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Its amazing the number of businesses which start each day. I don't have statistics, but using the numbers from my circle of influence alone, they're a lot.
A key question is "Why don't some of them live beyond a month, six months or beyond its first cycle of product sale/delivery?" A lot of reasons could be the cause for this but a popular one is 'LACK OF CAPITAL'.
Excuse me, please what happened to the capital you started with, and the profit you made from your first cycle? Then you begin to hear answers like;
"I had bills to pay",
"I paid myself a salary",
"I kept a few items for myself",
"I had to take care of some pressing needs", etc
It is fine to spend your profit on the above, but to spend your capital is completely unacceptable. A popular cliche in certain circles is "Don't eat your seed because it is your future". Your capital investment is necessary for continuity of your business, while your profit is important for expansion of your business. Eating up both of them leads to the death of your business.
There is someone very close to me who is a sales guru. She can sell ice to an Eskimo and fishes to a dolphin. I have lost count of the number of businesses she has started and abandoned all because she doesn't have the discipline required to handle 'business money'. She has the clients, she has access to the products, but every time she needs to run a cycle she has to borrow money. At the end of that cycle she will spend the profit, repay the capital and return to square one.
As entrepreneurs, its important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Leverage on your strengths and mitigate against your weaknesses. If you have challenges with money management, it is wise to ensure you are financially accountable to someone so that your business can grow.
Tips On How To Employ Financial Accountability.
Ensure you are not the sole signatory to the business accounts.
Put yourself on a realistic salary. No matter how successful that particular business cycle was, don't increase your salary arbitrarily.
In some cases, you might need to employ a trusted Financial Manager who has some level of financial power over some accounts.
At the start of each project/business cycle, draw up a comprehensive expenditure budget and ensure that your expenditure sticks strictly to the budget. Absolutely no un-budgeted expenses. (Miscellaneous as a budget item can address un-budgeted business expenses).
Outsourcing your accounting function.
The bottom line is all of the above are still within your control because you own the business, they are just measures to assist you be financially responsible.
As an entrepreneur, to ensure the future and sustainability of your business you must learn discipline with managing money.

Hello everyone,

When I ventured into entrepreneurship, I was working from home at the time. There was a need to get an office space and I had been praying desperately for one. At that time, I had started an Entrepreneurship Management class at the Pan Atlantic University and you can trust that I ensured I spoke to everyone in class. I would leave my group and go to other groups just to meet people. It was something I really loved doing.
One day, in the middle of my program, I had a brilliant Idea, which today has grown into BI empowerment, but I didn't know how to go about it then. I decided to have a chat with the Director of the program. As I began to describe my idea to him, he bluntly told me I could not pull the idea through without an office space, and in a polite way told me that our discussion would continue when I get this space. Extremely depressed and demotivated, I began to walk down the staircase confused in a confused haze. Immediately I got downstairs, I needed to talk to someone and the first person I saw took a look at my face and asked "What is wrong"? I told her that I was just asked to get an office space urgently but I had no money. She looked at me briefly, then said she had a free office space in Ikeja GRA for rent. I immediately told her I couldn't afford it, that was when I got a huge shock. Still looking at me, she said "I will give you for free!".
That was how I got an office space valued at 1.2 million Naira for free in Ikeja GRA through Net working. I sat down in the car, shocked for about 20 minutes and then began to think about a few people in my class who would just walk into class, not speak to anyone and then walk back out after class, I just thought about the great opportunity I would have missed if I had just avoided building relationships in class.
There is a saying that "Even a lone ranger has a horse". No man can live in isolation.

BI Empowerment team

Company in Lagos in need of a candidate to fill in the position of a FACILITIES MANAGER.

The candidate must be a graduate with at least 2nd Class Honors in ESTATE MANAGEMENT, CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING or ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING from a reputable University, with a minimum of 5-10 years experience in the real estate management and supervision. The candidate must also in addition possess the following:

i. Excellent writing and communication skills;

ii. Ability to work under pressure;

iii. Must possess strong organizational skills and ability to multi task;

iv. Great IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft office programs;

v. Coordinating and leading one or more teams to cover various areas of responsibility;

vi. Using performance management techniques to monitor and demonstrate achievement of agreed service levels and to lead on improvement;

vii. Checking that agreed work by staff or contractors has been completed satisfactorily and following up on any deficiencies;

viii. Responding appropriately to emergencies or urgent issues as they arise and dealing with the consequences.

ix. Good time management skills.

x. Must be able to manage facilities and infrastructure in a fairly large residential estate.

As customer service is the focus area of our operations, the candidate must have strong customer service skills.

Candidates with less than 5 years experience need not apply.

Interested candidates should send CV to zika.n@bisolutionsng.com latest Friday 17th March 2017

biempowerment.com

My last two articles have been on following your passion and I was fortunate to be at the FREE Conference organized by ‎Jimi Tewe which was centered on being free and finding your purpose. I decided to share 7 exceptional quotes for BIE readers to ponder on and I encourage you to begin this journey.

1. ” Figure out what your life is all about early” Jimi Tewe

2. “Your Career must enable you to fulfill your purpose” Jimi Tewe

3. ” Look at what you have, rather than what you don’t have” Fela Durotoye

4. “You cannot be useful until you begin to use what you have” Jimi Tewe

5 “Success only lies at the end of an attempt”‎ Jimi Tewe

6. “When you know where you are going to, you get there faster‎” Fela-Durotoye

7. ” When you are in purpose, all things work together for your good” Fela Durotoye

Don’t worry if you missed the conference, this amazing book covers all you need to know about finding your purpose. Get your own copy of Jimi Tewe latest book. #The Purpose book. Call Eniola on 08055194404.

” The world is waiting for you”. I hope you were inspired?
biempowerment.com

Growing up, I always got into trouble for talking too much. It was easy for me to explain everything in such detail. I was quick to start up a conversation with many visitors that come into our house and as I grew up, I enjoyed talking even more. When I’m with friends, my voice is the loudest and the most excited, most times I would stand up and gesticulate while talking just to drive my point home, it’s almost always like a presentation. The most amazing part of this aspect of my life is that people usually listen to me! One day, I realized I had just found my passion: Talking. Then the problem came. How do I turn my passion into a job or a means of generating income? Which I did and today I get invitations to speak and I have also learned to write out some of my thoughts in exchange for remuneration and making an impact along the way.

Sometimes, you fall head over heels in love with an activity, but remember, it’s more valuable when you are able to create impact and then make money from it. It is important to ask yourself two questions – Who would benefit from this? Who would pay for this? Answers to these questions would get you started. Here are a few tips.

Be realistic about whether your passion could actually be turned into a career.
Go for further training. For example, I loved talking and knowing people listened to me was not sufficient either for me to turn it into a career or for income generation. I had to go for different trainings. I enrolled in a master public speaking class, where I learned how to be visible as a public speaker, create impact and generate money from it as welll
Remember turning it into a career means turning your passion from a “Love to do” to a “Have to do” especially when it now involves people and their money.
Be alert to who might need your newly emerging passion and aim to have conversations with them to get you clearer on how, where and when you can serve them.
Fear will come but be positive: Fear of failure, fear of financial stability, If you succumb to fear, your passion will remain out of your grasp and you will end up not realizing your full potential in life.
Be Brave: A lot of people are just so afraid to follow their passion and they remain with the status quo. Expand your comfort zone.
The world needs your passion. I hope you have been inspired

biempowerment.com

Interviewers tend to use the interview to try to determine who you are as a person. In other words, how you get along with other people and your desire to work. They will specifically try to identify as much as possible from how you behave. They will also pay attention to how you respond concisely, cooperate fully in answering questions and keep to the subject at hand. These are very important elements that influence the interviewer’s decisions.

Below are five tips to gain an extra edge in your interview.

Preparation is Key: Ensure you learn about the employer, the job and the organization doing the recruiting on social media. Find out what is happening in the employers field, try to identify problems in that field and explain why you think you will be able to solve such problems citing some of your specific accomplishments to make your case.

Relate yourself to the interviewers need: Once you figure out the type of person the interviewer is looking for, ensure you discuss your past achievements in relation to the employers need. That is why it is important to ensure you look for every opportunity to intern or volunteer when you have some free time so you would have gathered some experience and achievements.

Think before answering: Answering a question should be a three-step process. Pause – Make sure you understand what the interviewer is talking about

Think – Think about how to structure your answer

Speak – Ensure that in your answer you speak about how hiring you can help the interviewer solve his/her problems. Always remember that the need to recruit you is to solve a problem.

Remember appearance is important: Appropriate clothing, good grooming, a firm handshake, a warm smile and energy and enthusiasm are important. Maintain eye contact, nod in agreement, and remember to PAUSE, THINK and SPEAK

Make a good first impression: In most cases, the interviewer makes up their mind within the first few minutes of the interview. I could tell from your response to my first question “Tell me about yourself” if you have me or you have lost me. Click HERE on how to answer the question “Tell me about yourself”. It’s unlikely that a good first impression will turn to bad during the interview, but first impressions are almost impossible to overcome.

I have decided to put down a summary of what we pay attention to while interviewing.

Appropriate clothing
Good grooming
A firm handshake
The appearance of controlled energy
Humor and readiness to smile
Genuine interest in the employers operation
Alertness and attention when the interviewer speaks
Pride in past achievements or performance
An understanding of the employers needs and a desire to serve them
Make good use of these secrets and get that dream job.

www.biempowerment.com

This is a story of a young boy who wanted to be a rapper. He believed he was so awesome and he had a plan to break into super stardom by winning every and any competition he went for. Unfortunately, for some reason, people generally thought he wasn’t good enough- he would go for competitions over and over again only to be laughed at and mocked by others.

This young boy loved music so much that he worked harder at improving himself in every way. After months of preparation and lots of hard work, he went for another competition but still lost. In utter depression he decided it was time to ‘drop the mic.

His huge moment of clarity came one evening during a discussion with his roommate. They discovered that as a result of his persistence in trying to get better at rap, he had acquired great knowledge about rap music as a whole, including production and the business of entertainment.

‘’Why don’t I try to manage, produce or write for people?’’ he thought to himself. Today, he is a respected writer, producer and also a rapper, he brought out a new style of rap- many musicians today still try to evolve into his kind of music.

Moral of the story: Success doesn’t always come as planned. Lots of times, we lose, so that we can find ourselves and win big.

Ayotunde Shado

A very popular saying is "You are the best motivator/encourager of yourself". I honestly have no idea where that saying comes from, but not much could be more true. As an individual, entrepreneur, corporate professional, student etc, your biggest fans would have moments of doubt; rather, moments of silence which could mean a million discouraging words. In those moments, when you seem to have no one cheering you on, when even you might seem uncertain about your decisions, that's when you need to step in and head your fan club.
I have a close friend whom I admire for something (it's not always positive, but it is a great quality). When he makes a decision, he sticks with it. Even when he realizes that it was a wrong move a little too late, he seemingly 'bites the bullet' and accepts responsibility. That dogged quality of sticking with a decision might sometimes even turn a wrong move into an advantage.
I believe to make progress, you must make a decision and drive that decision. The onus is on YOU to drive it, not your staff, not your clients, not your family and definitely not your competition. It is your responsibility to stay motivated and stay driven until you achieve success. In the times when there is silence around you, or when the voices are even tearing you down and highlighting your mistakes, you must drum up encouragement and drive from within yourself to keep moving.
When you achieve success you will have lots of fans, it's the journey there that gets very lonely and challenging, so you need to whip out the pom-poms and cheer yourself on constantly.
After all, no one knows you like you do, so no one can encourage you like you can.

Ope Komolafe
biempowerment.com

We have seen businesses come and go, companies start and fold up, empires rise and fall, in most cases, the reason for their failure is the simple fact that they ran out of clients or couldn't meet the new demands of their clientele.
One constant thing about life is its ever-changing nature. Consequently, people as well as their requirements, desires and ultimately their tastes for items/service will be dynamic.

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, man’s basic needs of food, clothing and shelter have remained unchanged throughout the ages. Nevertheless, the needs of individuals vary across the spectrum of the hierarchy of needs. For example, the need for prestige and self actualization may not be important to most people struggling to meet daily needs of food and shelter, so the onus is on you as an entrepreneur to find out what your target clients choose not to do without.

Like my husband often says, "Anywhere I go, the first thing I do is ask myself, what are the needs here? What can I do or how can I meet these needs?" This particular drive is what keeps you relevant. Meeting a 'need' is completely different from providing a 'want'. When the stakes are high, people will shun their wants, but in every situation, every human will strive to have his/her needs met. If your business meets a core need of your clientele or projected clients your business will stay relevant for generations and even in the most difficult economies.

So dear BIE reader, what exact need does your business or intended business meet? Meeting that NEED is what will make your business endure.

http://biempowerment.com/?p=10880&preview=true

A good number of people are scared and unhappy with their jobs, they are afraid that they may be stuck in that job for the rest of their lives. In my experience as an HR Consultant, I have had a lot of people walk up to me telling me they hate what they do, they dread going to work, and they have been stuck with those feelings on that job for years.
I remember a time I changed jobs because I wanted to try something new in a different environment. I would always look forward to Fridays because of the upcoming weekend, meanwhile, Sundays were the unhappy days because I would have to go back to an environment I dreaded for the next five days. I patiently waited for two months on that job before I happily resigned. I had the money and the fancy title but it did not make me feel good.
These are a few tips that may help you, if you find yourself in this situation.
1. It is okay to want something different: A lot of us tend to endure the feelings and end up unhappy, most times till the end of our lives. The truth is that career happiness and fulfillment comes from enjoying your work, feeling purposeful, excited, competent and valued. It doesn’t come from money or a fancy title. Look inwards and you will find out that you are great at many things, identify those things you are passionate about and create impact rather than working like a robot. No matter how little the impact appears to be, it is better than working day after day feeling unhappy and sometimes useless.

2. When you love your job, a lot of things don’t matter: I remember when I started BI Solutions, Nigeria and the BI Empowerment platform, which is all about giving back, I was constantly putting all my money into it and I was thrilled at the impact the platform was creating. It was just amazing! I didn’t realize I hadn’t taken a holiday in 3 years or that I could barely afford to buy the fancy shoes I love. I was just happy, and as I was consistent in doing what I loved doing, I began to receive calls and before I knew it, I was getting paid for doing exactly what I loved to do.
Many times our problem is fear, opportunities would come and we instantly dismiss it thinking, “Well… how would I support myself doing that?”
I’m not saying that you don’t need a certain amount to survive, of course we all do, but the point is you may be surprised at how little you will need when your attention is taken up by the work you love.
3. You are never too old to change and learn: Never fall in the trap of ‘you are too old to change’. You need to identify that thing you are passionate about or the problem you want to solve, then begin to look around for opportunities. If you need to train to acquire those skills, of course it requires hard-work, and remember nothing good comes without hardwork. You may even need to go back to school or intern for free.
4. To be afraid is normal: Fear will definitely come. I was so afraid to leave paid employment for the great unknown, working for myself, building my business and the constant question of "Will I succeed or not?" ‘But how will you ever know if you don’t try?’ That fear will keep you motivated to work hard and not fail.
I will conclude by saying, have mentors in that field - that would help you take off. Think positively and keep positive friends around you. Take courage and venture out because the world is waiting for you.

Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/12/06/stuck-career-doesnt-make-happy-tokunbo-fasoro/

A good number of people are scared and unhappy with their jobs, they are afraid that they may be stuck in that job for the rest of their lives. In my experience as an HR Consultant, I have had a lot of people walk up to me telling me they hate what they do, they dread going to work, and they have been stuck with those feelings on that job for years.
I remember a time I changed jobs because I wanted to try something new in a different environment. I would always look forward to Fridays because of the upcoming weekend, meanwhile, Sundays were the unhappy days because I would have to go back to an environment I dreaded for the next five days. I patiently waited for two months on that job before I happily resigned. I had the money and the fancy title but it did not make me feel good.
These are a few tips that may help you, if you find yourself in this situation.
1. It is okay to want something different: A lot of us tend to endure the feelings and end up unhappy, most times till the end of our lives. The truth is that career happiness and fulfillment comes from enjoying your work, feeling purposeful, excited, competent and valued. It doesn’t come from money or a fancy title. Look inwards and you will find out that you are great at many things, identify those things you are passionate about and create impact rather than working like a robot. No matter how little the impact appears to be, it is better than working day after day feeling unhappy and sometimes useless.

2. When you love your job, a lot of things don’t matter: I remember when I started BI Solutions, Nigeria and the BI Empowerment platform, which is all about giving back, I was constantly putting all my money into it and I was thrilled at the impact the platform was creating. It was just amazing! I didn’t realize I hadn’t taken a holiday in 3 years or that I could barely afford to buy the fancy shoes I love. I was just happy, and as I was consistent in doing what I loved doing, I began to receive calls and before I knew it, I was getting paid for doing exactly what I loved to do.
Many times our problem is fear, opportunities would come and we instantly dismiss it thinking, “Well… how would I support myself doing that?”
I’m not saying that you don’t need a certain amount to survive, of course we all do, but the point is you may be surprised at how little you will need when your attention is taken up by the work you love.
3. You are never too old to change and learn: Never fall in the trap of ‘you are too old to change’. You need to identify that thing you are passionate about or the problem you want to solve, then begin to look around for opportunities. If you need to train to acquire those skills, of course it requires hard-work, and remember nothing good comes without hardwork. You may even need to go back to school or intern for free.
4. To be afraid is normal: Fear will definitely come. I was so afraid to leave paid employment for the great unknown, working for myself, building my business and the constant question of "Will I succeed or not?" ‘But how will you ever know if you don’t try?’ That fear will keep you motivated to work hard and not fail.
I will conclude by saying, have mentors in that field - that would help you take off. Think positively and keep positive friends around you. Take courage and venture out because the world is waiting for you.

Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/12/06/stuck-career-doesnt-make-happy-tokunbo-fasoro/

Interviews come in all shapes and sizes: Sometimes you’re with just one interviewer, and other times it may be more. you maybe asked to lunch, expected to solve a problem, or even invited to a Skype interview.

1. The Traditional Interview
This is the scenario you’ll face most often: You sit down with a solo interviewer and answer a series of questions designed to help him/her figure out if you’re a great candidate for the job.

2. The Phone Interview
Asked for a phone interview? A call is typically a first-round screening to see if you’re fit to come in for a full interview, so nailing it is key. You’ll want to prepare just as you would for an in-person interview, with some key adjustments for the phone format.

3. The Skype Interview
Skype video interviews take the phone-screening interview to the next level, and they’re becoming a regular part of the job application process for many companies. From choosing the right on-screen look to making sure all of your tech systems are a go, you’ll want to be 100% ready for your TV debut.

4. The Case Interview
The case interview is a more specialized format in which you’re given a business problem or a puzzle to solve. While case interviews were once exclusively the domain of aspiring consultants, they’re now popping up everywhere from tech companies to NGOs.

5. The Puzzle Interview
Google and other highly competitive companies have been known to ask “puzzle” questions, like, “How many people are using Facebook in San Francisco at 2:30 PM on a Friday?” Seems random, but your interview wants to determine how quickly you can think on your feet, how you’ll approach a difficult situation, and how you can make progress in the face of a challenge.

6. The Lunch Interview
Has your potential employer suggested an interview over a meal? That’s a good sign—it usually means she wants to learn a little more about you and how you act outside of the office.

7. The Group Interview
Group interviews aren’t common, but you might find them for sales roles, internships, or other positions in which the company is hiring multiple people for the same job. How do you catch the hiring manager’s eye when you’re part of the group? It takes a little gusto and a few smart tactics.

8. The Apprentice Interview
In some industries that involves writing, engineering, or even sales, you may be asked to complete an actual job task as part of the interview. Basically, your interviewers don’t want you to tell them you can do the job, they want to see it. Don’t panic: If you go in prepared, this is your chance to shine.

9. The Firing Squad
If you’ll be reporting to several people or working with a team, it’s not uncommon to meet with multiple interviewers all at the same time. Sounds nice, because you only have to answer those tough questions once, but it can also be tricky to make a strong connection with each decision maker.

10. The Career Fair Interview
If you’re attending career fairs as part of your job hunt, get ready for impromptu interviews, where you’ll only have 10 or 15 minutes to sell yourself to the recruiter for a chance to come in for a full interview.

Have an interview type you don’t see here? Let us know in the comments section.

http://biempowerment.com/2016/12/01/10-types-interviews-2/

http://biempowerment.com/2016/12/01/youth-evolve-2016-2-days-event/

It's not news that the Nigerian Economy is in recession, and some other economies across the the world especially oil dependent countries and we just thought that i‎t would be great to do a write up on ways to survive the recession so our BIE readers especially our young entrepreneurs can be guided. I spoke to a mentor of mine I call her Auntie Hetty and she was kind enough to put this together for us which she culled from various sources. Please read carefully.
Many businesses are likely to fold up with money scarce in countries affected by the recession , leading to job losses and poverty. With inflation and high exchange rate the banks will not be able to give loans and when they do the interest rate will be too high to afford. With high inflation those with paid salaries are now actually earning less, that is if they will be lucky to keep their jobs...
Below are tips of survival in this period.
1. Cash is going to be King and whoever has it or has access to it should preserve it.
2. Spend less than you earn; SAVE for the rainy day.
3. Cut down on avoidable merriment.
4. Look for Dollar, Euro or Pounds-earning businesses if you can.
5. Buy only items that are considered as necessities. Postpone all luxurious articles till later dates.
6. Forget about living a life to satisfy others' expectation at the expense of your purse, income or convenience.
7. Avert taking unnecessary risk in your place of work or business that has the possibility of making you lose your job or major client.
8. Be committed to your profession, job or business more than ever before.
9. Re-evaluate your recurrent expenditure pattern and effect necessary changes if found beyond your income line.
10. Buy cars with less fuel consumption capacity ‎
11. Except you can afford it, resist all Aso Ebi or color of clothes made mandatory by a person inviting you to a ceremony. Nobody will prevent you from entering the venue even with odd dressing.
12. Let those asking you for money know that things are no longer the same: stop pretending at your expense. Stop suffering in silence. When the chips are down you will be alone.
13. Notwithstanding any promise to the contrary, avoid lending money to anyone an amount which if you don't receive on time will hurt your financial stability. Many friendly loans will be irrecoverable now.
14. If you are a tenant living in a rented palatial apartment with many rooms left unutilized, it is high time you get a smaller accommodation. ‎
15.Plan only on funds at hand, avoid permutations based on promise made by others. In a time like this, the promisor may fail.
16. Where it is possible, talk things over on phone with people rather than putting your car on the road for physical meeting. In addition avoid endless fruitless banters on phone. Be conscious of the call card cost and data usage.
17. Switch off all lights that are not necessary at the moment in order to save costs on electricity bills.
18. Do more physical exercise to minimize constant requirement of drugs. Learn to trek short distances, it helps to improve your health and relieve you of avoidable small expenses.
19. If the regular food in your house is becoming more expensive look for alternatives outside.
Am positive that this great tips will help us survive the recession. Thank you Auntie Hetty for sharing this with us at BI Empowerment. We love you.
Please share with friends.
Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/11/21/19-practical-tips-survive-recession/

“Youth Evolve 2016”- This is an annual event that will bring experts together to discuss, inform and provide answers to most of the common issues faced by young people in relation to career and building a successful future.

Expect an amazing experience filled with so much knowledge, fun and lots of networking from our top notch speakers with global experience who will open your minds to amazing realities and opportunities that will spur you to the next level.

Also featuring hot debate topics: (1) Money or Passion? (2) Social Media, a Curse or a Blessing?

These are topics of interest among young people in this generation. You just have to be a part of this event. Stay connected to BI Empowerment for more details on Youth Evolve 2016 and share with friends.

Date: December 3rd 2016

Venue: 180 degrees, Ogudu.

Register here: http://biempowerment.com/2016/11/18/youth-evolve-2016-2/

For sponsorship and participation, send email to Zika at zika.n@bisolutionsng.com
or call zika on 012930183

BiEmpowerment.com

#WeEmpowerYouths

he Global entrepreneurship Week Nigeria Campaign kicked –off with a walk for entrepreneurship on Saturday, November 12, 2016. The walk engaged hundreds of young people in a 9km walk around Victoria Island Lagos to steer up the awareness for the week actively in Nigeria.

It was amazing as the BIE team was part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week Nigeria walk. It was an awesome time with the EDC team, the Diamond bank team, Gr8Jobsng team and amazing entrepreneurs, you should have been there to burn off some calories; here are a few pictures.

http://biempowerment.com/2016/11/17/gew-nigeria-walk-entrepreneurship-2016/

1. Avoid wearing tight clothing: It might not only give the wrong impression, it may also be distracting. The interviewer should focus on your skills not your figure.

2. Short Clothes: Some interviewees wear really short clothes and it is obvious they are even uncomfortable. For an interviewer with morals, you have practically failed the interview without even saying a word

3. Avoid wearing overly casual clothes: Do not wear jeans, tennis shoes, shorts, T-shirts, hats, flip flops, sandals and flat shoes (Ladies). Ladies, wearing heels helps your posture. A good posture not only gives an air of confidence it makes you look smart and professional. Garments with messages written on them are a definite NO! NO! Avoid wearing obnoxiously colored suits such as yellow and red for the men, busy printed shirts or overly patterned ties (except you are interviewing as a clown of course!). It sums you up as unserious and can be very distracting for the interviewer. Save the fun till after you have got the job.

4. Anything Distracting: Women should avoid exposing their cleavage or anything too revealing. No brightly colored dresses, make up should be minimal. Dresses with sleeves are preferable to sleeveless clothes. Both men and women should choose subtle and conservative clothes. It’s a good idea to stick to the basics which are black, blue and grey. You should be the focus of your interview not your clothing.

5. Avoid looking weird: Avoid ridiculously looking pointy or chapped nails, shouting make-up or hair do with different colors and contrasting colored socks for men.

6. Avoid anything that would make you smell: Never attend interviews with smelly, sweat stained or ill-fitting clothes. Ensure that you do not walk to your interview venue. Chances that you will sweat and that your sweat will smell are high. Some people come into a room and the smell that diffuses into the environment will almost make you pass out. Remember to always use a deodorant because some of us don’t even know we smell. Do not eat seafood, peanuts or any food with a strong smell as this will give you a bad breath when conversing with the interviewer.

7. Excessive Accessories: Avoid noisy bangles and jewelry that are elaborate, You can save your very powerful perfume for later, keep it mild; the interviewer may be allergic.

http://biempowerment.com/2016/11/03/7-things-avoid-wearing-job-interview-2/

The economy is not smiling in a lot of countries in the world right now, especially countries that were totally dependent on oil as income. A country like Nigeria has been one of the greatest ones hit since the fall in oil prices and this has led to a lot of pay cuts, job losses and a hard time for employers to even pay salaries.
This situation has forced a lot of people to seriously begin considering entrepreneurship like never before.
I would like to discuss a few challenges you may face as a new entrepreneur and ways to conquer them.

1. Doing anything that generates income, not specifically something you believe in and are passionate about: If you do something you believe in, you can get other people to believe in it.

2. Picking the right business: Make sure your business is providing a solution; it must be the answer to a problem, a response to a need. Ensure you deliver what you have promised.

3. Finding your clients: If you have a good product or service, people will come to you. This way you may not need to spend money on adverts, referrals from past clients will almost guarantee your success.

4. Handling people who need your product or service: Sell it calmly, don’t be pushy but wait for them to come to a decision on their own.

5. Having a business plan: Research business plans to help you draw up yours.

6. Having existing savings: You need to have money to address your personal needs and money you can work with before you begin to generate income.

7. Dealing with the stress of not having a steady income: To me, that was one of the greatest challenges I faced. Many times I would say to myself, “Wow! I should have received a credit alert today, if I was still under paid employment”! At those difficult times, it is your passion for rendering the service that keeps you going.

8. Managing your money: At this point of your life, you need to spend money only on important things, especially when you do not know when your next pay check will be coming. My advice is pay your bills, feed and channel the rest into your business or bank account for rainy days.

9. Setting up your business properly: Your business should be different from you. Pay yourself a salary. Remember it is business, not a hobby, your business and you as its employee should be accountable.

10. Negativity from people: Negative people drain your energy. You need to keep positivity around you all the time, from your thoughts to your friends.

11. Employing or Hiring people: Avoid hiring people until the business needs them and can afford to pay them. Do as much work as you can do yourself and hire only when you don’t have the competence or capability. Start by hiring freelancers and contractors – it’s cheaper, because they get paid only when they work. Hire only full time staff when it’s obvious the company cannot run without them.

12. Avoiding overhead: There are some costs that we can avoid in early start ups. Costs such as office space, staff salaries, some office furniture etc . You can work from home until the company itself grows out of your house, that is talking about physical expansion and the company must be able to afford it.

Remember, with hard work, persistence and believing in yourself, the sky is the limit. Please have a great week.

Tokunbo Fasoro
#WeEmpowerYouths

http://biempowerment.com/2016/10/20/12-challenges-new-entrepreneurs-face-ways-conquer-pt1-tokunbo-fasoro/

http://biempowerment.com/2016/10/24/12-challenges-new-entrepreneurs-face-ways-conquer-pt2-tokunbo-fasoro/

“People often ask me what advice I would give someone who wants to start their own company. My answer is that Every good company I can think of started with someone caring about changing something, not someone deciding to start a company. Instead of trying to build a company, focus on the change you want to see in the world, and keep pushing forward.” – Mark Zuckerberg
Imagine Mark Zuckerberg walking into your office on a hot and sunny afternoon with his trademark Tee-Shirt! That sounds like a fairy tale right? But it is not. It happened in Lagos, Nigeria, as Mark, oh so casually strolled into the Yaba office of Co-Creation hub (CCHUB) and ANDELA respectively.
What differentiates these two start-ups? And why was Mark interested? You may ask. They are basically solution based Tech start-ups with the sole aim of adding value to organizations and individuals.
While CCHUB is a co-creation hub that allows ideas to thrive by incubating and accelerating several start-ups in their hub, and also ensuring that their basic needs are met for enhanced productivity.
ANDELA is a start-up basically aimed at training the next generation of IT personnel and geeks in Africa from their campus for several blue chip companies.
What solutions are you providing? Are you just working hard without understanding that people pay for solutions you create so that they can connect with your unique culture and proposition?
By solving fundamental problems such as the basic needs of man with new innovations, you stand a chance of adding value and thereby creating a lasting and enduring legacy. Companies and businesses that stand out are not only motivated by profit, but their business plans are usually tied to providing solutions as well as adding value. That is what produces success.
Ask yourself, “Am I in business just to make profit or to create value added solutions?”
The choice is yours to make!!!

Stanley Awelewa

http://biempowerment.com/2016/10/06/creating-solutions-add-value-stanley-awelewa/

Growth, either personal, career or organizational is usually never enough. For growth to be sustainable, it must keep evolving and must always be a product of strategy, collaboration, innovation and disruption.
This approach to growth might involve setting a time frame, understanding the limitations and working around them, utmost dedication and creating a working and sustainable partnership.
Growth sometimes is a painful experience, because it involves leaving a whole lot behind and evolving into the next phase of life or career. It always involves innovation and a whole lot of hacking (trimming off old appendages). Growth is done in stages. Stages of innovative growth are:
Growth to protect
Growth to transform
Growth to sustain
Growth to improve on the sustained transformation
No matter the stage of growth you are, whether in your personal life or in your career, you have to keep evolving and never stop so as to ensure that your growth is sustained and relevant.
For organizational growth, the organization must first define what growth means to them. For organizations to experience the growth they are looking for, they need to act decisively, work together towards one common goal and ensure that somebody takes the lead.
However, growth is usually a risk, even when it is utterly necessary. At the centre of any growth culture, there should be clear concise thinking, understanding and support.
For personal growth, it is essential to know that it is a continuous process; we must always seek to be first, be the best and be different as individuals to be relevant in our personal lives and careers. We as individuals must always place a premium on excellence both in our personal lives and our career service delivery. It is important to always stand out in whatever role we are called upon to play in our journey through life.
As my boss Mrs. Tokunbo Fasoro would say, “If you can think it, you can do it” Keep on growing and making a difference for now and the generation unborn. Your growth can empower a whole lot of people to
believe in the beauty of their dreams. All your dreams are valid if you can grow up and effectively pursue them. So……….. keep on growing!!!

Stanley Awelewa

http://biempowerment.com/2016/10/04/growth-never-enough-stanley-awelewa/

Remember your resume creates your first opportunity to make a great impression on potential employers:
1. Telling untruths – Be honest about your skills, achievements & work history. A lot of people also lie about their age. Lots of times, lies and exaggerations will come back to you when employers do background checks. Sometimes an interviewer can tell just by looking at your academic record. Ensure you stick to the truth.
2. Listing irrelevant work experiences: Emphasize the relevant experience for the job you are applying for and stay focused. Listing everything you have done in your work-life might end up shooting you in the foot, as it will give an impression of a lack of career focus.
3. Copying and pasting job responsibilities from the internet: Employers can actually visit Google if they want to see job responsibilities. Employers want to see more of your exact experience on that job, and your achievement in that role.
4. Over the top designs: CV’s should be easy to open and view. Avoid pictures, use a common font and don’t get too creative with borders. Keep things simple.
5. Using an informal email address: The right email address can boost your professionalism. Avoid using email addresses such as sexyk@yahoo.com, temptress@gmail.com or fighterguy@hotmail.com. Use your name and avoid using nick names.
Other tips on sending applications.
Always take time to customize your CV for every application. Ensure you take a few minutes to carefully read and edit your CV before you send it.
Avoid 'mistakenly' presenting the resume you customized for company A to company B.
Avoid spelling and grammatical errors. This mistake sends a very unprofessional message. Infact, it communicates incompetence for the role being applied for.
Avoid short cuts like the ones used in text messages or social media, like “UR” and “U”. It gives an unserious impression about you.
We hope these few pointers will help our readers send better applications, thus create more opportunities for selection.

Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/09/29/5-common-cv-blunders-tokunbo-fasoro/

1. Do not talk only about yourself

Yes, it’s an interview, a.k.a., a Q&A session in which you are expected to answer questions. However, it’s red flag if you talk only about yourself.

At least a few times let other people’s names pop up. When asked about your career aspirations, you’d ideally want to throw out the name of some successful person you admire. Or, if you are asked about your previous experience and how it led to where you are now, hopefully mention someone positively —be it an influential colleague, boss, or client—in the answer.

2. Do not take credit for everything

Yes, an interview is a place to sell your accomplishments and pitch your potentials, be careful so that you don’t sound like someone who takes credit of any on-the-job success as a one-man show.

3. Do not avoid discussing your shortcomings

Be confident to discuss your shortcomings and areas of improvement with your prospective boss. Being able to recognize your weaknesses and working on ways to improve them will go a lot further on the job than trying to sweep them under the rug.

4. Do not give unprofessional responses to interview questions
Be very professional throughout the interview process. Do not swear when answering a basic question and follow it up with “Gosh, I don’t know why I just said that!”

5. Do not try too hard to be a perfect fit for the role.
Show how your qualifications align with the job description, but do not try too hard to be a perfect fit for the role. It would be surprising and a little fishy to find out that you have the exact number of years of experience, in the exact field, with the preferred degrees, and perfect resume and cover letter.

HR managers often want someone who could “hit the ground running,” so it’s surprising (even to them) when they’re turned off by someone who could set the course on fire. As they look out for someone who they think would grow within the role rather than someone who might feel immediately constrained by it.

http://biempowerment.com/2016/09/26/5-donts-interview-3/

Mail replied, thanks

bucky123:
Thank you very much.
I've sent the email already.

Thanks, please send us a mail: info@biempowerment.com and we will link you up with Dr. kamal at NTNU to answer your questions. Regards

bucky123:
Good day,
I'm a Nigerian graduate hoping to do my MSc. in Physics at NTNU, Norway. The documentation of financing on the website says ' In your application for admission, you may document financing by means of a bank statement or a letter of confirmation from your sponsor. The amount per year (the minimum amount is currently NOK 103 950), must be stated in the letter. The letter must be in English, or come with an English translation. If applicable, the name of your sponser must also be stated in the letter.'

I want to know if I'll need to get my sponsor's statement of account or just a letter of confirmation will do.
Thanks

The most important professional/business activity we engage in is networking.
One sunny afternoon, I decided to go to the construction site to oversee how the renovations were going on an office space we just acquired. We had been cracking our heads on how we were going to partition it. This had become a big problem to us. As I parked my car, I saw a young woman just coming in too. I smiled at her and asked if she was a tenant as well. She said “Yes” and we got talking. We talked about her business then proceeded to talk about mine. I told her what I was passionate about and took her to the space we just acquired in the building. I went on to tell her how we would like to have a graduate school, and about how we intend to rent seminar rooms for that purpose. She immediately asked me, “Why don’t you not save your self some money and partition a training room out of this space?”. BOOM! That was it. I immediately changed all the designs. That decision saved us millions of naira. I am glad I smiled and spoke with her that day.
Networking is about building long-term relationships and a good reputation over time. It involves meeting and getting to know people who can potentially help or assist you in future. Having a good network is extremely beneficial. It is a strategy to reveal more opportunities and more possibilities. It’s a way of connecting with others; people you know, people you don’t really know and new people you have never met before.
Here are a few tips on Networking
1. Show up at events. Look for opportunities to attend events and conferences within and outside your industry to meet like-minds. This is a small way of growing your business.
2. Avoid just handing out business cards. Concentrate more on connecting and creating relationships rather than just giving out cards that may end up with a pile of others, the recipient barely remembering who you are.
3. Learn to network by asking polite questions rather than just waiting around. Questions like, “May I join you?” or “Are you a lawyer too?” Depending on the industry, can open up a beneficial conversation.
4. Listen More. Avoid talking too much. Allow the other party give out information. Always remember to never take over other people’s conversations, but know when to chip in a statement or question here and there.
5. Emphasize more on building relationships instead of marketing and closing a deal. A good relationship will eventually close the deal and bring more deals.
6. Always wear a smile. People tend to be more attracted to people who are wearing beautiful smiles. No one would want to walk up to someone whose face looks like it’s just been punched.
7. Share your ideas or whatever you are selling with passion ‘Remember it’s not about you, it’s about the people you want to connect with’.
8. Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. Keep in touch as soon as the event is over, then, they can still remember their pleasant conversation with you.

Supporting others’ work, accomplishments, life events and activities is a key part in networking – Be a connector, be a giver and a catalyst when you do network.

Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/09/18/networking-series-2-creating-relationships-tokunbo-fasoro-2/

“The job you want may not be advertised at all” I remember at some point in my life, I took sometime time off work to have my baby and was ready to get back to work . One day I was with a neighbor, while chatting I mentioned that I was ready to get back to work. A few days later she called me and asked me if I was interested in a role. She said to me that the position just opened in an organization she was presently handling a project for, that the MD just mentioned it to her. She immediately told the MD about me and I was scheduled for an interview and that was how I got the job. “The job was never advertised, my network got me the job”

Lots of times, many jobs are not advertised. People get jobs through referrals all the time. You just might know someone that knows someone that can get you that dream job. Social media have connected lots of people together, you definitely will have people in your network you have not seen years, some may just be acquaintances, old classmates, colleagues etc, there will be definitely someone on that list that can help you or know someone who can. The Blackberry and Whatsapp broadcast have become very popular in Nigeria and many organizations and employers advertise via social media and also by the word of mouth these days.

Here are a few tips on how to get a job through Networking

Draw up your network: Make a list of the people in your network, from family members to neighbors, friends, colleagues, church members, old classmates and even acquaintances on social media. See……… you know lots of people, and these people can connect you to more people who have an available job connection or know of one.
Reach Out: After drawing up your network, start-making contact with the people in your network let them know you are seeking a job. How will they know if you don’t tell them? Be specific on the kind of job and ask them if they know anyone in a relevant field. You just will be amazed at who they know. You can start with people who like you and endorse your abilities, character and track record.
Build Relationships: Networking is about building relationships, making connections, sharing information, and reaching out to people. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL GET OUT OF IT. If you go in with that parasitic mindset, believe me, people will sniff out your ulterior motive a mile away!! If this process is done properly, the benefits come after. Just make sure you are real, considerate and you have done a proper research on what you want so you can respond to inquisitions with ease and confidence.
Take time to maintain your network: Do not get what you want and take off. Maintain the relationship; you just might not know where you will need them again.
Give Back: Networking is a two way street, don’t always be a taker, always look for an opportunity to give back. A thank you note, asking about their families and supporting their accomplishments, life events and activities go a long way in cementing these relationships. You can also visit occasionally to see how they are doing.
Everyone has a significantly influential network, you just need to identify yours and service it right for it to serve you right.

The most important professional outing we do is networking.

Tokunbo Fasoro

http://biempowerment.com/2016/09/16/get-job-networking-tokunbo-fasoro-2/

Ayodeji Oluyemi Megbope is the C.E.O of No left over’s Nigeria Limited- A full scale catering outfit which started with a take-off capital of just One Thousand Naira (N1,000.00), but today has an annual turnover that runs into millions of naira. She was fortunate to be among the women to benefit from a worldwide initiative to set up 10,000 women and empower them with business skills and education. Ayodeji Megbope started her journey into entrepreneurship after nine years of her career in Corona School, Ikoyi as a Confidential Secretary. She left Corona with the intention to start up a school because she had passion for kids. To actualize her passion, she enrolled in a six months Montessori program. But at the end of the period she felt no excitement for the school anymore because setting up a school was so capital intensive. She saw that her passion for kids alone was not enough to see her through. She discussed the matter with her husband who encouraged her to drop the idea for a better one.
On a certain day her sister in law visited their home, and Ayo served her moin moin (bean cake) she had made. When she finished eating, she commented positively about the meal. She said it was simply irresistible and that she could form a commercial venture with good and effective management. Ayo thought deeply about this then started the moin moin business with an investment of just One Thousand Naira (approximately three dollars). It occurred to her to go back to Corona School where she worked before, after all that was where she knew people. She started selling at the school gate and she was consistent in it.

After four months of selling at the school gate, Ayo got her first big break and she was making money from the business. Some of her colleagues told her the job was too dirty for her, but she was focused. She continued with her business, making more sales on the business and was really committed to her job. On one of her trading days, she met a parent who owned an oil servicing company. The parent informed her that she needed a caterer who could provide daily lunches for her staff of about 70. Ayo accepted her offer and took the contract. Compared to what
she was currently doing, that of course was a great offer. Her need to plan better for her business arose as sales were increasing. With her customer base increasing, her product line also increased from the sale of just moin moin to the sales of other foods. Her business decided to aggressively grow its product portfolio, and she purchased a delivery van that helped her in deliveries and home services. She grew beyond her competitors and she was above other competitive threats that existed in the market. Ayo has been invited to New York for an address during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Goldman Sachs. She was also on a panel at the Turkish Prime Minister’s Global Summit on Entrepreneurship. The business had exposed her to great opportunities such as meetings with Mrs Michelle Obama (The First lady of the United States of America) and with former President Bill Clinton.

Lessons to be learnt from her.

Humility: She was humble enough to go back to the School where she worked previously. This must have been really humbling because her colleagues would have expected that after resigning from the school, she would have advanced professionally instead of selling moin moin at the gate.

Consistency: She didn’t mind that some of her colleagues laughed at her, she kept going back to the School and didn’t give up until her big break came.

She was open to opportunities: She knew when it was time for expansion and she took advantage of it.

Never look down on humble beginnings: Who would have thought that a bean cake business could take one round the world and give them the opportunity to meet with the world’s most influential people.
She did not wait for a large capital before starting out: She started with #1,000 and today it has grown into a multi-million naira business with branches in Lagos and Abuja.

We hope Ayo’s story has awoken something inside you. It shows that there are no excuses to entrepreneurship. You can definitely achieve success, all you need to do is START UP with your idea.

Thank you for reading.

Biempowerment Team

Bi Solutions Nigeria is recruiting qualified candidates for one of our prestigious clients in the Lekki axis of Lagos State on a short and very urgent notice. Successful candidates are expected to resume immediately.
The following vacancies exist.

Position 1: HR & Admin Manager

Position 2: Architect

Job Summary
Position 1: HR & Admin Manager

1. Ensuring compliance with legal, contractual or statutory procedures on personnel management such as recruiting, welfare benefits and work contract termination.
2. Defining job positions for recruitment and managing the interview process
3. Carrying out staff induction for new team members.
4. Managing personnel’s individual and collective development, such as training, assessment and promotions.
5. Overseeing the smooth running of HR-related administrative tasks, such as holiday management, sick leave, replacement jobs and wage payments.
6. Following up litigation and disputes involving company’s personnel.
7. General office management issues.
8. Meeting with senior management, employees and applicants who wish to join the company. They will spend several hours taking care of a wider variety of administrative matters for daily running of the company.

Job Summary
Position 2: Architect

1. Ability to produce architectural designs and review designs provided by others.
2. Planning, designing and overseeing the construction.
3. Ensure that all works are carried out to specific standards, building codes, guidelines and regulations.
4. Make on site visits to check on project status and report on project.
5. Cooperate and liaise with construction professionals.
6. Follow architectural trends and advancements.
7. Excellent drawing skills and familiarity with design software (Adobe Photoshop, SketchUp, 3d Studio VIZ or similar).

Essential Requirements
1. Strong imagination and the ability to think and create in three dimensions.
2. Visual awareness and an eye for detail.
3. Communication and project management skills.
4. Knowledge of infrastructure operations in terms of systems monitoring, capacity planning and performance tuning

General Candidates Profile:
1. Minimum of two years experience.
2. Age between 24 and 30 years
3. Highly sociable with good network of contacts
4. Must reside in the location (Lekki,VI, and environs)
5. Proficient in the use of computer
6. Good communication skills
7. Good business acumen
8. 1st degree or its equivalent in the relevant field

Application Closing time & Date
10am: 5th of September, 2016

Please NOTE only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.

How to Apply

Visit: http://biempowerment.com/2016/09/01/immediate-job-openings-2/

Thanks , see here - http://biempowerment.com/2016/08/17/bie-readers-hangout-felix-awogu-sheraton-hotel-ikeja/

tclimax:
Nice one

Shortly after graduation, I got my first job. I found it difficult blending into workplace, especially when I was just coming from an academic environment, the job was in Lagos Nigeria which was also a new environment for me and I had to learn a whole lot by myself.

I took some time to study my environment, and I made a friend who had worked in an organization for about 10yrs, I could ask him over 10 questions a day. He was a very pleasant person, always happy to respond and put me through. Being a fast learner, the questions began to reduce in number and gradually became none, by then I had fully blended and had began to perform, at the end of the year, I was awarded the staff of the year. Here are a few tips that will help you speed up your blending process

Ask questions: It’s a new job; of course you need to understand your environment and the culture of the organization. Aside onboarding and orientation, it is important you ask questions when you are not sure of what to do. I am sure there would be people around that will be happy to help.
Know when to ask questions: That is where emotional intelligence comes in, you cannot just keep asking questions, you need to study the timing, mood and ensure you are asking in the right environment so you don’t strike people as dull or irritate them with your questions.
Ensure you ask intelligent questions: When some people ask questions in workplace, you wonder if they actually graduated from school, ask only when the only option you have is to ask. There are times you can visit “Google for dummies” as long as you get an answer for your questions.
Learn to manage diversity in workplace. You can have a mixture of the two generations in the same place; you need to understand that the manners of communicating with the two generations are completely different, make it a point to observe how the millennial, Generation Y, and baby boomer generation interact in a professional setting.
Ask for feedback: It is important that if you don’t get feedback, you solicit for it. It is good to know how you are doing on the job, so you can know where to put effort.
Be confident enough to make contributions: Do not think that only your superiors can bring up good ideas, be confident enough to initiate ideas. Who knows, that idea may just take the company to the next level and remember, do not give up on initiating ideas even if your idea was ignored.
Follow all office rules: Avoid breaking rules like leaving the office without telling your boss, leaving the office before closing hours, chewing gum aloud etc.
Tokunbo Fasoro
http://biempowerment.com/2016/08/25/just-got-new-job-7-tips-help-blend/