Strike the Anvil....... Entrepreneurship as it really is

A few years into my entrepreneurship journey, I was really tired, it was as though, nothing was moving, I was stagnant and this close to giving it all up. I sat in front of my computer and started this blog, (I can't believe its been about two years ago now).

I poured out my heart a couple of times and felt better, it strengthened my resolve to keep going. What was even more surprising and encouraging to say the least was the feedback I kept getting! Alas, I was not alone. It struck me then that sharing is caring. The journey of an entrepreneur is a long and lonely one, somewhat. It was then that I decided to start networking, sharing and connecting. I poured myself into it. I have met people and heard stories, some of failure (many I must say, lol) and some of success that is never really a destination by the way but a continuum with more failure along the line. This is why I totally love the quote by Jay Z that I stumbled on recently;

"The genius thing we did was that we did not give up" 

I am telling you! Nothing sums it up better. I have seen the best and the brightest fall, In fact I have come to find that too much education and pre conceived knowledge can be a stumbling block. You have to be hungry and eat humble pie. Nobody has all the answers, we learn and grow everyday. I can't even begin to document all that I have experienced and learnt along the way. But I know someone needs it. I haven't experienced all this for nothing. 

I have been in arguments with people as to whether Entrepreneurship can be taught in a classroom or can only be experienced. I am for the latter, there is no book or classroom that can really capture the essence of entrepreneurship. We can only try and this is what Strike the Anvil seeks to achieve. To spark conversations that matter, to bring to fore the true struggle of an entrepreneur using this blog, the radio show and this TV web series I just launched. Yes! lol. I have failed so many times so I am so not afraid to try. What's the worst that can happen? 

I had this idea in my head forever, even before the radio show debut, but I just couldn't figure out where or how to start. I even met +lanre aina at the google DBM training and thought, yaay this is it, but I have never met anyone busier than this man! hahaha. Anyway, I thought to myself one day, wait a minute, why am I waiting for perfection, it doesn't have to be perfect. I will start where I am with what I have. So during the build up to the elections, I picked up my boys and we went on a road trip to Obafemi Awolowo University to work with some students from the creative arts department and some others who are not students of the department but are passionate about arts. Together we put together our first few episodes of strike the anvil!! Whoop Whoop!!

I'll share my OAU experience in another post, but for now enjoy the first video, like, comment, share and most importantly, subscribe to the +YouTube page.

Thanks Fam!

Banke @bank3h

We also got an amazingly talented duo to do the theme song for the series. Banke and Dayoslides, both students of the Obafemi Awolowo university ... They've got talent in that school though, almost as much as we got in unilag (pun intended, hahaha).

Dayoslides @dayoslides

listen here

or try here if hulkshare is having one of their bad days... free things! sighs.

Memoirs of a Lagos City Hustler #LCH 13

After waiting patiently on a very long queue to use the ATM, just about three more guys till my turn and I tapped my pocket to see if my wallet was still there and DAMN!!! I just might have lost my wallet. I started trotting like gnomes in a yard, emptying my already empty pocket. It was like everyone has had that experience before, the people around me were like "your wallet shey?....it happens". I had that pseudo near-death experience; my ATM cards, my ID card, passport photographs of all my Exes (seriously! people carry that around? This guy's weird), important contact numbers, and a little tangible cash etc what was I supposed to do? I had just enough money to get me back home as loose change in my pocket but I had to do something.

It occurred to me that the last time I felt my wallet was the 'keke napep' I boarded to the bank, I hurriedly ran to the park and after scoping like a hundred tricycles, I couldn't find the driver; I waited about 1 hour hoping that he might drive down again. It was just a slim chance the wallet fell into the tricycle and even a slimmer chance he'd give it up.

I did go to their union office to tell them about my situation and the first thing the pot bellied man asked was; "is there cash in it?" and I replied no. He said the driver might return it if he found it first hoping that the passengers he might carry next did not find it first, now all I could do was hope and pray. I used the money with me to go to my girlfriend's house because her house was closer to the park hoping to check back in the evening. I was so sad and could barely hear anything she said.

She went from one gist to another, chatting away but all that clouded my thoughts were the many forms I'd fill to get a new ATM,sworn affidavits,police reports and the many eventualities should I not find my wallet. And just out of the blues, someone called me to come and get my wallet. Wait.....In Lagos? Like seriously? I couldn't just believe my eyes(and ears) and next you know it, I jumped up to retrieve my tshirt on the hanger and dashed out of the house. My dame was saying something, but it was totally lost on me.

I got to the park and found the pot bellied man smiling about the feat. He said he got my number from my business card and I quickly retrieved my wallet with joy, thanked him and left. I know right?...there are still few good people in Lagos.

Even though I did not find the cash in it (liar! I thought you said there was no cash? hian), I cared less because I was too happy I got my wallet back. Okay so I went back to her house and gave my dame all the attention she was seeking, this time feeling like a man(with a wallet)!!!