This is a business series dedicated towards assisting young entrepreneurs find  the path to fulfilling their enterprise dreams.

EPISODE 1

That was it! Where was I when the thought came to me that man is made up of choices-nothing more, nothing less?.Where was I? The picture I have in this afrocentric curved shaped head of mine reminds me of when I joined the University of Benin as a young, innocent lad looking for an opportunity to breakforth- looking for an opportunity to make a difference, looking for an opportunity to change my world." MAKE A DIFFERENCE! IMPACT YOUR GENERATION! What else have we not heard by the sweet tongued motivational speakers of our society? Na today we dey hear all those kind gists?  Anyway, I won't say that I am now an old man, neither will I say that I am a young boy (nevertheless, I am not even between a boy and a papa), I am somewhere around that environment. IT'S TIME TO MAKE ANOTHER DIFFERENCE. What's that supposed to mean? Well, it's not my cardinal objective to ...........

Anyway, let's get back to my gist. My real gist for this week. This gist didn't start this week o! It probably may have been built up when I was still a dreamer- of big dreams. Hmm. Talking about dreams, my memory will not fail me if I say that I used to envision myself as a Chief Executive Officer in a playful manner. It never really occured to me until now that I would one day become a real CEO. Yep! Just in case you are still trying to figure out whether or not I am- let me say it OH HA- the Lord has added to my feathers. You see, it wasn't an easy trip to the top at all. It wasn't. Now let me save you the stress of worrying about my past. Let me aslo save you the wahala of worrying about your future. I can boldly say that I am an alumnus of the Institute of Poverty, Faculty of Integrated Debt Development,with specialty in Philosophical Regrets. I graduated with second class honours upper division. Thank goodness I didn't do well in my final exams. Wow! It was really good for me that I could not afford gadgets (what the oyibo man calls CAMERA to capture my passing out ceremonies.  Watch it! This is not a laughing matter.It is not rara. I used to have a database (un-computerized methods of data warehousing--- Oracle 10g students, please forgive me) of people I would ask for cash. In Uniben terms, it is called TASKING. Tasking is a means of soliciting for funds in a coordinated and polished manner from subordinates who would be willing and ready to give to you. Let me show you an example of what I mean.

Sentences in parenthesis are my own expressions

TASKER: My guy, how are you faring? Na wa o! It's been a long time since we last met. Hope nothing sha?
PROSPECT: Nothing really sir (he includes "sir" in a way to demonstrate his manner of respect for the tasker) ... well, it's just that my assignments have been wearing me out lately....
(the tasker cuts in)
TASKER: Eeya? (this could be a rather ambiguous vernacular term which suggests a disposition of semi-pity for the prospect) Anyhow, just try as much as possible to strike a healthy balance between work and rest eh... ( as if to demonstrate that the prospect does not already know what should be done)
PROSPECT: Thanks anyway
TASKER: Ehn ehn.. My guy ( he reapeats as if to say "i just remembered something..don't go yet"), please, I would like you to do me a favour... I kind of don't have enough money with me right now,and it would take me a while to get to the bank on time (as if he has some money in that bank). Could you lend me the sum of 100 Naira to take me to the bank? ( Na bank you wan go abi na Iya Basira canteen you wan visit? Which one you dey sef?)

The gist doesn't end there. The prospect offers the tasker the said amount in anticipation of a praise ( or in some cases, a blessing from the tasker ) but gets a vehementand abrupt THANK YOU from the receiver. What a disgrace on this planet.

You see, I used to be in both categories.The more predominant was the first. It was my own way of raising sustainable funds (usualy for feeding purposes).

Not too long ago, say thirty minutes or so, I received an august call from a friend in Dallas, Texas who commended my efforts in dreaming big- those good old days.... Now, the dream is getting bigger and bigger.....

Next week, I shall share with you the steps I took on my trip to the top.....well, to say that I am now at the top may not give me the drive to push further, but let's just say that the voyage will be an exciting one. so stay tuned

Tags: Entrepreneurshi P Business Startup

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