AYO ANIMASHAUN
Every day the world gives birth to new names .Names that were never attached to any achievement or invention prior to the time of their recognition. So many individuals go through life nameless, not because their parents didn’t thought it wise enough to give them names, but they didn’t consciously engrave their names in life’s hall of fame. One man who has been able to make a name for himself in Nigeria ’s fast growing entertainment industry is Ayo Animashaun.His Products, HIPHOPWORLD MAGAZINE,HIPHOP WORLD AWARDS AND HIPTV, does not need any introduction if you are familiar with the entertainment industry in Nigeria . His company, Smooth Production has been credited with a lot of innovative ideas like the HIPHOP WORLD EXCLUSIVE PARTEA, which is held in Lagos and London . But it wasn’t all that rosy for Ayo, as he had to start from the scratch and kept on scratching till he got on top of his game. Here are some lessons we can learn from his rags to riches story:
-PURSUIT OF PASSION: Born in Kwara state (though his parents are from Lagos ), Ayo completed both his elementary and secondary school in the state of his birth. At 16, he gained admission into Kwara State Polytechnic to read business administration. While in school , he discovered he has passion for music, which explained why he hanged out a lot with some of his classmates after class at a close by record store.Ayo knew where he was heading at a tender age, and was willing to pursue it.A young chap called me recently, and was sharing with me his fears which has been stopping him from pursuing his passion. I told him to lean on his faith and ignore the fears which is peculiar to every one alive. Passion is a prerequisite for being a highflier in life.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: According to Peter Drucker:’Today knowledge has power .It controls access to opportunities and advancement”.Ayo came in contact with the timeless classic THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill which was given to him by a friend.” The book said what the mind can conceive the mind can achieve” said Ayo.Unlike what many would have don instead of dismissing the ideas in the book as something that would work only in the US , Ayo was able to act on the content of the book which changed his life dramatically. He said:’ I tell people it’s not the number of books you read, but the number of things you take seriously and apply.’ Never underestimate the time you spend in improving your mental bank account because one day, you will withdraw what you deposited into it, which will make you profits.
CREATE A PRODUCT: in the words of Ayo:’ I used to write a lot of lyrics, and my friends will come to me to write lyrics for them for them’. This hobby inspired him to compile all the lyrics of the songs he knows in a book format. Having discovered that a good demand for song lyrics existed, Ayo decided to publish the lyrics which he achieved after completing his O.N.D(Ordinary National Diploma).Fela durotoye once made this statement:’ Create a product from your passion”. Sunny Ojeagbase created Complete Sports from his passion for sports. One of my good friends Olu Omoniyi once said: ‘People won’t pay you for what you can do; people pay you for what you have done”. So roll your sleeves, and get to work. Let humanity benefit from your God given potentialities.
PERSISTENCE: It wasn’t a smooth sail for Ayo as he encountered a lot of obstacles in raising money for his idea.’ I didn’t have any money, but it’s about the passion and the willingness to go out there and achieve result’ he said. Without relenting Ayo finally found someone who loaned him 1,000 which he secured by putting his TV and radio systems as collateral. At the venue of the book launch people were waiting, but the books were still with the printers .Ayo’s heart was broken on that day, but he resolved to be resilient. He picked himself up and 300 copies of the book were eventually produced. It wasn’t easy when I started out as a syndicated columnist I encountered a lot of rejections like my articles not being published, and not being acknowledged, but today I make a living from writing.
DO W.I.T.(Whatever it takes):Ayo decided to push his song book into the market. He got a wheel barrow to display it and moved the books to Central market Kaduna where he sold directly to people. The song book sold out and there was a reprint. The young publisher was living like a king on campus with loads of money to spend.’ Men who have resolved to find ay for themselves will always find opportu unities enough and if they do not find them, they will make them” says Samuel Smiller
NETWORK: After his youth service he decided to publish a magazine for youths which will centre around music and entertainment. He named it HIPHOP WORLD MAGAZINE despite the challenges of raising money for the idea. He was going through some papers when he came across fame magazine, he contacted Kunle Bakare one of the founders, (who is now the publisher of Encomium magazine).His contact with Kunle got him a job at the then Fame magazine which earned him 1,200 in a month. Despite being paid stipends Ayo saw the opportunity to acquire skills and learn the process of putting together a magazine .With sheer diligence and raw doggedness, HIPHOP WORLD was published. For every thing you desire, you must recognize the fact that it has already been achieved by someone else. All you need to do is to apprentice yourself to that person and learn how to climb your way to the top.
CONCLUSION
Passing through debt, hunger and inability to fuel his jalopy car, Ayo gradually grew hip-hop world magazine. In 2005, he launched HIPHOP WORLD AWARDS, which first edition took place in 2006.In December 2006; he put together a team for the launch of HIP TV his TV programme which now airs in several mainstream TV stations. With over 40staffs working for him and a brand name that gets the attention of corporate organizations, Ayo is a model in doggedness , persistence and triumph .The truth is that you can’t go back and make a brand new start , but you can start from now and make a brand new ending. Go make it happen!
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