It
is never over for anyone, whenever you wake up is your morning! - Betty Irabor.
Before delving into what we have for today, I would
love to answer some questions that came up from last Tuesday’s post.
Not everyone must be an entrepreneur. It is just
always good to have more than on stream of income. So if you can invest in
someone else’s business, please do.
Not everyone has to leave their job to develop their
passion, it just depends on the kind of passion you have and the kind of job
you do. Remember what madam Awosika said, “Having a FULL TIME job and RUNNING a
business is like chasing two birds at a time…
Remember, when God has given you beans, it takes you
to make it into either moin moin or akara, just make something of it!
We will most certainly not go on without mentioning
a thing or two learnt from thestory of our dear Olajumoke/Tybello.
1. She
wasn’t at home whining, like the biblical Ruth, she was at the point of duty when
she met her agent of help.
2. Did
anyone notice how nicely she was dressed? Come on, she was hawking bread, yet
dressed like she was going for an occasion. That’s why people could see the modelling
in her.
3. Did
you see the way she meticulously arranged her bread? All neatly arranged and
looking attractive.
4. She
could have done ‘that other job’ you know, instead she stayed with the decent
kind not minding how demeaning it can be.
Here is the thing, God blesses the WORK of our hands;
there must be a work. Whatever you find your hands doing, do it well. Be
prepared every time, you never know when opportunity will come knocking. And
most importantly, stick with DECENT!
Before God brings you the bumper modelling
contract, abeg keep selling your bread...
Now, to the main gist of the day…
Our 'girl entrepreneur' for today is:
NAME: Betty Irabor
BUSINESS: Genevieve Magazine
POST: CEO/Editor-in-Chief
INDUSTRY: Publishing
Her story in Summary:
1. Always
had a passion for the art.
2. One
of the 5 children raised by a single mother.
3. Like
every average Nigerian graduate, she joined the ‘Frank Donga Ministry’ and got
jobs, first as a journalist and then as a Public relations/Administration
manager.
4. All
the while, never stopped writing; freelanced for Vanguard, This Day, Guardian
etc
5. She
did a review of her life at age forty and realized though it had been a good
life, her deep set yearnings had still not been met.
6. To
prevent this awakening from fizzling out, she immediately started working on it
7. Started
by creating dummies and showing to friends and family
8. Had
a reason for the name Genevieve
9. From
the onset, the values and principles that would define and govern te publication were clearly stated
10.
Got a consultant to draw up her business
plan immediately
11.
Had increasing passion and firm belief
in the success of the publication
12.
Inaugurated a board for the purpose of
Checks and Balances
13. Instituted an advisory board and began
searching for staff who were vision carriers
14. One challenge was that she had to
develop a template to work with as it was the first of its kind
15. She had to institute a working solution
for some of the challenges ahead; funds, infrastructural deficiencies,
inconsistent power supply, circulation and marketing etc.
16. One major mistake was not drawing a
financial structure from start, led to losses in the first 2 years. She then
employed a financial manager.
17. Carried her husband and family along so
she got their undiluted support
18. A staunch believer in God
19. Her plan is to build an empire that will
outlive her thus; she already has in place, a handover strategy for continuity.
Now let’s talk!
§ There’s
something inseparable about passion and career
§ Family
background doesn’t matter at all in pursuing your dreams
§ Madam
Betty started out as ordinary as You and I
§ Never
stopped fanning her passion
§ It’s
never too late to take a hold of your life and make something beautiful out of
those inner yearnings you have
§ You
need to START!
§ Have
a reason for every step you take in your
business especially the name it goes by
§ Set
up your values and principles, draw up your business plan (ask someone to help
if you cant yourself), have people you can report to and build a financial
structure from start
§ Lack
of funds is never a reason not to start, start small, start with dummies, just
start!
§ Carry
your family and friends along, you need that support system (especially for
days when things won’t go so well)
§ Nothing
replaces the place of God
§ When
planning, plan with the future in mind
§ Start
planning your handover. Ask yourself, what will happen if I’m no longer here to
handle this?
This week, I challenge you to:
Sit and think about something, a talent or skill
that you have in you and then write it down. It doesn’t have to be organised or
structured, just write it as it comes to your head. You can drop them in the
comment box, who knows, someone might have something to say about it.
Keep your fingers crossed till next Tuesday hunnies,
when we will again sit and learn from another exemplary woman of worth.
