A unique opportunity for Start-Ups!

In Africa as elsewhere, many young people aspire to start their own business and build a brighter future, which is why we’ve created the « Startupper of the year by Total »challenge.

Ideas deserve support, especially great ones. And promising ideas deserve a helping hand.

Google, Facebook, Daily Motion, Twitter, Deezer, Airbnb and other leading names in the 2.0 economy all started as the brainchild of inspired young people. There’s no shortage of startuppers in Africa — iCow(1), Afate 3D Printer(2), CardioPad(3), Obami(4), Sense Ebola Follow up(5) and M-Iouma(6) are already shaking up the continent.

IF YOU’RE CURRENTLY PREPARING A BUSINESS PLAN OR ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF CREATING YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU’RE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER OUR CHALLENGE!

Total Wants You

Are you under 35 years old? Do you want to create a business or develop one that is less than two years old? Are you a citizen of one of these 34 African countries: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe?* If so, this challenge is for you!

We’re interested in all your projects, regardless of the type of business or activity, as long as they share the characteristics common to creative start-ups: innovation, competitiveness, growth boosting and job creation.

*The contestant must be a citizen of the country where its application is submitted in order to create or develop its project there. Only one application by contestant is admitted.

ENTER THE CHALLENGE!

Create a profile here to take part.

To enter, create your profile and provide the required information online. To support, justify and illustrate your project, you can attach as many documents as you wish to your application, including:

• your résumé,
• your business plan,
• your financing plan,
• your partnership strategy,
• an executive summary,
• a marketing brochure,
• your logo,
• your graphic standards,
• and/or a photo or video presentation, etc.

Think Global, Act Local

What challenges need to be tackled where you live? How will your innovative project address them? After you show us how, we’ll support those of you who will inspire, create, invest, hire and produce, all to transform "your" world

1 Kenyan start-up. Agricultural information service by mobile phone.
2 Togolese start-up. 3D printers made from discarded electronics.
3 Cameroonian start-up. Touch screen medical tablet designed to save lives.
4 South African start-up. Alternative learning platform.
5 Nigerian start-up. A mobile tool to help contain Ebola.
6 Senegalese start-up. Country’s first online agricultural stock exchange.

Chigurl on TEDx

Nothing beats being real! Chioma is a delight to watch.....

You are only a failure when you quit trying.

Don't be a waste | Chioma Omeruah | TEDxEuston: http://youtu.be/_vuRuw2j_cM

The things that matter......

Hi guys.

I saw something today that got me thinking.... As we grow older more and more things fight for our attention, there's kids to attend to, there's a business or career to pursue, there's places to see, bills to keep up with, friends to catch up with, TV series to finish..... aaaaargh!! This is even just a generalized list, I can break each heading to sub headings and sub subs... Its crazy guys. A few weeks ago, I had an event I had signed up for online. I got up early, dressed up and drove all the way from my Isheri village to Four points by Sheraton only to find I was a week early! Hahahaha!! Funny and not funny. How does one maintain her sanity? Guys, If you didn't know this before, I am telling you, it is no joke being a woman. I know men will start to go on about how hard they work to provide for their families bla bla bla. We appreciate you ehn, but still..... you don't know till you know. I digress, let me get back to the why of this post, in the next paragraph.

If you found out today that you had just one month to live, what would be top on your list?

..........

.............

I didn't put the pauses up there in error, I did that because I know that would be the reaction most people would have to such a question, others would probably just say, this girl is mad and take off. But for those of you who are still here, let's think about this.

I trust most Nigerians to begin to go all spiritual on me, but I want last days on earth answers, not heavenly thereafter type ones. I have drawn up a list to set us off on a path;

- Close account and go on a vacation alone
- Close account and go on vacation with family
- Call up everyone special to you and let old grudges go
- Go on an extreme adventure
- Just shutdown everything and wait for the last day
- Give all you have to charity
- Do one thing you have always wanted to do but never did

Why am I thinking about this anyway?

Sometimes thinking like this helps you remember to focus on what is most important. Yes it is great to be a filthy rich, mighty famous business tycoon but after that, then what? In our quest for this ultimate success, let us not forget the things that matter.

I'll leave you with these thoughts;

"You are not the car you drive
You are not the house you live in
You are not the money you have in your bank account
You are not the number of followers you have on twitter or friends you have on facebook

No.... You are that person you are when nobody is watching, where non of these things matter......."

Here's wishing you a great week ahead!

Cheers.

P.S
Do a bucket list and if you care to share mail to me @ mofolusadesonaike@gmail.com. I'll share mine soon.

51 Ways Ordinary People Reached World-Class By Robin Sharma with comments Part 1

Hi guys, as usual, when I see an article that strikes me, I decide to share with most of the thoughts running through my head as I read. It's  been a while yea? I completed my first online program on Coursera - Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship! Yaay me!! I also got me a verified certificate for the course that I am so proud to share, hehe - https://www.coursera.org/signature/certificate/UMLUJGTPRV Yes ke!! The day you stop learning is the day you die.....

Back to the matter.... Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be mighty long. I'll try not to lose you.

51 Ways Ordinary People Reached World-Class
By Robin Sharma
#1 bestselling author of The Leader Who Had No Title

With comments from Mofolusade Sonaike...

1. Know what you want. Clarity is power. And vague goals promote vague results.
   As simple as this sounds, knowing what you want is one of the toughest hurdles to cross in life. Things as basic as what to wear, whether to relax your kinky nachi hair and give up the nachi hair crusade or no (yea, that's where I'm at right now).
2. Remember that every problem has a solution. Maybe you just can’t see it. Yet. 
   I know right, the wait time or search time is just so tiring. You keep thinking, where's this solution already!
3. In this Age of Dramatic Distraction, the performer who focuses the best wins the most. 
   Focus, Focus!!! In this world of #mimirod and #kardishian sex tapes (scandalous sumtins!), instagram flexing and the hard pursuit of wealth, we need God himself to help us focus in this generation. Lord help us.
4. Before someone will help you, you need to help them.
   Yea I agree. You can't expect to just call someone out of the blues to ask for help when you haven't been there for them ever! It doesn't always have to be monetary, sometimes all people need from you is some empathy.
5. Become the most passionate person you know. It’ll be contagious. 
   Passion speaks for itself. If you really want to make a difference in your chosen field, you have to be passionate about it.
6. Know more about your craft/the work you do than anyone who has ever done the work you do…in the history of the world. 
   Omo! More than anyone in the history of the world ke!! Mr.Robin, this one go hard small sha. Chai. To achieve this, one would need far more than Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours of practice! Pleeenty of work! Wheew.
   
   But seriously, nothing good comes easy.
7. Join The 5 am Club. Your most valuable hours are 5am-8 am. They have the least interruptions. 
   Before I started raising kids I was such a sleeper! I loved sleep and hated my bank job because I had to wake up early. My cousin and I would fight because I always made her late. Nowadays though, I am up without an alarm clock by 5, sometimes 4:30, life! lol.
   
   I have read in so many books and articles that one of the habits of most of the successful people is rising early. Why does this make a difference? It's easy to get sucked into a daily routine that does not add value. The way you start your day makes the difference in how your day goes. Commit the day to God's hands, exercise (it makes you sharp! seriously), then plan your day in order of priority. You achieve more this way. Thank me later.
8. Devote yourself to learning something new about your field of mastery every day. Success belongs to the relentless learners. Because as you know more, you can achieve more.
   Nothing beats continuous learning.
9. Remember that when you transform your fitness, you’ll transform your business. 
   Aha! I didn't even know this would make the list when I mentioned exercise earlier. I hear the Dutch are really fitness crazy, they ride to work most of the time - so says my friend who works there. They must be super productive, I imagine. We on the other hand are so lazy that even to visit a neighbor within the same estate we drive! SMH. Since I heard the gist about the cycling Dutch, I made a mental note to get me a bicycle. Yes! I can. (only on the good roads though, which is within my estate pretty much, lol!).
10. Don’t check your mobile when you’re meeting with another person. It’s rude. And rude people don’t reach world-class. 
    Er.... I knew drawing up a list of 51 could not be that easy! That's how come "and rude people don't reach world-class.....because they check their phones" makes the list. It just sounds funny Mr. Robin. Not that it's not rude to check your phone when in a meeting but....
11. Every time you do what scares you, you take back the power that you gave to the thing that scared you. And so you become more powerful. 
    Very true this!
12. A problem is only a problem if you make the choice to see it as a problem.
    Easier said than done, but true. Many battles are first won in the mind.
13. Stop being a victim. Your business and personal life was made by you. No one else is responsible. To make it better, make better choices. And new decisions.
    Think about this one deeply! Many times we wallow in self pity and blame everyone else but ourselves for our problems. Truth of the matter though is, where you are today is a result of the seeds you sowed yesterday - the relationships you formed or didn't, the books you read or didn't, the choices you made! Trust me, it's all YOU!! If you want a change, the change has to start from you.
14. You can lead without a title. Don’t wait to get a position to stand for excellence, peak quality and over delivery on every expectation. There are so many empty titles around us..... I bet you know one or two. Try not to carry one of them on your head. Has any of you seen the official houseboy of the federation one?!
    
        Seriously, it's a real title. Lol.I saw it and was like huh?!! Only in Nigeria!
15. Find your own style. Be an original. Every superstar differentiated themselves from The Herd. And marched to their own drumbeat. Its so much easier to follow the herd/crowd. Want to be successful, you have to follow your inner voice. There's really no other way to say it.
16. Understand that when you play small with your success, you betray your potential. And the birthright you were born under. 
    Hmmm, this one is a bit lost on me..... help somebody!
17. Eat less food and you’ll get more done.
    Hahahaha!! As funny as this sounds, I bet you agree that it's so true. Overeating makes you less active and creative. Try eating eba at 7pm and attempt to study that same night. Even the sleep that you try to sleep will be a restless one. 
18. As you become more successful, stay really really hungry. Nothing fails like success. Because when you’re successful, it’s easy to stop outlearning+outOverDelivering+outthinking and outexecuting everyone around you. (Success is Beautiful. And dangerous). 
    Don't think you have arrived just because you hit your target. Celebrate the success, but set new targets and keep moving or else you'll fall back.
19. If you’re not overprepared, you’re underprepared. 
    Wooow!! This is a hard truth. That little extra crossed 't' and dotted 'i' is the difference between a strong second class upper and a first class.
20. The only level of great manners to play at is “Exceedingly Polite”. In our world, this alone will make you a standout. And differentiate you in your marketplace. 
    We need more "Exceedingly Polite" people in Nigeria, what we have mostly is "Exceedingly rude" people. I was at shoprite yesterday waiting in line to pay for my goods, only for the lady at the counter to walk away without a word to those of us waiting! I was livid. When we confronted her, she said she was looking for change and she said this rolling her eyes! Gosh. Some people are so so rude here.
21. Remember that the moment you think you’re a Master, you lose your Mastery. And the minute you think you know everything, you know nothing. In simple terms, humble yourself...... I know this saying has been over-flogged, but "Pride goes before a fall". Remember that.

I have to break it at this point. The list is so long it should be digested in parts. Will post part 2 in a bit.

Have a great day guys! Cheers.

See more at: http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/04/51-ways-ordinary-people-reached-world-class/#sthash.DdZkNmD7.dpuf

10 Powerful Quotes from Cobhams Asuquo's 'The Gift of Blindness' Speech at TEDxEuston

Just as I read +femi olukanni 's comment on my last post saying, Ma'am you've got to check out +Cobhams Asuquo 's Tedex speech, I open my mail and see that it is the subject of Hposh's post for the week.

That guy Cobhams is something, and yea, y'all should check out the video

Or click here - Thanks +femi olukanni for sending me the link.

So, Back to the matter

Hposh Diaries........

10 Powerful Quotes from Cobhams Asuquo's 'The Gift of Blindness' Speech at TEDxEuston

Since Cobham's Asuquo released his first single of 2014 'Ordinary People' some days back, my admiration for him has greatly increased.

Not only does he inspire and motivate me through the song, he empowers me with the right words to pursue my dreams

I was going through some TEDx videos on YouTube when I came across his speech at one of their events in Euston, titled 'The Gift of Blindness'; here are my ten powerful quotes from the speech.

They will inspire you!

1) Do not excuse failure on any reason for any account

2) Not all public opinion is correct opinion

3) Trust - even when you have no reason to.

4) Trust has no expiration date.

5) Blindness has taught me to keep trusting, to keep hoping to keep believing.

6) Sight sometimes is a distraction - (focus on your dreams)

7) Sight is a precious gift (imagination enhances creativity)

8) On your way to your destination what you see can also be a big distraction from your goal (Shed off activities, people and places that will not move you closer to your vision, mission and purpose)

9) You have to be blind in order to be focused (The power of meditation)

10) Focus is blindness in a sense (When you focus on one thing till you achieve success in it, you care less about other things that don't matter)


Have a great week!

Roar...... Katy Perry #fridaymusic

Hi guys. I respected myself and tried to keep all my 'waka' to the barest minimum today. I live off the express and our 'overflow' family and friends will definitely make sure that axis is on a lock down today. I have a lot to say about this, but I'll bite my tongue and save it for another day. Just know though, that not every church going Nigerian is truly Christian, and boy do we have a lot of church goers..... the end!

Eheen, so I have some energy today since I didn't have to endure five hours in Lagos traffic. It's been a while since I took my time to share anything from the heart here, so I'll try to make it up with my song of the day!! It's not a 90s song by the way; at this rate, I am beginning to think maybe I need to change this Friday segment to #songoftheday or #musicfriday maybe, what do you think? We'll see. Today will be #musicfriday though, because there's no way I can pass this one off as #90smusic.

If you follow me on twitter @sonaike, you would know that I am a huge fan of +Katy Perry and that her current hit #Roar is my motivational song of the moment. I even couldn't resist sharing it in my recent interview with connectnigeria.

Read the interview here

By the way +Chibuike Wogu was so gracious to send me a copy of the secret DVD I talked about in the interview, which I am about to watch! If you haven't taken advantage of the offer to download your business plan template from http://www.mybizhubstore.com/ the offer is still on till the end of the year. That's my own little way of saying thank you. 

Back to the song. Whenever this song comes up on the radio, I turn up the volume of my radio to the very end and sing along like my life depends on it! haha! Every single line of that song speaks to my soul, no kidding!! Gosh.

If you haven't heard the song please just listen by following the link below, if you can't see the embedded video that is;

Enjoy......

Katy Perry Roar

If you thought I was joking when I said every line of the song speaks to me, you would believe me when you see my fingerprints in red all over the lyrics below. I have comments everywhere. lol!

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess

(I see you sitting there, you know you want a change, but your too prim and proper to cause a stir! What would people think yea? Guess what? Nobody really cares)
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice  

(many of us are here! You do have a choice, refuse to accept less than you know you deserve)

I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything 

(what can I say! What do you stand for?)
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!) (Yesssir!!)
Already brushing off the dust

  (I literally jump up and do the brush off moves when the song gets here)
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground 

(Gen Gen!! The world hasn't seen nothing yet)
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready 'cause I’ve had enough

  (You have to get to that point where you've had enough! As long as you continue to endure that situation, you haven't had enough, no sir!)
I see it all, I see it now

[Chorus]
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

(dance, dance, dance, cos you're a fighter, people will wonder)
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion (oh yes!!)
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar

Now I’m floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero (Notice she says "my own hero", I hope you hear this?)
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now

[Chorus]
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You'll hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar...

Ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You'll hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar...

P.S. 

Sales Sales Sales!!!!!

1. Remember Revamp definition, the ex-banker turned crafts woman, yea? Well she's having a sales event tomorrow with 50% off ankara bags, jewelry and all. So if you're around Surulere, swing by;

Venue - Car park of Atara shopping plaza, opposite Mobil filling station, Aguda
Time - 10 to 6pm

2. It's also Oja-ara tomorrow and Sunday. This time, they've got a play area for the kids, so take your kids along;

Venue - Muri Okunola park by Nigerian law school.

Time - 10 to 6pm