PeaceJoyLove:
Resouces are scarce
Nigeria is borrowing to do what she should have done 20 to 30 years ago. And funny, the money to do it was there, but looted 30 years ago. Now, we are borrowing, and still looting most. The truth is that we se still going to pay for these debts. However, these leaders who created these problems will be gone. Buhari has max of 10 years to live the way I see it. Is it this man borrowing recklessly who is going to pay the debts plus interests? Of course not.

So, I don't understand it when programmers demand outrageously. Well, I dont blame them because they see today and not tomorrow. It is why many of them aren't progressive. They are stagnant.

I am so glad women are taking up programming, and it will soon change. Men believe it is their world, but they haven't done enough in Nigeria. We will see more innovations as more girls move into this area. Yeah, I support programs targeted at only females. It is a nice idea. I even want young boys girls introduced to robotic engineering and artificial intelligence in elementary school. If I was in government today, I would push for including these two Subjects in the curriculum of elementary, middle, and high schools all over the country.

Lean StartUp
Around 2010 to 12, startup tech sponsors in Silicon valley realised that billions of dollars were wasted on many new startups (pf course, wastes produce profit..lol) and investors were beginning to have a second thought about the whole idea. So, one professor in Harvard saw the problem, and gave a solution to it. But to me, it was not a problem as this approach has always been the way emerging markets successful business men operate.

Where is your already available market?
In most industries in Nigeria, no bank or investor wants to loan out to anyone or invest in who doesnt have a good and lucrative market. After all, you need buyers of your products or services to make income. Why? Investors want to make their money back. Now let's compare it to a flourished economy. Yeah! They can afford to spend huge. They do not care. They can afford to waste money. A friend of mine raised £730,000 for a startup producing what he called "smart toothbrush". I was puzzled when I first read about it in LinkedIn. So, I pulled a call across to him, and we had a long conversation 3 years ago. Now, he has pivoted to another industry, and I guess it didnt work out well. Whaoo! £750,000. Do you know how much that is if I convert it to naira? Waoooo! My point is this: do not expect to get enough cash like you are getting if you live in Europe or in N.America.

Start Small, Grow Big
This idea has been with us in Nigeria. Most small businesses which survive in Nigeria use this principle. This is what I believe works well in emerging economy like Nigeria. And it's funny that Americans are beginning to appreciate it also. You just dont go start spending so high at the start of your project. It is unwise to do so. You must grow it gradually. While growing, you make adjustments. And yes! The programmers must work tireless to make these growth work well. I think you need to understand this approach cos if you do not, you are going to feel cheated as programmers.

Recently, I posted here on NL on the thread of a programmer who wants to network here. While I like his approach of networking, he has refused to see my point when I told him to his face that programmers need to relax. In his mind, he needs to network with programmers of his kind. Whaoo! He felt programmers are at the top of the ladder. Lol. Ok. Get all your codes done accurately, if you do not have customers to pay for your work it is zero. And most programmers cannot find customers. They dont find customers because they build what they think customers need. And what they think is not waht customers need. Wasted effort! Wasted resources! Wasted time! They aren't trained to know what customers need. In fact, customers don't know what they need. Lol...We will get to this later. Of course, this is why very few successful programmers always sell their products to business men who know how to take them to the next level and make them huge.

I hope you can see that you need customers first before you make the product or the sevice perfect. Knowing this should make you relax and have rethink about it all. And on the part of the programmer, you should not kill yourself on working so much without a focus. Ok.....I will tell you how it is done so you dont feel being used. Yes, no one should just work and gets dumped. But you need to bear it in mind that you must sacrifice at the initial stage.

Tech+Tech OR Business+Tech?
Just like the guy I mentioned above who is a programmer, and he wants to mainly network with other programmers. Why? Because he thinks Paystacks is started by "all programmers team" and they started young together. Oh! He even said Bill Gates used to code, and even Mark Zuckerberg coded mostly FB. Lol. I just laughed when I read about it. So, how many startups are in the US only for him to base his conclusion on just the top successful ones? FYI, there are so many successful startups, but why would anyone pick top 500 Fortune companies to make his decision? Come on! You are in an emerging economy. Gush! Think!

But guess what? Even all these guys partnered with the business brain guys. Apple is all about Jobs Steve. The person who really assisted Bill Gates is Steve Ballmer. And till date, Mark Zuckerberg has his business brains always supporting him.

I will go deeper into lean start up in my next post. It is a principle you can learn yourself as a programmer which will help you. But you need the intuitive mind to do it. Yeah! I want to introduce it to you and see if you naturally can flow with it. I doubt it. Why? Most programmers have trained themselves to think logically, numerically, and silently. But this is a loud area. You gat to move out. You gat to "pinch" people and know their minds. You gat to talk. You gat to loud it. Can you naturally get it done? Can you simplify articles and explain it the way customers will understand it (and not start talking about computer jargons)? OK...Look at my approach to this thread. Normally you expect the usual books recommendation, strategies outlines, and bla bla bla. But programmers dont understand these business jargons. But you guys can relate with my story the way I am telling it. This is the work of the business guy. This is what CEOs do. They simplify hard stuff so everyone can understand it. They give customers what they need so they can sell and make huge profit. They bridge programmers and customers. So, they rule. This is why Steve Jobs ruled.

africonn:


Ride on though i have this feeling you are not someone any sane person should work with.

PeaceJoyLove:
Validating Learning

We must learn the truth about which elements of our strategy are working to realize our vision and which are just crazy. What do customers really want?

Not what they say they want
Never go to focus groups to learn what customers want because they dont know what they want. You must find what they need through series of business scientific approaches.

The path we walk through trying to know what they need is validating learning. It must be scientific, and not based on only assumptions. Yeah, assumptions are needed, but we must validate them. Validated learning is the process of demonstrating
empirically that a team has discovered valuable truths about a startup's present and future business prospects. It is more concrete, more accurate, and faster than market forecasting or classical business planning.

Guys, this is the initial job of the founding team. And you do this by starting small. Do not just rush to start coding. This is the mistake many make. And this is where programmers get it wrong. They work and they get tired. And they produce absolutely zero. They work hard, and achieved zero.

Are you aspiring to be a programmer? Or are you a programmer reading this? It will do you do to listen and change.

Kindly ignore the above guys. Please, let me use one them as a typical example here. One of them created an African forum for programmers. Come on! Will that really sell? And the other...let me not say anything. But funny, they are both kids. And they are bold to send direct insults. I laugh at Nigerian struggling programmers. They are struggling cos they are stubborn. Lol. Or course, if I am wrong, I won't get their attention. Those two guys up there are pained. And many of them are still coming out. If you are new as a programmer and you want to be successful, you dont need these kind of negative boys. Trust me when I say so. Please, let's ignore them all. They will come and talk, but let's ignore them. They are frustrated, but I will still teach them by the grace of God.

Remember that you need to even know who not to work with.

Karleb:


I find the guy and his thread annoying.

PeaceJoyLove:
Validating Learning

We must learn the truth about which elements of our strategy are working to realize our vision and which are just crazy. What do customers really want?

Not what they say they want
Never go to focus groups to learn what customers want because they dont know what they want. You must find what they need through series of business scientific approaches.

The path we walk through trying to know what they need is validating learning. It must be scientific, and not based on only assumptions. Yeah, assumptions are needed, but we must validate them. Validated learning is the process of demonstrating
empirically that a team has discovered valuable truths about a startup's present and future business prospects. It is more concrete, more accurate, and faster than market forecasting or classical business planning.

Guys, this is the initial job of the founding team. And you do this by starting small. Do not just rush to start coding. This is the mistake many make. And this is where programmers get it wrong. They work and they get tired. And they produce absolutely zero. They work hard, and achieved zero.

Are you aspiring to be a programmer? Or are you a programmer reading this? It will do you do to listen and change.

Kindly ignore the above guys. Please, let me use one them as a typical example here. One of them created an African forum for programmers. Come on! Will that really sell? And the other...let me not say anything. But funny, they are both kids. And they are bold to send direct insults. I laugh at Nigerian struggling programmers. They are struggling cos they are stubborn. Lol. Or course, if I am wrong, I won't get their attention. Those two guys up there are pained. And many of them are still coming out. If you are new as a programmer and you want to be successful, you dont need these kind of negative boys. Trust me when I say so. Please, let's ignore them all. They will come and talk, but let's ignore them. They are frustrated, but I will still teach them by the grace of God.

Remember that you need to even know who not to work with.

Abcruz:
@PeaceJoyLove

I'm impressed by your write-up. This is plainly the bitter truth as most people including me, initially got into programming for the sole purpose of sourcing jobs.

But little do they know that the software built for that client for less that $500 will earn the client the wealth of a life time. The difference is that the client saw the bigger picture and future fortune while the programmer was content with the immediate reward.

This is not to spit on freelance programmers in any sense of serenity. But a wake up call to alert every programmer to think up a viable solution and build with your knowledge while earning for sustenance.

If those without the knowledge and skills you have could dominate the world of tech startups come'on you can do better. Is it not rather decriable that the best programmer with lots of experience is still not close to the list of top 100 startup founders?
But the one who doesn't know how divs, tags and flexbox work rules.

What is the missing link?
We often think of clients and customers rather than solutions. While this is not a problem in the short run, it has the tendency of keeping us with enemy called average in the long run.

PeaceJoyLove:

I was about posting again...hmmm. Please, look at the underlined sentence. In what way do we think of clients and customers that we should not? I understand what you mean by looking for solutions, but is it not clients and customers you focus on to get solutions? I know you are trying to say something meaningful, but I have not yet fully grabbed your point. Kindly explain very well why we shouldn't focus on customers but on solutions. How are customers different from solutions?

Abcruz:


What I meant is that, the reason for the shift in developing startups is that programmers are often focused on the immediate "single customer" needs, how to get it done and smile to the bank. This is not bad in any regard but steering up the wheel of startups involves envisioning solutions beyond the immediate reward of a single customer.

For a tech startup to be recognized, accepted and used by the general populace, it should address a global or environmental need. See the world as your client see the populace as your customers. What is their pain point?

When this question is answered a great startup is born. But often times those who sit to answer this question are those who know nothing about programming. Those who have the cake and the knife can surely do better.

If we should expand our minds to possibilities beyond immediate rewards, then we will understand so many problems waiting to be solved by our existing tech know -how.

Identifying a pain point and proffering a needed solution to a global audience is the foundation of a startup.

PeaceJoyLove:

OK. I get you. Instead of focusing on a single customer, they should look at the bigger picture. Yeah! You are right. I agree, but ....

To see the bigger picture is not easy as there are too many uncertainties. It is like life. The bigger picture we look at when we were young is not what we mostly end up becoming, but we still moved ahead, and still moving. I will explain more on this issue. And I will explain how we can move gradually towards the global world you mentioned.

It may be suicide to want to get the whole global attention from the start. The strategy to get the whole world is there, but we must be able to know the way to do it. Remember, we are talking about startups in emerging market and not in well developed market. We do not have the resources in abundance to capture a global audience in Nigeria cos we operate in a less robust market. We can take the global, but we need to grow gradually. My next post will address some of these issues.

My brother, it is tempting to think programmers have the cake and the knife like wrote it up there. Hmmmm.... Let me explain.again the job of the man who innovates. It is "much more" difficult than just coding. Basically, business is people. This person must understand the concept of programming also in order to be able to discuss with programmers. Meaning that the possibility is there that he can code excellently if he decides to take it on. He also must be a good marketer. Talking of digital/viral/social media marketing, he is there. Talk of copyright and content writing, he is there. Again, he must be a pro with talent hunt. Knowing the right person to give a job is not an easy task. It is not just programmers that get the job done. The person must be able to source for a very good human resources partner too. He is the same person who will worry about budgeting and planning. This same person will meet investors and banks. Same person deals with logistic, inventory management, sales, etc. And even has to be up against scammers in this 9ja. Lol. When it comes to press conferences, this same person stands in front of the world to defend or project the company and their products. It is not an easy task. He is an "all round" machine.

Now, tell me...how easy on earth could you be able to sit down and code if you were this innovative person? Is it possible? I think you need to ask Mark Zuckerberg the last time he actually sat down coding seriously on his computer. Yeah! It is an advantage to know coding so one can even engage in trouble shooting sessions. I see it as a real advantage at the initial stage of ones life esp for young guys in their 20s to early 30s. I think as one gets older, it is normal for one to climb into the innovative role if one is improving ,and leaving coding for boys and girls comes naturally. No one is going to tell you when to leave it.

Young programmers should look for brilliant CEOs to learn from. They need to start learning about doing business right. It is not just the product or the solution, but about doing business generally.

Business has always been business, and it is not going to change soon. Business is business.

Now, take a step back and answer the question. Who actually has the cake and knife? The business minded person or the programmer?

Karleb:
This guy dey throw me snide remarks sha.

I said I find you and your thread annoying and that's it and that fact doesn't make me unsuccessful, only a petty fellow would think that way.

PeaceJoyLove:
My Job is to tweak your brain to start thinking in the right direction
While I appreciate majority of programmers getting into fiverr and other sites to get jobs, I believe you need to start repositioning yourselves for bigger roles. And I'll show you why and how.

Sure, you need to feed yourself and get life going, remember, Mr President said there is no job the Federal Government is providing. Gush! I still don't get it why Mr. President will come out so direct and say such, but it is the truth (The president does not know how to speak with wisdom). Furthermore, he said that FG cannot help you if you continue destroying what they are building. Well, I agree with Buhari in a sense, but he could do better. OK, let me help you here to explain what the old man wanted to say:

Government should be in the business of creating the right atmosphere for businesses to start and grow, and not creating jobs directly.

You heard me right. Lol. If you want to really understand my point, create a thread and ask Nigerians which job should you keep: Government jobs or Private companies jobs. Then, push it to the front page. You and I know the answers already. But listen to me, if the private sector is not attractive and secured enough for people to work, the economy of the nation will suffer. Government jobs are the last alternatives jobs we should consider except in public policy offices. When government pays more than the private sector as the case is in Nigeria, there is trouble. This is why the pressure is too much on the president and the governors to create jobs.

How do they create jobs out of nothing? Therefore, the structure must be there. Government should not be in the business of creating jobs, but in the business of creating good atmosphere for businesses to prosper. And this is where we are heading to presently in Nigeria. I really want to open your eyes why programmers should start thinking of tapping into these opportunities. I appreciate the small dollars you make from Fiverr or other remote jobs you get, but you can do better.

Take the Risk
Guys and ladies, take the risk. Fine, you have a contract job which is keeping you going,this is great. Instead of getting more contract jobs, look into the bigger picture and see if you can start something of your own. There are two approaches:

1. You work for peanuts here and there, and you continue doing this for the rest of your life.

2. You work for peanuts here, and you try doing something huge there. Of course, the chances of startups being successful is low, but it shouldn't stop you from trying. You have just pivoted yourself above option 1 above. And you have repositioned yourself. What you cannot remove from this is the experience you have gained. And by the way, option 1 will not make you more comfortable than option 2. You are still on the same level financially. My point is that while keeping your "hustling contracting" jobs, get into the bigger picture by taking the bigger risk.

So, we will talk about the structure Government is putting place you can tap from in my next post. These points I am making should start making you to think bigger and more positively.

LikeAking:


Pls I beg to differ - Government should not be in the business of creating jobs, but in the business of creating good atmosphere for businesses to prosper = Is a wayward and irresponsible statement by the Nigerian government. Government should be in the biz of creating jobs. Take a good look at China, their govt still create jobs despite the high industrialization of China. The Nigerian government must invest in mega industries. The reason why unemployment is so high is co the Nigerian govt no longer invest in business.

Government must build mega and cottage industries around the country, we are no longer talking about civil service jobs. Lets talk about things like fabrication,etc.

The Nigerian govt is too irresponsible and wayward.

Nigerian government must continues to provide jobs or give hefty grants to her citizens until Nigeria becomes a developed nation.

LikeAking:
Abeg cancel this wrong statement - We are in a stage the US is in around early 1900 to 1940s. Before this time the USA was the richest country in the world.

Research before typing.

By that time they were on top of their class.

Building many innovations, etc.

AS for your post, I totally disagree with it.

My advice is simple be positive.

PeaceJoyLove:


Oh! I just noticed this. It is like you want to come here to oppose me. Very interesting. Anyway, go and research the period Franklin Delano Roosevelt ruled and get wisdom. If you want to know industrialization, look at the period.

Let me advise you, do not come to attack me if you dont want to injure yourself. You are a kid trying to get into life in programming. I am way ahead with years of experience both home in Naija and abroad. So, before you make further comments on my thread, think deep and know that the author of this thread is a sound researcher. Kids always want to prove they know whereas theybare empty barrels making the loudest noise. You better learn how to address people politely. That this is a faceless forum does not stop me from trashing you. I will trash you with words if you dont mind how you attack me personally. Do you hear me. Mr. "I too Know". I didnt even see this useless comment of yours.. I shouldn't have replied you this morning. Rubbish!

Listen, I talk from experience. I used to be a programmer too, but my level don pass sitting down to code at a corner of my room. Mind your utterance.

PeaceJoyLove:


Oh! I just noticed this. It is like you want to come here to oppose me. Very interesting. Anyway, go and research the period Franklin Delano Roosevelt ruled and get wisdom. If you want to know industrialization, look at the period.

Let me advise you, do not come to attack me if you dont want to injure yourself. You are a kid trying to get into life in programming. I am way ahead with years of experience both home in Naija and abroad. So, before you make further comments on my thread, think deep and know that the author of this thread is a sound researcher. Kids always want to prove they know whereas theybare empty barrels making the loudest noise. You better learn how to address people politely. That this is a faceless forum does not stop me from trashing you. I will trash you with words if you dont mind how you attack me personally. Do you hear me. Mr. "I too Know". I didnt even see this useless comment of yours.. I shouldn't have replied you this morning. Rubbish!

Listen, I talk from experience. I used to be a programmer too, but my level don pass sitting down to code at a corner of my room. Mind your utterance.

LikeAking:


Google is your friend, do some research Mr. Programmer.

The USA was called the new world, they even had a better economy than most Europe countries at that time. A reason lots of people migrated their from Europe. Dont Mislead people.

PeaceJoyLove:

I will not reply you again, but for the sake of readers, pick your dictionary and look for the meaning of the word "industralization". Then, check the period Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Again, learn to read and interprete well. The subject is that we are in the industrialization age and any nation whether poor or rich can be.

I see that it is hard for you to add economics to your career programming. This is just an example of why programmers fail. Rather than sit back and understand what is going on, they think they know it all. But all na wash and zero. Oga keep showing your ignorance trying to prove you know it. Anyway, you arent a technician that his hands can be chopped off. I trust engineers, they dont argue. They listen fast, else, they are getting electrocuted or amputated. But it's you and your google alone. Lol. Keep arguing.

Guys, let's move on. This one just want to prove he is knowledgeable but he is an empty barrel.

He even called me Mr Programmer. Does this one understand his right from his left. OK he only wants to cause confusion and derail the thread. Let's ignore stupidity and move ahead. We are leaving ignorancy and "I too Know" behind.

LikeAking:


Judging by your tune you are pained ALREADY.

Was the USA importing almost everything it needed in 1940?



Nigeria has not attained the heights the USA attained in 1940. This is our argument. Comparing the current economy/industrialization of Nigeria to the USA in the 1940 is a wrong statement. Nobody is above mistake, but Mr.small mind think so.



You cant intimidate me with your abusive words. Instead you made me understand you true nature. You have a very small mind.
I wont use abusive words on you. Sorry!


End this argument.

Correct that statement.
The subject is that we are in the industrialization age-Nigeria has a whole has not even started her industrialization.

Again

Was the USA importing almost everything it needed in 1940?

You are busy covering your ignorance with abusive words. Revealing your childish nature to the world.

Small correction dey pain you.

africonn:


He writes like his opinions are fact.