Escaping Asoebi Duties

December is almost here, weddings everywhere and we have to wear asoebi. The problem is that the economy is bad and the small money you have, you want  to use it for MMM or buy Christmas clothes for yourself so you can find husband or wife too (for people like me). Married people can buy the asoebi.


In my article 'Constant Asoebi Duties and Your Finances', I talked about the damage Asoebi can do to your money. It is an investment without ROI, unless the bride or groom is benevolent enough to share their spouse. LOL. Coming from a place of constant ADs with a box of never to be worn dresses and geles, I present to you 7  ways of escaping unwanted asoebi duties.

1. The after Six months call: So we all have friends who never call us, just BBM messages on your birthday and unreplied messages. When its time for asoebi, they will remember you guys are BFFs. When you get that call, just say "okwa asoebi ehhhh, you've not called me since 1900 biko be going". My dear form vex, use it as your escape plan, it works almost every time unless you are a nice girl like me. If it is not for asoebi, you are safe.

2. I have another wedding that same day: This one works all the time. When he/she calls you to tell you, just sound super excited about the asoebi till they tell you the date. Then you will be like " OMG, I have another wedding the same day ooo. I can't believe this is happening, no matter what, i will be there". You cannot wear two different dresses on the same day when you are not Katherine Heigl. That way, you can rock your own dress and Money is saved. heheh.

3. Public service announcement: I'm sure everyone has different social networks, you can use them to plead your cause. Go on your facebook, twitter, bbm and update 'Salary is not for asoebi'. You can also use it as a caption when posting on instagram, in fact create a hashtag and use it on every post. People who are planning to call you for asoebi will see it and leave you alone.

4. No middle name no asoebi: my dear sister, how can you donate money to someone who doesn't know your full name if its not charity? So start asking them your full name before you accept to do the asoebi. My other name is Onyinye, almost all my friends know that one. I have a special name for this excuse, if you don't know it, then why are we friends?

5. I don't wear that material: This one, you have to accept to buy the asoebi, then ask the kind of material. If it is lace, tell the person it itches you and gives you rashes LoL. If it is ankara, tell the person the dye burns your skin when you sweat, if it is Daviva, nne you don't have any excuse, just buy it. If they catch you wearing that material another time, tell them the lace is from Slovakia. In fact O.Y.O is your case.

6. I have the colour: If someone comes to sell a colour you already have to you, be sure to point that out, you 'cannot come and kill yourself' when you are not a pimp named slick back who probably has a closet filled with purple clothes. If the shades are different, try your best to convince them those fancy lights at the reception, can change the colour of your own to their original shade. When wine could turn to water, anything is possible. Also remind them you were a chameleon in your past life. lol.

7. It is too expensive/ I don't have money: I know a lot of people shy away from this one because they are forming one thing one thing. If the asoebi is expensive, please let the person know. If someone brings four thousand Naira lace and decides to sell it 20k, please speak up, you might be the voice of the voiceless. If you don't have money, don't pretend biko. Please say you don't have, nobody will kill you. Don't be forming 'gbogbo bigz gehs' with red account.

Please O I'm not an enemy of progress, this is just a 'joking sturvz o'. My friends can vouch for me, l'm always there when they need me. When a random person comes, if I want to be nice I pick from these seven listed above. So I'm sure you know your friends and people who you can use these for.  Also please note that your friend might not have money to pay for your asoebi, don't crucify the person. Things are hard.

Like I said before, It is a joking sturvz (In Falz voice).  Also if I've paid for your asoebi, you don't have any excuse, you must be part of my own or you refund me. LMAO. Adaoba, Ozy, Chizoba, Bewi, Jess, Adanonso, Chinweoke, Chigo etc Una don hear abi?

PS: These excuses do not apply to me, you cannot outshine the master, so ladies and gentlemen keep your money or your Dr's report for it is about to go down! LOL

Asoebi Girl,
Adanna

When Things Fall Apart

Sometimes, it seems the weight of the world is on our shoulders, financial problems, marital problems and generally feeling like you are not good enough. Times like this, you feel everything has fallen apart. In Nigeria today, almost everyone is feeling the impact of the bad economy, If you are Linda Ikeji then you are safe. hehehe. 

In my last article 'When Plan A fails', I talked about having plan A to Z if possible, but we all know it is is not easy to keep it together when each plan fails. It is a very tough thing to deal with especially when it comes to business, because you have invested time, money and effort. It chips at your self confidence and makes you feel you are not good enough. It is normal, everyone goes through difficult times too.

This article, is more like a letter to myself because I've had such a difficult time recently. Sometime last week, I was so down, I started doubting myself. The prices of all the raw materials I use for my production have either doubled or tripled, Imagine going to the market only to find out that a commodity you used to get at 18k is now 39,500k, in a space of two months. Worst part is that it is just one of the many things that I need and I can't just change the price of my product. I was distraught, I cried for two days straight. Whenever I hear "Adanna why don't you bring yogurt anymore", my eyes well up. In fact as I'm writing this article, a few tears have dropped too. When I think about my late nights and early mornings and the sleepless nights praying for the temperature not to drop too low and make a watery mess in the morning, I get more frustrated.

Right now, Am I frustrated? Yes! do I feel Like giving up? Absolutely! Will i give up? NEVER!. It hasn't been easy for me with regards to that particular business, I am hurt because it is something I'm passionate about and I really want it to succeed. Instead of letting it break me down, I have decided to pick myself up, concentrate on finding new ways of doing it to make profit without compromising the quality and also pursuing my other passions like writing and MLM.

Dear friend, it is possible you are going through some form of difficulty in your life right now, it could be that your business, relationship or marriage is falling apart or you simply can't get a grip on your finances or you are having difficulty in school, whatever it is just hold on. Giving up on yourself won't help the situation, playing victim will only make it worse. It is time to pick yourself up and find new ways to make it work, do other things to take your mind off your problems and concentrate on finding the solution. Also, forget about what people think about you. If they think you are a failure, because you've started two businesses and they failed, or you had an extra year in school by all means let them. Beating yourself up over what Mr A or B thinks about your life, will only make your life harder. 

One day, all your beautiful dreams will come true, setbacks are temporary part of life, giving up only makes it permanent. When things fall apart, you need to make some changes and not beat yourself up. You should also know that God has a counsel concerning you, you can be what you were created to be, right where you are and how you are. Start living like you know this. #noweakness.

Adanna Elechi

When Plan A Fails

Nobody starts up a business or any venture with the plan to fail, but sometimes failure is inevitable in life.

Failure doesn't always mean you are not good at something or that you are ill-prepared, external forces can run you down too. Some  of us have failed so many times, failed courses, started out in business and lost our money, gone into relationships and marriages and it failed. It can be really painful and in many cases, makes us doubt ourselves and our capabilities. Failing is not the worst part, it is letting failure define who we are.

One of the the biggest barriers both men and women face in their careers today is the internal struggle with past failures. Dear friend, before you pack up your bags and declare yourself a failure who has nothing else to offer the world, I want you to know that most of the successful people we hear their names today have failed not once, not twice. I know I'm not famous yet, so let me tell you now that I failed Math in school, remember to put it in my Biography when I make it. LoL.

I read somewhere about a soldier who went to to war with his men, when they got to the enemy territory, he asked his men to burn their ships and that the only option they had was to win the battle, they went ahead and won. This is one way of looking at life and the challenges we face, everybody doesn't have the heart of a gladiator.  I believe in having backup plans. Girls are very good with this backup game, especially when it comes to relationships, I'm just saying ohhhh, Its not that  your own 'bae' has a backup plan, I don't have too.

In our world today, we have a backup plan for almost everything, we backup our phones so we don't lose important contacts, we have generators and inverters in case the light goes off (oshe PHCN), two phones so we can always be reached, even two hearts in case someone decides to break one (hehe). But then we forget to backup our goals and plans. That is why when someone fails in business, they feel it is the end of the world.

Failure is part of the process, we fail and we learn and try not to make the same mistake again. Failure is only fatal when you do not pick anything from it and keep repeating the same mistakes. When you fail at something, giving up shouldn't be the next thing, you should try to figure out what led to it and make conscious effort to correct it and stop it from happening again. For instance, you started a small business and it failed, check how you managed your finances, if you were getting money and 'chopping' it, then it is time to think through and find out ways to cut down on excesses. If you are in school and you fail a course, instead of cursing out your lecturer or feeling sorry for yourself, find out what really happened, take responsibility and try harder. That was how I passed Math, put that down in my biography too.

Failure is not something to be ashamed of, it is an important part of the journey, when you  fall seven times try to rise eight times. If Soichiro Honda gave up because his plan A failed, we won't have those 'evil spirit' Hondas that I love. If Vera Wang decided to go to her room and never tried something else because her Olympic dreams didn't come to fruition, we won't have those beautiful wedding dresses every girl wants to wear. The list goes on and on.

Always remember to backup your source of income. Multiple streams of income will guarantee that you don't go back to the drawing board.

I understand going forward after a failure can be really difficult, but staying back and wallowing in self pity won't make it better, in fact it makes it worse. So dearie, before you give up, remember A is just one of the alphabets, you have twenty-five more. I know for a fact that before you get to M, you would have figured something out. Do not give up on yourself just yet, you are destined for greatness.

"Accept it, don’t feel ashamed. Learn from it, and bounce back. Move on. I know it’s easier said than done, but I’ve gone through my lot of failures myself and I think the best way is to get a grip on yourself and reflect on why you failed, and then just move on"
- Christine Lagarde (MD International Monetary Fund)

Adanna Elechi
connect with me on IG and twitter: @adee_elechi
Adanna Elechi on facebook.


New post every Tuesday on or before 5pm.
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The Clique Effect

Being part of a clique is considered a cool thing, almost everyone wants to be associated with a certain group of people who have the same values or want the things they want. These days it is referred to as 'squad'. When I say clique, I'm not referring to the mean girls in secondary school or the boys who beat people for the fun of it.

The clique effect, can be positive or negative depending on who you associate yourself with. When the effect our friends have on us is talked about, we tend to relate it only to teenagers, which is not correct considering the fact it affects octogenarians too.

In order to discuss the clique effect fully, we will look into the lives of two young women; Draya and Tricia (I would have loved to use common names, but I have to protect my face LOL).

Draya is a fashion forward, jet-setting, life of the party kind of girl. She has this personality that attracts everybody, to top it up, she works out hard so all her clothes fit like a glove. Most girls want to be her and every guy would want to be with her. She had a group of friends she would always go shopping with. All the big stores knew them and would call them once they have new arrivals. Most of her whatsapp groups were to inform her of new arrivals or fashion sales.

Tricia on the other hand, is also a fashion forward person, lover of the good things life has to offer but also very much business oriented. Her group of friends are the ones Draya's would consider boring, no extravagant life, they only spend on what is important. Their whatsapp groups are for brainstorming and mastermind sessions where everybody had to bring their A-game. Due to her kind of friends, Tricia knew she had to double up her hustle to be on their level. Most of her money were invested in stocks and bonds and she also knew the importance of self development, so she always set money aside for seminars and conferences. She also buys herself things, when necessary or as a reward for a job well done.

One day Draya and Tricia meet in a boutique and Draya overhears Tricia's phone conversation with her friend and is impressed. She always felt women in business were stone faced and mean, but this one was just a normal girl like her and also within her age bracket. As soon as Tricia ended the call, Draya went to her and they exchanged contacts and a new friendship began.

Tricia introduces Draya to her group of friends, helps her understand that there is more to life than spending every penny on clothes and trivial things. Gradually, she started weaning herself off her friends, no more shopping everyday, she started taking online courses to help her organise and be able to communicate with her new clique better. She was forced to level up not because she was intimidated by them, but because they had common goals. Within a short period, Draya started helping young women find themselves using herself as a case study.

Sorry if i bored you with the fairytale, I just had to find a way to best describe this topic. In life, it is very important to know that you are the average of five people you associate yourself with. Your clique may not necessarily be the materialistic type, but do they do things that will help you level up and achieve your goals? Do the math and start adding or subtracting. God in his infinite wisdom decided to give us our family and let us choose our friends. No friend you have is custom made for you, if he/she is not helping you grow, do well to gently let them be.

It is very easy to get sucked into a well of negativity, it is a known fact that the road to destruction is a wide one with little or no obstacles. Tricia could have easily been introduced to Draya's squad and her values will change. No matter how driven you are, if you mix up with people who have no plans, you will continue to hold off on your plans till you eventually forget you had them in the first place.

Today, you can create a whatsapp group for you and your close friends who you believe want to do something great with their lives. The group shouldn't be for discussing others or other unserious stuff, it should be where you share ideas, encourage each other to do more and be more. From there, you might even create something the world needs. Please don't go telling your friends they are not good enough for you, you can gently dissociate youself without making anybody feel bad. Also no matter the outcome, do not ever feel guilty for leaving anyone behind, we are allowed to be selfish once in a while. Ask God for direction in everything you do.

May our squads be like that of Elon Musk or even better. Amen!

The Power Of Mentorship

In the world of google, bing and other search engines, we tend to neglect the power of mentorship. In the olden days, young girls were sent to live with their grandmothers, who taught them how to cook and keep a home. Young men were sent to learn a trade, what we call 'boy boy'. The idea was to have someone who is experienced to guide them. These days, we tend to do everything our way, simply google it or watch a youTube video and we are good.

A mentor is a friend or person who guides a less experienced person, by building trust and positive relationships. Mentorship is a relationship where a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. The power of mentorship cannot be overemphasised, according to Forbes, it is  key to success for young professionals.

Growing up, we  acquired a set of core values from our parents, friends and other relations. A lot of people's fingerprints are all over us. These and many other factors have gone a long way in shaping our attitudes towards life and business. Growing up, my Dad always emphasised on entrepreneurship, he also wanted me to write. He kept on buying me Queen primer, dictionaries, I even got a Thesaurus when i was really young. These played a major part in shaping me.

When I first started blogging, it was mainly to share stories and write about random stuff, people who know my first blog would tell you about the crazy things I used to write. Don't bother yourself, you will never find it. When I stumbled upon Arese Ugwu's instagram (I know I'm obsessed), my perspective changed. I discovered I could make an impact doing what I love. I'm still writing, the difference is that I now write with purpose. That is the effect a mentor can have on you.

A lot of young people have in them potentials to be great, but their major stumbling block is that they do not have who to help them be all they can be. A mentor will give you insights, help you with the blind spots you couldn't see, make sure you build discipline you couldn't have on your own, in fact help you maximise your potentials generally.

Life and business are hard, and even the smallest measure of success requires the help of lots of mentors, family and friends. You cannot always do it by yourself. Everyone knows the small number of people who have made an impact on them,  whose ways they admire, those are your mentors.

Using myself as a case study, the power of mentorship to me is underrated. My encounter with Arese has been nothing but mind blowing. We actually do not have a personal relationship, just a few retweets on twitter, Instagram likes and one or two direct messages but honestly, i have felt the impact. I am inspired to do more each and everyday, with each new feat she conquers, I have hope that I can do it too. Through her, I have come across a couple of other really smart people who indirectly mentor me.

As a young person starting out in business or any career of your choice, do well to find yourself a couple of people who are experienced in that field. Do not be afraid to ask anyone to mentor you. Those people at the top are always willing to help, provided you are ready to learn. If you are not in direct contact with someone you admire, just try to keep up with them, one day you will be noticed.

If you go on the internet, you will find tips on finding the right mentor, but i believe you know what you want and you can find them yourself. Apart from my parents and few close relatives, I found most of the people I look up to on social media. Your Instagram shouldn't just be for looking at fine people and watching videos, your twitter shouldn't just be for 'jamming' people up and down. They can be used for productive activities too.

These are some of the accounts I follow;
@smartmoneyarese
+She Leads Africa
@foundr
@womeneur
+Business Babes
@forbesafrica
@heatherllove

and of course Tony Elumelu

May you find someone who would help you conquer the world. Amen

Adanna Elechi
@adee_elechi
Instagram and twitter
Facebook.com Adanna Elechi

School Is Not The Enemy

in the past, people didn't drop out of school just because they felt it was cool, it was mainly as a result of hardship or ignorance on the part of some parents or guardians. In recent years, we have seen a lot of young people who have both the economic means and brains to finish school abruptly quit because they feel it is the new cool.

Recently, we have seen the idea of dropping out of school being glamorised, making people who are in school trying to better themselves feel like they are doing the wrong thing. It looks like the best way to promote yourself or your business is to say you dropped out of school. There are so many role models and mentors to choose from too. Then again is it the best way to go?

I have met people who have nothing good to say about education, they also have a long list of successful dropouts who they use to buttress their points . Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Richard Branson etc. Egbon, did they drop out from your school or at your level, do you have the same opportunities ? Why do you only see the successful ones? Most street sweepers, janitors and other people who do the type of jobs you will never agree to do are also dropouts. Let me remind you that they also out-number the Zuckerbergs and Gates.

Everybody has a choice make, if you choose to dropout of school, that is fine but don't start campaigning for everyone to join you. Passing this message to the younger generation is not cool. School teaches you that if you fail, you still have a chance to go back, work harder and succeed which is applicable to every venture. These anti-education campaigns that make students feel that once you fail a course, then you don't belong in the classroom but on the "streets" is wrong on every level. What if you leave school and the next thing you jump into fails, what will you do?

Going to school doesn't always mean you will end up successful, but it increases your chances. I know the current economic situation and high levels of unemployment makes dropping out look like a good option, trust me it is not. The value of education cannot be overemphasised. Even your  dropout role models didn't quit school as early as you think, even those who did have gone back to take courses to improve themselves.

Dear students both home and abroad don't allow anyone make you feel like you are doing the wrong thing by being in school. Those of you abroad, I'm sure people have tried to get in your head by telling you that you are wasting money considering the high exchange rates. I know people have asked you who masters 'epp' and told you the money you have spent would have started a big business. Biko ignore them, your greatest investment is yourself.

These days, nobody needs to dropout of school because a course doesn't suit his /her capabilities or not what they want to do with their lives. We have moved from the times when it was either medicine or law, there is a wide range of courses to choose from. There are also courses for people who want to be entrepreneurs.

Lastly, school is not a waste of your time, everything good takes time to achieve. Everyone wants to be a millionaire fast, but leaving school is not a guarantee that it will happen overnight. Please stay in school, you can have a legit side hustle if you want but by all means stay in school. There are so many successful dropouts, but remember that the unsuccessful ones out-number them.

if they can stay in school, why would you drop out?

 Adanna Elechi

My Quest To Finding the RIGHT Soap

Lets take a break from the serious stuff, let us talk about something a little more serious. I do not have a soap. Call 911 or is it 0810052016. Don't worry, it is not your number.

These days, everyone is taking care of their skin, bobrisky style. Yellow is the new cool, I think it is because yellow pepper sells faster than the other ones, I'm just saying o. When I say I don't have a soap, it is not that there is no soap in my bathroom or that I don't have money to buy. EPs and Villagers sorry to burst your bubble. The Lord is my shepherd. The issue is that I'm not really into it like many girls are and some "female sons", according to a twitter user.

My journey with soaps and creams started when I got into the University. My life was a lot easier when my Mum used to buy  them, she knew when to stop Imperial Leather and switch to irish Spring. I on the other hand, was more interested in the packaging and fragrance. I switched soaps as frequently as an IT student at PHCN office would switch the light off and on. Nigerians I know you understand.

I finally graduated from packaging and fragance, then i entered expensive. The more expensive the better. 'Gbo gbo makari chics'. I never paid attention to bleaching agents, I love my complexion. Even if I wanted to bleach, I just had to think about one aunty I used to know and tell myself Adanna it is not your portion. Me wey like bum shorts.

So I went to camp, and Kubwa sun was like since you no wan fair, you go black. I went from caramel to charcoal, chaiiiiiiiii. That was how my trouble began. Everybody started recommending things to help deliver me from my burnt Lupita complexion. Ijay my ever helpful sister will always say "Adanna nke a na a brightenu". Adanna in her usual jumping style will jump to the new soap. That was how i jumped inside a pimple pit.

New poblem, new set of advisers. "Adanna it is only neutro.... that will clear it", Piam I'm already at the store loading my basket with products. No wonder i didn't save 1kb from my allawee. The more I tried, the worse it got. Last week, I took my time to calculate the money spent on different products with no result. It broke my heart o.

After trying over and over again, I decided to go the ncha nkota (black soap) way. Any which way na way abi? Guess what, it worked! After spending a fortune on packaging, It was 200 naira 'dudu osun' that cleared all my pimples. I later discovered a better packaged black soap with rose petals and other fine fine things for 'gbogbo bigz gehs'. You have to agree with me that packaging matters. The soap smells like heaven, I know how heaven smells because I'm a child of God.  I want to tell you the name of the soap, but I need endorsement money first.

I still don't have a soap, that beautiful soap is just for my face, now looking for the perfect soap for a dark girl. I have used three different soaps this week .  If you are my friend, recommend something nice, if not, one day I will use deteregent. Just kidding oooo or not.

Facebook: Adanna Elechi
Twitter: adee_elechi

Self Employment Is Not For The Lazy

First of all, I should apologize for  taking really looooooong breaks. It has to do with laziness. I'm working on it I promise.

 Being your own boss, is something almost everyone dreams about, no matter how big or little your company is, it is something to be proud of. Then again, a lot of us abuse it, we think it is just about answering the 'what do you do' question with I am self employed or plastering our social media pages with 'CEO'. Every Tom, Dick and Harry with a Facebook account can be 'CEO at Self employed'. Its a thing, check out some facebook profiles.

Self employment is bigger than sleeping and waking up when you like, or doing what you have to do at your own convenience and procrastinating. you can't be on your phone all day chatting, tweeting, watching funny videos everyday and expect your business to thrive. Even Mark Zuckerberg takes a break from chatting to run facebook. Self employment requires a lot of discipline, I don't blame people who say it is better to work for someone first before you start your own business. Then again, the jobs are not really there and you have to do it on your own.

As someone who is starting up in business too, my major distraction is my phone. The short time i spent writing this article, I cannot count how many times I  checked my messages, tweeted (if you check my TL, you will see something about spell check. hehhe) even instagram. I also like to lay around doing nothing. What I'm saying is that you are not alone. Many of us lack discipline too and the purpose of this article is to help those of us who are lazy and undisciplined.

For you to succeed in any venture, you have to ask yourself why you started it in the first place. What did you have in mind when you started? Will you achieve it by stalking someone's TL or laying around? I do not know your answers to other questions, but nothing can be achieved by rolling on your bed.  Even the Bible warns about a little sleep and a little slumber.

I recommend that everyone who wants to start up a business, should first of all read books on entrepreneurship. There are a lot of books out there that can help. Not saying swallow everything the author says hook, line and sinker, sieve out the information relevant to your growth. Secondly, you should have mentors, people who you look up to and who have excelled in the path you are on. Thirdly, you have to decide this is what you want to do. No matter the amount of books you read or how qualified your mentors are, if you don't take a stand you will fail.

Self discipline is not something that you achieve with a snap of a finger, it is a process and the first step is deciding that you are ready. Every little step counts. waking up an hour earlier hasn't killed anyone. Also not checking your phone every second won't kill you.  Do not let minor distractions to keep you from reaching great heights. Do not let sleep rob the world of the next big thing. Nothing great comes to the lazy.

Wake up and do something for yourself being  'CEO at self employed' on facebook is not the reason God created you, wake up and win!

Adanna Elechi
connect with me on facebook Adanna Elechi
twitter @adee_elechi

The Hundred Naira Millionaire

                                   

I know most of you are already wondering what the title is all about. Seriously wetin ‘consign' 100 naira with million? You have to look beyond the physical Awolowo, use your spiritual eyes. LOL,  I play too much I know.

For this article to make sense to you, you have to believe in compound effect and little beginnings. Everyone has grand ideas, multi million Naira business ideas etc, which is not bad. It is really important to dream big. The only problem is that most of the time, there is nobody to support these dreams. You are fresh out of  the university, no money in your account and no bank wants to loan you money so the dream dies. Then you begin to question your ability and before you know it you are depressed or you start living with regrets. Trust me, that’s not how to live.

All my life, I knew I wanted to be a boss, the idea of spinning around in my chair, inside my all white office with a touch of red was so appealing.  Of course that kind of office doesn’t come with an anyhow kind of career, it had to be something big, not a ‘joking sturvz’.   I had a lot of ideas, I studied food Science and technology, so I decided I’ll major in nutrition. At least when someone enters my white office,  if they were always eating pounded yam and ogbono soup, for the fear of messing my immaculate office up, they will switch to apple. Lol. The point is, I was thinking about the fancy stuff which I couldn’t afford at the point because firstly,  I will have to further my education which needs money before I finally get that office.

Sometime in April, I was in a taxi in Lagos,  the cab man bought plantain chips and offered me one. It was beautifully packaged, each flavor had a different color. He told me to always buy the red one that it was the best. The chips were awesome, but what hit me was the fact it was  100 Naira. All through the journey, I kept watching the boys in traffic selling pack after pack to people, I ended up buying more too.  As an Igbo girl that I am, I was busy calculating their daily turnover, no be here o (Nna this is serious money o!) . It just struck me, that while I was busy dreaming about a white office, someone was busy frying ‘kpekere’ for the people and making millions.

It is okay to dream very big, but instead of getting frustrated over funding, why not start small. Think about what  one hundred and seventy million Nigerians can afford, trust me “kpekere’ lovers out number the sushi people in this country.  Dangote knows this, he produces for the people and has used our hundred Naira to build an empire and now he is a billionaire in dollars. What I am trying to say in essence, is that you should brainstorm and come up with a product or service you can provide that almost everybody can afford.

After my plantain chips encounter, I decided to start making yogurt, its also something I learnt from Food Science and technology. The money I make from it, I’ll use it to make my other dreams come true. That white office has to happen.

Start with what you have, from where you are, you might be the next 100 Naira millionaire.

P,s: You don't reach millionaire status overnight, you have to be patient and enjoy the process. 

Adanna Elechi.

Constant Asoebi Duties And Your Finances.

It is another weekend, a lot of events here and there. What is an event without colorful Asoebi? A flop!!!!

I believe everyone knows what Aso ebi is, just in case you don't, it a uniform dress traditionally worn in Nigeria and some West African cultures as an indicator of solidarity and cooperation during ceremonies and festive periods. My very first Aso ebi was at my Aunt Chinelo's wedding in 1999, that beautiful kaftan. The Aso ebi rave is on a whole new level now,with all the social media platforms celebrating it, nobody wants to be caught slacking. I used to think it was just for the women and young girls, the men are almost taking over, Hey Agbada gang.

This article is not an evil plan by EPs (enemies of progress) or  villagers to take away the shine at your wedding or any event you have coming up, so please don't bite. It is actually to discuss the financial implications of constantly being part of an Aso ebi.

Apart from the normal annoying questions of always being part of someone's asoebi as a single girl "Adanna, when will we come for yours" etc, The financial aspect is something to be talked about. The economy is bad. LOL. If you sit down to calculate the amount of money you have spent as an Asoebi, I'm sure it would have built a house to a point or even completed a duplex for some people. Instead we have used it to pile clothes we might end up never wearing again. Who wants to wear something at least ten other women or men have when its not 'akwa' Christian mother or father.

Aso ebi is an essential part of an event, just like jollof rice I know, but nobody's wedding or any other event will be cancelled if you are not a part of it. So why kill yourself? Why jeopardize your future and happiness? No matter how you look at it, Asoebi is not an investment. The money you spend buying the materials, sewing it, hair and makeup for the ladies and whatever the guys do, cost of transportation to and fro and sometimes accommodation etc could actually be more than your salary. This is for just one person's event, now multiply by the number of friends you have and see how much you are spending. If you are asked to invest that amount of money in something profitable, you start making excuses.

I'm not saying anyone should quit going out to support their friends, If a close friend of mine is doing anything,  I'll be there as long as I have the money and its within my budget. If it is something I cannot afford, I'll tell the person I can't afford it or stylishly let the person know I won't be available. A true friend will understand. Those people who won't are the ones who give the lamest excuse when its your turn (my brother-in-laws wife's sister's dog caught fire and fell inside the fish pond and the fishes caught fire too, so we are going to pour pepper and onions on them to turn them to barbecue so it doesn't go to waste. I hope you understand). LoL what an excuse.

Anything you have to do to secure financial freedom, by all means do it. Even it means cutting down the amount of 'friends' you have. If you are trying to build a business, let go of some frivolities and build your brand. Don't let anybody guilt you into any Asoebi, if you don't have the money, please don't borrow. Stick to your hustle, when you are made they will beg you to be  part of your squad. If you are looking for low risk investments, consider treasury bills or better still invest in improving yourself. Take courses, attend seminars or pay to learn a skill. Its more profitable than dancing around in uniforms.

P.S: Family and true friends excluded. Everyone knows who they can walk on coal for. I know my people, I know you do too.

XOXO
Aso Ebi Girl,
Adanna.

Securing Your Financial Future

In recent times, the economy has been on a downward spiral, the price of everything in the market has either doubled or tripled, job cuts everywhere etc. I even saw a tweet that the light at the end of the tunnel has gone off. The fact is that times are hard and the future is gloomy.

I'm not here to deliver bad news, I'm here to work with you to remedy this situation by thinking out of the box or like there is no box to secure our future. This is not the time to wait on anyone to give you a job, people are losing theirs every other day. The lucky ones who have can't depend on just their job. The possibility of losing that job tomorrow is high. Somebody say God forbid, lol. It is true, sorry to burst your bubble. Also your salary may not cover the high cost of living today, rice is like 17k a bag now, don't get me started on tomatoes and petrol.

I used to think once I was done with school, companies will lay at my feet begging me to be on their board of directors, paying me in millions (it will still happen). When I finished my NYSC, I joined Frank Donga and millions of Nigerian graduates in looking for a job. lol. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, I got one with 'onion' salary, it made me cry. With an Abuja rent hanging over my head, I just knew i had to find a way to generate more money. I had to discover my talent in yogurt production, joined Total life changes and fastrack, thank God i can afford to buy tomatoes now. Lol. Please excuse my jokes.

As an unemployed person, work on discovering your talent. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you must not be the new Jay Z or Chimamanda . There is this lady making it big from packaging Pap a.k.a Akamu or ogi.  This is the time to hone your skills, acquire new ones and launch yourself. Take advantage of available resources. You cannot continue sitting around waiting for someone to help you. The internet has made it easy for one to get discovered. People have gone from obscurity to brand ambassadors through the same internet you use everyday. It is your call.

Dear employed person, there is nothing wrong in having a side hustle, multiple streams of income is the way forward now. there is uncertainty in the land and you should always be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. Invest wisely, so you do not have to live paycheck to paycheck. God forbid something happens to your job, you will have something to lean on. Consider starting up a business or joining an mlm business. Never compete with your boss.

Self-employed person, you have done well for yourself. But You have to find other sources of income. An average Millionaire has about 7 streams of income. Until you have a structure that generates money for you on autopilot, you are not wealthy. Avoid cashing out early as a new business owner, continue to reinvest and in a few years you will thank yourself.

No matter where you fall into, the message is the same. You have to look for means of making money. Not one, many! You cannot and should not put all your eggs in one basket. It doesn't matter where you are, just do something each day that will propel you to where you want to be.

P.S: it has to be something legal and sustainable also be patient with yourself.

For more information on securing your financial future through mlm, send an email to onyinyeelechi@gmail.com

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Are The Big spenders Really The Top Earners?

We live in a society, where we judge people's net worth by the amount of money they spend. This is not correct (in GEJ's voice).

We tend to calculate a person's bank balance by the number of bottles he pops in the club, cars, or area of residence and the stamps on his or her passport. I'm sure most of us have met people who we feel are so rich, they have really nice cars, live in tush places and are quite generous, then after some time they are broke. When this happens, we start blaming innocent villagers.

When you spend all the money you make, you are not rich, you are pre-broke. That is not a good place to be. For Instance, Obi made 10 million naira from his first deal, He goes out and buys a 5 million naira car, moves from his 500k a year Lokogoma house to a 2 million a year service apartment in Maitama extension. Pops a few bottles for his Barbies and goons twice a week at an exclusive club for a month. Then gives his mum lets say 500k for her upkeep and that of his younger siblings, he is a family guy jor. Lets not take that from him lol. Biko my brothers and sisters, how much does he have left? Zero! The hustle continues.

If Obi was wise, or didn't have hailers, he could have put back some of the money he made into a business, which would increase his net worth, saved some of the money and may be remained in his old apartment. I'm not saying don't enjoy your money, but when you are starting up in a business, you have to be broke for a little while. You have to grow your money, if not, you will work for the rest of your life. There are some really rich young people you won't even know have a dime. They are not on instagram showing off, you won't see them in clubs every weekend, but their net worth speaks for them.

This article is not just for the people who their money come in millions, those of us who still earn in thousands are not left out. if you get 100k today and finish it today, how on earth will you become a millionaire? I can't overemphasize the importance of putting aside at least 10% of every money you receive and reinvesting it. You can't be dreaming of Forbes while living a pre-broke lifestyle.

Today, take out some time and reflect on how you spend your money, who you spend it on and check if tomorrow, something happens, if those people will be there for you and if the bottles you popped in the club will sustain you. I guess not. Secure your future today, find yourself a good mentor, save your money, invest wisely and pray. The hustle will pay!!!!

p.s: Obi is just a boy, i don't know him, neither do you. hehhe

Xo
Adanna Elechi
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