Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter Date: Monday 23rd December 2013 No:121 Title: If Others Doubt Your Ideas, You’ve Probably Struck Gold! 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 (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view Archive (Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here Have You Downloaded Your Gifts? As a subscriber to my mailing list, you get to access over 10 potentially useful books and reports. Click here to view the download page: Login using the username and password sent to you during signup. Can’t find it? No problem. E-mail me via tayo at tksola dot com and I’ll send you another. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to signup. **** ********** 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 ********** No. 121:If Others Doubt Your Ideas, You’ve Probably Struck Gold! Fran Tarkenton (Former American Football Star turned Millionaire Entrepreneur) once said:   “I have never started a company that, at some point, didn’t cause me to have doubts. ‘This must be a stupid idea because no one else is doing it. Why don’t people get it? Maybe there is nothing there’. We all have self doubts, but as entrepreneurs we don’t let these thoughts stop us. It is only a sanity check and is a normal thing.” – Fran Tarkenton How People React to an Idea Often Depends on How They Feel About the Owner! If it’s someone they like or admire, even the worst idea will be great – as long as it comes from him/her. Think celebrities for instance If truth be told, ground breaking, earth-shaking or life changing ideas rarely sound “Ground breaking, earth-shaking or life changing” to most people, when they are first muted!!! Ever noticed that? It’s an irony of life well documented in history. My experiences suggest that if you go with what majority think of your “new idea”, you’re likely to go wrong. And that includes highly intelligent and successful members of the majority: believe me! Consider my passion, for solving data handling/report generation problems for business owners using low cost Custom Excel-VB Software. It’s all so easy for people to buy into mine now, BECAUSE I have many success stories to share that make it believable!  But back when I was doing the hard thinking to develop my ideas, I had no one around saying “Yes. This is going to work.” Finding willing clients was a struggle. And many close friends and relatives often adopted “Told you so!” as I limped along. So, you can imagine how much Fran Tarkenton’s words flashed through my mind all those years. I knew from what I’d done in Guinness, and what I was creating anew that I could help business owners. But they just did not “get it”! One of the very first business owners I told I built “Custom Excel software” said: “What? Who’s going to pay you money to do that?” Interestingly, he was also a close family friend! Another business owner (and his friends) laughed me out of his Ikeja office, saying: “I can teach YOU Excel. Imagine him wanting to build software for me in Excel!“ This happened mostly between 2002 and 2004. But I kept going – and eventually got my first client in late 2004, who paid N100K for an app he gave to an Oil Service client. Today, my custom Excel apps have been built for hospitals, clinics, speech improvement centers, health and fitness clubs etc. Many farm business owners use my popular Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator (which they often buy along with my Feed Formulation Handbook). A few have bought my Poultry Layer Farm Manager, as I continue to improve on it. Elite Farm Industry Support Providers Are Also Showing Interest 1. Earlier this month, my agribusiness research paper recommending that Extension specialists worldwide be trained to use Excel-VB to serve farmers the way I do, was accepted for publishing by an international organization. (Read details here). The paper is a case study, in which I featured my popular Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator, which has been bought by farm business owners within and outside Nigeria/Africa, since 2004. [NB: In the first quarter of 2014, using payment received for the above paper, I’ll launch my Home based Farm Products Brew-Pub here in Cotonou, selling my drinks and cakes made from pineapple peel]. 2. Just last week, I received email notice of a call for entries to a related contest by the same international organization that accepted my above paper. It’s for a “Top 20 Innovations for smallholder farmers” awards contest, which comes with a grant of 5,000 Euros to each innovation that gets voted. My Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator software is going to be entered for that. 3. The same day I got the notice about the above “Top-20” contest notice, I got another email informing me of a request from the Country Project Manager of a well known agriculture focussed international organisation. On learning about my Ration Formulator, he’d asked that I send a quote, towards travelling to his East African country, to teach farmer groups how to use my software for feed formulation! But It’s Not Just My Knowledge of Feed Formulation That’s Attracting These Opportunities … No. Instead, it’s my idea of using MS Excel Visual Basic to cost-effectively automate the process, that’s opening the above doors for me. Then again, it’s not just the idea. It’s actually more due to my SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION of the idea i.e. I made it work! Remove the low cost, customizable Excel-VB solutions, and I become just like any other farm support Extension Specialst. Possibly with lesser credibility! See? You can now see, I’m sure, that Fran Tarkenton was DEAD right: “We all have self doubts, but as entrepreneurs we don’t let these thoughts stop us. It is only a sanity check and is a normal thing.” As the new year approaches, I urge you to do just as Mr. Tarkenton said. Don’t worry when you have doubts or others question your ideas. It’s supposed to happen that way. That it’s happening is proof that you’re sane. Keep working on (and improving) your idea, and you’ll eventually succeed with it – like many others have done before! 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 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. 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. ================== Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

“To Mr Tayo Solagbade…you made me understand what the world speaks.” – Adepoju Samson, SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade…he has educated me so that he had touched that thing in me that motivates me.” – , SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

“The speaker, Mr Solagbade, is an authority in his field. (He is) an achiever who is able to carry his audience along with him in his message/speech” – Baker A.T, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“There’s a lot more to learn (experience wise) from the speaker(Tayo Solagbade)…Honestly, he gave so much within a short time. I learnt a lot without writing much. It’s amazing!” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“Your (talk) encourages people not to depend on sycophancy to achieve their aims. People are also encouraged to leave the level of mediocrity. One needs to look inwards and make use of one’s potentials to reach the greatest heights. I hope this
is not the last session we will be having with you” – Ezemba C.I (Miss), Teacher, Corona Schools

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“The (talk) is very (useful for) those who want to up-grade themselves. The older generation who think they have come to the end of their career would find it very very useful to rejuvenate their attitude, interest and empower themselves to greater goals.” – E.C. Sarsal, Corona Schools

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“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

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“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

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“(The talk was) ‘very useful’ (and the speaker was) ‘excellent’…Good insight for the much needed Human Revolution to drive creativity in this nation.” – Oma Williams, Director, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“A very worthwhile exercise. The package can however be improved by making it organisation specific.” – C. I. Okeke, AD/Research Consulting, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“The speaker, to me, is quite an inspiration to the young generation” – Nwaokokoh Eddy Azuka, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“This is a celebration of Change Management, quite an appropriate and timely presentation at CMD to Stimulate Change.” – Binuyo, Francis A. (Mr.), MDO I, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village, Shangisha, Lagos.

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“Well this is my first seminar and I think I have gained a lot…I am on NAPEP attachment to the centre for a while, but generally speaking I think you are good and can go even above the sky. I wish I could get in touch with you for more lectures (on) Self-Development, as regards Career Development or probably Personal Development.” – Sanwo Pamela A., Unemployed Graduate, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The training course and approach used was a good and kind of unique one, – talking about the mind map.” – Odunlami Olaitan. O. Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The practical real life experiences (made) the seminar more realistic…The seminar fuels my heart to develop myself the more.” – Kemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The training was a new dimension to the act of personal effectiveness, was less of theory but of tested and proven principles. Keep it up!“- Oluwakemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“This is an academy that will go a long way in helping to develop the youths of this country. Keep up the good work.” – Alake Oluwayemisi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“(Tayo Solagbade) is a very good speaker who was able to communicate his (ideas) effectively without boring me and wasting no time. Within the short time he spent, he gave loaded and relevant information/(ideas) which were superb.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The presenter was superb. He dealt with the topic extensively, citing real life experiences that (were) personal to him.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The facilitator (Tayo Solagbade) has done so well, and he has made me to feel that the sky is not my limit but the start, if I can apply all the personal effectiveness principles appropriately.” – Onifade Olajide, – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“I was very impressed with the speaker (Tayo Solagbade), his integrity, method of delivery and what he had to say. This should not stop here. I personally need access to those books and if pointed in that direction will be happy. Also, I will be happy if (I can be shown) ways to apply oneself to the concept of Self Development as regards my job as a teacher, that will help me to be a better time manager.” – Teacher, Corona Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos.

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“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“It has been a very useful session which can make people or employees wake up from lethargy. It is a wake-up call for continual hope and rejuvenation for speed to higher ground to life aspiration.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

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“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

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“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“…The Ten Ways on Self-Development inspire me to the marrow, and henceforth are going to be (the) guiding ideologies, principles and work concepts in my life.” – Oduye Olumuyiwa, Corona School

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“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

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“The general comment I will like to make is that I can call this seminar a vision seminar. So my comment is that you can make this vision a wider vision by having a complete textbook on it.” – Assistant Teacher, Corona School

Click here to contact Tayo…