₦airaland Forum

The question of what make a true entrepreneur is one that almost everyone with interest in or running a business seeks answers to. Talents and skills abound everywhere; vocational schools get thousands of enrollment daily, but how many of these people with or who acquire talents and skills end up running their own businesses? The answer is a reality that beats our imaginations. Youths, the working class and even retirees have business ideas they nurture and intend to pursue someday. These persons go further to write business plans, plunge fund and kick start but only a few of them make it past the first few months or year of starting operation. The reason for this level of failure is not far-fetched, entrepreneurship is not an easy venture and the entrepreneur should be prepared to persevere and learn continuously.

Steve Jobs in one of the interviews he granted said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance. It is so hard and you pour so much of your life into this thing, there are such rough moments in time that most people give up. And I don’t blame them, it’s really tough.” In 1998, Tyler Perry invested his entire money into his play I Know I Have Been Changed. It failed and Tyler Perry ended up living on the street. He forged on and kept showing the play at Atlanta churches and working construction jobs and sales. His success and breakthrough came at the Atlanta House of Blues. John Paul Dejoria, a business man and billionaire who was twice homeless told Forbes that he advises aspiring entrepreneurs to, “be prepared for a lot of rejection, people saying ‘no’ to the service or the product you want to sell. People saying, ‘Oh, it’s too difficult. I don’t want it.’ If you knock on 100 doors and they all say ‘no,’ on the 101, be just as enthusiastic.”

Entrepreneurs should not cease learning, entrepreneurship requires continuous learning. Read good books, attend events, seminars, conferences and summits. There are numerous opportunities that can only be gained from continuous learning; these can be in the form of learning new trends in business, knowing about other businesses and entrepreneurs that will benefit ones business and other helpful business tips.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/defines-true-entrepreneur/

cc
lalasticala, dominique

See some of her works

In a country where graduates roam the streets in search of jobs, meet Jekein, an Undergraduate who is set to take the art world by storm.

Let’s meet you.

My name is Jekein Lato-Unah. I am a 300level law student at the University of Lagos. I’m in my early twenties. I am a creative artiste, basically into different kinds of art. I do portrait, sculpture, bag making, painting, drawing and I specialize in paintings.

Why did you decide to go into Law?

I have been in UNILAG before. I did one year creative art. Then the strike happened, meanwhile I had siblings in Dubai and I decided to go to Dubai just for the fun of it and the strike did not stop so I enrolled in an art school in Dubai. It was an intensive program, an art course that should take about 3 years normally, was going to take 18 months because it was intensive. I got that done and then moved on to another art school, but when I got back my father said that wasn’t enough and that I had to be a professional and study law. It didn’t make sense to me. It still doesn’t make sense to me, but I still have to fulfill his dreams so I can move on with my life.

How do you push your market?

I started selling my works at an early age, people would then give me small money like ten thousand naira but when I got back, I started using Twitter and Instagram; Twitter most especially because I have a lot of following on that platform. In the first year I started, I had about 40 clients and for a beginner that is great because I had just perfected my skills and from June to December, I had a lot of clients. I don’t have a problem pushing my work, my problem is just school. I have school and it is tasking combining my work and school.

Why don’t you get a personal assistant?

The thing is, in the art world, people want to meet the artiste and they want to ask questions, get to know the artiste so getting an assistant isn’t the problem. Though I have people I train. There is a 16 year old guy. I train him. He is better than me, he is a fast learner, but the type of stuff I paint, he can’t paint it. Also, I have a 13 year old girl who I train as well.

How did you get to start training these people?

People basically reach out to me. Especially because they do not know how the industry works. Also, I like when creative minds come together and collaborate. I belong to an organization PTNA (Paint The Night Africa). What we do is, we get together, people pay and then we paint so it is basically like painting parties. We have had in Hard Rock Cafe, Dominos. We teach people how to paint and that isn’t even the hard part. The hard part is teaching children how to paint because children just want to do what they want to do.

After school, what is next?

I would spread my wings and fly.

You are skilled in other areas of art, why do you prefer painting?

Well, I can just wake up one morning and pick up a brush and start to paint. I can’t do that for drawings. I have to make sure the paper is clean, it is not smudged, but for painting, I can put it on an easel and just start to paint. It is also the same for sculpture. I can’t just decide to start sculpting.

How did you start sculpting?

During my WAEC period, I went to Yabatech to take creative arts and I was given a list of courses to take and I was interested in Pottery.

What are your plans for the next five years?

I do not think I would be in Nigeria in the next five years. Nigerians do not appreciate art and they just want to seem elite which is why they purchase it. Also, I have a problem with the way people price art works. Especially considering the fact that I am not the only one who would work on it, I still have to get a carpenter to frame it; these people come with their own prices too. So when I say this art work is N100,000 and people start trying to beat down the price, I do not understand.

Asides social media, how else do you reach your target audience?

I am constantly on the lookout for estate agents, hospitals, hotel owners, etc. Sometimes galleries too. But some galleries have funny requirements for you to exhibit your works, so many other artistes make friends with gallery owners, but I do not see the need to suck up to anyone.

How do you cope with competition?

I do not consider anybody as competition. I am always rooting for my fellow artists and so I do not consider anybody as competition.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/nigerians-dont-appreciate-arts-jekein/

cc
lalasticala, dominique

Earlier in Nigeria, what we were used to was just using celebrities as brand ambassadors but in recent times, the use of influencers (micro and major influencers) grew tremendously and became a key strategy in Nigeria Marketing space. So in this article, I want talk influencer marketing, why it is growing in use and how it should be used.

First, let’s start with definition

According to Wiki ‘the mighty’ Pedia, Influencer marketing is a form of marketing in which focus is placed on specific key individuals rather than the target market as a whole. It identifies the individuals that have influence over potential buyers, and orients marketing activities around these influencers.

In other words, Influencers are key persons in their niche with a high reach and thus can increase the chances of virality and action. Typically, these guys are usually very active and popular on Social Media and or have popular blogs.

Why do Brands use or should use Influencer Marketing?

The Law of Association: In this age, word of mouth recommendation and criticism have more value (& spread through social media faster than fire in a dry field) to the average person than a random advert from the brand itself. I mean, you are more likely to buy a product or use a service if someone you like and or respect or look up to in some way recommends the brand. This is what influencers do, they use their influence on their community (the trust, respect, love their fans have for them) to sell the brands they represent. Influencers are like mutual friends that connects a brand to its target market.
Ad Blockers: lol! Since Social Media and Google do not want us to enjoy the internet in peace, majority of us (at least the more tech savvy people) have began to use ad blockers to block away any and every ad that wants to interrupt our flow. Now, this is one advantage influencer marketing has over PPC Ads, because influencer posts would always show up organically on your timeline.
What Makes an Influencer right for you?

Target Audience: Yes! It is influencer marketing but the influencer you use is not as important as the audience you are trying to reach. Thus, before any strategy meeting, before influencer consideration, you must define your target audience. Determine what appeals to them, where they are and who they follow. Thereafter, use this info to streamline your choice of influencers.
Context: One thing that is much more important than how successful an influencer/celebrity is and the how large his community is, is determining if he is the right fit for your brand. Who the influencer is – his brand, his voice – needs to resonate with your brand and your message. Their personality and niche must complement your brand. Don’t pick just based on numbers but pick based on context. Why? Because influencer marketing ideally borders on trust, thus if an influencer starts promoting a brand that his personality & niche does not resonate with, his followers would smell the authenticity. The best influencers work to seamlessly integrate their branded campaigns into their unique stories.
Reach: While Numbers should not be the first thing you look at, they are very important. You don’t want to use just anybody. If you are going to pay for it, then you should be paying for something that could give your brand and campaign a good reach.
Actionability: Personally, I think the ability of an influencer to drive action (conversion) may even be more important than context. Lol! But really, if an influencer cannot generate conversion, why bother? This is probably the reason most Nigerian agencies and brands pay twitter influencers (with no defined niche & brand but have high following) and Instagram Comedians to promote their brand even though it may not be a great contextual fit. Is it right? Not really but it works. So, Actionability is important. When talking actionability, I should also mention that micro influencers with less than 100k followers (especially on Instagram) sometimes do better than the really big guys because the micro influencers can own your brand for the duration of the campaign but with the really big guys, sometimes (most times), your content takes lost in their feed. Also, because of cost (& effectiveness) using multiple micro influencers can be much better than using a major celebrity (except it’s a brand ambassadorship deal though).

The influencers chosen for marketing shouldn’t be only the entertainers – musicians, comedians & actors. They are other people – though leaders who have built for themselves a close knitted community that hangs on their every word. Depending on your target audience and campaign objective, you should look at these people too. Some are activists like Omojuwa, Online Business Coaches like John Obidi, Entrepreneurs like Tara Fela Durotoye, Trendsetters like Dooney’s Kitchen, Coaches like Steve Harris to name a few.

Lalasticala, mynd44, tonyebarcanista, sarrki and some other NLders are also influencers.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/influencer-marketing-future-digital-marketing/

cc
lalasticala, dominique

With the extensive growth of the music scene here in Nigeria, other aspects pertaining to music making are now given due attention; from sound mixing to beat production amongst others. Beat production is now seen as being lucrative since the demand is currently high and more players are beginning to establish their presence. One of such player is SESS BEATS aka The Problem Child who has successfully created his own unique touch when it comes to beats making. With a cute face and charming smiles, Sess gives some insight into his career in this interesting interview.



Let’s meet you.

My name is Salami Oluwasesan Abass aka Sess Beats. I am from Kwara state, Nigeria. I am a Christian, Barrister turned music producer; I studied Law at the University of Ilorin and got called to the bar in 2013 December. I practiced property law for a few years before I decided to follow my dreams as a producer.

So what made you shift from law to music production?

I started out as an artiste, becoming a producer was out of necessity because I couldn’t afford to buy beats for my songs. So after awhile I figured that since I was good at it, I could as well make beats to sell. I have always loved music since I was a kid. I remember when I was a little kid and was asked what I wanted to be, my reply was “I wanted to be Michael Jackson”. Throughout my secondary school I was in the choir. I have always had that flair for music. I just needed to grow into accepting that it was what I wanted to do for myself. And so at the time when I chose to do music, it was long overdue and it wasn’t difficult. Right from my university to my bar final to when I was called to the bar, I was making music.

How did your family take it?

My family had been supportive from the beginning though my parents were particular about me finishing school because they believed that education is important. I also believe education is important as well. They wanted me to have a second option. Our parents believe you have to go to the university and I understood basically. They have always been supportive.

So how did you break out from an unknown law graduate trying to hustle into Sess Beats?

That is a really big question. I believe it was just God’s plan. I just worked every other day and hoped that this would happen and it happened. Also the hard work, consistency over the years; there are days when you wake up and there is no motivation to go out and work but that is when you should even hustle more. So it was basically two factors – God factor and Hard work. It was pure grace and sheer hard work. I came to Lagos in 2013-2014 and met Falz who was also a lawyer trying to break out into the music industry and so we met at the perfect time when we both wanted to prove a point. And basically that was how everything worked out.

Aside Falz, who are your other clients?

Falz is like my major client. We understand each other on psychic level. We have this amazing chemistry. It is almost telepathic. I can have an idea and he would complete it. When you have someone who you are in sync with, you would always make a hit record. That is why I like working with Falz because he gets me. I am not trying to sell him an idea he doesn’t understand, he isn’t trying to sell me an idea I don’t understand. And that is why music doesn’t work at times because music is an expressive art and you want people to sync with that emotion. If you are sad, you make sad music. If you are happy, you make people happy. You are trying to transmit an emotion to people. If the emotion itself you are trying to transmit is not in one piece, that is if in the process of creating it, we are not on the same page, the music would not come out well. I have also worked with a lot of other people including Illbliss, Dremo, and YCEE

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/falz-understand-psychic-level-sess-beats/

cc
lalasticala, dominique, ishilove

One of the young Nigerians really taking the fashion business by storm is Temitayo Ilesanmi Nathan. The once a time student of Nursing of University of Lagos is the creative director of the prominent Nigerian fashion brand, T.I Nathan. The name of the brand is unmistakable, if you followed the maiden edition of the Fayrouz L’Original competition of 2014. Temitayo Ilesanmi was part of Team Elan, the group that won the jaw-dropping prize of $20,000 US dollars and other fashion opportunities.

Temitayo Ilesanmi and the brand, T.I Nathan both share an interesting mutually exclusive relationship. Temitayo Ilesanmi is the main creative brain behind the designs, while T.I Nathan is the brand under which the amazing designs are marketed. Temitayo Ilesanmi and the brand T.I Nathan have both come a long way since the occasion of the Fayrouz L’Original competition in 2014. One of the early successes of the brand was getting to showcase their works at the 2014 Lagos Fashion & Design Week. At the event, Temitayo Ilesanmi won the Lagos fashion young designer of the year. Since then, they have gracefully showcased T.I Nathan wears at subsequent editions of the celebrated event till this day.

Following the success of the brand at the 2014 Lagos Fashion & Design Week, T.I Nathan was selected alongside four other amazing Nigerian fashion designers to represent the country at the high flyers’ event, the International Fashion Show in London, in the year 2015. As you would expect, T.I Nathan designs scored high and enjoyed wide appreciation even on the international stage. It was another remarkable feat for the fast-growing brand and a dream-come-true for Temitayo Ilesanmi on a personal level.

Temitayo Ilesanmi is today considered one of Nigeria’s most creative fashion heads; ironically, he never nursed a childhood ambition of becoming a fashion designer. In fact, he revealed that fashion designing started for him professionally in 2013, during his days as a student in UNILAG. Having been a style conscious individual, experimenting different fashion designs with his personal wears and getting positive comments from friends and acquaintances inspired him to start fashion designing on a professional level.

Since going pro, Temitayo Ilesanmi has lit up the fashion stage in Nigeria. He has shown fashionistas a new perspective of design, one that adds style, confidence and aura to the body it is worn on. The list of celebrities that have been styled by T.I Nathan is almost endless. On the list, you would find Richard Mode-Damijo, Joseph Benjamin, 2face, Wizkid, Patoranking, Skales and many more. The creative sensation of Temitayo Ilesanmi and his team does not just touch on the surface, it reaches the heart. Little wonder Temitayo Ilesanmi referenced personal experiences as the major source of his inspiration. One of the notable works by T.I Nathan was inspired by the J.P Clark poem titled Abiku, another popular design of theirs, the Love & Heartbreak collection was inspired by the personal experience of Temitayo Ilesanmi. In the same manner, most T.I Nathan designs are inspired by personal experiences, which make them relatable and appealing.

There is no doubt that T.I Nathan is a brand on the rise and Temitayo Ilesanmi is poised to become a major stakeholder in Nigerian fashion business in the future. Temitayo Ilesanmi would be fulfilling his wishes, when he gets to style ASAP Rocky and Barack Obama in the future. He also muses about working with the amazing Belgian Fashion Designer, Raf Simons. Like Raf Simons, Temitayo Ilesanmi also has interest in Furniture Designs. According to him, if he was not designing wears, he would be in the Furniture or Real Estate business. For Temitayo Ilesanmi, the success achieved in building the T.I Nathan brand has not come easy, but his passion and dedication has helped him in reaching heights. He looks to do even greater exploits in the fashion business and continue to come up with eye-catching and body-friendly designs, because creation is a practice he just cannot do without.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/temitayo-ilesanmi-drop-winning-20000/

lalasticala

The book, On Becoming, by Toke Makinwa is tagged a must tell. It is so because its content is a touching narrative of a story, by a woman whose hurtful experience, she decides to tell the world. Her decision to tell the story seems to be inspired by two reasons; one, letting it out is part of the healing process that would help her find inner peace and then, she wrote the book so people can learn from it.

Toke’s story in On Becoming is that of love, but it is that side of love that people often do not want to talk about. It is about that side of love that is unfair and for a lot of people, leads to emotional drain. She shares her experience as a lover, whose capacity for love in her marriage with Maje, could only bear the hurt of his unfaithfulness for a while. The hurt had to end, and when it did, Toke Makinwa searched and found her peace elsewhere.

The story Toke Makinwa told in On Becoming is not a fictional story, its her story, it is about how she she lifted the weight of a failed marriage, a weight that a lot of people in the society today have sunk under. Toke’s perspective in the book reflects her triumph, how she rose after the failure of her marriage. Her story touches aspect of relationships which includes love, trust and commitment. There are lessons to learn and things to understand about relationship from her story. Here are five key lessons to learn from Tokes’s story in the book, On Becoming:

Love is not always a beautiful thing

We often see love as the perfect emotion, and relationships as the best places to find happiness but a lot of times, we’re left disappointed. Not because one cannot find bliss in relationships, but because the partner has to be right for the relationship to feel right.

Love is actually a beautiful thing and in the case where it leads to a relationship, it is best that the parties involved share a good level of commitment and understanding. This is because the strength of any relationship or marriage depends on the level of commitment of the parties involved. I must say that most complete form of love in any relationship, is one that is requited.

From Toke’s story, she talked about how much love and emotion she invested in her marriage, but it still wasn’t enough to keep it sailing. It can be concluded that it lacked the wholeness that relationships need for it to have the idyll ambience, if you take time to read the book you’d find out why.

The warning signs during dating/courtship are not to be ignored

The period of courtship is good for you to observe the nature of your relationship. In this period of observation, you’d see the two sides of partner; the strengths and flaws.

Of course part of showing love to your partner, requires you to tolerate his/her flaws. But in your tolerance, you must be true to yourself. You must ask yourself important questions that will guide you in making the right decisions.

In the case of Toke, the signs were there but she believed marriage, being the ‘sacred instituiton,’ would change the course of things between herself and Maje. She would later find out that she should not have ignored the warning signs.

Being independent and virtuous is beneficial

The dependence of a lot of people on their partners, is what keeps them stuck, even when the relationship has lost its bliss.

Going by her account in book, Toke found it easier to make bold decisions about her life and her happiness in the marriage, because she didnt have to depend on her husband. Yet she advised in her conclusion, that being virtuous, either as a man or as a woman, is principal to the success of your relationship.

Find and protect your happiness

In her narrative, Toke talked about how much commitment she put into her failed marriage to Maje, but despite her sacrifices, her happiness was continually drained by the numerous disappointments she suffered.

From reading the book, you’d understand that for Toke, and for most people in the society, all they want is happiness and fulfilment. This is what they want in their relationships, as relationships should be a source of happiness and not otherwise.

Toke found peace outside of her marriage, without the emotional struggles that ensues betrayal by her ex-husband. With this, she decided to protect her peace by walking away.

Seek divine guidance

This is an important aspect of Toke’s life that she projected in her book. She made countless references to God in her story, narrating to the reader how he guided her through the heat of the problem.

At some point, you’d almost think On Becoming is a spiritual book because Toke Makinwa was persistently highlighting the influence of God in her triumph.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/5-key-things-learn-toke-makinwa-book/

cc

lalasticala, dominique

Read more about him acknowledging 2Baba, 9ice and Asa as the best Nigerian artistes

http://tushmagazine.com.ng/2baba-9ice-asa-best-nigeria-demmie-vee/

Think of social media as a place where all sort of people go to find things that interests and intrigues them at variance. The type of characters you will find on social media these days are endless; the attention seekers, the quiet observers, those hawking something, those criticizing and complaining about everything. The list is endless as you would expect, the world itself is composed of several kinds of people and the only passport anyone needs to appear on these platforms is access to the Internet.

It is completely acceptable the way social media can be accessed by anyone but for you whose primary purpose is to socialize and have fun, you’d have to choose your type of engagement on the various social media platforms available to you. Consider social media as a journey, with you driving to a destination and you have to steer your wheel to avoid the deterrents. It is in the same manner that you’d avoid some characters on social media to be able to optimize the utility you derive from using it.

Here is a list of 5 types of people to avoid on social media:

The Snoopers

You see, the theme and direction of your timeline or your page on social media should be yours to control, after all it is your account. But there are some people on social media who want you to say or show more than you want to. You post something like, ‘for seasons come and go‘ and they start to investigate, the next thing they’d ask is, ‘did your lover leave?‘ or ‘or are you heartbroken?‘ If you post something about your work, say, ‘read the fourth article I published on XYZ website,‘ they’d be the ones to ask how it is possible to write four articles in a short space of time.

Yes, people can care to know how you do what you do or how you live your life, but you should have a space that you own totally. You should avoid anyone who is eating too deep into your space and digging too deep into your business.

The Sycophants

Oh these ones would tell you anything to make you happy, even when you make a wrong statement or a bad post. They are the type of people that support others to bully people on social media. You’d see them mostly clustered around celebrities and politicians on social media. They are there, always paying lip service. Even when the star does something wrong, they are there to urge him/her on. People like this should be avoided, especially on social media.

The Mockers

Social media is a fine place to get to socialize with your friends, a place to make new ones and grow your network. People can be really nice and friendly on social media but there are some who are not really interested in breathing the air of friendliness. They’re primarily on social media to show their grand posture while every other person is a joke to them.

Be careful with your responses on social media because some people there are not interested in the explanation you have to give. What they want is to get you to gaffe and then they mock you. You should avoid this type of people because no matter how hard you try to explain, they do not care. They need an object under their microscope of mockery, and you should not offer yourself.

The Wailers

Somehow social media has become a place where people take their complaints to these days. To be honest, it has proven to be fairly effective. But one has to be wary now because for some people, it is a way of life.

I recommend strongly that you search for positive energy any where you can get it, even on social media. That is why you should avoid those that continually spreads negativity around. You don’t want to be in a situation where one of the people you’re following on Twitter, often posts things that demotivate and laden your heart. You need to have a good air around you to be full of life, it is therefore necessary to eliminate anything that threatens that spirit of yours, and an everyday wailer is definitely one to do that.

The Fakers

These ones are probably the most difficult to spot but they are on social media, a lot of them in fact. They are the reason ‘fake lifestyle’ has become a popular topic today. They are the ones who talk about work on social media but they have nothing doing. They are the ones who have the most benevolent bae, who gives them gifts that inspire their posts and pictures on social media, but if you check, they are as single as they entered the world. They are those that hide their troubles to project a perfect life on social media. It would have been fine, since its their life and their page, but for you, if you know anyone in this mould, it is better to avoid them, so you don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself, trying to duplicate a fake life.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/5-types-people-avoid-social-media/

cc
lalasticala, dominique, mynd44

The biblical parable of the man who went on a journey and gave his servants talents to trade with is quite relatable in present day experiences. For some, they have chosen to ignore their God-given talents and while they complain and nag at some others have decided to utilize their talents maximally. Amongst the later is one talented actor who has been able to carve a name for himself with his talents by developing his talents creatively.

Born as Samuel Ajibola Ademola to Lt. Commandant Ajibola and Mrs. Ajibola from Ekiti State, Samuel had his secondary school education both in Ibadan and Lagos due to his father’s regular job posting. He eventually rounded up his secondary education at Command Day School, Ipaja before moving to University of Lagos to study Political Science.

Interestingly, Samuel Ajibola has been in the limelight from acting in the church and in school plays to starring in Opa Williams’ Tears for Love as age 6, Samuel’s acting ability could not be hidden; at 6, most of his peers saw him as a celebrity already and at a very young age he had won 3 awards for Best Kid Actor consecutively.

When he got admitted into the university, the pressure of combining both acting and studies became too much and after his first year, he took off the pressure by choosing to focus on his studies. He took a long hiatus from acting to fully face his studies; he also took up a course in acting from a film owned by the late Amaka Igwe. By 2012, Samuel was done with schooling and ready to return fully into the acting industry.

He got featured in a couple of movies including: Last Flight to Abuja, Don’t Conceive and a couple of others. Of late, he has starred in the comedy series ‘The Johnsons’ since its inception, where he plays the role of Spiff – a funny character that is being loved by all watchers of the series. In actual fact, his role in The Johnson, gave him more recognition.

Samuel Ajibola as a creative individual had to develop the Spiff character and doing so has being quite rewarding; he emerged the best actor in an M-Net comedy series in the 2017 AMVCA. Not resting on his oars, he launched his short comedy series titled ‘Dele Issues’, a short comedy describing the everyday life of different professionals.

Dele Issues which has gather over 30,000 views on YouTube is its fourth episode is one of Samuel’s many projects he would be unveiling in due time.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/samuel-ajibola-winning-spiff-character/

cc
lalasticala, dominque

Sorted now, do check again. Thanks

CocoBee:
Pastor Behind! please work on your template it ain't responsive at all.. Nice write up tho

Small businesses have limited budget, although that isn't an excuse. The business clime here in Nigeria doesn't guarantee sales in direct proportion with advertising

angelbulksms:
Interesting piece.
Many atimes, I wonder why small business owners in Nigeria do less on marketing.
Anyway, outshine your competitors with strategic marketing via bulk sms.
Check my signature on what to do.

thanks

justi4jesu:
Yea nice points...

Check Facebook FAQ, It is stated there

helphelp:
Media houses can't go out of business...

Bar dey that level wella

Does anyone know how to go about this instagram sponsored ad?

I want a DIY approach pls. Thank you

Advertising is a great tool that when it is rightly deployed can help businesses to easily reach more customers and grow sales within a short period of time. According to Steuart Britt “doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does”. For a business to continue existing, it needs steady patronage which should also result in optimum revenue.

There are several means of advertising a firm can use to create awareness for its product/service and attract customers. Depending on what suites a business, adverts can be done in prints, handbills, commercials, billboards and even branding of cars but the internet has provided a larger platform where businesses can access customers that are thousand miles away.

An advert that can communicate and convince a potential customer at first contact is always the best to deploy when a company is introducing a new product/service or when it sets high sales target. Advertising can assist modern businesses in the following ways:

Winning New Customers

An advert that educates potential customers in a convincing manner will easily win new ones as those with similar need will be prompted to try out the proposed value.

Awareness

When a company advertises, it is creating an awareness which may cover a wider range of population. Severally awareness creation has helped businesses to win customers and also earn referrals. A good example is when one experiences aches; there is always a brand of popular analgesic that people around will always prescribe to be taken.

Customer Retention

When your existing customers who are satisfied with your product/service are reminded continuously of your presence, it improves the level of confidence they have on the brand and thus improving customers’ loyalty.

Competitiveness

When a company’s advert totally convinces the potential customers that its product/service is of better quality than its substitutes. It helps the company to compete favourably.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/importance-advertising-modern-businesses/

lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

smardray:
Y do u have to interview a secondary school cert holder? Ehn

A school cert holder isn't worthy of an interview?

For just a secondary school cert holder, Awotungase Ademola Sodiq aka (Demmie Vee) speaks quite well and it is actually difficult believing he didn’t see the four walls of a university. Interestingly, not being able to further his education wasn’t his making as he is from a humble background yet that didn’t deter him from creating something positive for himself rather than wasting his youthful vibe and energy engaging in several vices. Demmie Vee as he is now called took upon his one and only ability – singing and turned it into a worthy career worth chasing with so much passion.

Energized and determined, Demmie Vee started his musical journey with ‘Folashade’, as his first recorded song and as fate would have it, he was lucky to have unfettered access to a studio prompting him to work more often and develop his sound engineering skills. From there he recorded some other couple of singles and performed at a few shows in and out of his hood. It was at one of these outings he met the CEO to Hope Never Die Records [HND RECORDS] who took notice of talent and subsequently signed him on his label.

Signed to HND Records with more resources and proper management, Demmie Vee isn’t resting on his oars as he had dropped three back-to-back singles with top notch videos accompanying them. On one of his single titled Awesome God, he featured the legendary 2Baba and for him that was an amazing experience for him, working with one of the few artistes he listened to and who shaped his type of sound.

A fashion savvy person, perhaps a young dude with simple swags, Demmie Vee’s fashion is quite commendable with his signature naturally-dreadlocked hair and bandana.

In defense of younger acts who tour European countries with just one song, Demmie Vee believes the music industry has evolved and if touring will make him more money and exposes him to the European audience, then it shouldn’t be difficult deciding when is it good or bad.

With the great acceptance of his released singles, Demmie Vee is poised to even working harder to produce quality music with a message embedded in each of his music. Mentioning his three top favorite Nigerian artistes as 2Baba, 9ice and Asa, Demmie Vee plans to feature all three artistes on his song someday. He is presently working with 9ice which makes it 2/3 and that definitely is a pass for a young successor.

culled from; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/2baba-9ice-asa-best-nigeria-demmie-vee/

lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

The leather game as it is fondly called by its admirers is one of the largest sports tournaments in the world. It is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games. The cumulative crowd of all the matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup was estimated to be 26.29 billion with an estimated 715.1 million seeing the final match, a shattering ninth of the entire population of the planet. Aside the prestige and honour it brings to the host countries, it also brings out a form of awareness to the volunteers. No FIFA World Cup or other sporting events would be the same without the awe-inspiring impartation of its numerous volunteers. The volunteers provide salient assistance to a vast range of operational areas and at the same time paving the wonderful feeling during the course of the games through the friendliness and felicity.

Expansion to 48-team plan

The plan for the proposed allocation of slots from its confederations for the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026 is already in place. FIFA’s plan accounts for 46 of the 48 places in the expanded field. Qualifying would become easier for many countries. If the host country continues to receive an automatic place, it means in the future, the slot will come from its confederation allotment.

The Concacaf region, which includes the United States, would get six automatic qualifiers under the new plan. The six would be an increment from the current three for the normal 32-team. Africa will get nine guaranteed places, up from five. Asia will get eight, which is double the current allotment of four.

The six-team play-off

FIFA announced its proposal for the allocation of spots for the 48-team 2026 World Cup and revealed that a six-nation play-off could be brought in to determine the last two spots. Since the proposed play-off will feature one team from each of the six confederations with the exception of UEFA, and one from the host nation’s confederation, with both teams being seeded based on world rankings

The Unseeded teams will be involved in a two-match first round, with the two winners from that then facing a seeded team each for a World cup spot. The play-off will be played in the same country as the World Cup and used as a test-run, and FIFA hinted November 2025 as the probable month in which it would be played. The nature of the politics being staged in the world governing body will be impetuous to the unseeded teams and therefore bring an unprecedented pressure on the hosts.

Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA president, said in a statement that he was “satisfied” with the proposal. “We feel that UEFA will be fairly represented with a total of sixteen national associations competing in the new format of the World Cup”, he said.

Hosting rights

The number of hosts for the tournament could increase to four- four countries would host. This decision comes with unwelcoming attitude by the lovers of the game. It means fans will be unavailable for some games and would result to ineffective census. Fans will have to travel intercontinental to see games of their choices. Since Asian countries that belong to AFC (Asian Football Confederation) are not allowed to host the 2026 World Cup, it means other countries can pull bids. The last time we had a joint hosting was in 2002 when Korea and Japan hosted with Brazil emerging as the winner.

The hosting rights may fall on USA, or either co-host with Mexico, due to tremendous commercial opportunities, and increasing interest within the country in the game as we have seen evolution of more expansion sides coming into the MLS (Major League Soccer). Perhaps there is a bigger commercial opportunity arising now in America because of the television audiences that are booming. But it could as well turn out to be a failure putting the new immigration and America’s travel ban been imposed. This new travel affects the Middle East nations- Syria and others and FIFA will not allow any sort of embarrassment to fans of the beautiful game.

Morocco has shown interest to host in the same vein that USA showed the same interest. The World Cup might just be staged in Africa for the second time after the World gathered in South Africa in 2010. The Minister of Sports in Morocco claims that Morocco has the infrastructure and organizational capacity to host the World Cup.

What it means for Africa

Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon would all be guaranteed slots under the new system. This new system would also allow for improving sides such as Burkina Faso and DR Congo to stand a chance of making the cut.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/world-cup-2026-will-unfold-good-bad-ugly/

As in the case of previous epidemics that swept through populations, consuming lives and thereby landing a high fatality rate on these populations. Several diseases arrive in a twinkle of the eye and as they are met with suddenness, little or nothing is done to combat them promptly. Most times, the authorities are not equipped with the necessary tools. Early suspicion and signs would have helped and they would have been tackled and many lives would have been saved. There is strong note in seeking expert advice in the context of complications and important warning signs. A rapid spread of bacteria and viruses is not concurrent with the multiplication of deaths.

Causation and origin

Meningitis is a condition characterized by fever, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, cold, vomiting and muscular pain or tenderness, headache, and meningismus with inflammation in the subarachnoid space as evidenced by CSF pleocytosis.

The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by a lining called the meninges. Infection or inflammation of the meninges is called meningitis. There is normally a fluid between the meninges and the brain or spinal cord called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); in meningitis, the CSF becomes infected.

The time to presentation (acute, sub acute, or chronic) and timing of the illness disagree based on the etiology and guide appropriate initial management and treatment. Acute infection usually presents within hours to days, whereas chronic meningitis is usually longer than 4 weeks in duration. Acute meningitis is infectious with a bacterial or viral origin, with noninfectious etiologies in the differential diagnosis. Acute bacterial meningitis affects all ages and was mostly a pediatric disease until the beginning of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (HIB).

Presently, most cases occur in young and older adults. The most common organisms from the order are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, group B streptococci, and H. influenzae, while the predisposing and associated conditions predict the etiologic agent and choice for appropriate initial treatment. Initially, the treatment is broad, with the goal of determining the causative organism for a particular therapy. Viral meningitis outnumbers meningitis and vice versa depending on the race and region. In general, meningitis due to bacteria (bacterial meningitis) is more severe than meningitis caused by viruses (viral meningitis). Most children with viral meningitis recover completely. Some children with meningitis may have long-term problems, but this depends on the cause of the infection and the age of the child. Viral meningitis is caused by predominantly a few viral groups with neurotropism; often enteroviruses, herpes viruses, arboviruses, or HIV; and rarely mumps. Typically, a CSF pleocytosis with a lymphocytic predominance is present, and bacterial cultures are negative.

People at risk

Anyone is at risk of contacting meningococcal disease. Some people are placed at higher risk than others. This disease occurs more often in people who are:

Teenagers or young adults
Infants younger than one year of age
Living in crowded settings, such as university or school dormitories or military barracks or camps
Travelling to areas that are infected with meningitis such as the “meningitis belt” of Africa
Living with a distorted spleen or no spleen
Being treated with a vaccine that is not compatible with the body or who have complement component deficiency (an inherited immune disorder)
Exposed during an outbreak
Working with meningococcal bacteria in a laboratory
Spread

Even with the widespread availability of effective and reliable therapy, the morbidity and mortality of bacterial meningitis remain substantial, which stresses the prompt recognition and management of potential cases. Acute meningitis is infectious in most cases and caused by a potentially vast range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Changes in the epidemiology of bacterial pathogens have been induced by changes in vaccines and their implementation. Seasonal and environmental changes influence the likely viral and rickettsial pathogens. The organized method to the patient with suspected meningitis enables the prompt administration of antibiotics and diagnostic testing with neuroimaging and spinal fluid analysis. Relevant testing and treatment can vary with the clinical presentation, season, and possible exposures. Touching or contact of infected individuals is a way of spreading. Contact includes kissing, sharing drinks, or living together. Up to one in 10 people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick

Treatment

It is imminent to always take the child for immunization. This is the first step to avoiding infection and it is helpful in the long run throughout the child’s growth.

Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics while viral meningitis may require very little treatment. The way a child is affected by the illness is different for each child.

The fluid surrounding the spinal cord, known as CSF can be sampled to see if it is infected by using a needle which is put into the back. This is called a lumbar puncture. The needle is inserted between two bones in the spine (the vertebrae) and into the CSF. The needle does not go into the spinal cord. The CSF from the back is just like the CSF around the brain and therefore gives the same information when tested.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/meningitis-another-killer-loose/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

It is a known fact that Instagram is one of the trendiest social platforms right now. It is fun for regular people to catch up with their favourite celebrities, meet new people, and learn new things about beauty, fashion and just life in general. A lot of celebrities of course have so many followers. Take Kim Kardashian for example, she has a whopping 97.4 million Instagram followers! Our very own WizKid has 3.4 million followers – both really big numbers. What interests a lot of people though is how regular people like you and I pull in big numbers.

I was able to do some more digging to get to the root of how to become instafamous and I learnt two big secretes.

Take The Perfect Selfies!!

Of course selfies are hard to take. Most people take at least 3 and pick the best one. For those of us out there who have to take at least 10, here’s how to reduce that number and be completely satisfied.

Good lightening: this is key in taking any kind of picture. Try not to take your selfie in a poorly lit room or a room with harsh fluorescent light. Natural light is the best so take your selfies near a window or outside.

Use your phone’s back camera: the back camera of most phones takes higher resolution pictures. So for a clearer picture it is better to use the back and not the front. You won’t be able to see the picture while you’re taking it but chances are you will prefer the result.

Consider the background of the picture: a lot of people seem to forget about their background when taking selfies. The best selfies have more than just a face. If you’re taking the selfie outdoors then make sure the background isn’t too distracting. But if you want to take the selfie in your room for example then position yourself in front of the background you wish to show off but don’t make it too obvious that you intend to show off the background.

Capture your best angle: when taking a selfie, know your good side and take the picture from that angle. Instead of taking a picture facing your face directly, try exploring different angles to see which one suits you best. When taking a selfie, try turning your head a few notches to the right or left so that your face seems less flat. Holding the camera slightly above the head so that it is slanted downwards will help you avoid getting a ginormous nose in your selfie.

Remember chin down camera up!

Keep Your Instagram Page Interesting

Another important key to becoming instafamous is to keep your Instagram interesting. How you ask? Well it is easy really. A lot of people want to see things that interest them. Maybe make a short video once in a while, post pictures of yourself in different places doing differently things. All that makes you seem like a fun and outgoing person. Very catchy.

If you’re not the type to go out then you can definitely make your Instagram exciting by showing off your outfits. Take full pictures of yourself. Combine different clothes. Just basically show off your style. Sometimes just take pictures of say your shoes or your jeans. Anything to keep your followers interested.

Yeah there are a lot of people who do not care about how many followers they have on Instagram and that’s good. It’s always important to keep in mind that the internet is all about illusions and the best way to survive on any social media is to keep it fun, don’t become too engrossed in it. Just have fun with it!

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/become-instagram-celebrity/

lalasticala, missyb3, finestboi, dominique

The name Beverly Naya has become widely celebrated in the circle of Nollywood fans. It is today, one of the standout names of the new generation stars of the industry. It has become a brand associated with on-screen poise and pomp off the screens. The name commands the sort of cred that assures fans and movie makers of sublime character interpretation ability and unforced elegance.

The bearer of the name, the beautiful Nigerian actress who was born and raised in the UK, has been a darling in the eyes of many African movie lovers since she surfaced on the scene. In 2009, she took the opportunity of appearing in the star-studded movie, Guilty Pleasure, using her fine acting display to introduce herself to the movie-watching audience in Africa. The Daniel Ademinokan and Desmond Elliot produced movie, which featured house-hold names like Ramsey Nouah, Majid Michel, Nse Ikpe Etim, Mercy Johnson, Omoni Oboli, gave Beverly Naya her admission into the movie industry.

In 2010, Beverley Naya put a spurt on and appeared on a big budget Nigerian movie. Even though she had been involved in a number of theatric art projects in the UK prior to her foray into Nollywood, it was the border crossing movie – Home In Exile, that brought her shiny light out from under the cover. The movie that also starred prominent thespians like Desmond Elliot, Uche Jumbo, Francis Duru, Justice Esiri, Chiwetalu Agu, was illuminated by the acting talent of the then, spick and span Beverly Naya. In the movie, she brilliantly played the role of Julie, a Kenyan girl whose boyfriend and his friend brought development to a rural community, against the will of powerful traditional figures. The Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen directed movie, which became a huge success, gave Beverly her big break. Her display in the movie helped her to win the award for Most Promising Talent at the 2010 Best of Nollywood Awards. In addition to that, she won the award for Fast Rising Actress at the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards.

See more photos; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/beverly-naya-beauty-shades-movie-star/


cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

Owning a lucrative business is everybody’s dream but only few succeed when it comes to starting and running it successfully. Entrepreneurs are not super-humans but people who have the ability to carefully indulge in business risks and prevent or minimize losses; they are mostly driven by passion, the desire for self reliance and the zeal to solve problems. The business person always sees opportunities and works to explore them profitably, they learn from failures and strategize quickly against situations that may hamper the growth of their investment. Starting and succeeding requires the following:

Ideation

Every business begins with an idea; it requires a great deal of thinking. An idea can be entirely new or an improvement on an existing one to proffer solutions and fill needs.

Knowledge and Competence

Whatever area one desires to pursue, knowledge and competence is sacrosanct and in the absence of these, the help of a professional should be employed.

Vision and Passion

In Steve Jobs words: “if you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” Vision is the link that connects you to the future of your desire while passion is the amour you will need to excel in the face of challenges, failures and adversities.

Business Planning

A plan is the compass required for successful navigation which can be use for implementation and control when the business starts and is in full gear.

Financing

Finance is the life blood of every startup. When one wants to start a venture, the availability and sources of financing should be defined with clarity to avoid disruption or halting of business activities in the short-run or long-run.

Competitiveness

A business must be positioned to lead or compete favourably through quality control and standardization in order to avoid failure or loss of market share.

Creativity and Innovation

The ability to come up with entirely new things and ways of doing things goes a long way to propel a venture for greatness.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/7-tips-starting-running-business/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

For many quite conversant with the creative industry in Nigeria, the name Steve Babaeko is one name that commands respect because of his exploits in the creative scene. Usually termed a guru, Steve Babaeko who prefers being called a serial entrepreneur has successfully demonstrated that every right dream is worth following. Aside his exploits, Steve Babaeko in actual fact he is humble; his willingness to accept he is late for an appointment and then apologize isn’t a trait that can be found in so many CEOs. Below is the excerpt of TushMagazine’s interview with him in his magnificent office here in Lagos.

How and when did you start X3M Ideas?

I started X3M Ideas August 1ST, 2012 with a pretty small team of about 8 persons. I had studied the business landscape of the advertising world in Nigeria, seeing their strengths and weaknesses and ofcourse with my experience, I felt the business of advertising could be conducted in a different manner and I said to myself, let’s give it a shot and that’s how it all started.

Aside X3M Ideas, do you have other investments?

Yes I do, I am a serial entrepreneur. There is X3M Ideas which is a full fledge advertising company, there is X3M Music where Praiz and Simi are signed unto, there is Zero Degrees – an audio and visual company, there is also Media 100, we also have stakes in another media company and I just acquired 10 hectares of farmland as well. I am always looking for opportunities and for me success is finding a gap, developing ways to bridge the gap and creating values. I ventured into farming because come 2050, statistics have projected that Nigeria would be the third largest populous country in the world after China and India and there may be a food crisis then, so people with farms would be kings by then. There is also something Bill Gates said ‘success is the ability to know where the world would go to and be the first to get there before anyone else’.

There is this famous story of you coming to Lagos with just 500 Naira, can you shed more light on that, what was going through your mind and all that?

Well, 500 Naira was actually the money I had left on getting to Lagos after paying my fare. After school, I always knew I was going to do advertising and I really had to come to Lagos where we had the big leagues of advertising agencies so I packed my bags and came down to Lagos.

What was going on through your mind during your journey knowing well that you had no place to stay?

Whenever I am making an important decision in my life, I always leave my head and mind as blank as possible to avoid distractions or confusions. I knew I was coming to Lagos and all through my journey from Benin to Lagos I left my mind blank. It was until the bus dropped us off at Ojota bus-stop then I knew I had to make my next move. I remembered an uncle of mine whom I worked with in the past used to work at Durban hotel present day Golden Tulip, so I went there and luckily for me the manager there was a Hausa man and I speak Hausa fluently even though I’m Kabba in Kogi State; I told him my story and he allowed me squat in a room with one of the chef which happened to be my home for two years and every day I would stare myself in the mirror and say ‘for me not to be successfully in this town, then the beach must dry up’.

Read full interview here; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/life-changed-turned-40-steve-babaeko/

cc
seun, lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, missyb3

Life hacks are not new. Some are just recycled junks from archaic times. Life hacks are all about making work easy. Some things may get sophisticated and one may get lost trying to decipher a way out of the mess. The problem is: there are too many life hacks out there, some aren’t all that good and may not help one out in the long run. So, we will just consider the worthwhile ones and hopefully these ones help you out whenever you are in need. People do not have to be a genius to figure out ways. We do not have to wait for researchers to be given grants worth millions before they come up with solutions to fix our problems. Smartness starts from the bedroom. Smart people have found out cheap methods for these simple everyday problems.

- Stained pressing Iron? Just get a rag made of real cotton and spread toothpaste on it till steam. Gently wipe the surface with the cloth till it cleans.


- Are you a heavy sleeper and no matter how loud your alarm is, you cannot just wake up? Get a glass cup; put your phone in it. It’s going to -amplify the volume- louder and noisy.


- Apple provides a better morning wake-up call than a cup of coffee or Lipton (Also a health trick).


- Use a wooden spoon across a boiling container of water to stop it from boiling over.


-Spread newspapers at the bottom of waste bins to absorb food juices that will later result to foul odour.


-When warming leftover- by microwave or gas. Create a space/circle in the middle; it will heat up the food evenly.


- Use coke to clean toilet. It brings out the white colour of the WC.


- Tired of button always loosening? Use clear nail polish to stick button and thread together.


- Put money in a sanitary napkin package before putting it in purse/wallets. No one will steal it.


- Use ice to remove chewing gum from hair.


- Some people cry when cutting onions. Just chew gum!


- Use the inside of banana peel to whiten teeth. It works.


- You’ve got white sneakers and you keep walking into mud. That definitely sucks. Get baking powder and lemon/vinegar. Mix both. Use a brush to scrub the stains.


Life hacks are endless. People keep discovering them every day.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/13-easy-life-hacks-utilize-today/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

Even the most inattentive of us would know by now that life is not a bed of roses. It has been said in low and loud tones, it has formed the lyrics of many of the songs that we listen to, and it has been written in bold prints in the books that we read. We have heard it in stories and we have been in situations that made us wish for life to be easier. The truth is that life is not a piece of cake, challenges and straits are inevitable in life.

So how do you face life’s challenges when they come? Of course, looking to heaven is one way, but there is something you can do to help yourself through life, especially in tough times. One good way to face the twists of life is by being mentally strong. I would have loved to say otherwise but the truth is life is like a big sea, where the big fishes consume the smaller and weaker ones. You don’t want to appear feeble or weak in the race of life, especially when it comes to issues of the mind, because the mind is a powerful human tool, where battles are either won or lost.

Just like physical strength, growing your mental strength requires healthy habits and exercises. Here are some habits and exercises that can help you grow your mental strength:

Don’t fear alone time

Alone time or quiet time as you might prefer to call it, is perfect for reflection, meditation which helps you grow a healthier mindset. Even by just soaking in the silence, you have an ambience that allows you collect thoughts and assess situations undisturbed, this way; you can find the best ways to approach situations or issues.

Don’t dwell on the past

The only thing you should take from the past is the lesson. Dwelling on the past is one way to slow down your mental growth. So while you’re trying to grow a rich paradigm, don’t pollute it with fumes from the past; past failures, anger or loss. These things should not hold you to the base and prevent you from strengthening your mind.

Don’t feel the world owes you

The mistake a lot of us made and some still make,is that we believe that the world is meant to entertain or please us. Please, please and please understand that the world does not operate that way. Remember that it was God that said “ask and you shall receive,” not man. So don’t expect everyone you ask for help to give you a favourable response. Yes, it happens but thinking that everyone you ask for help MUST help you would be a clown’s act. Nobody owes thou sh*t! The earlier you understand this, the more you develop your philosophical equanimity and concomitantly, your mental strength grows.

Don’t expect immediate results

Be patient and persistent with your push. Growing in mental strength is a conscious exercise that requires continuous build-up. You do not suddenly become mentally strong by reading one book or getting one good advice. You have to continue engaging in activities that would help you in growing your mental strength. Read good books, listen to rich music, make friends with brilliant minds, fuel your quiet time with purposeful thoughts and you will grow a rich mindset.

Don’t worry about pleasing everyone

Trying to please everyone is a futile exercise. The truth is, no one has ever pleased everyone, not even Jesus. While trying to please everyone, you will expend all your resources and still have people to please. The fact is, you lose your focus and direction trying to please everyone, because people have different expectations and beliefs. When you fail to please someone or certain people, which is a sure thing, you find yourself unnecessarily disturbed and this is bad for your mental growth.

Don’t waste energy on things you cannot control

There are too many things going on and you can only influence few of them. It is wise to conserve your energy on those few things you can control rather than trying to influence things out of your reach. For instance, you should focus on having the best response to whatever people approach you with, rather than expecting to be approached politely all the time. You cannot choose how other people act; you can only decide your own actions. By focusing on your own actions and reactions, you prepare yourself mentally, unlike the likelihood of disappointment from expecting politeness from everyone.

Don’t let others influence your emotions

It is a blessing to have a mind of your own. It gives you consistency of thought and action. This way, you can avoid being constantly caught in mood swings, thus, allowing you to steady the growth of your mental strength. One of the true tests of your mental strength is how you respond to external factors. In fact, the level of your mental strength strongly influences the way you react and act to the action of others. So grow your mental strength and you would have better control of your emotions, rather than letting others control your emotions.

Don’t resent on other people’s success

Learn not to expend your resources on resenting the successes of others. You cannot afford to continue spending your mental energy on jealousy or hate. Hate is bad. Give up those and channel your energy on being successful yourself. Tell yourself that you deserve success too and go for it, relentlessly. By doing this, you’d find out that you would have fed your mind with nutrients to help it grow. Let me leave you with a valuable tweet by Ric Hassani, “supporting another person’s success won’t even dampen yours.”

Don’t shy away from your responsibilities

Taking responsibility of things gives you a sense of purpose. It gives you direction and causes you to focus and all these are essential for growth of mental strength. Running away from your responsibility dampens your confidence and your sense of value, and usually; these things weaken your mental strength.

Don’t fear taking calculated risks

Take risks, calculated ones. The result is always going to help you improve your mental strength. If you fall, you can learn from it, if you soar, it boosts your confidence. So either way you’re getting something you can feed your mind with.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/10-ways-improve-mental-strength/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44 dominique

Urban youth magazine is out with its latest issue featuring actress BEVERLY NAYA and rapper YCEE as its cover page personalities.

The issue focused on the strides of both personalities and how they have grown to become household names.

Featured also in this issue is advertising guru - STEVE BABAEKO, talented actor - SAMUEL AJIBOLA, fashion stylist - TI NATHAN, Falz' producer - SESS BEATS, artist - JEKEIN Fashion blogger - IFEOMA alongside educating and interesting articles.

TushMagazine is available in both digital and print versions.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/beverly-naya-ycee-make-bedazzling-appearances-Behind-magazine-issue-16/

cc

lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, fynestboi

The exit of Adekunle Gold from YBNL is in line with the policy of the label, which appears to be; sign on musical talents, establish them in the industry while also raking in money, and after a period of time, release them to chart their own course. This is how it was in the case of Lil Kesh, Viktor, and so, the case of Adekunle Gold is not strange.

You & I knew that at some point, Adekunle Gold was going to leave YBNL. What we did not know was when, and under what circumstance it would happen. It has finally happened and it is good that both party are at ease with it.

For ‘Mr Gold’, the time to explore new levels of musical creativity has come. After striking a chord in the heart of many Nigerians with his song Sade, then partnering with YBNL to successfully sell more of the folk/high-life sound, it is now time to give his music a new direction. This new assignment has led him to set-up a band he named, ’79th Element’, to give him the necessary prop.

In his time with YBNL, Adekunle Gold made a habit of telling beautiful stories in different ways; today he is telling a story about Orente, the lover that stood with him through straits and success, Tomorrow, he is singing to God to answer his call to heaven. He went on to release an entire album telling different stories in the wisdom and style of a raconteur. Because everyone could find one or two of his stories to relate with, his music transcended the border lines of listenership and so people of all classes found it appealing; the old and young, ‘ajepako’ and ‘ajebutter’.

But despite all of these successes, there still was a hidden beauty in the music of Mr Gold. It was as if Adekunle Gold wowed us with some good music all these while, but the best part of his music still hadn’t manifested. Most of what we heard from him was an experimentation of his folk music with elements of the pop genre. I believe we did not get to listen to his sound in its purest form. Perhaps because of the environment he found himself, and the influences of his former bosses.

Now, Adekunle Gold has his own canvass, which he can choose to paint in whatever way he wants. He now has an open space to create and experiment in ways that he feels would help him make the best kind of music. While this could have caused his fans to be unsure about the new direction of his music, the announcement of a support band comprised of some exciting music talents, is enough reason to be excited. It gives a clear picture of what to expect from Adekunle Gold now that there is no holds barred. If you read about the composition of the “79th Element,” you’d understand the balance in the group .

One of the things to expect with this new formation of Adekunle Gold’s production team is, professional live performances. This would be wonderful to witness and pleasurable to enjoy, as there has been a lot of discussion among music experts in the industry and fans, about the necessary evolution of on stage artistry and the preference of live performances over the lip syncing act that most Nigerian artistes have operated with for so long. With the introduction of the 79th element, Adekunle Gold would be joining the wave of artistes like Brymo, Asa, that have made conscious effort at treating their fans to special live performances rather than coming up on stage to guide their audiences to listen to music playing from CD.

Conclusively, Adekunle Gold has been known to be talented in many areas; even asides music. With this move, he now has the freedom to explore the fullness of his creative sides. His music would get the most benefit from this move, as it is set-up to improve the quality of his sound and enable him take his performances to a new level. In the famous words of Jing Yun Wong, the best performers have the strongest foundation. With this move, Adekunle Gold would be placing his music on solid ground and from there, the fullness of his music is set to manifest.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/leaving-ybnl-good-move-adekunle-gold/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, kandiikane

Jeans is one of the clothing materials that people commonly wear. Both male and female, you’d find people looking adorable in jean wears almost everywhere you go. You probably have some yourself. They help you look smart, classy and that’s why people have preference for them among other wardrobe items.

But despite the common nature of jean wears, the knowledge of caring for them is not so common. A lot of people who get charmed by the beauty of jean wears, only know little about how to care for them. This is perhaps why your jeans do not last as long as it should. Here are some tips to help you care for your jeans so they last long:

Spot Clean Your Jean

It is safe and completely acceptable to clean small stains on your denim with damp cloth and mild soap. It is a stress free way to prepare your jean for the next wear. This method is recommended as it reduces the frequency of subjecting your jean to harsh washing condition and by this, you’re caring for your denim to last longer.

Turn It Inside Out When Washing

You cannot spot clean your jean forever. After about ten wears, your jean is ready for a proper wash. Turn your jeans inside out to prevent it from losing its color. They say the way you dress is the way you are addressed. So the fade of your jean reflects your personal style. To keep your jean looking fresh and not badly faded, avoid having an aggressive spin cycle for it.
Remember to clean the pockets! Ink stains should not mess up the pocket of your jean. Also make sure sand and other dirt materials are not trapped in the pocket of your jean.

Use The Right Detergent

Have you been told, that the choice of your detergent is one way to show how you care for your clothes? Learn which washing material best suits your cloth.
For jeans, its best not to use harsh soaps, especially those jeans with indigo blue tint. Harsh soaps wash out the indigo blue tint of your jeans. Preserve the look of your jeans with the right detergent. Most detergents are concentrated, so apply little when washing your jean.

Use cold water and avoid using bleach

I’ve heard that some people soak their jeans in steaming water to take out the stains. But it isn’t the best, especially if you plan to maintain the color of your jean for long.
Cold water is preferable in washing your jeans, as it protects it from fading. You should also avoid using bleach to maintain the nice look of your jean.

Air Dry Your Jeans

It is preferable to air dry your jean after wash. Another option is using dryers, but dryers are not the best for your jeans. They cause your clothes to give out lints. It is better to use the natural means of air drying, as it helps to preserve the cloth’s fit and to avoid possible shrinkage or fabric warping.
Also, keep your clothes, not only jeans, turned inside out when spreading them out in the sun. This helps to prevents fading of the cloth and to ensure the interior parts get dried.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/5-things-always-make-jeans-last-longer

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, kandiikane

It is often said that there aren’t many Nigerian artistes making ‘good music’ but this is not true. A good number of Nigerian artistes are making fine music today, we only need to correct our definition of good music.

Generally, people believe that only a few Nigerian artistes make good music and the lot are only noise makers. As a lovers of Nigerian music, if you are asked to point out artistes making good music in the country, you are more likely to look in the direction of Asa, Timi Dakolo and Darey. I would have to weigh in on the debate of what good music is or isn’t in another article, but for the purpose of this article, I would agree with the popular view that good music sounds in a certain way and that in Nigeria; Asa, Timi, Dare, are the ones making good music.

There is no doubt that these artistes have distinguished themselves from the generality of music makers in the industry. They have taken up the difficult task of marketing music with lyrically depth to Nigerians, when it is easier to make the popular kind of music. Interestingly, these group of artistes have been successful at it. Because of the uniqueness of their music, they are regarded as makers of ‘good music’ by many.

Their exploits has paved the way for a new generation of artistes who have now joined in making conscious music. Today, the industry is opening up to these new stars that have learnt from older generation artistes and used the knowledge to shape their own innate musical talents to become refined artistes. Because they seem to have the musical skill that not many have, coupled with the fact that there are only few artistes towing this road of making ‘good music,’ the few ones in the field are accorded a special kind of respect. They are the kind of artistes you turn to when you need a break from the norm, when you crave for the soothing effect from listening to music. Here are 5 new emerging Nigerian artistes making ‘good music’:

Johnny Drille


Honestly, he is perhaps the future of RnB/Country/Soul music in Nigeria. Don Jazzy was quick to see this and so he snapped him up to Mavin Records. Johnny Drille is one of the artistes we can rely on to continually serve us conscious music in Nigeria for a long time. He is a rare music gem; an amazing singer, he writes good lyrics and interestingly, he produces music too. He is very similar to Ed Sheeran. He is one of the many products of the famous MTN Project Fame Academy in the industry. He became most people’s favourite after the release of the Wait For Me video but before that, Johnny Drille has been making the kind of music that legends make. Asides from his brilliant compositions, he has a habit of making song covers in a way that you’d prefer it to the original song. Try listen to his cover version of Awww and Hello and you’d agree with me that the boy understands music to its depth.

Ric Hassani


I didn’t hear about him until recently. Everyone in my circle had been raving about this guy that knows the rhythm and blues of music. Most times in the past, when people talked to me about him, I reacted with a nose dive. But when his charm would get to me, it got me trading all my skepticism for wild excitement. I first heard his song Police, it was so appealing that I wanted to hear more of his songs. Then I heard Gentleman, I knew straightaway that this is quality. By the time I’d get to listen to Marry You, I had become a fan. I was ashamed not to have listened to him earlier. I even got more fascinated by the brilliance of Ric Hassani when I started following him on Twitter, the depth of thoughts and perspectives that inspires his music, are evident in his every post. I am sure more beautiful music would be made by Ric.

Orinayo


I stumbled on Orinayo’s music on Sound Cloud and I was wondering, ‘who is this Nigerian guy that sings like John Legend?’ I found out he is a Nigerian artiste based abroad. Even with this, he maintains a strong connection with Nigeria and this connection is evident in his music. Orinayo makes the kind of music that reaches out to your soul. Interestingly, he has a stockpile of those in his portfolio. He might not yet be a regular face on your screens or a voice you hear everywhere around, but his voice is unique and his sound is amazing, it is even better that he is Nigerian. He is definitely one artiste that can connect the Nigerian audience and those outside, in enjoying the beauty of his gift.

Lady Donli


The lady whose music is deeper than what you can listen to in a rush. It is fascinating to listen to her, as she fuses soul and jazz music with a touch of poetry. As complex as this might seem, she arranges her music in a way that it is pleasing to listen to and all the elements can be appreciated. The influence of Lauryn Hill on her music, is one of the first things you’d observe when you listen to her. She is based in UK, her popularity there is growing, so also people in Nigeria are warming up to her unique sound, which she calls neo-soul /alternative jazz music. Listen to songs on her projects, What is perfect?, Love or war, Wallflower and thank me later.

Mimido


He is another fine product of MTN project fame. Remember, ‘Taiwo Rolling Naira’ of season 6? Yes! he is the new folklore voice you hear singing Aaye on radio and in Lagos BRT buses, he only adopted the name Mimido as his stage name. He recently won the Lets Go Naija Challenge organised by A.R.M Pension, which is a blessing and an encouragement for his fine craft. Although his vocal ability has been revealed and appreciated on the project fame stage, he didn’t get a chance to show much of his ability to compose until now. His song, Prodigal, still has a strong impression on me. Its the kind of song that you’d associate with Asa. I found something consistent about his music, its the strong themes of his songs. His songs have deeper melodies that amplify the stories he tells with each. It is exciting to think about Mimido’s kind of music and its impact on the Nigerian music industry. He is one of the artistes expected to hit the industry with a new wave of ‘good music’.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/5-nigerian-artistes-making-good-music/

cc

lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, fynestboi

Have you ever wondered why people enjoy doing business/working with a certain person or why a particular person is like the most sort after professional in an industry? Often times, we have heard of hardworking individuals who reached leadership positions but failed and also of people who seem under-qualified for leadership role but performed outstandingly beyond expectations, the difference and reason is emotional intelligence.

To work and successfully do business repeatedly with others, one needs thorough self knowledge, self management, empathy, motivation and relationship skills. These skills are the core components of emotional intelligence. Every other important skill can elevate you and also sets you apart but emotional intelligence makes you complete internally and also endears you to partners and colleagues. The EI has gained global acceptance and most multinational corporations and their executive have attributed their growth and success to practicing it, its five components are:

Self Awareness

Having complete understanding of one’s strengths, weaknesses, feelings and how they affect others is very important. This can be achieved through proper self evaluation, if you have knowledge of how you perform when deadline is given, how you react to situations and what your limitations are, you will easily give up the negatives, adapt and also improve faster.

Self Regulation

Impulses and emotions are part of our daily lives and managing them prevents us from embarrassing ourselves and severing relationship in the business environment. It takes confidence and optimism to resist shouting at employees when mistakes happen, executives with confidence will rather take the route of explanation and correction rather than flare up. Self regulation helps you manage your relationship with suppliers, workers, clients and even competitors.

Empathy

Do you sincerely have feelings for and care about others especially those you work with? When you show concern for people’s feelings especially in their down moments you get closer to their hearts and closeness is good for work and business. Always take that extra step to ask what worries an employee, partner or client when you see them in gloom and especially when their work begins to get affected. Playing the brother keeper’s role has helped to promote business relationships for ages.

Motivation

What drives you? Some persons will say it is passion while others will say it is money. Understand what motivates you as that is where your success and continuity lies because when you are propel inwardly or outwardly to do something you will do it extra-ordinarily.

Relationship Skills

Making and keeping relationship is the gateway to easy success. Imagine having the who’s who in the country among your list of genuine friends, major things you want will be a phone call away. Learn to respect people and befriend them genuinely taking special days in their lives seriously and business or work will just be fine.

source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/emotional-intelligence-business/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique

The Temple Management Company’s Art Division presents its very first solo exhibition ‘It’s Not Furniture’.



The event, which will be held at the Omenka Gallery, Lagos between May 27th and June 9th 2017, will see a gathering of Art enthusiasts, collectors and works from six contemporary artists ranging from Mixed media to Charcoal drawings.



The concept of the exhibition declares that art is not furniture but a representation of the life, belief and culture of young contemporary individuals.



Working with established artists, such as; Marcellina Akpojotor, ​Logo Oluwamuyiwa, Ken Nwadiogbu, Fola David, John Maduand JeikenLato-Unah, the inaugural exhibition hopes to cement their global presence and to create a name for them in the local scene.



Temple Art Manager, Winifred Okpapi, said: ‘Temple Arts aims to create artistic experiences that catalyse cultural exchanges, connect communities, and engage the public’s imagination.’



“Our annual exhibition serves as a platform to encourage emerging contemporary artists’ adventurous experimentation and creativity.”



These artists will be showing their works through the uniqueness of various artistic expressions, with the background of Nigeria in modern times.



More About The Temple Art Exhibition



Temple Arts aims to stage an annual showcase for emerging young contemporary artists in Nigeria. The exhibition will demonstrate the influence of international integration arising from the interchange of worldviews, ideas, and other aspects of culture, through the uniqueness of various artistic expressions, with the background of Nigerian heritage.



New artists will be selected each year and go through a period of experimentation to discover new media and present new works that have not been seen before.





DETAILS

DATE: 27th May to 9th June 2017

VENUE: Omenka Gallery, 24 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi

ADMISSION: FREE



link; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/temple-art-not-furniture-art-exhibition/

lalasticala, mynd44

There is usually a clear distinction between fact and fiction. So also, a lot of fictional movie story-lines are considered far from real. But the movie – Wedding Party has proven to be an outlier.

It is old news that the two main actors in the movie, Dunni & Dozie, who both got married against the odds, are tying the knot for real. Adesua Etomi & Banky W would really be getting married. This has already caused wild excitement among fans but the news of Dunni & Dozie continuing their love in Wedding Party Part 2, has left a lot of Nigerian movie lovers unsure.

Naturally, fans would love to have a sequel to an interesting movie, which Wedding Party qualifies to be classed as, but the conclusion to the first part of the movie was widely believed to be the perfect type of ending, and that a sequel is unnecessary. Many consider the story of two lovers, closing the gap of ethnic disparities and past love escapades to get married, a good enough ending. Dunni & Dozie already appear to have a happy end. So, the news of Wedding Party 2 being filmed has split the audience, while some fans are excited, some others are sceptical, asking, what is the new direction to the story?

From the teasers on the media, Dunni appears to be pregnant and Dozie holds a travelling bag. That particular picture was posted with the question, “Is Dozie ready for fatherhood or trying to escape?” While this has been successful at putting a section of the fans in suspense, another section are waiting to confirm their scepticism.

Although the rumours of interesting entertainers like Patience Ozonkwo, Chinwetalu Agu, Chigurl, Seyi Law, being introduced to the Wedding Party 2 gives us something to muse about, however, it is feared that the direction of the story could possibly be dishearteningly warped and unduly stretched, simply to justify the yearns of the makers of the movie.

The notoriey of Patience Ozonkwo and Chinwetalu Agu suggests that they are in Wedding Party 2 to play the roles of mean relatives, perhaps they would appear as a couple in the movie. It is logical to think that they would be related to Dozie, since he seems to be from the Eastern region. Fans should be expecting the new pair to bring hell to the world of the celebrated movie couple. It would be interesting to have an actress like Yemi Oshodi, aka Surutu and perhaps, Kareem Adepoju aka Baba Wande, to balance it up on Dunni’s side.

From the images online, the comedians, Seyi Law and Chigurl were garbed in the uniform of law enforcement agents, looking like those operating at the airport. Since Dozie has been seen with his travelling bag, this hints that Dozie might have some troubles on his journey, if actually he would be travelling. The duo of Chigurl and Seyi Law could pair up to produce unimagineably hilarious scences, which would help in endearing Wedding Party 2 to the general public.

It would be interesting to see how the patches of the story connect, and hopeful, by defying the skepticism, Wedding Party 2 would be as successful the first. In the end, most fans would be hoping the makers of the movie would not soil the pleasure they derived from watching Wedding Party 1, with a whack and incoherent outlook of Wedding Party 2.


source; http://tushmagazine.com.ng/wedding-party-2-now/

cc
lalasticala, mynd44, dominique, fynestboi