SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA 5

Life is a blank canvass and its up to you to paint your dreams and aspirations. Remember you only have one shot at life and it is imperative to convert it into a goal. I read the story of how an oyster is able to form pearls. When sands enter into the shell of an oyster down at the bottom of the sea, the oyster becomes uncomfortable and irritated because of this foreign body. In trying to expel this irritants it secretes some fluid that later harden to form pearls. Eventually, when the oyster dies, the pearl becomes invaluable. The pain of the oyster is its opportunity to form precious pearls. Whatever you are going through in life is an opportunity that leads to your place of promotion. According to Les brown: ‘If you view all the things that happens to you, both good and bad as opportunities then you operate on a higher level of consciousness’.

Great people are great not because they are born great, but they often heed to the clarion call, stepping on life’s platform to tell their stories so that others can be given fresh hopes to run life’s race.

. Like the story of a natal child in the hands of a caring mother, she watched her brain child, GENEVIEVE MAGAZINE, enlarged and yielding more fruits before her very own eyes. But it has not always been this exciting and splendid. The last couple of years had been a learning curve for her, no thanks to the high mortality rate of magazines in the country. In her words: ‘I just keep going inspite of everyday travails. It explains why I no longer wonder when the millions will roll in’. From the beginning she had a tough task of convincing a number of people and organisation that she could do it. Starting a business at 45 when others her age were already working on their pension plans wasn’t the easiest thing. Betty Irabor is perked up and as well pursuing her dreams. Today, she is on the forefront of waging war against breast cancer through her pink ball project helping women to step into their authentic role and live their best life.

Whatever your lot might have been in life, you can write a new story and become a better you. In the words of Diana Ross:’ My travails led me to where I am today, sometimes these steps have felt painful and difficult but led me to greater happiness and opportunities’.

In 1997, when he actualised his dream of becoming a reputable public relations- personality, he neither had a home of his own nor money in his pocket. He was squatting then with a cousin of his at Ogba Ikeja in Lagos. In his words:’The question then was that why should somebody who did not even have a money of his own think of setting up a company, when his contemporaries were travelling out of the country’. Presently Mr Adetokunbo Modupe head consultant TPT LTD is a epitomizes, doggedness, determination and steel will.He now administers a business empire that ranks among the top marketing communications companies in Nigeria.

Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry is growing despite not having the requisite resources and support. In the industry, there are 2 guys who are making every one drop their jaws.Peiople never stop to be amazed at Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme(pawpaw).Being interestingly diminutive reminds one of Hollywood’s Gary Coleman .It is incredible how this guys have turned their statures into great opportunities. They are presently among the highest paid in the industry earning as much as two million naira per movie.This goes to endorse the saying that in every difficulty lies an equivalent opportunity.

When they acquired their office, they had to wait for months to get the properties that will enable them function properly. Also they had to rely on good will which their job needs. The dynamic duo of Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye are known for contributing to the Nigerian entertainment industry through their company:KENNIS MUSIC.Every of your pain, predicament, and problems, will one day become a best-selling story that people will be pay to listen to. So , never ever give up on your dreams because you are not producing the results you have projected. Roll your sleeves, get to work and keep working at it. Surely the dream shall speak and I will read your own success story .Go and rule your world!



Kehinde Ajose is Nigeria’s youngest career coach, Motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. He is reachable @ splendidkenny01@yahoo.com /08024212530

SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA 5

THE STORY BEHIND THE GLORY 3

Life is a blank canvass and its up to you to paint your dreams and aspirations. Remember you only have one shot at life and it is imperative to convert it into a goal. I read the story of how an oyster is able to form pearls. When sands enter into the shell of an oyster down at the bottom of the sea, the oyster becomes uncomfortable and irritated because of this foreign body. In trying to expel this irritants it secretes some fluid that later harden to form pearls. Eventually, when the oyster dies, the pearl becomes invaluable. The pain of the oyster is its opportunity to form precious pearls. Whatever you are going through in life is an opportunity that leads to your place of promotion. According to Les brown: ‘If you view all the things that happens to you, both good and bad as opportunities then you operate on a higher level of consciousness’.

Great people are great not because they are born great, but they often heed to the clarion call, stepping on life’s platform to tell their stories so that others can be given fresh hopes to run life’s race.

. Like the story of a natal child in the hands of a caring mother, she watched her brain child, GENEVIEVE MAGAZINE, enlarged and yielding more fruits before her very own eyes. But it has not always been this exciting and splendid. The last couple of years had been a learning curve for her, no thanks to the high mortality rate of magazines in the country. In her words: ‘I just keep going inspite of everyday travails. It explains why I no longer wonder when the millions will roll in’. From the beginning she had a tough task of convincing a number of people and organisation that she could do it. Starting a business at 45 when others her age were already working on their pension plans wasn’t the easiest thing. Betty Irabor is perked up and as well pursuing her dreams. Today, she is on the forefront of waging war against breast cancer through her pink ball project helping women to step into their authentic role and live their best life.

Whatever your lot might have been in life, you can write a new story and become a better you. In the words of Diana Ross:’ My travails led me to where I am today, sometimes these steps have felt painful and difficult but led me to greater happiness and opportunities’.

In 1997, when he actualised his dream of becoming a reputable public relations- personality, he neither had a home of his own nor money in his pocket. He was squatting then with a cousin of his at Ogba Ikeja in Lagos. In his words:’The question then was that why should somebody who did not even have a money of his own think of setting up a company, when his contemporaries were travelling out of the country’. Presently Mr Adetokunbo Modupe head consultant TPT LTD is a epitomizes, doggedness, determination and steel will.He now administers a business empire that ranks among the top marketing communications companies in Nigeria.

Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry is growing despite not having the requisite resources and support. In the industry, there are 2 guys who are making every one drop their jaws.Peiople never stop to be amazed at Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme(pawpaw).Being interestingly diminutive reminds one of Hollywood’s Gary Coleman .It is incredible how this guys have turned their statures into great opportunities. They are presently among the highest paid in the industry earning as much as two million naira per movie.This goes to endorse the saying that in every difficulty lies an equivalent opportunity.

When they acquired their office, they had to wait for months to get the properties that will enable them function properly. Also they had to rely on good will which their job needs. The dynamic duo of Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye are known for contributing to the Nigerian entertainment industry through their company:KENNIS MUSIC.Every of your pain, predicament, and problems, will one day become a best-selling story that people will be pay to listen to. So , never ever give up on your dreams because you are not producing the results you have projected. Roll your sleeves, get to work and keep working at it. Surely the dream shall speak and I will read your own success story .Go and rule your world!

20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WOMAN

1. Her likes of Hang out spots: It will be very unfair and selfish to keep assuming that you girlfriend likes to hang out at the cinemas when she’d rather love to hang out with you at a park, at a suya joint or in the house!

2. Her likes of food: It will be so nice to know what your woman likes asper food. You can suprise her with food deliveries while you are at work and at least you are sure that when you go to an eatry and order food for her, your money isn’t being wasted because she will eat it all!

3. Her fairytales: Every woman has fairytales up in her head. She has the perfect picture of what she wants in a man, her relationship, her whole life! You’d be lost if you don’t try to go into her world sometimes. It might not be easy, being how logical you are, but at least you arent lost in her innermost desires which YOU can actually bring out to life!

4. Her Sense of Style & Comportment: Every lady wants to be able to show off her man. If you don’t understand that there is a particular image she’d like you to potray enough to represent her, then you might just be one not to show off! I am not saying discard your own style but try to blend hers and yours so it can be a perfect match! Also know the way she’d like you to comport yourself in public-some ladies like for their men to keep quiet till they are asked to talk, meanwhile some women like their men’s voice to be the loudest. Its a show off for them lol.

5. Shoe & Dress size: How can you not know your woman’s shoe or dress size? How then can you suprise her with a beautiful leopard skin shoe or gown you saw at the mall but you just didn’t know her size!

6. Her Personality choice: Its only wise of you to know the kind of personality your woman can trust and keep trusting so that if you are lacking behind somewhere, you can step on your game!

7. Her taste in Romance: You would be decieving yourself if you think that all your romantic moves are pleasing your woman when in the real sense you don’t have a clue!

8. Her money orientation: You have to know her views about money. It will help you, especially if you are going to build a home with her. Is she an investor or a spender, is she charity concious or stiff-necked?

9. Her good & bad habits: Its not enough to know just the good or the bad habbit, try to know the two. It will guide you on how to handle them.

10. Her turn-off moments: Ladies are very prone to mood swings. Don’t ask me because I am still trying to know why! Knowing when she’s clearly not in the mood will help you know when to keep quiet, keep talking or not get mad when she says something really annoying or silly.

11. Her religious views: You must understand what she stands for in terms of religion and respect it! It won’t be funny if you dont…lol.

12. Her background: Knowing the kind of background your woman came from explains why she acts and thinks the way she does most times. Try to know her background and a lot of things in the now and future can be handled.

13. Her category of friends: Most ladies tend to have the hi-hi friends, close friends or bestfriend thing. Its important to know them and know the kind of people your woman will carry the matters of her heart to. If you truly love your woman and relationship, its important you make sure she is in good hands.

14. Her best colour: Don’t laugh! It’s actually important I tell you. Its like an expo whenever you want to get her anything-be it shoe, bag, wristwatch…you just know that with her favourite colour in mind, you can’t get it wrong. she’d love it!

15. Her Love language: some women don’t really want to hear the ‘You mean so much to me-I love you thing all the time. Just hold them in your arms and they are ok. Some, hold them from now till tomorrow, you just have to repeatedly tell them how much you love them and for some, its both. So to be her wonder man, you’ve got to figure out her love language!

16. Her Kind of song: Wow…I tell you guys, this works like magic! Understanding her kind of music set you a step higher on the romantic scale because on her birthday you can suprise her with a performance by someone you know she’d love. When you are alone, you can play the kind of song and you both can dance into space…lol. Don’t play rock when she’d like it slow and soft please!

17. Her kind of jewely: OK! I am sure you know this is crucial so that it will help you when you want to propose. Know now if she likes gold, silver, pearls or what have you. Don’t mess up o!

18. The colour of her eyes: How very nice and romantic…Get it right. It’s not every girl that has hazel eyes…it will be nice if you know the exact colour so that you can just drop one hot line for her one day! I can guarantee a blush for you.

19. Her favourite foreign language: Well, this is really nice if you know, and thoughtful. If it’s spanish she likes, you don’t have to go and study spanish. My dear, just know all the hit words in spanish and you are good to go. Words like I’m sorry, I love you, I miss you…you get my P now? wink*

20. That thing she ‘detests’ the most: It’s important you know that particular thing your woman hates, so that you never fall a victim and loose the one you truly love!

Wow! I’m done and I’m sure you know there are lots more but I really have to stop here. How much will you guys pay me for this consultancy ooo! Lol. Any way, I’m happy I shared my views with you and I’m sure you can know all of this! .I wish you good luck in becoming your woman’s wonder man!

Special thanks to a sister & friend Funmbi Ogunbanwo for her just points on this with me. She is also the model in the picture.

CULLED FROM LOWLADEE.COM

THE MILLIONAIRE EX CONVICT...UCHENDI NWANI

When Uchendi Nwani's beeper went off during a midterm exam his senior year at Tennessee State University, it did more than break his concentration, it derailed what seemed to be a bright future.

The honor-roll student, licensed barber and son of a minister was destined to become a successful businessman ó until he gambled with the law and lost. Nwani wound up facing 30 years to life in prison after police intercepted a million-dollar cocaine shipment he was expecting.

''Chin'' Nwani had built a drug empire complete with a fleet of cars outfitted to smuggle cocaine from Miami to Nashville. He'd been living a double life, even carrying a pistol to church.





''All my friends were selling drugs and getting caught, but I figured I was smarter than them. I figured I could deal the drugs without touching them,'' says Nwani, now 33.

With police looking for him, Nwani fled to Atlanta, where he wandered from place to place for two weeks. He thought about suicide. Instead, at the urging of his mother, he turned himself in.

By God's grace, he says, he got a sympathetic judge. He was sentenced to 6‡ months in a federal boot camp populated mainly by Martha Stewart-type criminals ó wealthy men doing time for hacking or insider trading.

After enduring 17-hour days of hard labor and soaking up every bit of advice he could pry from his fellow inmates, Nwani was released into a halfway house. He returned to school and got a job at the on-campus beauty salon. He cut so many heads he developed his own time-saving clipping technique.

The hardest part was suffering ridicule from the students who remembered his arrest.

''You've really got to go above and beyond if you're an ex-convict,'' he says. ''Ninety percent of people treat you like dirt.''

A year later, he left the halfway house with a business degree from TSU and $40,000 in his pocket. He used the money to start a pager and cell phone business, which he later sold to open his barber school in 1998.

Nwani's Barber and Style Academy is a place where single mothers can get a haircut for less than $10 and former criminals can learn not only a trade, but also the fundamentals of managing their own business.

The school has five instructors and keeps about 100 students on its roll. Nwani estimates he's graduated more than 300.

He bought three properties to open Opportunity House, which shelters 30 former convicts, recovering drug addicts and others who are down on their luck.

''God got me out of that. It wasn't nobody but him,'' he says. ''A lot of people helped me. I wanted to give back to people.''

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Nobody will pay you for practice. But when you have gained perfection, people will beg to pay." ~ Fela Durotoye

YOUNG PERSON OF THE WEEK..KEHINDE OLAGBENJO

1. What inspired the for this programe?-
Answer- With millions of Nigerian youths jobless we found it urgently necessary to create a platform where people will be empowered to be their own boss, create wealth and contribute to the growth of Nigeria and Africa.

2. Why entrepreneurship?-
Answer- Entrepreneurship play vital roles in nation building and they contribute to the growth of the economy of many nations. The importance cannot be overestimated. And we believe that for Nigeria’s economy to grow, we need to encourage and embrace entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has contributed a lot to the growth of great countries like USA, Japan, china, India, England and many other great nations around the world.
That is why LEAD BUSINESS SCHOOL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OAK BUSINESS SCHOOL has initiated a program to proffer long lasting solutions to these problems by proving a platform that will train people in ENTREPRENEURSHIP/ IT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. This training will provide proven and tested information that will raise successful entrepreneurs in society.
TOPICS INCLUDES

-What entrepreneurship is all about and why you must be your own boss.

- 25 lucrative businesses that can make you millions of naira in 2012. With A-Z information on how to run the businesses.

- Start up secrets for young and aspiring entrepreneurs

- How to Brand your business for commercial success

- Professional Power point presentation skill development

- Marketing strategies for business success

- How to get a loan from bank

- 20 reasons you must be online and how you can make millions from it

- Maximizing the media for your business success

- Entrepreneurship as a Career

- How to write a business plan

3. Who are your target audience?
Answer- Our target- Nigerian youths between the age 20 and 35 years are our major target because we have over 40 million Nigerian youths still looking for jobs.

4. What they stand to benefits?
Answer- Benefits
 Lectures at first class facilities
 Experienced and result oriented facilitators
 Free Materials and recognized certificate
 Five people will get free professional website plus hosting
 10 people to get 250 free sms on www.3mbulksms.com platform
 Access to our E-LIBRARY TO DOWNLOAD QUALITY MATERIALS FREE OF CHARGE
 Access and Opportunity to make money through LEAD BUSINESS NETWOK
 Access to partnership and mentorship
 Access to loan from our micro finance bank


Date – Thursday 15th to Saturday 17th of December 2011
Gate fee- N5000
Time- 10- 5pm daily
Venue- OAK BUSINESS SCHOOL (oak/Lasu 39, isheri road ogba, by county bus-stop Ogba Ikeja Lagos.

People can register by paying into
Account name –OAK CONSULT LIMITED
Account number- 217826573110
On or before 3 working days to the seminar
After payment grab your phone and send the following details
Your full name, gender, location, telephone no, and email address to 08083535857 or 08090805232\
For more info pls. call 08083535857 or 08090805232
www.leadentrepreneurs.org

WHITE TROUSER NO GO PUT ME FOR TROUBLE

Dat morrin as I wan baff na so I dey put ear for dis babe music, Omawunmi, dat song wey she sing say, ‘If you ask me, na who I go ask?’ My madam don comot tey tey and I know say before she go come back e go still tey, so I say before I baff make I carry my body go upstairs for her and oga room. E get one fine white trouser wey she buy and I be one go taste am because I hear say person yansh dey come out well well for white trouser especially if you no wear pant or you wear g-string. Before I go continue my tori make I talk about my madam and oga dem.

My Madam: She no too good, she no too bad. Sometimes when I go market come back late, she no go even send me. She go just talk say, “Ehen, I know you went to see your boyfriend. Thank God you didn’t stay too long. Now hurry into the kitchen, my baby would soon be back.”

And sometimes when I wash clothes and the ting still get small stain, she go talk say, “You are too dirty Mary, sometimes I wonder if your undies are even clean”; and the annoying ting be say na infront of oga she go shout the whole ting so tey my oga come dey look me one kain.


My Oga: He no too good, he no too bad. Na to dey blow grammer up and down like say im be professor, but I hear say im no even finish unifersity say as im papa die, d guy jus use im papa money push im business so tey the business come grow yakata, now my oga na big man. The man no dey eye me o, na jus jeje all of us be for house.

Myself: Eferibodi know say I be cool babe. I no dey like wahala, na only to dey wish say one day I go be like my madam. I go get housemaid full ground. One go dey wash my clothes, another one go dey iron my clothes, another one go dey cook my food and the last one go dey go market, abi wetin man pickin want again for this world?

So make I continue my tori. As I enter dem madam room, I jus go straight to the wardrobe because I no wan waste time. I rush comot my wrapper, come wear the trouser. Omo men, if you see as the ting fine for my body ehn, you go wan tief me! Na as I dey comot the trouser na im I hear person dey come the room side. Omo, see as I dive enter the wardrobe, even Jackie Chan for give me award. The door open and as I hear my oga voice dey talk with im phone, e be like say dem pour cold water for my body, wetin I go talk say I dey do for dia room?

“Yes, it’s fine. I was thinking we could go for that art exhibition taking place at the art gallery.”

I no know wetin the pesin reply am but I hear as im laff.

“No, Tunde. I am married and you know I wouldn’t stray. If you bring that lady over to the exhibition, I may persuade wifey to come with me and that could be quite unpleasant for the lady and yourself. Quit trying to make me fall man, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt my wife. Look I’m going to put you on the speaker because I want to take off my clothes”

Chei, Oga abeg no comot your cloth, abeg! God where you dey? But e be like say even God dey use me play as my oga comot im cloth finish come even mess on top.

“You are crazy men! Why would you fart like that with me on speaker?” The voice from the phone ask my oga.

“Really, that’s a ridiculous question. I can do whatever I want in my house. Moreover I am alone.”

Abeg Oga you no dey alone o, no mess again abeg. Kai! The mess smell no be small. Shey na de food wey I dey cook dey make oga mess smell like this?

“Hey man, I’ve got to go. I want to have my bath and freshen up before wifey comes home. We’ll talk later.”

My oga cut the call come enter bathroom. I manage come outside as I say make I look for my wrapper wey I throw inside wardrobe wen oga dey come, na im one big abarra land for my back.

“So this is what you and my husband do, when I am not around?!”

All my body shock and piss nearly comot as I bin hear madam voice for my back. Una don forget say I no wear pant and my yansh jus chook outside as I bin wan bend down carry my wrapper. As I turn face madam, I jus weak because I know no how I wan take talk am. Make una helep me!

________

What to do, what to do?

This is a short story by Enoquin. Read more from her on Naijastories.
Culled from Whynewhitmanwrites.com

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROSTITUTE

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROSTITUTE
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROSTITUTE

(BUSINESS/ ENTREPRENEURIAL LESSONS FROM THE PROSTITUTES)

Wisdom can be picked up from the mundane to the meaningful. I know you are already asking questions and making judgments about the correlation between prostitution and business.

Well, this article is in no way endorsing prostitution or encouraging it. It is illegal and it undermines womanhood.

But that does not mean we can’t learn instructive lessons from it adopt and adapt it to our business/enterprise.

LESSON 1

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER?

As you know, prostitutes don’t just go into prostitution just because it is the oldest business in the world, they venture into this “business” because they have something to offer to their “clients”. It is imperative to figure out what you have to offer before embarking on that business voyage. It is your offerings that determines you earnings. Nobody is created empty. You have a treasure chest on your inside patiently waiting to be harnessed.



LESSON 2

STRATEGIC LOCATION

You don’t see prostitutes standing in every street corner; because not all location is conducive for their “business”. You can hardly find a prostitute in front of a church or a mosque, they are found in front of brothels, hotels, night clubs e.t.c . In the same vein, you need to figure out an ideal location strategic enough to help you make profit. That is why most entertainment practitioners (musicians, comedian, actors, presenters) move to Lagos If they desire to make it big because Lagos is the hub of entertainment in Nigeria. It is your location that determines your allocation. M.I Abaga left Jos for Lagos, A.Y the comedian left Delta state University after completing his university education for Lagos. Never underestimate the importance of a strategic location to your business.

LESSON 3

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Once you find a good location, your competitors will trace you there, it’s just a matter of time. There is not much you can do than to differentiate yourself from the competition. Prostitutes also have this challenge which is why you usually see plenty of them in the same location, so if they desire to be successful, they have to stand out. You must constantly communicate your uniqueness to your customers/ clients.



LESSON 4

VISIBILITY

If prostitutes don’t make it clear with their clothes and actions that you could pay them for sex, no one would ever know that they were for hire.

They don’t maximize billboards or other means of being visible but they are still seen and hired. As an entrepreneur, it is vital to maximize platforms which help to amplify and announce your business. Platforms like: Newspapers, Magazines, Television appearance, starting a blog, maximizing social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin) e.t.c



LESSON 5

APPEARANCE COUNTS

If prostitutes looked and behaved like a nun while standing on a street corner, they would all be broke. They are clad in outfits that show cases their body structures and what they stand to offer. In business and other spheres of life your appearance is key. A friend once said: “You can’t be dressed like a suspect and expect to be treated like a prospect”. How you package you products and services goes a long way in determining your patronage.

LESSON 6

ASSOCIATION

Prostitutes do not associate with nuns and nuns do not associate with prostitutes. Who you are, is who you attract. In the business terrain, who you know, might just be the key to your next big business deal.

LESSON 7

INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS

Prostitutes make it a point of duty to invest in nice clothes, glamorous hair-dos, make- ups, the best perfumes, manicures, pedicures and so on in order to keep themselves in the game. You need to sink some cash into reading books, the latest journals in your field, the popular conferences in your industry, in order to stay fresh and relevant. Always allocate a percentage of your profits to building up your business.

Applying these lessons to your business can catapult it to becoming the next big thing. Keep your eyes on the prize, keep re-inventing your business and I will read your success story.

MORNING DEW WITH BETTY IRABOR

Morning has broken and its praises to God...
One critical month in the life of Genevieve, we couldn't go to press..we needed money; about million naira! Pressure was mounting but what could i do? I sat in my office downcast. I am not a praying person under pressure so i just waited...for what???. This was where the story changed.
A Nigerian woman (Mrs Nwuba) and and her British partner waited at the reception downstairs to see me. ...Same ol' same ol' story I mused. People will come and talk big about advertisement plans and never come back and wont pick your calls ever again.
I invited this pair into my office and summoned my marketing team to join us. Talk started and gradually my mood began to lift when they asked for a 2 year Revlon advert campaign; 3 insertions per edition. They then went ahead to write a cashable cheque!!! OMG!
As a parting shot, the woman said; you don't know me but I have always admired you and Soni....... Today, please be uplifted!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

We never regret at the things we fail at, but at the things we hope for but never attempted-RICHMOND DAYO JOHNSON

SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA...5...THE AYO ANIMASHAUN STORY

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!

FROM STREET CORNER TO CORNER OFFICE....EMPIRE STATE OF MIND..THE JAYZ STORY

Author Zack O'Malley Greenburg Talks "Empire State of Mind How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office"

Business has always come first for Jay-Z.

Hip-hop's king manages to diversify and expand his brand better than most entrepreneurs, and he's built a veritable empire in the process. Of course, it started with those airtight rhymes the world loves so much, but Jay-Z is a whole lot more than a rapper—he's his very own multi-million dollar corporation. In addition to records, there's clothing, liquor, restaurants, and almost every other profitable entity under the sun somehow connected to HOV. That business savvy is really what sets Jay-Z apart, and that's the subject of Zack O'Malley Greenburg's enlightening, engaging, and excellent new book, Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office. Greenburg zeroes in on Jay-Z's ability to hustle in the studio and in the boardroom, creating a fascinating look at the businessman behind the man. In addition, he writes with a rapid-fire prose that makes Empire State of Mind flow like an novel or film, keeping pace with the rap artisan's rhymes. Greenburg has crafted a definitive study of Jay-Z…

Greenburg sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for an exclusive interview about "Empire State of Mind" and so much more…

What threads together all of Jay-Z's different business pursuits?

On the simplest level, it's money. He's got a nose for money and not just where it is but where it's going to be. He's really good at taking educated risks. First, it was getting into the clothing business and selling that at the right time. Then, it was getting onto the executive side and being chief of Def Jam. After that, it was the touring deal with Live Nation. If you look at all of these deals that he does, he seems to do them right at the peak of the market. By the time he's done with them, people think, "You could never get a deal that good ever again." Most recently, that's what happened with the Live Nation deal. He was one of the last big 360 deals to go down before the financial crash. We haven't really seen anything like that happen since.

What inspired your take on Jay-Z in Empire State of Mind?

I've been writing for Forbes in various capacities since 2005, and hip-hop became one of my focuses. After a while, I did a couple of big web packages and stories on hip-hop and the business of hip-hop in the magazine. Some editors at Penguin decided they wanted to do a book on Jay-Z so I think they just Googled "hip-hop" and "business", and my articles kept coming up. That's what really piqued their interest. When they came to me and asked if I would do it, it was really a no-brainer. I was more than happy to do it.

In order to add color, was it important for you to set the scene of your interviews and provide these personal vignettes?

Definitely! I'd never written a book before. Obviously, I've read quite a few books [Laughs]. Because we didn't have the immediacy of following Jay-Z around in person, I tried to bring the reader into the interaction by inserting myself as a narrator at some points. My aim was to bring out these guys like Fab Five Freddy, MC Serch, and Branson B. who were really colorful characters in the grand scope of the music world. I wanted to get a sense of their personalities and what they bring to the table in describing Jay-Z.

How tough was it to track down Damon Dash?

That was probably the toughest one. Quite honestly, I used the back channels to get his cell phone number, and I just called him every day for a month until he picked up. Then, he didn't want to talk to me so I kept calling him every day the next month. Finally, he was like, "Alright, I'll talk to you." He gave me some time on the phone, and he went through some of the early days with Jay-Z. It was a really valuable contribution. In a lot of ways, he was the guy who gave Jay-Z his introduction to self-promotion and the legitimate business world. I think Jay-Z learned from him really quickly to the point where he exceeded Damon. Eventually, their management styles started to clash against each other, and they both felt marginalized by the other in some ways. That's what led to the breakup. In a lot of ways, they were destined to split up because Damon is a more in-your-face guy and Jay-Z is more laidback. He'll wait for it, ask questions, and then make some sweeping point at the end of the meeting. Jay-Z has said the fights that you have on the way up are a lot different than the fights you have once you get there.

What were you listening to while writing the book?

I really tried to immerse myself in Jay-Z. I listened to other music from time to time, but it was at least 75 percent Jay-Z. Since the book is written mostly in chronological order, I tried to listen to the albums during the period I was writing about when I was working on them. If I was writing about 2002 and Jay-Z's transition, I'd listen to The Blueprint 2 which has a lot of valuable content in terms of where he was emotionally. Sound-wise, it said a lot about his journey in different ways.

Empire State of Mind flows like a novel. Do you tend to read more fiction than non-fiction?

I would say I tend to read more fiction. Growing up, I definitely read more fiction. In college, I was obligated to read mostly non-fiction. That was where I started to make the turn. When I read for pleasure now, I read fiction, but I also try to read music business-related non-fiction books. Maybe it's a vestige of my earlier reading habits.

What's your favorite Jay-Z song?

"Empire State of Mind" is the title of the book so there's a certain affinity for that song. If I had to pick one as my favorite song of his, I'd go back to Reasonable Doubt. "Can I Live" is such a classic. I absolutely love that track. He samples Isaac Hayes' "Look of Love". It's mellow, but it's got this grandeur to it. I think Jay-Z's rhymes on Reasonable Doubt were even more intricate and thought-out than even some of the stuff in the middle of his career.

What's next for you?

That's a good question! I want to do another book. I've been tossing around a couple of ideas informally, but I haven't had time to flesh them out yet. Hopefully, over the summer we'll have a chance to!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

We don't love people because they earn it, we love people because that's what we owe them. Love, truly is never put out by the gushes of hate. Love conquers all.
-KENNY BADMUS

FACEBOOK LOVE VS OFFLINE LOVE

So this is my story.

I met Atala on a message board in 2007. He was an anonymous commenter, just like I was. I was more open so most regular commenters knew I was from Asaba, and that I lived in Edinburgh. He was this aloof guy, very very private. I was impressed by his intelligence, and how helpful he generally was to the members of the board, old and new. With time, we began to exchange banters on the site, and I found out that he was also based in the UK. He was a volunteer on the site, and when I also joined the team, we got a chance to work together, and I was further bowled over.

I'm a firm believer in going for what I want and when I became single later that year, I reached out to him with a personal message to wish him Happy Christmas. He replied that he had recently moved to the US, and my heart sank. I didn't believe in long distance relationships, especially with someone I hadn't met first. So I tried to put him out of my mind and look out for other options.

I went to Nigeria for Easter, and organised a meet-up with fellow message board members. The pictures of the party were circulated on the forum, and a few days later, I got a message from Atala. He said he knew I would be deluged with admirers and just wanted to get in line. That was such a corny line, but it got me. Still, I took about a week or so to think about it. I liked him, but he still lived in the US while I was in the UK. Anyway, I told him to send in his application, and that started a witty introduction.


Our communication moved from the forum's private messages to emails, phone calls and web cam, and it was as if we'd known each other for ever. Our conversations lasted hours, and we would speak everyday, and still exchange emails. However, after three months of this, I mentioned that what we had wasn't serious as I hadn't met him. He pulled back then, and we decided it wouldn't work.

I missed him like hell, but had to get back to my life, what I called real life as opposed to online life. We stopped calling each other, and kept our distance on the board. However, just over a month later, I noticed that he seemed to want another chance. He sent a message and I told him to call if he wanted to. My phone begun to ring immediately. Honestly, my heart melted then.

We spoke for longer than we ever had that night, and he said he was willing, ready and able to give a relationship with me his all. I had never stopped caring for him, but I knew I couldn't do an LDR if we did not meet. He said he would do something about it. A week later, he sent me his itinerary for a flight he booked to visit me a month later. I was like OMG, I couldn't believe it was happening.

It almost didn't happen. About a couple of days to his visit, he said something that almost spoilt it all. It was an emotional night, and when we got over that, I knew for certain, he was THE ONE. Meeting him at the airport after that was so exciting, and emotional too. I was scared though, what if he didn't like me? What if we didn't hit it off? All my fears were unnecessary. He stayed with me for a week, and it was beautiful.

He visited two more times in the next three months, and by then, we were talking marriage. On the second visit, we picked out an engagement ring together, and I organised a party for him to meet some of my friends formally. I thought the proposal was going to be nothing special, I was expecting it after all. But he surprised me. He got down on one knee, and sang a beautiful song he'd composed specially for the occasion. Words cannot describe what I felt.

Atala often says he's not a romantic, and he's certainly not a textbook one. But who needs textbooks when you can write your own? We didn't want to share the private emails, or the song he proposed with, but he agreed to write this poem which captures how he felt then, and how he still feels now.

The rising sun after the darkest night,
The comforting hand after a fearful fright,
The healing force that stills a raging blight,
None of these compare to having you in my life.

A sparkling jewel set in a golden crown,
The dazzling smile that lifts a brooding frown,
The wings that bear aloft when one is plummeting down,
All these are but naught to having you in my life.

For a long time my world was seen in shades of grey,
Then you happened, and all my clouds were chased away;

So I'll pass up on wealth more than a sum I could name,
Keep stepping when tempted by the trappings of fame,
Don't care about playing the power and prestige game,
I'd forsake all of these for having you as my wife
So what do you think?

culled from Myne whitmanwrites.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I hate to hear people say Nigeria is rich, we are not rich, we have a lot of money but in few hands, when the simple and basic still eludes us as a people .Where is the richness in lack of education.employment, health,and the most basic of amenities ?
-FUNMI IYANDA- ACE BROADCASTER/ENTREPRENEUR

SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA....4

AYO MAKUN-AWARD WINNING COMEDIAN/CEO CORPORATE WORLD ENTERTAINMENT



When you are in the presence of individuals who are passionate about what they are doing, you find yourself caught up in their intensity. They have an undeniable energy that fills a room. The fire ignited inside them catches on. And sparks fly. Passion, which we identify with exuberance ironically, comes from passio, which means from a depth of suffering. Our understanding of life’s joys and sorrows and an appreciation that between our births and our deaths we each have, if we take advantage of it, a chance to make a difference.

Ayo makun, famously known as A.Y is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s strongest comedy brands, who is passionate about his craft, setting the money spinning comedy industry literally on fire with his scintillating jokes and unique style of delivery. It all started in his university days, then as a student, A.y was just having fun packaging events on campus and exhibiting his God-given potentials. At one of the numerous events he organised on campus, he invited Ali Baba, his mentor and coach. Alibaba was stunned and impressed by the level of excellence of the event. After completing his university education, ayo decided to hook up with ali baba who had earlier encouraged him to stick to his area of competence. From then, he began to show him places, took him to events, and gave him an offer to become his personal assistant.

He said:’Alibaba inspired my entry into comedy, apart from being his P.A, I became his event manager. Based on the exposure he gave me, and his financial remuneration, I said to my self-A.Y you better start making people laugh. There and then I told Ali that I wanted to start doing comedy’. His claim to fame started out on the set of made in warri organised by R.M.D,Nite of a thousand laugh and basket mouth’s laff and jams. From then on, he’s been gaining momentum in his career and smiling to the bank.

A.y,s definition of success is not just about prosperity but also about posterity, and that was how open mic nite comedy challenge was birthed to discover new talents in the comedy industry.Aletile oluwa seyitan Lawrence, who emerged from A.y’s open mic nite comedy challenge, was recently awarded at the National youth council of Nigeria for his contributions to society through comedy. Open mic nite comedy challenge gave seyilaw’s talent a lift as he has become one of the fastest growing stand up comedians to court Nigeria’s entertainment circuit.A.y observed that his driving force is knowing the fact that if you are not useful to yourself, you cannot be useful to the society.



LESSONS LEARNT

Start early:A.y discovered his career path in his university days and was able to stick to it. In the words of fela durotoye:’Early to start, early to reign’.



Menthorship: Ayo was able to leverage on alibaba’s experiential knowledge.Ali brought out the comic personality in him. Sometimes in life, your success is tied to your ability to leverage on other people’s knowledge. It is not always about what you know, but who you know.



Give back: Through his open mic nite comedy challenge, he has discovered over ten comedians who are living their dreams and succeeding on their own terms.In life you will be remembered not for your duration on earth, but for your donation to humanity.

What is the gift God has given you that you are not expressing? Remember to step out in faith, knowing fully well that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Go and rule your world!

SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA 3...FROM GALE TO GLORY

“I believe artistes that have been able to stand the test of time are the ones who recognized and apply their P’s-Power, Patience, and Persistence.

-OLUMIDE EDWARDS ADEGBOLU

A.K.A Olu Maintain

It all started with a dream. In her words:” The dream of wearing a crown started when I was growing up. I saw Bianca Onoh(one time Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria) on Television and fell in love with her “So it was not a surprise that dream materialized when she became the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2000.In June 2000, she made it to the semi final of the Miss Universe and internet scores showed that she was actually favoured over Miss Puerto Rico who later emerged winner. She would have screamed that she was discriminated against, that the judges were biased because she isn’t white or brown .She could have returned to the university disillusioned to finish her studies. But she stayed the course with her sights firmly on ruling the world some day. On 16th November 2001 at sun city South Africa , Priyanka Chopra stepped down to hand her the Miss world crown 2001.Making history as the first African to wear the crown. Her name?Agbani darego.

The race of life is often filled with barricades, obstacles and hurdles which’s goal is to stop us and hinder the giant in us from rising and enjoying the sweet pills of success.Every one knows the blows of life are inevitable , if you are hoping to become a champion in life’s boxing ring. What really counts is rising up each time you are knocked down and saying to yourself:”I may be knocked down, but I cannot be knocked out”. So many individuals, in the process of avoiding life’s perilious times resolve to do nothing, try something , or even dare the unusual. In the process, they are stuck remaining on one spot in life, ignorantly not knowing they possess the capacity to soar above the terrible winds of adversity. In the words of Roberto Goizuueta:”The moment avoiding failure becomes your motivation; you are down the part of inactivity. You stumble only if you are moving.”

Look at the butterfly, who once upon a time in its life was a caterpillar. A tiny, little wriggly, ugly, creature with about a 100 legs. An earth bound creature that cannot go very far. But at a time it goes into a cocoon and emerges from the cocoon a butterfly. And you see, a butterfly is so beautiful you don’t want to kill it, so pretty its heaven bound. It can fly as high as it wants its no longer earthbound. We become transformed from not being able to reach for the stars to being able to live our dreams , when we embrace the life changing benefits of advversity.Stephanie Okereke, One of Nigeria’s leading actress experienced a turning point in her life while traveling to the 2005 AMAA award ceremony, a car collided with the one she was in. Stephanie crawled from the ensuing flames with third –degree burns , split bones and a “Fighting spirit’. Bedridden for months, she had to undergo two surgeries, miss a casting for a Roberto-Deniro movie and her career was on hold .Stephanie stood strong inspite of the life threatening accident. She made a full recovery in time to resume training at The New Film Academy Los Angeles, and the Gene Frankel studios, New York where she was schooled in acting for film.Today, she is waxing stronger and pursuing her passion with renewed strength and vigour.

From the moment he came on as a substitute at Japan 93 scoring, ran towards the coach with the gesture saying:”I told you I could do it”. It was clear that a new star had arrived.Kanu Nwankwo went on to score four more goals. The next year he was a skipper and pivotal to the Nigerian dream team gold medal triumph at the atlannta Olympics in U.S.A.Then came the dark experience , doctors confirmed kannu had a heart problem.One that will put an end to his playing career. Interestingly and surprisingly , Kanu fought back by using resilience and courage as chief weapons.He was operated on and yes! He has bounced back from the surgeons table to his rightful place- the field of play-dazzling as ever.The detour of the heart problem led to the birth of the Kanu Heart Foundation, by which a lot of lives have been saved.

When you were a tiny little child, you made your way around the world on your hands and knees crawling. Every one around you were walking and one day, it got into your head to give that a try. So little by little, you worked on developing the skills you needed to walk. You grabbed on to something above you and pulled yourself upright. Through it all, you stumbled, fell down again and again, until you stood up all by yourself.You eventually took your first couple of steps…..all alone all by yourself and (hopefully) to the cheers and applause of your family. You became a champion. Today, you can still re-create that childhood experience and stretch it into your puzzling difficulties. If you can do it then, you can make it happen now.You can move from gale to glory and share your own success story. Go and rule your world!

THE WORD FOR TODAY

SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA 2..THE COBHAM ASUQUO STORY

COBHAMS ASUQUO-NIGERIA'S WONDER MUSIC PRODUCER/CEO COBHAMS ASUQUO MUSIC PRODUCTION(C.A.M.P)



When the producers of the first apprentice – a reality television show about competing for an apprenticeship with Donald trump began constructing a story , they wanted to know which applicant will have what it takes to stand out in a crowd. As the first season unfolded, the person with the higher level of education was the first to be fired, and the least educated of the bunch, made it to the final five. In this case art imitated life and reality TV reflected some real facts about good leadership..One of the traits that made the least qualified candidate made it to the final stage is optimism. According to Orison swett marden:’The man who would succeed must think success, must think upward, , must think progressively, constructively, inventively and above all optimistically.’ Optimism is a sure fire weapon for conquering the humongous odds of life.Cobhams Asuquo is one personality who epitomizes this trait.Inspite of being visually impaired he is one personality who has been able to turn his difficulty into opportunities. Great men are adversity converters, they don’t make mountains out of molehills, but stepping stones out of mountains. The success of great men can be traced to their stories. Here are key success principles we can adopt from Cobhams Asuquo’s grass to grace story and apply it to our lives:



-THE GOD FACTOR: One quality I find fascinating about Cobhams is his deep love for God. For all that he has achieved the producer who once aspired to become a lawyer, will never agree to any personal accomplishment neither will he seize any occasion to drum up praise to himself. Instead, he is always grateful to God. He said: .’I am just grateful. I recognize the fact that I am part of the process. You might do a good beat for a good artiste, and you might still not sell, I think I have been fortunate I don’t take it for granted. The confidence that I have is that the work of my hands have been blessed’. At times we run ,the race of life without consulting God, the one who created the race called life.G.O.D is an acronym for General Over Destinies. Make him the general of your destiny.



-START EARLY: Cobhams usually likes to say his music career started when as a child, he used to puff his cheeks to play the 12 bar blues. He produced his first officially released album for a gospel artiste –Paul Natasha at the age of 16 but never made it to main stream audiences. The lesson here is to start pursuing your career path immediately you’ve discovered it. If God wanted you to pursue your career path when you are old, he shouldn’t have deposited the ability or talent in you at creation. He should have deposited the gift into you at an old age. Sit down and determine what your talent is. Start tinkering with it, start milking and harnessing it. You will be amazed where it will take you. I became a columnist at the age of 19 and got my first pay cheque as a motivational speaker at the age of 21.So you are never too young to start.



-SELF AWARENESS: As much as he so wished to become a legal luminary, he recognized the system is not wired to give knowledge but wired to make students read and sail through. He therefore abandoned his law degree at University of Lagos in 2004’.I just don’t want to cram and pass, self awareness means a lot to me than just cramming and passing’. I decided to opt for something more realistic which was music’ he said. In our world today, many individuals are afraid of following their heart because of the ‘Unknown’.Its imperative to define and refine the skills that are in harmony with your key result areas in life.



-GAIN MASTERY: Cobhams nurtured his love for music by immersing himself in various sounds while growing up. His style comprises a wild spectrum of sounds based on his careful understudy of such classical, jazz , traditional music greats.You only rise to become a master in your trade when you embrace mastery. The word mastery evolved from medieval French meaning someone who is exceptionally proficient and skilled. You, ve got to constantly sharpen your skills to be on the cutting edge.You are a product competing for shelf space in life’s super market, people will only buy into you when you demonstrate mastery. When you demonstrate mastery in your craft you. Can’t but get a bank draft.Cobhams mastery as a hit maker as seen him rise to the top of his game. He was signed on Sony ATV as a songwriter and as garnered several awards like the Nigeria Music Awards 2007 (Producer of the decade,)Hip-Hop World Awards 2008(Producer of the year) and others.





Conclusion:Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by individuals who were not smart enough to know they were impossible.Dare to bounce back each time you fall. The true test of resilience is what you do each time the door is slammed in your face. Never ever give up, There is light at the end of the tunnel.I will read your success story. Go and rule your world.

MEET THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITIES OF 2011.

TIME 2011 100Meet the most influential people in the world. They are artists and activists, reformers and researchers, heads of state and captains of industry. Their ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even revolution. Welcome to this year's TIME 100
Full List
TIME 100

Wael Ghonim
Joseph Stiglitz
Reed Hastings
Amy Poehler
Geoffrey Canada
Mark Zuckerberg
Peter Vesterbacka
Angela Merkel
Julian Assange
Ron Bruder
Lamido Sanusi
Colin Firth
Amy Chua
Joe Biden
Jennifer Egan
Kim Clijsters
Ahmed Shuja Pasha
Aung San Suu Kyi
Cory Booker
Gabrielle Giffords
Katsunobu Sakurai
Michelle Obama
Paul Ryan
Ai Weiwei
Rob Bell
Fathi Terbil
Dilma Rousseff
Tom Ford
Liang Guanglie
Sue Savage-Rumbaugh
Takeshi Kanno
Nicolas Sarkozy
Michele Bachmann
Saad Mohseni
Chris Christie
Matthew Weiner
Lisa Jackson
Jean-Claude Trichet
Justin Bieber
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Joe Scarborough
Blake Lively
Hillary Clinton
Muqtada al-Sadr
Anwar al-Awlaki
Kim Jong Un
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
Hassan Nasrallah
Nathan Wolfe
Oprah Winfrey
Sergio Marchionne
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Felisa Wolfe-Simon
Esther Duflo
Rain
Larry Page
Mia Wasikowska
David Cameron
John Lasseter
Maria Bashir
Mukesh Ambani
Chris Colfer
Major General Margaret Woodward
Bruno Mars
David and Charles Koch
Hung Huang
General David Petraeus
Matt Damon and Gary White
Cecile Richards
George R.R. Martin
Marine Le Pen
Grant Achatz
Feisal Abdul Rauf
El Général
Jamie Dimon
Heidi Murkoff
Sting
Jonathan Franzen
V.S. Ramachandran
Michelle Rhee
Mark Wahlberg
Rebecca Eaton
Xi Jinping
Kathy Giusti
Arianna Huffington
Barack Obama
Lionel Messi
Azim Premji
Aruna Roy
Ray Chambers
Scott Rudin
John Boehner
Derrick Rossi
Hu Shuli
Benjamin Netanyahu
Ayman Mohyeldin
Charles Chao
Bineta Diop
Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Patti Smith

SOURCE:TIME MAGAZINE

THE NIGERIA FOOD INDUSTRY AWARDS..VOTE AND WIN

THE COMPETITION

Visit www.nfiawards.com and experience the 3-steps to winning

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THEN you stand a chance of winning any of our fantastic prizes and treats which include:

1. mobile gadgets e.g Blackberry and Android smartphones, Ipads etc.

2. dinner with a Celebrities

3. all expense paid trip to Abuja for the Nigeria food Industry Awards

4. party tickets to Quest’ Ville

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6. many more wonderful prizes



HOW WE SELECT WINNERS

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SUCCESS STORY MADE IN NAIJA SERIES 1..THE BELLA NAIJA STORY

THE BELLA NAIJA STORY
In a country where there’s a frightening level of unemployment and underemployment, the success of BellaNaija, its growth from an idea to a profitable business, is a testimony to the power of possibilities; an inspiration to millions of Nigerian youths who are hoping to make the best out of the chaotic Nigerian system.

Founder Uche Eze is a driven young woman who identified a vacuum and couldn’t rest until she filled it. The fashion industry in Nigeria held a lot of promise. Nigerian designers and models were doing well all over the world. But conventional media, just like the government, was still struggling to identify the beauty hiding behind the queer mask. Just like the entertainment beat, fashion received only a few pages every Saturday and Sunday – not enough space, or resources to capture and fuel the impending growth.

To make matters worse, as at when BellaNaija came on board, most of these fashion columns had no presence on their respective newspapers’ websites.

The soft-sell journals, fond of dedicating generous space to fashion and lifestyle also had zero presence online.

And BellaNaija entered that space and made it hers.



The site’s writers and editors display excellent understanding of fashion matters and they’ve been able to cultivate a community of readers who understand what time it is, when the topic is fashion. The site’s event section, as well as music and prose segments are also impressive, even though its major strength remains fashion news, opinion, prose, features and red carpet coverage.

Alexa says most visitors to the site today, are women who are based outside Nigeria. And in five years, the site has grown to become one of the top 100 sites in Nigeria. (No 52 as at the time of writing).

It’s interesting that, for a team of young people with little journalism experience, the site parades almost hundred percent error free content. And running on the internet where most platforms are wont to break the rules and act with abandon, BN remains decent, positive and very professional – generating over 90 percent of the content it puts up.

But, just like every other blog, they continue to be under heavy criticism for what would seem a suspicious romance with the subjects the site covers – BN continues to insist that running ‘sponsored content’ is one of the ways to ensure revenue, in a system where most big spenders are yet to fully appreciate the reach of online media. The site has not for one minute pretended to be a news website and its editors constantly shy away from ‘negative news or damaging gossip’.

That the owners have been able to turn the platform into a viable brand; a household name and a force to reckon with within the Nigerian media landscape, is a feat worthy of acknowledgment and celebration. And we must note that they’ve done this entirely as a privately-funded internet company working in a country without access to fast, reliable internet or electricity.

Uche Eze and her team have been sharing the story of BellaNaija with us. It’s important we listen – apparently there’s a lot to learn from this start-up that’s making waves home and abroad…

culled from the Nigeria Entertainment Today's editorial tagged :BELLANAIJA AT 5

M.O.V.E WITH KENNY: WRITING AND PUBLISHING IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL NETWOR...

M.O.V.E WITH KENNY: WRITING AND PUBLISHING IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL NETWOR...: it was August 2009, and I had decided to start writing full time a few months earlier. I had joined a writing group and somebody suggeste...

WRITING AND PUBLISHING IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL NETWORK-BY MYNE WHITMAN

it was August 2009, and I had decided to start writing full time a few months earlier. I had joined a writing group and somebody suggested blogging too. Since then, my blog has proved indispensable. I had started first by sharing my work-in-progress and as feedback poured in, I was encouraged and inspired to continue. Honestly I love being read and that is the opportunity I appreciate most of all from blogging. I also want to get better and blogging is the perfect way to sample a wide variety of opinion. Not all criticism is constructive of course and it helps that I can discuss these comments with my writing group. I have also taken part in several writers’ blogfests, which are useful not only because of the writing involved but the critique from fellow writer-bloggers. This way I’ve received professional feedback on my writing exercises, scenes from my WIP, and short story drafts.

In addition to my writing group and blogging, I polished my writing craft and style through freely available online writing courses. The critique from my writing group showed that they were taking effect on my work. Soon, I wrote ‘The End’ to my WIP, which had grown from a novella to a complete manuscript, and I began to shop for publishers. I queried traditional publishers in the United States but their replies showed that they preferred a story set in the US which was their major market or if it had to be African, then literary fiction. I really wanted to tell a contemporary Nigerian story which Nigerians would love to read something simple and easy to read. So I looked to Nigeria but there were not that many publishers and the few I discovered appeared resource constrained.

So I began to study alternative means of publishing. I researched Lulu – whom I actually used for an initial eBook – Authorhouse, and other so-called Vanity Presses. I kept an open mind as I read the testimonials of those who had used them in the recent past. I found that most of the successful ones were full-time writers and they’d had a prior audience before self publishing. As both of these factors described me too, I saw that this avenue was worth a try. Others factors I considered included the fact that the publishing world has begun to come to terms with the internet age and Print-on-Demand (POD) was becoming a valid choice of getting a book to an audience. The new technology and the advent of eBooks and e-readers like kindles, Nooks , etc. meant that the cost of producing books were no longer too exorbitant for an individual.

My decision was made when I considered who I wanted to be my audience. Most of my blog followers had been reading A Heart to Mend as excerpts on my blog and I wanted to give them a chance to read the whole story. I also found out that most publishers would not accept a manuscript that had been published online and so my traditional publishing choices were limited. Also, I knew that this story was just a first outing and there were several more stories to come. So I said to myself; “traditional publishers could come later if necessary, self-publishing it is!” My earlier research had shown that I needed a way to take some of the burden off and I chose AuthorHouse because they assign an author a production team. I also liked that they had access to the major retailers in America, Europe and the UK and a lot of author resources to guide one through the stages of marketing and publicity.





The main advantage of self-publishing for me is that as the author, I have full control over the content, design, and marketing of my book. I also decide when it goes to press and I retain all the publication and subsidiary rights. I was thus free to penetrate a niche market like Nigeria, which a commercial publisher outside of Nigeria would have ignored. (I know of several books by Nigerians, set and written in Nigeria but published in the UK or USA, which are yet to be distributed in Nigeria). I also believe that my book had a greater chance of success because I was very committed to promoting it, more than say, a publisher who has hundreds of other titles. In terms of sales, A Heart to Mend has been doing relatively well and I get most of the net revenue. I want to point out that apart from the commercial success, there’s also that deep satisfaction of knowing your creative work is out there making and contributing to conversation. A Heart to Mend was published in December 2009 and I am always amazed by the number of people who have read the book from all around the world.

On the flip side, self-publishing is expensive and requires a capital outlay to begin with rather than an advance you may receive from a traditional publisher. Even when my book came out, I had to invest further time and money in the publicity and marketing. If I had been published traditionally, I could’ve left all that to the agents and publishers and gone back to my next project. Not so with self-publishing, I had to put in a lot of effort and energy to get A Heart to Mend buzzing. A hurdle to be aware of is that a lot of media organizations still do not review, distribute or feature self-published books.

You can understand why I will always be grateful for the vehicle the internet provides to a writer and published author like me to get my book out there. Setting up an active blog and publishing my book has served a double purpose for me; finding out the target audience for my kind of writing and building a platform too. If not for the social networking channels, A Heart to Mend would never have gone viral the way it did. It was through the support of bloggers that I did my first blog tour for A Heart to Mend with the attendant publicity. By the end of that blog tour, I was getting requests for interviews and features almost daily. I put up chapter one of the book on a free reading website and it became a massive hit. It remained in the top 10 for three consecutive months!

The beauty of the internet was that I could remain in my work room with just my laptop and a connection, and meet up with these dozens of interviews. As time went on, I continued networking with other writers and self-published authors and I as I shared what I had learnt, I picked up some good nuggets from them too. I set up a twitter page and opened up my facebook profile for use with my pen name. As I became more adept at using the word-of-mouth tools on those two sites, the visibility of A Heart to Mend quadrupled. I learnt how to interconnect these media, how to set up scheduled tweets or how to update Facebook via RSS feeds, etc.

The challenge of using social networking is that of distraction. For me personally, Facebook has proved the most addictive. I find that sometimes while updating my pages, I may stray into something else entirely and so on, thereby wasting precious amounts of time that could have been put to better use. There was a day I took a break from writing and as usual, the first point of call was Facebook. The site was down, and I kept refreshing it for almost five minutes before it dawned what I was doing. I laughed at myself, left a message on Twitter about my addiction and went to check some other things. I had to really think that day but it is what it is. Apart from work, Facebook is also the only place I can keep in contact with all my family and most of my friends.

Finally, I think the reason social networking worked so well for me as a writer and publisher is because I am a social person. During the times I am not writing, I enjoy the company of other like-minded people and being able to use the internet and social networking to connect to more and more people in my writing life is a thing of learning and also of pleasure. At the end of the day, I have to find a way to balance the two by making sure that my internet use is mostly purposeful and in a way that is linked to my writing and also setting out a specific time for my writing itself without any distractions. That way, I still get a lot of writing done while remaining in the social circles.

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An edition of this article was published in the Saraba Magazine, Issue 7 - Technology
CULLED FROM MYNEWHITMANWRITES.COM

TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY WITH STEVE HARRIS

Hi there,



I decided to wait till Thursday to share my thoughts on Thursday (30-40years old).



Figured it'd be more apt.



Many of us reading now are perhaps in our early Thursday morning (30-33), some may be in Thursday afternoon (35-37) while others of us are approaching the evening of Thursday (38-40).



In my estimation, Thursday is the SEASON OF MASTERY!





In this season, you're expected to be a MASTER of your chosen field and craft. Here, you are at the peak of your creative and physical prowess.



Here, you must begin to make sound family&financial decisions in the season of your prosperity so that you have NO NEED to work on Saturday and Sunday!



Let me say this again.



You have NO BUSINESS working in the weekend of your life!



I believe that there's a new disease out there...poverty.



But don't get it twisted. It's not the same poverty you're used to.



Poverty isn't the beggar on the roadside, nor is it the kid that forcibly washes your windshield in traffic.



Poverty has evolved!



It wears a suit, drives a nice car, lives in a nice part of town, looks successful; but IS BROKE!



Could that be you?



I've met so many poor people who've made so many terrible financial decisions; earning so much, but living with so much debt.





Earning a paycheck, but truly living poor. It's sad.



The most important resource to master on Thursday are your TIME & MONEY!



Your income or salary is a reflection of the value your organization places on your life.



Do me a favour. Write down your monthly salary. Divide it by 22days (average work days in a month), then by 15hours(average work hours), then by 60mins, then by 60secs.



How much are you worth per second? That's the value of your time/life.



You better make it count!

The clock's ticking. Friday cometh!



Make NO EXCUSES!



Your Life Strategist

SteveHARRIS



@iamsteveharris