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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. 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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No. 126: True Story – Public Speaking On The Road (Why You Must Always Be Prepared!)
This is a true story that I hope will impress upon you, the need to be PREPARED, at all times!
I returned to Cotonou 2 evenings ago (i.e. Saturday p.m), after a 24hr visit to Lagos, where I conducted practical training(on use of my livestock feed formulation software/handbook) for a client who paid N47k.
He paid on Wednesday, and travelled from Umuahia, in Eastern Nigeria, to join me on Friday, at the venue in Oko Oba, Lagos state.
I Had Little Time to Prepare – or Even Rest!
NB: If you wonder why I choose to come and go to/from Nigeria, from my base in Cotonou, this article offers detailed explanations.
My father will be 80 years old on February 4th (in a week or so from today). The family has been working hard to prepare for a big celebration in his honour. As you can imagine, there’s so much that needs to be done. Yet, I’ve been unable to make myself as physically available as I’d have loved to.
I keep returning here, in Cotonou, where it’s more convenient and less expensive (no generator noise or fueling expenses!) to prepare my Ration Formulator software for submission to the “Top 20 Innovations for Smallholder Farmers” competition that’s followed the “Call for papers” I wrote a Case Study for.
Deadline is 15th feb. I did nothing on it while in Nigeria. Not much time now left given Dad’s approaching birthday party. This is why I’m so pressed to use the little time I have left.
Luckily for me, ‘Tomi, my “super” sister, and my other siblings have been on top of things from day one.
I Had to Prepare All Promised Items, Even As I Continued Work on Outstanding Tasks…
Towards meeting my trainee, I prepared the invoice, printed the physical handbook, and had it spiral bound. Then I packed up my things and took off for Lagos at 3p.m on Thursday.
I got into Lagos at 4.30p.m, but did not get home till 10p.m that night…courtesy of Lagos traffic.
By the time I ate my meal and went to sleep, it was past midnight. And I still recall waking up at abut 3.00a.m to respond to an email from ‘Tomi, which required an urgent answer, about reviewing photos for the birthday programme, to be sent to the printer.
By 8.00a.m I was on my way to the venue!
Here’s Why It’s Good to Know Your Subject Inside Out….
Burt Dubin recommends making yourself a master of your subject.
That’s advice I strongly recommend you take to heart!
Get yourself so familiar with it that if woken up from sleep, you’d have no problems delivering a convincing presentation on it.
That’s what I’ve consistently done on the subject of “Livestock Feed Formulation using Pearson Square Computation”.
And it’s always paid off for me.
That day, I was just hours away from running a 4 hour on-on-one coaching session, and I had gotten little sleep, PLUS had had no time to do a revision of what I was to speak on.
Yet, I knew I would be okay.
It was a subject I loved. IT IS a subject I LOVE with a passion!
That’s why I’ve always constantly researched it. Plus, my regular conversations with past buyers/users give me useful insights most trainees always appreciate.
It Turned Out the Farm Biz CEO Was Unfamiliar with Getting Around Lagos…!
Just as I was thinking I had my plate full, a phone call from the trainee revealed he did not know how to get to the venue!
Suddenly, here was another unexpected factor to worry about.
I did some thinking and recommended he consult taxi drivers about the best way to take buses/motor bikes to reach the venue (a feed milling company at Oko Oba), from his relative’s place at Egbeda.
We agreed to meet there by 10a.m as planned.
By 9.30a.m, as I approached the place, I called to ask where he was. He said “You’ll have to give me an hour please. I’m at Eric Moore in Surulere.”
I was stunned. That was a totally different location: It was nowhere near where I was headed…
Indeed, it was good one hour away from our planned meeting point, if traffic was good!
“What are you doing over there?” I asked.
“I had to quickly get something from a friend’s. But I’m now leaving. Please tell me, how do I take transportation from here?” he replied.
Once again, I told him. Then I followed up with an SMS stating the names of landmarks and bus stops je was to mention to the bus consductor, to reach my end.
Past Training Sessions Lasted 4 to 5 Hours. This Client Came Unexpectedly With “Special Needs”
We took off about 2 hours late. But that was just the beginning of many unplanned “occurrences”…!
After the practical training at the feed mill, I needed to coach him on using the software. But he told me he had an important appointment to keep in Ikeja. Our late start meant he was going to be late. I proposed we go together, and from there retire to a business centre to finish the training.
We did that.
About an hour later we were seated in a business centre near the Ikeja computer village. I began demonstrating the use of the software.
To his credit, he periodically stopped me to ask very intelligent questions, that made me supply answers that gave him deeper understanding.
I appreciated that, and it made the hiccups we’d had to endure worthwhile for me.
It’s always fulfilling when a learner displays interest in understanding/using what s/he is being taught!
And this gentleman was driven. For instance, about 20 minutes into the session, he said:
“Ah Tayo, I think I’d better buy a small laptop, otherwise I’ll be unable to practise and remember all these things you’re teaching me!“
He explained that he was relocating from Abuja to Umuahia, where his new venture was based. Most of his stuff was still back in Abuja, and he it would take a while to bring them over.
So, getting a laptop to work with in the meantime made good sense.
I agreed. Again I was impressed with his obvious commitment to learning.
We Moved Into the PC Village, and Went Round the Vendors Till He Bought an Elite Book
Back at the business centre, I copied the Ration Formulator, its PDF user guide, the FREE PDF Pictorial Introduction to Feed Ingredients, and the Feed Formulation Handbook’s PDF into a folder on his laptop. Then I burned 2 CDs containing the same files, as well as 7 video demonstration files, and gave to him.
The above was however a bit of a slow process.
So, while we waited for the copying to end, I gave him additional tips on how to get familiar with computing ration formulas via Pearson Square. I also promised to create special annotated guides to further boost his comprehension.
But for starters, I made it clear he needed to study the handbook’s contents in depth.
When the files copying ended, it was about 7.30p.m.
He had to return to Umuahia, to beat Saturday’s sanitation exercise. So – after getting directions from some transporters – I took him to Bolade area of Oshodi where he boarded an Onitsha –Owerri bound luxury bus. Then I made my way back home…
I Had to Show Up, and Perform, As Represented!
Through all of this the Lagos traffic was at its worst on most routes, so you can imagine what moving around was like for us.
This farm biz CEO was however referred by Bello Hassan, a past buyer and long time subscriber to my website newsletter, who has still NEVER met with me in the flesh in the years since we made contact.
So I was determined to give him the best possible experience.
It’s interesting to note how surprised he was when I replied that I’d never met Bello in person.
He said “Really? You know I was not sure about paying that money to your accouint. After you sent me the account number, I asked Alhaji Bello if it was okay to go ahead and pay. He simply asked me ‘Don’t you want it?’ I told him I did. He then said ‘Then go and pay!’ ”.
Apparently, he was surprised that Bello was so sure about me, even though we had never met in the flesh.
The above explained why he’d delayed paying for 3 full days. This was despite calling me repeatedly to get my account number on Sunday 20th January (while I was having my wonderful multiple co-incidences filled “meeting” with a Beninese restaurant consultant I’d just met).
He would not not make payment until Wednesday 23rd. Apparently, he’d been worrying if it was safe to do so….Can’t say I blame him though ;-))
Luckily, he went back to Bello, who re-assured him.
And that’s not the first time Bello (like some other past buyers) has done that!
What can I say? Something about my conduct inspires confidence in some of my buyers, so that they willingly take risks most people would not.
That’s why I do my best to ensure they NEVER regret their actions!
I pointed out to CEO, that some of what I’d already done for him, had NOTHING to do with what I promised. Yet I’d gone out of my way to help him anyway.
He nodded in understanding.
Final Words: It Pays to Be Prepared…You Never Know What Conditions You’ll Have to Speak Under!
After I left him on the bus that night, I sent him an SMS reminding him to read the feed formulation handbook to thoroughly understand the theory of feed formulation. In a week or so, I’ll follow up with him to find out how he’s getting on.
And so “My Public Speaking on The Road” adventure ended well…but ONLY because I make a point of ”ALWAYS being prepared”.
You can also succeed more, even in the face of rapid and unexpected changes, if you do the same!
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 Multipreneur.
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.
He earns multiple streams of income providing clients with performance improvement training/coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems, freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).
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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