What I am learning...

Hello! I know I have been gone for a while now. In the time I have been absent from this blog, I have been busy with a couple of things. First, I finished NYSC and I really wanted to be part of the parade. So I spent the week of Valentine's in rehearsals for the Passing Out Parade. With that done, I am back in Lagos attending the Social Media Week.

Social Media is something that every business person should at least give a consideration. It is not right for every audience but it is a good tool for creating brand awareness. I am sure somewhere down the line I would have more of an in-depth discussion on social media.

One of the things that has stood out to me during social media week has been how everything really comes back to the big picture of business and entrepreneurship. I have learnt that to be successful in business, one needs to be consistent.

I have attended so many sessions during this social media week and if I had to choose one buzz word for the week, it would be "consistent". Consistency relates to not just the act of building brand. It applies to product, to service, to management, to human resources. It applies across the board.

So, if you are wondering what you are possibly during wrong, ask yourself  "Am I being consistent in my business?"

How To Harness Your Personal Network For Business

My aunt is trying to create a new brand image for a business that has been in existence longer than I have been alive. The first thing she did when she saw me was present the case to me. She stated her goal and then she asked me the best way to reach that goal. As I sat there discussing my opinion with her, I realised that I was perhaps giving her another perspective to consider before making a move. When she was done talking to me, she headed to the neighbours' house to ask their opinions as well. She is essentially crowdsourcing ideas on branding from the people closest her.

What I am reading this Weekend: All About African Women

• Water is still a luxurious commodity in many parts of Africa due to the scarcity of clean and portable water. Find out how Saran Kaba Jones, a Liberian, came back home after fleeing at age 8, to make a difference with water.

Nigeria's God Given Gifts

We are very blessed in Nigeria...we have an abundance of resources to utilise and have been given less disasters-if only Nigerians would realise their God given gifts and harness them, we will have very little to complain about.

-Aliko Dangote

Runner-Up, Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2012

Hello!

Hello! Welcome to 2013! Welcome to my blog! Start-Up Naija is more than mine though. It  is my hope that Start Up Naija would be a space for me and you, my readers.

First off, let me introduce myself. You see I am a sort of failed entrepreneur. I started a business in Lagos a couple of years back. Through the initial highs and few lows at the beginning, I was sure that I was ready to be an entrepreneur. It was only as I was shutting the door on my business that I realised that I was not ready. I failed massively because I was not ready to be an entrepreneur.
I am sure you are now wondering why the hell you should follow a blog from a failed entrepreneur championing entrepreneurship. Well, my hindsight through my lens of failure provides me with the special perspective. I have become obsessed with understanding entrepreneurship in Nigeria. I have also become obsessed with encouraging it and celebrating it. Business ownership is a good thing and can create the perfect platform to be able to make healthy lifestyle choices instead of operating on default. As you read more of this blog, you will begin to understand my entrepreneurship fanaticism better.

Welcome to 2013! I hope this is the beginning of an empowering journey for all of us!