Back in the days of my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in the northern part of Nigeria, I recall a conversation with a fellow corps member from the eastern part of Nigeria, Chika. She shared her dreams of venturing into agriculture, despite being far from her hometown. Her determination was inspiring, and I admired …
I recently spoke with a friend in the US who owns a small business that relies exclusively on TikTok for marketing and sales. Yes, you read that right – her entire business presence is only on TikTok. No website, no email marketing, no offline presence… just TikTok. With the recent ban on TikTok in the …
I once had a conversation with a friend who is an entrepreneur. She was frustrated because her business wasn’t attracting customers, despite being located in a busy area of Lagos surrounded by offices and businesses. “This place is not good for business,” she complained. I sat her down and asked her to rethink her approach. …
I recall launching my first product, a batch of freshly baked cupcakes, at a local market in Lagos. I priced them at ₦50 each, thinking I was offering a great deal. However, I soon realized that I had made a costly mistake. I had underestimated the value of my product and priced it too low. …
I recall the early days of my startup. Passion, determination, and a clear vision drove me. However, I soon realized that having a great idea was just the beginning. To succeed, I needed to design, build, and lead my business with intention and purpose. Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, writes in “The Hard Thing …
Providing constructive feedback to employees, colleagues, or even partners is crucial for growth and improvement. However, delivering criticism can be challenging, and if not done correctly, can lead to defensiveness and hurt feelings. This is where the Sandwich Method comes in – a powerful technique for giving feedback that is both effective and respectful. In …
As a young Nigerian entrepreneur, you’re probably tired of living paycheck to paycheck. You want financial freedom, but don’t know where to start. I’ve been in your shoes. Growing up, my grandmother’s wisdom stuck with me: “Owo ni koko, koko ni owo” – “Money is the foundation, the foundation is money.” She sold vegetables at …
I’ve navigated the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing. One question has always sparked curiosity: should I post prices on social media? This dilemma ignited a heated discussion among fellow creators. Some swore by transparency, while others believed hiding prices was key to success. Reflecting on my experiences, I realized there’s no straightforward answer. Let …
In my neighborhood, there’s this young woman, Ada, who makes and sells zobo—the popular hibiscus drink that’s both sweet and refreshing. She’s been hustling hard, selling her zobo to passersby, but despite the fact that her product is top-notch, things have been moving slowly. Ada dreams of turning her small zobo business into something bigger, …
Five years ago, my neighbor Tunde was like some individuals—working hard every day but not seeing the results he desired. He lived a few houses away from me in Mushin, Lagos, and ran a small kiosk on our street. He sold everything from recharge cards to biscuits and sachet water. Every morning, you’d hear him …