As I approached turning 30 on the 1st of November this year. I had multiple moments of reflection on my journey and life so far. While I documented a number of things, and spent some time apart to fast, pray, reflect and prepare for the next phase of my life.
I also thought about what to share in a simplified form with people in my circle of influence. So here are 30 lessons or nuggets you may find as useful.
Wishing you a splendid week.🤍
1. You are not helpless. There is always a seed in your hand. Ideas, Gifts, Talents. Don’t disregard that seed because it comes easy to you or seems too small.
2. Put your best foot forward. Always!
3. Correct people in love.
4. Be the friend you want.
5. Focus on what’s before you. Your lane is yours.
6. Smell good. Smell good for yourself first. Make sitting beside others a pleasant and comfortable experience.
7. You can’t buy the affection of anyone or perform to get their affection.
8. Be yourself and improve to become a better version of yourself. Do it for you.
9. Be happy and laugh often, life is too short to live a sad and empty life.
10. Take joy in the little and big things. Enjoy those moments and let them encourage you.
11. Some of the best advice will come from those much younger than you are, so be open minded.
12. Give your younger siblings the respect they deserve.
13. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there is no shame in that.
14. Dream big, but start young.
15. Don’t be afraid to start again. With God’s guidance, you can build better this time around.
16. Don’t let the unrealistic pressures of society, dictate how you should live or spend your money.
17. Be prudent with what you have, live within your means and try to have multiple streams of passive income.
18. Don’t give up before you begin to see the rewards.
19. It’s okay to stop, if it’s costing you your peace of mind, health or finances.
20. Prioritize taking care of yourself. There’s no need to feel guilty.
21. Pay attention to your body. Don’t ignore signs when you are overworked, tired or need better care.
22. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stop stressing over the small things.
23. Just be kind.
24. The world doesn’t revolve around you alone, so be sensitive enough to observe when others need your help.
25. If you don’t have firsthand knowledge about something or someone, give things time.
26. Don’t be a gossip.
27. Handle disagreements with grace. Diverse perspectives help you understand people and also see the world the way others see it.
28. Stop worrying. Pray instead, then do your best and leave the rest.
29. Pray ooo. Don’t get tired of praying. Pray about everything and anything. God listens but you also need to listen too.
30. God loves you unconditionally, so you can learn to love, and trust Him.
Thanks for reading.🤍
Article by Opeolu Adeyemi. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Consultant. Founder, Brave Publicity Ink!
Two years and eight months (2 years and 8 months), seems like only yesterday when I began, but on some days, if also feels like a very long time spearheading my young company, Brave Publicity.
It’s been an enjoyable experience that has birth much growth and progress, even though I’ve had my share of slow days and days when I felt tired, but, I wouldn’t have it any other way, because it’s all working together for my good, and has brought me here.
So I’ll be sharing seven (7) key things about this journey so far and hopefully, you learn some useful things, that can help you walk better in your own BOSS Shoes.
Motivation
I’ll start off with motivation. As a young business owner, one of the things I’ve learnt to do is encourage and push myself. There are days when I don’t feel like doing anything, getting up from my bed and moving to my workstation. There are days when I don’t get any form of external encouragement, but I still choose to get up every day to put in the work required. That has made a whole lot of difference, because I can literally observe my progress and the depth of improvement I’ve had over the years.
The field of Corporate Communications, Public Relations and Publishing is one that requires a lot of creativity, attention to detail and hands-on experience.
So you may not notice all of your improvements within a short period, but over time, you’d definitely observe much progress.
Remember, CONSISTENCY is KEY.
The Work Place
My work station has been my home for most of the time, except for periods when I need to visit a Work-Hub or go print out my in-house projects/ products by Brave Publicity or projects for clients.
I’ve learnt that having a defined work station even at home is very important. It helps you keep things in perspective and makes you take more seriously your work at your company.
So just like everyone else, when I’m not out at my day job, I’m at home at my work station. Being at home can be distracting sometimes, especially when you live with others, but when you put boundaries in place, others will respect it and understand that you’re at work and not really at home with them.
I will admit that being at home is sometimes lonely, but I try to stay cheerful. Calm and soothing music helps sometimes, and then catching up with what others have been up to online, also helps.
So, when the Pandemic for COVID-19 happened, resulting to series of global lockdown episodes, it wasn’t so hard to adjust, as it had become a routine to work from home. The only difference was, there were more folks at home and it felt more like a work hub on some days, as everyone was working remotely and having virtual meetings right from home.
I do look forward to a time when this changes soon, but for now, a remote work station from home and occasional Work-Hub visits will have to do. It’s called process, so don’t be in a hurry.
Leverage on the things that you can and invest only in the things that matter most. The early stage requires being very prudent and investing wisely.
If you’re privileged to have better, that’s also great. Just embrace your own process, it defers for everyone.
Structures
If there’s anything I’m grateful for, it’s structure. Vision precedes structure, before content. As a young visionary, with God’s help, I’ve been able to gradually map out structures that has helped make running the business much easier.
From Communications Structures, to Corporate Structures or Financial Structures. Some have not been so easy to execute, but I take each day at a time and do what I can every day to make things better, until they become the global standard of excellence and sustainability.
When you have the end in view, I believe that all of your action steps when taken intentionally, eventually align towards accomplishing the end result.
It has required much studying and learning from those who are way ahead of me or those well established in my industry or business in general. Attending trainings, personal coaching sessions, seminars, webinars, reading etc., to learn.
I’ve also learnt to not be ashamed to ask questions or ask for guidance from others ahead of me or even my peers sometimes.
I understand my areas of strength and the things I’m very great at, but I also try not to take on the stance of knowing it all, or being the “Top Professional”, because there is always room for improvement and much to learn.
I also know that there is an abundance of wisdom that can only be found in those who have had years of experience in any career path and this should never be taken for granted.
There is still a lot to figure out, but I’ve definitely made progress.
Respect
I’ve also learnt to respect my young company and that has meant walking away from certain offers that come in the guise of work. Especially from those who see the value you bring to the table, yet choose to overlook that, and approach you as a person and not your company. All because they think you are young.
This really undermines the work and value of any young business owner and the importance of their young business.
If you don’t put some respect on your work, especially in the early stages, I believe that people will abuse it. I’ve see it done to others and I have experienced a bit of that myself. Working alone in the early stage does this, but you’ve got to draw the line and be intentional about what you take up as a consultation for your business.
Respect for my work and young company has also meant saying no to familiar folks, who just want things done for free or below the asking price or value as stated.
It still remains surprising sometimes, when I know that they would never in their wildest dreams approach another business that offers the same services for such.
I’ve also discovered that sometimes, my services are much better, but because of such familiarity, they would rather bid for lower, than pay you what it’s worth or the asking price.
So when turned down, they would rather go elsewhere, paying more to someone else, sometimes for even less value and excellent delivery. Sad, but this happens. Familiarity in business is no joke and should be watch out for and that could sometimes include family and close friends.
Brain Picking
The most annoying part of being a young business owner, who knows her onions is those who approach you in the guise of interest in your services or person, just to pick your brain for ideas or to get answers to questions they have.
Sometimes, these are people in your industry as well, who may need to know some things to revert to their own clients or to make progress themselves.
So they come around and try to be friendly and are very strategic about picking your brain to get answers, without actual consultations, or being willing to pay you for such services, or even willing to undergo proper trainings themselves to do well, without resorting to tricks.
It’s a sad place to be, and when you discover such folks, it can be quite painful, but you’ve got to learn to create healthy boundaries.
Just like a young child, a 2year old is still a baby that needs protection, in the same vein, you can’t afford to mishandle your young business or let others take advantage of you.
There is no harm in helping a colleague when they come clean and you both have mutual understanding and some form of agreement, but tricks are very hurtful and its simply plain manipulation that should not be tolerated.
On the flip side, this also happens when you’re out sourcing for clients.
Some folks don’t really want to work with you, they only engage you long enough to pick at your brain for ideas.
Some go as far as requesting for a mapped out strategy/ proposal. Then they thereafter dismiss your work.
More often than not, you would later discover that those ideas proffered to them in a bid to secure a project or consultation are being implemented in your absence, right after they have dismissed your proposals or they just simply stayed mute and non-responsive to any on-going conversation.
Very sad, but that’s a down side to the early stages of spearheading things in business. Mistakes would happen, and you will sometimes learn the hard way. Working remotely also causes this sometimes.
It’s almost like a power game, because you seem to be at their mercy and in need of clients.
But with structures like a standard portfolio, a website, and evidence of successful and past projects already executed, you can turn things around in your favor, securing good clients, and also avoid being taken advantage of by people who really don’t mean well or have any intention of engaging you for profit.
Clients
Working with clients across various industries has taught me a lot and has helped my business grow faster in terms of quality and speed of delivery.
Every client is different and understanding their needs, expectations and limitations helps you know how to serve them better. What makes one client excited and satisfied, may not necessarily make another happy.
One has got to be patient with them and be willing to point out areas that need their attention. As the professional, you often know better, even though you must pay attention to their needs, and map out a strategy and custom solution that fits and works just for them.
I’ve also learnt that compromising on the asking price for a service to a client is always a bad idea. Sometimes, those who pay less are the ones who are more demanding and expect leaps in delivery for a small budget for their work.
Never compromise on the asking price, especially when it affects your profit margin.
The question that helps set things in perspective when this happens to me is I ask myself:
“If I compromise on the price for this project, would I also need to compromise on the volume of work, time and value that would be put into this project for this client?”
The answer is always “NO”.
Because I love to do excellent work, I know that I would feel bad for delivering less value than promised or less than what I know my business is capable of delivering.
Some folks do it I guess, but I can’t because of my core values of integrity and excellence.
The few times when I have compromised on the price, I have always regretted it, as I seemed to be giving so much more for so much less. A very stressful experience that left me very dissatisfied, that I eventually walked away.
So weigh your options when it comes to asking for your value when engaging a client.
Compromise always breeds regret. You deserve better and deserve to be paid what you are worth, even though your business may be young.
Lastly, understand that not all of your friends or family members will be your clients. It is what it is, so don’t take things too personal or feel too bad if they don’t patronize you or choose to work with you when the opportunity presents itself.
Yes, some may support you doggedly, while at other times, some may not. Not because they don’t want to, sometimes, it’s because they can’t afford to, it all depends on the kind of services and products you offer.
So you must weigh things carefully, so that your friendships don’t go down as a result of their non-participation or support for your business.
Yes, you may hope that they become your clients one of these days, but if they don’t, move on.
Sometimes, you need to look beyond your circle for those who really need your services and products and trust that the right people will stick with you for the long haul, especially when what you offer or bring to the table is of great value and remains relevant to the needs of people.
Balance
By spearheading things at the early stages of my business at Brave Publicity, I’ve discovered from my own experiences as well as from listening to others, that, it’s normal to do a lot at the beginning. Including running multiple roles.
It’s a tiring experience sometimes, but it is through these experiences that one grows and gains mastery of their craft and industry. Making you a better leader when you eventually bring others onboard to work with you.
There are days when I feel absolutely tired, like the work for the day would never end.
So I just simply rest or take a break or take some days off, not too long, because I know progress requires consistency, but enough rest that brings back some normalcy and balance into my life.
Juggling a flexible day job with a full time business is not easy, but when you experience those small wins, the trill of all of the sacrifices you make becomes totally worth it.
I still fight for balance, but I know this is only temporary and may only surface in some stages of business, when growing or trying to scale.
So, that’s a summary of how it’s been going so far. If you’re like me, on your own adventure in business, I hope you’re encouraged.
Don’t let the deceit of “The Instagram Life” or the glam social media and lit pictures weigh you down.
The truth is, a lot of grit, grind and hard work goes on behind the scenes. The thing is, some folks only wear their crowns gracefully, even though it may be very heavy.
So believe in yourself. Enjoy your process of becoming. Embrace all seasons, including the slow seasons and celebrate your mile stones, big or small. They make the journey worth the while.
As a believer in God and Christian, I also trust God for His timely help, favor and guidance, as He continues to open the right doors to me and shut the wrong ones. When I feel discouraged, I know who to turn to for strength and help, and that has kept me going.
I hope you’re encouraged young one, as you walk gracefully in those “Boss Shoes”.
I look forward to sharing some more with you in the times ahead. Thank you for reading.
Article by Opeolu Adeyemi. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Consultant Founder, Brave Publicity Ink!
So, beginning a journey into the “Boss” life isn’t something anyone just plunges into. There is always a back story to such a decision and it can be one of the most defining stages of a person’s life. I for one never really thought about starting something from scratch, at least not seriously and at an early stage.
Most folks would rather work for a few years, gain some momentum in the corporate world, form strong alliances, contribute some value to organizations they have an interest in, make some money and save up for resources before starting out on their own.
I could say I have done that, at least partially (maybe way too early before I was even officially a graduate) and continue to do so (save for the part of making and saving some money).
So, what made me take the entrepreneurial plunge?
Well, I think lots of reasons lead to this decision. Now, there is a world of difference between what I studied as a Bachelor’s degree and what I currently do, but I will say my pro-bono services lead to wanting more growth and understanding to function and serve better.
I like to do excellent work and when one receives an appointment from an Alma Mater you’ve had a good track record with, it is difficult to take such a responsibility for granted.
Now, there is a world of difference between what I studied as a Bachelor’s degree and what I currently do, but I will say my pro-bono services led to wanting more growth and understanding to function and serve better.
I like to do excellent work and when one receives an appointment from an Alma Mater you’ve had a good track record with, you probably won’t take such a responsibility for granted.
So, I began to research and learn more and soon found this field to be quite interesting. I leveraged on the first flexible year after college to take an online course that helped me better understand my role. It also led to narrowing down my job applications to specific roles.
I learnt much working for a year with two different organizations and was stretched to the limit (maybe not the limit, but stretched thinly).
Mostly because of the kind of ethics and work culture in this part of the world, many organizations tend to take advantage of employees and sometimes back them into corners. Loading up more and more responsibilities beyond their job descriptions, as was the case for me.
I think this is so because the market place has a big pool of people constantly in search of jobs, so employees are often treated badly by companies with a poor mindset, reflected in statements like, “after all, someone out there is looking for this very job you have”.
A bad mindset and thought pattern, I know. I think many employees have somehow evolved to become insensitive to the needs of the people they bring aboard their organizations.
I honestly don’t think they set out to be this way or desire to run their companies in such a manner, but experiences (especially bad experiences) change people in leadership.
Things can definitely spin out of control in the work place if bosses do not handle some things carefully and intelligently.
I on the other hand persevered for a while, but when the work experience began to affect my health, mental well-being, my earnings and even my pro-bono services (which were beginning to experience a decline in performance), I knew it was time to go. So, I quit. After giving a full month’s notice.
There wasn’t much to look forward to anyway, after all, everyone I had met on my first day had either quit or had been fired and every one I was leaving behind was completely new. Sad, but somehow, I felt more relieved and at peace with my decision.
So, doing nothing for a while got me thinking, especially with no call back on new job applications. The ones who did call offered much less pay for more work.
I recall praying a lot to God about things as I thought to myself, what can I do with the skills I currently have? I couldn’t have had lots of early work experiences for nothing, right? Or a great result and degree for nothing, right?
So, I did a lot of self-examination about my skill sets, my areas of passion, things that made me restless and I even revisited those childhood dreams I had, even those I used to joke about.
With lots of guidance from God, business conferences and a church conference (one I’ll always remember as long as I live).
I was able to create a business plan, looking beyond my immediate circumstance to what could be.
Not that I had all the resources. As a matter of fact, I think everything seemed to work against what I had envisioned, my only laptop broke down, relationships that were dear to me went south, everything seemed to go so wrong. You could say, all hell broke loose.
It was especially hard since I was a long distance away from the comfort of home. I couldn’t even tell my parents, my mum would only worry and I might have been forced into getting a Job I really had no passion for, maybe a steady one though.
However, deep in my heart, I knew I needed to acquire the relevant skills to succeed in the responsibilities I had and going back home was not an option. I remember feeling very sad and broken. Lost and quite tired often, but I knew I could not give up. I learnt to take each day at a time, being content with little, but fanning the flames of the dreams in my heart.
I still made job applications, but got nothing, even though my work experience and academic performance in college was quite outstanding. However, my next job break would come soon from a very kind stranger at a business conference, one I reluctantly attended, as I was running out of financial resources.
So, when I got the job, I thought to myself, I’ll build this dream along side my steady work. Alas, this was not to be!
I soon found myself working long hours every day and weekends (count Sundays), experiencing long salary delays each month, losing sleep, but pouring in more work everyday round the clock, to say the least. It soon became another terrible experience.
For someone who depended solely on her earnings and was also a long way from home, it was a hard place to be repeatedly. I enjoyed my work, but knew I couldn’t stay, especially when I saw no prospects of growth and advancement after much efforts and investment made.
After being patient and persevering, I gave a month’s notice that brought with it a whole month’s work of campaigns that would run after I left. A bad deal yes, but for one who is grounded in doing the right thing always, I knew it was the right way to end my time there. So once again, I walked away.
It took me some weeks to get back to a normal routine and sleep pattern without waking up early in a state of panic about work that needed to be done, as used to be the case.
So, I went back to my drawing board and decided to just focus, learn and set in place the solid structures required for my Consulting Company, Brave Publicity Ink.
Have I arrived? No. I’m still on my way. Do I have all the answers yet? No.
My journey is still rolling out in its early stages, but I’m willing to try my very best, put myself out there and grow something that would one day become a legacy. A brand that would help, inspire, motivate and empower other people. A brand that would make the world a better place.
Is “The Life of a CEO” a journey for everyone? I don’t know.
All I know is, life is full of uncertainties and risks.
We’ve all got to make some hard decisions at different points in our lives, taking calculated risks to move forward, especially if you have a deep desire to make a difference and it remains a burning passion in your heart that you can’t shake off.
You can’t afford to sit back and mope around about how difficult things are when life throws you lemons and rocks. You’ve got to push. Even when you feel like you’re breaking. You won’t. You’ll be alright, eventually.
I’m a firm believer in God and my relationship with Jesus Christ is what has helped me weather the difficult times in my life and journey so far.
I know God never leaves us to hang dry, if we will choose to walk with Him and do things honestly and with integrity, even in the hard times. I believe there is always something you have within you or around you that can make a difference, especially if you are thinking of taking the plunge too.
So, this is my journey so far. I’m taking things one day at a time, one step at a time and celebrating the small wins, even as I get comfortable in these “Boss Shoes”.
Article by Opeolu Adeyemi. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Consultant Founder, Brave Publicity Ink!
Brave Publicity Ink! 