Tomi Sule': I Lost Everything I Had Worked For In My Life … So What?(YoungVoices, Day 15)

P.S: "I Lost Everything I Had Worked For In My Life … So What?" IS A LONG READ BUT WORTH IT!



Most people were brought up to dream, but to also follow the rules of society in order to achieve a certain standard of success of which the Monday- Friday, “09 am- 05 pm” job is often required. We ‘dream’ of what we want to become, or at least which career path would be the most versatile for employability or ‘quick wealth’. We study for it, we toil and labour all in the name of striving for success, reaching our goals, and living the life of our dreams.

I believe truly successful people are happy ‘workers’; they don’t see themselves as people who work hard to earn a living. But as people who are fulfilling destiny and no matter the amount of labour involved, are willing to do it with pleasure even when they are at the point of exhaustion. This is because, when you are passionate about something you don’t labour for it.

John Obidi: I Make Over $2,000 Online Monthly and This is How(YoungVoices, Day 14)

My name is John Obidi and I make businesses famous on Social Media. This article however, is not about the craft that I'm publicly known for.



It's about an opportunity that I discovered through curiosity and determination - Making Money Online. Don't roll your eyes just yet. Trust me, you want to read this.

Julius Osimen: How I kissed DATING good-bye and embraced my DREAMS(YoungVoices, Day 13)

Yea, take a look at the theme again and that's it. My purpose of the choice of theme was really to catch your attention. Now that I have it, let's continue but I will sure tell you how I kissed DATING good-bye to Embracing my DREAMS.



I am yet to see a man that does not want to be successful in life. As a matter of fact, everyone wakes up everyday believing that somehow they will make it really big at whatever they venture into. I have also come to discover that success is relative. What is success for me might not be for another individual. The measure of success differs from person to person and from place to place.



To be very successful at a very young age has always been my goal, although life had a way of telling me that it was impossible to achieve success right from my family to the society where I grew and the nation at large.Doing a quick view at the global reality, I realise that I must start judging my success not by what I've done but by what I'm capable of doing.

In the search of the true measure of success, I discovered that Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have. Today, I can call myself a successful man because I'm doing the thing I really want to do; using my thinking, speaking and writing gifts maximally to transform lives and put food on my table. O yea...



Few years ago, I decided to start dating someone I could refer to as "First love after a Long love", it started so cool and promising. I was quick to download my dreams to the damsel. How I was going to do this and do that, travel here and there, publish my books and become very rich and famous.

Mind you, I had suffered so much rejection even from my family simply because I dream too much and scarcely live a normal life like my peers do. Felt like dating this great girl would at least give me a chance to have someone believe in me and want to support me. She soon began to count years for me and asking questions like "When shall these things be?, seeth that you have no Degree yet". Fast forward...she left me and I went back to my first love which has always been my dreams and today the story is a lot different.

Almost everything I told her then are now reality. My books are published and circulated across the borders.



Listen, please Let go of whatever will not let you grow else you will groan.



Go Excel!



Julius OSIMEN is a speaker, trainer and author of two books. Follow him on Twitter: @IamJuliusOsimen

 ** The first 5 people to comment on this post wins Julius Osimen's latest released book titled, 'Activate Your Dreams' **

(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the thirteenth day in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

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Olutola Omoniyi: How I Made Their Problem My Problem... (YoungVoices,Day 12)

“I’m so sorry for him, but I’m sure he’ll be fine”, “It’s not my business”, “I’ll just take care of myself”… You probably recall that moment after discussing or identifying a problem or challenge, when you expressed these statements either verbally or in your mind, right? Yes, I also have and honestly, I sometimes still do.

The truth is, we are naturally wired to take care of ourselves only. More like an “every-man-for-himself” kind of scenario, or simply put – we are naturally selfish.

So most times, when we identify problems people go through, we look into our systems and circles to build defensive mechanisms to avoid it coming our way, caring less about those currently affected. Oops! That’s ironic, as this can be best described as a case of ignoring our greatest opportunities to success. Make their problem your problem; make the solution your success.

Few years ago, precisely in 2012, I was fresh off NYSC service. I had gotten a job with an internet firm in 2011 as their social media executive/product ambassador. At that time I was earning N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) which was not bad at all for a first job after service year.

I compered for events, and had quite a number of wedding MC jobs coming through, adding to my monthly income. I was also living in my parent’s place, so I didn’t pay rents. I had a Nissan Primera that was very friendly in terms of fuel consumption and my office was a 20-minute drive away from home. So basically, I was doing just fine.

However, I quit the job in July 2012 for another that didn’t only pay me N0, but demanded a lot of funds from me instead. Insane, right? Yeah, I remember two of my mentors advising me against the move then too. Today, I’m glad I made that decision. But really, why did I do this? I found a problem, and I was so passionate about solvingit.

I had been working as an OAP on radio for about 4 years on several radio stations. I had been studying the word of God. I had discovered a principle that was set to change my life forever – “Whatever goes into your ears and eyes consistently, finds its way into your mind, and then your heart. Whatever finds its way into your heart will ultimately manifest in your life” That was it!!! Gosh! That means, from the movies we see to the music/news we hear and every other image we see cumulates to the product of our lives. Garbage in, garbage out!

Problem 1: Man has need for recreation and entertainment. Sadly, most of the available options out there were junk, and considering this principle, it’s dangerous to the lives of the consumers. People needed quality and edifying resources. But oops! These content were not readily accessible at that time. You would probably need to do some research.

Problem 2: Gospel music artistes were churning out some good stuff, but didn’t have platforms for promoting their stuff, as most other mainstream media relegated their content to the background. They needed to reach out to more people, but just couldn’t seem to break out.

I’m not a music artiste, so Problem 2 wasn’t mine, but I had a bit of Problem 1 as well. So I did some research, and after a couple of weeks, I had figured out how to get as much of the latest gospel music, news, sermons, movies, etc. so I always stayed updated. My “Problem 1” solved.

I found a solution for myself, but that just wasn’t enough.

The burning passion for solving other’s problem is a secret to success. That was what triggered the decision to leave my then comfort zone to launch Praiseworld Radio, which today is one of Africa’s leading online gospel radio stations, providing solution to the two problems listed above.

We have made these problems our problems, and we derive joy in seeing the solutions.

Continuously providing solutions to problems means you constantly give value, and this comes back to you in even greater value.

When you identify someone/people’s problems, which makes your heart burn with passion, that’s it! There goes your opportunity to succeed, if only you can find a solution to it.

In my experience in the last couple of years, I have realized how important it is to consider the following in pursuit of success.

1. Patience: We’re in the “fast-food” age. Lots of folks are out there with the belief “If it’s not bringing result NOW, it’s not worth it”. How untrue. When I was preparing to launch the Praiseworld Radio in 2012, I told myself “Bro, you’re gonna have to be VERY patient on this one.” This helps reduce the pressure and helps you stay focused.


2. Don’t Make Money Your Driving Force: Yes, when you solve problems, you’ll get rewarded with money. However, be more concerned about the solution than the money. Don’t put the cart before the horse. Like I mentioned earlier, we derive joy in solving problems at Praiseworld Radio

Please, don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean you should not have a business plan or a revenue generating structure in place. It only means you should be more passionate about the value you’re bringing to the table.

3. FOCUS: Has this ever happened to you? You’re working on a PC, open multiple windows, trying to do a lot of things at the same time. Have you noticed you end up spending more time on tasks that were not originally on your to-do list, thereby making you less effective?

“I’m multi-talented. I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’m a multi-tasker”, yeah, great to know. But over the years, I have discovered that the more focus on one particular assignment, the more effective you get. Stay on it! Build it! Be a master at it! FOCUS!

4. Get GOD involved: The spiritual governs the physical. Having a relationship with The Supreme Being (GOD) puts you on an entirely different level from your peers who don’t. Most of my decisions as regards the operations and management of Praiseworld Radio has been influenced by the Holy Spirit. You can’t go wrong when God is involved.

Thank you for taking time out to read this. Identify that problem you are passionate about solving today. Develop capacity and seek God’s help to proffer a solution to it. Enjoy the success you derive from the process. See you at the top!



Olutola Omoniyi is the Founder and CEO of PraiseWorld Radio. He tweets from @spiceonthemic



**The first two to comment wins two books each**



(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the day twelve in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

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Helen Ozor: How I Built My Brand Blogging About Events (Young Voices,Day 11)

I go by the name Helen Ozor. A native of Delta State and a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University. I think of myself as not just a blogger but a unique blogger who has carved a niche for herself in the blogging sphere. I own and run Nigeria's no1 events blog. A blog that focuses on event coverage (wedding, birthday, bridal shower, concert, conference, seminar, party), event articles, event publicity etc. I've carved a niche for myself in the event industry and God has been faithful. I started out as a model, I love ushering jobs and I dreamt of having my own event management company. While in university, at a point towards my final year, I decided to focus more on school activities. During that period, a friend called to say hi and to also find out what I had been up to. One way or the other he was able to convince me to start a blog. After monitoring several blogs for months I decided to have a blog that focuses on event. Then I spoke to a veteran journalist who said I wouldn't be able to achieve the aim of the blog and so, I diverted to doing gossip but was never fulfilled. Soon, I realized I had to retract my steps and give all it takes to achieve the aim of my blog. So, I went into event blogging full time.



Just like every other business, there are good times and there are bad times. Sometimes the road is smooth and some other time, it could be very rough. Blogging about events is a niche that hasn't been saturated like the gossip niche. At the initial stage, it was strange to a lot of people and it took time and dedication to win followers. What has made me a successful event blogger is the fact that I love what I do. I love events, I'm dedicated to my job, I'm consistent, persistent and hardworking and above all God has being there for me. Giving up on blogging and getting a job was one decision I almost took at the initial stage but I knew I wouldn't find fulfillment as I wanted to be my own boss. Striving to be the best I can be, be the best event blogger anyone can find around; leaving a legacy worth emulating has always been my focus. Therefore, giving up never became an option.



Covering events is not one of the kind of job anybody would venture into. A lot of financial input and risk is involved. But then I don't mind because it is a job I love doing. Often time I say to people who approach me for blogging advice: It is not an easy job, it requires hard work, consistency, a lot of patience and persistence.



I have been opportune to cover several events like Airtel events, Nokia events, Skyy Vodka event, Pearl Awards, Dapo Lam Adesina, Peter and Lola Okoye's wedding (P'Square), Cocktail In and Out Customer appreciation party, OC Ukeje's wedding, Future Awards, Nigeria Music Video Awards, K1 Live Unusual Concert, 30 days in Atlanta movie premiere, Lagos Fashion and Design week, 2014 Genevieve Pink Ball, The Beat of Lagos, Bovi Man On Fire, 2014 Elite Model Look, The Network conference, Women in Marketing Conference and Awards... just to mention a few.



Helen Ozor is a foremost event blogger in Nigeria. She blogs from www.helenozor.com and tweets from @HelenEventBlog



(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the eleventh day in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

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Why She Acts The Way She Does by Fisayo Odebode

I love her because she is passionate, beautiful, gentle, curvy, detailed and care-giving. Although she gets agitated, misplaces her identity,hates herself or anyone.Please before you judge or condemn her, you’ll need to go through what she’s been through. She has been hurt by the most important people in her life. She has been raped by her own family, she has been enslaved by her supposed-to-be care givers, and she has been consistently abused physically over many years. She has since viewed herself poorly. Her image has been tarnished before her very own eyes. You blame her for running away with a silly guy who managed to tell her that she’s beautiful or intelligent? She probably hasn’t believed how smart she is yet. How in the world do you blame her for dropping out of school or making wrong choices? Are you impractical? She is living her life in reaction to all the hurt, ‘lowlessness’, pain, and lack; and she doesn’t even understand the power effect of choices.

The truth is,she already lacks confidence in herself so she will not treat herself well or believe she deserves good. She will run away with whoever calls her intelligent even if the man brings mistresses home and share her matrimonial bed, she will stay. He says she is intelligent and smart and he has says a smart woman will keep her home and ‘love’ the mistresses. She will become a slave to him.





Do you realise that she is like a wave? She is more emotional than logical. Her self-esteem increases when she feels loved. She becomes stronger, bolder, innovative, attractive, and focused. You have no right to blame or condemn her since you have not been through what she’s been through and if you have, you should know people are graced at different levels to handle situations. However, I’m not making room for anyone’s irresponsibility; I am stating that she needs help. She just has not realised it yet.



She acts the way she does because she has been in and out of trauma, she has been helpless, she has been hopeless, she found a temporary way out by living the whatever life she is living. She will run into bigger trouble than she already has. She will hurt many people, she will murder people who love her, she will end up in jail, she will have children that she cannot love, she will live on the streets when people offer her home, she’ll later realise that she has caused more pain for innocent people and destroyed her opportunity to live a legacy and transform many lives because she is angry, bitter,hopeless. She needs your help. We can change things in bits by loving her irrespective of how she treats you, she needs to know and find love. She most likely doesn’t understand the language of love yet.

I’d love that she realises that life is full of positive, negative, up, down, good and bad.

Hey! You need to believe in yourself woman! You need to love yourself like no one ever did you. Youhave to take care of yourself and develop new and positive dreams. Love does not hurt, only those who don’t know how to love put people in pain. You are a product of whatever choices you make and you are responsible for them. Embrace love and change, it will heal and transform you!



Fisayo ‘Check’ Odebode is a writer, editor, public speaker, music lover and counsellor. She is passionate about young women, leadership and growth. She is the initiator of Check Counsel Nigeria (a people oriented organization that cares for/helps stabilize children and teenagers in relation to their stage in human development through counselling). You can email her at checkcounsel@gmail.com or follow her on IG/Twitter @FisayoCheck

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Isaac Oladipupo: The Anatomy of Success (YoungVoices, Day 10)

Unless I’m reading some good book, I’m not a lover of long articles so I’ll try to keep this as concise as possible. My goal here is to reiterate my life’s brief adventure in line with key discoveries that have helped me reach thus far by Grace.



To start with, here’s a foundational truth many people have refused to accept - Irrespective of your background or circumstances, you’ve got MORE than it takes to achieve good success in life. Here’s why: Success is cheap and replicable. To succeed in any field you only need to find out what other successful people in that field are doing, and do the same things, until you get same results. As a young chap starting out with big dreams, my discovery, belief and resolve to live by this simple truth made all the difference.



Commit to early discovery and pursuit of destiny.

Who am I, why am I here, what will I do...? Growing up, I was of the belief that if I don’t achieve certain things at a certain age, it becomes much harder later or literally impossible. The grace to define myself and my dreams on time has been an advantage. To achieve success, we must discover our path and commit to it as early as we can. Having discovered your true path, you must stay focused until successful. This is very critical because we are in the age of endless distractions and focus remains an important virtue as we can achieve nothing significant without it. Only the few who are able to remain focused amidst distractions will thrive.



Become addicted to knowledge.

I wrote my first book at 19, and this helped secure my first job with a leading magazine company, as an undergraduate. This early exposure didn’t only change my life forever; it also taught me that BEING is far superior to having. Just as we always attract who we are when it comes to relationships, so also what we get out of life is solely dependent upon our level of capacity per time. To attract more, we must become more. Commit to building your mind, capacity and skills. It’s been said that a library is a hospital for the mind. When last did you visit one?



Carefully select your network of friends and mentors.

To ignore the influence of association is to disregard your destiny. Never underestimate the power of association. All my life, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of moving with forward thinking friends and the result has been phenomenal. However, at a point, I slipped into some wrong association in a bid to ‘help them change.’ The result? Aside holding me back, I made a huge mistake that cost me a relationship most valuable to me. Thankfully I came out stronger, but I paid dearly for it. I learnt, the hard way, that mediocrity is infectious. Don’t discriminate but be very selective. It is very possible to outgrow your associations, so know when to leave and choose a new circle of friends because association always determines destination. Love yourself enough to surround yourself with the smartest and brightest brains. Also invest in your networking skills and seek valuable mentors. Successful people connect with people, make the most of meetings and build relationships. Learn to actively network with people who can be of great value to your life.



Take full charge of your heart and mind.

Regardless of the volume of books you read, a negative mind will never give you a successful life. Just as you don't put your car in reverse and expect it to go forward, in same light you don't think negative thoughts and expect success. Invest your time in deep meditation and dream big dreams. Most of the things that changed my life came to me when I was alone and quiet; this explains why I adore just being alone with my thoughts at times. Once in a while, take out time to yourself, for yourself, and with yourself in a positive light. It’s life-changing!



Commit to a lifetime partnership with God.

What the outside of your house looks like doesn’t count as much as what you’re building on the inside. In my opinion, instant success without God isn’t a guaranteed success. What’s the foundation of your success built upon? Will it stand the test of time? God does nothing significant with man without a deliberate covenant. Build upon the Solid Rock by striking a covenant partnership with God and watch your blossom effortlessly.



Lastly, note that while dreams are free, achievement comes with a price. All you’ve read here won’t work for you unless you put them to action immediately. I’d love to meet you at the world’s achievers roundtable. Peace!





Isaac Oladipupo is a media entrepreneur passionate about leveraging the media towards a transformed Africa. He tweets via @iamisaacola



**Two books to be won each by the first two to comment - you'll get your gift at the end of the 15 days #YoungVoices**



(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the tenth day in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

OLATUNJISPEAKS.com is Africa’s Number One Blog on Inspiration!

Would you love to get our FREE eBook in your mail? GET it HERE – http://bit.ly/1nYEET8

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Ihotu Amuta: I DID IT! Excelling in a male dominated environment (YoungVoices, Day 9)

From the Blog: All #YoungVoices gift and book winners will get their gifts and books at the end of the 15th day.



I DID IT! Excelling in a male dominated environment



Ten years ago I decided that I wanted to be famous. I didn’t know how I will become that person I saw in the mirror every morning but I was determined. Seven years later, I just wanted to be the best at what I did and I worked very hard and tried to always go the extra mile. Three years afterwards and all I think about is the impact my work is making on individuals, organizations and the nation.

I started with curiosity!

I wanted to know more about everything and I was competitive. I desperately needed to be the best but I found out as I grew older that it was impossible to always top every interest I had and so I decided to choose a few things I knew how to do very well and excel in them. I didn’t want to try what I wasn’t good at so I don’t flunk it or come out at average and this made my options limited. I was good with English, Literature and History and I focused on this subjects in secondary school more than I did for other subjects and I topped the class all the time.

Don’t be a jack of all trades,

Your name will get lost in the long list of experts.

You will be seen as a side dish and not the main meal

Be the only option for that one thing that is needed.

During my teens, I discovered I could dance and act but singing wasn’t my forte so I danced and acted and only sang in groups. I also noticed I had a flare for writing and I poured myself into that.

Overtime, I noticed my curiosity had pushed me into learning business principles and development and I read every book and article I could find on the subject. I attended meetings and tried to get opportunities to share my ideas and with time I became known to have opinions.

Let your voice be heard for what you know about

and you will become the go-to person on that issue.

Don’t just think it, say it;

you won’t be paid for your private thoughts.

Fast forward 10 years and I have worked my mind into a constant state of curiosity which is needed for strategy, creative thinking and business development which are the 3 main areas of my current expertise.

A few weeks ago I heard Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa say, “It’s not a man’s world, it’s our world” and I agree with her.

It is how you choose to play the game of chess that determines how you win

Do you want to win? Learn the tricks of your business

Men naturally tend to be go-getters and hustlers. Women are more of nurturers and receivers. But with our natural disposition as nurturers and with inert intuition, it is easy to build keen expertise in an area of interest. That’s all I did! I pushed my energies into my natural abilities, turned them into skills and was not afraid to be assertive.

It is important that what you say should count for something and your presence should be added value to everyone around you. This implies diligence and consistency in acquiring and retaining knowledge for whatever industry you find yourself and life in general.

Yes I failed a few times but I learnt my lessons and tried again. You may fail but know there is always a way to success, and the fastest route there is, is adding value and being a solution provider to a recognizable need.

Go the extra mile.

Do more than you think you can.

Push yourself to be the best in your own unique way.

It is quite common now to find intimidation a constant in business but those who try to intimidate are those who are threatened by your knowledge.

If you can learn right and act right then you can do right and you will be alright

Ihotu Joy Amuta is one of the leading lights at Gemstone Group. She tweets from @aihot

**The first two people to comment wins 2 books each for themselves; the book titles are ‘The Record Breaker’ and ‘Woman, This is How to Choose Your Own King’**

(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the ninth day in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

OLATUNJISPEAKS.com is Africa’s Number One Blog on Inspiration!

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Edward Esene: How I got my capital and continue to raise funds forbusinesses today (Young Voices, Day 8)

Capital they say is the bloodline of any business; lack of funding remains one of the major problems facing many aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners alike, truncating their entrepreneurial and business dreams.

Knowing how and where to access various sources of funds is a critical skill set every entrepreneur or business owner must have, and the starting point is knowing where to turn to – information & guidance through the rigorous process.

During one of our recently held Access2Funds Workshop for TBWF, Lagos; a participant asked me:

So how do I get funding for my idea, seeing that I do not have collateral?

The answer I gave to her during the training plus how I got/raised my own startup capital is what we I will be sharing in this write-up. I hope you find it an interesting read. Enjoy:



GEOLOGY but no Oil:

I left the higher institution some few years haven studied geology but made the kind of grade makes my employment in the oil and gas industry very distant.

Immediately after my service year in east, I hurriedly moved back to the economy powerhouse of Nigeria (eko city – if you know what I mean) and took my destiny in my hands.

My first official post graduate employment was a teaching job in Maryland, Lagos; the pay was just sufficient to keep body and soul together, at least for a fresh-graduate like me; been able to move out of the unemployment statistics was exciting plus the fact that I can now work and earn felt cool. But like any young fresh graduate at 24year, I wanted more. I had dreams. I needed something big! Real BIG.

Nothing was forthcoming for months, so I got tired and left the school because it was not allowing me do proper job prospecting and attend interviews.

Jonne Walker in Consulting:

It was one of those CV my hands –job hunting days, that I stumbled into a large crowd on a Saturday morning. I was quick to sense what was happening or about to happen, shortlisted applicants awaiting interview. Even though the company was no longer accepting applications, I waited just for the fun of it, hoping to be attended to or sent away.

I was quick to ask the previous guys about what kind of questions they asked, what the name of the company is and what they are into. The only thing I remember I heard was “Venture Capitalist”

Like many applicant who were waiting to be interviewed we wonder: Who were, or What is Venture Capitalist? I was confused but as a sharp Ikeja brought-up, given the large crowd, I quickly dashed to the nearest cyber café (no BB or mobile internet then) and studied anything on Venture Capital in Nigeria and abroad.

Fortunately it got to my turn, surprised that I didn’t apply for the job, nor was I invited for the interview, the panelist was pleased in my little knowledge of the company industry and curiously took on risks and landed me the Job! Alongside 3 other applicants.

It was a Business Development job role (primarily marketing) in a Venture Capital Firm. I seriously detect marketing then but managed to hold on to the job and spent two years with the firm, rose to the position of Manager, before resigning to try-out my own stuff. I registered KINETIC ASSOCIATES, a year later as a business incubation company.

HOW I GOT RAISED CAPITAL TO START MY BUSINESS

So how did I get/raised capital to start my own business? Just two simple approach:

• I saved my entire last 6month salary! Yes. Infact I didn’t collect it from the company Admin/Accountant. I learnt about this savings principle during NYSC. I and my friends in the village left all our FG allowee in our accounts and pushed for pay from PP runs during my service year as corpers.


• Relationship: During my working days in the VC, as a BDM, I interacted with lots of High Network Individuals (HNI’s) and managed the company’s Angels Investors Network. This availed me the opportunity to build relationship with some prominent people in Lagos.

When I notified some of them that I have moved and now trying out my own business they were excited and encouraged me. So, I made some of them my mentors and often report the challenges and progress of the business to them. So after some few month of almost exhausting my savings, I approached two of them for investment loan of N2million, at N1million each, with proper document and trust they granted my request. Integrity is Cash!

So that’s the story of how I stumbled into consulting & venture capitalism, learnt, saved, built quality relationships and got money to start by business and still date I still help lots of startup entrepreneurs and business owners raised funds using some of the approach listed below:

• Owners Savings: I tell most people that need money, as long as they care to listen, it remains the best, quickest and no hassle source of funds. You have something saved up, congratulations.


• Family & Friends: Big Uncle, Mother, Brother (in my case, it was my elder brother – who was also one of angel investor in the VC firm I worked that gave me N1million Naira.. (part of the N2million)


• Partnership: Just last month (Nov 2014) I started a crayfish business, with emphasis on processing and packaging for now under a partnership arrangement. The person that have only the idea collaborates/teams-up with the person that have the funds.


• Trade Credit – collect the stock/produce, sell first and remit capital later.


• LPO Financing: create the demand first, get the order/contract, and then go seek financing to consummate it. See contact details of some financiers below.
  
  
  
  • *Maple Credit: 01-2911401.
  
  
  • *Ren Credit: 01-2772400.
  
  
  • *Go Lend: 08067223366.
  
  
  • *FinancialVen: 08026265381.
  
  
  • *Credit Direct: 01-7641181.
  
  
  • *Co-Link Finance: 01- 8948102.
  
  
  • *Rosabon Finance: 01 898 0336
  
  
  • *TFS Finance Ltd: 01-8163002/08023031736.
  
  
  • *RegCharles Finance Ltd: +234 (0) 1-766-0001,
  
  
  • *Ventures & Trusts LTd: 01 262 0300
  
  
  • * UT Financial Services Nigeria Limited: 234 2954989; 2909565;
  
  
  • *Boulevard Finance: 234 (01) 461 BFSL
  
  
  • *Profund Finance: 07028645077.
  
  
  • *Red Oak Loans: 01-8104434, 08057345657.
  
  
  • *Salary Advance Nigeria : www.salaryadvanceng.com 01-844-7210. 0806-279-8100 (Jade)

• Angel Investors: Today, I manage some few millions for our KINETIC ANGEL NETWORK (KAN), and I invest in low risk short-term opportunities/projects on behalf of my investors and pay them good returns quarterly. (to join send your enquiries to : investors@kineticng.com)


• Crowding Funding: pitching your business idea online, to allow interested investors from different parts of the country/world have a stake in the business. See foreign sites like fundables.com, www.kickstarters.com etc and their Nigerian counterpart such as www.pitchoffice.com, www.234give.com

We are also currently working on our own unique crowdfunding site: to suit The Nigerian/African audience: www.access2funds.com

• Specialized SME Lenders eg Bank of Industy (BoI), NeXim, NEFRUND, BoA, Grofin, etc.


• Aids/Grants: eg MTN Business Titan, DiamondBank BET, The Tony Elumelu Entrepreprenuership Programme (TEEP), Ignite Ideas Contest, British Council Enterprise Challenge, YALI (yaliapp.irex.org) and The FGN YouWin Programme (www.youwin.org.ng) already in its 4^th year/edition. I participated in the maiden edition a consultant/monitor, and supervised businesses in the eastern part of Nigeria.

WHERE WE ARE NOW…

As a business incubation company, we receive lots of interesting ideas, almost on a daily basis from within and outside Nigeria and our goal is to nurture, build and grow them into viable enterprises.

We offer complete business incubation package from start to finish: idea clarification, market research, business plan development, company formation, regulatory registration, brand development, project management, Financial Intermediation, outsourcing, systems and process development, Go-to Market Plan, amongst others.

Through our propriety “Access2Funds Workshop,” we have assisted several entrepreneurs and business owners access various kinds of capital from institutional lenders and business angels alike. At KINETIC, we pride ourselves in our passion and expertise in BUILDING and GROWING businesses across Africa.

WHERE WE ARE HEADING…

My ultimate dream is to be a Africa’s foremost development finance specialist with a passion to use entrepreneurship and finance to solve problems and create wealth in Africa for Africans.

To evolve into KINETIC CAPITAL LTD

CONCLUSION…

I hope it has been an interesting read for you. I love providing people with actionable information.

Finally, like total downstream slogan says: You know where to turn!

So whether it’s an idea you have that requires capital to jumpstart it or an existing business that seeks to expand, we here to serve you!

I will be expecting to hear from you!



Edward Esene tweets from @headiekinetic. Edward Esene is a much sought after Business Start Coach and serial entrepreneur. He works as one of the Snr. Consultant with KINETIC ASSOCIATES , Lagos. (www.kineticng.com). Send him a mail: access2funds@kineticng.com



**The first two people to comment wins 2 books each for themselves; the book titles are ‘The Record Breaker’ and ‘Woman, This is How to Choose Your Own King’**



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Kehinde Ajose: How I was Donjazzyfied - Untold strategies for becominga don in your field (Young Voices, Day 7)

Life is a teacher only fools depend on the traditional educational system to succeed.

Yes I said it.

But…

How does one make a mark and become a difference maker in a world that romances sameness and conventional living? You are gifted, loaded with ideas  and have what it takes  to make a difference in the world…



But you are scared.



Scared that others are already doing what you do;

Scared that nobody will read your book since we already have too many authors;

Scared that your voice won’t be heard because it doesn’t fit into the expected;

Scared about being unwanted and being rejected.

Scary isn’t it?



The game can change for you and your product, service, giftings, talents and ideas .You can become irresistible if only you know what it takes to be Donjazzyfied.



My Donjazzyfied moments...

As a writer and talent development  strategist, one of the ways I set out to be different in my chosen craft is to tie the principles I teach to stories of individuals whom people can identify and relate with. I did it successfully as a columnist for national dailies and that has been my selling point as a writer. My Donjazzyfied moment embraced me when I wrote an article on the social media tactics Don jazzy employs to build an appealing brand for himself, as an influential showbiz personality in Africa. He retweeted… and that changed the whole story.



Don jazzy isn’t just a noun; he is  a verb. Its a name that creates the picture of  individuals who have carved a niche for themselves in their fields and are making a positive difference. Don jazzy’s (.) was retweeted by one of his fans .This singular act speaks volumes of his influence.

So what does it take to become a Don in your field? Let’s cut to the chase.



D-Deliver Value

Look at any electrifying performance, you will find out that it delivers some kind of value to the listener. From his music productions to his performances, Don jazzy offers value to his fans .The critics felt Dbanj’s absence would affect his mainstream acceptance, but with the success of  Wande Coal’s The Kick, D’Prince’s Take Banana, Dr Sid’s Surulere, and Tiwa Savage’s Eminado, the dude has proved that he can make diamonds out of stones. Here is the deal, until you offer something that wows and excites, you cannot be remarkable. Don jazzy offers value.Your value is tied to the vacuum your absence creates.



O-Offer a unique perspective

When I wrote my first E- book on the revered  indigenous rapper, Olamide titled-The Badoo School of Street credibility, it generated a lot of buzz on Instagram all  because I dared to create a unique angle. People are tired of reading the same boring tales. What dramatic angle can you create in order to stand out? The key here is not just to tell a story, but to tell a story people want to hear. It’s not just  about writing another song, but a song that can resonate with the audience. It’s not enough to release another product, but  releasing a product  that  connects with the needs of your customers. That is the key to success in business. Passion ain’t just enough. You can be passionate about your new cute product, but it might not resonate with what the market needs. Don jazzy is a master when it comes to using his street credibility to connect with his fans.  From the days of Tongolo and Koko, Don jazzy hasn’t stopped creating unique catch phrases that has made him a desirable music phenomenon.





N-Nurture relationships.

Don jazzy is a boss when it comes to nurturing relationships on the digital media. He has a knack for engaging with his fans through his major social mediums - Twitter and Instagram. Like the guy next door, he interacts with them, like he knows them by name. He invests in their emotional bank account and they in turn support him by being loyal to him. An example that comes to mind was when Don jazzy asked on Twitter: "What is the logic behind ladies faking orgasm?” This generated massive response on Twitter. He sure knows how to engage his fans.

While starting out in the media, one of the tools I used in conducting interviews and networking with celebs was Twitter. It made me become a force to reckon with.You should try it out too.



Embrace the greatness within you. You too can replicate this success story in your life and business. You are a star. Admit it. "Celebritize" you. Go out there and strut your stuff.



Kehinde Ajose is a Publicist, Journalist, and Talent development strategist. He runs Kennisplace.com and tweets from @Splendidkenny. This year he was part of the media personalities chosen to be part of The Gulder Ultimate Search.He is the author of Donjazzyfied..a book focused on the lessons that can be drawn from Don jazzy. Kenni has been featured on Channels Tv, Businessday The Nation, The Guardian Life, Vanguard newspaper, garnering attention for his petite  but charming personality.





(Young Voices is a quarterly 15 days campaign on this blog where 15 notable young role models will share their story – today is the seventh day in the first season of #YoungVoices. It continues tomorrow with another inspiring young role model)

OLATUNJISPEAKS.com is Africa’s Number One Blog on Inspiration!

Would you love to get our FREE eBook in your mail? GET it HERE – http://bit.ly/1nYEET8

We will love to hear from you! Follow our blog on Twitter: @OLATUNJISPEAKS and add us on

BBM: 2BAC2A15 | Send us a mail: olatunjispeaks@gmail.com