PACE with Emmanuel Oluwatosin

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Thomas Edison tried thousands of different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, “All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.” Edison replied very confidently,

“Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now that there are thousands of elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.“

Wait… you do not have to make all the mistakes yourself. You can learn from the mistakes of others. That is why you are not the first person going that route. Some people have gone that route before you. Whatever you want to do in life, you will surely find someone who has done it before or someone who has done something related to what you set out to do. Your responsibility is to study their story to see how you can avoid their pitfalls and then apply your lessons to your situation. [Read more →]

“All objects remain in a state of rest until a force is applied” Newton’s law of motion

This is true of many of our aspirations in life. Things will definitely not move until we move. Action orientation is a major requirement for success. The question now is “How do I start?” or “where do I start from?” Even now, I know you are still battling with that question in your mind. I have since discovered one fact in life, a job begun is a job half done. You may not have the clear picture of what you want to do but you need to start some how.

The problem with most of us is that we feel we do not have what it takes to start. You know what? As long as you hold the belief that what you need to start is what you do not have, you will not start. And off course, you can not finish what you have not started. You have the magic… You have what it takes to run a successful business.

Do you have what it takes? In my studies of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, I discover that entrepreneurship requires character. You can not just wake up today and start a business. There are some characteristics that you must possess. I have been able to identify some of these. Look through them and see if you truly possess what it takes to own and run a successful business.

Guts: Guts means you must have an entrepreneurial instinct, which is an overwhelming desire to have your own business. You must have the guts and dedication to be completely devoted to your goal. Incidentally, devotion to your goal is much more likely if you have a love for your intended business. Life is too short to start a business that doesn’t give you satisfaction and joy. And, through good times and bad times, you will stick with something you love.

As Solomon said,

“There is nothing better for men (and women!) than they should be happy in their work-so let them enjoy it now.”

Brains: While appropriate educational credentials are important, entrepreneurial “brains” means more than scholastic achievements. To become a successful entrepreneur, you must have a working knowledge about the business you plan to start before you start it. Common sense combined with appropriate experience is the necessary brainpower. Prudence, follow through and attention to detail are very important.

Capital: I should have addressed this issue first. You will need seed money of your own plus sufficient cash to maintain a positive cash flow for at least the first year. Many businesses can be started on a very small scale with a small investment. Then, as the business grows and you gain experience, cash flow from your business can be used for growth. In some cases you don’t need starting capital to hire other people because you might start by doing everything yourself.

The “do it yourself” start is a good way to learn everything about your business and also makes you better qualified to delegate work to others later on. You can control your risk by placing a limit on how much you invest in your business. If you think you have all these in place, then, start something in line the kind of business you want to start now. You do not have to start it full time. Start something now even while you are still working at your present employment. Some people started their businesses this way and some other will still do. What are you waiting for? START NOW…

Technorati Tags: success, successful business, entrepreneur, business

“The difference between the rich and the poor is what they do in their spare time .”

Time waits for no man. This is simply known by everyone, but it lacks a corresponding common practice to back it. Consider a new - born baby. Upon birth, the child has nothing to his name, except “baba” and “mama”. All this little human has is his time, and he only would one day get to discover that every other thing he would receive / have in his life only would come in exchange for this precious commodity. Many a times, man seeks more of this treasure, while all they need is a better way of employing it as a good steward. Friends, we need to be the pilot of this time, while it flies before your eyes. Believe me, before you say Jack, or the “O” in OBJECTION, the year is gone, and while you take an inventory, you find - out that you have achieved nothing!

It is quite unfortunate to see many people live with no picture of where they are going or what lies ahead. Many merely exist with nothing to show for their existence. The one thing they know how to do best is mark time. This is clearly seen in the way many manage their time. It is worth remembering that a week from now – it will be a week from now and what becomes of you after then is determined by how you make use of your God-given asset. Whether you manage it well or not, either way, you will surely achieve a certain result - it just might not be what you expected. [Read more →]

Are you still thinking you don’t have what you need to achieve your dream? And thinking it is not worth it holding on any longer? Wait…Why did Napoleon lose to the English at the battle of Waterloo? The English simply fought five minutes longer. Some few years back, I went to serve my fatherland (to fulfil all righteousness). I came out of NYSC Orientation Camp with no clear picture of what lied ahead. The truth is that I had been deployed to a village (to teach Physics and Mathematics). Immediately I saw the deployment letter, I knew within me that I was not going to end up at the place. How this will happen, I did not know. But I made up my mind to give it all I had at the time.

Motivations to hold on came from the pictures of future I carry within me and the desire to succeed. What will happen to all the dreams? The great plans? My aspirations for the year? My community development work with the youth – led initiatives I was working on before the start of service year? The questions were countless and it was as if I would not be able to provide the solutions. Almost everybody around me at that time did not know the solution either. Nobody, I mean, really knew what lies ahead.

Waking up the following morning, I discovered that I had joy unlimited – the joy of seeing my dreams achieved. There and there, I decided to effect the change that would lead to the fulfilment of my dreams. I made up my mind to secure a placement first within the city and then sort out things with the State Director much later. He was the only person everybody believed could do anything to the posting. [Read more →]

Technorati Tags: dream

Are you at the verge of giving up? Do you think you have done all you know you can do and things don’t work the way you want it? Are you still failing to achieve your result. Life may seem to be very unfair and you may have agreed to the lie that nothing good can happen to you again on earth. But the truth is life holds great and wonderful things for you. You only need to hold on to your dreams – passions – for some minute more.  You need to stay firm on your ground and march on.

The story has been told and retold countless times about the battle of Waterloo. Poems have been written and songs have been composed detailing every conceivable aspect about it. History and legend have it that after the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte’s army and victory of the Duke of Wellington over the French, Napoleon was taken away and imprisoned. Even though Napoleon was in prison, he carried himself  with dignity. [Read more →]