The Truth About Entrepreneurship by Bankole Ojo Medubi
Etiquette for the Business Professional
CONTENTS
by Aisha Atta
Sh*t Sells
1 2
by Jaimz Uji
6
9 Things That Must Be On Your CV
9
by Bomi Awesu
12 Things Not To Do In An Interview
10
Tips and Tricks To Business Writing
12
by Bomi Awesu
by Gladtime Okoronkwo
To Be Or Not To Be?
13
Speech Without Words
15
Women In Business
16
Interview With Venya Lannap and Tony Edache
19
Your Boss Aint Thinking About You
28
Business and Social Media
30
by Jemimah Adesina
by Evangeline Udenyi by Mark Amaza
by Evangeline Udenyi
by John Ogini
TEAM MEMBERS General Editor – Vanessa Akubor Graphic Designer – Chukwuka Egweni Contributors – Bankole Ojo Medubi, Bomi Awesu, Aisha Atta Publicity Strategist – Obinna Onuoha Editon Producer – Udenyi Evangeline Founder – Udenyi Evangeline Photography – Apt Cinema
EDITOR'S NOTE Life in the eyes of everyone is different and amazingly so. You would think that since we have all got one of it our ideas about it will somewhat tally but that is rarely the case. I have met some amazing people who see life as business, you will catch them always tilting towards the business angle even if it is not for something closely related to business, it may be as little as making small talk over a meal. You will meet people who will not buy a particular brand of an item no matter how much the like it for a price difference of a figure as low of 5 Naira wondering why it should be more than others or would rather “travel” long distances to get the item where it will be “cheaper”. The situation that still makes me laugh are people who you buy gifts for or give them a treat and you can see through their eyes how their minds are calculating what they would have used the money to accomplish if that gift or treat was converted to cash for them to use as they pleased. We are often amazed at such displays but it does not take away the truth or essence that life should be treated as importantly as any Business, all the diligence and hard work it will take to make a successful business, more is required for the life of the owner of that business. In this edition we will share with you Life through the Business lens… Enjoy. “Life is Business. It is about profit and loss We win some, we lose some…eva”
www.talkiime.wordpress.com /// memagzone@gmail.com
The Truth About Entrepreneurship by Bankole Ojo Medubi
What is the truth about entrepreneurship? These mathematical statements make a fundamental point we can learn from: Point is,we all have different methods at arriving at 10… - Ibrahim Suleiman (@edomalo)
5 + 5 = 10 2 + 8 = 10 4 + 6 = 10 201 - 191 = 10 16 - 6 = 10 2 x 5 = 10 There are many different ways to achieve entrepreneurial success. Herein are some tips from various successful entrepreneurs around the world. These are entrepreneurs that have braved the odds to create successful businesses. And wherever you are, whatever business you are running, these are tips that will put you on the path to success.
You will FAIL. So fail FAST.
“Start with a working set of assumptions and test them out in the market very fast. If your assumptions are wrong then pivot, adjust, and make a decisive decision. Remember, entrepreneurs love the process, the idea is one of many you’ll have to achieving greatness, and commercial success. “ - Mark Otero, General Manager, Studio at EA , Global Gaming Entrepreneur.
Don’t give yourself a
TITLE. Take RESPONSIBILITY.
“The answer I can give you is not to call yourself a CEO. Titles can be a bit misleading, even for yourself. When you are running a business you are the the janitor as much as the owner, the secretary as much as the CEO, the warehouse manager as much as President, etc etc etc... “ - MJ Gottlieb Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder N2ITIV SOLUTIONS
Start NOW. It’s a long trip.
“Contrary to the stereotype, startups are a marathon, not a sprint. The truth is, you are not going to be a billion dollar company or acquired in the next 18 months. This s**t takes a long time.” - Jared Kim CEO, WeGame, Millionaire at 19.
Just Do It…
“Done is better than perfect.” - Rutul Davè Co-Founder, Bright Funds.
And GET OUT.
“Get out of the building. REALLY. I can’t emphasize this point enough. Many people get absorbed into their computers instead of testing their solutions with real people and companies. Talk to EVERYONE about your start-up. You never know how someone may help you, by giving you a client lead, suggesting an idea, giving good advice. The best of all, is
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that this is free almost every time. I hear too many people trying to maintain their ideas in secret. The problem is that they stay TOO secret. No one will be able to copy your vision if you have the drive to persist.” - Domingo Lama, Business Analyst, McKinsey And Company. There are a million and one tips about entrepreneurship. And here is THE Truth; Have Faith. Entrepreneurship is faith. A state of mind. Entrepreneurship demands belief in an idea, an opportunity. An idea which, a lot of the time, other people cannot see. Not a passive faith. But a faith that demands you spend your money on it. A faith that demands you shed your blood, sweat and tears for it. Spend mornings rebuilding a self-esteem smashed by rejection the day before. A faith that demands you spend family meetings explaining the business decisions you have made, not to a board of directors, but to worried loved ones. A faith that rejects failure as a backward step but rather as a powerful and necessary evolutionary process. This faith is the most powerful tool you can wield as an entrepreneur. Winston Churchill said; “Success is going from failure
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to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” “…WITHOUT LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM.” So whether it is 2 + 8 = 10 OR -363774.1 + 363784.1 = 10 Whatever method, whatever path one chooses to entrepreneurship, FAITH is what drives you there.
Faith ALWAYS gets it right. Eventually.
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ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR THE
BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL By Aisha Atta, Swan Elite Ltd.
In my work as a Personal Development and Etiquette Consultant, I come across many smart entrepreneurs and business persons who unwittingly compromise their prospects for commercial success through a lack of attention to detail. Detail is the hallmark of professionalism, and reveals confidence, training and expertise that must come across in the way you portray yourself to your client, your competitors, and indeed your potential market.
can radically affect the listener’s appreciation of your skill, sophistication and capabilities. However, the following key areas are helpful in distinguishing oneself within this narrow window of opportunity:
Polite Conduct
Good manners are universally appreciated, but the term “good manners” is subjective: the particular context of culture, gender and society is a crucial pivot of what is polite, respectful or socially acceptable. Measured respect and hospitality should therefore translate into your social and business interactions, guided by what you understand of your audience’s cultural, religious and gender boundaries. The business arena does not remove the fundamental values and beliefs of an individual; it merely tempers the intensity and primacy of such aspects under a common understanding normally called “business culture” or “professional norms”.
The business arena seldom provides a second chance to correct an unfavourable first impression, therefore it is essential to deliver the most positive impression right from the start. If you consider that it takes between 7 - 30 seconds for the average person to arrive at such a “first impression”, the discerning professional must consider how to best to create a perception of your compeBeing courteous and respectful to ALL people regardtence and utility to an audience. In this brief period of time, your appearance is key, and less of their gender, status or position, is not only a J U N E 2 0 1 4 MeMag |
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A few suggested guidelines are• Pre-plan your business wardrobe and have an “emergency” outfit on hand. • Go for cuts/styles that flatter you rather than what you “like”. • Do learn about dress codes and etiquette Confidence for different situations and places, particuThe modern business professional exists in larly as regards “business wear”, “smart a competitive world where the slightest adcasual,” “Black tie”, “Formal”, etc. The goal vantage is valuable beyond measure. Proshould be to always dress appropriately for jecting a confident and competent aura is the occasion. not a skill that is developed overnight, and becoming proficient at doing so is a prodThe cardinal rule for achieving a profesuct of time and experience. Developing sional look is simple: “Less Is More”. your craft with competence and expertise is therefore an incremental concept, and fundamentally enhances your Personal Brand. rooming Personal hygiene is the most fundamental, yet easily overlooked part of our appearmage ance and image. Smell and Vision are the Never underestimate the importance of key drivers is managing this challenge, as your appearance in business. Be conscious they work from a distance: if you don’t look of and deliberate in how you portray your or smell nice, no one will want to be near businesses and yourself. Being Image Aware you for any period of time! is not the same as being Image Conscious, as the latter is superficial where the former To be groomed and well turned out pay is integral. Your dress style should positive- careful attention to the following: ly reflect the expectations and traditions of
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Never Underestimate the importance of your appearance in business
your chosen business or profession. Understanding the age and gender peculiarities of your body shape, skin tone, and overall physique would be very helpful in selecting the best cut, colour and combinations of apparel and style that would best suit you professionally AND personally. J U N E 2 0 1 4 MeMag |
• Body Odor – Bathe regularly; keep all bodiliy hair neatly trimmed (particularly those open to public view) and always try to use a good antiperspirant that is neither obvious nor pungent.
Never underestimate the importance of your appearance in business”
prudent course of action, but also shows the sophistication and nuance that makes the difference between Arrogance and Self-Confidence.
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forget to brush your tongue; Have your teeth professionally cleaned; Have regular dental checks. And don’t forget to freshen your breath after eating strong smelling foods.
must, as are Courtesy, Formal Language and the avoidance of “slang”, unfamiliar acronyms and “text speak” in business-related communications.
• Dirty, broken or chewed nails – I If you do not have a dedicated comrecommend a regular manicure for pany email address, get a professionboth men and women. al sounding one; for example Bala. Mohammed@gmail.com or bmltd@ • Unkempt, overgrown hair - Shave, hotmail.com is much more preCut or Restyle your hair regularly. ferred to BadMama@yahoo.com. If you do have a ‘BadMama” email • Scuffed or Unpolished Shoes, Worn- address, adjust your settings to your down Heels - Have the soles and full name, when you send an email heels of your shoes fixed as soon as it will appear as “Bala Mohammed”. they begin to wear down; Polish or brush them to keep in good condi- Self-Introductions tion. In business, your introduction is your first and best opportunity to • Torn or frayed clothing – Mend any make your business and yourself an tears before they become visible or indelible memory. Speak clearly and get worse. Have your suits and busi- make eye contact with the person to ness attire professionally cleaned. whom you are speaking. Always introduce yourself with your full Finally, ABSOLUTELY avoid wear- name; i.e. first name and surname. ing soiled clothing. Check your col- Please DO NOT say “my names lars and cuffs for stains. Look out are”: this one of the worst forms of for any perspiration marks or stains. misuse of the English Language. Have key items of spare clothing handy. Business cards are essential for business professionals. Always carry a Email, Texts and Elec- sufficient supply of business cards appropriate for the occasion, maktronic Communication In the age of technology, our emails, ing sure all the information on your texts, and written correspondence card is correct, legible and current. often make an appearance before Do remember to carry your cards in we get an opportunity to meet the a card holder. Remember: it is more people. With the ease of use and im- polite to ask “may I give you my mediacy of such communication, it card” than just to hand them out. is easy to think of them as a digital chat or casual conversation. Please remember that such communica- A Touch of Class tions are a permanent record, and Finally I would suggest the followmay be read by parties other than ing tips towards giving you an edge in distinguishing yourself as a proyourself and the addressee. fessional: If you do business internaGood business writing skills are a •
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tionally or your business requires a lot of dinners and client entertaining, do invest in at least a course on the basic etiquette for dining and entertaining in business. • Invest in a decent looking wristwatch, pen (preferably not a Biro) and a business case or bag (no rucksacks please). • In your interactions in the business arena you will often be asked what you do. Have your 20-second pitch ready. Be articulate, clear and concise. Remember to mention your company name at the end of your pitch. I often advise my clients to progressively cultivate these values over time until they have become second nature. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend (if need be). Where all these attributes appear to be natural, you avoid the danger of looking like a smooth-talking quack or a charming fraudster. If you would like to take a class for the Polished Professional or have any questions with regards to business etiquette, Please email me at info@swanelite.com Distinguish Yourself…Get Sophisticated…
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WHY SH*T SELLS by Jaimz Uji
Oka (name changed for legal reasons) is an indigenous mobile device company that builds amazing phones. Imagine the marriage of Apple’s wonderful design genius, the Nokia Lumias out of this world’s user interface and the widely accepted android platform all wrapped up in one phone that’s affordable, rugged and best of all has amazing battery life. Now I’m sure you’re wondering why you have never heard of or seen this device right? Well, that’s because the company’s CEO uttered the words that are every Ad man’s Kryptonite, Our devices are so good they will basically sell themselves”. Never has there been a lie of such epic proportions since before President Clinton stepped before the ethics committee that January morning in 1998 and uttered the words that have been used by cheating lovers all over the world……. Anyway, I digress. I tilted this piece (drum roll please) WHY SH*T SELLS because as far as I’m concerned the greatest marketer on the planet is a hot steaming mass of fecal matter. Why, you ask? Because a massive dump announces its presence, it assaults all of your senses simultaneously and its unapologetic about it. We live in a fast paced world with so many things clamoring for our attention dai-
ly. People have more options today than ever before, and so businesses need to seriously up their game to get noticed. It doesn’t matter if you’re a behemoth like Coca-Cola with an annual advertising budget that can eradicate hunger globally or a simple start up with your global headquarters situated in your mum’s garage, you need to get the word out and connect to people on a personal level. The goal is to create top of the mind awareness i.e., be the generic name that comes to mind when they think of your niche market , Be the Vaseline to Petroleum yet to jelly, Be the Maggi to cubed seasoning, Omo to detergents etc.. The best way to do this is to take a lesson from our good friend poo, assault all sentence simultaneously.
roll out an elaborate campaign like apple (but if you can make one like NIKE and Just do it) did but Visibility counts. The way you package and sell your services or products says a lot about the core of your business.
Classic Apple iPod
Remember you only get one shot at a good first impression so if it’s a flier, a billboard, a complimentary card or even your office space you ight need to visually assault your clients Before 2001, all music players to leave a POSITIVE lasting imprescame with generic black head sets sion, just like shit does. but this all changed when the Apple launched the first iPod with its iconic white pear-shaped earplugs aste that totally revolutionized the way When Asa Griggs Candler bought we listen to music. This backed by the rights to the syrup that’s now one of the most memorable ad cam- sold globally as Coca-Cola back paigns ever run succeeded in mak- in 1888. The first thing he did was ing Apple billions and distracting us give free coupons for coke tasters in from the fact that the iPod is just an- newspapers and for every store that other MP3 player. You don’t have to sold coke he gave Two gallons for
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free samples. A risky move you might say but one that proved successful in the long run. This isn’t limited to businesses that serve
logo was flashed across the screen and at the same time the company’s newest brand of male deodorant was pumped into the cinema hall via the ventilation system. This simple “trick” proved very successful as sales for the product went up the roof. Now if you’re a self-proclaimed skeptic like I used to be (positive confession) you’re asking how this applies to me if I’m not in the business of producing “sweet smelling offerings”. Well, we can all The immortal Coca Cola learn from the edible products, the way aforementioned example. your goods and services If you meet a specific need are sold can be done taste- and talk about it, this will fully (forgive the corny play on words)
brand isn’t what you say about yourself but what your clients say about you and this is greatly influenced by the perception they have of you.
Sound
This is pretty self-explanatory. Talk about yourself, what you do and when you are done talking, talk some more. If it made the Kardashians and Senator Patrick Obahiagbon (crinkum crankum) famous then imagine what it will do for your business.
Touch
This is the most powerful of all senses. It can make you laugh one second and cry the next. Imagine the endless possibilities that abound for any business that can connect to its client’s on an emotional level. In my experience the best way to do this is by experiential marketing. Have mell your customers experiNivea did a survey in 2011 ence what you are offering. and found out that the That’s why a car sales man most common smells in lets you drive that dream cinemas are Body odor car you always wanted; a and popcorn. The deodorant giant lunched a cam- give a positive perception good Realtor does not just paign where before mov- of your company. Contra- show the house but paints ies were run the company ry to what you think, your a picture of how much
fun you and your family will have in it; cell phone dealers will let you touch and play with that brand new phone with more features than you will ever need. If you do your job well enough your client will begin to imagine how they ever lived with whatever it is you are peddling, that’s when they make an emotional connection and become endeared to your brand. In the immortal words of my high school debate team captain “I hope you are convinced beyond any iota of doubt and not confused” that just like sh*t , great businesses must sell themselves.
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EMPLOYER SECRETS
9
THINGS THAT
MUST BE ON YOUR CV by Bomi Awesu
A
CV is a document detailing your experience and your achievements. This is one of the few documents that could go farther than you would physical go. Take time to write it well so it sells you while you’re asleep. For every application, CVs may have to be tweaked to reflect you have the capacity for the role. Here is a list of 9 must-haves:
1
Your Name: Oh no don’t think you have it all covered
2
Your contact: This is split into your phone no. and
if your official name (as written in your official documents especially certificates) isn’t written boldly at the top of your CV. Infact it is the only item on your CV that should be different in Size and Style (That is big and bold not italicized font). contact address. It’s an unpardonable sin to forget to put either of these. How do we contact you? Certainly it’s good to put your physical address there but if we send a letter to you through the post man chances are that you’ll get it after the interview. We therefore consider these two extremely important but don’t forget your physical (home) address. I’ve seen CVs without it and as great as the qualifications and experience were, we couldn’t do anything with the document.
3
Date of Birth: Wonder why recruiters are interested
4
Gender: We need to know what gender our candidate
in your date of birth? We want to know how old you are and how to relate with you. It helps us set clear expectations especially in a society where age isn’t just a couple of numbers. is especially when we need to balance the gender ratios within the organisation. This usually leans more towards ethics than performance.
Qualification: Your educational qualifications and certification tells us where your wealth of knowledge resides and how “sound” you are mentally. It would also inform on how fit you are for the job especially technical roles. Primary school isn’t so necessary however Secondary School, University etc are very important. State is as Name of Institution, Certificate Received and duration. e.g .
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Chrisland School Opebi University of Uyo, Uyo
WAEC/SSCE B.Sc Political Science
1993 – 1999 2000-2004
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Work Experience: As a rule, always start your work experience from the most recent to the oldest. Name of employer: Name of employer tells us who you’ve worked with (yes we are very much interested and we may confirm from them. Title of role (IT Director): Title of role tells us what position you held while with the employer. Duration of engagement (Nov 2010- March 2013): Duration of engagement tells us how long you worked there. Responsibilities and Achievement: Responsibilities show us your job description, daily functions and deliverables while achievement gives you the opportunity to tell us how productivity you spent your time by the results you had.
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Trainings and Certifications: Here will like to see how you have engaged yourself mentally in acquiring new “formal” knowledge. You’ll like to state in the qualification format what training and certifications you have attended aside from formal schooling (stated in qualifications).
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Relevant Skills: Please don’t fall for the temptation
of putting Multitasking, hardworking, team player and other CV jargons. Words come and go every year and while these words rocked at some point they don’t anymore unless otherwise stated by the hiring company. Take some time to reflect on the skills you actually have and can prove with examples in the interview. Look for acquired skills. Use of IT software is a good place to start but ensure the skills you would be documenting are the skills the current vacancy is looking for.
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Referees: Referees are a very vital part of your CV however; you can leave them out by simply stating in your CV “REFEREES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST”. Then once the hiring company contacts you for your referees, find people from your already generated referee database who can and are available to give you good recommendation.
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12 things not to do in an interview by Bomi Awesu
1.
DO NOT get to the interview venue late (and don’t get there too early either): Never for any reason (except the sudden death of a loved one or similar reasons) go for an interview late. If you do, chances are high you won’t be interviewed and if you are, you may not be hired on that ground. It gives the impression that you are not serious or you do not value the process. To avoid being late, find and confirm the location of the interview before the date and time of the interview. On the other hand getting there too early shows you do not value your current job or you have too much time on your hands. Whichever case, interviewers don’t like it. 30mins before the interview is just fine. If you get there 2 hours before, look for a restaurant around and just relax there before you go in.
2.
DO NOT be rude to anyone in the interview process: A lot of times your interview process begins from the moment you step into the gate of the organisation. Be courteous with everyone from the Security Guard to the Managing Director. You never can tell who is who or what extra edge being courteous will give you. That includes when the cleaner “accidentally” ruins your $400 suit.
3.
AVOID wearing bright colours for interviews: Bright colours are associated with fun and not work. Wearing it could send the wrong message across. If you desire to colour code with the organisation which could be a good thing, look for a non-distracting element in your dressing to put the touch. Eg if the hiring company has red as one of its colors, instead of wearing a red shirt, use a red lapel pin or a red tie for ladies, a red camisole or neck scarf would do.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
AVOID inappropriate dressing: Contrary to popular opinions, not all interviews require suits. Some organisations do not dress in suits therefore it is ok to dress smartly casual. A nice top on a neatly ironed skirt or trouser, moderate comfortable heels that make NO NOISE. The important thing to note is NO trending clothes or tight fitted clothes. It’s not a fashion parade it’s an interview. Oh yes, certainly no jeans even if it is an engineering interview. NEVER cut your interviewer mid speech even if he/ she has misinterpreted you. Allow them finish their thoughts then gently point out the error by providing the correct version of the statement. On no occasion should you argue or raise your voice in the process. State your points clearly and respectfully and stand by your convictions. NEVER stare at your interviewer: Make bold brief eye contact but don’t glare or stare at them no matter how pleasing to the eyes they appear to be. DO NOT provide information on your CV or while speaking that you can not substantiate with adequate professional examples. DO NOT chew while waiting for interview or while in front of the interview panel. Spit it out before you get in.
9.
DO NOT hide any information that may be instrumental to their decision to give you the job. However, don’t play down on other candidates experience or passions either in the event you have access to use information
10.
DO NOT cower at the sight of the interviewers no matter how intimidating they are. Remember they are human and this process is to help them select the best fit. Also remember this isn’t a do or die affair. If you feel a little stress, take some seconds to calm down and remember 3 idiots’ slogan “ALL IS WELL”.
11.
DO NOT leave the room without thanking the interviewers but make it brief. 10 seconds is enough time.
12.
DO NOT forget your belongings when you’re leaving.
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TIPS AND TRICKS TO
BUSINESS WRITING by Gladtime Okoronkwo
Before we go into tips or tricks of business writing, it is important to note that writing like every other form of communication has a purpose and intent. Communication is complete only when the other party totally understands what is sought to be communicated. It is not just enough to write a thing; be it a letter, a memo or whatever form of writing, it must be able to communicate the intent of the author such that even in his absence the contents of the writing cannot be subject to various interpretations. Another important point to note is that there is a form of writing in the corporate world that is different from any other form of writing. Business or corporate writing will include examples like Memoranda, formal letters, reports, keynote addresses, emails, etc. Formal writing conforms to certain rules that informal writing is not necessarily subject to. Now that we have established that, we can go on to list a few guidelines or pointers when communicating in the corporate world. The purpose of any writing whether formal or informal is communication; you must always seek to achieve this. One way to achieving this is constantly putting yourself in the shoes of the person on the other side; read it like you are the recipient and ask yourself if you would have understood the intent of the writer. • Your writing is you speaking as if you were physically present; use every such opportunity to sell yourself well. This means that your writing gives the reader
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a certain insight into the way you think. Make sure your writing is communicating the right message. • Writing like everything in life is dynamic, it changes constantly and therefore we must seek to keep up with these changes. • Keep it short as much as possible and it is important you go straight to the point before you lose the interest of the reader. This is especially true when you are writing to busy people or people who have to handle a lot of correspondence daily. Time for them is of the essence and they’d rather spend it on something else than trying to figure out what you are trying to say. • Avoid writing in Caps as much as possible. Use only where necessary. This is because when a letter or memo is written completely in caps, the impression on your reader is almost as though you are shouting. • Check and re-check use of grammar and spellings before you send. You can also give to someone else to cross check. Chances are that they will always pick up errors you didn’t notice. • Always date your letters and memos. • Write as you speak. Do not use shorthand or expect your reader to decipher what you are trying to communicate. • Finally writing like everything else in life gets better with practice. Keep writing, you will definitely get better at it. I sure did. *wink*
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BE
BE
by Jemimah Adesina for that business and acquire them through training.
W
atching ‘The Apprentice’ by Donald Trump and understanding the concept of starting a business on your own, brings home the realities of being an entrepreneur. Everybody desires and hopes to build a business and the desire is not sufficient enough. Certain factors contribute in making an entrepreneur successful. For you to begin the process of entrepreneurship, you need to do the following: ▶ Write down your vision clearly. ▶ Identify the types of businesses that are around you with the same concept and identify what makes yours better. ▶ Prepare a business plan ▶ Identify the necessary skill needed
▶ Start small and grow; this helps you understand the dynamics of the business and helps reduce the weight of your loss in the beginning stages.
▶ What remittances to government and other public agents am I obliged to give.
▶ Learn from other peoples experiences i.e. seek advice, read other peoples success stories, books etc.
Focus: because there will be a lot of
‘To be or not to be’ is the question to ask oneself not in the way that suggests that you should never be an entrepreneur but rather what ways can you help yourself in the process of becoming an entrepreneur. One way is to be an employee before becoming an employer. You may ask why. Understanding the structure of any business is as important as the business. Many businesses today lack structure which is the bane of success for any idea or vision that you have. In a structured environment you would learn the following: ▶ What kind of management system is best for the organisation you want to set up ▶ What financial accounting system you need to put in place. ▶ How do I handle staff welfare issues (salaries, taxes etc).
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▶ How do I manage cost and overhead expenses?
These among other things you would get in order to help structure your business for success. Being an entrepreneur requires focus, diligence and tenacity, of which are not a walk in the park. distractions along the way, seeming better opportunities in other institutions, your flaws will be pointed out and emphasised which is a major distraction and so on
Diligence: this is a principle of life
in which the option of escaping is not available except for the instance of the lack of desirability to succeed, but if that is your intention, to succeed, you cannot escape being diligent taking time to make sure you are consistent although not at the expense of change. Embrace change but be consistent when the change is made.
Tenacity: you can refer to it as un-
wavering faith and belief in the business you are about to start and you will not be wrong. Regardless make sure that you do not let go of the tenets or premise of which will constitute the foundation for which every other thing will be built on. For in the time of trouble and wind cracking nerve racking travails they will be all that is left to hold on to. So take the time to count the cost before build so that you will be sure of your foundation and rest in your building.
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C
ommunication, like has b e e n drummed into our ears, is very important especially in the business arena. You want your clients, business partners; investors etc. to understand exactly what you are saying and you do not want to misinterpret what they are saying it could be very costly, literally. What is amazing about communication, trying to pass your message across, is that it is much more than the words you speak. As a matter of fact the words you speak constitute just 7% of communication. Can you imagine that? You may be wondering what then makes up the rest; your TONE is 38% while your Body Language is 55% which is the largest. Whether or not we are conscious, people glean a lot of meaning from our non-verbal actions than our words. They add it up and derive an understanding of what they
think the message we are trying to pass across is which makes understanding body language and using it very important. Here are some body language sign:
1)
Checking your wrist watch or the clock, inspecting your finger nails. Tapping your nails on the table or your feet in most cases indicate impatience or irritability.
2)
Personal space: when around people please do not stand or sit so close to them except they are your close friends. People are very conscious of their personal space you do not want to come across as flirty or disrespectful.
3)
Looking Away: when in a meeting and more often than not you look away tells that you are distracted, disinterested or hiding something. Try to maintain eye contact with the person(s) you are with.
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S P E E C H WITHOUT WORDS by Evangeline Udenyi
4)
Crossing arms: this gesture shows that your been defensive. Even though people in business love to be formal and not personal, they also will love to feel safe and relaxed around you.
your message, use any method possible to get a feedback so you can be sure that what you are saying is properly understood. Also ask questions to be sure that what you heard is what you should be hearing.
5)
Blinking Fast: This shows anxiety or nervousness. It is preferable to watch it and minimize as much as possible.
6)
Nervous laugh: classic case of Anxiety as well as Enthusiasm, your tone and words will help distinguish which it is.
7)
Stroking cheek
or chin: This shows that you are considering, thinking through what was been said or the topic under discussion it also show suspicion. Always strive to properly communicate
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WO EN IN BUSINESS: why not?
From the start of time, men have been considered as the head of families, as leaders in the society and as those who go out and bring in food for the family. Men, being physically stronger and assumedly being able to make more logical decisions, or rather, less emotional decisions. Women, on the other hand, are the care providers and those who stayed home to cook the meals and tend to the kids. These perceptions were and to an extent are still deeply rooted in cultural beliefs.
by Mark Amaza
Personally, I find the belief that women should not be in business is one that should have died long ago, possibly at the turn of the 19th century. This is because I am yet to find any evidence that women are less capable of building and running businesses, whether small or legendary.
There was a time, not so long ago, women were not able to vote until in the late 19th century that European countries such as Sweden, Finland, Britain and some parts of the United States granted them those rights. While here in Nigeria, women were not restricted as such, they still have had and are still working hard to change the perception that women should be in the background in the scheme of things.
The examples of women who have founded enterprises that have grown to change the world and business thinking are not in lacking: Mary Kay Ash, founder of the now wellknown cosmetics company, Mary Kay, started her own company after she watched yet another man promoted over her in the workplace. There is also Anita Roddick who out of the necessity of supporting herself and two daughters in her husband’s absence led her to create the now iconic The Body Shop which makes environmentally-conscious cosmetics.
This scenario also extends to business and entrepreneurship, where fewer women start and run businesses than men, despite that there are more women than men. One major reason for this is not just the fact that there is still a belief that women should stick to their traditional role of being home makers, it is also the fact that many women have accepted such beliefs, thus, restricting themselves.
Back home in Nigeria, we do not lack female entrepreneurs such as Mrs Florence Seriki, whose Omatek Computers is the first assembler of computers in Nigeria; or Bose Ayeni, the founder of the fast food chain, Tantalizers; or Ibukun Awosika of Sokoa Chair Centre. There are also the thousands of women entrepreneurs, big and small, whom we may never know, but who are doing great things where they are.
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Admittedly, for women, there is a tougher balancing act in being an entrepreneur and performing the roles of a mother and a wife. Even a man like myself is quick to admit the same. No woman wants her personal and family life to suffer at the expense of building a business. However, at the same time, this fear, though rational, should not hinder a woman from living out her dreams which starting a business brings to reality. There are lots of strengths that women bring to business that is not just natural: being able to multitask naturally, not being afraid to ask for help or take action when it matters, trusting their intuitions, knowing how to collaborate and build relationships, to name but a few. This gives women a lot of advantages in running a business, advantages men have to learn through skill-building. Not only that, in places such as the United States where there is available data, about half of the privately-held companies (that is, not on any stock exchange) as at 2004 were owned by women. This is despite the fact that a half of new businesses fail within three years on the average, and another quarter in the next two years. Thus, this shows that female entrepreneurs have been giving excellent accounts of themselves.
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It is a known fact that the hurdles placed before female entrepreneurs are different from those before their male counterparts: less access to financing, and a quite male-dominated society that asks women to prove themselves as being able more than men are being asked to. But the biggest hurdle to women entrepreneurs is the mind-set of the women who allow themselves to believe that as women, they could not possibly start and grow businesses. Female entrepreneurs undergo a process that changes them from being just women into becoming amazons: tall and strong, making tough calls tempered with the gentility that comes with being a woman; being able to be balance the demands of her family and that of her business; and finally, living her life to the fullest. Being an amazon is a possibility for every woman. Do not believe otherwise. Mark Amaza runs MINDcapital, a small management consulting firm that advises businesses and organizations on strategy, branding, and innovation. He is also a blogger, online columnist and events speaker. You can catch up with him on twitter @amasonic
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IN TER VIEWS
with Ven Yop Lannap and Tony Edache
While brain storming on this edition of the magazine we came across two individuals whose works told all but one story. You may not see them riding in the clouds draped in stars, but indeed the work they do speaks volumes, still what speaks loudest are the ethics in which they work which left us wondering? Do people like this still exist? So we went to find out from them some key questions we are sure you would want answers to
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Ven Yop Lannap exclusive interview
"It has been an amazing journey so far, as I have been involved in almost all the aspects of the media to tell the world about Jesus through fighting the social ills that affect our society both internationally and locally..."
L
MeMag: Tell us a little about yourself.
from my school days. I knew that God has called me to use the media as a platform to reaching the world with His message. So, I also call myself a missionary.
Ven Lannap: My full names are Ven Yop Lannap, though I was initially known as Venya Lannap, it became needful for me to change it due to personal reasons. I am a media worker who is into acting, writing, producing, etc, and also the Boss of Bo Sita MADE. I studied English Literature at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I have been very passionate about the media right
It has been an amazing journey so far, as I have been involved in almost all the aspects of the media to tell the world about Jesus through fighting the social ills that affect our society both internationally and locally; I have been a reporter and a producer of PAMOJA Newsletter and one of the seminars’ speakers during the conference. PAMOJA is an African conference that is about
et’s hear from Ven Lannap :
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rising a new generation of African leaders who would change Africa for the best, organized biannually by Great Commission Movement, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International, and this gave me the opportunity to meet and work with an amazing photographer who is very passionate about being a missionary: Joel Dasalla. I starred alongside notable Nollywood stars and icons; Ramsey Nuoah, late Sam Loco Efeh, and Tina Mba, in an international human trafficking film titled Europe In My Heart, that is presently making an impact as a tool in the fight against @memagtwits
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human trafficking. Forming a tagteam with Ado Reiger, the migration chancellor of the Austrain Embassy Abuja, in dealing with the issues of injustices like; sexual abuse, child/ women violence, human trafficking etc. I gave talks on and taught bead making, bread, soap and tye & dye to the Nigerian women in Maradi and Nyeimei, in Niger, alongside the CEO of Home Makers Women Development Initiative, Margaret Ahmed. Rescued, rehabilitated and mentored victims of sex trafficking both locally and internationally, and today all of them are doing well. I met and established a connection with one of the most respectable and laudable anti human trafficking advocates: Tom Marfo, a Ghanian based in the Netherlands. I initiated and maintained a good partnership relationship with Grace Gardens, a halfway home for vulnerable women and children, which has given me a consistent opening for reaching out to the girls in the Brothels with
the gospel of Jesus Christ and giving them an opportunity for a better life. I have to mention here, that my partnership with grace gardens has been one of my highlights as I got to know and became friends with Melissa and John Camiola. Meeting them is indeed a blessing. Organized and executed a WALK as a platform of sensitizing the public about the dangers of sex trafficking, and it was a success. I registered my organization, though a faith based organization, as an NGO under the Corporate Affairs Commission of the federal republic of Nigeria, Becoming a voice in the fight against sex trafficking, especially on Cool FM Abuja; Wazobia FM Abuja, Nigerian Info FM Abuja, and on Peace FM in Jos.
dia ideas that have helped to define who I am as a media worker today. Dr Charles gave me the challenge of heading the media department of YWAP, which I still do. The experience is an added quality to my life. I got awarded with a medal of recognition as a young achiever/a rising star by the Taroh youths under the platform of their Izhan magazine. I was the guest speaker at a National youth conference in Liberia, that had participants from Sierra Leone, tagged Legacy....Let me put a full stop here, before I talk too much. To mention but a few… MeMag: Whew! That’s a lot for a few?
Ven Lannap: (laughs almost hysterically) Yeah well…what can I say? Meeting Dr Charles Ononiwu is I Love what I do! also one of my highlights in life so far, because he gave me the oppor- MeMag: So tell us Ven, What is tunity to explore my ‘out-of-box’, or your definition of success and what should I say outside-the-box me- situations or events have had signif-
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icant influence to it?
Ven Lannap: Laughs... My faith is my business. In fact, faith is one of Bo Sita MADE’s core values. Bo Sita Ven Lannap: My definition of success is discover- MADE is a FAITH-based organisation, standing solidly ing your purpose that works with your destiny then on the foundation - JESUS CHRIST. My team and I running with it to finding your fulfilment. This simply see all that we do as labouring in the mission field called means, accomplishing God’s work, God’s way and in the society, fulfilling the great commission, Matt. 28:19God’s time. 20. What influenced this decision is the experience I am having in the ministry that my FATHER has called me to do -Bo Sita MADE. I started this organization in 2007, first as a TV talk show concept, so I could challenge youths to overcome whatever odds that were against them and step out to impacting their society positively. Then, I realised that I had to live by example, meaning I had to first overcome the odds that were against me
MeMag: Finally, in your honest opinion, what do you think Christians in business do that should be applauded and what do you think should be criticized? Ven Lannap: Living lives of integrity no matter the situation is what I see Christians in business do, and that has added to my courage to stand firm. Though such Christians are few, they stand out and make loving
"My faith is my business. In fact, faith is one of Bo Sita MADE’s core values." and step out to impacting my own society positively. I began getting involved in affecting my society in the most unorthodox of ways that I later branded as Leader5, Save.the.Heroes and Project Rahab, which are now the main projects running under Bo Sita MADE. I am successful because I am more than 100% certain that I am where God wants me to be and doing just what He has assigned me to do. God has a hand in what Bo Sita MADE is doing and just as He intended for me to officially start this organization in 2007. So far, He has never left me, I am seeing His faithfulness and miracles in the lives of the people I and my team are influencing. I am about touching and changing the lives of people I come across.
Jesus real and doable. They don't let the cares of this world like: financial crisis, rejection, accusation, mockery and negative circumstances shake them. Instead, they keep depending solely on Jesus to always guide and lead them. He is there solid foundation. They are as human as the next person, but, their reaction to life's situation is different. They are always radiating, and the society benefits from them; could be financially, character development, etc.
However, I have also come across Christians who preach the Message but, don’t live the message in everything they do because the love of money has permeated the society that everyone, regardless of their faith wants to make money through whatever method they lay their This means that money, fame and power shouldn't de- hands on, and sadly, most Christians fall into the trap, fine success, rather what should define success is ful- or should say web? Not just that but the ‘love’ for power, filling purpose - using your passion to helping others acceptance, control, firm and instant gratification has - that which brings inner satisfaction no matter the clouded their minds to not staying true to their ‘first huddles life throws. love’. MeMag: It is more than obvious hearing you speak MeMag: Talking to you has been really inspiring. that your faith has a lot to do with your line of work, tell Thank you so much for gracing this interview. us about that? Ven Lannap: The pleasure’s all mine J U N E 2 0 1 4 MeMag |
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Tony Edache exclusive interview
O
ver to you, Tony.
MeMag: Tell us a little about yourself and some of your experiences? Tony Edache: First off I'll say I’m a man of many interests. In addition to being an architect, I’m a music producer and I run a multimedia production studio using my skills as a sound engineer and producer. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of artistes, some of them locally based and a few international artistes as well. My preferred genre is Hip-Hop. At a point I was a very active basketball player. I played professionally as well. I played within the country for the Niger porters basketball club for the Civil Defense. I even played continentally with Niger Porters playing in a tournament in Angola. In my profession as an rchitect, Ermm... The thing is, in our profession you cannot really mention clients you’ve worked with without their express permission but for the purpose of this interview I think I’ll say one of the notable people I’ve worked with is Mr Sam Ikoku. I actually worked with him as an undergraduate while I was still exploring a number of things I wanted to do, to sharpen my entrepreneurial side. He started a company called PAYSTAR, It is a payment solutions and life style solutions company and he put together a team of young people who he felt had something to offer and it was our responsibility to take the vision of PAYSTAR from being just an idea to being a reality. Now, we were to come up with a plan, a strategy to achieve this, so, we (in house) were to do a multimedia campaign, work on a marketing strategy or rather use the multi media campaign as an effect tool of carrying out that strategy, so we were to come up with ideas for the overall direction better still, the specific direction that the company was suppose to take. It was a remarkable experience; it was one of those
"I think success is a deep feeling of fulfillment that comes from doing something that you have a passion for." experiences that I keep drawing from till today. I learnt a lot, it was like a lifting of the veil of innocence or naïveté from my eyes it was one of those experiences that changed the way I’d do business from that
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point forward. It put me in contact with a good number of people I still do business with and have a good personal relationship today, all
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of who have been successes in the different fields in which they work. So, that says something about the selection process. I believe I was part of something great with that even though it was not everything it could have been it was valuable in its own right. MeMag: Seen that you have been in the different business fields, tell us what definition of success you operate with. Tony Edache: I think success is a deep feeling of fulfillment that comes from doing something that you have a passion for. Erm… there are multiple dimensions to that answer, because you can talk about success and want to quantify it financially but then we have all heard stories about people who have a lot of money and are still not fulfilled still not happy so I think when you quantify it by financial terms alone, you’ll still to fall short of the mark. It doesn’t encompass everything. If you want to define success as being good at what you do, you can be very good at what you do and not be able to a make a living off it so that brings in the financial aspect of it. You can also be good at what you do and not be happy doing it, you know, so by the time you bring all of this together, you’re doing something you’re passionate about, you’re good at it, you’re motivated to do it and you’re able to make a living and meet all of your needs doing it, then you can call yourself a successful person. There is also the, well… it also depends on what your worldview and what your value sets are. Because for some people a big part of success is being able to touch other peoples’ lives, it’s about being able to affect the community you live in positively, being able to have an impact and a change beyond what happens when you pull out your check book. You know, So, I think that is vital component of success as well. A number of things have influenced this mindset for me first and foremost which is my faith as a Christian. I think there is more to reality than the things that meets the eye and all of those things need to be considered as we live our lives daily if we are to have,
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live fulfilled and purposeful lives. Another thing that greatly affected this mindset is my upbringing even though it is very closely tied to my faith as well, but then I was raised to believe that you have to give something back to the people with whom you share your life. It’s not about just meeting your own needs and it’s not just about taking care of yourself and moving forward, yes that is one step but he next step, the highest step, the one you can never finish doing, the one you can never fully complete is giving back taking care of the people around you, moving up as you move up yourself, so in a sense, there is a component of success that is defined by helping other people, putting others on "My faith has...put certhe path to success that you, tain values at the core of my business things yourself have enjoyed. like Honesty, Integrity, Diligence..."
MeMag: Hmm, I hear faith, so let me probe a little further, how has your faith influenced the way you do business?
Tony Edache: My faith has influenced my business, it has influenced it very much and it still does. It has put certain values at the core of my business things like Honesty, Integrity, Diligence, all these are born form my faith. The simple things, “let your yes be YES and let your no be NO”. Maybe some of the less popular portions of scripture “Be as gentle as a dove but be as wise as the serpent” you know. Recently the parable of the shrewd servant has made an impression on me. All of these things affect how I do business. They compel me to add an extra layer of thought every process that I take, every step that I take. It really forces me to ask myself if there is a different or a better or a more “Christian way” of doing things. I don’t mean this in the sense of keeping up appearance or trying to do things the way that, we have been conditioned to think that Christianity should look but just from my deep and truthful, honest understanding of my faith trying to see if there isn’t a better way of doing the things that I’m doing already. So it’s never about business as usual it’s about the continual process of self -improvement, continually pushing yourself to do new things, doing the same things that you do in new ways. Even right down to a process like design, it’s very easy to just sit down and churn out the same old design or just make modifications of designs
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that you already have but then I wonder, I ask myself if I’m giving my clients the best that I can. Which is supposed to be at the heart of my agreement with him, whatever it is we are doing, you know. It forces me to actually dig in deeper and in a lot of times, I find myself going to God, looking for inspiration and it does make a difference. Sometimes I surprise even myself with the things I’ve come up with just because I’ve refused to do things the same old way and I’ve chosen to dig a little deeper to come up with something truly original as I am supposed to do. Also, my faith has stopped me from, pursuing certain jobs, certain, projects in the past. I believe in the power of conscience very much. I believe that your conscience, in the moment your conscience is your guide. It could be wrong sometimes but then, not to digress, the point
is, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of certain projects in the past, for one or two reasons I was not very comfortable with things I saw. And I will pull out whether it’s some unethical, some questionable practice or something dubious like to scam a clients, you know, those kind of things. Unfortunately in our country today, our mindsets have been so corrupted that we found a way to convince ourselves that it is okay, corruption has permeated almost every facet of our lives. And we find ourselves dealing more and more with people who feel like it is okay to try and pull a fast one on people they are working with. And in those kind of situations, my faith does not allow me proceed. I just bow out. I just withdraw. Sometimes, immediately afterwards, it leaves you with mixed feelings, you know, you’re wondering if,
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you’re tempted to just go with the flow, if you can’t beat them join them, that sort of thing, but in the end I do feel satisfied and I have the conviction that I’ve done the right thing. So in that regard it plays a very big big huge role in the way I do business MeMag: Finally Sir, Please indulge us a little more by telling us, in your honest opinion, What Christians do in Business do that should be applauded and what they do that should be criticized?
say "NO" when No should be said and they say "YES" when YES should be said. Unfortunately, I think people like that, I think Christians like that are the overwhelming minority in the society in which we live in but I think that is what needs to be applauded. It is that this belief has so permeated their lives that even in the way they do business. It affects their dealing and the things that they say and do and they are so totally committed to being Christian in the way that they have come to understand it.
Tony Edache: I think one of the things Christians do in business that should be applauded is something that is overrated and overlook now about is simply that they stand up for what is right, you know, that they are guided by their conscience by the moral law, by scripture and they simply
On the other hand I think what Christians do not do enough, and they should be criticized for, is that they do not love enough. We tend to find reasons to stop being our best at a certain point. We call it our “limits” or that point where we say “enough is enough” and while it may not sound like a
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very “business like” thing to do, If you are truly working and acting in love , it carries over to every aspect of your life, everything that you do, business included and so, I’m saying this because it has actually affected the way I think about things. I mean, in a meeting I’m thinking about this person and I’m saying okay, if I have a responsibility to myself and then I have a responsibility to this person, to be loving to them and to treat them in a fair and just way, in a way that Christ will approve of then, certain things are permitted, certain things are not, that’s the surface of it. Then you understand that to love or to walk in love doesn’t mean that you stop at what is permitted or what is not permitted it means you go the extra mile. Jesus said, “if your neighbor asks you to walk a mile with him, you should walk two” so, even in that regard it has carried over and on my part, sometime it may be hard to find ways to apply this but I tend to try to give people that I work with extra value for that interaction, beyond just fulfilling the terms of the contract or an obligation, exchanging money for service, just trying to go the extra mile so that at the end of it, having worked with you they don’t leave with a sour taste in their mouth, they don’t leave feeling this was just a regular ordinary experience, but they feel like there was something there. And I think those are the things that actually make people wonder and
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start to draw them in and get them wondering about the things that Christians’ believe and the way Christians should live and I think that that is how change starts, if you make it just about the transaction -collect the money and you’re out of the doorpeople are missing an opportunity to rub minds to interact with a Christian. I mean, they could be worse off for it. So I think if we do that more, if we just walked in love daily, every day, if we just walked more and more in love, we would serve the community in which we find ourselves better. I say it again it doesn’t sound very “Business like” but I believe it does make a difference. If you go back to my definition of success you’ll see how it goes beyond just completing the deal. In bid to try and pull people up the ladder of success along with you, you have to do a little extra and I think this is the extra Christians’ don’t do enough and should be criticized for. MeMag: It has really been great talking with you, I see that you’ve communicated some lifestyle solution here; it seems PAYSTAR really did a number on you. Tony Edache: (Laughs) you can say that again…
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A
YOUR BOSS AINT THINKING ABOUT YOU by Evangeline Udenyi
A lot of us spend time trying to impress our bosses in the office for some unknown and unverified reason: that it is what we ought to do to get our jobs done right. If we really think about it, it is just plain rationale to impress who gives you the paycheck at the end of the month and can also authorize a “pink slip” too but the truth is that we are really not the major thoughts in their heads. Pay close attention WORD ALERT! Your boss is not thinking about
ganization, their educational background...it does not matter, as a dissatisfied customer can be the end of your career. Some customers can be obnoxious. Others are just financial bullies. For example, a man walks into an investment firm with N2, 000,000 and is pushing it down everybody’s throat when there have been people who have come into the same company with way more than that amount and did not make half as much noise about it. What do you do if you had such a client who has
Pay close attention WORD ALERT! Your boss is not thinking about you!!!
you!!! The real 'terrorists' that you should worry about are the undercover CIA agents that go by the 'scam' name HR (Human Resources) - plain disguise. They are trained to monitor your behavior and recommend your staying or leaving. So I ask, will it not be wiser to impress these set of people? In spite of the above apparent truth, the most important set of people that deserve your all when it comes to your work are your customers or clients. They play a major part in influencing the activities of whatever organization you work with. Regardless of who the person is, their size, status, how much income they bring to the orJ U N E 2 0 1 4 MeMag |
chosen to use your desk as his pedestal to show off his “riches” and to make it worse, he/she is proud and arrogant about it. There are so many difficult people that walk into our organizations everyday but the trick to handling them is called Emotional Intelligence. In simpler terms, understanding a person’s emotional state and using it to your advantage... Let us take the case study above and examine it. 1) It is possible that the client must have worked really hard for that money and that N2, 000,000 is N2, 000,000,000,000 in his eyes. 2) He has probably been defrauded before be-
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cause he thinks he was not firm This line of thought is the beginenough. ning of a warfare that you will not win simply because 'the cus3) He is just plainly arrogant and tomer is always……… (Yes you got it) Right!' proud, nothing more. Whatever the case may be, you are at an advantage because you know his emotional state (arrogance and pride) and you know what people like that want? They want recognition and special treatment; they love to be treated as priority and nothing else matters at that moment except them. As an Emotionally Intelligent person that you are, you recognize the emotion and you know what he needs.
However, you can use it to your advantage by borrowing the golden rule, “do unto others what you will have them do unto you” and everything will work out better than great and as coincidental as it may be, you are the best person to take good care of the client because you understand him.
To wrap this up, your priority should be your customers/clients because, like disciples, they take your gospel everywhere - good With these tools you can swing or bad - and trust me, it spreads the client in your favor and will faster than advertisements. most likely get more out of him. You also need to recognize your A good recommendation guaremotions and not let them con- antee’s you a client faster than flict with your client's to remain a billboard will. And you know at an advantage. how fast bad news travels… Let's just assume you are an arrogant person (hey! You are not. It's just an example) and the client we are discussing chooses your desk as his display portal (DP), if you do not recognize your emotion and put it to check on time, you will most likely react negatively because you understand perfectly what kind of person he is and possibly harbor thoughts like 'what does he think he is? I know his type and I can handle him'.
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BUSINESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA by John Obidi
The piece you’re about to read is the best or comes very close to the best on what you need for your business when it comes to Social Media… About the Writer John Obidi is a Social Media Strategist that specializes in creating exposure for Businesses on The Internet using Social Media. He educates freely on the subject on his website ObidiSocial.com. In 2013, he was nominated for The Future Awards Africa Prize for New Media in recognition of his contributions to the field. Now are you ready… 'Doing business without advertising
is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does.' - Steuart Henderson Britt
updates on their favourite celebrities and brands. With over 1.2 Billion users on Facebook (the largest Social Network in the world), businesses are We’ve come a long way from the taking advantage of this potential age of invention of the Printing for massive exposure. Here are few Press, Television Set and their geri- tips you can quickly implement to atric contemporaries. get a huge piece of the action. In 2014, the trajectory has been drastically altered. With the intro- 1. Create a Facebook Page: I duction of the Internet and subse- know what you’re probably thinkquently Social Media, our infor- ing: “But I already have a Facebook mation consumption habits have Account. I can just go ahead to adevolved. vertise my business, right?” Asides from the basic use case of WRONG! keeping in touch with friends and What you likely have is called a family, more and more people are Facebook Profile. This is where you logging on, to get by-the-minute connect with friends and family. It
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has a limit of 5,000 friends that can be added. According to Facebook’s Terms and Conditions (which I bet you didn’t read), it’s illegal to promote a business using a Profile. What you need to create, is a Facebook Page. This was specially introduced to enable businesses to connect with their fans, customers and prospective customers. There is no limit to the number of ‘fans’ that a Facebook Page can have. And yes, it is FREE! 2. Promote Your Page: After creating and customizing your shiny new Facebook Page, invite your friends to like it. This is just to get the likes to a respectable number. Your friends are not necessarily interested in your business. They just liked it because you asked nicely… and because you’d hate them if they didn’t… and because nobody wants to be alone…etc. You get the point. In order to attract a quality, targeted following, pay to promote your page on Facebook. Facebook has a lot of information on its users including their interests… ESPECIALLY their interests. So if your business is about ‘Event Management’ and you are based in Nigeria, you can take advantage of a Facebook feature called ‘Precise Interests’ and promote your page to people who are interested in events/ weddings in Nigeria.
topple that sales resistance. Post valuable updates surrounding your craft and always aim to stimulate conversation. Remember that people do not connect with Brand Logos, but with other real people. So remember to be a person when you make posts. POWER TIP: People get on Social Media for 3 main reasons. To be Informed, Educated and Informed. Work with these as your objectives and you’ll always have their attention. 4. Send Traffic To Your Website: You know the age-old saying, “Never build a house on rented land”? Well, Facebook and her siblings might be the hottest things right now, but the objective is to sell your products and services, right? Ensure that your website is well optimized to achieve just this. And for those that do not buy/call right away, ensure that you have a form on your website that captures their contact details so that you can reach them by email/phone. There’s a lot more strategies that you could use to position your business for success on Social Media. These 4 tips however, will put you in pole position for starters. Have fun!
Random Quote: “The Internet is the closest that man has come, to being omnipresent” - John Obidi 3. Engage Your Audience: People buy from Facebook: facebook.com/ObidiSocial other people that they Know, Like and Trust. So far, Twitter: @JohnObidi you’ve successfully achieved the K-Factor. You’re Instagram: @JohnObidi known. Your hundreds of fans know that you exist, but they won’t patronize you just yet. You still have to
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