#LafupliveTheCircus

Ladies and Gentlemen, be ready.

Marketing Strategy from Groundnut Seller

This is what distinguishes a Brand from a Product; an Artiste from a Singer; a Designer from a Tailor; a Builder from a Bricklayer. She has shown she has an eye for details and her customers can trust that she would not compromise on quality of her products. When customers cluster around her while others are hardly given any attention, they claim she uses "JAZZ" or that she sleeps around. This is how people (or brands) build loyalty.

On a tray? This is amazing. Beyond passion. I see innovation. I see creativity and brand differentiation. Most importantly I see dignity in labour. OMG!

I look at this picture of a groundnut seller and the way she has arranged the groundnuts and I can only think of someone diligent in her ways. Students of business strategy could learn a few lessons from this one picture. The key lessons for me here are passion and competitive identity. What about you? (Photo credits: Linda Ikeji Blog)

I also need to step up my game.

SLUSH 2016 GLOBAL IMPACT ACCELERATOR

SLUSH 2016 GLOBAL IMPACT ACCELERATOR

Local Competition

SLUSH is currently partnered with Ventures Platform to organize the local competition for tech startups to be part of the 2016 Global Impact Accelerator (GIA) program. Ventures Platform will work with other stakeholders in the tech ecosystem to conduct a pitchathon in order to select the best tech startups to be part of SLUSH 2016 in Helsinki, Finland by 30th November.

What is the Global Impact Accelerator All About?

#Slush16 is Europe’s leading startup and technology event, which connects startups and tech talent with top-tier international investors, executives, and media. In 2015, Slush brought together 15,000 attendees from one hundred nations for the two-day event held in Helsinki, Finland.

Slush Global Impact Accelerator (GIA) is a program created in collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and multiple partners globally. The purpose is to create a leading global program to support startups that are looking to solve some of the most pressing global challenges and contributing to the discussion on impact investing.

The GIA program offers startups

1. Online pre-mentoring program for all the selected participants.

2. Helsinki boot camp program on 22nd November – 2nd December.

3. Skills workshops and capacity building with leaders from all around the world.

4. Industry specific matchmaking sessions co-organized with the leading organizations.

5.  Access to Slush 2016, investors and potential partners

Selection Criteria

1. Vision to solve pressing challenges globally (A business concept that will have a measurable positive impact on people, society, or planet. There are no limitations in terms of sector or geographical focus.

2. Potential to scale;

3. Skills and drive to succeed;

4. A business idea that has gained some traction, but can still be in an early phase;

5. At least a working prototype;

6. Preferably with the IT focus

7. Can be commercial or non-profit but has to have a scalable business idea

Application closes 12 August 2016.


click on http://venturesplatform.com/apply-1

Super 50 Summer Camp from RTE

Make them super!

You've thought about where you can take your teenagers this summer holiday? Think no further. The best Summer Camp is here. Enrol now.

Forms can be downloaded from our website at http://rteden.org/super-50-camp-registration-form/

Please call the following numbers for the registration details
08133478998, 08166931698, 08067427620, 08064736754

DR. FRICK on HIFRICKUENCY

One of the most creative and spontaneous Comedians I have seen is Dr. Frick (Fredrick Otite).

He is intelligent, handsome, swift and ready to take on bigger challenge. Interacting with him will make you laugh in another dimension. You can now imagine if you hire him for your event. Expect mega moments.

He is coming up with this event that will give definition to comedy in the city of Ibadan.

Just watch out for more information here. The picture above talks more though.

I'll be back. Get ready for #HIFRICKUENCY

Ibadan City Praise 2016

SOLUTION TO OUR GENERATION MINISTRY (STOG) is preparing the ground for this annual event tagged IBADAN CITY PRAISE. This event which has entered the 5th edition this year will feature great Ministers to praise the name of God in different dialects, genres, style and pace.

Those who have been part of previous editions can tell better, with full testimonies. God's name has been lifted, and this year will be of no exemption.

Sunday October 16th in the city of Ibadan.

Powered by STOG Missions.

Don't miss this gathering as we declare ONE CITY, ONE GOD.

Stay tuned.

Follow on social media for any enquiries:
Twitter: @Ibadancityprais
Facebook: @STOGPEOPLE
Instagram: @stog_01

@

After5ive Event in Ibadan by Paul Adepoju

In his statement, the Convener of this event, Paul Adepoju says

"Next week Thursday, I'm hosting stakeholders in Ibadan's startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Mauve 21 Event Centre, Ring Road Ibadan. 

The goal is to connect serious entrepreneurs in the city with opportunities. Even though it's an informal interactive session, the interest and support from across board have been overwhelming - from government, institutions, media and entrepreneurs across the various sectors. So I have myself striving to ensure everyone has a very good time. Many thanks to my partners on this project. If you really want to be part of this, and can support in any way, let's talk. Ibadan will surely rise"

Live Your Dream

When to begin to live your dream;

When you are young and aware – You can be young, vibrant and full of dream but you need to be aware of your environment, ideas, dreams and lifestyle. And of course, your future

When you are agile – healthy living is key. Once you know you are able to do it, please start. No matter the space, terrain, resources and your age.

When you are dissatisfied about your present state of life – Are you tired of the present state of life? Don’t give up, all you need do is to start living your dream. You can close your eyes and imagine what you can positively be when you take up positive challenge(s).

Don't be afraid to let-go of the great to experience the greater.

It's a risk if you don't start early. When you start too early, it's even a risk. Why don't you start now?

Determine your priorities. 

Happy Birthday to you Olufemi Babalowise

This man is rugged, dogged, and creative.

He looked at me and said "Come and be our Publicity Director for TEDxBodija". And since 2013, it can be described as good experiences.
Through that, other opportunities you have provided for me to leverage on can't be described.

Thank you and happy birthday Olufemi Babalowise

May be this is one of the places I can express it.

Enjoy the new year #Babalowise

Learner or Expert? 2

What Makes A Good Learner:

ü  Positive Attitude - I can do it.

ü  Being a good listener.

ü  Able to share ideas and knowledge.

ü  Perseverance.

ü  Not afraid to get things wrong.

ü  Asking when you really need help.

ü  Good concentration.

ü  Doing homework regularly and on time.

Too often we are only readers but we do not meditate, and only readers who meditate become learners who invariably become leaders. The truth is, every one of us possess the capacity to achieve great feats like Daniel in the Bible.

Every learner turns knowledge to action. And that leads to being an Expert in the area of field chosen. Be the best, and advance.

Have a fruitful day.

Steve Harris Story (Uncut)

A man that has influenced me from the day I heard about him is Steve Harris. I can't tell more, but from this story of his grass to grace, you would definitely learn about his term #RuthlessExecution

He posted this on facebook with these pictures, and here it is. With his permission for me to post. (UNCUT).

Enjoy and get inspired.
...................................................................................................................................................................

Hi
I just wanted to thank you for your continued support and belief in me!
Look at these pics... and see the story behind them below.
- Steve

These photos feel like world's apart.
In the photo on the top, I was broke. I had just had our baby girl a few months after I quit my corporate job to start my dream of becoming a writer, trainer and eventual Thought Leader.
It was only five years ago.
No one knew me. I didn't know how to write or publish a book. I had to teach myself to build websites and do online marketing. I was writing my book on two paint buckets and using my wife's LaserJet printer to send out proposals to corporate clients.
One night, my wife, baby and I slept in my car overnight because the house was too hot and we didn't have fuel to power the air conditioner with the generator.
It broke my heart, and it forced me to make an all-or-nothing decision:
I was either going to become a successful consultant and coach and find a way to my vision through any obstacle, until I ended up successful... or I was going to die trying, after exhausting myself trying to improve our lives and follow my dreams.
I decided I was not going to waste my days wondering "what if" or marching to the beat of other people's drums;
I decided I must change the situation and chase my greatness with more focus and intensity;
I decided to think bigger, to stop letting my small business make me small-minded;
I decided to fight for my passion and amplify my voice into the world so that I might make a greater difference;
I decided not to worry about the critics and instead give my whole heart and effort to those who wanted positivity and progress in life;
And that leads to the bottom photos.
The man on the stage is the same guy, driven by a fierce desire to live intentionally, make a difference and chase his greatness.
And yes, I've grown some facial hair along the way (you like?)
My daily routine is still the same: writing, speaking, recording, pouring out my soul, trying to figure out how to say things that help and inspire people.
I've realized that what it took me to get here is the least required to keep me here.
All that has changed, really, is the venue and the platforms and the fans.
As of today, I've been mentioned as one of the Top 100 Business Coaches To Follow On Twitter 4 times! I've been featured in international magazines like The Economist and Slate Magazine UK
My books From College Dropout To Corporate Sellout (pictured above) and From Friend To Fiancee have sold over 11000 physical copies.
My online courses and live events have consistently sold out (thank you, Jesus) and I even had a small cameo on a TV show.
My podcast on iTunes is ranked #15 globally in the Training Category.
Now I share stages and swap phone calls with many amazing and successful individuals... and, finally, I don't have to sleep in the car with my wife and baby or watch my family struggle.
You made all that happen because you let a regular fella like me chase my greatness and you cheered me on and shared my work.
At the beginning, there were just a few believers in me, five or ten. And then there were fifty. Then a hundred, then now. several thousands, and as I just stayed consistent for five years every single day with full faith and joy and a dedication to excellence and service... well, here we are.
And so I say this to you,
Never limit the vision you have for your life based on your current circumstances or competencies.
You are more powerful, imaginative, and strong than you imagine.
I had no reason to believe that I could one day live my dream as a writer, speaker and coach; no reason to believe, except that my heart told me that this was my path, and faith said all the struggle and the hardship and the toil would one day be worth it.
Please, believe in your heart and mission no matter what, no matter how small it all feels now.
The journey to chasing your greatness begins the moment your desire for ease and comfort is overpowered by our drive for challenge and contribution.
Don't forget that growth and greatness often come from those seemingly endless, fruitless days and nights of faith and discipline.
Keep working, don't stop, believe.
- Steve

Learner or Expert? 1

Being a learner is great, but it should translate to being an expert once you know that you are advancing. That is to say, practice what you learn on daily basis. Learner or expert? Choose one and be good at it.

I used to be very active on blackberry messenger (bbm) some years ago, and via that, I built online relationship with several people from different part of the world. Some just liked the messages I disseminated. Few liked my personality, and skills I have acquired. Some of them became my clients (paying for the services I render).  One of my special clients was Ronke.

Ronke has a Skill Acquisition Centre in Lagos State, Nigeria. We had not physically met, but the motivation through her BroadCast messages (BC) always got my attention. She would simply put a heading as “BE YOUR OWN BOSS” BYOB, and I will read through the content of the message every time. Sometimes, a thumb up sign or short statement to affirm her delivery. Oh yes, every message of her broadcast was to target those who would be interested in her training.

Later, we got to an interactive stage, that’s beyond sending and receiving broadcast, talking about brand and how to advance. It got to a point, she called me, asking to make logo for her business. I gave her the bill, and being an ‘Ijebu’ person, she negotiated lower, and the job was done. What are friends for? I was happy, not because of money, but because I was able to have her in my clientele’s list. Someone you haven’t met before, trusting you with money before the service, it was strange to me at that time.

She later asked me to come facilitate at her school graduation ceremony in year 2015. I went, had a nice time talking to the graduating students and those invited. Good memory can be refreshing and make you buy yourself a bottle of coke to cheer yourself up.

Learner or expert? Which one are you?

Colours Of Worship with TINU SMITH

TINU SMITH and The ForeRunners Worship Crew

presents

Colours Of Worship

This is the 4th edition of this concert.

Watch out for this outstanding event that will make Ibadan city praise God.

Don't miss it.

1 day to go - Discovery Conference Ibadan 2016

1 day to go - Discovery Conference Ibadan 2016

The much anticipated event is just in 24 hours to kick off. 

If you have not secured your tickets yet, you can come to the venue and and get yours.

Venue still remains Mauve21 Events Centre, Adeoyo Junction, Ring Road, Ibadan.

Time - Friday        6pm

             Saturday  10am

             Sunday      8am

Call For Seat Reservation and Tickets: 

08037258742

08034233576

08034430233

08062947390

08062947390

HolyHill Business Roundtable Seminar, Abuja

HolyHill Business Roundtable Seminar, Abuja slated for this saturday will be one of a kind.

Achievers in different fields are coming to inspire and make the shift.

All you need to do is be there. Just register by sending your full name to this number 0817 725 5222.

Date: Saturday, 16th July 2016
Time: 10am

Venue: Discovery Mall, Abuja.

HRelieff and my Volunteering part

Looking for a place where I can volunteer as for me to learn and impact the little I know, and then, I found a place in Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria, and the name sounds cute; HRelieff (HolyHill Relief Foundation). It’s actually the NGO arm of my beloved worship assembly - HolyHill Church, Abuja Nigeria.

This is the social good vehicle of HolyHill Church aggressively promoting human dignity.

The reception on the first day making my intention known was cool.

And after I got the enquiry, I made up my mind to occupy the little time I had with positive engagements.

Check some of the photos from different activities I have been engaged in.

You want to volunteer? HRelieff is a place I will recommend. Here, you can grow while getting yourself involved.

Follow on social media;

Twitter      :  @HRelieff 

Instagram :  @HRelieff 

Facebook :  HolyHill Relief Foundation

www.hrelieff.org

Call 08174579053

Follow on social media;

Twitter      :  @HRelieff 

Instagram :  @HRelieff 

Facebook :  HolyHill Relief Foundation

www.hrelieff.org

Call 08174579053

Celebrating My Brother Kunle Odugbesan

Happy Birthday Odugbesan Kunle

Gbogbo WhatsupIbadan. Twale!!

I am happy you are a year older.

God is awesome, and you are handsome.

Life is beautiful, but you are an individual that adds flavor to it.

Creative and kind-hearted person you are.

I appreciate God for keeping you till this time.

My Brother and My Friend.

A man who considers humanity.

Many Happy Returns.

The Lead Speaker at Discovery Conference Ibadan 2016

He is resourceful and innovative. A man of small stature but big dreams and ambitions. His name naturally evokes thoughts on branding, strategy and creativity. A widely travelled man, his reception is an exhibition gallery of photographs of the many and far flung places he has been to. Leke Alder is a writer, a lawyer, a photographer, a painter, an architect, a brand and business consultant, a designer… “I’m what you can call a polymath: a multi-talented person. I paint, I draw cartoons, I design furniture, cloths and interiors, I write computer programs and I do so many other things.”

“I’m Leke Alder. I read law in school, but now I work as a consultant, a brand and business consultant. I’m a very simple person; I’m fortunate in life; God has been very kind to me and that mercy and grace is what has carried me thus far. I don’t ever want to forget that.” Leke, an only child of his parents studied law at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University graduating in 1985 and was called to the Bar in 1986.

“I served in Bauchi, but I had facial paralysis so I had to come back to Lagos. I stayed six months in Bauchi and then completed my service year in Lagos.” Leke worked briefly in a law firm, Wole Lofun and company, “he was a Christian gentle man. That was during Youth Service and briefly after Youth Service; I worked there for about two years before leaving to start my entrepreneurial pursuit.”

“People often ask me what it feels like to be an only child. Sincerely, I don’t know. I grew up alone so I don’t know what it feels like to have brothers and sisters.” Asked if his being an only child might be a reason for his being so creative, “I’m not sure …because there are many other people that are creative who have brothers and sisters.”

Leke was born in Lagos. His family comes from Lagos and Abeokuta in Ogun State. “I also understand that some Alders come from Warri. There’s an Alder town in Warri, but I’m not from that part of the country.” Before proceeding to the University of Ife, Leke had his secondary school education at Igbobi College. “I schooled in Igbobi College and Kings College. I attended Igbobi College first. Every Alder had to go to Igbobi College. You just had to go there because there are generations of Alders that have schooled there before. Before I was born, my father also decided that I would go there.”

Did he start his entrepreneurial pursuit with the name Adler Consulting? “That’s like ascribing omnipotence to me! A vision is a progressive thing. It is revealed to you from stage to stage, as you display faithfulness. I had registered a company called Leke Alder and company as a young man during Youth Service. Every lawyer registers a company because every lawyer thinks he’s going to own his own law firm. But I never practiced law in my firm. We were doing something I call Visual Identity Design. Then I was advising people on marketing and marketing strategies. It just kept on growing. It wasn’t as if I had an extraordinary vision of what this company is right now. If God had shown it to me then, I probably would have fainted. It’s just progressing as we move along. It had to be from stage to stage because my faith as a young man could not have carried what I’m dealing with right now.”

Law, branding and visual editing are worlds apart, how did he get to put all these together? “There were bridges in-between. As a young man in the University- at about 18 or so, I held an exhibition. It was so large that it turned out to be larger than the Departmental exhibition itself. Over two thousand people came for the exhibition. That’s one of the things I think led me into this creativity field. It just kept progressing from there. Before I left the University, I had a registered a Greeting Cards company. I remember we printed some cards in the UK. After that, I formed another company called Peculiar Cards, and we did a series of religious greeting cards, which turned out to be very successful. But I felt limited so I left that and started literarily on my own. People would come to me for business advice and I would give the advice and they would make huge sums of money out of it. Along the way, people started paying me commensurate out of their profit. That was the progression. I never really had a vision for this company.”

Alder introduced branding to Nigeria because “we were passionate about our country. I remember I took a group of people to Moor House hotel in Ikoyi and I locked all of us in there and said, ‘We’re not going to leave here until we come up with a blueprint to solve Nigeria’s image problem.’ That was what eventually led to the Heart of Africa project. We started this in the year 2000, but in order to get to that stage where the whole nation will buy into the concept of branding, we had to do publications. We started what we call Brand Research in Nigeria. We published the Alder Brand Reporting, in which we rated all the banks according to their brand standards. This was an extremely innovative thing in those days because nobody had even heard the word branding at that time. We decided to lay the foundation and that was how society came to know us as a branding company. From there, we started liaising with external bodies and external institutions in order to elevate the country. For example, we went to Cranfield University in London and asked them to do a case study on Guaranty Trust Bank. It wasn’t on a profit basis. It was just something we felt needed to be done because Cranfield was a centre of dissolution of case studies in Western Europe. I worked together with Ambassador Bolade Osinowo and we did this branding thing in London. We formed an NGO in London to promote Nigeria’s image amongst professionals, and all the while we were spending our own money. We were also taking senior Nigerian Executives, up to CEO level to London. We organised an annual brand seminar called Mind The Gap. It was a program where CEOs, General Managers and Company Executives would be trained by Professors from Western Universities: Cranfield University, London School of Economics and so on. We had speakers from all over the world. Finally, we brought the concept down to Nigeria to train civil servants and those who couldn’t afford to go to London. We were able to train two thousand civil servants free. We also instituted what we call the Alder Prize, which was half a million naira, to anybody who had an idea of how to move the nation forward. Students from the University of Benin won that prize, and the Federal Government gave them the prize. The love of my county and the passion to make a difference in the environment is what has led to all these initiatives, and it has been one door opening to another. It’s not because we were gifted extraordinarily; it has just been one thing leading to another.”

Apart from Alder Consulting, Leke Alder is involved in many other pursuits. “There are so many of them. Don’t forget that I’m also an author. I spent eight months last year writing about fourteen books and they’re all doing well. They are a commercial success. We refused to launch any of the books because that’s not the way we work. And like every other thing we did, we started small, and because we wanted to achieve some level of excellence, we had to print some of those books abroad. We just wanted to access the technology there. The books also kept multiplying so we had to register another company to handle that separately from our consulting business, and it’s been doing well. It is called Leke Alder International. It’s just focuses on the Leke Alder brand and it has nothing to do with Alder Consulting because they are two different things. They have different brand values. We’ve published fourteen books now; we’re due to release another three very soon. We have a notebook line, a greeting card line and we’re also introducing other products. We’ve literarily created the Alder Brand as a separate entity from Alder Consulting. I get emails every day from thousands of people who have read through my books. It took a lot of research to write some of those books and they have helped thousands upon thousands of people, and now when I go out, I think I’ve lost my visual virginity. But they’ve all become so successful.”

How has the reception been to the idea of using branding to help the country? “It’s been fantastic! Look at the changes that have been taking place because of the power of a single idea. First of all, almost all the banks have changed their corporate identities, if not all. Second, branding is now being studied in the universities. Third, we now have Brand Managers in companies, not just Corporate Affairs Manager. Fourth, new magazines have now crept up that are totally focused on branding. Five, every major newspaper has a column dedicated to branding. Six, Nigerian brands are now being exported all over the world. Seven, the standard of our products have significantly risen because of an understanding of what branding is all about. Eight, we are now even able to talk about branding as a national phenomenon. Nine, because of the work on Heart of Africa, Nigeria became an investment proposition in the eyes of the Western World. The bad image that we had during the Abacha years is gone. Because of the enormous work we also did, issues of 419, kidnapping and prostitution have really reduced. So what we have is an extremely silent revolution. Even the advertising agencies now say that they are brand consultants, all because of a simple idea. Ideas change nations.”

Are there other people who are trying to do exactly what he is doing, and is Alder Consulting facing any form of competition in the business? “First of all, the fact that you’re being copied is a good compliment. Our approach was not to become the only masquerade in the market place. Our approach was to stimulate the environment and improve Nigeria’s economy. We started as an economic proposition. In fact, it was incorporated into the NEEDS document, under Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. In terms of competitive scenario, we’ve never seen ourselves as competing with anybody. We just focus on the race. The purpose of our organisation is to use the power of ideas to transform society; we want to raise future generations of Nigerians who will have a passion for excellence. We want to help our clients’ develop their businesses. That’s all we focus on. We never use side mirrors or rear view mirrors. Our organisation is so unique. What we do is completely different. Our approach to work, our recruitment system, our culture; everything is completely different. We receive close to six thousand applications every six months in this company, and we never do any form of advertising or marketing. We don’t even have a signboard outside the office building. The secret of our success: One good job! That will make you recommend us to the next person. We are totally dependent on the quality of the jobs we do, and all the clients we have, whether local or international, have been gotten through the power of one good job. One of the reasons our clients come to us is that we’re not business touts. Our office environment is very quiet and very serene. CEOs and government ministers must feel free to walk in here without being embarrassed. We’re a gentleman company.”

Alder’s concept of leadership is Davidic: heart and skill. “You must develop skills to mange people, but that skill must be motivated by a good heart. We lead by example in this company. We have no titles so you will not see anyone with a title on his or her business card; we just lead by example. For us, there is no separation between work and life. We say that our work is a progression of our life. We don’t have any 9am to 5pm lifestyle; it’s a 24 hour life. We don’t, for example, reward hardwork in this company because we always work hard. I also believe that that term is an oxymoron because there’s no easy work. Work, by its very nature, is supposed to be hard. But there are things we reward: faithfulness and loyalty. Whatever we do must sing excellence. If it’s not excellent, it will never get out, and if it’s not excellent, it’s not us.”

“The greatest challenge in Nigeria is our thought system. Our political system has a particular thought system that discourages excellence. It takes a lot to go against that norm. When you believe in meritocracy; when you believe in values, you won’t subscribe to certain things. There is that spirit that discourages too many good people from being in the position of power, and power flows down. The Charis of leadership always flows down. For example, there was a time in this country when we had a leader who used what could be termed 419 as an instrument of leadership. What happened was that 419 just rose statistically in the country. And when we had a leader who was violent, the rate of violence also rose within the country. So it’s so important that people who are good for the country get to the position of power so that they can positively influence the politic and it will definitely take place in our lifetime!

Why won’t he want to take up any political office himself? “In the previous disposition, my job was to empower Government with ideas that could transform the country. We worked with quite a number of ministers, and you will never believe the extent to which our ideas worked. I cannot begin to enumerate them. Whatever I feel is right for me to do in order to transform this society, I will do. But I’m not going to make the mistake of doing what Shakespeare describes as rotten ambition. It’s not about me; it’s about where I am best equipped to transform the society. Right now, I am transforming society by trying to raise a new generation through my publications and my lectures, both in Nigeria and abroad. You’ll be shocked how effective those speeches have proven to be. That’s the first stage. If I do feel that I need to take a political office, I will take it.”

Has the current global financial crisis affected branding companies also? “Don’t forget that what we do here is based on ideas. So in any clime, we will always be relevant because during financial crisis, the question people ask Alder Consulting is, “How do we drive ourselves forward?” We are not a branding company, we are an Ideas Organisation. Branding is just one of the ideas we throw out there, and because we are very good at what we do, the power of that single idea just took on a life of its own; but a lot of the work that we do here never manifest as branding. People consult us for what we have upstairs. Any time you have to ask yourself “How?” or “What?” you can come to us. We only answer two questions: How? and What?”

On his wife and children, “I don’t like to bring my family into the public arena. I’m a very private person, and already my life is getting too public. I want my children to grow up absolutely normal. I don’t want them to have all these chips on their shoulders. I also don’t want them to carry what I call a name burden, where people begin to have huge expectations from them because they bear the name, Alder. They’re too young to begin to experience all that. I also believe that everybody has a program with God. This is my life; they have their lives and I expect them to find out their own purpose. Nobody chose my path in life for me, and I’ve made up my mind I will not choose for my children. I will only train them properly, and if they make mistakes, I’ll correct them. But my love for them will remain absolutely constant.”

Leke Alder, a Christian is the author of Life as I see it; Conversations of a 21st Century Saint; Grim White Green; Brandit!; 080808; My Boss is Demanding; Pilgrimage and The Great Alchemy.

TheMan Event

21 minutes ago

This is an event you should not miss for anything.

All men are invited and encouraged to attend this event improve on every level.

Register by sending a mail to theman.cubed@gmail.com or call/text: 08094310912 you'll be contacted #TheMan

It is a men's hangout with Yinka Ogunnubi in Lagos, Nigeria

Essential Skills that every Entrepreneur Needs

I came across these essential skills that every Entrepreneur needs in order to be successful and effective. And as an Entrepreneur, I have put these into use daily.

Great and Successful are very good at these skills. You should aim to master these skills also. Let's take a ride;

I.   Communication

The ability to write effectively is essential to succeed. Though born with such ability to speak and write, you need to continually develop, practice and perfect the skill. Communication is essential in succeeding in your business. Take it seriously.

II.  Sales

In starting a business, one of the key skills to embrace right away is the ability being to sell. This can actually be the single most important skill that can determine whether your business will succeed. Did you say you are not a salesperson? Sir, you should be from today.

III. Desire to Learn

Keep learning daily. Your learning should be a constant thing.. Read and listen to materials on business, the industry you have chosen, about your customers, about your own mistakes and the society where you are operating. Read wide. To be master of your trade, you need to know as much about it as possible.
"Readers are Leaders" is a strong and powerful statement.

IV. Time Management

One of my lecturers at a leadership class told us that we can only manage the things we do within the time, but time in itself can't be properly managed. To be effective, we need to work smarter and be more proactive about time management. To do this, we need to focus on the 20% which brings 80% of the result.

V.  Focus

Focus is a powerful skill to acquire as an Entrepreneur. Check Warren Buffett, the world’s richest investor, he once said that absolute focus is the single most important element in determining a person’s success. The focus of his own life has been dedicated to investing, in finding great companies at good prices. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, has gone from $8 per share in 1965 to over $153,000 a share.
Just be focus.

Let’s be active with these skills and anyone you can add.

Cheers!