In life when people see you succeeding at something, the
immediate thought is that you are an ‘overnight success’, or that you are ‘just
lucky’.
Worst, some people even say that you will soon fail because you have
not learnt the ropes, or you didn’t start small or have not done anything worthwhile
before landing your big breakthrough.
You see, everyone sees the tip of the iceberg, only (deep) divers
know the true story. Let me tell you how I developed and arrived here as an
entrepreneur.
1985 I was born (...with an
entrepreneurial potential. Lol)
1995 I got a small piano as a
birthday gift from my dad and started learning to play it.
1996 I researched and wrote two
(unpublished) current affairs/information magazines while in high school (JSS 1).
I wanted to also become a writer and publisher.
I had actually been reading newspapers, encyclopaedias, novels, etc, and memorising trivia since primary school. I am a trivia buff.
I won the JSS 1 class prize for best computer student, among other prizes.
I had actually been reading newspapers, encyclopaedias, novels, etc, and memorising trivia since primary school. I am a trivia buff.
I won the JSS 1 class prize for best computer student, among other prizes.
1997 I composed my first song
and read the whole bible from cover to cover. (I had become Born Again the year
before).
I joined the school choir and we sang at many carols and social functions.
I joined the school choir and we sang at many carols and social functions.
2000 I composed the graduating (school
fellowship) anthem for my immediate high school seniors (SS3 students) while in SS2.
I became the top essay writer for my school, representing her in many competitions.
I became the top essay writer for my school, representing her in many competitions.
2001 I was best WAEC graduating
student of my secondary school class (1995/2001). My mates had actually voted
me as ‘the most likely to succeed’ and the ‘Best student of the set’ before our
final papers.
I started writing poems and rap music.
I learnt typing, MS Word, Excel and Access in a computer school. My exposure to the internet and love for computers grew.
I started writing poems and rap music.
I learnt typing, MS Word, Excel and Access in a computer school. My exposure to the internet and love for computers grew.
2002 I completed my first book
manuscript- "The Ark of God."
I started my motivational poetry collection, “Become All You Want To Be- poems to inspire you.”
I began my (university) public speaking career by speaking in front of my classmates -for free- before lectures began.
I started my motivational poetry collection, “Become All You Want To Be- poems to inspire you.”
I began my (university) public speaking career by speaking in front of my classmates -for free- before lectures began.
2004 I founded Mobile Doctors International; an NGO group of Christian students who visited the sick in
hospitals within the Olabisi Onabanjo University community (Ago-Iwoye,
Ijebu-Igbo and environs including OOUTH, Sagamu) within 365 days.
I wanted to achieve my publishing dream so I went to five (5) different publishers (including Heinemann, Evans, UPL, and Spectrum books-now Safari) in Ibadan begging them to publish my anthology. They all declined saying that Nigerians don’t read (poetry) any more. One told me to tell my banker dad to pay N250, 000 for private publishing. My dad declined saying there was no hope I could recoup his money as the book might not sell.
I wanted to achieve my publishing dream so I went to five (5) different publishers (including Heinemann, Evans, UPL, and Spectrum books-now Safari) in Ibadan begging them to publish my anthology. They all declined saying that Nigerians don’t read (poetry) any more. One told me to tell my banker dad to pay N250, 000 for private publishing. My dad declined saying there was no hope I could recoup his money as the book might not sell.
2005 I crossed into Medicine
from Zoology.
2006 After my dad advised that
I wait on publishing my manuscript (myself), I shifted my attention to my music
and put together about eight original songs of mine, with intention to record
my first musical album. My dad advised me that it was wiser to concentrate on
Medicine and do music later. It didn’t go down well with me, though a very good
advice.
I started a book reader’s club in Ikenne but it didn’t last due to some challenges including the rigor of learning in my medical school.
I started a book reader’s club in Ikenne but it didn’t last due to some challenges including the rigor of learning in my medical school.
2007 I started learning Online Forex trading in order to make money to bootstrap my ideas, after meeting two friends
who were also aspiring traders (Akin and Agbo).
I actually started a small (unregistered) investment company based solely on Forex trading. That was around the time ‘wonder banks’ and other HYIPs were promising Nigerians 1000% returns. Some friends actually gave me their school fees in hope that I will deliver for them a 1000% return overnight.
Needless to say, I lost all the funds as I knew next to nothing about the Forex market. Thankfully, my dad helped me pay off most of my creditors. But I didn’t tell him I had also lost my own school/tuition fees. That created another problem (later resolved in 2010).
I actually started a small (unregistered) investment company based solely on Forex trading. That was around the time ‘wonder banks’ and other HYIPs were promising Nigerians 1000% returns. Some friends actually gave me their school fees in hope that I will deliver for them a 1000% return overnight.
Needless to say, I lost all the funds as I knew next to nothing about the Forex market. Thankfully, my dad helped me pay off most of my creditors. But I didn’t tell him I had also lost my own school/tuition fees. That created another problem (later resolved in 2010).
2008 I joined the business arm
of my fellowship and was involved in the day-to-day running of the fellowship’s
photocopy/computer centre.
I attempted starting and registering a company, ‘House of Wisdom Corporation’ after I got some start-up ideas including ‘LendMeCredit’ idea, and an online/TV game and reality show- Best Brains Game show. I actually came to Lagos from Sagamu pitching the ideas to a couple of people including my present Lawyer. He and others were not interested though, and I failed generally due to lack of funds and necessary contacts.
I also developed PayMeHourly/Savemecredit, and RationMeCredit, but suspended pursuing them because I kept hearing “You are a medical student, go and finish school.” Today, I am told MTN’s Extratime (similar to Glo ‘BorrowMeCredit, and of course my own LendMeCredit) is presently their most productive service.
I attempted starting and registering a company, ‘House of Wisdom Corporation’ after I got some start-up ideas including ‘LendMeCredit’ idea, and an online/TV game and reality show- Best Brains Game show. I actually came to Lagos from Sagamu pitching the ideas to a couple of people including my present Lawyer. He and others were not interested though, and I failed generally due to lack of funds and necessary contacts.
I also developed PayMeHourly/Savemecredit, and RationMeCredit, but suspended pursuing them because I kept hearing “You are a medical student, go and finish school.” Today, I am told MTN’s Extratime (similar to Glo ‘BorrowMeCredit, and of course my own LendMeCredit) is presently their most productive service.
2009 I successfully turned $1into over $250 trading Forex online. However, I was unsuccessful with larger
sums because (of Gambler’s Mentality-) I put too much pressure on my trading
accounts.
I was inspired to play 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' after Aroma’s 10 million naira win, and another final year student of ours who won N1 million on the hotseat. I was eventually called to play Fastest Fingers First for a chance to get on the hot seat, but I didn’t make it (thankfully).
I was inspired to play 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' after Aroma’s 10 million naira win, and another final year student of ours who won N1 million on the hotseat. I was eventually called to play Fastest Fingers First for a chance to get on the hot seat, but I didn’t make it (thankfully).
2010 Taught myself to play the
guitar.
Composed and recorded a campaign theme song for the ACN’s presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu, as part of the Ribadu Youth Volunteers’ group. You can listen to it here.
I developed a mobile phone-based trivia quiz idea and tried pursuing that too in Lagos but same story- ‘Go and finish medical school’.
I enrolled for a graduate management course in June while preparing for 3rd MB professional examinations.
Composed and recorded a campaign theme song for the ACN’s presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu, as part of the Ribadu Youth Volunteers’ group. You can listen to it here.
I developed a mobile phone-based trivia quiz idea and tried pursuing that too in Lagos but same story- ‘Go and finish medical school’.
I enrolled for a graduate management course in June while preparing for 3rd MB professional examinations.
2011 I passed the course and
got a Proficiency in Management certificate from the Nigerian Institute of
Management (Chartered) becoming an associate, in April.
I began actively preparing to get to the hot seat of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?' and entered and won the annual OOUTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) ‘Last Man Standing’ (Medical students’) quiz competition in December. (That further gave me assurance that the hot seat was a matter of weeks.lol)
I also composed my final year class anthem ‘A ti jelo’ in December.
I began actively preparing to get to the hot seat of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?' and entered and won the annual OOUTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) ‘Last Man Standing’ (Medical students’) quiz competition in December. (That further gave me assurance that the hot seat was a matter of weeks.lol)
I also composed my final year class anthem ‘A ti jelo’ in December.
2012 I raised funds from colleagues and recorded the anthem in the studio in January. You can listen to it here. My
colleagues liked it, thankfully.
I was called by Ultima Studios to come and play (Fastest Finger First) for an opportunity to get to the ‘WhoWants To Be A Millionaire?’ hot seat in May with my final professional Medical Board examinations just two months away. I therefore had (technically) two exams to prepare for –as they were both equally important (who doesn’t need money?)
This was nothing new to me as I was also preparing for my Obs/Gyn and Paediatrics’ 3rd MB exam while writing the Graduate management course examinations in 2010. And while some of my friends were afraid that I will fail both, those who truly knew my pedigree were not surprised at the eventual outcome- I got to the hot seat and won N1 million, and I passed my finals at first siting.
This feat earned me the notorious award of ‘Most unlikely to practice medicine.’
I started my housemanship in UCH, Ibadan.
2013 I went back to the studio
to start recording my first (long-overdue) musical album.
My girlfriend didn’t think it was a wise financial decision. I agree more now.
My girlfriend didn’t think it was a wise financial decision. I agree more now.
2014 In July, I was forced to
come back to my 2009 abandoned business (MLM) idea PayMeHourly/SaveMeCredit,
when my mum and girlfriend tried unsuccessfully to cajole me into joining their
Multilevel marketing companies- Trevo and Organogold.
It was while developing the business idea I came up with the idea of a personal finance blog that will convince people that I know what I am trying to market.
Now, my (personal) financial knowledge is more refined and I have set financial goals for myself. My short term (2 years) financial goal is to raise N1 billion ($6 million) in savers’ funds. And my passion is to see people everywhere (especially Africans) make money easily and become financially free, empowered and successful in life.
It was while developing the business idea I came up with the idea of a personal finance blog that will convince people that I know what I am trying to market.
Now, my (personal) financial knowledge is more refined and I have set financial goals for myself. My short term (2 years) financial goal is to raise N1 billion ($6 million) in savers’ funds. And my passion is to see people everywhere (especially Africans) make money easily and become financially free, empowered and successful in life.
2015 I am typing this now
having only just registered my first company- Credicoins Network Ltd; Africa's largest credit and thrift society. A sign of greater things to come, I believe.
Like Simeon Ononobi,
the founder of Simplepay said to budding entrepreneurs in this Techpoint article, “Do the right things. Do the wrong
things. Fail as much as you want. Don’t be afraid of failure; I failed more
times than I have been successful, so, I am not afraid of failure anymore. Try and
get friends and family to believe in you because they are the ones that can
help you grow....”
Thank you.
[I noticed from a comment in the comments section of that article that Osusu mobile wants to also build Africa's largest savings network. Cool. I look forward to the competition.]
No comments:
Post a Comment