Uncutxtra Magazine - Volume 8 by uncutxtra

Money has always been a means of exchange. Every day, it circulates between businesses, individuals, and corporate organizations. In the face of growing digitalization, it became necessary to query how payments and money transfers can be made easy, secure, and reliable for Africans. This was what a team of African payments, technology, and banking veterans from Google Wallet, Paypal, Andela, and Standard Bank asked. “Did they find the answer”? Yes. They did. The answer is Flutterwave, a Nigerian-owned payment solution API for processing payments across Africa and the globe. Flutterwave has become a prestigious brand in the fintech industry locally and internationally with head office in San Francisco, California. It is inspirational to see young Nigerians changing the narrative for Africans and by so doing, attract international partners and investors. The alliance with foreign partners and investors implies that there is a lot of potential for modern digital payments infrastructure on the continent. Flutterwave has also attracted national banks as partners and got a nod of recommendation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Flutterwave customers include top brands and organizations like Uber, You-team, Flywire, Transferwise, Access bank, UBA, amongst others. This is alongside a track record of 2.5 billion dollars in payment, 100 million processed transactions, over 1200 developers, and 50 African banks as partners. How they became Africa’s biggest fintech startup? Fasten your seatbelt!

FLUTTERWAVE IS INDIGENOUS AND UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES A proudly African company with offices located in cities across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa can’t be more indigenous to understand the problem of sending and receiving money amidst businesses and individuals in the developing continent. Flutterwave recognizes the need to bridge the gap of payments solutions with global reach by creating a reliable digital payment gateway specifically structured for the African market as more international businesses and investors believe in the continent’s promising growth.

APR.2022

FLUTTERWAVE’S EXPENSE CONTROL AND USER-FRIENDLINESS

A proudly African company with offices located in cities across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa can’t be more indigenous to understand the problem of sending and receiving money amidst businesses and individuals in the developing continent. Flutterwave recognizes the need to bridge the gap of payments solutions with global reach by creating a reliable digital payment gateway specifically structured for the African market as more international businesses and investors believe in the continent’s promising growth.

FLUTTERWAVE AND A BREWING CASHLESS SOCIETY

FLUTTERWAVE TRIPLES IN VALUE TO OVER $3 BILLION

Digital payments are quickly replacing cash payments, and it’s only a matter of time before carrying or spending cash becomes obsolete. Flutterwave is already initiating a cashless economy, and very soon everyone will catch up.

Flutterwave has secured $250 million in Series D funding, shooting its valuation beyond the $3 billion mark, a milestone conferring on the fintech firm the prestige of being Africa’s most valuable startup.

Technology has proven to make life easier, and the evolution of money is inevitable. The continent is going through a renaissance as technology creates endless possibilities. With more and more Africans owning a mobile device, it is safe to say e-wallets and e-payments serve a purpose. Flutterwave is doing the right thing at the right time and has become a quick fix to the payment challenges in Nigeria and across the continent.

This has driven Flutterwave’s ambitious expansion plan to accelerate customer acquisition in existing markets and growth and develop complementary products while encouraging new innovations in its products and services development.

APR.2022

POPULAR ENTERTAINERS WHO ARE ALSO BUSINESS MOGULS

APR.2022

DON JAZZY

Mavin Record label boss, MICHAEL COLLINS AJEREH, popularly known as Don Jazzy is a Nigerian record producer, brand ambassador, entrepreneur, influencer, and comedian. He was once a co-owner of the defunct Mo’ Hits Records that had the likes of D’banj, Wande Coal, and D’prince. Don Jazzy is a successful business person in the music industry. He ventured into oil and established Mavin Energy Limited in 2013 – a company that specializes in the supply and distribution of petroleum products such as kerosene, diesel, petroleum, and cooking gas. He also partnered with Top Nigerian technology expert, Dele Odufuye to launch Flobyt Wifi in 2017.

BANKY W

OBI CUBANA

Obinna Iyiegbu, famously known as Obi Cubana, is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Cubana Group. His career as an entrepreneur started in 2006 when he found a nightclub called Ibiza Club in Abuja. In 2009, Obi Cubana established a hospitality club called Cubana in Owerri, Imo State. He describes himself as God’s Favourite Son.

OLUBANKOLE WELLINGTON, popularly known by his stage name Banky W, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and politician. He is the CEO of Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) a former record label turned Media and Advertising Agency. He is married to Nigerian actress Adesuwa Etomi Wellington. Banky W is currently a brand ambassador of Samsung, Uber, Ciroc, and Vodka. He has worked with notable brands such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, MTN, Airtel, and many others. He is a successful businessman, political leader, and philanthropist.

In October 2021, he was awarded Man of the Year and was voted by Nigerians at home and in diaspora via online platforms in a 14-day Leadership Excellence Awards. Asides that, he has won several awards and recognition including the Democracy Heroes Awards as Democracy Entrepreneur of the year 2018. As of 2021, Obi Cubana had an estimated net worth of $500 million dollars. His chains of businesses include luxury hotels and nightclubs. With an organized network of several investments within and outside Nigeria, Chief Obi Cubana references his success to the grace and mercy of the Almighty God.

Don Jazzy has won several awards and recognition from the Headies Award, Nigerian Entertainment awards to mention but a few. He is ranked as one of the top bankable entertainers in Africa.

MO ABUDU

MOSUNMOLA ABUDU professionally known as Mo Abudu is a Nigerian Media Mogul and philanthropist. Born on 11th September 1964, she has been described as “Africa Most Successful Woman”. She started her professional career as a recruitment consultant in 1987 with the Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in the UK. Mo Abudu started Ebony life TV in 2006, a network airing in more than 49 countries across Africa as well as in the UK. She is also the founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited. Mo Abudu went on to create, produce and present Moments with Mo. She later found Ebony Life TV and has since been producing entertainment content to date. Ebony life TV transmitted its first broadcast on July 1st, 2013 on Multichoice DSTV channel 165. Mo Abudu has produced and co-produced popular movies in the Nigerian film industry such as The Wedding Party 2, Chief Daddy, Oloture, and many others.

APR.2022

2BABA INNOCENT UJAH IDIBIA popularly known by his stage name 2Baba is a Nigerian music singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist. He is the first winner of MTV Europe and the Best African Act Award. It is without a doubt that 2Baba is one of the wealthiest musicians in Nigeria. In 2021, 2 Baba revealed that he has diversified in Agro-allied business. His initiative was birthed out of the desire to key into the government policy of diversification of the economy through agriculture and its ancillary businesses.

IDRIS ELBA IDRIS ELBA is an English actor, producer, and musician. Born 6th September 1972, he is popularly known for his roles in HBO series The Wire, BBC One series Luther and in Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Asides acting, Idris Elba performs as a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis and as an R&B musician. He runs a production company, record label, and clothing line.

PLATNUMZ

AKON

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ is a Tanzanian recording artist, songwriter, singer, dancer, philanthropist, and businessman. His real name is Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack, born on 2nd October 1989. Diamond Platnumz is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi record label, Zoom Extra, Wasafi Bet, and Wasafi Media. He became the first African-based artist to reach a combined total of 900 million YouTube views.

Akon is a Senegalese singer, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and rapper. Akon whose real name is Alianue Thiam made headlines in recent years as a pan-African businessman interested in business opportunities in Africa. Far back in 2014, Akon started a group that backs solar energy projects in the rural parts of many African countries. His most ambitious goal is to build a $6billion Utopian city in Senegal that he described as a real-life wakanda, comparing it to the technologically advanced fictional African place portrayed in the blockbuster film “Black Panther”.

JUDE LEMFANI

JUDE LEMFANI ABAGA, known as M.I Abaga, is a popular Nigerian rapper and record producer. He rose to fame in 2006 when his song “Crowd Mentality became popular in Jos, Nigeria. From 2015 to 2019, he was the CEO of Chocolate City. In 2020, he launched his own record label Incredible Music. In 2012, M.I was appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and he has shown his support to the Justified campaign. He achieved worldwide recognition as part of the vanguard of the “Afrobeats wave”. M.I has collaborated and partnered with top brands across Africa and the World at large. M.I Abaga net worth is estimated at $3.9 million, making him one of the richest rappers in Africa.

APR.2022

RICHARD RICHARD MOFE DAMIJO is a popular Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He has won several notable awards in and outside Nigeria. In 2021, he won an award at Ghana, a Black Star Honor at the Rhymes on Da Runaway in Gold Coast Ghana. He owns one of Nigeria’s PR outfits, White Water Limited. He also has a production company.

APR.2022

Asides from sports (football essentially), music has proven to be one of the passionate forms of entertainment. The large following of musicians and the amount they earn from streaming platforms and showbiz leaves so much to tell.

Lifechanging Strategies to Excel in the Music Business

However, you would discover that several artists who find themselves doing music are in it because they are passionate about it. For many others, it is simply because they are talented. Undoubtedly, passion and talent have proven to be the combined forces needed to produce the highest level of artistry. It takes passion and talent to have entertainers such as Michael Jackson, Drake, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Angelique Kidjo, etc. This is not forgetting that alongside passion and talent comes hard work.

Change Your Paradigm: The first guide to making it big in the industry is to understand that beyond passion, talent, and hard work, music just like every other sector is a business. You might find yourself doing music because you’re passionate about it or talented. But that does not account so much for how big you will make it in the industry. As such, you must change your paradigm and start seeing music for what it is -- and that is as a business primarily. The moment you change your paradigm, you will start exploring and seeking how you can deploy strategies top individuals and brands use to grow their market and reach.

Have a Good project: The next step to excelling in the music industry is to have a good project or body of work. Nobody will listen to you if your music is below par. Good music is orgasmic. It reaches the soul. Everybody recognizes one when they hear one. You sense it in the production, vocal, mixing, and mastering quality. Once you have a good record and are sure from positive reviews that you have one, then that’s a Similarly, it is almost impossible to good way to start. cover the full aspect of excelling in the music business in Develop and extend your disone article. But tribution network: Having a good distribution netwe have done well to sumwork cannot be overemphasised. Dismarise some key tribution labels exist to help points. the artiste get the Nevertheless, you will almost always find musicians who are more talented, passionate, and hardworking. Yet they are nowhere near the spotlight. Some who were one-time sensations have fizzled out just as they came in. Yet others have remained relevant making real-time cash from their craft in spite of the years. This leaves you wondering if there’s any strategy or strategies to excelling in the music business or industry.

APR.2022

a deal with them, then why not? Olamide’s record label, YBNL, has a deal with Empire. The Empire brand no doubt has a role in the immense success of Fireboy’s projects. The same applies to Ckay who beat Wizkid and Burna Boy to become Africa’s Best Global Selling Artiste with a whopp i n g N 2 . 6 billion f r o m his viral hit song, “Love Nwantiti”. No thanks to his signage with label giant, Warner Bros, as well as his extraordinary talent, passion, and hard work. Invest in promotions: As stated earlier, begin to see music as a business rather than just an avenue to express your passion or talent. As a musician, you should start considering investing in promotions. If you’re solely relying on free traffic, referrals, joint ventures, or other similar channels, then you don’t have a predictable and dependable way to grow your music and market. You’re simply at the whim of whatever fate drops in your lap. Take action by deciding your fate. Invest in promotions and adverts for that

project or body of work. Reliable reports have it that Rihanna was paid by Wizkid’s management to promote “Essence” across her social media handles. Even though Wizkid received intense backlash for it, the return on investment was massive as Kylie Jenner, Lewis, and Kevin Hart who are big fans of Rihanna caught the Essence fever and had it re-upped on their insta stories. Eventually, Justin Bieber hopped on the remix which further bolstered the acclaim of the song internationally. Influencer Marketing: Another way to extend your distribution network is through influencers. Influencers are one of the typical ways to get your song off and running if you must make it big in the music industry. Locate popular influencers in your industry and have them promote your songs. A good number of them might just fall in love with the song and not necessarily charge you for promotions. Influencers like Tunde Ednut and Don Jazzy have been responsible for the rise and rise of several hit songs on the afrobeats space.

a focus hashtags, con-

Consider TikTok: There’s every reason why TikTok will always be a viable option for making it big in the music industry. TikTok is the biggest marketing platform in the world. It is a no-brainer that the app presents one of the biggest opportunities to individuals and corporate bodies looking to reach a wider audience, particularly with on localised content through tests, and challenges.

In the music space, TikTok has had a huge impact on the success of global hit songs even before they make it to the top of the charts. Songs that trend on TikTok have gone on to dominate the Billboard and Spotify chart. “Play With the Big Boys”: You might be a big boy. But there are bigger boys and you have to chill with them (in light of Goya Menor’s sleeper hit “Ameno). What I mean in layman’s terms is that you must affiliate yourself with brands and individuals who are at the peak of their career in the industry you are targetting. That is how Burna Boy achieved his Grammy win. Another way to illustrate this is Skibii’s hit record “Baddest Boy”. The song didn’t gain any critical acclaim until Davido hopped on it. The same thing goes for Portable’s “Zazu Zeh” which had industry big wig, Olamide, and Poco Lee on it. Connect: Constantly connect with people in your industry. Attend shows, live performances, among others. In sum, one cannot fail to emphasise that if you can’t pay money to acquire a new customer, you do not have a business. The same goes for the music business. As an artiste, begin to see yourself as a marketer selling a product. Your music is the product. The buyers are the listeners. Whatever platform/s you are putting them on are your distribution networks.

APR.2022

eola Adeojo otherwise known by her design name, (Deola Sagoe) is a renowned fashion designer from Ondo State, Nigeria. She has won several awards for her infallible artistry. Fashion design for her started in 1988 and she has since lived up to the benchma rk of a distinguished female entrepreneur in the fashion industry. As a matter of fact, she is the first black woman to present a collection at Rome’s

indiso

Khumalo is a textile designer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She founded her label named after her in 2015. Inspired by her Zulu and Ndebele heritage, she produces ha ndwoven and embroidered textiles for her collections. Each garment tells a story about Africa and women’s empowerment. Her work has been presented at the Louisia na museum of modern art in Denmark. She has also won the 2020 category for “Independent Designer” at Milan’s Green Carpet Fashion Awards (GCFA).

denike Ogunlesi From selling children’s clothes from the boot of a car to becoming one of Africa’s leading women entrepreneurs in fashion, Adenike Ogunlesi is the founder and CEO of “Ruff and Tumble”. Reputed for being one of the foremost manufacturers of children’s clothing throughout West Africa, “Ruff and Tumble” prides itself as the designer to fashion-cons c i o u s youngsters in the region. The brand was birthed to solve the unavailability of quality kids’ clothing and to showcase the possibilities that abound in Nigeria. Ogunlesi is an advocate as well as a passiona te speaker. Her invention has set the pace for other women entrepreneurs.

APR.2022

hole Assam The Accra-based womenswea r designer repurposes fabrics from the market like cotton and linens combining them with traditional Ghanaian textiles in refreshing ways. Interestingly, she uses QR codes in her garments to supply details on how they are made. Her brand was recently spotlighted as one of the emerging talents in Ghana.

oza is from Côte d’Ivoire. Her namesake brand was founded in 2009. Her brand juxtaposes cultural textiles. It has a rich cultural mix of textiles from Brazil, Abidjan, and the US with a leaning towards West African royalties. Celebrities like Kelly Rowland, Solange Knowles, and Beyonce have been seen in her pieces.

fter studying in Switzerla nd, Doreen returned to her home country in Tanzania to pursue fashion. She got inspired by the textile of her Tanzanian heritage. Her collections feature East African wax print kitenge done in frocks and beachr e a d y dresses. The bra nds have also shifted towards accessories from bags to jewelry combining materials in an interesting way.

APR.2022

o r n i n London, Reni Folawiyo is a Nigerian lawyer turned fashion entrepreneur. She is the founder of the concept store A L A R A which stands as the first West African fashion luxury and lifestyle store. Her use of print, colors, and patterns to tell a story is indeed bea utiful. She aims to establish a visual language for African luxury. She is also the founder of NOK & NOKAfrican cuisine.

fter carrying out intensive market research and wanting to amplify the image of African women in the fashion industry, stylist and entrepreneur, Sarah Diouf la unched Tongoro in 2026, in Darkar, Senegal. The Tongoro aesthetic is unwaveringly bold but also playful feminine billowing dresses and vivacious prints and doesn’t compromise in promoting the made in Africa label.

kwo is a British-Nigeria n female entrepreneur. Her sustainable textile clothing has remained dedicated to promoting a positive image of Africa and its rich cultural heritage. Onwuka relaunched her brand in 2012, with a new ethos; environmental consciousness by turning leftover denim into new innovation. Today, the brand is at the forefront of the sustainability movement in Nigeria, operating on the “ philosophy of less” as a way to address fashion’s waste problem and its negative impact on the environment.

espite being in the fashion industry for a while, 27-year-old Mowalola became more popular in 2020. She was hired by Kanye West to design for the Yeezy- Gapcollaboration. Her neon pinkish leather brands captivated the fashion crowd as she used the leather to design dresses, tanks, crop tops, and skirts. Mowalola has fashioned a brand now synonymous with the youth

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022

2 0

A PEOPLE, A NATION

HOME All -- black at night and in darkness

We are a people

Light differentiates: black and white;

We are a nation

Whiteness and blackness reveal not

A nation doesn’t make a people

The intents of white or black;

A people make a nation, a nation

Man’s mind -- deep and unsearchable as an ocean A nation is a land Our blackness serves as a compass home:

With geographical boundary

Our roots were murdered decades back by history

Carved out on sheets by the people Surrounded by others and nature

We -- displaced by history Birth to a new home by history A nation -- a land measured in kilometers

Yet they cry: “ go home”.

With count resources and minerals for all A nation is nothing more than nature’s gift

We know no home besides these

A people birth and establish a nation

No room to run to for love as children do: Our roots, homes, and dreams are all here,

A nation is nothing more than what it is

All birth, built and established here; History did good and count damages

A gift of nature to all races

Blame not us for your inconvenience,

Our identities are cooked within our territory

Insecurity, failures, hardship, and fears; Blame history and your fathers: We -- betrayed by yours and displaced by history These are our homes and our roots by naturalization.

APR.2022

Yet its aromas move in the air like oxygen And overflows around the earth like the ocean.

or quite a while, Afrobeatsglobal has teased fans with the release of its second studio EP titled Sonidos Colectivos. Now the EP is out and it is fast gaining ground across all streaming digital platforms. Sonidos Colectivos is 15 minutes well spent with soulful melodies laced with creativity. On the EP, we see seven artistes from Nigeria and Ghana prove their mettle, range, and versatility.

has something unique. It’s not just music, rhythm or style. His music literally teleports you to another world. Needlessly, if Sonidos Colectivos was a football tournament, Annoymous would have earned the prize of golden boot for his outstanding performance on the EP. His song, “Oba” The producer, Deravibes, is a major highlight of the EP – bringing his A-game to the album with his impeccable production, mixing, and mastering prowess.

For the first singer, Annoymous, he

APR.2022

In the same vein, Sonidos Colectivos would have veered off the path of greatness if it by chance occluded another major song titled “Firefighter” by AustineTunes and Wunmi. Just like Tems’ affable notoriety for taking the spotlight on songs in which she appears, AustineTunes steals the show with the reach and rich of his music aptitude on “Firefighter”. The fast rising act spruced the song up with the paregoric register of his sound, and the thrilling side to this is how he does it effortlessly on the catchy chorus.

Above all, “Sonidos Colectivos” is a song for the mind and soul. The songs on the EP would appeal to audiences within and outside the landscape of afrobeats.

The Ghanaian sensation, Nana Appiah evolves as a more intentional lyricist while maintaining culture — delivery and style. Thrill, on the other hand, was able to follow the extraordinary uptempo beat of “Simple” with a classic delivery that is in character with his music identity.

APR.2022

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of how we do business and consume content has changed. The focus has shifted to the online world in a multitude of ways and the rise of social media might be one of the best things that ever happened in a shifting digital landscape where nothing remains permanent.

Harnessing the

POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The world of online marketing is evolving with new social media trends that entrepreneurs can take advantage of in growing their businesses. For any business owner who is concerned about the growth of his or her business, social media can provide a huge opportunity not only for your business growth but also to build relationships, understand your market, promote your content, generate leads, and influence your target buyers, among others.

to Grow as an Entrepreneur

According to Datareportal in October 2021, more than half of the world now uses social media (58.4%, which is about 4.62 billion people globally). The data company in recent analytics also found that the average daily time spent using social media is 2h 27m. Before taking advantage of what social media has to offer your business, you must first as an entrepreneur define your brand voice which will guide and shape your communication (content) strategy. This is bearing in mind that a strong social media strategy starts with companies knowing who they are and what they represent. Hence, in defining your niche, social media platforms can help you establish your large or smallscale business as a topical authority. One of the greatest advantages of using social media marketing is that it is cost-effective and does not require you to break the bank. It is also important to note that consumers are most likely to visit your social media profiles before heading to your website so as to get a better understanding of your brand before they make a purchase. In essence, what do you derive from using social media to grow your business? The benefit of social media can go as far as new trends keep emerging, but here are a few ways it can help grow your business. First, It helps increase leads and drive traffic to your website. This is coupled with sales conversion, improved search engine ranking, more brand recognition, keeping a close eye on your competitors, as well as building customer trust. All of these combine to establish your brand as a

APR.2022

topical authority. It is important to note that businesses at certain thresholds adjust social media strategies. This is as different social media platforms and channels continue to evolve with the use of videos, live streams, and stories. According to data from Limelight Networks, more than 100 million videos are watched per day on Facebook. This is because it is extremely easy to consume – unlike a long-winded paragraph. Taking advantage of this means you can create short video content. This is bearing in mind that most social media users do not have the patience to watch a video for more than 90 seconds. Furthermore, with social media, it is easier to find people and share live videos like Instagram live, Facebook live, YouTube live, and periscope from Twitter, to mention but a few. Social media users are more likely to relate with brands or companies using live streams to announce new products, show behind-the-scenes content, and demonstrate how to use a product. Social media offers a high level of interaction and engagement which no other platform or marketing strategy allows. Moreover, as alternatives to using newsfeeds and Instagram stories, you can use hashtags, tag other users, ask questions or let your followers ask you questions. You can also set up a poll, and include location tags to make your post more discoverable. In essence, the benefits of social media to your business are numerous and cannot be quantified. Social media gets people to look at your brand even when they are not thinking about your brand or product. With social media tracking and analytics tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite Impact, you can see the full impact of your social media activities. You can define the key performance metrics you want to track and this will, in turn, help you make informed business decisions. You can also add tutorials on how to solve problems, tell stories about your product, and services. Finally, make sure your social media page is branded with identifiable visual elements to give your brand a powerful online presence that is recognised across the world.

APR.2022

THE FUTURE OF SOLAR

he future of renewa ble-energy hasbeen the dream of countless environmentalists and active citizens. Risingconventional oil-derived energy prizes and concerns regarding energy security have stimulated investments insustainable renewable form of energy. Negative impactsonthe environment and health of other form of energy like oil exploration for conversionin to fuel, has further fueled the desire to diverting to other means.The yearly statistic of hazardcaused by electricity or fuel has made scientists keen on developing solarform of energy. The negativity of oil on marinelife and terrestrial abodeandt he noise and air-pollution from machines powered by fuel cannot be over-emphasized. The constantriseinelectricitytarrifisalsoanotherreasontoembracesolarenergy.

Slowly, solar is replacing things as we now have have it as a new form of energy and power. Solar converts sunlight in to electric current. Depending on the weather, the sun provides between 3.6-6KWh/m perday which is equivalent to one barrel of oil per square metre per year. Homes are beginning to fully utilize solar and so are offices as they use the small scale rooftop panels refer red to as photovoltaic system. Solar energy and itsresulting derivatives is the answer and driver behind all the energy we have access to and will continue to use into the foreseeable future. Really advantageous, solar is essentially inexhaustible since the sun’s energyis predicted to be around for the next five billion years. The future of solaris bright as countries keep setting goals to raise the irrenewable energy production. Sola r

APR.2022

a f terall, createspure, clean and renewable power from the sun. Homes, hospitals, officeset now make use of solar energy for a great deal of their existence and in the nearest future, cars will be successfully completed that run on solar energy. As this energy naturally solves the climate change associated problems, definitely, it will be solely depended on in the future. The Solar Futures Study explores solar energy’s role in transitioning to a carbon-free electricgrid. Produced by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office(SETO) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and released on September 8, 2021, the study finds that with aggressive cost reductions, supportive policies, and large-scale electrification, solarcould account for as much as 40% of 26

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022

“At a time, the owners of Pulse wanted to buy me over but when it didn’t work they contracted me.” - Ameyaw Debrah

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stay Focus Photography ( @stayfocusphotography_official ) DESIGNERS: Atare ( @atare.gh ) Larry Jay ( @Larryghana ) MAKEUP: Nadsglam ( @Nadsglam )

APR.2022

ne of Afrobeatsglobal presenters, Omobolanle Adigun (@Omobola_Val) had an interactive session with the number one celebrity blogger and content creator in Ghana. It was indeed an entertaining, informative, and eye-opening interview for entrepreneurs generally, especially those in the content creation space. Kindly introduce yourself to the readers. I am Ameyaw Debrah. I call myself a blogger, content creator and social media influencer. I am also a journalist as I still get some freelance jobs. As regards family, I am the second born out of four; three boys and one girl. For a long time, it was just me and my older brother until seven years later when my younger sister was born then another boy followed. How does being regarded as one of the foremost leading Entrepreneurs in Africa make you feel? It’s exciting because at first, I wasn’t thinking about it as a large scheme. For me, I was just doing something I was passionate about and that was covering entertainment events and happenings, first in Ghana then across different countries across the world. Now, I am employing people and giving birth to new versions of me in the future. We all know that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. What made you develop an interest in becoming an Entrepreneur and how were you able to transform your blog into a business empire? For me, I started writing for Ovation Magazine after school. Then won an award in the University as the Best Publishing student and that award was sponsored by Ovation Magazine. As part of the award I was given a slot to do my National service with them. That’s when I started writing and getting published. I went from there on to signing a project in Netherlands called ‘Voices of Africa Initiative’. They gave mobile phones to journalists and with the phones, we shoot and edited news items then published them. Along this time, I was always working for people though I started a blog by the side. With my work for VOAI, I was invited to the High way Africa conference in South Africa to go and speak about the technology we were using which was referred to as ‘Mobile journalism’.

APR.2022

It was at this forum I realized that a lot of people were doing great things as regards blogging. When I got back to Ghana, I then said to myself that I wanted to take blogging seriously and do it purposefully. Also, at some point I was hired by Ghana web as a content editor while still doing my own thing. The owner wasn’t in Ghana. The first time he came to Ghana he heard my name and website mentioned on radio and he was asking if my website was that popular that everyone was mentioning me in Ghana. Then conflict of interest started coming to play. At this time, my content was growing but wasn’t really fetching me money. So I was relying on the salary from Ghana web. But I decided to focus on that which I was passionate about and decided to leave Ghana web. It was at this point that the real entrepreneurship spirit came into me.

“Go in early, grow with it and become one of the leaders in that space...” I registered the business ‘Ameyaw Debrah Media’ and started growing it. I had my first real challenge just three weeks into leaving Ghana web and growing my own. Google wrote to me saying they are taking off the advertising program because I infringed on their policies. So I couldn’t make money from that source. I had to change my strategy. People I had worked for in the past for free, I started taking a little token and gradually I created different advertising rates and gradually it took shape. The growth of my platform made more sense and then I started generating income. I had to grow to a point where people started seeing the need to advertise on blogs and websites. Also, I was able to diversify at some point as now I can make money from the website, as well as youtube content creation, sponsored ads, social media influencing, and what have you. Your Bio also reads ‘African pop culture curator’, kindly share with us your impact in that area. I have always been around pop culture as I consumed it at a very early stage. My parents were in the UK and we were in Ghana. At times, we record from BBC here in Ghana so I always knew creating my own will have a taste of pop culture. At a point, I traveled around francophone countries including Nigeria. Then I share the experiences with my audience. Also, as part of restructuring, I added a lot of lifestyle components to my blog because I realized that was where I could have more access to brands and make more money. People invite you to such events to come and cover and showcase to your audience then you get paid. I have also tried to create a relationship with Hollywood, America as I share their contents and this creates a greater connection and bond. You have received quite a number of awards and have worked for major entertainment brands. How would you say your brand is unique from the rest? Well, I think the uniqueness of my brand comes from the attention I give to it and I am careful about what I share as I have built my contents around my identity. For so many blogs, it could be anybody behind them but for me I made the decision to reveal me. They know this is my voice and this is me. This has brought different brands to me because they know you’ll give that personal touch of your identity to whatever content you create. Naming my blog by my name started off as a joke because I was contributing to a friend’s website then he said why not let’s create something for you with your name so he created it, brought me a link and we haven’t looked back since then. APR.2022

3 0

The course (Publishing Studies) you studied in the university is quite unique, what influenced your choice? It’s probably fate. Growing up I was studying general science to become a Medical Doctor but in secondary school, I also joined the Writers and Debater’s club. Then, Publishing Studies wasn’t even popular but what ought to have happened then is when I finished secondary school I had to stay at home for a year but the then-president was changing a lot of things in the system and said you could go to school immediately you finished secondary school. This prompted me to pick a form from Kumasi. I wanted to school at Legion University in Accra but then they had closed the submission of forms. I went through the prospectus of Kumasi and saw Publishing Studies and I was selected. At first, I thought the course was going to be about media but while at it, I found out it was more about bookmaking. I went in and graduated as the best student. I think I take chances a lot. How many years did it take you to build your brand? From the first year till now, I’m still building it. It’s an ongoing and ever-growing brand. Now we’ve added Ameyaw TV to the video content side of the brand. The goal is to become a 360 media company APR.2022

providing digital solutions for a number of things. We’ll be taking digital marketing contracts from brands soon so the building of the brand is still on. What were the challenges you were faced with when you started your blog? I think the main challenge was how to make financial sense from it. The ecosystem wasn’t favorable. Also, we don’t have a marketing team that goes out to search for jobs. The clients have to rather find us. So we have to do a job and make it impossible for people to ignore us. Also, for a long time, I was running it all alone. At a time, the owners of Pulse wanted to buy me over but when it didn’t work they contracted me to help them set it up here in Ghana which I did for seven months. Also, another brand needed the same thing. As I worked for these people I noticed that they saw video production and content as the next big thing. I decided to then branch into the video version of blogging. This was when I decided to start hiring but it came with new challenges of paying staff members, getting a space and equipment and all. Here, money was going out and not coming in. I started questioning myself if I was doing the right thing or not. Gradually, the Ameyaw TV also started bringing money in.

How lucrative is the blogging business? I tell people not to look at the success stories of people and just rush into it. Look at the story I shared with you on the challenges I faced while trying to establish the brand. Also, if you want to go into it you must know that you need to manage your expectations, don’t just throw money everywhere thinking it will generate money immediately. It isn’t going to be immediate. Yes, it is lucrative but you need to be intentional and you need to appeal to a group of people. It takes time. What attracts you to the kind of content you share on your blog? Most of the time, I bring my team up to speed. It is my name on the contents so we have to have a general agreement on what is going out. I ask myself, is it something I’ll love to consume? Also, if it’s something that would be demeaning to people and is not facts, I don’t share. We share what we think has a need for the audience to know. We have news contents, experiences I want to share with people, also lifestyle contents which are sometimes paid for. For instance, content on dealing with diabetes where people can learn from if it applies to their situation. So our contents sit across these various areas.

What are your other sources of income apart from your blog? At the moment, it is largely media but it’s diversified. For instance, I use my presence to get influencer jobs to promote businesses and events, etc. What social media platform is also very lucrative for your kind of business? Every platform has its own advantage so you need to know how to use each to your own benefits. I can’t pick one platform. For instance, Twitter is good for influence in terms of having a voice and connecting with people within that space so I use it very well. As a matter of fact, that’s where I get most of my international gigs. Bill Gates and UNESCO will reach you through Twitter. For Facebook, it’s my number one tool for referring people to my website. In Ghana especially, the people on Twitter feel opinionated. When you post a link they want to discuss what you’ve done and less than 10% will open the link. But on Facebook, they will open and read so as a publisher it becomes more of a better tool for you. For Instagram, it lets people see things fast so it’s good for visual storytelling and representation whether picture or video. It’s left to you to understand it. Linkedin on the other hand is good for business purposes. A lot of gigs that I was involved in for example, Pulse, they reached out through the portfolio I created on Linkedin.

APR.2022

What I always do is when something comes, I get in and grow with it and become a voice within the platform so that when it becomes something I make use of the audience and network that I’ve built. So the strategy is ‘go in early, grow with it and become one of the leaders in that space. Do you think an entrepreneur enjoys the same advantages as a corporate worker? As a corporate worker, you do your work and get your pay but as an Entrepreneur, everything including the risk is on you but when the rewards come too, it’s on you to enjoy and this can be very gratifying. There’s a joy that comes with making your own money rather than waiting for the end of the month. Also, as a corporate worker, you can be sacked anytime and left to the streets to start job hunting but you don’t go through that as a business owner. Well, they both have their highs and lows. For instance, I can work from home when I’m tired but as an entrepreneur, you don’t enjoy that. But while going through challenges as an entrepreneur, it can also be so hard going through it alone. What do you do for leisure? I’m a very boring person but I’m fortunate that what I do comes with fun. I like to have fun on the job. Sometimes a week may not go without a party, concert, and luxury hotel event job and fun events coming in. So covering these events is fun. When I’m home I watch TV, listen to music, always online watching contents, and putting a smile on my face. You share some cooking videos on your blog too. Are you a chef or an intending one? People know I like food. People bring me food and I promote it for them. I travel around to have a taste of different cuisines and post them on Instagram. So I just wanted people to know that I don’t only eat food, I can cook them. I came up with this new series on my channel where I cook food my way because I know how to cook but with my own interpretation. You don’t have to stick to a certain menu but add your taste and preferences and that’s what the show is about. When my team tastes some of my food, they say “Boss we didn’t know you can cook this way.” So it’s always exciting to get such feedback. What is your best food? I love jollof rice, boiled yam with different types of stews like the traditional one where we grind everything, pour palm oil and fish in it. Then I also like fufu with any kind of soup. Describe your fashion style in a sentence. I’m probably the least fashionable person in Ghana and it’s most likely because I love to stay at home. But for the job I have to try to look good at events. Also, some designers will bring you stuff as gifts to style you. Now I’m making an effort. But my fashion sense is simplicity and comfort. I won’t wear a suit on a hot day. I just look good to suit the occasion I’m going for.

APR.2022

How do you balance family and business? It’s not easy especially because we find ourselves living on opposite sides of the world most of the year. My wife is in the US. My son is also in the US most of the time and I’m in Ghana so we rotate visitation. We learn each day and have challenges but see how we must overcome it. It’s challenging because you have to give attention to family and give attention to work. For instance, we close at 5pm here but at that time my wife is in a time zone that is 8 hours behind me so she’s still sleeping but my son might be back from school by then because his time zone is just 4 hours behind me so I rather call him and when I’m done my wife might be awake then I call her. It’s quite challenging but at the same time interesting. Your blog also shares celebrity gossip. Have you ever experienced an attack from any celebrity due to a post you shared? The issues I’ve had are maybe some celebrities see headlines and say that’s not what they said. My worst experience would be with Shatta Wale because he went to the extent of threatening me so I had to blacklist him for over eight years now. We don’t really talk about him. Like I said earlier, before we publish we take careful measures so we don’t allow ourselves to be attacked by the public. Who is that dream collaborator you wish to work with within your industry? Yes, though I’ve worked with a lot from all of Africa so my dream is to now explore more of the American entertainment space. I’ve been going there more often trying to get things done. I want to do more of that, creating that bridge between them and people here at home. There are still people in the diaspora who feel Africa sold them off so they are against us. We want to be part of the civilized group that will create that bridge between us. I get invites from PR companies from the UK to the US. They send me materials. We communicate and it puts me in a space where I can also bring value to my people here. For Instance, if they need Ghanian actors, musicians, etc, over there I can always link them. So far, what would you describe as your greatest achievement? My greatest achievement for me is being able to do this for over 15 years, staying relevant, creating job opportunities for people, and even simple things like being able

APR.2022

to post people’s food and then you create more opportunities and customers for the person. Also, I love that I am able to conduct celebrity interviews and the likes. What are three facts about you that the public doesn’t know? I think I put a lot about me out there so people have an idea but I think most people don’t know I am a very shy person. I love to go to places where I know people so I can always hide under their presence. Also, people see me and they say they didn’t know I am this tall so I think I am quite tall. That’ll be all. Have you ever been to Nigeria before? If yes, what is your opinion on the battle between Ghanian jollof and Nigerian jollof? Yes, I’ve been to Nigeria quite a number of times. I have tasted both but you can’t really generalize. I mean I have eaten Nigerian jollof that I like and the ones I don’t like. But I noticed Nigerians love to put lots of vegetables in their jollof. I love Nigerian food both the spicy ones and not. But the thing is when I’m in Nigeria and I visit restaurants, I always end up with a runny stomach not because the food is bad because I love to taste variety. I want to taste everything. So yes, I love Nigerian food. What’s your honest advice to intending Entrepreneurs? Find what you love to do and make it unique. Add something that would make yours different. Also, do something you are passionate about and ensure you research and observe. Look at people who are doing what you love to do, learn from them as there is no point in making the same mistake others have made. Do not give up, learn and unlearn. Start small, give yourself time to grow and expand. Your message to your fans? I’ll like to say a big thank you to everybody who has always been there irrespective of the time you found out about me. You consuming our contents across platforms, adding value to what we do and all is huge. We take feedback and fix points made. So everyone who has contributed to our success. I’m very grateful and please stick with me because we have a lot more to come.

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022

4 0

Eid-el-Fitr

1st - 15th

May 2022

APR.2022

Many people constrict entrepreneurship to just business. They fail to see that it is largely defined by leadership. A bad leader will almost never stir an enterprise or business to success. An entrepreneur who has the qualities of good and effective leadership will record more success for his or her business than one who does not have. One cannot fail to emphasize that a successful entrepreneur is in fact a good leader. When leadership combines with entrepreneurship, it produces incredible results that can be likened to a volcanic eruption. The return on investments is always mind-blowing. You would often realise that many successful entrepreneurs have the characteristics of effective leadership. British economist, Chris Roebuck came up with one of the most popular definitions for the term, entrepreneurial leadership. In his words, “entrepreneurial leadership involves organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal using proactive entrepreneurial behavior by optimizing risk, innovating to take advantage of opportunities, taking personal responsibility, and managing change within a dynamic environment for the benefit of an organization.” Every entrepreneur’s dream no doubt is to make profits and to make sure the business is also a success. But for such results to be achievable, the leader of such an organization must have the following characteristics without which the business will pack up or go into oblivion.

BELOW ARE LEADERSHIP TIPS TO EXCEL AS AN ENTREPRENEUR. VISION An organization that works without a vision is bound to fail because they have no directions and can also be said to lack a leader. A leader’s vision drives the organization, The vision of the organisation must be communicated to every team member in an understandable form. This is in order for the vision of the leader to spring forth, thereby producing results. This makes the job easier on both the leader and the team members. GIVE ROOM FOR IDEAS Many entrepreneurs are often too rigid, imposing, and parochial. As a leader, you must give your team member the ability to make choices and explore their ideas. It gives room to share and listen to other people’s ideas concerning the progress of the organisation. People want to be heard and if you shut them down because you are the boss, you are automatically saying their thought doesn’t count. COMMUNICATION SKILLS Communication in entrepreneurship is germane. it is important to be outspoken in order to avoid misunderstandings. As a leader, your ability to communicate ideas to your team is important. SHARED SUCCESS When the organization experiences success, the leader should not take all the credits, putting the spotlight on himself or herself. S/he should appreciate other team members who contributed to the success and share the accolade with them. PERSEVERANCE When things get tough, the leader does not quit. They hold on until they reach their target. If

APR.2022

you quit in the process, you are quitting on the result. Trust the process. Patience is a very key attribute. Success does not happen overnight. It is like wanting to build a house. It doesn’t build itself from the ground up. It takes time in order to give you the finished product you desire. LEARNING Nobody is an island of knowledge so the leader should be willing to learn and unlearn in the organization. They should also be willing to pay to acquire knowledge for themselves and their team members. An organized training can be set up for certain team members or the entire team. This is including the leader so a to learn something new. It can be in things the organization is lacking. SELF CONFIDENCE A leader and entrepreneur should believe in themselves and their ideas. Self-confidence is a process. It is something that many people aspire to. Although it can be tough, it is possible to attain. It will enrich many other aspect of your life as an entrepreneur. When you are confident, you will naturally be a better communicator, be able to build relationships, and develop trust. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Be involved in the lives of your team members. Just because you are the leader does not mean you should be all locked up in your office all day. Go round the office, interact with your staff and get to know them on a more personal level. This brings trust and openness to the organization.

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022

4 4

APR.2022

4 6

APR.2022

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022

Why

Entrepreneurship is not for everybody

ntrepreneurship is defined as created Instagram because they bethe ability to develop and man- lieved people can tell stories through age a business enterprise. photographs. Jan Koum started WhatsApp after he got annoyed that Even more peculiar to entrepreneur- he was missing calls when he went to ship is the ability to steer the business the gym. Spotify is a successful app to success. because it changed how people listened to music. However, entrepreneurship has become a word on everyone’s lips and These entrepreneurs did not set out it is often portrayed in forms of fan- to make money. They found a solutasies. While some are mostly in it to tion to a problem. simply answer the name “entrepreneur”, others are primarily inspired If you are looking to make money by the wanton need to make money. you should work towards becoming If you thus begin your entrepreneur- a high-paid professional. ship journey with money as a purpose, you are not an entrepreneur. This is because as an entrepreneur, money is not a guaranteed outcome. It is important to mention that an en- The only mission worth pursuing in trepreneur taps into the need that no business is to make people’s lives betexisting business addresses and has ter. And that is why every unique endetermined a solution for that need. trepreneur is a problem solver. Entrepreneurial activities include developing and launching new busi- In the words of Henry Ford, “A businesses and marketing them, often ness that makes nothing but money is with the end goal of selling the busi- a poor business.” ness to turn a profit. Harold S. Geneen echoes this when In other words, you would often find he noted that “in the business world, that the hallmark of many entrepre- everyone is paid in two coins: cash neurs is problem-solving. and experience. Take the experience Mark Krieger and Kevin Systrom first; the cash will come

APR.2022

later.” Buying products from suppliers and selling them to customers for profit doesn’t make you an entrepreneur, it makes you a merchant. More so, entrepreneurship involves a lot of skills. It is passion-driven and involves a strong ability to lead and inspire. This is coupled with self-awareness, creativity, team management, reframing, negotiating skills, risk-taking, and empathy. Adequate knowledge of every deliverable by every department of your organization. Besides, successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of skillful negotiation. They know how to hold their end on the other side of the table. I once watched a program UNDER 40 CEOs where the host asked his guest “how he deals with relatives or friends that are debtors” and the guest answered, “You make them understand what growth means to you”. Hence, real entrepreneurs separate their business lives from their per-

4 9

sonal lives, and in so doing, they know how to get family and friends to pay for goods and services rendered. Entrepreneurs also are not just motivational speakers. They do not just talk. They perform. They are not afraid of being constructively inquisitive and demanding. They react well to failure and have a high tolerance for distress and disappointment. They are resilient and tenacious. On top of that, attending an entrepreneurial course or obtaining an MBA qualification from an expensive business school outside the country does not make you an entrepreneur or guarantee that your business idea will succeed. For many of the so-called professors of Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics, how much of a good entrepreneur are they? Some of the most astute business people in Africa are market women and people who do not possess professional business degrees. Many of them are not even schooled at all! In the same vein, young people seeking to be entrepreneurs or self-employed must realize that for every successful entrepreneur, there are millions of others who thrive by working with and for others. Working in traditional organizations has many benefits. You get to acquire some of the most invaluable skills that will help you succeed when you start your own business. Some of these fundamentals include learning to work together with diverse people, building healthy relationship skills, being accountable for your actions, and most importantly, having self-discipline and a sense of responsibility- showing up at work every day whether you feel like it or not requires a bit of both.

While being an employee may not be as glamorous as entrepreneurship, employees are some of the most hardworking and diligent people in the world.

2. Learning from failure quickly 3. Autonomy 4. Purpose 5. Flexibility 6. Financial success 7. Legacy This is also bearing in mind that 8. Hunger attached to achieving their managing a personal business is goals are always high tough, Unfortunately, the way social 9. Being tactical and Inquisitive media and influencers in that space 10. Focus depict entrepreneurship leaves the 11. Listen and take feedback wrong impression. The lifestyle of an entrepreneur has been sweetened so The list above is not in total compremuch that everyone on Instagram is hensive characteristics because there an entrepreneur now. are people that have none or more traits than the above. Like Music reThey talk about how great it is but cord labels, most CEOs are not strucclearly don’t display the hard work turally inclined to see entrepreneurprocesses. They only show you the ship as a business. Rather they see it highlights with the goal to sell you on as an avenue to showcase flamboyant their entrepreneur program. lifestyles. And these are keen reasons why the likes of 50 Cent, P.Diddy, Dr. The entrepreneurial life is far from Dre, Jay-Z, Columbia Records, and the over-emphasized chilling or con- Sony Music could stand the test of spicuous lifestyle. time. You can only be perfect when you beYou are constantly pushing yourself gin to correct your trials and errors. to learn and develop new skills and You try and fail consistently and creabilities. It’s stressful when you are atively till you can actually identify going against a deadline. It’s a lot of your uniqueness and consolidate hassle when you have to outperform that by using your experience, level your competitors. of relationship over the years, confidence, brand factor, object of value, So don’t be fooled, it’s probably just and evolving abilities. a break of thirty minutes to an hour or some\ relaxation that has business Ultimately, if you wish to become an in-between. entrepreneur and cannot bring your idea to life owing to financial conAs a matter of fact, the word en- straints, it doesn’t have to stop you trepreneur originated from a thir- from achieving your goals. teenth-century French verb, entreprendre, which means “to do Many entrepreneurs seek the initial something” or “to undertake”. So in- funding for their pursuits from exstead of contemplating if you are to ternal sources such as project investake that risk or not, kindly ignite the tors multinationals like Multichoice, Nike motto, JUST DO IT. Bank Of Industries, Funds For Africa’s Future, Empawa Africa, Microsoft, UNICEF, USAID, and other The mindset of an entrepreneur is development institutions who may programmed thus: provide entrepreneurs with capital 1. Fearless to cover startup costs (or, later,

APR.2022

5 0

BEWARE OF HOW MONEY WORKS T

here are one thousand to one chances that half of your problems may be related to money. Everybody wants money but very few people know how it works. You look at the richest people on earth — many of whom cane from extremely poor backgrounds — and wonder how they managed to do it. Is there some sort of pattern to how money works that we aren’t predisposed to or were they just lucky?

Half of the time we are preoccupied with the dreams of acquiring wealth that we fail to see the systems that guide the process of making money. The reality is that there is a method to making money. Some of us have the finest of ideas that we think would fetch us more money than even the richest men on earth, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. But ideas are not enough. Others assume it is APR.2022

hard work. If you are a student you are probably reading your heart out for a good grade that will land you a good job once you leave school. For you that has graduated from college, you are on that job working like hell to get that promotion or attain greater heights in your professional career. You are probably tired of the job because of the demands that come with it. You do not have a life. Monday to Friday you are working. In order to meet up, you pick up a hustle on the side during weekends. The only time you have is your precious weekend where your boss can call you out of the blues to report for official duty. Sometimes s/he pisses you off. You are frustrated but what can you do? The job is your only means of survival. You contemplate leaving but you’re confronted by the fear of the unknown. What if you do not get another job? What if you secured another one but worse than the one you just left? You find yourself in a circus. You manage to carry on. Five years. Ten years. Twenty years. You realize 51

that all your hard work hasn’t paid off. You only have that which can take care of your bills in the interim. The amount of money you hope to acquire is far from you.

making or multiplying money is to solve problems. If you so desire money, constantly develop an eagle-eye for problems. In problems lies the solution to making money. People pay you for the value you add to their Hard work does not make money. lives. In other words, you are paid If hard work was what defined how for the solution your idea can solve. money works then the richest people The more extensive the problem, the on earth will be those who did hard more money you make. jobs like the people working on construction sites. Problems are the seeds that grow money. Let us ask ourselves. What You must realise that the first step is money? It is a legal tender that to be getting rich is to be aware that you offer or get following a particuthere is actually an underlying design lar product or service. You go to the to how it works. It is a fact that there store for instance. You either go with is a way money works. The major money or a means of payment. The problem is that we have been placed reason why you are in that store is under a conditioning that has affect- because you have a need or problem ed how each of us sees money and by you want solved for which the store extension how it works. has a solution. What you will give in return for the problem solved is the It is equally believed that rich peo- money you have with you. ple are greedy, evil, and self-centred. This is an askew orientation that has From this simple illustration, you get hindered many believers who them- the idea that money is built around selves are at the mercy of the rich. problems. To thus make money you have to solve problem. No amount If you thus have the belief that money of dreams can get you a kobo if you is the root of all evil and continue to cannot provide solutions to people’s believe it, you will find out that you problems. Many people are caught will only be making money enough up in the rat race. The underlying to cater for your small needs. You’d principle is to Stop Chasing Money. also discover that there would be days when you’d go broke for no reason. You will think it is ill luck with- Investment: Most people spend all out knowing that your conditioning their lives saving. They never invest. towards money is what is responsi- They keep saving for the rainy days. ble. That is how money works. It is As they save, rainy days keep coming your conditioning towards it that de- that scuttle away the money. Stop termines how much you will get. saving all your money. Invest some Money comes to those who believe of it if you want financial freedom. If they can have it in huge numbers. you don’t find a means of multiplying Envisaging is one part of the bargain. money, you will wake up one day to Working towards it is another part. realise that the money you thought you had is gone finished. Investment is key. This is one of the fundamenProven Steps to How Money Works tals to how money works. Save for investment not for rainy days.. Stop chasing money and start chasing problems: The general secret to Give: One of the defining princi-

APR.2022

ples of how many works is when you constantly give. You can’t expect to receive without giving. You’d find that the richest people on earth like Bill Gates give back to society through their various foundation programmes. Isn’t it a wonder that the amount of money they splurge on charity has never made them broke? One of the world’s billionaires, Warren Buffett hit the halfway mark of donating 99% of his net worth with $4:1 billion to five foundations in June. Some people however believe they owe nobody anything enough to give a nickel. If you want money to work for you, cultivate the habit of giving. Time: Time is of the essence. Make every second count. invest your time wisely. Don’t waste that valuable resource called time, and keep looking for how you can solve problems. You can use your time to constantly develop yourself by learning new set skills that will fetch you money in the long run. Start a business: One of the ways you can make money work for you is to grow a business. It is a fact that if you want to be poor get a job, but if you want to be rich grow a business. You have a higher chance of attaining the wealth that you so desire when you grow a business. Note that it is not enough to start a business, you have to give your customers a REASON to do business with you instead of a competitor. A me-too business usually leads to failure without some kind of edge over similar businesses. Create a Problem: Another twist to how money works is to create problems and sell the solution. Problems are everywhere. While some are obvious, others are not. Modern capitalism creates many “artificial needs”

instead of just “solving problems”? Coca Cola doesn’t solve a problem? Tiktok doesn’t solve a problem. A qualified doctor or a skilled urban planner or even a plumber solve a lot more problems than the founder of the company that sells Indomie. A missing part of the equation is the ability to convince people that they need your product despite the fact that they could live happily without it. Running, meditating, eating less sugar, fasting, spending time with friends and family, are all inexpensive solutions to most people’s problems. Yet, the market is not interested in what doesn’t create a profit. The market wants people to believe solution come from even more consumption.

money. In my late twenties, I really wasn’t after money. I was particular about solving problems. I discovered that this paved the way for certain career moves that affected my life in many positive ways. I was making good money enough that I actually got carried away. Once the money started to come in I stopped solving problems. I became preoccupied with how I could increase my earnings. This shaped my mindset to get stuck in the rat race. Had I a mentor to guide me off this path, my life would had fared better then. This is what is and does go wrong with the vast majority of us when we do chase the money. We therefore need a mentor.

the best of houses and cars. As for me, I told myself I was going to buy my mom ten private jets and build her a mansion in the sky. It was a dream that I envisioned was attainable as a child. We all envisioned our dreams as realisable. But as we grew older, we became conscious of society. We soon saw that they were walls. Big walls. Some things were possible and others were not. We looked back and possibly laughed at the big dreams we had. Silly unrealistic dreams you must have muttered when you look back. You are now older and feel you know better. “I am never going to own a private jet. It is meant for the super rich and it takes a lot to attain that height.” Never doubt yourself. Believe that nothing is impossible. Nothing is impossible: As kids we all Perseverance, discipline, and faith Mentorship: I got a wind of how fantasied about how much money are the defining elements of how money works earlier in life. I knew we will make once we grow up. We money works. The sooner you realproblems were the key to making promised ourselves that we will buy ize that you don’t make the rules you

To place an advert on our next issue contact: +234 803 480 4897 | enquiries@creatrixempire.com

APR.2022