: Speaking IDEAS for Farm Support Experts

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NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

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If you provide farm support products and services, this issue of my weekly speaking IDEAS newsletter will interest you. That includes experts working with private owned agro-allied companies, government agencies or even Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Yesterday, I listened to a top Ekiti state government official (on Nigerian TV) explaining how they are attracting young people to establish agri-businesses.

Instead of going into poorly rewarding subsistence farming, this new generation of farm owners are being empowered to start farm businssess at much higher levels. The officer noted that in a few years, with diligent effort, some can become millionaires!

You CAN Decide What Target Audience Level to Serve

I love the Ekiti state approach. It’s produces better results.

And the principle applies in all spheres of life.

For instance, your success level as a service provider will often depend on the target audience “level” you choose to serve.

There’s a saying that it’s wiser to fish in small ponds with large number of big fish (hungry for what you offer), than in big ponds with lots of smaller fish that are not that hungry.

Here are 2 rules that guide me in choosing those I serve:

Rule 1: Don’t target buyers who do not have the means to PAY you well for your product or service.

Rule 2: Make frequent use of strategies that let you market to large numbers of the right kinds of buyers at once.

Apart from enabling you win more buyers, doing the above will reduce your Cost of Customer Acquisition (COCA).

Get this: Choosing NOT to calculate your COCA, will NOT change the fact that you’re incurring that cost!!!

So I recommend you actively measure, and use it (i.e. your COCA) to identify your most cost-effective customer acquisition/marketing strategy!

That’s what I did to arrive at the conclusion that – in addition to using a Web Marketing System (where possible) – the following two(2) strategies can win more “farmer converts” for farm support experts:

1. Be a Resource Person at “Events” for Farmers:

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Last week, a past buyer of my Excel-VB driven feed formulation software told me he was travelling inter-state to attend a 2 day workshop for farmers.

He works as a Technical Sales Consultant, for an agro-allied company.

I’d called to ask if he would be willing to help complete a short MS Excel-based questionnaire survey I’m in Nigeria to administer to farm industry stakeholders. It’s partly to obtain information for the international research paper I’m writing on using ICT for Feed Formulation.

Now, I did not ask him if he would be giving a presentation at that event, but I suspect his company may have been the (or one of the) organisers.

So it’s likely someone from their team would have addressed the audience.

Even if you’re not the organiser, and have not even been invited, NOTHING stops you from thinking up ways to appear as a Contract Resource Person.

In other words, you’d think up a presentation you can offer that organiser would consider of potential value to their attendees.

I suggest offering a scaled down version FREE, and a full blown version for a negotiable fee.

My experiences suggest that doing so is likely to give you more credibility, than if you simply came all out offering to speak FREE. At least in this part of the world

2. Offer Short, On-Demand Educational Talks to “Farmer Groups”

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A live example, including a complete audio recording of a program Burt created from scratch–on a topic he knew nothing about and never, ever presented before! See how you, guided by your personal Learning Guide, (Presentation Magic), can do this too and thrill audiences as often as you want.

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But don’t wait for others to organise events you’ll offer to speak at.

Create your own opportunities!

Think up a list of topics your target audience may find potentially useful or interesting.

Develop short-talks (15 to 30 minutes) based on each topic, and prepare speaker one sheets for each.

Print them out and insert into nylon sleeves, in a branded folder you’ll take physically with you as you work.

Also have PDF versions ready to emailed or downloaded online.

Next, reach out to decision makers of your target farmer groups (cooperatives, associations) etc.

Ask them to invite you to speak – FREE – to their members at their next meeting or event on your list of topics.

Minimize time, effort and money expense in doing the above.

For instance, unless distance is no issue, try using your phone, email to – if possible – finalize date, time, venue.

Only “travel distances”, if you’re reasonably sure, from phone/email interaction, that doing so would be worthwhile.

Tell them how the ideas you’ll share will help their members.

Explain why the work you do as a farm support expert makes you uniquely qualified to inform and educate them on those subjects.

If your list does not cover the topic they “prefer”, I suggest you offer to prepare that for a token fee

Not everyone will say yes.

And don’t expect your first few efforts to yield” yesses” either.

You will have to persist.

But if you’ve done your homework well, some will bite.

And if you go on to deliver useful value to them, all sorts of good things can happen from there!

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If you’re a farm support expert working with government or an NGO, it’s possible you offer FREE products and services, and therefore may not need payment from farmers.

You can still expend LESS effort, time and money, to make farmers adopt what you offer.

The above strategies can make you more cost-efficient.

You get to achieve multiple time and effort savings, plus greater marketing mileage for money you spend.

Those who provide you financial backing would be pleased with that!

Final Words: Focus On Adding Tangible Value to Your Target Audiences

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For all the above to work, give them something (information, education etc) they can put to productive use.

However, in doing that, use your creativity to subtly show how what you “sell” can also help them.

For instance, weave educational stories/examples from your daily experiences, in serving farmers, into your talks.

That often works magic…People find you more believable, when you use real life examples.

Once that happens, it will only be a matter of time before they start looking to get more from you…and they’ll often be willing to pay, to get it!

Need More Ideas on How to Use The Above Information?

If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter, send me a message using this request form – with “Re: No. 114: Speaking IDEAS for Farm Support Experts” in the subject line.

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 113: A Best Practice Strategy That Solves ANY Problem
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Generate Ideas to Solve Your Country’s Problems (Hint: Time for a female president in Nigeria)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	An Eye Cannot See Itself (Hint: Are men by their nature promiscuous?) Proven Strategies for Preventing Infidelity (Hint: Why do men cheat on their wives or girl friends?) Succeeding With Social Media: The Required Mind Set
Career Development [Thursday]:	How to Safely Retire into Self-Employment
Parenting [Friday]:	How to Tease Out Your Child’s Genius (3 Tips)
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	Smart Farm Owners Will Write Articles
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur.

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?

Here’s a tip: Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him.

Comments?

What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts!

Share this issue!

Do you know anyone who might benefit from reading this newsletter issue? Why not hit the forward button now, and send it to him/her with a short recommendation. You can also use share it via your social media channels. Thanks in advance.

What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?

You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:

1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class).

At least that’s how I like to think of them!

All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple

So, make your choice:Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) . . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Writing/Blogging

Smart Farm Owners Will Write Articles

November 2, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

The gains from low production costs will be wasted if selling costs are not kept in check. The more it costs you to sell your product or service, the lower your profits will be (and vice versa). This is basically common sense. But not every business owner “gets" or "remembers" it, when it matters most.

Farm business owners in particular, from my close observation of them, have a tendency to get drowned in the day to day running of their businesses.

They focus so much on doing what is needed to make their farm animals and/or crops flourish.

But there is one danger they often ignore.

And it intermittently hurts them where it can be most painful: their pockets!

How do I mean?

Well, take the owner of a poultry layer farm enterprise with 5,000 birds laying at 75% Hen Day Production (HDP) percentage.

S/he wakes up each day, and joins the farm manager to go round the pens to see how the birds are doing. They discuss egg collections for the previous day, and also review sales records. A few mortalities may catch his/her attention, to which the manager may attribute isolated attacks by say rodents.

At the end of the tour, s/he will retire to the farm office or house. Sometimes shortage of feed on site may necessitate liaising with the supplier to get new stocks to the farm. To hasten the process, s/he may take this up, so the farm manager can follow up other pressing duties.

Here’s the problem I see with a farm owner operating a schedule like that described above.

A well planned farm business workplace will minimise the need for the owner to engage in routine running of the farm.

At least not if you have a manager on site…unless that individual is not competent to bear that title! (In which case, one could ask, why YOU appointed him/her to such a delicate position?)

You need to operate at a higher level of farm management “thinking and acting”.

Take a global view of the business. For instance, feeding is a key area of expense in most livestock enterprises.

Carefully investigate what happens when your birds are fed for one month on feed supplied from a particular manufacturer.

1. How well do they lay eggs?

2. What is the feed to egg conversion ratio?

3. How much food is consumed per bird?

4. Do they appear to display depressed appetite?

5. Could that be related to the feed they are being fed?

6. Does there appear to be a change in body weight of your birds?

7. Does a shift to purchasing commercial feed from a different maker result in better or worse results with respect to the above?

8. Would the trends you notice justify making your own feed?

9. Or if you periodically make your own feed, what is the performance of your birds like, compared to periods when they are/were fed commercial rations?

As long as you operate a functional farm enterprise, you can successfully position yourself as a farm business expert.

Some people are stuck with the notion that as a farmer, one’s primary focus should be on farming. I argue that farmers have a duty, an obligation in fact, to TALK – verbally, and in writing – about what they do on their farms, and how they do it.

This will help them, and it will help those who read what they write or hear what they say.

What Would You Write About?

A good starting point would be what you learn from exploring the series of questions posed 4 paragraphs earlier.

Who Would You Write To/For?

At different times, depending on the topic, you’d be writing for different target audiences. Examples include policy makers, researchers (in the academia etc), farm support organisations, colleague farm business owners, and also the potential buyers/users of your farm products and services.

This article cannot cover all aspects of what I mean by the above statement. However, one good example of how “talking” can benefit farmers is in generating potentially powerful marketing exposure for them.

Writing Articles Can Dramatically Lower Your Need for Paid Marketing & Advertising

Avoid wasting scarce money, effort and time shopping for advertising spaces in ANY medium.

I have closely observed and interacted with all kinds of farm business owners (and support service experts/enthusiasts) in person, and remotely – via the web/email and phone.

My conversations with them convince me that smart farmers can successfully generate useful awareness and sales leads by “talking” more about what they do.

Not just online – though I recommend starting with that – but also offline as well.

Some farmers argue against my proposal saying:

“Look, Tayo, forget this American style of doing things. People who come to buy from me are mostly those who cannot even afford to use the web, or computers. “

My response is always this:

“Mr/Ms. XYZ. Set aside 20% of what you produce to cater for those small buyers you refer to. Then to attract big enough sales you need, focus on promoting the rest 80% of your farm products and services to the attention of your ideal type of customer.

That would be those with the means to buy at prices and in quantities that will generate handsome profits for you.

Investigate and identify where you will find such persons in the largest possible numbers. Once you’ve done that, begin “talking” in social circles where such ideal buyers will encounter what you say.

For instance, you could offer to “talk” in newspapers as a columnist; on radio/TV as a guest on an agri-business show; in magazines, and of course on relevant third party websites.

Your Best Strategy: Maintain Your Own “Branded Medium” for "Talking by Writing "

Most importantly, in my opinion, have your own “official” medium through with you will “speak” about your farm business.

Make it one that adds little or nothing to your sales and marketing expenses.

A well planned Web Marketing System will enable you easily achieve the above. With it, you can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously.

For instance, you can offer articles, special reports and videos, in which you discuss issues affecting your business – with respect to the harsh economic climate prevailing today.

Over time, the stuff you put up online can be put to effective use OFFLINE.

You can copy them on to CDs/DVDs (which are quite cheap to obtain), or even print, copy/bind, and offer to your farm visitors – even for a fee!

You can also offer them to other farm owners; send them to policy makers, and journalists/reporters – and even hand them out – selectively – to contacts you meet as you move around.

The ideas would be to present yourself as a serious minded farm owner with a passion for exploring better ways to do what you do i.e. a Best Practice orientation.

In all your communication, you would aim to share useful learnings you achieve in your farm business, in ways that can help or better inform and educate others.

For instance, a video about how you rear your animals, narrated in your voice, could help demonstrate that your farm does not use unhealthy inputs or practices.

Health conscious people could take positive note of you/your farm because of that.

Your video, if available on Youtube for instance, can be easily used to make you look good. You’d typically just send relevant persons a link to it, or include it in a piece you author.

The truth is that even if people initially do not know about you, or your farm business, this strategy can make them discover you quickly.

Over time, if you keep it up, they will come to see you as a reliable source of useful information on farming and farm business.

Why?

Because talking about what you do (without of course giving up confidential information) – will show them, you are a practicing expert who’s also THINKING actively about how to improve.

This Strategy Will Attract Opportunities for Additional Income Streams Beyond Farm Products Sales

At some point, those who encounter your works will begin approaching you via emails, phone calls, saying things like …

“Do you have eggs we can buy in large numbers – free from XYZ defect?”

“My wife and I are planning to start our own farm business, do you offer a consultancy service for startups?

“I need a feasibility study for a piggery I want to start, can you help us”

Even policy makers and researchers from the academia may reach out to you for collaboration (I provide 2 personal examples below).

Most will come offering to pay for access to more of your experience based wisdom, and expertise. That’s how powerful “talking” intelligently about what you do can be in “selling” you to others!

It will NOT happen overnight. But as long as you continue doing your “talking” – intelligently using feedback from your audience, to guide your efforts – MORE potential income generating attention WILL come your way.

Why You Should Believe Me

1. This strategy enables me attract the serious attention and interest of key farm industry stakeholders…

a. A government officer met with me late last year, after reading my article on catfish marketing.

b. As I type these words, I’m back in Nigeria, writing a research paper on using ICT for Feed Formulation. I’m co-authoring it with a research academic, who proposed we collaborate to publish it (there’s payment).

2. It also helps me sell my knowledge and expertise as a best practice farm business support specialist…

Over 80% of those who pay me – from different parts of the world – do so without ever meeting me in the flesh.

They typically found me via my writing in search engine results pages.

And many times they have to take MASSIVE leaps of faith to send me money!.

It’s the “talking” I do via daily article writing on this blog, periodic publishing of information products, and demonstration videos that wins them over.

Examples of what they pay for include:

1. My popular Feed Formulation Handbook (selling offline from 2002, then came online in 2006).

2. My Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator software (selling offline from 2004, then came online in 2006).

3. My Poultry Layer Farm Operations Management software (built/customized for farms since 2008).

Other products and services (like the BOPMS for profitable farm management and my Payslip Generator) exist.

If I can get results like the above, without owning a farm, it only follows that YOU, a farm owner, can do much more!

Need help getting started with using the ideas described above? Get in touch with me. Click here now

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

What Video Interviews Don’t Reveal About What It Takes to Succeed

October 23, 2013 Tayo Solagbade 2 Comments

I have a deep passion for analyzing success stories, and extracting useful learning points from them. My most recent obsession has been ESPN’s video about how a guy, born without arms, rose to world class success as a vehicle engineer.

The video however lasts only 7 – short – minutes.

**But It Actually Took That Guy 22 LONG Years to “Make It” That Far**

That’s how long Richie Parker, and his wonderful parents, worked hard to get where they are today.

And I dare say that those must have been very lonely years too.

T-w-e-n-t-y T-w-o LONG years.

The video makers could naturally not capture full details of what really transpired during those 2 decades.

Yet, for those who wants to know how the Parkers really did it…THAT LONG PERIOD IS what we need to examine!

See screenshot below – which I took from the video.

Above: My kid would have used her hands to caress the dog. Richie, as a little child, had to settle for using his legs!

The video does not say it. But this guy had to contend –right from the day he was born – with the reality of what should have been a crippling disability.

Most people don’t want to endure LONG – and sometimes LONELY – periods of hard work to succeed.

Oh…they love to hear stories of those who did it, and will heartily applaud, even idolize them. But they’d rather NOT have to go the same route to their success!

Which is why quick and easy “formulas” for success sell so well in our world!

Unfortunately, success that is had “quickly and easily”, often departs just as “quickly and easily”

Richie’s kind is however an excellent example of authentic success – the one that lasts, and is reproducible.

But whoever wants it, MUST be willing to pay the price of working hard, and long…most times at least.

Other Victories Richie Has Won DAILY (for Decades), Which the Video Did Not Show Us

It’s possible most people have NOT considered it. But there are other realities Richie has successfully dealt with for 30 long years.

Get this: The ESPN video does NOT tell us, how Richie Parker ALSO successfully does these UN-AVOIDABLE tasks – daily – without arms…

1. Brushing his teeth…applying toothpaste takes two hands for most of us…how does he do his?

2. Taking his bath…how does he turn the tap or shower on…and off?

3. Putting on his shirts, trousers, shoes etc…every day…?

4. Unbuttoning or taking off his trousers to use the toilet…?

I could go on, but so can you. Just think how he does ALL the stuff YOU do without even thinking about it.

For him, it must take him great effort to do each of those things.

And yet, he still does them (otherwise he would not be where he is today).

And in addition to doing them, he does his work just as well as others who HAVE arms, in a field as demanding as vehicle engineering.

Watch the Video and Listen to Richie speak. He is so self-assured!

Listening to Richie Parker, one is left in no doubt that he is supremely aware of his capabilities.

Yet, I’ve lost count of many able bodied persons I’ve ment who are insecure about themselves!

Why is this so?

It’s partly – often mostly – the result of how they were brought up by their parents.

What Mr. and Mrs. Parker did for Richie is what all parents should do for their kids from DAY 1 – to paraphrase Richie.

Make your kids develop and independent and confident mindset.

Let them know they can go through life not .looking to continually lean on, or need others to do stuff for them!

But We Must Not Fail to Give Rex Stump Credit for Making Richie’s Success Story Happen

You see Rex was smart enough to LOOK BEYOND Richie’s (seeming) disability, to see the potential he had, to ADD VALUE to Hendrick.

That’s the way a competent decision maker acts. S/he will always take decisions in the best interests of the organisation, and those he manages!

No room for bias or discrimination here.

Richie’s parents are, to me, the greatest heroes ever!

They coached him to believe in himself and achieve. And they painstakingly documented EVERY way he overcame his disabilities to do just that.

I happen to LIVE for my kids – and I mean that literally.

And when I see other people’s kids, I FEEL towards them, what I feel for mine: a strong desire to help them BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE…and to refuse to live below one’s full potential.

And Richie’s life, to me, presents us all a massive challenge to DO MORE With Our God-given Potential!

And I’ve chosen to respond to that challenge, by LEARNING from his story, and telling others to do the same.

For myself, my kids, and any others who may be interested, I’ve created a FREE, Printable Power Point Slideshow(see cover below).

In particular, I have considered many in my part of the world, whose circumstances probably make it impossible, or difficult to use the web.

They may never see the video unless someone takes an offline version to them. I plan to do what I can with the offline version I’ve recorded.

But I believe printing out, and sharing this Power Point version I’ve created, will go an even longer way.

Even those of us who’ve watched the video will find it useful to read through the transcript version.

I published it on Slideshare.net since last Saturday 19th Octover 2013 – click here to view it.

The download link appears in this blog post (click here).

Download, print out, and share it FREELY with people OFF the web, who may probably never “encounter” this story otherwise!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO “HEAR” THIS STORY, and BE INSPIRED!!!!

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News

My Pineapple Peel-Based Drinks Production Project UPDATE: Pilot Scale Shelf-Life, and Variable Cost-Reduction “Trials”

October 22, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

This is an update on progress with my Pineapple Peels based drinks production project. I’ll also be posting an update on my Quick and Dirty Guide to English/French soon.

[NB: That next post will include details of how I’ve now partnered with a 2-man Beninois team of language experts to produce chapters 2 to 10 of my guide. These guys run an English language for French speakers “practice” club supported by the high commissioner for a small but respected African country. EXCITING stuff I tell you!]

As for my Pineapple peel based drinks, I’m now done with initial shelf-life trials.

Plus, in the process of exploring ways to cut down production costs, (to offer a range of “flavours” that appeal to different “pockets”), I’ve had a breakthrough of sorts.

You see, normally I have to “cook” (for 15 to 30 minutes) the pineapple peel mixture to get the finished drink I’ve been carrying around (i.e. non-fermented).

For the fermented version, I would post-boil have to wait 48 to 72 hours to let it ferment out, before that version would be ready.

In both cases, I then have to use “home-made drinks” production techniques to “pasteurize” it in “glass bottles”. All of these have cost implications – as plastic bottles simply lose shape when exposed to 60 degrees Celsius of heat.

By implication, what I’ve been carrying around have been partially pasteurized drinks in the real sense.

What I need to offer are versions that people can choose to take away and store for a month or more, without fear of spoilage.

Of course the version to be offered in my brew-pub will be drunk right away on the serving tables.

But people are bound to want to take some away. And I don’t want to be guilty of giving people bottled products that explode in their hands or homes – due to gas from “hidden fermentation”…LOL.

That’s why I’ve been careful to explore ways to kill off residual microbial activity.

The thing is standard procedures are expensive. I’m therefore looking to leverage more nature friendly methods.

You don’t hurry when it comes to food and drinks production i.e. things people will consume.

One mistake with your product, and your reputation may never be reparable. I know this from my training – and experience – in Guinness. And from courses I took for the UK’s Institute and Guild of Brewing (IGB) exams.

Well, in the course of “experimenting”, I actually found a way to get the fermented version ready-to-drink WITHOUT needing to “cook” the starting mixture.

That means I effectively get to cut out the costs of “heating” – which can add up over time, as you know.

To be fair, this option was always there, but I just never felt it was safe enough.

The new technique also allows fermentation to end naturally – killing the yeasts. Again, this implies major savings.

But I’m STILL keen to add an extra layer of “safety”, by adding an antibacterial agent, preferably a natural one, as against chemical kinds which are more common.

Currently reviewing options there…

As for sales, I’ve settled on starting with a home-based brew-pub (brewery-pub).

I actually intended to have a turn-key micro-brewery with 5hl capacity setup. My checks online with guys who install such “mobile” breweries show (not surprisingly), that it’s not cheap to do.

But I’m going to do it.

I have a strategy to start small, and then use my success to “sell” the idea to “partners” to finance the scale up.

That’s why I’ve been shopping for a bigger place to move into, where I can get a local artisan to construct the vessels and other materials I need.

I already have my process flow diagram, and I know exactly how to make the place run with minimal manpower. Since it will basically be in my backyard, and linked to a “pub” type of bar in front (where people will eat snacks with the drink), I’m sure it will work.

I’ve also found a way to link all of that with my work on developing solutions for farmers.

There’ll be more on that soon.

One thing is certain. Before the end of this year, I WILL have six pack versions of my fermented pineapple peel based drinks available for on-demand purchase.

For starters, here in Benin Republic. And there WILL be a “pub” where people can come to eat snacks with the non-fermented, and fermented versions.

And get this: My Quick and Dirty Guide autorun CD/DVD based learning events will hold at the pub – on set dates.

People will be able to participate in “practical speaking” sessions, and also compete to win copies of the complete 10 chapter audio-visual and Excel-VB based version.

So, watch this space for pictures and full details.

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

NEVER Let Anyone Tell You What YOU Cannot Do! (Transcript Slideshow Version of ESPN’s July 21 “SportsCenter” Profile video about Richie Parker)

October 19, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I created this PowerPoint slideshow (and published it on slideshare.net), to give people with poor (or zero!) connectivity, an alternative means of “learning” about Richie Parker.

NB: To get the Power Point file version, CLICK HERE NOW to download it in a zipped folder (3MB approximately).

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Read the article I wrote about Richie: It’s titled “All You Really Need Is Ingenuity…aka Creative Thinking (True Story: Man Born Without Arms Designs Championship Winning Race Cars)

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Richie was born in 1983, without arms.

Today, he has a college degree, lives on his own, drives his own custom car, and has worked over 8 years as a world class vehicle engineer (with NASCAR’s Hendrick Motor Sport)…designing chassis and body components for championship winning race cars…Using His FEET!

Watch the ESPN video about Richie Parker at this link:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9499560

…and, don’t forget to Google “Richie Parker” – there’s lots to read about him on many websites!

Download and Read Other Useful Video/Audio Transcripts/E-books:

I have created transcripts in the past, of other videos/audios (or put up book previews) I felt had powerful messages that would add value to the lives of others.

Below is a list of links for you to explore:

1. 10 Valuable Lessons I Learnt About Blogging for Passive Income, from Yaro Starak’s 60 Minute Podcast Interview with Patrick Meninga”

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets/?p=1972

Download FREE PDF Transcript: (instructions for downloading a 30 page PDF transcript of the 1 hour video are provided in this blog post that I published Mar 9, 2013 @ 18:58)

2. Breakthrough to Purpose – Andy Brine Interviews Efe Ohwofasa (Verbatim Text Transcript)

http://wp.me/p3ZIAN-K5

3. On Being a Master (Preview of Burt Dubin’s Forthcoming NEW Book)

http://spontaneousdevelopment.com/uploads/bdubin-mastery01.pdf

READ: Why I Manually Transcribe Video/Audio Presentations (Especially Interviews) – CLICK HERE

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Read the article I wrote about Richie: It’s titled “All You Really Need Is Ingenuity…aka Creative Thinking (True Story: Man Born Without Arms Designs Championship Winning Race Cars)

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

Announce Your Goals, and You’ll Be Forced to Achieve Them

October 18, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Just today, I replied to an enquiry by a facebook friend, about progress I’d made with my Pineapple Peel based drinks production project. He’s not the only one who has been asking me this question. Clients, friends and relatives have intermittently requested to know how far I’ve gone.

Thankfully, I’ve always had significant progress to report(update post coming up on Tuesday, next week). And one reason for this – apart from the natural interest I have in this – is that I announced it on Facebook, and my website some months back. With pictures and even a web page dedicated to it.

So you see, by announcing my plan to the world, I effectively enrolled others in “pushing me” to implement it!

But wouldn’t that amount to either being perceived to be a “show-off” or exposing your plans to your “rival(s)”?

As is the case in all aspects of life, there is possibility that either or both of the earlier mentioned problems could arise if you adopt this approach.

However, having used this technique successfully on numerous occasions to “force” myself to actualize objectives I set for myself, I can tell you with certainty that the benefits far outweigh whatever costs it may attract.

One example: Years ago, while typing the e-book on which this article is based, my wife sat beside me watching. She got me to start writing the book back then because I had once told her I intended to write it.

By telling her my intention I unwittingly enlisted her to “remind” me about the target I set for myself, thereby helping to motivate me to do it.

When you tell people what you intend to do, you are no longer the only one who knows you intend to do it. So it becomes more difficult for you to one day decide to push that target or goal under the carpet and forget about it.

Those you tell will ask you about it. Since you know they will ask you about it, you will want to avoid looking unfocussed by making sure you have a positive progress update to give them!

Simple, yet not-so-obvious – is it?

Maybe just one more example – this time from outside the language-learning arena.

I finished writing a 45 – page management research paper titled “Self-Development As A Tool For Achieving Career Advancement (A Practical Guide Based on Experience)” in December 2001.

Now, that was the same month in which I resigned my appointment as Training and Technical Development Manager of Guinness Nigeria Plc (Benin).

It was a period when I had to combine preparing handover notes, and doing my job with finishing up the paper for which I had to produce/circulate 100 questionnaires across Lagos/Benin.

Out of the 100 questionnaires, over 40 completed ones were recovered and used in deriving my findings. Now, not only did I do the questionnaire design/data analysis myself, but I also typed the entire paper myself in the little free time I could find – which was not much I assure you!

The whole process began in September 2001, and by 31st December 2001, I had a paper that was ready for entry, into the 2002 edition of the Nigerian Institute of Management’s Young Manager’s competition.

That was just as I had planned, and told as many of my friends, colleagues and relatives who would listen!

I’d told them I intended to write a paper with which I hoped to win the national finals of the competition in 2002 (I was placed 5th in 1997 in my debut).

They had, over the months, variously enquired about what progress I had made toward achieving it. This, more than anything else, helped me stay focused on finishing the paper!

In addition, on the questionnaire’s cover letter, I had promised to send an electronic copy of the final paper produced as a reward to each respondent.

Since many of them had indicated interest in getting a copy, it became even more imperative for me to finish the paper.

That offer was made as an incentive to get them to help complete my questionnaire. I therefore had to fulfil my promise or risk looking “bad” in their eyes.

As you can see, announcing your plans can be a great way to avoid taking the easy (or lazy?) way out, when you set bold or “stretching” targets for yourself!

Final Words: Adopt this Strategy, and Coach Your Kids to Use It As Well

This post is based on excerpts from my Proven 5-Step Formula for Learning ANY Language in 3 Months or less ebook.

I strongly recommend applying the ideas descried above, and also coaching your kids to use them.

Over 2 decades of using this strategy to consistently achieve exceptional outcomes, in various endeavours, convince me they will work for you.

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

All You Really Need Is Ingenuity…aka Creative Thinking (True Story: Man Born Without Arms Designs Championship Winning Race Cars)

October 17, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

How much effort do you put into doing your JOB each day? And how many times have you told your employer (or boss) you could do MUCH more…IF ONLY s/he would send you on some training, or buy some latest gadget for you to use?

Well, I’m here to tell you (using the amazing achievements of a man born without arms!) that 9.5 times out of 10, you probably already have all you need, to deliver superlative workplace performances.

The Problem Is, You May Not Know You Already Have ALL You Need…

…Until You Meet Someone Who LACKS What You Have, But Is Doing MORE Than You’re Doing!

Indeed, many of us do not know we already have so much going for us, that we need not look for more.

At least, not until we’ve made the best possible use of what we already have!

Yes. And that includes YOU: Mr “I’ve not been promoted since I joined the company”.

And YOU: Ms. “You send me on that new sales negotiation training course, and see if I don’t top the charts this year”.

Who says, madam, that you need anything more than what your creator already gave you?

At the most, you probably need to read a good book on proven sales techniques by Jeffery Gitomer or Brian Tracy. And that’s not likely to set you back more than a few dollars.

In reality, most of the change needs to happen INSIDE you – in terms of how you THINK, basically.

You see, some people started this journey of life with very little compared to us.

And every single day of their lives, things that we do without thought (e.g. opening a door, typing on a PC); require much more effort from them.

Yet they go on doing them, and actually excel in the process, often beyond those of us with MORE!

Many times, they achieve such feats simply through a mental attitude that refuses to recognise ANY limitations. They simply refuse to believe there is anything they cannot do.

And they never listen to anyone who tells them something they wish to do is impossible.

One Such Person is Richie Parker, the Young Man Featured In a Video I Watched Today (Wednesday 16th October 2013)

NB: You’re reading this article on Thursday 17th October 2013, or later. I wrote, and scheduled it to auto-publish on Wednesday 16th October 2013.

Richie was born in 1983, without ARMS.

But today, he works as a vehicle design engineer at Hendrick Engineering/Motor Sports: a company that has won more NASCAR championships than any other.

He designs chassis and body components for ALL their 4 racing teams – USING HIS FEET, to handle the mouse, and type on the keyboard of his PC!

And he’s been doing that job for 8 years – during which time they’ve won 5 championships.

It would also interest you to know, that he drives his own car. It has wonderful modifications, made to the pedals, that let him use his feet to manoeuvre the vehicle, the way we who have arms do ours!

Thanks to Segun Ogunlana – My Amazing Brother-in-Law – for Sharing This Video on Facebook

Since when he sent the link on September 8th, 2013, poor connectivity had prevented me from watching it (it never even loaded), each time I tried.

Until today.

I kept trying to watch it whenever I remembered the link (I’d bookmarked it).

The photo of the armless young man sitting on a car bumper stirred my curiosity. Another reason I kept trying were the comments those who’d watched it made on facebook.

And when I finally watched it, I KNEW others deserved to see it too.

This young man’s creative achievements COMPLETELY invalidate any excuses the rest of us can possibly come up with, for not actualizing our full potentials in life.

Few, if at all any, challenges we face in life can measure up to most of those this guy has found ways to overcome in his short time on earth!

PLEASE watch the video, and START LIVING WITHOUT MAKING EXCUSES from today.

I’ve recorded the video using software I have, for offline viewing, and I intend to play it for my kids to watch, OVER and OVER again.

In addition to that, I have plans to MASSIVELY publicize it, by presenting it in different formats. Those who’ve seen what I’ve done with other videos/audios online, may have an idea of what’s coming…soon!

I may even arrange to visit schools, churches, mosques, and other social organisations.

I BEG YOU – Watch This Video, And Share It!

I never thought I’d ever get to a point in my life when I’d actually BEG anyone to do anything.

But I’m making an exception with Richie Parker’s amazing video.

Believe me, this is probably the closest we’ll ever get to an ENDLESS source of inspiration, AFTER God!

That’s why I’m begging you to – right NOW (don’t wait till you have time…do it NOW) – PLEASE watch the video, then share it with as many people as possible.

…and START LIVING WITHOUT MAKING EXCUSES from today, on your job, and in your personal lives.

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

An Introduction To Fertilizers & Fertilizer Management + Calculation (FREE PDF Download)

October 15, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

NB: This FREE report first became available in PDF format in my Self-Development Digest Newsletter, issue No. 72 of Mon 5th Mar 2012.

I offer a sneak preview below. Click the link provided at the bottom, to request your copy.

PREVIEW: FERTILISERS AND FERTILISER MANAGEMENT

Inorganic (or chemical) fertilizers are now an economic necessity on many soils. Three groups of fertilizer materials – based on their ability to supply “fertiliser elements – commonly used in Nigeria are:

1. Nitrogen (N2) fertilizers

They come in 2 groups – organic and inorganic. However, because of its high cost, the organic nitrogen fertilizers have been largely replaced by the inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. Some of the common nitrogen fertilizers are Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3), Ammonium Sulphate – (NH4)2SO4, Urea, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) etc.

2. Phosphorous (P) fertilizers

Include the following: Rock phosphate, Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Ammoniated Super Phosphate etc

3. Potassium (K) fertilizers

Examples are Muriate of Potash (KCL), Potassium Sulphate (K2SO4), Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) etc

Micronutrient Fertilisers: These include Copper Sulphate (CuSO4), Copper Carbonate (CuCO3), Copper Hydroxide – Cu (OH)2, Sodium Borate (Na2B4O7), Ferric Sulphate – Fe2(SO4)3, Sodium Molybdate – Na2MoO4

Mixed Fertilisers: Fertilisers placed on the market contain at least 2 of the so called fertilizer elements (i.e. Nitrogen [N], Phosphorous [P], and Potasium [K]). One of them is “Incomplete Fertiliser” and the other is “Complete Fertiliser”.

When mixed fertilizer is not available, it is possible for the farmer to blend his own fertilizers to the required mixture, but to do this effectively or successfully, he must have a good idea of what his soil’s nutrient requirements are.

Effects of Mixed Fertilisers on Soil Ph

Most complete fertilizers tend to deposit an acid residue in the soil. This is due to the influence of certain nitrogen carriers, especially those which supply ammonia (NH3) or which produce ammonia when added to the soil. The major effect of ammonium ion (NH4+) occurs when they are nitrified.

Request for the complete PDF : Click HERE…

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking

No. 111: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research

October 14, 2013 Tayo Solagbade 1 Comment

I recently got another email from my “Professor of Agriculture” friend.

This one contained details of a “Call for submission of brief papers, case studies and synthesis papers”. A quick online search led me to the website where the call originated. It was made by an organisation covering “smallholder agriculture” across Africa, Carribean, and Pacific regions of the world.

In the email, my friend proposed that we jointly submit a proposal (as co-authors) for a research paper on “Feed Formulation”, in response to the call.

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

Date: Monday 14th October 2013

No:111

Title: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research

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/blog

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

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

Hi,

Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.

No. 111: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research

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NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.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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I recently got another email from my “Professor of Agriculture” friend.

This one contained details of a “Call for submission of brief papers, case studies and synthesis papers”. A quick online search led me to the website where the call originated. It was made by an organisation covering “smallholder agriculture” across Africa, Carribean, and Pacific regions of the world.

In the email, my friend proposed that we jointly submit a proposal (as co-authors) for a research paper on “Feed Formulation”, in response to the call.

The organisers aim to publish documented experiences and success stories, to encourage “rejuvenation of smallholder agriculture”.

They called for papers in either English or French, on 3 broad categories of issues.

One of the issues (which I chose) was “Extent of ICT adoption by farmers”.

This had to do with analyzing the rate and extent of adoption of PC based (not mobile phones) software applications, for specific agriculture-related purposes.

You May Wonder Why My Friend Chose “Feed Formulation”…and Why He Proposed Co-Authoring With Me (?)

After all, I’m not an academic. Compared to him, all I have is a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services.

He, on the other hand, is a Professor of Agricultural Extension – and Director of his university’s school of Agricultural Sciences in South Africa!

So, why did he choose that topic…and why did he choose me?

NB: I sent him a draft proposal, which – post updates – he submitted to the organisers. He’s since forwarded their acknowledgement of receipt, to me. If all goes well, and they accept the proposal, we’ll do the field work, and send the final paper in.

And the PAY Is Not Bad

Research write-ups on agriculture, as I’ve said in past articles, can attract pretty remuneration. Below is a screenshot of fees authors of accepted papers will be paid:

What follows below is based on excerpts from a section of the proposal I wrote.

Authors were required to explain “why they were the right persons to write the proposed paper“.

The details below are some of those I gave. And I believe they are what made my friend choose me.

Since 2003, I Have Maintained a Growing Library of Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas articles – and Information Products.

Many visitors to my website, discover it (i.e. the website) via my articles, which turn up on their search engine results pages.

My popular Feed Formulation Handbook is promoted via such articles (and videos), on the website and via other online channels.

All of the above brings me in frequent contact with farm business owners, feed manufacturers, policy makers and farm support experts, in and out of Africa.

Today, some are past buyers of my farm support products/services. A growing number are subscribers to my weekly newsletter and blog – while some follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Following requests by an increasing number of my handbook’ buyers, I used my Excel-Visual Basic programming skills to develop a Ration Formulator software.

It enables persons who understand the principles and practice of feed formulation, to quickly formulate balanced rations for livestock, automatically – using the PC.

I also offer a service to help farmers establish best practice systems, to make their farms run more predictably, and profitably.

It’s called development of a Best Operating Process Management System(BOPMS)™.

A key component of a BOPMS™, is the use of customisable software, for tracking, and analysis of Farm Operations’ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) e.g. Hen Day Production percentages.

During the last 30 days, I developed a Poultry Layer Farm Management software for a client’s farm – in South West Nigeria – and trained his two farm managers to use it.

My Professor friend is familiar with aspects of my above mentioned work. And I believe that’s what convinced him I could author this paper.

That…AND the fact that he knows I have formal training, as an Extension Services professional.

You see, we both graduated from the SAME Agricultural Extension Services department, of the SAME university, in the SAME year (1992). I emerged top of the class, and he was second best graduating student.

[NB: Don’t ask me why I didn’t stay in formal academic circles like he did. That’s a story for another article ]

My Experiences Tell Me Farm Business Owners, Need to Do Public Speaking to Influence Farm-Related Research!

In the process of working with farmers (as a mulitpreneurial Farm Research & Extension Advisory Services provider with a bias for Best Practice Solutions Development), I’ve gained deep insights into their unique needs and challenges.

That’s why I believe they need to educate those who “serve them”, about the unique experiences they have, and challenges they encounter.

We outsiders are unlikely to see as much as the farmers see, on THEIR farms – in their day to day operations.

Our short visits to interview them for research, and other purposes, are unlikely to reveal enough insights, to develop the best possible solutions – for their real world!

It if for this reason, that I propose farm business owners be formally invited to present, brief experience-sharing papers, at agricultural development fora – and related events.

Specifically, Farm Business Owners Should be Encouraged (Even Challenged):

1. To learn to compile data and information on their farm based experiences, and deliver lectures on lessons learned to the academia, policy makers etc.

NB: Farmers who use Excel-based recording of farm operations data, including chart based trending of KPIs will have no problems collating such data, for discussion in their talks.

2. To learn to THINK up, and SPEAK on, specific areas they want research done, to help them – more frequently.

The above will create opportunities for collaboration, between policy makers, the academia, farm support experts, and farm business practitioners.

This is likely to result in more useful research publications/solutions, that farm business owners can put to immediate, practical, and profitable use, with minimal help!

Are You a Farm Business Owner Interested In Learning How to Author & Give Talks/Lectures Based On Your Experiences?

If yes, click here to read more about Burt Dubin’s range of speaker mentoring products you can purchase. Burt works with experts who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters.

If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter,send me a message using this request form – with “Re: No. 111: Farm Business Owners Can Speak to Influence Research” in the subject line.

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 110: Why You Need to Think With Your Whole Body (and How)!
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Does Your Farm Business Make You Unhappy?
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	Four (4) Qualities That Can Make You Successful
Career Development [Thursday]:	Farm Business Can Give You a Safer Entry into Retirement (Part 1 of 2)
Career Development [Friday]:	Farm Business Can Give You a Safer Entry into Retirement (Part 2 of 2)
Parenting [Friday]:	Why You Need to Give Your Children “POWER”, Before You Give Them Money
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	He Called Me “Voleur” (Thief)!
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

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

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

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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

Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?

Comments?

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You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:

1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class).

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So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]

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

He Called Me “Voleur” (Thief)!

October 12, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[PDF] He Called Me Voleur! - Click to download PDF version of this article and read offline

In this article, I discuss one big mistake some non-Nigerian Africans seem to be making in thinking about Nigeria. To do this, I share a true story about a Francophone African undergraduate in his 20’s, who called me a thief – and meant it. Why? Because he daily saw me typing away on an Internet connected laptop, and I never seemed to go out to “work”…LOL!

According to him, working that way (i.e. selling information products, custom Excel-VB driven software, web marketing systems development, and writing services online) was only possible in developed countries.

To him, that meant that I had to be engaged in 419 i.e. Internet scam business.

And since he already knew I was a Nigerian, that made perfect sense…LOL!

It did not matter what I showed him on my website, or where I told him I’d been (as detailed in my 11 page resume).

Indeed, the little effort I made, to educate him about potential opportunities awaiting him online, simply put him off. He repeated – angrily:

“Vous êtes voleur!”

Why Did He Say This? (Here’s What Led to Our Exchange)

Since I’d met him in April, he would once in a while ask me for money – and I’d give him. He was a student. Over 20 years before, I’d been on campus like him. I knew things could be tough for students, away from home.

That day however, I refused to give him money he asked for. This was because I’d noticed he never did anything useful with whatever one gave him. He spent recklessly, and also kept bringing a girl friend to sleep with, in a room he shared with the rest of us.

He left, and we never talked about it. But he kept behaving the same way. I tried to ignore his excesses, but I felt I had a duty, as an older person, to set him right.

So, one day I called him, and told him what I saw. Then I warned about the uncertain future, in terms of a post-university job search – which he needed to prepare for.

He assured me countless jobs awaited him in the labour market of his country:

“It’s not like Nigeria, where you don’t have jobs. Isn’t that why you moved here?”

(NB: In saying the above, he failed to recall what I’d told him in the past: That my clients were either foreigners based in his country, or who connected with me online. I relocated to take advantage of the stable power supply and polity. In reality, most people in his society could not afford my services!).

I told him about a personal friend, who’d graduated for years, and – like many others – had been unable to secure a decent job, despite his qualifications.

(NB: This friend, today, manages a mobile phone shop for an expatriate owner…with a”university degree”. But he’s actually better off than most others!)

My young friend countered that God would not let him have such an experience…!

I asked him if he thought that he alone knew “God”. In addition, I asked him, if all other graduates walking the streets, years after graduating, did not also pray to “God”, like he did (I actually meant to say “IF” he did pray – given his apparent lifestyle!).

That was where I hit a nerve.

He asked “What do you know about God? Do you even have a university degree?

He went on:

“Look, you’ve always questioned the usefulness of traditional formal education. Maybe you feel bitter because you did not attend university.”

He said the above, in apparent reference to what I’d told him, and his colleagues, about “schools killing creativity” – and why self-education must be embraced, even as one goes through school.

I’d never imagined I would have to show proof of my university level education to anyone!

(In my mind I said “Yepa. Chineke! This guy is challenging me to prove that I have a university degree? Mo baje!”)…LOL!

I was speechless for a few seconds, as I tried to think of how to express myself to get through to him.

You must understand that we were conversing in French, and I still struggled in some areas.

“How could he not know I had a degree, from all the time we’d spent together?” I wondered.

Then I remembered he was Francophone, and could barely read/speak/understand a word of English!

As a result, he would not have comprehended most of my website’s content, all the times he’d watched me updating it on my laptop. (I’ve been reluctant to use an online language translation service on my website, because of the absence of contextual interpretation – which can change intended meaning).

Then it also struck me that, he’d actually never even visited the website once, despite my telling him to!

As far as he was concerned therefore, I could be no different from Nigerians who came across the border to sell things in their country.

In fact, he said we were all the same, and that:

“Ghanaians speak proper English, while you Nigerians only speak Pidgin English!”

Proudly turning to his friend, he added:

“Yes. I was in their country. They don’t know how to speak good English. What they speak is Pidgin!”

“Where did he get that impression from?” I wondered.

A university level student thinking everyone in a country like Nigeria cannot speak “good” English?

“Incroyable!” I said to myself

Then I remembered the story he told me of his one time visit to Nigeria, few years back.

During a long holiday period, he’d visited a distant relative in a remote part of South West Nigeria. They’d passed through Lagos on their way to and fro. And while there, they’d worked with locals and some farm hands.

You can imagine the calibre of people he must have spent his time with under such circumstances. The poor guy never got a chance to move around enough to “hear” anything but Pidgin English!

But drawing conclusions based on that, is NOT smart thinking expected of a “university undergraduate”!

I asked if he realised some of the most competent users of English, in Africa, were from Nigeria. I mentioned Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and others.

He had no clue who they were. And he bluntly told me:

“Forget it. You people can’t speak good English, In fact I speak better than most of you!”.

All this from a guy who needed my help to translate a 300 word message from French to English? That day, because (again) he had no money, I had to use my personal bulk SMS mailing account, to send it to his relative’s mobile number in Nigeria. The latter called him within seconds of receiving the message.

That happened less than a week earlier. So it was not that he’d attended some crash course in English, to justify claiming he could speak English. He was simply deluded (for want of a better word)!

And that was when I knew I was wasting my time with him.

The Entire Exhange Pointed Me to One SAD Realisation

Many young Africans (even some adults) in Francophone Africa, have no inkling of what the web can do for them. They are all so closed up in their ordered, and stable societies. So much so, that they do not know using their creativity online, can have a direct impact on their income earning capabilities.

What’s more, they fail to realise they can START NOW, and need not wait to finish from school!

NB: I said “many” have this wrong orientation. I did NOT say “all”. That means I accept that there are exceptions. And I’ve met a number

This is Why I’m Glad, and Proud, That I Was Born & Raised in Nigeria!

I do not mean to claim superiority over any other nationals. I repeat: my purpose here is NOT to put down people from other nations. Doing so, would serve no intelligent or useful purpose.

However, I believe the propensity of Nigerians to adopt – and make productive, income generating use of PC and Internet technology, is unparalled in Africa.

This is my considered opinion, based on years of experience, and careful observation.

The average Nigerian’s level of Internet awareness, outstrips that of most other Africans – especially in West Africa.

Do I have any specific statistics to back up my claims? Not any that I personally compiled.

But I’ve travelled quite a bit over the years, and actively interacted with people from different parts of Africa, and the world.

In addition, through my web marketing, over the past 10 years, I have related actively with people from various parts of Africa, and beyond.

The truth is that the rate of adoption of PC and Internet technology, for personal and business use, is phenomenally high in Nigeria.

Many surveys published about technology, social media, mobile phone usage etc in Africa, also attest the truth of what I’m saying here.

The only thing holding Nigeria back from using the above strengths, to realise its full potential as a true giant, is its shaky leadership.

BUT…and this is a big BUT…

…The mistake I see some other Africans making, is that they seem to think that Nigeria’s problem will never be solved. And as a result, they believe their economies will keep enjoying influx of EXTRA income, resulting from Nigerian/foreign owned solo-entrepreneurs and “companies” based in Nigeria, relocating to their countries.

Some even seem to take delight in using the “poor reputation” of Nigeria/Nigerians, to discredit honest Nigerians making productive use of the web, to earn a living – LIKE ME.

Well, for anyone guilty of the above, here’s some friendly advice: STOP doing that, and start thinking what you’ll do when things change!

I say this because WHEN (NOT if), Nigeria sorts out its leadership problem, its people will turn its fortunes around in the twinkle of an eye, making it a global leader.

That’s how self-empowered and ready Nigerians are. (NB: The Keyword is: “Self-empowered”!)

By then, Nigeria WILL become a safer and more cost-effective destination for investors. More Nigerians will also stay back and/or return home to do business. AND, as a result, Nigeria will start keeping more of the money generated by its businesses within its borders.

Remember: Nigeria is the largest market in Africa. So that’s a lot of money we’re talking about here!

I doubt the same can be said for many African countries – especially in West Africa – whose manpower remain grossly un-empowered. They’ve remained like that, despite the relative peace, orderliness and stability of leadership, and infrastructure they enjoy in their mostly smaller economies – compared to Nigeria.

Can someone please tell them to wake up, and do MORE, with what they have currently going for them! PLEASE!!!!

FINAL WORDS

I know. It’s true that many Nigerians seem currently more disposed to doing wrong, to get what they want.

But that’s just a phase.

With the growing number of “honest” positive change agents fighting to set Nigeria right, such Nigerians will eventually adopt positive avenues that will be created, to achieve their goals.