How can I deal with dissappointments in "Building a Startup"?

I don't want to start with an apology. Let's skip that bit and get straight to the point.

I need help

Funny right, I usually start my posts on a pedestal of perceived knowledge. But of recent, things haven't gone according to plan and I owe to you all that started this journey with me to know what's wrong.

At the beginning of June it became glaring to Uche and I that we are burning out too fast. We are growing no doubt and we are getting more customers 

BUT!

We are running out of capital and we haven't broken even yet.

Yes, HubbonNG is run by a Dynamic Duo! 

I didn't tell you?

I see you staring.

For the past couple of months since we closed our first grant  (The Tony Elumelu Foundation) raising follow-on seed funding has been a emotionally tiring journey.

It's difficult to know that funders might not be interested in what your passionate about and that's a difficult pill to swallow. What's worse is that I look at the impact that HubbonNG can have on the Youth population that are looking for supplementary income that we can provide for them as part of our delivery partner network and the possibility of us creating that impact for them seems to be mere tales by moonlight each passing day.

Successful Entrepreneurs say to us, "Stay Gritty"

The possibility of running and building a startup in Nigeria requires much more than grit, it requires divine intervention. Now I understand why prayers are much more important than hard work, because it requires God putting extra effort to make sure that all the constellations align for your success.

"No wonder I sit in the 3rd Floor of  building in Maitama and about midday on many occasions, I hear people in prayer sessions crying unto God to save them from their enemies and their village people. They are literally everywhere."

In the government office, when they tell you that you need to pay N1.5million for a license to run a new delivery company or on the road as task force agents, stopping your delivery bike that needs to deliver a customer's lunch in 20mins and they tell the rider that they have to pay a N25,000 fine. 

"We need God to help navigate these stormy waters of Entrepreneurship".

I had a discussion with a friend this morning and he said it better than I could.

"There is no point starting a small business in Nigeria, the government would find a way to kill it on arrival"

The truth is no one wants to know how much you are struggling!

"Get up and Get to Work"

You chose not to get a 9 to 5, after listening and reading that you are smarter and better off than people that decided to slave themselves for others like you because in your mind they are stupid.

"Now who's more stupid?"

I had a serious heart-to-heart with my dad yesterday and he told me the key for him to weather the storm of all the challenges he has been through is to focus on the solution. He tries not to let the challenge itself hold him back and puts all his energy in getting a solution to the problems he faces.

We would be taking a page out of his book and we would be launching in a couple of weeks an investment opportunity with HubbonNG, where you can invest and get 20% interest at the end of year.

Have any questions on how you can show interest in investing in HubbonNG. Send us an email on hubbon.ng@gmail.com.

By the way.

Did you know that if you run a business and you want to reach out to more customers online you can sign up on our business listing page for free?

There is an added benefit, you can get your products delivered to your customers' doorstep anywhere across Nigeria at affordable rates. 

Sign up on HubbonNG.com today!

Thanks for reading.

We want to hear your thoughts on different ways you have dealt with disappointments in building your startup/business in the comments section below!.

Best regards,

Ejieji Muna

(Co-founder, HubbonNG)

Do you like Motivational Speakers?

Hi Everyone,

Great Monday morning to you!

I want to really feel happy that I am on a row here. I have churned out 3 blog posts effectively in 3 days just before you guys wake up. But apparently celebrating something that has barely even become a habit might just be the first step to jinxing all I have worked for. My God is bigger than all the principalities and powers that are working overtime to prevent me from serving you greatness. 

So in a peer WhatsApp group a couple days ago, I had some of my mates have a go at motivational speakers especially those that clearly need donations from the crowd of people that are supposed to get motivated.

Like here bro, have this 20k and pay off the rent you owe your landlord.

In my opinion, a motivational speaker has to start somewhere, just like I had to have my first few customers to eventually claim I was running a business....

Africans I think are quite critical of people that don't have well spelt out jobs. They jeer conceitedly at people that claim to help their company "activate their workforce".

C'mon Oga. What is your work? Are you an Engineer? No. An Economist? No. A HR specialist? No. 

At Best, they are referred to as business pastors. LOL.

While you sit down there on your couch jobless being cynical, these guys are running firms with turnover in hundreds of millions of Naira a year.

ARE THEY NECESSARY?

I think they are a necessity. This world can weigh you down. As someone who has really met some low ebbs in my life, the ability to find people who, despite the fact that they are millions of miles away, speak to your spirit being and awaken that belief to stand up and try again. I tend not to underestimate their work.

Whatever they may term themselves; Leadership Expert, Turnaround Mogul, Emotional Intelligence Expert, Personal Development Trainers, they are vital to the framework of the 'human ecosystem'.

SUGGESTIONS

Entrepreneurs ,e.g myself ,usually face a myriad of issues ranging from overconfidence, to despair, to inability to coordinate teams and outright weakness of the mind to continue in the business to which they have put in maximum effort for a period of time. This is in combination with the personal issues (baggage) that they must've developed during their earlier years and brought into the business. An Entrepreneur needs every ounce of motivation that he/she can get to keep on going. Health Specialists would argue that Entrepreneurs require a stable mental health to be able to build a successful and sustainable business. Here are different ways Entrepreneurs can work towards maintaining a stable mental health.

1. Self-motivation

I dont have any other better way of putting it. The first onus to get and keep yourself constantly on track lies on you. Nobody will get your ass off that couch, if you don't decide to on your own.

2. Motivational Speakers

Essentially this is where they come in, getting out of bed might seem laboured at times when you just want to stay in bed and soak in all the goodness between the sheets. Their voices especially when you must've aligned them as your ring tones remind you of the reasons that you decided to take this journey in the first place. They might just be the "ginger" you need to get you going through the day.

What better way to remind yourself that the late nights, non-existent night outs with friends will eventually pay off in 5 to 10 years. I know that seems like a lot of time writing it down, but these speakers make you feel like 10 years is 10 days.

It is their work o

Soft work!

3. Support system

There are lot of quotes to this regard,

"Show me your friends and I would show you who you are"

"You are the sum total of the 5 people you spend most of your time with"

The list is endless. Trust me.

It is important to have a support system as one needs encouragement when the going is good and admonition as well as direction when the going is not so good. This support system can and is not limited to family, friends, business partners, mentors, industry leaders, competitors, et cetera.

Your support system otherwise called your "Network" needs to be quality for you to be quality. Very important.

4. Therapists/ Psychologists

These are the clinical guys. They are trained to unscrew your mind and screw it back together using techniques that they learnt over a protracted period of time.

For me, I typically imagine that they play a major role in the movies. LOL

Billions: Axelrod and his therapist, Wendy.

(PS: Entrepreneurs should watch this show. Very Intriguing)

To be completely honest, I sometimes think with the stress levels that I undergo from time to time, I require a sound, cool and collected individual, probably a therapist, to make sense of the puzzle I call my life.

Funny thing is that, I actually set up a meeting with a therapist and cancelled last minute for a delivery run. Other times I could have picked up on that meeting, I preferred going to the movies instead. 

Yes! Story of my Life!

I think the African culture is gradually accepting therapists. Their role in society is becoming increasingly mainstream in the system. I dare say that Entrepreneurs should have a therapist handy.

If I could get up to 10 Entrepreneurs in Abuja that are really in need of a therapist, we should be able to cut a deal with a trusted therapist I know. Reach out to us on hubbon.ng@gmail.com if you are interested.

We've come to the end of this article.
Hope you enjoyed it.

I have got a question though.

What are the two most potent ways that keep you motivated?

 You are free to share methods that are not listed here. Educate other readers and I.

Share your thoughts, ideas in the comment section below.

Also don't forget that if you want to increase your business/brand visibility online or want deliveries done anywhere in Nigeria. Sign up on HubbonNG.com.


Thanks for reading,
Ejieji Muna
(Co-founder, HubbonNG)

I NEED HELP WITH TIME MANAGEMENT

Hello Everyone,

I know you missed me. The feeling is indeed mutual. I know that I have truly not been keeping up with the promises I had made at the beginning of this year and I am as disappointed as you are that I haven't met up to the expectations that we all have had on this blog.

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES!

But let's be honest.

Truthfully, I have been struggling a lot recently.

I have been struggling on building and adhering to an effective timetable that helps me maintain a good work-life balance. Last year, I was giving 110% to my work and I realized I wasn't spending enough time around my family, particularly my old man. I deem it extremely vital that I spend enough time with my parents, because even if I make all the money in the world, without a strong family unit supporting and guiding each other, I would still not be happy.

 This year, I feel as though that I give just about 75%  of myself to my work. Although I feel like I spend more time around my parents, I still feel I am not maximizing the time I have available.

I need your help!

CAN SOMEONE DRAW ME A UP A DAILY (MONDAY TO FRIDAY) SCHEDULE THAT GIVES ME COMMENSURATE TIME FOR THIS ACTIVITIES

1. 8HRS OF WORK

2. 4HRS OF BLOGGING

3 2HRS OF READING

4. 2HRS OF FAMILY TIME

5. TWO HRS OF CHURCH TIME (6PM TO 8PM) DAILY

6. 30 MINS OF PRIVATE WORSHIP

7. 30 MINS OF FAMILY PRAYER

8. 1HR OF DAILY CHORES

I am sure I would not be the only person to benefit from an expert's opinion on how to best manage my time. My readers would too.

Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below or email us directly at hubbon.ng@gmail.com or reach out to us on WhatsApp at 080HubbonNG.

We would share your responses in a follow up post to this.

Readers, I want to hear your thoughts about how to be an effective time manager.

Don't forget that if you need any deliveries done for you today. You can easily book them on HubbonNG.com or call us or chat us up on WhatsApp through our helpline 080HubbonNG.

Best regards,

Ejieji Munachiso

SHOUTOUT TO BOIO, Beauty on its own!

Hello Everyone,

I am back again. Please do forgive me for not posting yesterday. I was working with the media guru, Demilade from BOIO on the first video in our Afripreneurial series. She's working on putting my "nonsense" together and making "sense" out of it all for you to enjoy. Her brand surely deserves a shout out.

She runs a beauty and fashion brand, BeautyOnItsOwn (BOIO) that focuses on promoting beauty and fashion for the African Woman. She currently produces her own Hair Treatment Cream that moisturizes and Conditions the Hair, Aids Hair Growth, Prevents Hair Breakage, Prevents Dandruff, Helps Repair Damaged Hair and Nourishes and Protects the Hair.

You can visit her Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/beautyonitsown/

She also does Fashion styling on her YouTube channel and she looks forward to running her own fashion outfit in the near future. Although she just started out, I am keen to see what the future holds for BOIO.

You can visit her YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCciVT9VbHnKXK2lJyH_tP8A

Her brand is an official distributor for the perfume brand called, "Tribute". It makes her smell like G-wagon. It is part of the collection that she's promoting right now.

She looks forward to styling and promoting African fashion brands as well as African make up, and cosmetic products. This is my effort to ensure that Entrepreneurs within the fashion, cosmetic industry reach out to her through her pages or simply by placing a comment in the section below.

She's willing to play her part to collaborate with African brands to foster growth in the industry. Reach out!

FUNNY THING!

We were in camp together and we were in the same platoon and we never met. But business brought up this collaboration. I look forward to doing more videos with her.

Don't worry! When the video comes out, I would be sure to buzz you!

Thanks for reading.

This is really short, because I need to sleep. LOL

Best regards,

Ejieji Muna
(HubbonNG)

IT'S A MINDSET THING

Hello Everyone,

It surely feels good to be back!

Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to Crystal Palace and went ahead to win 3-2 in extra time with a screamer from Nemanja Matic. This was exactly the inspiration that made me to finally make the glorious comeback after being on an unusual sabbatical for over 2 months.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Nothing really....

Well Something did happen. I decided that I was going to focus all my inspiration into my book, "Clueless to CEO in a Year". Unfortunately after 3 months, I am still not done.

Writing a book isn't that easy sha.

And I got customers that have already paid for the book. LOL. But I am working on it. Perhaps more time writing the book would enable me to put out amazing content that the readers would definitely appreciate. I personally think there are lessons that I am yet to realize from the truly transformative year that was "2017". Some lessons are yet to manifest this 2018. I personally think that there is something yet to be discovered.


WHAT I KEPT TELLING MYSELF

I kept telling myself that I was super stressed and that was the reason why I wasn't putting out content. I gave reasons ranging from brainstorming sessions with the co-founder, to setting up an office, to running around for deliveries, scouting for new team members and advisory board members for HubbonNG. I built up challenges that prevented me from focusing on executing the tasks I had.

I was supposed to make this post on the 5th of March, but almighty PROCRASTINATION decided to rear its ugly head. I kept telling myself that I would do it later, that the blog isn't yet revamped enough for relaunch back heavy.

Today, I decided to be honest with myself. Big shout out to my parents for constantly questioning me on why I was no longer putting content on the blog and my consistent readers that kept asking me what was up. I owe it to all of you that ensured that I keep being accountable to all of you by continuously putting out content.

BLESS UP!

I am sure you can tell that I am a Manchester United Fan. To be honest, we all know that the EPL trophy is coming to Manchester where it belongs.


WE'VE BEEN COOKING UP  SOME GOOD STUFF THOUGH....

In terms of content. We are looking at exploring other potent channels to ensure that we grow our follower's/fan base of aspiring African Entrepreneurs that are focused on creating solutions that are poised to transform the continent positively.

We are looking at focusing more efforts on YOUTUBE where we can explore opportunities in showcasing the brands that are registered on our platform and exploring more revenue channels as a result. We are looking to close down a partnership with BOIO (Beauty on its own), an amazing brand that puts out well curated beauty and fashion content on YouTube for an unnamed project. Keep chuffing at the opportunity to see what we have cooking.

We are looking at leveraging on audio content, as that allows fellow Entrepreneurs that are followers/fans be able to multi-task while consuming the content that we would be putting across the platforms.

We are looking at gaining sponsorship/advertisement deals with different big brands targeted towards on different marketing channels to increase their customer base. The deals would serve as a form of validation that our content is informative and niche-centric. We would be looking at brands that are creating solutions for startup Entrepreneurs and startup brands themselves. Reach out to us on hubbon.ng@gmail.com or +2347015766545 and let's brainstorm different ideas.

UPDATES ON HubbonNG?

HubbonNG  has transformed itself on its way to transforming the logistics industry. When we first began this journey, HubbonNG was running off twitter and whatsapp. Right now, we have an office space and have had a couple visitors come discuss different opportunities. It feels so surreal right now. I mean "something just happened right now".

I just had to, didn't I?

 It is always good to note milestones that we have achieved in 4 months.

1. Over 90 business signed up on our platform.
2. Over 70 orders completed (since website launch in November 2017)
3. Currently developing a robust delivery network with presence in over 4 cities in Africa.
4. Over 11,000 visits on our blog
5. Advert deals are coming through for the blog.
6. Possible partnership deals with growing YouTube brands.

There are other milestones, but these are at the top of the list.

 FUTURE?

All pun intended. (*In case you didn't get it, you have officially carried last. Just keep reading)

1. Consolidation. We are looking to grow our customer base which would help us simultaneously increase our Key Performance Indicators e.g. average deliveries completed per day.

2. Explore more capabilities. We are constantly brainstorming different innovative ideas where we can create solutions for businesses that would boost trade in Africa and speed up economic growth on the continent.

3. Funding. Although this is not top of the list. It is very important. It would grant us sufficient runway to enable us further develop our product and bring on more team members which we would use to scale efficiently across more cities in Africa with a more robust service.

4. Growth: We are looking at expanding our customer base and expanding across the West African Sub-Region this year whilst exploring expansion opportunities towards other parts of Africa. We are looking at developing subscription based models for businesses and individuals that patronize us on a regular basis. We are looking at expanding into warehousing/storage services and cold transportation with focus on the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.

5. Partnerships: We look to leverage heavily on partnerships and collaborations because we believe that businesses in Africa would primarily need to focus on the development of Africa and this is only possible when the era of "competition" is gradually phased out and gives rise to the era of "collaboration" between brands that would create solutions for the many problems plaguing the African continent.


LESSONS

1. DON'T BREAK A HABIT, IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET BACK INTO IT.
2. DON'T FLUFF YOURSELF. YOU CAN WORK HARDER. THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM.
3. MOTIVATE YOURSELF. BE YOUR BEST CHEERLEADER.
4. HAVE BIG GOALS THAT INSPIRE AND SCARE YOU. KNOW THAT YOUR DREAMS ARE YOUR ONLY LIMITATION.
5. DON'T BE STATIC, KEEP MOVING FORWARD, NO MATTER HOW SLOW.
6. INNOVATE OR DIE. YOUR UNIQUE SELLING POINT (USP) TODAY IS THE NEXT GUY'S BASIC FEATURE TOMORROW. BE AWARE AND KEEP FAILING FORWARDS!
7. YOU WILL NEVER RAISE ENOUGH INVESTMENT, USE WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
8. BELIEF! THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRYING AND NOT TRYING AT ALL.
9. DON'T LOOK TO COMPETE. COLLABORATE.
10. BUILD A SCALABLE MODEL THAT CAN TRANSFORM  NOT JUST YOUR COMMUNITY BUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

Thanks for being patient. What do you think about the revamp of our blog?

Best regards,
Ejieji Muna
(HubbonNG)

PS: If you enjoyed the post, share the post with your friends and tell them to share it to their friends and their other other friends. HubbonNG all the way up.

Need a delivery done today? Use HubbonNG. Click here

Did you achieve set goals in 2017?

I wanted to give myself a break till the end of the year to focus on writing my book "From Clueless to CEO" based on my story of transforming my rough ideas into a company with a highly talented Co-founder. It still surprises me and humbles me at the same time that a highly skilled friend of mine was willing to take a risk on my ideas and join me in building a company that is going to transform Africa. If you're interested in reading the book. Drop a comment in the section below or send me a personal email to munachiso_ejieji@yahoo.com.

HOW SETTING GOALS TRANSFORMED MY LIFE

Although this section is somehow going to be in book in a different format, it is pertinent that I give an insight to how my Entrepreneurial journey did start.

I recalled in the evening of one paltry, boring day in May of 2016. I decided that something needed to change and perhaps on the advice of my dad constantly repeating the importance of planning my life. I decide to do a 50 year open ended plan on where I wanted to be in my 70's. I was 22 at the time.

I'm gonna look this good when I turn 72. Money has just started falling on me. Watch this space for before and after pictures. LOL.

I cut the 50 year plan down into 10 year milestones. I further cut the 10 year milestones into yearly milestones. I never visited the plan till a couple days ago and I realized that out of 20 set goals (pretty lofty goals at the time), I achieved 12 out of them.

To all the haters in the house. Take a sit at the back, while I sip on my "Tequila Sunrise" from Jabi Boat Club.

PS. You can have one when you stop setting overambitious New Year Resolutions and start getting real with yourself.


Funny thing is, the 8 goals I didn't achieve were all related to learning how to code. I tried learning it, but...

It can be quite frustrating to learn.... Let's agree to disagree that not everyone is built to be a coder.



Some of us are just meant to be dreamers and storytellers. That is why collaborations and partnerships are key to building great companies.

Africans need to imbibe this ideology and acknowledge the paradigm shift in business towards partnerships and throw away that "I am the only captain on this ship" mentality. It begs the question why we don't have African 'Unicorns' that have stood for decades!

Big Shoutout to HubbonNG's Co-founder, Uche Ozoemena for agreeing to be part of a journey of a thousand miles. I am glad to have taken the first few steps with you and I am sure that together, we are poised for greatness.

PS: We need investors so that we can start paying ourselves salary. As we are now, we are just doing it for the gram (and the vine!)LOL

Africans have began to unlock these potentials in partnerships and that is why we are building great Startups!

TO YOUNG  ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS

Set goals! 

Not those flimsy New Year Resolutions, trust me when I say this! Those don't work!

Set 10 years, 5 years, 2 years and 1 year goals for yourself!

It helps you put things in perspective and enables you to plan your life. It would even help you to calculate even the number of hours in a day that you would be required to start up that business or  achieve your goals whatever it might be.

PS. This isn't even only for business people. It's for everyone! School students, parents, grandparents, babies in diapers! Everyone!

Yes even you reading this post. Set achievable goals and work towards them!

WHAT MAKES ME ANGRY

I felt that I should also use this medium to vent! 

We have this vicious cycle of continuous celebration in Africa that needs to be curbed. Honestly speaking!

Happy New Week, Happy Born Day, Happy Natal Day, Happy Womb Escape, Happy April Fools, Happy Almost Christmas.

Please help me ask them sir.

Quick question: Is it just a Nigerian problem or an African epidemic?

PS. If you're wondering why I've posted "one too many" pictures of Barney Stinson. This is my own private rerun of "How I met your Mother" TV show. I am advertising for them. They just don't know it yet.

 We need to get to work to build our continent instead of faffing about sending messages by virtue of just being alive, there's no prize for that.

In my opinion, I am even angry that this year is coming to an end because I want to achieve more. I had a heart-to-heart with my Dad and he's probably going to read this so I just do well to articulate my thoughts well in this post.

He asked that I return to the village for Christmas, but I felt that I didn't have much to celebrate that there was still a lot of room to build up traction for HubbonNG especially at this "celebratory" period. People would definitely be sending parcels, sending gifts and ordering various items. Definitely "HubbonNG" would have to be around to "capitalize" on the very many opportunities this holiday period would bring.


Let me briefly scan this post to ensure I didn't "sub" him. LOL

I really don't want to go to the village. All I want to do is....

I am also angry that we would be going into 2018, because personally I feel that I didn't maximize this year to its full potential. 

This is because I set huge, hard BUT  highly achievable goals!

Plus next year my parents are celebrating their Silver Jubilee and I have big plans for them! 

They have done well and they really need something special and I can't do that by sleeping on the "proverbial" bicycle.

Plus I set goals to be on Forbes 30 under 30 and I would be 24 next year.

There's really no time to waste time! LOL

Plus I need to get married. Dear Wife get ready to propose!

BIG PICTURE

Let it not just to be about me. 

Just as I have a lot way to go in this journey to success, so also does Nigeria have a long way to go to earn in its rightful place in the committee of nations as the "Giant of Africa". I see Nigeria which when it begins to operate at optimum level being a member of the UN Security Council states with the USA, UK, France, China and Russia.

We have a lot of targets to set for ourselves

1. Reorientation of Mindset

2. Patriotism

3. Belief

4. Excellence

5. Execution

You must have expected that I put "stamping out corruption" and " eradicating nepotism and tribalism" as the targets we should have but if you look deeply, these are symptoms of a much greater issue.

If we have the right mindset as a people and are patriotic with the belief that Nigeria and Africa as a whole would be great, we would bring on excellent people to execute the great plans we have to make our country and indeed our continent to be great!

I believe Africa has all it takes to transform the world. We just need to be "woke".

Young African Leaders, we ought to be like Garfield here, let's wake up our nations!

THERE MUST BE A PURPOSE TO ANYTHING YOU START

I remember when I started this blog and I sought ideas from a vast number of people and I was getting mixed thoughts and ideas, particularly creating a blog based on gossip, which I couldn't naturally because I normally don't even know who Kim Kardashian or Kylie Jenner are.

Haha! I'm definitely lying, but there's a point I'm getting at.

PS. A little white lie doesn't hurt anyone.

I understood that blogging about Entrepreneurship was not mainstream but I made it a goal to use this blog to attract fellow millennials to the budding Startup Ecosystem and the community of fellow Young people creating great solutions for African problems. 

I did this to inspire young people to be "solution providers". A mentor of mine (albeit from a distance)  Fela Durotoye believes that if you are not solving a problem, you are definitely part of the problem to be solved. My goal is to inform young Africans that it is indeed possible to solve our problems despite how "multifaceted" and "octopus-headed" it might be at times.

The hardest step is always that first step. Let's make it together!

On a secondary note, the ideology in the International media about Africa is extremely warped and as Chimamanda Adichie rightly put it, Africa suffers from the "Danger of a single story". Despite our "growing" democracies and the wealth "disparity" in Africa, there are indeed young people creating amazing solutions to challenge and overcome our very many challenges and these people equally need their voices heard and their stories told.

They also need  investors to bet on their amazing solutions to be the next unicorns of the future! 

PS. I am included by the way!

I am playing my part to transform Africa from "the dark continent" to the "land of great opportunities".

And I am, well, "we are" getting there.

ACHIEVEMENTS

StartupTalk begun on a free blogger account and as a documentary for my growth process and it has transformed to a "online business newspaper".

Lol! More like an informative business comic book. We all know that they're enough boring newspapers to go around.

It has now been officially "acquired" by HubbonNG for an "undisclosed" fee. You can now find StartupTalk on it's new domain HERE

Don't ask me, the fee is undisclosed! Just be happy for HubbonNG!

A couple days ago, we got to 10,000 views on the blog and there are advert gigs/ partnerships/ collaborations lining up. This year isn't over yet and next year presents so much opportunity.

PS: If you run a restaurant, relaxation spot, spa etc. As a growing blog, we are ready to set up a mutually beneficial deal to grow both our hustles. Get in touch with us through our email, hubbon.ng@gmail.com.

We are giving email now, because we have blown! 

Yeah look at us!. Yeah you reading this!

What we've been able to achieve in 8 months of launching the blog is absolutely phenomenal and the potential for growth of the blog into a much greater platform is totally inspiring.

Reminder

SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS AND EXECUTE THEM!

Thanks for enjoying the read!

Best regards,

Ejieji Muna

(HubbonNG)

Don't Ask For Permission (GaryVee)

GARYVEE!!!

In his last snapchat post. He said something really phenomenal.

You don't need to ask anyone for permission. Not your parents, not the society and most importantly not your spouse. Get out there and put in the work!

This might sound really cliche. But let's be fair, why haven't you started working on that amazing startup or left that crappy job for another crappy job?

Get to work on that thing that you consider important.

Don't sleep on the proverbial bicycle.

You're going to die soon!

I didn't say it. GaryVee Said it!

But let's be fair yeah.

This life is too short to worry! 

PUT IN WORK! Work! Work! Work!

Best regards,

Ejieji Muna

(HubbonNG)

How to speak confidently in public

As Entrepreneurs and even as Intrapreneurs it is important that we are able to communicate effectively our thoughts and ideas to our board members, our staff, our customers, during interviews and to large audiences. We must not only communicate effectively but confidently and at time persuasively to drive people towards a common goal.

HOW WAS I ABLE TO OVERCOME MY STAGE FRIGHT

I remember when I was 8 years old and I written a poem "courtesy my mum" that was selected by the Principal and I was selected to presented to the whole school at assembly. That was the first time that winning something really sucked. Imagine a quiet kid that couldn't speak in class asked to speak in front of the whole school. It was terrifying. Even after having the principal put an arm of over me to calm me down. I still ended up like this while reading my speech.

It pretty much remained the same till  SS1...

I remember I had become friends with very vocal people and they rubbed off on me. Not magic per se, I would say it was a strategy to get out of my shell. 

I am lying it was a coincidence. LOL.

I remember when I felt that magical moment that I wasn't just getting out of the shell, I was taking out the shell like the Nigerian version of Professor X.

It was when I acted in an Independence Day dance drama and I had a semi-solo scene where the white people and the 'nigerians' had all been murdered and I was the last man standing, and I picked up the gun and shot myself. It was epic for me and I felt the crowd cheering and laughing at how I acted out the scene. I knew then that I was going to be a "Ramsey Noah".

You can argue that Ramsey and I don't look alike, just wait until money falls on me.LOL

IT'S A PROCESS

Rome was not built in a day.

I didn't get better just from the drama. Remember I looked good while dancing, my speaking was still way off.

Here are a couple more things that I did to continuously to grow my confidence in public.

1. I acted more dramas in secondary school.

2. I worked in customer service roles.

3. I worked as a tour guide in my university.

4. I took part in different activities at university.

As Nigerians would say, I made a decision to 'show myself'.

Disclaimer

Don't 'show yourself' in the presence of the Nigerian Police, don't call my name. I am just your humble blogger trying to spice up your life with comedy and facts.

I am still a work in progress and you are too.

FINAL WORDS

You must have known this already, but let me just say it. There is no 'special sauce' to breaking out of stage fright. But I can vouch for ToastMasters "Aso Rock Stars" , there are the best "communication strategy" chefs and they would help you discover your "special ingredient" that you would apply to have that "sauce" that would wow any crowd that you speak to.

Too much juice, too much sauce 

I hope you enjoyed reading this post!

PS: I would love to hear your thoughts on overcoming stage fright in the section below!. I want to learn more from all of you!

Best regards,

Ejieji Muna

(HubbonNG)