HIGHLIGHTS: Amazing Amazon Initiative for women launches in Lagos

Women in their throngs came out on the 6th of March 2016 to receive the best Mother’s day gift any woman could get! It was the launch of the first real action oriented Support Group for women in Nigeria; the AMAZING AMAZON INITIATIVE which held at Berkeley Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.

Adenike Ogunlesi, the owner of Ruff n Tumble who also happens to be the Chairperson of the Board of Trustee, chaired the occasion. Also in attendance was Laila St Matthew Daniels, a No Domestic Violence and Abuse advocate and Emeka Oparah, the Vice President Corporate Communications Airtel Nigeria who are also members of the Board. The special guests who graced the occasion includes some of Nollywood’s finest, Caroline Danjuma, and Adunni Ade who spoke to the women about their personal experiences and life’s lessons that left an indelible impression on them. Mrs. Toyin Collins, Pastor Edebi Otefe amongst others shared valued thoughts too.

The Visioneer and Founder of the initiative Mercy Makinde spoke extensively on her life’s journey from when she was given out in early marriage from the tender age of 18 years to a man older than her father till when she decided to take her destiny in her hands by walking away from the abusive marriage that lasted 11years of her early life.

She purported that it took her that long to leave and run for her dear life because of the lack of a support system in our society for women in troubled marriages. Rather than support, the society generally turns around to stigmatize and labels the victim even when there is clear evidence that the woman’s life is at stake!

She emphasized the need for women to come together to form a strong bond and create a platform for them to get support, coaching, mentoring, business and networking opportunities. Hence, the birth of AMAZING AMAZON initiative, which is a real ACTION oriented Women Support Group.

Mercy added that even though in our culture women rarely get to “hang out” or “seal deals over drinks” like the men folk, they however still need gatherings where they come together to celebrate, nurture, get mentored, get trainings, encouragement, console one another, network, learn and grow their business. She emphasized that women need, intimacy support and consolation, particularly during difficult times especially now that face-to-face interactions within our communities are becoming rare. 

“We sometimes get support from family and friends, but sometimes they cannot easily understand what it’s like to be in our situation because they haven’t really walked in our shoes. But being in a group with people who have been in your same situation can help fill the void as they may be able to provide the needed succor and share proven and practical steps they once used in dealing with the situation. Whether a woman is dealing with illness, emotional problems, marital issues, parenting issues, life transitions, or a temporary situational crisis, we would come together with people in the same situation to offer each other support and encouragement’’...she said.

Amazing Amazon Initiative will provide a places where women can share personal stories, express emotions and be heard in an atmosphere of acceptance, understanding, and encouragement. Participants will get helpful information from Resources persons and Facilitators who are experts in their different fields of endeavor. By helping others, people in this support group will strengthen and empower themselves as these support from group members will enables personal growth and change in a way that individual therapy cannot achieve.

Beyond the usual sermons of a seminar and coaching sessions, the initiative will take practical steps to alleviate whatever travails a woman is going through. The group will be the “WHO” and “WHERE” that every woman should run to in her times of need and this network is open to women of all walks of life everywhere in Nigeria. After the Lagos launch, the next stop now is Abuja to be followed by Port Harcourt as women from these locations are already registering to become a part of the initiative.

In demonstration of their claim to support and not just talk, a lady in the attendance yesterday who owned up to currently being a victim of domestic violence was immediately given free legal services from a lawyer in the network from the Federal Ministry of Justice. Her case was immediately taken up and she will get whatever help and support she requires of the group. Others had employment issues, which the group had taken up to assist.

UBA Foundation also in solidarity and support of the initiative donated a hundred branded school bags to the group. These would be given out to the less privileged kids through their mothers.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi spoke at length on how the women can still live a fulfilled and happy life even though it is difficult if not almost impossible to achieve a perfect balance in life. She did using a graphic illustration of life’s circle and the women excitedly joined in on the “wheel of life” exercise. She ended her session by emphasizing how important it is for women to join the network and she encouraged them all to sign up and join the forum as a lot awaits them.


Other speakers also shared some very valuable life lessons with the women who were yearning to hear more at the end of the programme. The event, which was proudly supported by Airtel Nigeria and Guardian Nigeria, left the women with a renewed vigor and hope.

To learn more and become a part of this great initiative, all you simply do is click on this link www.theamazingamazon.org

APPLY FOR THE ROAD TO WOMEN’S BUSINESS GROWTH PROJECT

The Road to Women’s Business Growth project is a unique initiative which will build the business skills of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The project aims to increase women’s access to financial services and markets and empower them to grow profitable and sustanable business, ultimately promoting their long-term economic independence.

There is no registration fee. However, please note that participants are requested to cover travel/transportation costs to the project’s training centres located in three cities: Lagos, Abuja or Uyo.

Project Structure

The project will focus on providing support to women entrepreneurs through its two phased approach:
Phase I

500 small business owners will be trained in financial literacy and investment readiness over six (6) weeks, including two classroom workshops and four weeks of e-learning (January – March 2016).
Phase II

100 top performing women entrepreneurs (out of the 500) will receive intensive business support in the form of tailored business training and services and ongoing mentoring over six months (from May 2016).

To be eligible for this program you need to:

1. Own a business in Nigeria.

2. Operate a business in a high-growth sector.

3. Have 3 – 49 staff.

4. Have an annual turnover of N3-20 million.

5. Have English language fluency

6. Have a business which has generated profit for at least 2 years.

7. Have a strong desire and commitment to grow your business.

8. Have basic computer literacy

9. Have a need for additional investment and have had no previous access to formal financial services

Application Process

The deadline for application is 5pm on 10 December 2015. Applications will be evaluated as they arrive, and selections will be made on a rolling basis. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Selection results will be announced in January 2016

APPLY NOW

For questions please contact Lola at Lfalokun@pau.edu.ng or call 08174583173.

Funding, Mentoring In 2015 WIMBIZ Competition - 2 days to go!! Apply now

Applications are now open for the WIMBIZ 2015 Impact Investment Competition!

Theme: Women in Technology

The Award:

1,000,000 NGN will be awarded to the top 3 businesses.
The top 10 applicants will be granted scholarships to attend the Annual Conference
Awards will be presented to the winners during the closing ceremony of the Annual Conference
The winners will be assigned mentors on the platform of the WIMBIZ mentoring program

What is the Impact Investment Competition?

This is a business plan competition for start-up businesses in the impact investment niche.

The 2015 competition will equip 3 female owned startup businesses in the technology industry with the necessary support to ensure their success and sustainability.

For a business to participate, it must:

• Have clearly defined goals and objectives
• Be sustainable and profitable
• Impact society
• Be in the start-up phase and should not be more than 12 months old (new businesses are welcome to apply)
• Be a technological start-up

Application Deadline:

Monday, 31st August, 2015

How Does One Apply?

Fill in the online application here

You will be required to upload create and upload a 1-3 minute(s) video marketing your unique product and/or service, upload to YouTube and paste the link to your application

Who Can Apply?

To apply for this award:

• You must be a citizen of Nigeria
• You must be a woman between the ages of 21-30
• Your business must be situated in Nigeria and should have a sustainability component for Nigeria
• The value of your request should not exceed 300,000NGN
• The business must be in the start-up phase and should not be more than 12 months old
• The owner must demonstrate commitment and interest in the business

Want to be a change agent? This conference is for you!

Discover your full potential with Funto Ibuoye, Bola Balogun, +Tosyn Bucknor , Omoyemi Akerele and others +Titilola Tewe at the Becoming Conference

In a bid to create a new generation of young women leaders,trailblazers and change agents who will be an inspiration to others, The Beautified Network, a faith-based initiative founded to inspire young women to discover and fulfill their God given purposes as well as empower them to live their best lives, is set to organize her flagship conference tagged Becoming.The conference is focused on inspiring young women between the ages of 18 and 30 to live up to their full potentials as they discover and become all they were created to be, regardless of their circumstance or background.

According to Funto Ibuoye, the Convener of the annual Conference,: “Our purpose for organizing this conference is to bring together women who have achieved a great level of success and significance in their respective endeavors.The speakers will share the stories of their journey to success as they inspire the younger women. The Woman is an irreplaceable element in social transformation,there is no better time to empower her than now.

The speakers for this year’s edition of Becoming conference includes:
Tosyn Bucknor - OAP and CEO - The TosynBucknor Company.
Omoyemi Akerele - CEO Style housfiles and Founder, Lagos Fashion and Design Week.
Bola Balogun - CEO Glam Brand Agency.
Titilola Tewe - Founder, The Father's Girls.

The conference will also feature a panel discussion titled Can Women Really Have It All?

Stylish women will also be treated to a mini fashion show.

Date: July 18, 2015
Time: 10am
Venue: Terra Kulture, Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage, Off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island‎, Lagos.

To register for the conference, kindly visit the link below-
http://thebeautifiednetwork.uregista.com/forms/287

For more information or sponsorship, please call-
Deborah- 0807034298496
Mary Jane- 08075553939

Women in the workplace - CSR-in-Action

I read this article from a newsletter I received from +csrinaction and just had to share. My focus is the last paragraph, that is a call to entrepreneurs to develop solutions to this challenge that women have in balancing their work and home.

Enjoy.....

www.csrinaction.org

The workplace must be made more flexible to support the challenges faced by working mothers! This only echoes the subtle message missed by most observers as they laid blame on the mother of three missing children who, thanks to heavens have been found and their abductors arrested in the course of this month. Owing to the stereotype society has created for women who should manage the home front and take care of the children, and the outright careless approach to ensuring the safety of her children, this article will be a very hard one to write. Instead this article aims to raise questions about options that Mrs Orekoya could have had which would have prevented the tragedy.

While we do not aim to justify the actions of the parents who left their children in the care of a total stranger, it is worthy of note that the challenges of life and the need to be productive in this century has thus created an atmosphere were both parents may need to combine efforts and pool resources.

Still not justifying her actions, let us attempt to paint a picture of the ‘worst case scenario’.

• What if Mrs Orekoya like several other mothers across the world actually is the breadwinner of her home?
• What if she was a high ranking executive in her organization on whose actions depended the livelihoods of several other employees? 

It cannot be denied that women are already an integral part of the workforce and support their families in the most profound ways.

A look at the Nigerian working environment however shows that the working conditions do not necessarily support the working mother. Ironically a lot of these organisations are signatories to the +United Nations Global Compact principles, one of which states that companies should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation and claim to have policies which support the achievement of the MDG targets, one of which speaks directly to promoting gender equality and empowerment of women. The objective of both principles, when applied to the Orekoya’s case implies that organisations should encourage and support efforts to build a climate of tolerance and equal access to opportunities for occupational development for women.

The case of women empowerment is as that of a farmer with a hoe. If provided a tractor, his productivity will increase in multiples. World over, women have made giant strides taking great stand and changing the world with their career pursuit and there is a need to further encourage them to pursue their dreams.

What then can organisations do to support women who want a work and family balanced life?

A much more conducive workplace and balanced life has shown over time to help productivity, some of the things which some organisations are already doing and other can adopt to promote a balanced family/work life for women includes:

 Creche at work:

Companies can support women to continue their work by having a creche at in the workplace or supporting women to pay for a creche nearby. If Mrs Orekoya had access to one of such facilities, she may not have left the children at home on the fateful day. Currently a number of organisations have fully functional crèche services in major buildings for staff children including Total Nigeria and Access Bank plc.

Co-organising holiday activities for children: 

The Orekoya kids were kidnapped during a holiday period when their mother had to work. Suppose other mothers, with support from their employer organised a week long holiday program for the children to creatively engage them while their mother goes to work, this incident may not have occurred

Flexible working hours during children holidays:

Many women will be happy to accept this offer as it allows for a family centred work environment. More so, it allows for mothers to spend more time and dedicate more attention to their children

Certified nannies: 

How about a countrywide database that allows users verify the data history of domestic staff before? A service like this exists and companies need to subscribe. VerifyMeNigeria offers such a service.

It is important that organisations create a conducive environment for staff regardless of their gender. Collective action or a change in a perception to support women can help prevent a reoccurrence of this.

WomenX : Unleashing the Exponential Power of Women Entrepreneurs #2015

All the business women in the house please stand up!

This should interest you.

Are you a woman entrepreneur looking for these opportunities?

1. Growth potential
2. Business Expansion
3. Job creation
3. Sustainability
2. Adding value to your business.

Then APPLY for WomenX Scholarship today!

The Global Women Entrepreneurs Program, Womenx, is an innovative and global program developed to support Women Entrepreneurs.

The Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University in collaboration with The World Bank will:

• Provide practical Business Education through a blended learning approach (online and in-class training)
• Help strengthen Women Entrepreneurs network
• Offer mentoring
• Create linkages between financial institutions and Women Entrepreneurs.

Selection criteria will be as follows:

• Company must be owned / managed by a woman
• Should be a functional business (at least 6 months in operation)
• Business must have at least 5 Employees
• The Enterprise must have high growth potential
• High local content will be an advantage 

Application is hereby requested from qualified female business owners for the first round of WomenX Scholarship. Download Application form!

Completed forms should be sent by email to: aosinaike@pau.edu.ng and copy edc@pau.edu.ng

Short-listed applicants will receive an invitation for an interview.

Selected Scholars will be required to pay N75,000 as their counterparts fee for the 12 months scholarship Program. Class training will be in Lagos and Abuja.

See flyer or visit: www.edc.edu.ng for more information

or Call Adeola on 08174583169 for general enquiries

Project Management for SMEs - Debo Ajayi #guestpost

Hi, my name is 'Debo Ajayi and I am a Project Consultant and Strategist.

A few years ago, I discovered something called Project Management. Let me be clear, I didn't actually invent it (someone just breathed a sigh of relief) I just happened upon it. And I discovered that I was born to do this. It came easily and seamless to me.

Now over the years, I have worked in quite a few industries. From Non- governmental to Entertainment, then Management consulting, Construction, Security, training and capacity building and now Business Consulting, I have noticed that one constant factor in all my business and career endeavors is Managing Projects.

I currently run a fantastic organization called Endive Projects and one of the things we have done is create a Product for Business Owners called Project Management for SMEs. Many start-ups have great ideas. The question is how to turn these "fantastic" ideas into great products and services.....That's where Project Management comes in. It enables organizations turn strategic goals into desired outcomes. Every entrepreneur should take a Project Management course and there would be a radical transformation in businesses with astronomical growth and productivity.

Also I discovered that we have a cultural challenge that inhibits us firm achieving our goals in our environment and country (Nigeria). I observed that we are good Initiators, and even executors, but we are terribly poor at planning and closing out Projects or ideas. We are quick to blame governments for failed and abandoned projects. But the problem is cultural. How many of us know people who never finish what they start (hehe, I see guilty faces, plus me), how many of us can identify uncompleted buildings around our routes and streets. Indeed how many of us have ideas that we started on but haven't followed through on? Yeah. I guessed you also have a few (yes we do),don't be alarmed. We can learn and transform our experiences.

Truth is our nation is a reflection of its people. So we need to change certain patterns to make a huge difference in our businesses and careers.

Project Management is the Number one skill required in Management staffs in the world's fortune 500 companies and great multinationals. (Says who?)

Here's just me jumping in with this picture I found that quite sums up why women especially need project management!! See!

Source: http://www.impacttrainingservices.com

Endive Projects helps businesses execute and ensure project success...we also run Project Management training for interested parties.

If you desire to join any of our programs or need our expertise on a Project, please contact

'Debo Ajayi
debo.ajayi@endiveprojects.com
08095763213

Thank you.

Voice Of truth - Casting Crowns #musicfriday

I was at my son's school yesterday and alas, his teacher is pregnant. In my mind, my first reaction was panic! Can she be effective, wouldn't she be cranky all day, snapping at the kids? Then I thought again; this is one of the issues women like me face in the work place. Just because a woman is pregnant, does that mean she cannot add value anymore? Does that mean that she must be relegated to a secondary role or relieved of her duty? I felt really silly for my initial reaction and made up my mind to be as supportive as I can as an active parent of one of her students, till she has to go on leave, so help me God.

The song for today has been in my head since last week. I heard it first in my cousin +Ayo Olajide 's car a couple of years back. Permit me to say this, it is not very common to find really well done songs in the gospel genre. Sometimes I wonder, is it the money? The fact that most believe it has to be sombre? Or the fact that secular talent hunters come to the church to entice then really gifted ones with money? What are your thoughts on this?

Oh well, you know already that I have a bias for anything with string instruments! This is another reason why I am totally sold on +Casting Crowns music. The lyrics of "Voice of Truth" written by #Mark Hall and +Steven Curtis Chapman have especially spoken to me at times when I have been at my lowest.

Don't just listen to the music, follow the lyrics and let them speak to you.....

Enjoy..

Voice Of Truth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpWozyQ2QH4

Live performance...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCLFOtBP1KU

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves (I really need that kind of faith!!)

To step out of my comfort zone

To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is

And He's holding out his hand

(Y'all should just step out and believe)

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed (you know this!)

The waves they keep on telling me

Time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win!"

"You'll never win" (oh but you will!)

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

And the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant

With just a Sling and a stone (you know what I mean!!)

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors

Shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me

Time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win!"

"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

And the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me (Calling out to me)

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

But the stone was just the right size

To put the giant on the ground

And the waves they don't seem so high

From on top of them looking down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

Singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

And the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

(This is what I choose too!! Yessir)

I will listen and believe

I will listen and believe the voice of truth

I will listen and believe

Because Jesus you are the voice of truth

And I will listen to you

You are...

source - http://life.biblechurch.org

Memoirs of a Lagos City Hustler #LCH 14 - Appreciating Mothers

Did you know that the physical pain in the human body can be measured through the use of the ultrasound and computer technology on certain parts of the body joints and other parts of the body. The scientific equipment, Dolorimeter, measuring pain threshold has it's measurement in Dols.

Did you also know that the highest our body can hold is a maximum of 45 Dols of chronic pain, while the intensity of pain during childbirth is as high as 57 Dols of acute pain?(Er... +Kennedy Adetayo, you need to provide your source here! Na die be dis ke) This is equivalent to 20 bone fractures at the same time!(If you might ask, getting kicked in the balls is about 78 Dols) (Whatever! You only get kicked there when you've been a jerk)

If men were to be giving birth, I'm sure world population would've declined seriously because no man will risk his life to have more than a child in his lifetime. And while the rich ones are buying babies from the poor ones; the next generation would not dare give birth because of what they would have been told.

I found a video of two men who subjected themselves to the pain through a simulation, watch it Pregnant Men;

What do you think?

Kudos to your Mum...without her I wouldn't have someone important and special as you reading this. 

Source: Two men experience the agony of child birth

As in, no be small tin!

Appreciate every woman in your life at all times, they are really the stronger sex.

**Sorry about the long break, LCH is back and better**

Mide's Fun World - Funmilayo Opanubi Alasholuyi #inthespiritofenterprise

Nothing beats following your passion. The road may be rough, but in the end, you'll look back and be glad you lived your own life! Today I bring to you Funmilayo whose love for art led her to birth Mide's fun world. 

Enjoy........

Tell us about yourself

 My name is Princess Funmilayo Opanubi Alasholuyi. I am the first child of my parents and I have four siblings. I schooled in Lara Day Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja High School and London Metropolitan, then called: London Guildhall University. I have a Bsc (Hons) in Business & Business Information Technology. I am happily married with 3 kids.


 Tell us about your business

 I am the General Manager of Ereke Paints Ltd, and also the CEO/ MD of Mides' Fun World, also a Creative Artist of the company. As the G.M of Ereke Paints, I deal with colors too, which is also under interior decoration. So, both businesses go hand in hand.

The name was derived from our children's names: Ayomide, Iremide & Olamide, fondly known as the 'Mides. 

How did you get into this line of business?

I am a very creative person by nature, I love beautifying and creating things too. I am a Daystar member and I got inspired by Pastor +Sam Adeyemi's conferences and inspirational books, such as: 'start with what you have, 'the parable of dollars, ideas rule the world, etc. I got so much inspiration from the book and took action, by going to see an artist who trained me.

How will you summarize your journey so far?

Well, its been wonderful. I had my very first exhibition in September last year, 2013, it was supposed to be a 4 day event, but exceeded till October ending; as a result of the overwhelming reaction from the public. I think what people saw and felt, was beyond their expectation. I feel I created an awareness when it comes to art, working with different art media such as recyclable items, Ankara material, and other form of fabrics, hay, beads, etc. The exhibition was an eye opener for so many people, especially in our country Nigeria, compared to the Western world where art is more appreciated. Nigerians are becoming to appreciate art now.

What are the main challenges you face and how have you overcome them.

The challenges are not much, except that, there are times when the raw materials, such as the imported sprays we work with are scarce, but as a creative artist, I tend to improvise. Its all about being creative, even about the situation.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to go into arts in Nigeria 

You have to be passionate about art. You cannot just go into it for the sake of it. Secondly, you need to have your own style. You need to standout from other artists, that is your selling point. The same advise goes for any other type of business. This is, so that when people see your work, they can identify you with it.

Given the chance, will you do this again? 

Oh yes! its my passion, and will do it again, come what may.

Who are you?

Back to my story, where was I? Aha, the mentoring program.

2012/2013, IBM Women's mentoring challenge.....

The program opened with a bang. Our convener and chief mentor as we christened her, Remi Abere welcomed us and gave us a brief about the program and what to expect. We were introduced to the prospective mentors and had a few sessions with, Peter Evbota and CFA amongst others. CFA, CFA!! This was my first time of being opportuned to listen to Charles Fred Agbata and I was blown away.

The theme for the program was leveraging social media for business. Before this meeting, I would have sworn I had that covered with my plenty facebook page fans and small attempt at twitter. By the time they were through with us, I realized I was still playing. I was merely scratching the surface with my application of twitter and then my Linkedin profile was more or less non-existent! Linkedin was just one of those many sites I joined from boredom and never visited, I didn't even have a profile picture.

I left that meeting feeling rejuvenated with a renewed resolve to go on with Trezorlandia. Before this time I had been hiding my face, not really wanting to come out and present myself as an entrepreneur. Afraid that if I announced myself as a business person and failed, I would have nowhere to run back to. That night however, I got back home, logged on to Linkedin, put up a smart picture and re-defined my title as "Experienced gift solutions provider" and "Entrepreneur"! I put myself out there for the first time and I was not ashamed, not anymore. This was the path I had chosen, this was who I was - Mofolusade Sonaike, the Gift Consultant.

P.S - You wouldn't believe that 50 women were selected for the program and only about 20 or so came through and participated. Imagine.

Life Skills Learnt

• Define who you are without fear, it gives you wings to fly. Wear it like a badge of honor, there is dignity in business.
• Myles Munroe wrote in his book, "when purpose is unknown, abuse is inevitable". If your family members, neighbors, friends and acquaintances do not know what you do, then there's a problem. 
• Linkedin is a very useful platform for networking. Join as many groups as are relevant to your industry or business and participate. Ask for recommendations, don't be ashamed to ask people you have worked with to recommend you.

30 July 2013.....

I know I have said this before, but Lagos traffic can finish you! Gosh. Ayam tire. Meanwhile I finally got all my accounts sorted in terms of online access to spool my statements monthly, UBA was the only one outstanding and I finally settled it on Friday.

Guess what happened today? I had purchased this gift card from some Spa Salon for a client's wife's birthday. At the time of purchase I stressed the ladies that attended to me because I wanted the experience to be seamless for my client, so we took time to confirm everything confirm-able under the sun. This is because they had shown one of my clients pepper before, but even more-so because these two were a new pair at the customer service desk, yet again. This is one major challenge with so many businesses, staff turnover is so high and it's not good for business.

With all of that, I still had to answer a distress call from my client's wife today when they were giving her grief at the Spa, telling her the gift card was purchased at their VI branch (Card that I bought from their Ikeja office o! Shioo) and taking forever to confirm the card. What's the point of a gift card if you can't call up the details from the system pronto?!! What did I go through the trouble to ensure everything was properly recorded for? Could this be the rocket science my bosses from my banking days referred to? Hian!

As if that wasn't enough, they now print out the receipt and hand to her at the end of the service!!! Who does that? It's a pre-paid gift card for God's sake. Besides, they already issued a receipt to me at purchase. Awon alakoba. Her hubby didn't find it funny at all, neither did I. But my saving grace was that, I didn't inflate the price and what they got was exactly what I had told her husband they would. I would have lost a client today, because I could have chosen a slightly cheaper treatment, there's no way of knowing really, but I didn't. An extra thousand here and there was not worth doing that for. These people are going to be getting a good lashing from me though. I would cut them off if I could, but for now, they're the best in that area, so we must work this out somehow. Where's that my "Supplier management 101 handout? hehe.

Entrepreneur Tips

• Do what you say you would. Things as basic as "I will call you back" make the difference between choosing you and the next competition.
• Think long term in all that you do, don't sacrifice long term profit for short term gains
• Do something everyday, no matter how small, towards achieving your goals.

Source: http://www.sangay.com/ecuadorguide/thoughts-opinions/just-create-it-defines-you/

Slowly but surely, you will get there.......