I-Grow

Can you save from nothing?

I have often heard people say that no matter how much you earn, you must learn to set something aside. In other words, you must learn to save.

The proponents of this belief system actually mean well. The idea is to teach us that savings is possible at all levels and that it is possible to begin from where we are.

However, let's be honest, there are situations that can be so tough that saving seems impracticable, because income barely covers the basic expenditure.

There are minimum living standards below which one's human dignity may be challenged. This is what we call living below the poverty line or the poverty threshold.

Falling below this line often implies living in conditions that undermine human dignity and well being.

So how do you save when there's almost nothing left to save?

Let's talk about that in the comments.

Before you think of starting an airline like Mr. Allen Onyema of Air Peace, or building a refinery like Alhaji Aliko Dangote of Dangote Refinery, pause for a moment.

Have you thought of a simple business idea, one that meets people's everyday needs?

Think of businesses like Fila Yoruba who built a thriving brand around making native aso-oke yoruba caps or Amoke Oge, a local food vendor who leveraged technology to reach more customers.

That simple business idea you have right now is a good place to start. Next, stay consistent, and scale using technology and the power of social media.

I-Grow

Yesterday, I used the phrase, 'persona non grata' inappropriately.

I was responding to an enquiry about whether it was right for members of the department to pay an official visit to a member who had left without completing the group's exit clearance checklist. The member in question left without prior notice citing family decision.

In my response, I explained that as a matter of principle, the department does not pay official visits to ex-members and that such visits should be done on a personal level. However, I also noted that leaving without notice was not enough reason to label the person a 'persona non grata'.

Unfortunately, my intent was misunderstood and the use of that phrase came across as rude, disrespectful and distasteful.

I have since apologized to the team lead and to everyone on the group.

This experience reminded me that words carry power, and even the right message can lose its meaning when the wrong expression is used.

I-Grow

May, June, July, August, September, October. Six whole months, that's how long I have been away from this space.

In those six months, I always thought of you, the community we built. I thought of all the beautiful stories, the life lessons and the business nuggets we shared with one another.

One important lesson is that even the best of us is still human and that we may slide.

What's more important is that I am back and this time even bigger.

Watch out.

When you feel like giving up, remember why you started.

Stay resilient and remain focused. It will soon begin to make sense.

You didn't come this far only to stop halfway.

Keep going till you reach the finish line.

You will succeed.

I-Grow

TAKE IT ONE BARREL AT A TIME

A person with moderate abilities will accomplish far more if he applies himself wholly and persistently to one thing at a time than someone with super abilities who lacks the discipline to finish what they start.

Remember that old saying, "By the yard, it's hard, but inch by inch, anything's a cinch!". Break that big goal into small achievable tasks and tackle them one by one.

The way to read a book is to start with the first chapter.

To get to the mountain top, you must concentrate only on one step, the one in front of you.

A student preparing to take an examination should focus all his energy on reading for just the next examination and not on the entire course.

A great life, a great career is built by completing one task at a time, quickly and well, and then moving on to the next task.

Financial independence is achieved by saving and investing a little money every single month, year after year.

Health and fitness are accomplished by just eating a little less and exercising a little more, day after day and month after month.

You can overcome procrastination and accomplish extraordinary things by just taking the first step, by getting started toward your goal and by then taking it one step, one barrel at a time.

I-Grow

Do you know you can outgrow your environment the same way you outgrow your clothes?

Yes, you heard me right.

Your environment isn’t just where you live. It’s also your friends, neighbours, and the people you spend the most time with.

If your environment no longer serves you, it’s time to move.

You know you’ve outgrown your environment when:

It no longer inspires you.

It feels too small for your dreams.

Your success becomes a threat to those around you.

You no longer feel safe, supported, or understood.

How come we don't try to squeeze ourselves into clothes we’ve clearly outgrown. So why do many of us keep trying to shrink ourselves to fit into environments we’ve clearly surpassed?

Do you remember how our parents used to sew oversized clothes for us, knowing we’d grow into them? And what happened? In no time, those clothes fit just right, and before long, we outgrew them too.

That’s how life should be.

Surround yourself with people who are ahead of you, who stretch your thinking, challenge you to grow, and celebrate your wins, not resent them.

Choose circles that are bigger than you, so you have space to grow.

Because staying in an environment that no longer serves you will not help you grow. It's not pride, its wisdom.

I-Grow

"DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOU’RE THIRSTY."

This quote simply means you should always make plans today for the things that may happen tomorrow. It underscores the importance of effective long-term planning, the ability to project into the future and make adequate preparations for it.

Too often, life presents us with early warning signs, but many people ignore them, leading to unpreparedness or showing up late to the party.

For example: You may need a professional certification to be considered for your next office promotion. Why not earn it now before the opportunity comes?

Government policies might not favour certain aspects of your business, or new regulations might require you to make adjustments to stay compliant. What are you waiting for?

As business owners, we must learn to spot trends early. Is there a technological innovation on the horizon that could impact your current business model?

What are you doing today to remain relevant? How are you planning your company’s Human Resources to ensure continuity when key staff leave? Do you have a succession plan in place to help others understudy processes and roles?

Let me know how you're applying this famous quote in your business or career. What well are you digging today?

I-Grow

-Grow

As a business owner, your eyes should always be on the bottom line and not just the inflow of cash into your account.

I see a lot of business owners who get easily excited about increased sales and the fact that money is entering their accounts. That feeling is great but remember that Sales is not profit.

Say you bought stock worth N10m and sold everything for N11m in one month. At a glance, it looks like you have a made a neat N1m profit, right?

But wait.....

Did you factor in:
Shop rent
Salaries
Electricity bill
Social media ads
Delivery/Logistics
Miscellaneous running costs?

By the time you deduct these, that N1million could easily become a loss.

That is why Mastering your business numbers is non-negotiable.

It helps you understand your profitability and the true state of your business.

It helps you spot leakages and reduce unnecessary expenses and ultimately leads to a healthy business finance.

It helps you plan for long term sustainability of your business.

Don't just run a busy business, run a profitable one.

I-Grow