Four Elements of Business Success
To run a successful business there are certain elements that must be in place at all times to enable you achieve your set out objectives. I would like to discuss four of these elements here and hope that you consider them in your daily business activities so you can achieve your desired success.
1. Always be willing to develop your skills – The knowledge of yesterday is not good enough for today’s business success. Recognise where you are with you business skills and upgrade when ever possible. You need know what is trending in your field and be ready to offer your clients the services they require.
2. Build a team –Learn to delegate or outsource areas of your business that is not your core competence. The power of one cannot be compared with a partnership. Trying to do everything as a small business owner will wear you out quickly. Write down things those activities you can handle without struggle. For me I cannot handle anything that has to do with my site setup, cpanel issues no matter how hard I learn and try .I know not to do anything in that area so I out source. It is a lot cheaper to outsource/ delegate than mess things up.
3. Networking, Networking – Always be willing to network with other business owners. To expand your
business and grow, you must network, meet people andshare ideas. When you network with other business owners you are exposed to more business ideas and opportunities especially when done strategically.
4. Clarity – Focus on what your business goals are and continuously work to achieve your goal. Most times people start their businesses with a particular idea or business focus but along the way they get distracted by some shiny objects. It is therefore important that you have a certain degree of clarity around your business so you can focus and accomplish your desired success.
I would love to hear from you do share your comments below
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
Writers Boot Camp
Today i would like to share with you an event i am organising with a friend. Since writing and publishing my own book, people tend to ask me lot of questions about writing, marketing and publishing. In this course we shall be sharing extensive information from our experiences on writing . Endeavour to attend if this course resonates with you.
This Boot Camp is for you if you;
➤Have a Message to share with the world
➤Have always wanted to write a book and become a published
author
➤Have started writing a book but aren’t sure how to finish it,
Market or even publish your book?
➤Have you said to yourself ‘I want to be an author and never got
around to doing it?
Have you started writing your book and got stuck?
Everyone has a book in them don’t hold yourself back
Join Bridget Elesin Author of ‘Fathers You Must Take the Lead’ and Pamela Evbota, Author of ‘How to Raise Kids without Losing it’ ‘Discovery Journal; Purpose and Passionl’
As we hold Writers Boot Camp a one day BootCamp on Writing a Book from start to publishing. And how to start marketing your book even before you are done writing
Our guest features Maya Filipa, Author of ‘Tell No One’ a fictional Novel and Okechuwku Ofili Author of ‘How Stupidity saved my Life’
Date – June 23, 2012
Time 9am – 5pm
Venue – Best Western Hotel on Allen Avenue, Ikeja
Registration – Early Bird – N10, 000
Late registration – N15, 000 starts from June 9th
You wouldn’t want to miss this Boot Camp as we shall give you detailed information about writing and publishing like you’ve never heard it before.
Lots of books from our guest features will be up for grabs
Pre-Registration is required as classroom spaces are limited
Send a mail to info@ladiesnetworking.com
To Your Writing Success,
Pamela Evbota
[Mid Week Inspiration] Success Story – Pleasant Jay Events
Today on our mid week inspiration i bring to your Ajoke Akinola owner – Pleasant Jay Events. An events/Party planning services. Be inspired
BUSINESS NAME: Pleasant Jay Events
MY NAME: Ajoke Akinola
WHY DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS?
Having served as a welfare officer in my church for several years, I got inspired by the event planning and catering services rendered. I was trained by a UK trained specialist (Mrs. Kikelomo Akinsola of Blooms Design),Dot Dee Events and Crefield Catering Services. Though I enjoyed the time spent as a trainee, but I longed to work for myself, running my own business. I loved the ability to set my own hours, to be my own boss and also impact other lives positively. With this thought in mind, I began to do market research. After speaking with different people, I recognized that the idea was viable.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE STARTING YOUR BUSINES
Before enrolling for training, the first thing I did was to wait on the Lord for directions and since then I have got no reason to regret, even when business was not moving the way I expected it to be. I am convinced that I would get there some day. Also I joined an entrepreneurs network (NECA NETWORK OF ENTREPRENUERIAL WOMEN) and I always attend seminars, conferences and workshops. And of course I chose my mentors carefully.
HOW DID YOU FUND YOUR BUSINESS
Personal Funds
BRIEF BACKGROUND INFO OF PLEASANT JAY EVENTSPleasant Jay Events is an event consultancy firm focused on delivering qualitative event planning and catering services. The business is located in Lagos Nigeria, and offers professional corporate and social event planning services, high-end traditional and continental delicacies, food packs, and cocktail drinks.
Pleasant Jay Event provides Nigerians with high quality above-board event planning/management and catering services. The services are for Individual clients, corporate and government agencies, Premium Clients and private schools. We offer high-end traditional and continental delicacies, food packs, finger foods and cocktail drinks to the Nigerian community and beyond for weddings, birthday parties, Corporate Lunch, New Product Promotion, Opening of New Corporate Offices and other assorted parties.
www.pleasantjayevents.com.ng
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
<
[Friday Thoughts] Time Management
On Friday thoughts i share with you Time Management as written by Jim Rohn one of America’s finest teacher on personal Development
>>Something will master and something will serve. Either you run the day or the day runs you; either you run the business or the business runs you.
>>Learn how to separate the majors and the minors. A lot of people don’t do well simply because they major in minor things.
>>Don’t mistake movement for achievement. It’s easy to get faked out by being busy. The question is: Busy doing what?
>>Days are expensive. When you spend a day you have one less day to spend. So make sure you spend each one wisely.
>>Sometimes you need to stay in touch but be out of reach.
>>Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than invest it.
>>We can no more afford to spend major time on minor things than we can to spend minor time on major things.
>>Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.
>>Never begin the day until it is finished on paper.
>>Learn how to say no. Don’t let your mouth overload your back.
>>Time is the best-kept secret of the rich.
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
Quotes by Jim Rohn, America’s Foremost Business Philosopher, reprinted with permission from Jim Rohn International ©2011.
As a world-renowned author and success expert, Jim Rohn touched millions of lives during his 46-year career as a motivational speaker and messenger of positive life change.
For more information on Jim and his popular personal achievement resources or to subscribe to the weekly Jim Rohn Newsletter, visit www.JimRohn.com.
[Mid Week Inspiration] Success Story – Simone Monu
On my midweek inspiration today, I feature Simone Monu. I met Simone at the NigerWives Bazaar I took part in two weekends ago. Simone co owns the Monu & Monu Fashion Label with her Nigerian husband. Her designs are mainly on locally made fabric called Aso oke. I was indeed fascinated by her designs and I just wanted to share her business story with you my readers. Enjoy!!
The Name of your Business: monu & monu FASHION (part of monu & monu Ltd.)
Your name: Simone Monu
Why did you start your business:
I loved the idea of creating a modern design label with traditional African materials, something that hasn’t been done and not many international designers have access to.
What did you do before starting your business?
I trained and worked as a Fashion and Costume designer in the UK and Austria for almost 20 years, in some of the biggest Film/ Theatre and Opera houses Europa has to offer.
How did you fund your business?
Until now it is self-funded by building up slowly without outside funding.
How are you able to fit your business with the family life?
I have a wonderful and understanding husband, who supports my ventures.
What advice would you give up coming entrepreneurs?
Planning is important, starting up and progressing is more important. I would also advice to look for good supporters who will give you good advice that is supporting your interests. Work hard and don’t be lazy.
Give a brief background of your business and a link to your website.
Description
The Fashion label of the monu & monu Ltd. Company. A family company led by Husband and Wife team Nick and Simone and covering the areas of Film, Fashion, Theater and Design.
A Fashion house that produces and retails clothes made from African materials with modern classic cuts that can be worn by all ages.
monu & monu Fashion is on a mission:
An African based Fashion house making high quality clothes in the Heart of Africa, Nigeria, for the African as well as international customer. We cover Fashion from the primary, creating and supporting local traditional weavers to the distribution, marketing and sales of our African classics.
Simone Monu
An Austrian national married to the other half of monu & monu Ltd., Nigerian born international Actor/Director Nick Monu.
After initial training in Fashion in her home Austria, Simone attended the World renowned London School of Fashion where she first learnt and fell in love with West African strip cloth. In her native land she spent over ten years working as a designer in two of the Worlds most famous theatres, the Staatsoper Wien and the Burgtheater. This “theatre period” gave Simone an invaluable understanding of the history and techniques of clothes making through the ages and across cultures.
Simone draws, cuts on the dummy and her early training as a seamstress means she can also make to the highest standards and more importantly in the Nigerian context, pass on her skills to her local staff.
Simone Monu “haute couture designer par excellence”
www.monumonufashion.com
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
<
How to Develop Your Business Idea
Over the years I come in contact with women who say they want to start a new business or have a side business from their full time jobs. The major problem is always what to do. Some people are lost to what business to start up.
Aside from the fact that your passion could serve as an indicator for what business to start up. I would like to write on starting a business based on just an idea that you might have.
Everything we do in life, every wins or success begins with just an idea. It might just be a thought but if we spend time expanding it, and allowing it to grow in meaning and understanding it just might become something of tremendous success both for you and your family.
So I ask you what idea do you have right now? Write it down don’t blow it away because you never know what / were it might lead to. It is important to always have a note book with you so you can jot down thoughts/ ideas as they come to you.
Do you have just an idea right now but don’t know what to do and how to develop it? Let’s work together and write your answers to these questions
1. What is the idea that you have? Write it down just as you have it in your head
2. Is it a product or service idea?
3. Who will it serve?
4. What do you need to bring this idea to life?
5. Will there be enough demand for your product or service idea to bring about a profit for you?
6. How would you promote your idea?
The whole process of developing your business idea might not be as simple as it is here. But the main idea is to spend time writing down your thoughts. Writing things down helps us to see things differently from what we think up in our head. The process of writing down your idea helps you to see possibilities and how you can work on the process of breaking them down to actionable items.
The answers you give to these questions will help to move you in the direction that will establish you in your business.
Be careful what you do with an idea it just might be what you have always wanted.
If you need help birthing your idea or developing it, do leave a comment below.
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
The Journey called Life
Life is a journey and so like every journey, we must plan for it. Nobody goes on a journey without making plans for transportation, feeding, accommodation and clothing and above all, the reason for the journey is well thought out so the traveller can make the most out of his journey and come back successful.
Funny how we make plans for everything that we do except for the main event – Our lives. Most people say they take life one day at a time and what ever happens they just embrace it. This is a wrong approach to life. A life well planned will be lived on purpose and intention. And a life lived on purpose and intention is a successful life.
If you have been following me on facebook and twitter you will know that this weekend I will be hosting a conference on self discovery. It is my conviction that until one discovers his/her purposes life will always be a struggle. Brain Tracy says ‘before you climb a ladder be sure to find out if it is leaning on the right wall’.
Discovery Conference is for anyone who wants to know what wall their life’s ladder is leaning on. It is for anyone who is eager to start a business but is at a cross road as to what business to go into.
Until your purpose is clear and the path before you is understood life will remain a merry go round filled with excitement but no direction.
I want to invite you my readers if you live in Lagos, join me March 31, for a wonderful time of self discovery.
Venue: Sweet Sensation Multipurpose Hall, Opebi
Time :10am
I look forward to welcoming you.
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
[Mid Week Inspiration] Quitting
Every one of us has got a negative mindset, about the word quitting. Growing up we are told that failures are associated with quitting and when you quit you are seen as a failure. Someone that is not strong enough to succeed in anything.
But I have come to realise over the years that quitting can be positive, quitting can be the best thing that has ever happened to any individual. If your live is not on the path you have envisioned it to be there is only one thing to do, and that is ‘Quit’ and make a U turn and start afresh. You can quit a relationship that is not working, and you can quit a job that is a dead end. You can quit a business that is not yielding the desired result. So quitting isn’t bad at all. But before you quit, you must be certain and sure that quitting is the best thing for you to do at that point in time.
There is a process to quitting. First be sure you know what you feel about the situation. This may be your job, your relationship or your business.
What are the advantages of holding on to that job, sticking to that relationship and continuing in that business against the disadvantage and the reality on ground? What are the pros and cons note it.
And if you quit what you will be you next line of action? Have you thought of something different? In a relationship situation, when you quit one, you mustn’t jump into another relationship. It is always good to take a time off for a self discovery period of knowing who you are, so you don’t end up making the same mistake of dating the same kind of person that will not serve your life purpose.
And in business - Just because your business isn’t doing well doesn’t really mean it time to quit. Maybe it’s time to stop doing business the same way you have doing it before now.
Your job - is it getting another job or changing your life style completely from the cooperate world to the business sector; you must be clear on these things before you quit.
Take some time to be by yourself in prayer and meditation and ask yourself some questions.
1. When I quit this relationship, this job, this business, what do I want for myself?
2. What life style do I want to carve out for myself? You must be able to analysis and understand what exactly you want to do with your life before you take the next decision.
Make sure you take advantage of this time that you want to quit a situation in your life, and do a soul search and be sure that the next decision, the next chapter you want to open in your life will work out for you and is the best decision you take.
But when you quit, raise your head up high and your shoulders squared up because this is the life you want for yourself. Quitting is positive, quitting sometimes can be good, quitting is an opportunity for a change. Quitting is another way of growth, quitting takes you to a different level, quitting the mediocrity and the low standard take you on to a higher place and higher standard. Have the right attitude toward quitting, don’t see it as a failure on your part, don’t see it as a set back, but see it as a way to connect and go higher and move forward. Quitting could just be the best way and the best solution that you need right now. Don’t hold onto to old relationships, or businesses or a job that is not serving you. Quit and move on to the next stage to the next phase and live the life style that you so desire.
Remember that, when we clinch to things that we are familiar and comfortable with, we short change ourselves because the comfort that we might get for sticking to familiar territory is often at the expense of any progress we would have made when we are open to change.
When we refuse to quit and make a new start our lives loose the sparkle and joy that comes with a new beginning. Permit yourselves to quit and a make a fresh start.
To Your Success,
Pamela Evbota
