₦airaland Forum

waywardpikin:
Dear Diary,

How’s it going? I’ve been inside a pressure cooker so I haven’t had the time, means or desire to come say what’s up. However, my schedule has cleared up much to my dismay and I’m slowly coming out the other end of a dark tunnel. So my phone was stolen at Ikeja under-bridge (pick-pocketed precisely) for the second time in 5 years. You know when something happens so fast that it leaves you so pained and feeling very stewpeed. Oh well, I have forgiven myself now but I couldn’t forgive myself then. My phone is my life; check the end of my arm and just as the sky is blue you can find it attached there where it truly belongs.

If NEPA likes let them take the light, with my trusted mobile device and deputy powerbank, I am insured against ever feeling bored, lonely, or succumbing to the crazy thoughts always swirling in my head. This was a phone that I bought brand new, and I hadn’t used it for up to two months. My sweet Samsung valued at a humble price of N60,000. The plan was to use it for a year or two, then gift it to one of my siblings. I don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of all this phone cost me, cos I went as far as reporting it to the police station in hopes that they could track it but I have resolved to forget the whole thing and put it behind me.

Well, I was depressed. What am I going to do without my phone ni tori oloun? Everything that helped me organize my life was on there and I had already given my sister the phone I was using before that (also Samsung). Anyway, I relegated myself to a small Nokia phone I’d also bought brand new for emergencies and got a new phone number. I decided not to retrieve my old line yet and resolved to use the misfortune that befell me to undergo a lifestyle change. I have many bad traits, but one recurring great thing I have going on for me is that I always use every setback as an opportunity for a comeback. I will not rest, I will stew and mope until the debt is paid with a little more $$ in the credit section of my balance sheet. Only then can I be really happy and content that I’d won or learnt a lesson. Inadvertently, I’d say I thrive under adversity.

I also bought a few books which include, 48 Laws of Power (I have bought this book like 3 times in my lifetime), The Art of War, and Eat That Frog! (highly recommended for procrastinators). Since I had no phone to distract me, it was time to update my library, read some books, and see how I could optimize every aspect of my life to make for a more productive me. Though I have a stable job that pays in 6 figures, my biggest source of worry has always been money issues. Imagine my pain, I had just lost my phone and I couldn’t immediately buy another one. Not when I had sent money home to both momsy and siblings. My unfortunate entanglement with Naija police also cost me more than I’m willing to disclose. It seemed the village people came for me hard and succeeded. It was only the beginning of June and I had to manage on a strict budget hoping for the next paycheck. That is no way for a Gee to live.

As usual when I’m seriously stressed and my brain goes into overdrive, my rate of smoking increases exponentially. I’d light up that Arizona and smoke while mulling things over in my head. If I ran out of that then Benson switch came in handy. I had a laptop and a modem, so I went to subscribe on my Spectranet while I figured out what I was going to do because I had to do something. I couldn’t continue living like this. It simply isn’t good enough especially when the big 30 was fast approaching.


Should I go back to Yahoo?


Quick confession: I got my first and only car from the proceeds of Yahoo. And while I have been into many things in the course of my life, Yahoo is the one thing I reluctantly turned to whenever I was in a quick bind and needed to make good money. BUT… I hated doing it with every fibre of my being. I always ended up feeling soiled, dirty, rotten. Which is why whenever I made a lump sum I always bailed out until the next big crisis rolled around and then I would have no choice than to “do what I had to do” before bailing out again. My friends whom I started with labelled me unserious but it was something my conscience always gave me grief for. Last year I had made up my mind that it was goodbye forever to that chapter of my life, and I am ashamed to say that I came close to breaking my promise early this month.

I sat in front of my laptop wondering what my options were: Yahoo came top of the list. Yes I can do it but I always considered it too stressful and the morality of it all made it even worse. Alternatively, I knew I was a good presenter and quite articulate too, but I was also done with the media industry in Nigeria and actively shy away from anything that will throw me into the spotlight or attract unnecessary awareness my way. Plus work commitments might not even allow me source for good paying jobs that would be okay with me working part-time for them. And then it suddenly hit me, nigga you can write na! I mean, I am a damn good writer if I do say so myself. I have made a tidy bit of money over the years writing for magazines, blogs, people, in this obodo Lagos. I had even tried my hands on freelancing in those days before NYSC.

I worked once on freelancer dot com and earned 25$ on a project but I unseriously abandoned all that for whatever reason. About three years before that, I stumbled upon this site iwriter dot com and while taking gigs to pass the time, I made about 14$ and abandoned it too. Notice the pattern here? In 2017 while serving I decided to revisit my iwriter account and racked up the earnings there to 45$ before withdrawing the money through a trusted exchanger. However, I abandoned it too because the stress involved in writing so much for so little no be here.

So earlier this month, with no phone and a red bank account, I sat in front of my laptop, my Arizona burning slowly in my hand, thinking about what I could do to optimize my financial standing. Instead of trying to manage my salary, I wanted to increase my capacity to earn more. Life is harder on a budget I tell you. Anyhoo, I ran back to my iwriter account only to see that my account had been deactivated. Okay, no wahala. I figured out how to get into my old freelancer dot com profile but the whole place was a mess and I didn’t like the interface. There were too many bidders for too few projects. In the course of my research I then entered the Upwork thread in the business section and read through it from start to finish.

Surprisingly, I came across a comment I made in that same thread in 2017 complaining about how my Upwork account didn’t get approved as it appeared my niche (writing) was saturated. It would seem that I also abandoned that agenda as well without making any headway. Well, this time I was having none of it. I fished out my old, abandoned Upwork and sure enough it was still unapproved. Without wasting time, I got someone to help me open a functional account and paid him the agreed token even though I was tempted not to pay him anything but I just had to rebuke the Nigerian in me. Every man’s hustle must be respected.

Anyway, I got the account and got to work immediately. Sent a bunch of proposals the same day, almost exhausting all my connects. I smoked some more as I waited and eventually fell asleep for a couple of hours. Apparently I was very sleep deprived. As it is when I put myself under a lot of pressure, I would hardly eat or sleep, but I would smoke like it was running out of fashion. My flawed coping mechanism. I woke up to find out that two prospective clients had replied to my proposals. Imagine my joy! Long story short, between October 20 (when I started) and now, I’ve racked up over 700$.

Get your calculator, multiply that with the current exchange rate and tell me how much you think I’ll be expecting in my bank account? Unfortunately, my bids for the month are exhausted so I’m not likely to get any more jobs for October but as a newbie on the platform, how amazing is that? I’m glad I didn’t succumb to the pressure of going into Yahoo again, because I was already trying to figure out where I’d hidden all the tools on my laptop. And I don’t think I would have made this much in Yahoo within such a short time. I would have needed to spend some time nursing the client and gaining her trust.

I didn’t need to write all this, but I am sharing this to inspire someone out there. I can’t share all my stories but my life is a testament to this fact: EVERY SETBACK IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMEBACK. Instead of wailing over the fate that has befallen you, take charge and more importantly, fight back! As humans it is normal that we feel bad and sulk, but that is a phase that you need to quickly get out of and besides, who said you can’t moan and sulk and even cry while figuring out the way forward? Time is the most expensive currency and we all need to spend it wisely.

Now, I have gotten over the loss of my phone and I’m getting a new Samsung next week. Currently looking at a budget of N120,000 because, why not? My phone got stolen and in the process I gained a solid and very lucrative second source of income. So sometimes, it’s not totally a bad thing when bad things happen to you. There is a lesson therein you are supposed to learn.

Till next time,

XOXO

Waywardpikin.

https://thewaywardpikin.com/how-i-almost-went-back-to-yahoo/

cc Lalasticlala, FOD, dominique, puskin, naijacutee

Guy, I helped you with your proofreading job in 2019, and you refused to pay me.. This ain't fair. Your reasons are not justifiable and I will never forget it.

WordsWriter:
There is no clearly defined time range for hire. Some clients hire immediately, some hire within 2 weeks, Others even hire much later than that.


Get a job is a numbers game especially for beginners. Don't relent, keep sending well-written proposals.




Sadly, there's no way to get free connects unless Upwork gifts you.ie they give you free 30 connects once you get the rising star badge.


My advice, Learn how to write good proposals. Buy connects and pray.

Hey bro, been a while

Thanks boss Venzal

I appreciate your good work.God bless you for paving the way for boys. I bless the day I came across this wonderful thread

Never give up.

iInjureHerYansh:
Cos she's made you believe she got virtues.. Hehehe

Bros pls go to any bar at your location. Order for the whole beer there. I will pay.

You sabi jare.. Thumbs up


Women can make you believe anything. Considering op babe is living in another location from him. She will just be pretending.

AfroKnight:


Every woman has a bit of syphilis in her? And her mother reiterated that lie?

Bro count yourself lucky that it’s syphilis and not HIV. At least you know you won’t marry her. That’s a win. Cos someone like her would give you another man’s children to raise as your own.

Imagine this nonsense talk from her mum sef.

Like mother like daughter

thesilentman:
Am a sad man at the moment.
My Four years relationship came to a lousy abrupt end this evening.
Actually,it's a long distance affaire as by circumstance of occupation we do not live together.she does visit forthnightly and it was always on a sunday.
Just last sunday she came as usual and we had a roll in the hay.
To my utter dismay,i realized that i had caught syphilis which has never happened to me before.
In my anger,i accosted her on fidelity ground with reference to the infection i got from her. She swore severally that she had been chaste all the while and that there is no woman that doesn't have a bit of the infection in her.
We coudnt agree to differ and she flipped her lid and called it quit just like that with a final remark that she can't stand an helicopter husband like me and her mother too supported her.
Am raving bonkers at the moment. Is my reaction irrational?
Could there ever be a possibility that i am the one in the wrong?
Please no insult as i am really heartbroken now.

Bro you want hear the truth?

Your woman give you that infection. I've been there.

Be a man and call it a quit now, else she will give another man's child in marriage.

Never trust our current generation women except your mum. A cheat will always be a cheat.

Women can defend anything using emotions and fake tears. They've been trained to use emotions to defend their lies and deceit.

Never fall for scam.

You can take this from someone who has been in your shoes.

I created this thread for information purpose. It took me exactly 2 years 5 months to get my first 6 figure Job.

Please let's share our stories so that other people can learn from them.

Let have an open house


Lala pls front page

MikeMicheal:
Collateral makes sense, you seem serious about it.
I hope you find a lender.

Thanks

Adebayoo01:
Chat me up on my number

Can't find your number. Here's my 0704 130 6054

Fhemmy08:
Within how many months will you pay back?.

2 month. October unfailingly

.

muyoge:
Your location?

I live in Lagos.

muyoge:
When are you paying back?

To be precise, I'll pay back October unfailingly. An emergency came up.

.

Lolo24:
First, it wasn't my intention to reply to these accusations but a couple of calls and now one person I respect obamartins has asked me to respond and I will.

The first job was with resourceshub and he did an excellent job on the first topic so I gave him another. The job was meant to be a series of tech of books under one topic and each book in the series will have 20k words. I sent the first outline which was compiled by me and he said the book will exceed 20k. I contacted my client and he modified the outline I compiled which I sent to him and he complained that he'd already gone far. So I told him to keep whatever was not in this outline aside and we'll use it for the next batch but he shouldn't exceed 20k words or max should be 23k words.

After 2 weeks, resourceshub sent me 37500 words and I was mad. Why did you send 37k words in one book and he said he only does quality jobs and limiting the word count won't convey the message rightly. I told him clearly that I had a budget for this job which he knew and I can't exceed it for any reason. After a couple of back and forth, I sent him 25k because I didn't bargain for 37k in one book.

Before resourceshub delivered, I asked if he knew anymore writers and he shared my email with two people. The second guy had a better sample so I gave him a job I got recently. After 2 weeks he sent me a book with lots of runoff sentences and grammatical issues. I pointed out these issues and he agreed to fix which was my mistake. I should've cancelled the whole thing then but I gave him time to fix it. He sent the edited version a couple of days later and it still had grammatical and synthax errors. I told him the new file was better and it needed proofreading and editing. I tried to look for proofreaders and couldn't find any so I asked if he knew anyone and he sent a lady's contact.

I reached out to the lady on WhatsApp and sent her the file and she said she'll charge 50kobo per word which meant that the job will cost 11k. I contacted the writer and told him the outcome of the conversation and made it clear that I wasn't going to pay him 23k and pay a proofreader 11k for a job that I shouldn't be hiring a proofreader for. He sent another proofreader's email and said I should contact the guy that I'll get a better rate with his INFLUENCE. Influence? Are you doing me a favour. I told him no that I can't keep going back and forth on one topic and the delivery date is fast approaching so I needed to outsource.

Since it's an ebook writing gig and 90% of ebooks end up on Amazon, I told him to upload the book to Kindle and sell it to make money. Amazon won't let anyone publish it again and that was one way to ensure his work won't be used and he said he wasn't going to write 23k words and not get paid. He decided to come on nairaland and scream scam and all that.

The truth is that I don't care one bit what anyone writes here. Did you pay me money? No. You rendered a service that wasn't good enough and didn't get paid. Resourceshub on the other hand did what he wanted and expected CBN to pay him 37k on one file. I've been a freenlancer for several years and I have zero tolerance for nonsense jobs. For every 5 persons who would say you didn't pay me for a job I did, I'll provide 30 people who will refute your claims of me being a scammer. I don't run a charity organisation here and no one pays me for cancellations. If your delivery doesn't get past my Nigerian English, be rest assured that I won't deliver your job to an Oyibo.


Resourceshub, I don't know who scammed you because I overpaid you by 2k for the job you did. I made it clear that it shouldn't exceed 23k words and you decided on your own to write 37500 words which has not done me any good.

And for the Idiot, when a person requests a sample please send something you did and not someone else's work. If you had sent your original writing sample, we won't be here because I won't have hired you. Please upload your book to Amazon and leave it there. Even if it doesn't make you a sale, it's your sweat.

When I post a writing ad, I clearly state that I won't pay for bad jobs and I won't start now. I won't pay for your mistakes because there is no one to pay for mine. Buyers don't leave some money behind when they request cancellations on freelance platforms.

You can keep dragging all you like but I just want to put this out here for anyone who cares.

I appreciate everyone who put a call across and the messages. Thank you very much!

Shut up.. You ripper

CreamIsland:
Appsdope is a Scammer and disgrace to legitimate hussling persons. Lilian Emmanuel is a serial unrepentant scam artist, a shame to Nigerian ladies.



She has tried to cover her tracks by always creating new accounts and ids to cover her tracks, but her numerous ids, emails and. Monikers are clear to see her footprint all over the cyberspace hiring people to work on projects and when projects gets delivered she refuses to pay.


She has done this to so many people. Read more about the thief LILIAN EMMANUEL


Monikers being used by he/she as far back as 2013 till date:

abi20(deactivated), Kalet5, Kalet55, Flambo020, elama5, Appsdope, Ela020 the evidence are there for all to see (just 3pages and anyone can go see for themselves)

email: emiracle840@gmail.com

More than 3 differnet monikers (note I said monikers, not people) has called out this guy/lady, and yet he/she never came out to defend herself other then the usual saying "The write up isn't good enough" like seriously?

Also, wondering why his/her details haven't been blacklisted if it was already confirmed that this person is a scammer.

Pasting some direct links here noting the cries of other writers like Olawrites:

https://www.nairaland.com/search?q=emiracle840%40gmail.com&search=Search
https://www.nairaland.com/search?q=07062808525&board=0
https://www.nairaland.com/5311541/list-freelancers-avoid-writers-outsourcers#81014520
https://www.nairaland.com/2947212/exclusive-how-make-level-2/919#81421902
https://www.nairaland.com/5125523/need-very-good-writer-work#81015315
https://www.nairaland.com/5311541/list-freelancers-avoid-writers-outsourcers#81014335
https://www.nairaland.com/5300254/guys-beware-07062808525-fraud#80247428
https://www.nairaland.com/2600735/business-plan#38026724
https://www.nairaland.com/2578651/exportation-agro-products#37709792 (read the last line of this comment, it's so funny). Even a ascammer will call someone else a scammer.




Lilian Emmanuel is a Scammer

SHE owns this alternate account Kalet55

SHE WIKL never pay you when you work for hER

IT shall never be well with HER

SHE makeS use of this number 07062808525

HER name is Lilian Emmanuel - a Scammer.






LILIAN EMMANUEL IS THE FRAUDS NAME

liliemma579@gmail.com



07062808525





Her is one example. Of her action :


I have uploaded your book to Amazon. You didn't get your money and I still get to sell the book. I'm estimating $300 for the first few months before bad reviews take over because the book itself is terrible.

That's how she is. I'm wondering how such a person will be in real life.

My advise: Stop writing for anyone without 50% payment. Or rather create your freelance profile and bid harder.. You'll get jobs there with cool USD in the bag.

Yolo

CreamIsland:
LET me. Talk. I didn't disrupt. Your flow.


The 50 to 60 screenshots of plagiarism check is with me as I write till now. I sent you a few. Quit the blackmail



I am not doing this for the money and don't care but I will please myself by exposing you for who you are




Cc Olawrites

This lady again?

Don't be surprised Alternate monikers will spring up and be defending her wrong doing.

Na dem

Lols, I thank God for where I am today. Those days are my trying times. But God helped me out.

Today, I'm earning on Fiverr and Upwork cashing out well.

Joy comes in the morning

I discovered my site SSL has expired and its showing error.

My hosting provider is RuuCloud

How can I get a new one. Any help?

listenersky:
Much appreciation Mr Gideon283 for this tread. I have finally shipped down the waist trainers. I followed all methods you stated here and they all worked. I have made some sales even without facebook ads. But more sales will be made with d aid of facebook ads. You have really tried even without collecting a dime. Kudos

How is the shipping cost?

What shipping agent did you use ?

Awaiting your reply

My blog is showing this image, I can't also login into the WP admin page.

Please any suggestions?

emienez:
I dont knw y some people are so obsess with this change of name thing.
Condition can make her change husband bt never her father.
pls b civilised and stop acting as if the marriage is not complete witjout the change of name. stop puting women through unnecessary inconveniences.

I reason with you on this. Thanks for the mature advice.