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Yeah, m. Welcome to the
Change Africa Podcast. My name is Isaaco
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Juni in New York by and I'm
having my co host Daniel Mercy with us.
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And today we have another great episode
coming up with Blessing not Being,
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who is an inspirational brands and communications
consultant and she'll be sharing with us her
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journey, her knowledge and inspired in
the generation of brand communication designers, technologies
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and influences and what she has been
doing over the last few years. So
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please, UM, if you are
in your room, give a hero un
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of applause to our guests for the
Chain in Africa podcast. Blessing, I
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mean, thank you so much.
That was such an amazing introduction. Thank
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you. I really appreciate that.
It's my pleasure to be here. Yes,
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so, you have had a very
interesting journey obviously the one of the
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UM if not the biggest, one
of the most inspiring organizations when it comes
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to technology development, especially for young
people and women. And you actually also
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co founded a startup that was acquired
and that word acquired in if you're not
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someone in the technologies phase, you
don't know what that means. That it
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really means that someone but another person's
company and that acquired word is very rare,
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especially in the African style I've seen
we use. It's not a lot
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of people that have had the opportunity
to build things that having acquired and not
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none other by one of the biggest
companies on the continent, which is flat
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Away. Um, how did this
journeys that? If you were supposed to
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reflect you know, let's say ten
years ago, how do you think that
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this really all started? Oh my
god, that's a decade. And I
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try to see how you know to
sum this up. But every time I've
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had to share this story, I
always take it back to growing up as
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a Nigerian girl in my father's house
with a mother who was consistently bushed by
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other women, you know, constantly
telling her, oh my god, when
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are you going to have a real
child? You don't have one because you
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only have girls and you don't have
any boys. Um. And I really
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appreciate my mom and my dad for
consistently not letting that you find how they
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raised us. They didn't say,
oh my god, I feel so bad
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that I don't have boys, so
I'm going to treat the girls that I
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have in bad ways. Never Instead, they consistently inspired us. Every time
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you know, they would get any
negative experience outside or reflect on their negative
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experience, they will come back home
and it's still positive. Words into our
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heads, like you are limit less. Nothing's going to limit you. Your
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gender will not limit to you.
You are as good as boys, You
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are as good as that. You're
a human being who can do anything that
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you set your mind to do.
So they never um defined me in a
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certain way, and that's upbringing made
me feel like I could do and be
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anything that I wanted to be if
I put my mind to it. And
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that was so pivotal, I think
for the growth of my sister and I
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even hear us have conversations now and
I wed never speak like there's something that's
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limited. So earlier in my life, I wanted to be a doctor because
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someone said my dad's life when he
had a serious, you know, medical
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encounter, and so I thought,
oh my god, I'm going to be
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a doctor. And um, I
was obviously ready for it, going to
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be a science students and everything.
Great at math, by the way,
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represented my school in math competition science
competitions. But I was also really good
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at art. I loved literature.
Um you'd see me take courses. You
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will be part of events and stuff, represent my school in essay competition,
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play competition, dancing competitions, really
cool and so like this is just really
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really emphasize that I never felt like
there was anything else that I couldn't do.
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I even I remember one time I
craumped the whole God wasn't God's not
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to blame, like my parts and
God's done not to blame. And I
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was really good at it, Like
it was really great. Um, so
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imagine my surprise when I become the
only science student to take art courses and
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I went on my way to becoming
a doctor and stuff, taking a pre
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medical course biochemistry in Coventrant University.
And I went on I t in my
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third year and realized, oh my
god, this is pretty minute and us
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um skill of impact is not really
there, and would I be able to
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deal with losing their patience? I
said, The different realities hit me at
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the same time, and I said, maybe there's another way to save lives,
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you know, like maybe I don't
have to be a doctor to save
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lives. And I started to explore
what other ways that I can go about
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this. I joined a club I
in that club we were giving. It
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was a public speaking club, I
think, and we were giving an assignment
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to rights I think, proposals and
business plans, and I googled it,
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learned it, loved it, started
writing so well that people would pay me
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for it. Everybody loved my marketing
plans, and eventually I decided to a
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front of mine, I said,
Lessen, this thing you do is branding.
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Look it up. I looked it
up. I loved what I saw
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and I said, oh my god, I am going to study branding.
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I studied. It became a very
integral part of my story because that was
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when I realized, we have such
great companies in Africa, we have such
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great solutions, such great talents,
such great innovation in Africa, but a
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lot of times what we struggle with
is telling our story as well as the
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Americans do. And so how can
I be the confred to help more African
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businesses tell their stories to the people
who need them. And that's when this
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whole thing started. It was in
that journey that I, you know,
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became the co director of startup gride
Legos with my partner, and that was
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where we met Um the founder of
Disha. For the first time. That's
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where we connected. That's where we
became friends and decided. You know,
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he started Disha and then hold me
on board and said, lesson, it's
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been five months plus, we're not
great as fast as we thought. We
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definitely need someone with your skills.
So I came in as a CMO,
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and immediately I came in, we
began to experience HUD month of month growth.
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Um, it was massive. We
built such a strong community that I
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guess felt that we really identified with
and eventually a wired It was such a
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painful, hypebreaking time for the community
because they kept I mean it was.
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It was the most beautiful thing I
feel like I did then right because the
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community felt so connected to the product. They didn't just feel like it was
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a product, they felt like it
was home. And how they spoke about
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it, it just really warmed my
heart. And you know, moving from
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d to co found and Aggressive for
Good was also such a great thing because
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now I'm leaving another community of two
thousand trust people across over a hundred countries
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and it's so inspiring. So I
guess, if I must summarize it,
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that's the summary. Um, But
I'm sure that you would have more questions
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somewhere in between that summary. Yes, definitely, definitely. What I am
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interested in knowing is this kind of
tandem between um most people miraculously or mistaken,
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if you want to put it that
way, finding a habit, a
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passion that they are interested in that
sweeter from the original intention and how they
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came to those journeys. How would
you say? What would is it?
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It would be the catalyst for you? Was it your your ability to experiment,
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or was it your just general um
enthusiasm for UM exploration or the fact
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that when you did anything more either
it was all your strength like you have
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said, or just that you were
multiple set of the multi talented person who
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could do anything, and even if
you didn't need other thing than this,
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you would succeed anyway. What would
you say would be that thing that helps
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you, you know, take that
next step into branding that was originally not
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part of your goals. Okay,
So I think i'd summarize that into four
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things. The first one would be
a level of dissatisfaction, because, like
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I said during my internship program,
I didn't really enjoy biochemistry like I was
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doing what I love, Like I
wouldn't say I was doing what I love.
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Like anything I put my mind to, which is the second thing.
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Anything I put my mind to,
I'll be excellent at it. So excellence
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was not the problem. I'm definitely
a mostly placited individual who has the capacity
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to be excellent at anything that I
choose to do. But the monotony of
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the work and just understanding that this
is not sustainable at scale, like there's
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the limit to the number of people
you can impact per time. And then
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um also just knowing that I wasn't
ready for lost because I worked in during
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my internship, I worked in a
place where we were we would take the
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viral like we would take the blood
of HIV patients and check their viral load
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and you know, just sort of
to be sure that they're still in good
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standing or give them medical advice and
things like that just to help them be
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in better shape and stuff. And
at that time I was even consumed with
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the idea of finding the kill to
HIV because I was like, this thing
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can be killing people like this.
It was I realized how emotional I was
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during that internship. I thought I
had a stronger hearts, but I didn't,
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And so that was just sort of
a big checkpoint for me is like,
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when you become a neurosurgeon, and
which is the thing that you're so
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crazy about, You're going to definitely
lose your life, you know, because
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this thing is not completely in your
control. You would do the best that
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you can, but someone might dye
in your hands. Will you be able
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to live with that? Would that
be like? That was not something that
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I could honestly answer and say yes
for sure, of course, and I
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would go about my life like a
normal person. That was not something that
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I had a positive answer to.
And so I wanted to find something else
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that could still have great impact at
scale and will not cost me my joy
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and happiness. So that's number one. So I've I've said two things now,
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which is first dissatisfaction, second excellence
and you know, be multificial.
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Said but the third thing would be
curiosity and experiment. Right, I'm a
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very curious but said consistently experimenting and
saying, oh this didn't work out?
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What about this? What about that? And sometimes I'm not really looking for
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anything in particular. Um I am
sure my my people who have listened to
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me many times would recognize this quote
that I always say by me The goal
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of an experiment is not to be
right, but to be to discover rights.
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So you're you're not experimenting because you're
trying to be right about some things
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that you don't know that that thing
exists. But by experimenting, you discovered
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new ways that that thing could you
know exist, or new ways that you
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never really thought about before, new
perspectives you never really explored. And that's
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the thing that I found myself doing
a lot, which led to the story
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of me exploring by joining a public
speaking club and then going ahead to try
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out, you know, a a
business stand that I had never written before,
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and they're doing all of my research
and just putting my brain into it.
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And guess what, I became so
good at it people started paying money
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for it. And then the last
thing would be community. I didn't come
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to thinking about community and sharing right
because I didn't come to thinking about branding
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on my own. Someone who had
experienced my work writing business plans and seeing
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how people responded to my marketing parts
of my business plans just sort of felt,
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oh my god, this is really
great. What about branding? Do
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you want to think about branding?
And if I didn't have a community and
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if I wasn't sharing my work,
that wasn't going to happen. So stumbling
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on that explorable branding meds digging deeper. And this was the time branding wasn't
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popular. Communications wasn't that like.
Communications were there, but branding wasn't popular.
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Marketing was the thing, but branding
wasn't popular. And so digging deeper
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and exploring, oh my god,
is this something that I want to do?
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Go into a school to learn it
for almost a year. All of
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that process, I think, let
me here. And so those would be
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the key four things that I would
highlight as the ladders that brought me to
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this moment. That's very inspirational.
You seem to be that kind of person
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that naturally tends to start things or
tend to if I should put you in
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kind of representation of what I think
that you fit from what I see from
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the outside, you seem to be
the sort of a manager or a creator
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of a sault. Because my question
is, while a lot of people perhaps
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lend the branding, you know had
the initiative, you went out to start
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a company as young as I think
twenty or or so, what was it
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that said that I should build my
company that maybe go and join some other
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people who going to work for an
organization. What was it that said I
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was good enough? And what that, you know, framed of mindset sets
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you out to be a founder.
So I guess my question really is that
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what is that kind of mentality of
a founder mindset? Where does that come
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from? And what was it that
gave you the initiative and incentive to want
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to start the thing by yourself?
Then say, I'm young, so maybe
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I should go to the power of
what many people do. I'm joined a
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small company or something like that.
That's such an insightful question, actually,
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And now that I think about it, I've noticed that there is a pattern
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that I have, which is it's
really important for me to learn rules so
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I can identify my rules, right, so I would understand which rules do
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I want to intentionally break and which
ones do I agree with that I want
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to intentionally keep. Um And this
was really important to me because when I
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finished school and on the path to
learning branding, I had broken my father's
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heart in the sense that we had
had a plan since I was a kid
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that I was going to be a
doctor. He had bought me seto scoopes
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bought me like codes. Like I
was. I would go around the neighborhood
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telling everyone that don't call me Blessing, call me Dr Blessing. So that
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was not a So the day that
I woke up one morning and said I
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wasn't going to be a doctor anymore, that was going to be heartbreaking for
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my father. But what was even
more heartbreaking was that I didn't just stop
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there. I also said I was
moving out of the house, which is
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crazy um or at least which was
crazy many years ago um in a Nigerian
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home. Yes, my parents felt
I could do whatever I wanted, but
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there's still a thing when a daughter
is leaving in her father's house, you
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know, that's not necessarily the first
thing they think about. So me telling
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my parents that I was moving out
was going to be a difficult conversation.
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Surprisingly, my father wasn't overly opposed
to it, because we had a conversation
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and I clearly stated give me two
years. He wasn't okay with it,
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but he wasn't opposed because I had
had a plan. I definitely got a
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job first during the period where I
was learning branding. I wasn't going to
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just be in school. I needed
to be sustained need myself, and it
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wasn't going to be happening in the
same city where I lived. So I
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needed to convince my dad, Dad, I got this, you know.
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So I ensured that I secured a
job in Lego's first before going to my
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father to tell him, Hello,
Dad, I am moving, you know,
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and so telling him that I had
told him. Now I have a
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job. I've been able to make
it down payments for my school phased.
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In fact, I've paid my school
face and all of this I did without
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asking for a dime for my parents, because I've been saving all year long
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during the last year of my university
even routine book, which was where I
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made my first million, right in
school. And so I did all of
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this, and I paid for my
education for branding, and I told my
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dad, I'm going to school,
but I've also got saying a job to
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sustain me while I'm in school.
And you know, these are the parts
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that this job is going to give
me. But it's not about the job.
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Is about the school. And I
want to learn branding. But if
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it doesn't work out, just give
me two years. If it doesn't work
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out, I'll come back and do
medicine. I should also spotlights that this
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was a time when I was being
offered a job in two different places,
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UM that we're going to pay me
in the medical one in the medical field,
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one outside of the medical field that
were going to pay me almost five
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times the salary that I was going
to accept in this startup job that I
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had had chosen to do in a
different city. So it really didn't make
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sense to be leaving my father's house
both I really wanted to. I persevered,
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and so when I did UM and
I moved to to to Lego US
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and tried to you know, learn
in this new school while also working and
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implementing the things that I was learning
the startup. I was very clear about
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working in that startup for just a
couple of like for a year, and
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then moving to working an agency so
I could learn even more. So I
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didn't just finish from school and go
straight into starting my business, but I
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went through like working in the startup
and then working in an agency. And
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while I was working in an agency, I saw how global companies had the
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budgets, like the money to spend
on their markeazine, on their calms,
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on their brand. But I could
also see startups that were struggling, startups
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that couldn't afford that amount of money, but they desperately needed to tell their
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story too. And there was no
way that I could convince the company that
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I was working for that you know, start collected startup money because the startup
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money is not going to sustain their
business, is not going to pay salaries
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like it didn't make business sense.
So I tried to create mini packages,
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more affordable options for startups, and
that was really what inspired me to create
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my own company. It wasn't even
about proving any point or trying to be
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anything. I just wanted to be
there for startups in a way that was
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affordable, but only startups that cared
enough right And I also dedicated good time
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to teaching start offs how to care
about their brand, their communication and stuff.
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I also give back as well,
which is the period where it was
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codirected again of started grind Legos,
which I did for almost four or five
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years of my life. So the
ecosystem was really important to me, and
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by now you should be able to
tell that Africa it is important to me,
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so making sure that African businesses succeed
became something that I held in high
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esteem as one of my important life
missions. Um. And so when I
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changed my interpretation of what it meant
to save lives, I realized that businesses
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were saving lives. In fact,
every single one of us who work for
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a business or contract or do something
for a business, we're contributing our quota
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to keep that business alive. And
if that business is alive, it means
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that the employees get to have means
of livelihood and sustain their own family.
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So in many ways, we're keeping
dreams alive, we're keeping businesses alive,
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but we're also keeping people alive.
And that was such a mind shifting discovery
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for me. Um. And I
guess that's sit in summary, and I
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don't know if that answers your question, but yeah, that was really what
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led me to start in my business
at such a young age. I had
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experimented with working in big organizations,
but it wasn't directly having impact directly to
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the startups. It was just feeding
the bigger people who could afford it.
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And I wanted to change that.
So you found a niche that you told
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you you can save but are using
the skills, Um, what was if
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you record what was the first experience
like of like working with your first big
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company, if you can record that
experience and what was that transition from you
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know, all that you lend and
applying it to this company that depended on
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you for their growth, for their
storytelling, if you can recall, Like
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I want to know how that story
actually panned out, if if you can
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record it. Um, So,
I worked for so while working as an
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agency, you don't work for just
one big company, right, so you
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would be on a couple of brands, like you would be told these are
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your these are now your babies,
are now your three brands or two brands
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that you're responsible for? Um And
one of the things I had learned one
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of my biggest encounters, I was
too what's the nicest way to put this
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without making myself look bad. I
was too experimental for big companies in my
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like in my first couple of months, right I then I was young,
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so I didn't know how to determine
what rules I am breaking or communicates while
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I'm breaking those rules. I was
too experimental. But if you know anything
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about big companies is like there's always
due process and this processes exist for a
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reason, right, but then experiencing
a company thing, this is the brief,
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this is what we want you to
do, and this is what's most
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important to us vessels them also being
very very cautious and being you know,
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held back because they don't want to
offend. It's really a tricky place to
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be at the time. I did
understand this because I'm like, if you
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want to if this is what you
want to do, why not just do
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this right? Um, which is
a learning point now that I'm sharing with
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everyone. I just they understand.
It's like, if you want if you
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want this, if you want this
result, that's the way to get that
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results. But then there were consequences
of those results got in that way,
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and these were not on ethical practices. It's just that these things with bigger
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companies, they have so much more
to lose. I was at as recently
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at an event where um it was
the events were supposed to happen. In
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fact, people had already arrived,
but their news about this is very recent.
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Now the news about the Queen's death
came up and it was somewhere in
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London, and the news about the
Queen's death came up and they had to
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cancel that events. Because if the
company had continued with the you know events
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just the way that they had planned
it, which was going to be like
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a mini party but networking thing,
it would have been listen topreted by the
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media that they were celebrating the queen's
death. So just like on a normal
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day, my young self would probably
not have understood the link because I was
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new, But now I understand how
the stakes could be higher. So that
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was one of the biggest challenges I've
faced at the time, but it was
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exhilarating. It was so great.
It was such a great experience to have
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such big budgets, to be able
to meet such great people, to be
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able to meet people that you only
heard about on TV and connect with them
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and build honest relationships. These are
really important you know moments. They also
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shipped my thinking, helped me see
how big organizations thoughts, helped me learn
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about structure. It was such a
great building point for my career non transition
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into working for smaller companies. Smaller
companies to most times do not have the
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money to spend on something as like
they would say free willers as branding.
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In fact, at that time,
branding may not be their priority. Um
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they would always think about something else. But I'm happy now that based on
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great work that we did earlier around
in the years, people are now beginning
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to realize that, you know,
branding is a very integral part of your
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business, is the great out of
your communication, and communications are group outs
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of your business, and these are
not things to be taken for granted.
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UM. So transitioning into that,
I learned that when you don't have money,
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you have to be creative. When
you don't have budgets, it doesn't
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mean that what you're trying to achieve
is impossible. You just have to find
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a different way to achieve it.
And that tested my creativity, which then
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got out very creative, so it
was easy to sort of, you know,
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work with that and achieve really stellar
results. Also builds my capacity for
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organic growth UM. Learning how to
help businesses gain and you know work get
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organic growth. UM. One of
the really interesting things that I learned during
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that period was understanding how to communicate
with your clients. Knowing that yes,
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you're a professional and you have such
great ideas, you have to understand that
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you can't give your clients something that
they hate just because you're a professional.
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You need to learn how to listen
and listening to what is said, and
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then said, there's a popular quote
that I think they said. Ford said,
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I'm not sure, but it's something
around if I had asked people what
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they wanted, they would have said
faster horses. I don't quite agree with
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that quote because from a very personal
point of view, it's not realistic,
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Like it just tells me that Ford
wasn't listening. People may not be able
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to articulate what they want, but
they know what they want. So yes,
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if you listen to those people,
they were saying faster horses because horses
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were their reality at that time,
But what they were really trying to say
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was I want to get from point
A to point B faster, and so
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anything that would help me get from
point eight to point B faster is what
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I'm going to sign up for.
And just understanding that changes your perception and
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how you even approach your clients.
Knowing how to ask the right questions,
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knowing how to ask questions that would
get them to articulate what it is that
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they're trying to see, or would
get them to on earth what it is
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that they're feeling. Um the last
example, I know, I'm talking a
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lot. But I was hard a
client who we did something with her,
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and she kept saying no to everything, and I was like, why are
355
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you saying no? Um, she
couldn't explain why she was saying no.
356
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But by asking her questions upon questions
upon questions. But it was a little
357
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on earth that she didn't like the
particular grain because it reminded her of an
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old business that she didn't want to, you know, associate with anymore.
359
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And even more, she wanted to
put something that was special, like she
360
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wanted to encompass a feeling of her
mother that she really really loved in the
361
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business. And so when she was
suggesting a couple of things, it wasn't
362
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because she really wanted those things.
It was because she wanted to add a
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00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.960
bit of her mother into the business. And that was like, by asking
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her, we were now able to
find what it was that she was trying
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00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:15.839
to achieve and find more authentic ways
to achieve those things. So by being
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able to ask more questions, you'll
be able to identify what your audience is
367
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trying to achieve or what your kind
is trying to achieve. But even better,
368
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you'll be able to work together to
do something innovative. If you're truly
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a professional, it shouldn't be one
way you're thinking should have been one way.
370
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You should be able to work and
partner with your clients to make something
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that you both love. You shouldn't
be a or that it shouldn't be like
372
00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:40.759
your way or the highway. And
so all of these things were things that
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I had to learn on the job
as a founder. And also knowing that
374
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you know you can't do everything.
You know you always need help, knowing
375
00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.160
how to talk to your team members
and get them on board with the vision.
376
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And you know, yeah, if
any people who aligned with what's it
377
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easier you're trying to achieve as well, who understand what the goal is and
378
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and respect the people that you're your
survey And this is really like mind shifting
379
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experiences that I took out of my
experience going from big companies to smaller companies
380
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and they're now building big companies.
Yeah, that's um very insightful. I
381
00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:26.359
mean I would kind of describe you
as a mature changemaker because when I look
382
00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:32.799
at myself, UM, I would
say I had to learn the hard way
383
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that for somebody to change something,
you need to understand the system first.
384
00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:42.960
So in that transition that that you
described, I would like to know maybe
385
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how now, in your capacity as
a founder, how do you kind of
386
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:55.839
create the environment for both the necessary
structure but still enable your employees collaborators to
387
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be creative. I don't know if
you have any insights on that. I
388
00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:04.319
think that I've found like different ways
to do this in different certains, but
389
00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:08.599
one of the most insightful ways is
just putting them through an exercise where they
390
00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:12.960
have to put themselves in the shoes
of the person, the client that they're
391
00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:18.319
serving. When you can help people
come from a place of service as opposed
392
00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:25.440
to a place of you know,
just authority, it changes the mindset,
393
00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:30.119
right. I've always said that leadership
is not just about authorities, also about
394
00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:34.720
service, and maybe more African politicians
or their rules as leaders as servants,
395
00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:41.440
not just authorities. It would also
change how they approach leadership. So I
396
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.240
often put my team members in spaces
where they are leaders, where they're in
397
00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:49.319
charge, where they are calling the
shots and also dealing with the responsibilities,
398
00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:55.160
where they're also connected with the people
who they're serving and understanding them from a
399
00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.759
place of empathy and a place of
love. As opposed to be a place
400
00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:02.200
of you have a proble, the
best of its kind of energy, like
401
00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:06.359
just the right mindset is empathy.
Because if you can't connect with what this
402
00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:10.319
person is going through, if you
can't connect with this person's problem and how
403
00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:14.200
they really feel while going through that
problem, and you just keep looking at
404
00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:17.440
it as, oh, it's a
math problem, let's solve it. What's
405
00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:21.359
the formula, You're not going to
be able to create a personalized solution for
406
00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:27.039
that person or a personalized experience for
that person. I've also realized that somehow
407
00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:33.920
unconsciously, I have been building very
community led businesses where it's not just about
408
00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:40.119
problems solution, but it's also about
community and people finding belonging in his space.
409
00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:45.119
UM. And so allowing my team
members to be in that space where
410
00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:48.880
they can also see the transformation story, be part of the transformation story,
411
00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:53.480
and know that they made that transformation
story happen. That has been really amazing.
412
00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:57.400
UM. I've watched so many and
they see the impact in their own
413
00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:00.480
lives as well, which is what
is really call. I also create a
414
00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:04.680
space where people can disagree with me. I try not to be the only
415
00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:10.079
person who is always talking. I'm
always asking for feedback. I want to
416
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.119
know you know, what do you
think about this? How did you feel
417
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:14.519
about this? What did this make
you? You know, all of those
418
00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:18.559
different steps. I want them to
be able to give me their own feedback
419
00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:21.200
as well. So if there are
things that I need to change, I'll
420
00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.240
change them. And the things that
we both need to change will change them.
421
00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:26.759
The things they need to change,
they will change them. And so
422
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:32.440
leaving from that space where I'm open
to feedback, they give properly. They
423
00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:37.240
can call me out and say this
is wrong, and we can have a
424
00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:41.400
a good and comfortable disagreement, because
disagreement is not always a bad thing.
425
00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.200
Right, we can disagree, but
whoever then has the superior arguments, which
426
00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:49.079
is not always me, believe it
or not? Um winds and then cause
427
00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:56.640
the shots and also takes responsibility for
whatever the The outcome of that shot is
428
00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.839
that has been really life changing,
and I've seen that in my team.
429
00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:04.440
I've also seen how people within my
team tend to really really grew and you
430
00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:08.279
become even more confident just based on
things like that. But that's the transformation
431
00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:13.960
story, where people are connecting with
the people that they're they're serving and seeing
432
00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:17.240
how directly it's impact is impacting their
lives. That's also something that gives such
433
00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:22.039
a great mind shift. I hope
I answered your question. Yes, you
434
00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:28.720
definitely did. Yeah. So the
question I want to ask now is maybe
435
00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:32.200
let's do a little more education.
People hear about branding and they don't know
436
00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:37.559
what it is. People now as
you have helped make it very pop and
437
00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:42.119
popular, um here about you know, personal branding, for instance, but
438
00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:45.160
they didn't know what it is.
If you can give us a very short
439
00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.640
education on branding, what would that
be? And if you can circled that
440
00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:52.240
into building a personal brand, something
that I think you've done excellently well for
441
00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.519
yourself. What would be the takeaways
you give to the audience on how to
442
00:32:54.519 --> 00:33:00.480
build a personal brand? Oh my
god, this is a very pregnant question.
443
00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:04.599
I don't know how I can try
to sve this up into such a
444
00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:07.880
short time. But don't worry.
I have a skill in making complex things
445
00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:13.359
sounds simple, So I'm going to
try. Um First, I've been in
446
00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.720
workshops where I would ask questions like
what do you think branding is? And
447
00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:19.319
people will tell me things like,
you know, your brand is your logo,
448
00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:22.200
it's your phones is your color is
your you know, they have all
449
00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:27.599
these different um ways that they describe
Brandon is your product, it's packaging,
450
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:31.319
it's these different things. But the
truth is branding is all of those things
451
00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:37.599
tied together, working in tandem.
Right. I like to define branding as
452
00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:43.319
who you are consistently as you interact
with your tyget audience. This means who
453
00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:45.680
you are is on one thing.
Who you are is a limbal between who
454
00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.960
I mean, yes, it's a
limbo between who you used to be.
455
00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:51.480
That's who you're trying to be.
And so you're just somewhere there in the
456
00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:54.920
limbo and you're transitioning. It shows
you that Brandon is a journey and not
457
00:33:55.200 --> 00:34:00.119
a destination, both for products and
for individuals. So no mean that you
458
00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:05.720
as an individual or you're not just
a man or a woman or any other
459
00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:09.480
gender. You're not just a dark
skinned person or a light skinned person.
460
00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:13.960
You're not just like you're not just
one thing or the other. It's all
461
00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:17.639
of those things coming together that makes
you you. I am not just a
462
00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:22.239
wife or a daughter or a you
know, a branding and comes person.
463
00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:27.519
That's not all I am. And
so if someone wanted to describe me to
464
00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:30.599
someone who was looking for me.
They wouldn't just say, oh, I'm
465
00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:32.840
looking for blessing, because there's so
many persons in the world. And you
466
00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:37.679
wouldn't say I'm just looking for blessing
a bank. Someone would probably ask which
467
00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.880
blessing a bank? And so you
have to go deeper to extend other features
468
00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:45.119
that come together to make me.
The reason that you are special is that
469
00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:49.920
you're the only one with your whole
combination that exists. So being able to
470
00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:54.440
identify those different combinations that make you
unique, that's the beauty. So when
471
00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:59.760
I talk about branding, I say, don't start by thinking, you know,
472
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.039
oh, I want to package myself. No, starts by realizing where
473
00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.559
am I right now? What are
the things that I like? What are
474
00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:08.199
things that I do not like?
What is my personality? And even as
475
00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:12.199
a business that that's something if you
think about your business as a human being,
476
00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:16.159
what is the personality of that human
being? You know a lot of
477
00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:20.480
times we think that oh B two
B B two. See, but at
478
00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.599
the end of the day, life
is human to human. Nobody is doing
479
00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:27.880
business with the robots. If you
think about it, it's a business that
480
00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:31.239
somebody builds. Most of the businesses
that are strong. Are the businesses that
481
00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:37.559
have an element of human connection,
even if they are machines. So being
482
00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:42.800
able to build a kind of human
to human connection requires you thinking like a
483
00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:46.599
human, even machines are programmed to
behave like humans. If you do this,
484
00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:52.880
then this right. What are what
are your uniqueness? What are your
485
00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:54.880
personality traits? And if you don't
know, you could go to a website
486
00:35:54.880 --> 00:36:00.800
called sixteen personalities dot com. Answer
those questions as on a as possible if
487
00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:04.679
your business answer them like your business
was a human being answering those questions,
488
00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:09.480
and then on earth what you know
comes out of that dig deeper. Also
489
00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:13.800
reach out to like five of your
closest friends and write ask them to give
490
00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:16.639
you five adjectives to describe yourself,
and then you also write five adjectives to
491
00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:21.039
describe it. You try to find
what is consistent between what you said and
492
00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:23.880
what they said, and also what's
consistent between what they said you didn't see,
493
00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:28.079
because sometimes again we have blind spots. The things that we're trying to
494
00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:31.719
say is not necessarily what we're we're
projected. The process of branding is going
495
00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:37.599
from your intended brands to your perceived
brand, and what does this MANI means
496
00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:40.320
I want to be seeing a certain
way. Um, and this is my
497
00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:45.920
intention. However, it doesn't mean
that people are perceiving me that way.
498
00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:49.159
So how can I, for that
ensure that these people perceive me the way
499
00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:52.880
that I intend to be perceived?
Trying to make it authentic? Don't you
500
00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:57.639
do something that is they lie or
a false creation of yourself instead of faking
501
00:36:57.639 --> 00:37:00.920
it till you make it grow into
it to turn mean, these are the
502
00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.320
things that I want to change.
These are the things that I do not
503
00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:06.119
like about my current self right now
that I want to sort of, you
504
00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:09.880
know, evolve into. And so
let that evolution be a journey. By
505
00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:14.800
branding is that process where you are
journeying to these plays that you want to
506
00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:16.480
get to, and as you even
get there, you would realize that you
507
00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:21.000
want more, There's something else that
you want, and you would keep retiating
508
00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:23.000
and reinventing yourself. Who you are
ten years ago, it's not who you
509
00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:28.960
are now. So starting from that
point of self awareness is important doing checking
510
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.960
what is on ground, googling yourself
and saying do I like what I'm saying
511
00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:35.280
online? Do I like my digital
footprint? Where I like my offline foot
512
00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:37.360
prints. What do I want to
change? That's where it really starts in
513
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:43.079
your mind and in reality. Um. Last thing I would say is when
514
00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:46.519
you think about your brand, think
about three critical things. Um. First
515
00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:52.440
identity, communication, and then credibility. Your identity is what makes you recognizable
516
00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:57.519
to your audience. And so if
if you don't have any recognizable features,
517
00:37:57.559 --> 00:38:01.360
if you're not intentional about how you
want to be organized, not just um
518
00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:07.679
outwardly, but also inwardly as well. Things that are unique identifiers for you
519
00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:14.320
your voice, your tone, your
how you appear, what colors like.
520
00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:19.800
If you say you're an introvert and
you don't want to be, you know
521
00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:22.760
in too many places you don't want
to be perceived as an extrovert. What
522
00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:27.400
are key things you're going to do? What are key defining factors that matter
523
00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:29.920
to you? What is your mission? What is it that is important to
524
00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:32.360
you? And then take that into
even your colors. Right, you wouldn't
525
00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:36.519
be like, I'm an introvert,
but I'm going to and I want to.
526
00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:40.119
I want to communicate a certain tone
of calmness. And then you use
527
00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:45.000
read as your as your color is
going to be weird, So understanding the
528
00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:49.760
color psychology, the fund psychology,
based on the personality and tone you're trying
529
00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:52.719
to communicate, it's really really important. Then taking that your personal mission and
530
00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:55.880
your strengths, what you're good at, what you know, all of those
531
00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:59.239
things, packaging them. I saying
this is how I want to serve the
532
00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:04.519
world and money from it. Taking
that and then communicating it to the outside
533
00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:07.920
people, to yourself and to your
team members. That's where communication comes in.
534
00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:13.440
Then moving to credibility. Credibility is
more like you know the kind of
535
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:19.639
people you partner with, reinforcing reinforcing
trust because again branding is about truck or
536
00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:22.800
you're doing is to just be a
trust with your audience. So if you
537
00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:25.119
don't even know your audience, that's
another problem because who are you really talking
538
00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:28.800
to? Right to knowing who you're
talking to, knowing that you're not for
539
00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:34.400
everyone and you're for someone, um, that's really a mind shift that is
540
00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:37.960
necessary. Also moving from that and
knowing that you don't partner with people just
541
00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:43.679
based on their numbers, but also
based on vision or mission alignment. One
542
00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:46.920
of my favorite examples is like you
can't be a vegan and be having a
543
00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:51.840
partnership with Karsay, Like what exactly
is going on there is going to be
544
00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:55.559
weird. You can't be a climate
change enthusiast and be having a partnership with
545
00:39:55.639 --> 00:40:00.840
like an oil bunkery organization or something
like. It doesn't extent. So you
546
00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:04.079
need to be able to know how
to choose the kind of partners that we
547
00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:07.519
enforce your values, your mission and
your goals and and maybe you have shared
548
00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:13.159
audience with them, or maybe you're
trying to explore new audience. But because
549
00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:15.719
of that alignment, that's why you're
doing what you're doing. You also need
550
00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:19.760
to be able to make it,
promise and keep it because that's how you
551
00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:23.760
be trust. You need to be
able to um share your work, share
552
00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:28.320
the testimonials of your work, share
the transformational impact of your work, and
553
00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:34.519
things like that. Those things are
life changing and very important. Yeah.
554
00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:40.360
In summary, Yeah, so that
is a full cause on branding given to
555
00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:44.760
us. If you want more,
definitely take lessons cause. Oh, by
556
00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.400
the way, I think I actually
have a free e book and I don't
557
00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:51.280
know if that's something we can pin
to to you know, the description board.
558
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:53.039
I would be happy to share that
link to the free e book so
559
00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:57.559
people can just sort of explore this
topic a bit deeper. I call it
560
00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:00.079
the nine piece of branding. And
I every one who has read the book
561
00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:05.639
has only given me positive feedback,
So fingers crossed that you also have a
562
00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:10.599
positive experience. A quick but very
comprehensive over your whole Brandon, And so
563
00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:14.639
everybody listened to the podcast now can
have an idea. And I like how
564
00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:19.800
you sort of pinned it to that
personal narrative about how you should be authentic
565
00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:22.440
to yourself, how you should you
know, just talking about some of the
566
00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:27.320
things that people might know, like
identity, about what that really means behind
567
00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:30.960
the just the worst and the colors, and how you just it's all about,
568
00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:36.280
I guess, in mind words,
identifying yourself to the world as uniquely
569
00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:38.840
and as authentic as you can.
But those are the elements that can want
570
00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:43.239
to the communication. All of that, well is just helping you put yourself
571
00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:49.199
out there in a way that consistently
communicates who that person that you are as
572
00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:53.360
an individual, as two people,
and I think that is something that everybody
573
00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:58.519
should do. Like you know,
you talking brings me to you. You
574
00:41:58.599 --> 00:42:01.199
made a point about how example,
if you wanted to change your possession about
575
00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:07.599
yourself that people have then It is
not for you to just say, okay,
576
00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:12.159
I want to have this brand,
but we also conscious that you want
577
00:42:12.199 --> 00:42:16.719
to be the person actually that you
now want to change from. So something
578
00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:22.400
that it wasn't very conscious to me
but now is to the very short presentation
579
00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:29.440
give on branding, is that becoming
a world of branding actually helps you reflect
580
00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:31.480
on who you are as a person, and if you didn't like something about
581
00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:37.960
yourself, it encourages you to change
from that and build a brand that is
582
00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:43.199
more toward the new person that you
want to become, which is very you
583
00:42:43.239 --> 00:42:45.960
know, which is something that I
guess most people don't talk about now like
584
00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:49.440
it has a kind of a transformative
element to it. So that's very great
585
00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:54.119
glass to hear that that may be
so happy. Okay, so now let's
586
00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:58.159
talk about Aggressive of Good and what
if you are doing that. You you
587
00:42:58.280 --> 00:43:01.079
join as a director of communications and
like with all the other things, you
588
00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:05.880
quickly ruse um and you became a
co found that what is Aggressive for Good
589
00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:08.559
death and why has it been so
successful and raising so much money? And
590
00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:15.119
what is the impact that is making
across technology in Africa. Wow, that's
591
00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:17.719
a very big question, but I
would try to answer is as simply as
592
00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:21.440
I can. As you can tell, I'm very excited whenever we talked about
593
00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:25.239
Aggressive for Good because our soul mission
is to increase the any power of African
594
00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:30.559
news by empowering them with tech skills
and resources and community that they need for
595
00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:35.800
growth. Right, and how this
all came about was, you know,
596
00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:40.840
we explored someone who graduated from school, two people who graduated from school,
597
00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:45.320
one person doing you know, a
banking job entry level, and somebody doing
598
00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:47.639
a tech job entry level. Chances
are the person doing the tech job will
599
00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:52.599
get two times to five times more
pay than the person who's doing the banking
600
00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.639
job. Um. We also explored
what would be the barrier to entry,
601
00:43:55.719 --> 00:43:59.639
you know, what does it take
to really learn a tech skill? And
602
00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:02.719
for many tech skills, especially the
ones that we're focusing on, you need
603
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:07.159
just three to six months to lend
the basics and then you spend your life
604
00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:13.480
perfecting it. Um and basics.
Sometimes it's all people need, just saying
605
00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:15.639
the way that we've been able to. Initially used to struggle, you know,
606
00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:21.360
I used to say, why exactly
are we Why exactly are we you
607
00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:25.800
know, trying to exactly We're trying
to impact so many people, you know,
608
00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:30.079
we could have different connections with each
one. But then when I see
609
00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:34.480
the kind of success stories that we
get where there's a woman who was making
610
00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:38.360
soap to make ends meds was earning
only twenty tho our own month and and
611
00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:43.480
that's all she had. And then
six months down to line she has learned
612
00:44:43.559 --> 00:44:49.360
a death development ski and sorry stuff
with death skill and we've given high laptop.
613
00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:52.159
Next thing, we know, she's
in a job where she's earning two
614
00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:55.079
hundred k, which is ten times
where she's the end before or someone who
615
00:44:55.119 --> 00:45:00.400
was a farmer. And then certainly
you know lends skill in this line and
616
00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:04.639
now she can fend for herself because
she's earning enough money from the jobs and
617
00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:08.440
the projects that she's being able to
do UM to make ends meets for her
618
00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:13.480
family. All of those kind of
stories just sort of transform, like it
619
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:16.320
changed my thinking. Made me realize
that sometimes some people just need one to
620
00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:22.159
encounter and they take that little seed
and turn it into something really huge.
621
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:25.000
It feels like Investive for Good is
that mustard seed for a lot of people,
622
00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:30.280
they just need that suit into them
and their lives change. UM one
623
00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:35.239
of our one of our beneficiaries actually
two of our beneficiaries where community leads came
624
00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:38.960
together co founded a business that was
solving a social problem and now they're in
625
00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:44.920
y SI valued at thirty million dollars. So the success stories are there.
626
00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:51.239
The work is speaking for itself consistently, so I guess when people see that,
627
00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:53.119
they wasn't happy to reach out and
say, this is something we love,
628
00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:55.800
this is something we want to support. To anybody who's listening to this
629
00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:59.440
podcast right now, it's feeling inspired, was to do a bit more,
630
00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:04.239
you know, diggin day just such
inrestive for good on on any platform and
631
00:46:04.559 --> 00:46:07.559
you will find the stories. You
know, you'll find the success stories.
632
00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:12.800
UM always like it's so beautiful to
see how many entry level tech people have
633
00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:16.719
encountered aggressive for good in one way
or the other. And that's inspiring for
634
00:46:16.840 --> 00:46:22.760
us. So Google, sorry,
yeah, Google alphabets UM supported us with
635
00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:27.559
two hundred and fifty k U s
D to be able to drive division.
636
00:46:27.880 --> 00:46:34.320
We've had so many strong partnerships with
like Facebook, UM yeah, Cosera,
637
00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:39.920
these account interesting people, Global Partnership
Masterclass, and it's just inspiring all around,
638
00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:44.599
to be honest, that's really the
work. Now. Our community has
639
00:46:44.639 --> 00:46:46.840
gone from zero and in just two
years, we have a community over two
640
00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:51.360
hundred thousand people. We've trained over
a hundred thousand people. Um, were
641
00:46:51.400 --> 00:46:55.559
consistently also realizing that women make up
the bulk of our community. We have
642
00:46:55.599 --> 00:47:01.159
fifty six percent women in our community
and and we men have been just fantastic.
643
00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:07.000
And so yeah, that's that's in
in a nutshell, just such inspiring
644
00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:09.400
work. And I know I sound
really really excited for It's the topic I
645
00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:13.119
really love to talk about. And
I could go on and on and on
646
00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:19.880
and on. So what is the
next transition for aggressive, especially for me?
647
00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:25.559
I mean knowing that you've led this
organization to now bigger hides and you
648
00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:31.000
as a woman putting your work out
there, what is the plans that Inclussive
649
00:47:31.079 --> 00:47:37.320
have specifically for women and technologists found
as people who are aspiring to great things,
650
00:47:37.320 --> 00:47:39.519
who probably who also got a project
to go to y see like some
651
00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:45.360
of the sex and stories. Okay, um, I think that's the next
652
00:47:45.400 --> 00:47:47.920
thing for us. Really, it's
just ensuring that more and more people get
653
00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:52.000
placed. One of the gaps that
we're finding is because of how fast face
654
00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:55.920
the text face is. Most people
are looking for senior talents, but they're
655
00:47:55.920 --> 00:48:00.480
not necessarily recognizing the power of junior
talents, right, and so you just
656
00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:05.159
see all these like big roles that
people are trying to feel, but not
657
00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:12.639
enough internship roles or um entry level
opportunities. And you would never really have
658
00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:16.239
the next generation of senior level talent
if nobody is giving the junior level talents
659
00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:22.440
of today opportunities to be able to
express the talent and build and grow or
660
00:48:22.480 --> 00:48:25.760
even learn under currency your leadership.
So one of the things we're really trying
661
00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:31.320
to do is build a culture where
entry levels talents are seen as valuable and
662
00:48:31.440 --> 00:48:36.440
they're giving the opportunities that they need
to become the next level talents of the
663
00:48:36.519 --> 00:48:39.079
next decade um. And so that's
something that we've been prioritizing a lot.
664
00:48:39.480 --> 00:48:44.440
That's something we've been going into a
lot of partnerships for just to figure out
665
00:48:44.679 --> 00:48:47.800
how can we create more opportunities for
entry level talent. So that's something that's
666
00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:52.400
in fact, that's priority. That's
that's the most important thing on our on
667
00:48:52.440 --> 00:48:57.239
our checkbox. But yes, side
starts. You know, um, I
668
00:48:57.320 --> 00:49:00.679
think that the community is in a
place where it it's building itself and it's
669
00:49:00.719 --> 00:49:06.159
fuel in itself where community members who
have gone on to be successful, are
670
00:49:06.159 --> 00:49:09.199
now coming back and putting donations back
into the company and say, oh my
671
00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:13.760
god, you touched my life in
this way. I want to donates back
672
00:49:13.880 --> 00:49:16.519
to this organization that formed me or
shaped me. I want to hire from
673
00:49:16.519 --> 00:49:20.280
your talent ball. I want to
do X y Z so I can pay
674
00:49:20.280 --> 00:49:22.679
this forward. And that's really really
strong. But I think that we would
675
00:49:22.679 --> 00:49:27.239
even be able to do way more
if more people are donating and supporting us.
676
00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:34.239
So anybody who wants to support,
please support We're here. You know,
677
00:49:34.280 --> 00:49:37.599
in one of the articles that you're
featured on, you spoke about the
678
00:49:37.639 --> 00:49:42.199
fact that, Um, you're creative, but you're able to combine the logic
679
00:49:42.239 --> 00:49:45.719
side of things. How does that
work in practice for you as being a
680
00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:49.960
very creative individual who also likes to, you know, thing deeply about things
681
00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:54.159
and plan and have structure. What
has that balance look like in the practice
682
00:49:54.239 --> 00:50:01.079
of your numerous endeavors. Um,
I don't know how to directly answer this
683
00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:06.880
question, because it sort of happens
very organically for me, Like it happens
684
00:50:06.920 --> 00:50:12.840
like brilliant for me. You know
how you're breathiant, like automatically right,
685
00:50:13.119 --> 00:50:15.800
and you just pot for a second
to think about with how am I breathing
686
00:50:15.840 --> 00:50:21.239
and then it just becomes liberals.
That's the same story for my logic and
687
00:50:21.320 --> 00:50:24.039
magic side. UM. I don't
start out saying, oh, I want
688
00:50:24.079 --> 00:50:28.320
to do something creative or oh I
want to do something strategic. For me,
689
00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:31.519
the two worlds exist together. Everything
you must be doing, must have
690
00:50:31.639 --> 00:50:36.960
a result, must have goals,
must have something that you're trying to achieve,
691
00:50:37.079 --> 00:50:39.599
right and then when they don't,
you know that you're just experimenting.
692
00:50:39.639 --> 00:50:43.199
You know that I don't know what
the end good of this thing is,
693
00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:45.440
but I'm just trying to see where
it goes. So knowing that these two
694
00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:51.519
things can exist very differently but then
can also be combined, it's such a
695
00:50:51.559 --> 00:50:57.039
powerful skill. Um. I guess
I've always cared about if whenever I work
696
00:50:57.079 --> 00:51:00.599
for any organization, one of the
first steps or things that I do is
697
00:51:00.679 --> 00:51:04.480
ask what is the company's goal?
What are we trying to achieve as a
698
00:51:04.519 --> 00:51:07.079
company, And then I go back
and reflect on what is my role in
699
00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:13.440
helping the company achieve these goals?
And so making my mindset work like that
700
00:51:14.280 --> 00:51:16.599
has been very pivotal for me,
and I guess that's what gives me the
701
00:51:16.599 --> 00:51:22.880
strength that I have where I don't
see things from just a very black and
702
00:51:22.880 --> 00:51:24.719
white point of view, but I
also don't see from the very colored point
703
00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:28.320
of view, knowing that there's a
green between. But then you could also
704
00:51:28.360 --> 00:51:31.679
special pastels. That's how I see
life, and that has been very instrumental.
705
00:51:31.760 --> 00:51:36.480
It's so sad that I can give
like a formula, but this is
706
00:51:36.480 --> 00:51:40.119
exactly how it works for Anybody who
works with me knows how it works because
707
00:51:40.119 --> 00:51:44.440
I expressed it. But maybe that's
my next assignment. I'm going to spend
708
00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:49.920
time over the next couple of months
just really paying more attention to my process.
709
00:51:49.960 --> 00:51:52.679
But one thing I also do is
documents. So maybe I could reflect
710
00:51:52.679 --> 00:51:55.039
on things that I've documented in the
past and pay attention to the trends that
711
00:51:55.079 --> 00:51:59.920
I've noticed. Okay, if you
do that, to be happy to know.
712
00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:07.679
Um, you are a winner.
So you have progressed so fast and
713
00:52:07.719 --> 00:52:10.639
so many things. What is the
ultimate winner's mindset? At least for you,
714
00:52:13.199 --> 00:52:16.840
the ultimate winners mindset is heavily tied
to the failure mindset. How you
715
00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:22.760
perceive filia would ultimately affect how you
perceive winning. UM. For me,
716
00:52:23.320 --> 00:52:28.519
based on just this experiment point of
view, I don't see failure the way
717
00:52:28.559 --> 00:52:30.880
I used to see failure many years
ago. Before failure used to be like
718
00:52:30.920 --> 00:52:35.039
something that would drain my energy and
make me feel so sad, lost,
719
00:52:35.280 --> 00:52:37.079
depressed everything like, you know,
you just be like in the state of
720
00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:42.119
all I have, I have failed, you know, and the grass should
721
00:52:42.119 --> 00:52:46.800
open up as swallow me. But
being able to embraise this experiment cell point
722
00:52:46.840 --> 00:52:50.119
of view, where I say the
goal is not to be right but to
723
00:52:50.199 --> 00:52:55.599
discover it makes video sound like another
discovery. So it's like I experimented with
724
00:52:55.639 --> 00:53:00.480
this. Nobody in this world,
to be honest, knows a thing for
725
00:53:00.599 --> 00:53:04.440
sure. It's like we're all just
trying things out and hoping that they would
726
00:53:04.480 --> 00:53:08.360
work out. We really don't know
anything for sure because it's not really even
727
00:53:08.440 --> 00:53:13.719
just your choices that are making decisions
for you. There's so many other choices
728
00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:16.079
that are outside of your control.
There are things within your control, but
729
00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:20.880
there's so many things outside of your
control that sometimes have nothing to do with
730
00:53:20.920 --> 00:53:23.280
you. The best you can do
is what you're doing or what you can
731
00:53:23.360 --> 00:53:28.000
do. So do the one that
you can do, and then when you
732
00:53:28.039 --> 00:53:30.760
put that out into the world,
you know you've done your path right.
733
00:53:30.159 --> 00:53:34.840
How it comes back to you.
It's not entirely your faults, but then
734
00:53:34.880 --> 00:53:37.679
you could take your lessons from it. That could there have been a better
735
00:53:37.679 --> 00:53:39.440
way that I could have shown up
for this. Is there anything else that
736
00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:44.119
I can do to make the odds
come to my favor? Is there something
737
00:53:44.159 --> 00:53:45.920
that I could learn from this?
Is there something else that you know?
738
00:53:45.960 --> 00:53:51.800
Like just exploring the failures. Every
single failure led me here. Every single
739
00:53:51.840 --> 00:53:54.760
failure either made me decide, you
know, more, resolved for something,
740
00:53:55.119 --> 00:54:00.639
quit something else, you know,
poll more, try a different strategy approach.
741
00:54:00.920 --> 00:54:06.800
It just prepared me to win again. So approaching my life from the
742
00:54:06.880 --> 00:54:09.360
point of view that failure is not
there to break me, And maybe think
743
00:54:09.400 --> 00:54:14.159
about it like a game, you
know how you have to keep repeating a
744
00:54:14.280 --> 00:54:15.679
level until you pass it so you
can get to the next level. When
745
00:54:15.719 --> 00:54:20.039
you're playing games, I think that
that's really how life is. You just
746
00:54:20.639 --> 00:54:23.000
have to keep trying until you pass
it. You don't have control over the
747
00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:27.440
obstacles that are coming. You only
have control over you, the player,
748
00:54:27.800 --> 00:54:30.840
right, so you only have to
learn newer ways to tackle that obstacle.
749
00:54:30.920 --> 00:54:34.840
But you will not learn it if
you don't feel it. And that's how
750
00:54:34.880 --> 00:54:40.519
I see it experimenting consistently and I
guess that's the ultimate winners mindset thing that
751
00:54:40.599 --> 00:54:44.920
I have going for me for myself, and I hope that more people can
752
00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:50.719
embrace it as well. I like
how when being asked about winning and success
753
00:54:50.719 --> 00:54:53.719
you tied directed failure, because that's
not how lots of people would approach it.
754
00:54:53.800 --> 00:55:00.199
But I really really agree with you
that you need to face the obstacle.
755
00:55:00.360 --> 00:55:04.000
You need to face whatever is in
front of you, and you need
756
00:55:04.039 --> 00:55:07.119
to try to beat it down before
you get to the next day of life,
757
00:55:07.159 --> 00:55:10.519
and your inability to do that is
what time is your journey. But
758
00:55:10.679 --> 00:55:16.000
it means also that consistently trying means
you're growing and you're failing, but the
759
00:55:16.079 --> 00:55:22.559
failure is building more myself for the
next stage. And I really really agree
760
00:55:22.559 --> 00:55:27.400
with that sentiment. UM, what
would be your message for young women who
761
00:55:27.400 --> 00:55:31.239
are aspiring too. I have tried
to move away from saying a sparring to
762
00:55:31.280 --> 00:55:36.519
be like other people like you,
but who are sparring to going to your
763
00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:38.599
own journeys, but you know,
are facing the obstacle of having two for
764
00:55:38.599 --> 00:55:44.599
example, UM, stretched careers,
or start a company when they're so young,
765
00:55:44.840 --> 00:55:49.320
or moving in to aspiring to great
lives, but are not so confident
766
00:55:49.320 --> 00:55:52.000
about himself. And I am asking
that for young woman specificity, because you're
767
00:55:52.039 --> 00:55:58.039
a young woman who's driving so well
in your field. Wow, I have
768
00:55:58.199 --> 00:56:01.280
so much advice for them. And
one of my my biggest advice first would
769
00:56:01.320 --> 00:56:06.400
be pleased. Don't take every advice
that everyone gives you. When you're taking
770
00:56:06.440 --> 00:56:09.440
an advice, try to filter all
of the advice that you're getting and say,
771
00:56:09.599 --> 00:56:14.199
a might the target audience for this
advice is this advice based on my
772
00:56:14.280 --> 00:56:16.599
context? How can I tweak it
to match my context? And how can
773
00:56:16.599 --> 00:56:20.000
I implement it in a way that
it works for me? Right, So
774
00:56:20.039 --> 00:56:23.119
don't just take everything just at face
value. Some will apply, some will
775
00:56:23.199 --> 00:56:28.239
not. Um speaking of things that
would apply, my very first thing would
776
00:56:28.280 --> 00:56:31.639
be too shift to build confidence in
itself, you need to shift focus from
777
00:56:31.679 --> 00:56:37.039
yourself because when you focus too much
on yourself, you begin to pay attention
778
00:56:37.079 --> 00:56:39.800
and zooming to your feedures like nobody
knows you like you know yourself, and
779
00:56:39.840 --> 00:56:43.480
so you begin to zoom into your
felure, zoom into things that you're no
780
00:56:43.559 --> 00:56:45.519
good at, and you end up
under estimating what it is easily You're good
781
00:56:45.519 --> 00:56:50.559
at and overestimating what other people are
good at. So shift your focus from
782
00:56:50.599 --> 00:56:53.719
yourself for a quick minute and try
to focus on the people that you want
783
00:56:53.760 --> 00:56:58.679
to serve. Think about all this
talent that all the things one of the
784
00:56:58.719 --> 00:57:00.360
things that people ask me to help
them with, one of the things that
785
00:57:00.480 --> 00:57:04.719
I think I'm good at that would
be of value to the world. Um.
786
00:57:04.760 --> 00:57:07.440
One of my favorite examples is if
you're holding biscuits in your hand,
787
00:57:07.519 --> 00:57:14.320
and there's a there's like a hungry
child that is standing besides you, hungry,
788
00:57:14.480 --> 00:57:17.639
visibly hungry, with like veins and
everything popping up with their bones and
789
00:57:17.679 --> 00:57:22.239
stuff. Hungry, But you have
biscuits in your hand. Are you going
790
00:57:22.239 --> 00:57:24.360
to say, I'm going to give
you this biskuits because I want to go
791
00:57:24.440 --> 00:57:28.559
home and make rests and chicken before
I come back and give this biscuits.
792
00:57:28.920 --> 00:57:31.039
I really hope that that's not what
you would do. I think that it
793
00:57:31.079 --> 00:57:36.840
would be helpful to give that person
temporary relief now while you make plans to,
794
00:57:37.079 --> 00:57:38.679
you know, go and make rests
and chicken as well, or call
795
00:57:38.760 --> 00:57:44.280
for backup. Um. That's also
how I see using your gifts. If
796
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:47.559
you have something now that you're good
at, start using it, give it
797
00:57:47.599 --> 00:57:52.079
to the people who needed the people
who need it exactly how it is like
798
00:57:52.159 --> 00:57:55.519
that, serve them, and as
you serve them, don't just stop there.
799
00:57:55.920 --> 00:58:00.960
Still give yourself room to improve,
and the more you serve them,
800
00:58:00.239 --> 00:58:04.920
the more you improve. There's so
much that I'm doing now that I am
801
00:58:04.920 --> 00:58:08.320
only doing because I did other things
before, and those things when I was
802
00:58:08.360 --> 00:58:10.880
doing them, I didn't know that
I would be doing what I'm doing now.
803
00:58:12.239 --> 00:58:15.519
And I know the sounds like a
puzzle, but every single thing you
804
00:58:15.639 --> 00:58:20.599
do leads you to the next step. Embrace the spirit of doing, not
805
00:58:20.760 --> 00:58:25.000
just thinking, dreaming, wishing,
hoping. Um do show up the thing
806
00:58:25.079 --> 00:58:29.320
that you have, used it and
show up. Share your work, the
807
00:58:29.360 --> 00:58:32.079
one that you've been able to do, share it, do do do.
808
00:58:32.119 --> 00:58:36.679
The more you do, the better
you get. Practice doesn't make perfect,
809
00:58:36.679 --> 00:58:38.920
it makes progress and progress. It's
really what a loss of us needs right
810
00:58:38.920 --> 00:58:42.280
now to be able to get us
to the next phases of our lives.
811
00:58:42.559 --> 00:58:45.159
You'll be able to encounter new people, people be able to speak for you.
812
00:58:45.440 --> 00:58:49.239
I found one needed to exist for
I puttin to exist. If you
813
00:58:49.320 --> 00:58:51.760
don't use what you have now,
you're not going to get better as is,
814
00:58:51.840 --> 00:58:53.679
and it's not going to be phenomenal
in the future, So use what
815
00:58:53.840 --> 00:58:57.599
you have now to get you to
the next phase of your life. UM.
816
00:58:57.719 --> 00:59:00.719
Second thing would be build community.
See build community with people who are
817
00:59:00.760 --> 00:59:04.480
better than you, people who are
like you, and people who are not
818
00:59:04.519 --> 00:59:07.119
even as good as you. UM, the ones that you learn, teach
819
00:59:07.119 --> 00:59:09.199
it to, the people who are
not as good as you, the ones
820
00:59:09.239 --> 00:59:13.119
that you don't know learn from the
people who are better than you. And
821
00:59:13.159 --> 00:59:15.360
then the things that you you're happy
to share share with the people that are
822
00:59:15.360 --> 00:59:20.559
as good as you, so you
can treat their ideas and find any community
823
00:59:20.599 --> 00:59:22.719
you find yourself. At least identify
one person you want to connect with,
824
00:59:22.800 --> 00:59:27.679
because in twenty years time you don't
know what they're going to be. But
825
00:59:27.719 --> 00:59:30.199
that shouldn't even just be your reason. Being able to have an ally who
826
00:59:30.280 --> 00:59:36.320
is working with you to get to
the next level, who is also hustling
827
00:59:36.360 --> 00:59:38.039
like you're hustling. Maybe hustling is
not the best world, but who is
828
00:59:38.119 --> 00:59:43.280
grinding and you're also grinding, It
inspires you you could both be You know
829
00:59:43.400 --> 00:59:46.960
the shoulders that you lean on each
other for, so knowing those things really
830
00:59:47.239 --> 00:59:52.119
help as you build to your next
level. The Internet has helped a lot,
831
00:59:52.559 --> 00:59:58.960
so you have an advantage. Don't
let anything be an excuse if you.
832
00:59:59.239 --> 01:00:01.920
One of my new as mantras now
is if I find myself complaining about
833
01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:07.559
something or dissatisfied with something, I
would ask myself do I have the capacity
834
01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:09.719
to change it. If I do
have the capacity to change it, I
835
01:00:09.719 --> 01:00:13.440
would change it. If I don't
have the capacity to change it, I
836
01:00:13.440 --> 01:00:15.440
would shift my focus to something that
I can change. So, if you
837
01:00:15.480 --> 01:00:19.079
don't like where you are now,
or if there's something that you aspire to
838
01:00:19.159 --> 01:00:22.719
be, or if there's a place
that you're aspiring to, if there's something
839
01:00:22.760 --> 01:00:24.679
you can do about it, do
it. If there's nothing you can do
840
01:00:24.719 --> 01:00:28.519
about it, shifts your focus to
something that you can do something about.
841
01:00:28.840 --> 01:00:31.519
And I think that those are going
to be like helpful ways to to build
842
01:00:31.519 --> 01:00:36.199
yourself as as you as you try
to be whatever it is that you want
843
01:00:36.239 --> 01:00:38.880
to be. Don't let anybody tell
you that you you are limited. You're
844
01:00:38.920 --> 01:00:43.840
not. You're limitless. You can
be anything. You can build the life
845
01:00:43.880 --> 01:00:49.000
that you want, and the life
that you want is possible. Okay.
846
01:00:49.039 --> 01:00:55.159
That would be the end of our
conversation with the brilliant and wives blessed and
847
01:00:55.159 --> 01:01:00.360
not being affecuacy from submissions of other
desation. Is there any other thing that
848
01:01:00.400 --> 01:01:07.719
you want to add blessing before we
top of the podcast? UM, I
849
01:01:07.719 --> 01:01:10.280
think I just want to share like
a very interesting story, and I think
850
01:01:10.280 --> 01:01:15.039
he came to me while I was
watching an anime UM the anime. I
851
01:01:15.039 --> 01:01:19.039
don't know how many people watch animes
here, but while I was watching the
852
01:01:19.079 --> 01:01:25.440
anime UM it was about humans fighting
gods, and all of the best humans
853
01:01:25.559 --> 01:01:32.719
were feeling until a certain guy who
has been known throughout history as the biggest
854
01:01:32.760 --> 01:01:37.360
failure because he keeps fighting people knowing
that he would feel. However, the
855
01:01:37.440 --> 01:01:42.840
more he fights people, the better
he gets. He learns their techniques,
856
01:01:43.000 --> 01:01:47.199
he learns new ways to defeat them, but he's happy with feeling because somehow
857
01:01:47.239 --> 01:01:52.719
it was helping him build strength and
resilience. He was the only person who
858
01:01:52.760 --> 01:01:57.639
was able to eventually defeat a god
after like four or five people had thoughts
859
01:01:57.679 --> 01:02:01.639
before him. This story made me
so emotional, and I said, you
860
01:02:01.639 --> 01:02:05.679
know, Initially, I was like, this is just the story, maybe
861
01:02:05.719 --> 01:02:08.280
maybe it doesn't really exist and it
doesn't really apply. But then in the
862
01:02:08.360 --> 01:02:14.440
last couple of weeks, I have
been. I've been playing FIFA. I
863
01:02:14.519 --> 01:02:16.880
snared played before then I stopped and
because I didn't practice for a while,
864
01:02:16.920 --> 01:02:20.960
I forgot how to. But I
started again, and I this time,
865
01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:27.360
I've been using Xbox to play,
and my husband has constantly been beating me
866
01:02:27.400 --> 01:02:31.760
in FIFA, like consistently, like
I've It's not like it's big, it's
867
01:02:31.760 --> 01:02:35.679
a big deal. It's like,
but we used to have a specific gap,
868
01:02:35.800 --> 01:02:37.679
right, so he would probably not
called me more than five goals and
869
01:02:37.719 --> 01:02:42.159
I would probably score like two right
to at the minimum. But there there
870
01:02:42.199 --> 01:02:45.119
was one particular day He's called seven. I was so sad. I was
871
01:02:45.159 --> 01:02:46.719
like, how do you score seven? One? Like? What was I
872
01:02:46.800 --> 01:02:50.920
doing? While? And I started
with strategizing, like what am I going
873
01:02:50.960 --> 01:02:52.159
to do better? How am I
going to do this? Do I learn
874
01:02:52.159 --> 01:02:55.159
how to pass better? Do I
learn how to you know shoots better?
875
01:02:55.519 --> 01:03:00.119
By consistently feeling, I was learning
the things that I was weak as,
876
01:03:00.360 --> 01:03:02.119
I was also learning things I could
get better as, and I was getting
877
01:03:02.199 --> 01:03:07.480
learning the things I was great at. Fast forward to me playing with a
878
01:03:07.480 --> 01:03:12.000
couple of friends after and beating those
friends like it's nothing and those people are
879
01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:15.400
not bad, like I'm beating them, and I didn't realize that I was
880
01:03:15.440 --> 01:03:20.039
getting that good, like I was
developing another strength within me that was making
881
01:03:20.039 --> 01:03:24.800
me better. Now fast forward to
even yesterday, I am now winning games
882
01:03:25.159 --> 01:03:30.039
with my husband like we're either drawing
or winning, or if he wins in
883
01:03:30.119 --> 01:03:34.519
wins by like just won't goal ahead
of me. And he's even admitting that
884
01:03:34.559 --> 01:03:37.000
I am now difficult and more difficult
to bid. We had a friend over
885
01:03:38.119 --> 01:03:43.840
the friend struggled to win me.
My point is, I'm still feeling enough.
886
01:03:43.880 --> 01:03:46.880
We for our bought. I can't
recognize my success. So keep a
887
01:03:46.920 --> 01:03:51.800
win journal. Document your wins,
no matter how little they are. You
888
01:03:51.840 --> 01:03:54.559
will often forget human beings. We
forget. We tend to focus on the
889
01:03:54.559 --> 01:03:59.119
things that are negative. When you
forget, go back to your win journals
890
01:03:59.159 --> 01:04:02.000
and remind yourself how amazing you are. Reminds us of the amazing things that
891
01:04:02.039 --> 01:04:08.119
you've accomplished, and you realize that
you would only get better, only only
892
01:04:08.159 --> 01:04:10.840
get better. The father you're bad
at one thing doesn't mean that you are
893
01:04:10.920 --> 01:04:15.880
stupid or bad or a failure.
I see I'm smart. I've spoken to
894
01:04:15.920 --> 01:04:17.400
you now, you definitely know I'm
smart. But that's a bread in my
895
01:04:17.440 --> 01:04:19.760
life. That I didn't know how
the big bread. Does that mean that
896
01:04:19.800 --> 01:04:24.000
I'm stupid? No, I've met
an inventor. Sorry, I watched an
897
01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:27.960
inventor on TV who didn't know how
to operate a microwave. Does that mean
898
01:04:27.960 --> 01:04:30.800
he's stupid. No, It's just
there's some things that we're good at,
899
01:04:30.840 --> 01:04:32.440
and there's some things that we're not
that good at, and we can learn
900
01:04:32.519 --> 01:04:35.320
them. And for us to learn
them, we would feel a little bit
901
01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:41.760
more so. Embrace failure, embrace
experiments, but I also embrace the life
902
01:04:41.760 --> 01:04:45.719
of possibility, the life that you
want again. It's possible. That's it,
903
01:04:46.679 --> 01:04:49.920
life you want again, It's possible. Thank you very much, blessing
904
01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:55.159
for doesn't inspiring words and for coming
to the chain apri A podcast and talking
905
01:04:55.159 --> 01:04:59.920
about how you've been, you know, transforming young people's life build and brea
906
01:05:00.039 --> 01:05:04.639
and and you know, inspiring young
people a young women. It's been an
907
01:05:04.639 --> 01:05:11.760
amazing opportunity to have the space um
with you and to share your journey,
908
01:05:11.920 --> 01:05:16.800
your knowledge and your wisdom when all
of us thank you. It's been a
909
01:05:16.840 --> 01:05:39.320
great pleasure. Thank you so much. M
1
00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:32.679
Yeah, m. Welcome to the
Change Africa Podcast. My name is Isaaco
2
00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.200
Juni in New York by and I'm
having my co host Daniel Mercy with us.
3
00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:41.039
And today we have another great episode
coming up with Blessing not Being,
4
00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:50.280
who is an inspirational brands and communications
consultant and she'll be sharing with us her
5
00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:57.479
journey, her knowledge and inspired in
the generation of brand communication designers, technologies
6
00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:03.880
and influences and what she has been
doing over the last few years. So
7
00:01:03.120 --> 00:01:07.920
please, UM, if you are
in your room, give a hero un
8
00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:11.280
of applause to our guests for the
Chain in Africa podcast. Blessing, I
9
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:19.959
mean, thank you so much.
That was such an amazing introduction. Thank
10
00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.879
you. I really appreciate that.
It's my pleasure to be here. Yes,
11
00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:30.359
so, you have had a very
interesting journey obviously the one of the
12
00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:36.519
UM if not the biggest, one
of the most inspiring organizations when it comes
13
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:42.359
to technology development, especially for young
people and women. And you actually also
14
00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:49.159
co founded a startup that was acquired
and that word acquired in if you're not
15
00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.879
someone in the technologies phase, you
don't know what that means. That it
16
00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:57.159
really means that someone but another person's
company and that acquired word is very rare,
17
00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.560
especially in the African style I've seen
we use. It's not a lot
18
00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:02.719
of people that have had the opportunity
to build things that having acquired and not
19
00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:07.280
none other by one of the biggest
companies on the continent, which is flat
20
00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:12.599
Away. Um, how did this
journeys that? If you were supposed to
21
00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.479
reflect you know, let's say ten
years ago, how do you think that
22
00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:23.479
this really all started? Oh my
god, that's a decade. And I
23
00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:29.719
try to see how you know to
sum this up. But every time I've
24
00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:32.840
had to share this story, I
always take it back to growing up as
25
00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:40.960
a Nigerian girl in my father's house
with a mother who was consistently bushed by
26
00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:46.400
other women, you know, constantly
telling her, oh my god, when
27
00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.599
are you going to have a real
child? You don't have one because you
28
00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.840
only have girls and you don't have
any boys. Um. And I really
29
00:02:53.879 --> 00:03:00.840
appreciate my mom and my dad for
consistently not letting that you find how they
30
00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:04.400
raised us. They didn't say,
oh my god, I feel so bad
31
00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:07.039
that I don't have boys, so
I'm going to treat the girls that I
32
00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:12.520
have in bad ways. Never Instead, they consistently inspired us. Every time
33
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.560
you know, they would get any
negative experience outside or reflect on their negative
34
00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:21.319
experience, they will come back home
and it's still positive. Words into our
35
00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.400
heads, like you are limit less. Nothing's going to limit you. Your
36
00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:29.000
gender will not limit to you.
You are as good as boys, You
37
00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:31.319
are as good as that. You're
a human being who can do anything that
38
00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:38.520
you set your mind to do.
So they never um defined me in a
39
00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:44.000
certain way, and that's upbringing made
me feel like I could do and be
40
00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:46.080
anything that I wanted to be if
I put my mind to it. And
41
00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:51.080
that was so pivotal, I think
for the growth of my sister and I
42
00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.599
even hear us have conversations now and
I wed never speak like there's something that's
43
00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:59.960
limited. So earlier in my life, I wanted to be a doctor because
44
00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.080
someone said my dad's life when he
had a serious, you know, medical
45
00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.240
encounter, and so I thought,
oh my god, I'm going to be
46
00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:12.360
a doctor. And um, I
was obviously ready for it, going to
47
00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.400
be a science students and everything.
Great at math, by the way,
48
00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:19.120
represented my school in math competition science
competitions. But I was also really good
49
00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:25.920
at art. I loved literature.
Um you'd see me take courses. You
50
00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:30.000
will be part of events and stuff, represent my school in essay competition,
51
00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:35.040
play competition, dancing competitions, really
cool and so like this is just really
52
00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:39.600
really emphasize that I never felt like
there was anything else that I couldn't do.
53
00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:43.839
I even I remember one time I
craumped the whole God wasn't God's not
54
00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:46.480
to blame, like my parts and
God's done not to blame. And I
55
00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:48.040
was really good at it, Like
it was really great. Um, so
56
00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:54.240
imagine my surprise when I become the
only science student to take art courses and
57
00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:58.000
I went on my way to becoming
a doctor and stuff, taking a pre
58
00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:02.720
medical course biochemistry in Coventrant University.
And I went on I t in my
59
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:08.160
third year and realized, oh my
god, this is pretty minute and us
60
00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:11.920
um skill of impact is not really
there, and would I be able to
61
00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.160
deal with losing their patience? I
said, The different realities hit me at
62
00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:19.879
the same time, and I said, maybe there's another way to save lives,
63
00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:23.360
you know, like maybe I don't
have to be a doctor to save
64
00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.680
lives. And I started to explore
what other ways that I can go about
65
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.639
this. I joined a club I
in that club we were giving. It
66
00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:33.319
was a public speaking club, I
think, and we were giving an assignment
67
00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:38.040
to rights I think, proposals and
business plans, and I googled it,
68
00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:42.560
learned it, loved it, started
writing so well that people would pay me
69
00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:46.240
for it. Everybody loved my marketing
plans, and eventually I decided to a
70
00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.399
front of mine, I said,
Lessen, this thing you do is branding.
71
00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.160
Look it up. I looked it
up. I loved what I saw
72
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.399
and I said, oh my god, I am going to study branding.
73
00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:59.920
I studied. It became a very
integral part of my story because that was
74
00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.920
when I realized, we have such
great companies in Africa, we have such
75
00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:08.959
great solutions, such great talents,
such great innovation in Africa, but a
76
00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.399
lot of times what we struggle with
is telling our story as well as the
77
00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:16.120
Americans do. And so how can
I be the confred to help more African
78
00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:19.680
businesses tell their stories to the people
who need them. And that's when this
79
00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:24.399
whole thing started. It was in
that journey that I, you know,
80
00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:30.040
became the co director of startup gride
Legos with my partner, and that was
81
00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.560
where we met Um the founder of
Disha. For the first time. That's
82
00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:36.600
where we connected. That's where we
became friends and decided. You know,
83
00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:41.560
he started Disha and then hold me
on board and said, lesson, it's
84
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.920
been five months plus, we're not
great as fast as we thought. We
85
00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.519
definitely need someone with your skills.
So I came in as a CMO,
86
00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:53.160
and immediately I came in, we
began to experience HUD month of month growth.
87
00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.920
Um, it was massive. We
built such a strong community that I
88
00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.360
guess felt that we really identified with
and eventually a wired It was such a
89
00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:05.240
painful, hypebreaking time for the community
because they kept I mean it was.
90
00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:11.120
It was the most beautiful thing I
feel like I did then right because the
91
00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:15.600
community felt so connected to the product. They didn't just feel like it was
92
00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:18.120
a product, they felt like it
was home. And how they spoke about
93
00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:21.879
it, it just really warmed my
heart. And you know, moving from
94
00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:26.560
d to co found and Aggressive for
Good was also such a great thing because
95
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:31.079
now I'm leaving another community of two
thousand trust people across over a hundred countries
96
00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:34.800
and it's so inspiring. So I
guess, if I must summarize it,
97
00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:40.199
that's the summary. Um, But
I'm sure that you would have more questions
98
00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:45.720
somewhere in between that summary. Yes, definitely, definitely. What I am
99
00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:56.120
interested in knowing is this kind of
tandem between um most people miraculously or mistaken,
100
00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:00.160
if you want to put it that
way, finding a habit, a
101
00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:05.959
passion that they are interested in that
sweeter from the original intention and how they
102
00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.439
came to those journeys. How would
you say? What would is it?
103
00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:15.240
It would be the catalyst for you? Was it your your ability to experiment,
104
00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:22.680
or was it your just general um
enthusiasm for UM exploration or the fact
105
00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:24.439
that when you did anything more either
it was all your strength like you have
106
00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:28.399
said, or just that you were
multiple set of the multi talented person who
107
00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:31.120
could do anything, and even if
you didn't need other thing than this,
108
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:35.600
you would succeed anyway. What would
you say would be that thing that helps
109
00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:41.360
you, you know, take that
next step into branding that was originally not
110
00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:46.360
part of your goals. Okay,
So I think i'd summarize that into four
111
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:52.080
things. The first one would be
a level of dissatisfaction, because, like
112
00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:58.519
I said during my internship program,
I didn't really enjoy biochemistry like I was
113
00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.320
doing what I love, Like I
wouldn't say I was doing what I love.
114
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Like anything I put my mind to, which is the second thing.
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Anything I put my mind to,
I'll be excellent at it. So excellence
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was not the problem. I'm definitely
a mostly placited individual who has the capacity
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to be excellent at anything that I
choose to do. But the monotony of
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the work and just understanding that this
is not sustainable at scale, like there's
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the limit to the number of people
you can impact per time. And then
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um also just knowing that I wasn't
ready for lost because I worked in during
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my internship, I worked in a
place where we were we would take the
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viral like we would take the blood
of HIV patients and check their viral load
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and you know, just sort of
to be sure that they're still in good
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standing or give them medical advice and
things like that just to help them be
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in better shape and stuff. And
at that time I was even consumed with
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the idea of finding the kill to
HIV because I was like, this thing
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can be killing people like this.
It was I realized how emotional I was
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during that internship. I thought I
had a stronger hearts, but I didn't,
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And so that was just sort of
a big checkpoint for me is like,
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when you become a neurosurgeon, and
which is the thing that you're so
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crazy about, You're going to definitely
lose your life, you know, because
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this thing is not completely in your
control. You would do the best that
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you can, but someone might dye
in your hands. Will you be able
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to live with that? Would that
be like? That was not something that
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I could honestly answer and say yes
for sure, of course, and I
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would go about my life like a
normal person. That was not something that
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I had a positive answer to.
And so I wanted to find something else
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that could still have great impact at
scale and will not cost me my joy
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and happiness. So that's number one. So I've I've said two things now,
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which is first dissatisfaction, second excellence
and you know, be multificial.
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Said but the third thing would be
curiosity and experiment. Right, I'm a
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very curious but said consistently experimenting and
saying, oh this didn't work out?
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What about this? What about that? And sometimes I'm not really looking for
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anything in particular. Um I am
sure my my people who have listened to
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me many times would recognize this quote
that I always say by me The goal
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of an experiment is not to be
right, but to be to discover rights.
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So you're you're not experimenting because you're
trying to be right about some things
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that you don't know that that thing
exists. But by experimenting, you discovered
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new ways that that thing could you
know exist, or new ways that you
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never really thought about before, new
perspectives you never really explored. And that's
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the thing that I found myself doing
a lot, which led to the story
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of me exploring by joining a public
speaking club and then going ahead to try
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out, you know, a a
business stand that I had never written before,
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and they're doing all of my research
and just putting my brain into it.
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And guess what, I became so
good at it people started paying money
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for it. And then the last
thing would be community. I didn't come
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to thinking about community and sharing right
because I didn't come to thinking about branding
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on my own. Someone who had
experienced my work writing business plans and seeing
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how people responded to my marketing parts
of my business plans just sort of felt,
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oh my god, this is really
great. What about branding? Do
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you want to think about branding?
And if I didn't have a community and
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if I wasn't sharing my work,
that wasn't going to happen. So stumbling
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on that explorable branding meds digging deeper. And this was the time branding wasn't
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popular. Communications wasn't that like.
Communications were there, but branding wasn't popular.
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Marketing was the thing, but branding
wasn't popular. And so digging deeper
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and exploring, oh my god,
is this something that I want to do?
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Go into a school to learn it
for almost a year. All of
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that process, I think, let
me here. And so those would be
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the key four things that I would
highlight as the ladders that brought me to
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this moment. That's very inspirational.
You seem to be that kind of person
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that naturally tends to start things or
tend to if I should put you in
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kind of representation of what I think
that you fit from what I see from
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the outside, you seem to be
the sort of a manager or a creator
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of a sault. Because my question
is, while a lot of people perhaps
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lend the branding, you know had
the initiative, you went out to start
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a company as young as I think
twenty or or so, what was it
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that said that I should build my
company that maybe go and join some other
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people who going to work for an
organization. What was it that said I
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was good enough? And what that, you know, framed of mindset sets
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you out to be a founder.
So I guess my question really is that
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what is that kind of mentality of
a founder mindset? Where does that come
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from? And what was it that
gave you the initiative and incentive to want
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to start the thing by yourself?
Then say, I'm young, so maybe
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I should go to the power of
what many people do. I'm joined a
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small company or something like that.
That's such an insightful question, actually,
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And now that I think about it, I've noticed that there is a pattern
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that I have, which is it's
really important for me to learn rules so
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I can identify my rules, right, so I would understand which rules do
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I want to intentionally break and which
ones do I agree with that I want
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to intentionally keep. Um And this
was really important to me because when I
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finished school and on the path to
learning branding, I had broken my father's
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heart in the sense that we had
had a plan since I was a kid
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that I was going to be a
doctor. He had bought me seto scoopes
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bought me like codes. Like I
was. I would go around the neighborhood
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telling everyone that don't call me Blessing, call me Dr Blessing. So that
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was not a So the day that
I woke up one morning and said I
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wasn't going to be a doctor anymore, that was going to be heartbreaking for
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my father. But what was even
more heartbreaking was that I didn't just stop
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there. I also said I was
moving out of the house, which is
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crazy um or at least which was
crazy many years ago um in a Nigerian
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home. Yes, my parents felt
I could do whatever I wanted, but
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there's still a thing when a daughter
is leaving in her father's house, you
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know, that's not necessarily the first
thing they think about. So me telling
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my parents that I was moving out
was going to be a difficult conversation.
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Surprisingly, my father wasn't overly opposed
to it, because we had a conversation
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and I clearly stated give me two
years. He wasn't okay with it,
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but he wasn't opposed because I had
had a plan. I definitely got a
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job first during the period where I
was learning branding. I wasn't going to
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just be in school. I needed
to be sustained need myself, and it
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wasn't going to be happening in the
same city where I lived. So I
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needed to convince my dad, Dad, I got this, you know.
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So I ensured that I secured a
job in Lego's first before going to my
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father to tell him, Hello,
Dad, I am moving, you know,
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and so telling him that I had
told him. Now I have a
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job. I've been able to make
it down payments for my school phased.
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In fact, I've paid my school
face and all of this I did without
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asking for a dime for my parents, because I've been saving all year long
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during the last year of my university
even routine book, which was where I
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made my first million, right in
school. And so I did all of
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this, and I paid for my
education for branding, and I told my
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dad, I'm going to school,
but I've also got saying a job to
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sustain me while I'm in school.
And you know, these are the parts
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that this job is going to give
me. But it's not about the job.
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Is about the school. And I
want to learn branding. But if
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it doesn't work out, just give
me two years. If it doesn't work
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out, I'll come back and do
medicine. I should also spotlights that this
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was a time when I was being
offered a job in two different places,
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UM that we're going to pay me
in the medical one in the medical field,
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one outside of the medical field that
were going to pay me almost five
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times the salary that I was going
to accept in this startup job that I
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had had chosen to do in a
different city. So it really didn't make
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sense to be leaving my father's house
both I really wanted to. I persevered,
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and so when I did UM and
I moved to to to Lego US
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and tried to you know, learn
in this new school while also working and
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implementing the things that I was learning
the startup. I was very clear about
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working in that startup for just a
couple of like for a year, and
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then moving to working an agency so
I could learn even more. So I
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didn't just finish from school and go
straight into starting my business, but I
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went through like working in the startup
and then working in an agency. And
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while I was working in an agency, I saw how global companies had the
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budgets, like the money to spend
on their markeazine, on their calms,
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on their brand. But I could
also see startups that were struggling, startups
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that couldn't afford that amount of money, but they desperately needed to tell their
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story too. And there was no
way that I could convince the company that
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I was working for that you know, start collected startup money because the startup
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money is not going to sustain their
business, is not going to pay salaries
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like it didn't make business sense.
So I tried to create mini packages,
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more affordable options for startups, and
that was really what inspired me to create
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my own company. It wasn't even
about proving any point or trying to be
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anything. I just wanted to be
there for startups in a way that was
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affordable, but only startups that cared
enough right And I also dedicated good time
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to teaching start offs how to care
about their brand, their communication and stuff.
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I also give back as well,
which is the period where it was
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codirected again of started grind Legos,
which I did for almost four or five
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years of my life. So the
ecosystem was really important to me, and
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by now you should be able to
tell that Africa it is important to me,
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so making sure that African businesses succeed
became something that I held in high
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esteem as one of my important life
missions. Um. And so when I
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changed my interpretation of what it meant
to save lives, I realized that businesses
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were saving lives. In fact,
every single one of us who work for
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a business or contract or do something
for a business, we're contributing our quota
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to keep that business alive. And
if that business is alive, it means
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that the employees get to have means
of livelihood and sustain their own family.
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So in many ways, we're keeping
dreams alive, we're keeping businesses alive,
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but we're also keeping people alive.
And that was such a mind shifting discovery
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for me. Um. And I
guess that's sit in summary, and I
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don't know if that answers your question, but yeah, that was really what
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led me to start in my business
at such a young age. I had
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experimented with working in big organizations,
but it wasn't directly having impact directly to
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the startups. It was just feeding
the bigger people who could afford it.
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And I wanted to change that.
So you found a niche that you told
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you you can save but are using
the skills, Um, what was if
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you record what was the first experience
like of like working with your first big
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company, if you can record that
experience and what was that transition from you
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know, all that you lend and
applying it to this company that depended on
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you for their growth, for their
storytelling, if you can recall, Like
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I want to know how that story
actually panned out, if if you can
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record it. Um, So,
I worked for so while working as an
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agency, you don't work for just
one big company, right, so you
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would be on a couple of brands, like you would be told these are
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your these are now your babies,
are now your three brands or two brands
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that you're responsible for? Um And
one of the things I had learned one
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of my biggest encounters, I was
too what's the nicest way to put this
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without making myself look bad. I
was too experimental for big companies in my
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like in my first couple of months, right I then I was young,
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so I didn't know how to determine
what rules I am breaking or communicates while
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I'm breaking those rules. I was
too experimental. But if you know anything
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about big companies is like there's always
due process and this processes exist for a
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reason, right, but then experiencing
a company thing, this is the brief,
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this is what we want you to
do, and this is what's most
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important to us vessels them also being
very very cautious and being you know,
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held back because they don't want to
offend. It's really a tricky place to
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be at the time. I did
understand this because I'm like, if you
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want to if this is what you
want to do, why not just do
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this right? Um, which is
a learning point now that I'm sharing with
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everyone. I just they understand.
It's like, if you want if you
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want this, if you want this
result, that's the way to get that
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results. But then there were consequences
of those results got in that way,
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and these were not on ethical practices. It's just that these things with bigger
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companies, they have so much more
to lose. I was at as recently
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at an event where um it was
the events were supposed to happen. In
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fact, people had already arrived,
but their news about this is very recent.
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Now the news about the Queen's death
came up and it was somewhere in
304
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London, and the news about the
Queen's death came up and they had to
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cancel that events. Because if the
company had continued with the you know events
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just the way that they had planned
it, which was going to be like
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a mini party but networking thing,
it would have been listen topreted by the
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media that they were celebrating the queen's
death. So just like on a normal
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day, my young self would probably
not have understood the link because I was
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new, But now I understand how
the stakes could be higher. So that
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was one of the biggest challenges I've
faced at the time, but it was
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exhilarating. It was so great.
It was such a great experience to have
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such big budgets, to be able
to meet such great people, to be
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able to meet people that you only
heard about on TV and connect with them
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and build honest relationships. These are
really important you know moments. They also
316
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shipped my thinking, helped me see
how big organizations thoughts, helped me learn
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about structure. It was such a
great building point for my career non transition
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into working for smaller companies. Smaller
companies to most times do not have the
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money to spend on something as like
they would say free willers as branding.
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In fact, at that time,
branding may not be their priority. Um
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they would always think about something else. But I'm happy now that based on
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great work that we did earlier around
in the years, people are now beginning
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to realize that, you know,
branding is a very integral part of your
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business, is the great out of
your communication, and communications are group outs
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of your business, and these are
not things to be taken for granted.
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UM. So transitioning into that,
I learned that when you don't have money,
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you have to be creative. When
you don't have budgets, it doesn't
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mean that what you're trying to achieve
is impossible. You just have to find
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a different way to achieve it.
And that tested my creativity, which then
330
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got out very creative, so it
was easy to sort of, you know,
331
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work with that and achieve really stellar
results. Also builds my capacity for
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organic growth UM. Learning how to
help businesses gain and you know work get
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organic growth. UM. One of
the really interesting things that I learned during
334
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that period was understanding how to communicate
with your clients. Knowing that yes,
335
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you're a professional and you have such
great ideas, you have to understand that
336
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you can't give your clients something that
they hate just because you're a professional.
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You need to learn how to listen
and listening to what is said, and
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then said, there's a popular quote
that I think they said. Ford said,
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I'm not sure, but it's something
around if I had asked people what
340
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they wanted, they would have said
faster horses. I don't quite agree with
341
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that quote because from a very personal
point of view, it's not realistic,
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Like it just tells me that Ford
wasn't listening. People may not be able
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to articulate what they want, but
they know what they want. So yes,
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if you listen to those people,
they were saying faster horses because horses
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were their reality at that time,
But what they were really trying to say
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was I want to get from point
A to point B faster, and so
347
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anything that would help me get from
point eight to point B faster is what
348
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I'm going to sign up for.
And just understanding that changes your perception and
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how you even approach your clients.
Knowing how to ask the right questions,
350
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knowing how to ask questions that would
get them to articulate what it is that
351
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they're trying to see, or would
get them to on earth what it is
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that they're feeling. Um the last
example, I know, I'm talking a
353
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lot. But I was hard a
client who we did something with her,
354
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and she kept saying no to everything, and I was like, why are
355
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you saying no? Um, she
couldn't explain why she was saying no.
356
00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:36.599
But by asking her questions upon questions
upon questions. But it was a little
357
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on earth that she didn't like the
particular grain because it reminded her of an
358
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:47.920
old business that she didn't want to, you know, associate with anymore.
359
00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:52.240
And even more, she wanted to
put something that was special, like she
360
00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:56.519
wanted to encompass a feeling of her
mother that she really really loved in the
361
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business. And so when she was
suggesting a couple of things, it wasn't
362
00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:03.279
because she really wanted those things.
It was because she wanted to add a
363
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.960
bit of her mother into the business. And that was like, by asking
364
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her, we were now able to
find what it was that she was trying
365
00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:15.839
to achieve and find more authentic ways
to achieve those things. So by being
366
00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:19.519
able to ask more questions, you'll
be able to identify what your audience is
367
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:22.160
trying to achieve or what your kind
is trying to achieve. But even better,
368
00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:26.920
you'll be able to work together to
do something innovative. If you're truly
369
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a professional, it shouldn't be one
way you're thinking should have been one way.
370
00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.960
You should be able to work and
partner with your clients to make something
371
00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.839
that you both love. You shouldn't
be a or that it shouldn't be like
372
00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:40.759
your way or the highway. And
so all of these things were things that
373
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:45.000
I had to learn on the job
as a founder. And also knowing that
374
00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:48.880
you know you can't do everything.
You know you always need help, knowing
375
00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.160
how to talk to your team members
and get them on board with the vision.
376
00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:55.880
And you know, yeah, if
any people who aligned with what's it
377
00:27:55.960 --> 00:28:00.720
easier you're trying to achieve as well, who understand what the goal is and
378
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:06.319
and respect the people that you're your
survey And this is really like mind shifting
379
00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:11.920
experiences that I took out of my
experience going from big companies to smaller companies
380
00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:21.279
and they're now building big companies.
Yeah, that's um very insightful. I
381
00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:26.359
mean I would kind of describe you
as a mature changemaker because when I look
382
00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:32.799
at myself, UM, I would
say I had to learn the hard way
383
00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:36.960
that for somebody to change something,
you need to understand the system first.
384
00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:42.960
So in that transition that that you
described, I would like to know maybe
385
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:48.599
how now, in your capacity as
a founder, how do you kind of
386
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:55.839
create the environment for both the necessary
structure but still enable your employees collaborators to
387
00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:00.319
be creative. I don't know if
you have any insights on that. I
388
00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:04.319
think that I've found like different ways
to do this in different certains, but
389
00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:08.599
one of the most insightful ways is
just putting them through an exercise where they
390
00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:12.960
have to put themselves in the shoes
of the person, the client that they're
391
00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:18.319
serving. When you can help people
come from a place of service as opposed
392
00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:25.440
to a place of you know,
just authority, it changes the mindset,
393
00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:30.119
right. I've always said that leadership
is not just about authorities, also about
394
00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:34.720
service, and maybe more African politicians
or their rules as leaders as servants,
395
00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:41.440
not just authorities. It would also
change how they approach leadership. So I
396
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.240
often put my team members in spaces
where they are leaders, where they're in
397
00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:49.319
charge, where they are calling the
shots and also dealing with the responsibilities,
398
00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:55.160
where they're also connected with the people
who they're serving and understanding them from a
399
00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.759
place of empathy and a place of
love. As opposed to be a place
400
00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:02.200
of you have a proble, the
best of its kind of energy, like
401
00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:06.359
just the right mindset is empathy.
Because if you can't connect with what this
402
00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:10.319
person is going through, if you
can't connect with this person's problem and how
403
00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:14.200
they really feel while going through that
problem, and you just keep looking at
404
00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:17.440
it as, oh, it's a
math problem, let's solve it. What's
405
00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:21.359
the formula, You're not going to
be able to create a personalized solution for
406
00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:27.039
that person or a personalized experience for
that person. I've also realized that somehow
407
00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:33.920
unconsciously, I have been building very
community led businesses where it's not just about
408
00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:40.119
problems solution, but it's also about
community and people finding belonging in his space.
409
00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:45.119
UM. And so allowing my team
members to be in that space where
410
00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:48.880
they can also see the transformation story, be part of the transformation story,
411
00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:53.480
and know that they made that transformation
story happen. That has been really amazing.
412
00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:57.400
UM. I've watched so many and
they see the impact in their own
413
00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:00.480
lives as well, which is what
is really call. I also create a
414
00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:04.680
space where people can disagree with me. I try not to be the only
415
00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:10.079
person who is always talking. I'm
always asking for feedback. I want to
416
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.119
know you know, what do you
think about this? How did you feel
417
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:14.519
about this? What did this make
you? You know, all of those
418
00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:18.559
different steps. I want them to
be able to give me their own feedback
419
00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:21.200
as well. So if there are
things that I need to change, I'll
420
00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.240
change them. And the things that
we both need to change will change them.
421
00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:26.759
The things they need to change,
they will change them. And so
422
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:32.440
leaving from that space where I'm open
to feedback, they give properly. They
423
00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:37.240
can call me out and say this
is wrong, and we can have a
424
00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:41.400
a good and comfortable disagreement, because
disagreement is not always a bad thing.
425
00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.200
Right, we can disagree, but
whoever then has the superior arguments, which
426
00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:49.079
is not always me, believe it
or not? Um winds and then cause
427
00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:56.640
the shots and also takes responsibility for
whatever the The outcome of that shot is
428
00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.839
that has been really life changing,
and I've seen that in my team.
429
00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:04.440
I've also seen how people within my
team tend to really really grew and you
430
00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:08.279
become even more confident just based on
things like that. But that's the transformation
431
00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:13.960
story, where people are connecting with
the people that they're they're serving and seeing
432
00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:17.240
how directly it's impact is impacting their
lives. That's also something that gives such
433
00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:22.039
a great mind shift. I hope
I answered your question. Yes, you
434
00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:28.720
definitely did. Yeah. So the
question I want to ask now is maybe
435
00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:32.200
let's do a little more education.
People hear about branding and they don't know
436
00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:37.559
what it is. People now as
you have helped make it very pop and
437
00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:42.119
popular, um here about you know, personal branding, for instance, but
438
00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:45.160
they didn't know what it is.
If you can give us a very short
439
00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.640
education on branding, what would that
be? And if you can circled that
440
00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:52.240
into building a personal brand, something
that I think you've done excellently well for
441
00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.519
yourself. What would be the takeaways
you give to the audience on how to
442
00:32:54.519 --> 00:33:00.480
build a personal brand? Oh my
god, this is a very pregnant question.
443
00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:04.599
I don't know how I can try
to sve this up into such a
444
00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:07.880
short time. But don't worry.
I have a skill in making complex things
445
00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:13.359
sounds simple, So I'm going to
try. Um First, I've been in
446
00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.720
workshops where I would ask questions like
what do you think branding is? And
447
00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:19.319
people will tell me things like,
you know, your brand is your logo,
448
00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:22.200
it's your phones is your color is
your you know, they have all
449
00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:27.599
these different um ways that they describe
Brandon is your product, it's packaging,
450
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:31.319
it's these different things. But the
truth is branding is all of those things
451
00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:37.599
tied together, working in tandem.
Right. I like to define branding as
452
00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:43.319
who you are consistently as you interact
with your tyget audience. This means who
453
00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:45.680
you are is on one thing.
Who you are is a limbal between who
454
00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:47.960
I mean, yes, it's a
limbo between who you used to be.
455
00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:51.480
That's who you're trying to be.
And so you're just somewhere there in the
456
00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:54.920
limbo and you're transitioning. It shows
you that Brandon is a journey and not
457
00:33:55.200 --> 00:34:00.119
a destination, both for products and
for individuals. So no mean that you
458
00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:05.720
as an individual or you're not just
a man or a woman or any other
459
00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:09.480
gender. You're not just a dark
skinned person or a light skinned person.
460
00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:13.960
You're not just like you're not just
one thing or the other. It's all
461
00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:17.639
of those things coming together that makes
you you. I am not just a
462
00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:22.239
wife or a daughter or a you
know, a branding and comes person.
463
00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:27.519
That's not all I am. And
so if someone wanted to describe me to
464
00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:30.599
someone who was looking for me.
They wouldn't just say, oh, I'm
465
00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:32.840
looking for blessing, because there's so
many persons in the world. And you
466
00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:37.679
wouldn't say I'm just looking for blessing
a bank. Someone would probably ask which
467
00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.880
blessing a bank? And so you
have to go deeper to extend other features
468
00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:45.119
that come together to make me.
The reason that you are special is that
469
00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:49.920
you're the only one with your whole
combination that exists. So being able to
470
00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:54.440
identify those different combinations that make you
unique, that's the beauty. So when
471
00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:59.760
I talk about branding, I say, don't start by thinking, you know,
472
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.039
oh, I want to package myself. No, starts by realizing where
473
00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.559
am I right now? What are
the things that I like? What are
474
00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:08.199
things that I do not like?
What is my personality? And even as
475
00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:12.199
a business that that's something if you
think about your business as a human being,
476
00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:16.159
what is the personality of that human
being? You know a lot of
477
00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:20.480
times we think that oh B two
B B two. See, but at
478
00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.599
the end of the day, life
is human to human. Nobody is doing
479
00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:27.880
business with the robots. If you
think about it, it's a business that
480
00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:31.239
somebody builds. Most of the businesses
that are strong. Are the businesses that
481
00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:37.559
have an element of human connection,
even if they are machines. So being
482
00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:42.800
able to build a kind of human
to human connection requires you thinking like a
483
00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:46.599
human, even machines are programmed to
behave like humans. If you do this,
484
00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:52.880
then this right. What are what
are your uniqueness? What are your
485
00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:54.880
personality traits? And if you don't
know, you could go to a website
486
00:35:54.880 --> 00:36:00.800
called sixteen personalities dot com. Answer
those questions as on a as possible if
487
00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:04.679
your business answer them like your business
was a human being answering those questions,
488
00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:09.480
and then on earth what you know
comes out of that dig deeper. Also
489
00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:13.800
reach out to like five of your
closest friends and write ask them to give
490
00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:16.639
you five adjectives to describe yourself,
and then you also write five adjectives to
491
00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:21.039
describe it. You try to find
what is consistent between what you said and
492
00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:23.880
what they said, and also what's
consistent between what they said you didn't see,
493
00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:28.079
because sometimes again we have blind spots. The things that we're trying to
494
00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:31.719
say is not necessarily what we're we're
projected. The process of branding is going
495
00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:37.599
from your intended brands to your perceived
brand, and what does this MANI means
496
00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:40.320
I want to be seeing a certain
way. Um, and this is my
497
00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:45.920
intention. However, it doesn't mean
that people are perceiving me that way.
498
00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:49.159
So how can I, for that
ensure that these people perceive me the way
499
00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:52.880
that I intend to be perceived?
Trying to make it authentic? Don't you
500
00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:57.639
do something that is they lie or
a false creation of yourself instead of faking
501
00:36:57.639 --> 00:37:00.920
it till you make it grow into
it to turn mean, these are the
502
00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.320
things that I want to change.
These are the things that I do not
503
00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:06.119
like about my current self right now
that I want to sort of, you
504
00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:09.880
know, evolve into. And so
let that evolution be a journey. By
505
00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:14.800
branding is that process where you are
journeying to these plays that you want to
506
00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:16.480
get to, and as you even
get there, you would realize that you
507
00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:21.000
want more, There's something else that
you want, and you would keep retiating
508
00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:23.000
and reinventing yourself. Who you are
ten years ago, it's not who you
509
00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:28.960
are now. So starting from that
point of self awareness is important doing checking
510
00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.960
what is on ground, googling yourself
and saying do I like what I'm saying
511
00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:35.280
online? Do I like my digital
footprint? Where I like my offline foot
512
00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:37.360
prints. What do I want to
change? That's where it really starts in
513
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:43.079
your mind and in reality. Um. Last thing I would say is when
514
00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:46.519
you think about your brand, think
about three critical things. Um. First
515
00:37:46.679 --> 00:37:52.440
identity, communication, and then credibility. Your identity is what makes you recognizable
516
00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:57.519
to your audience. And so if
if you don't have any recognizable features,
517
00:37:57.559 --> 00:38:01.360
if you're not intentional about how you
want to be organized, not just um
518
00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:07.679
outwardly, but also inwardly as well. Things that are unique identifiers for you
519
00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:14.320
your voice, your tone, your
how you appear, what colors like.
520
00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:19.800
If you say you're an introvert and
you don't want to be, you know
521
00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:22.760
in too many places you don't want
to be perceived as an extrovert. What
522
00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:27.400
are key things you're going to do? What are key defining factors that matter
523
00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:29.920
to you? What is your mission? What is it that is important to
524
00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:32.360
you? And then take that into
even your colors. Right, you wouldn't
525
00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:36.519
be like, I'm an introvert,
but I'm going to and I want to.
526
00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:40.119
I want to communicate a certain tone
of calmness. And then you use
527
00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:45.000
read as your as your color is
going to be weird, So understanding the
528
00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:49.760
color psychology, the fund psychology,
based on the personality and tone you're trying
529
00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:52.719
to communicate, it's really really important. Then taking that your personal mission and
530
00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:55.880
your strengths, what you're good at, what you know, all of those
531
00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:59.239
things, packaging them. I saying
this is how I want to serve the
532
00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:04.519
world and money from it. Taking
that and then communicating it to the outside
533
00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:07.920
people, to yourself and to your
team members. That's where communication comes in.
534
00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:13.440
Then moving to credibility. Credibility is
more like you know the kind of
535
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:19.639
people you partner with, reinforcing reinforcing
trust because again branding is about truck or
536
00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:22.800
you're doing is to just be a
trust with your audience. So if you
537
00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:25.119
don't even know your audience, that's
another problem because who are you really talking
538
00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:28.800
to? Right to knowing who you're
talking to, knowing that you're not for
539
00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:34.400
everyone and you're for someone, um, that's really a mind shift that is
540
00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:37.960
necessary. Also moving from that and
knowing that you don't partner with people just
541
00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:43.679
based on their numbers, but also
based on vision or mission alignment. One
542
00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:46.920
of my favorite examples is like you
can't be a vegan and be having a
543
00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:51.840
partnership with Karsay, Like what exactly
is going on there is going to be
544
00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:55.559
weird. You can't be a climate
change enthusiast and be having a partnership with
545
00:39:55.639 --> 00:40:00.840
like an oil bunkery organization or something
like. It doesn't extent. So you
546
00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:04.079
need to be able to know how
to choose the kind of partners that we
547
00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:07.519
enforce your values, your mission and
your goals and and maybe you have shared
548
00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:13.159
audience with them, or maybe you're
trying to explore new audience. But because
549
00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:15.719
of that alignment, that's why you're
doing what you're doing. You also need
550
00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:19.760
to be able to make it,
promise and keep it because that's how you
551
00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:23.760
be trust. You need to be
able to um share your work, share
552
00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:28.320
the testimonials of your work, share
the transformational impact of your work, and
553
00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:34.519
things like that. Those things are
life changing and very important. Yeah.
554
00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:40.360
In summary, Yeah, so that
is a full cause on branding given to
555
00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:44.760
us. If you want more,
definitely take lessons cause. Oh, by
556
00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.400
the way, I think I actually
have a free e book and I don't
557
00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:51.280
know if that's something we can pin
to to you know, the description board.
558
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:53.039
I would be happy to share that
link to the free e book so
559
00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:57.559
people can just sort of explore this
topic a bit deeper. I call it
560
00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:00.079
the nine piece of branding. And
I every one who has read the book
561
00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:05.639
has only given me positive feedback,
So fingers crossed that you also have a
562
00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:10.599
positive experience. A quick but very
comprehensive over your whole Brandon, And so
563
00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:14.639
everybody listened to the podcast now can
have an idea. And I like how
564
00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:19.800
you sort of pinned it to that
personal narrative about how you should be authentic
565
00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:22.440
to yourself, how you should you
know, just talking about some of the
566
00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:27.320
things that people might know, like
identity, about what that really means behind
567
00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:30.960
the just the worst and the colors, and how you just it's all about,
568
00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:36.280
I guess, in mind words,
identifying yourself to the world as uniquely
569
00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:38.840
and as authentic as you can.
But those are the elements that can want
570
00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:43.239
to the communication. All of that, well is just helping you put yourself
571
00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:49.199
out there in a way that consistently
communicates who that person that you are as
572
00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:53.360
an individual, as two people,
and I think that is something that everybody
573
00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:58.519
should do. Like you know,
you talking brings me to you. You
574
00:41:58.599 --> 00:42:01.199
made a point about how example,
if you wanted to change your possession about
575
00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:07.599
yourself that people have then It is
not for you to just say, okay,
576
00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:12.159
I want to have this brand,
but we also conscious that you want
577
00:42:12.199 --> 00:42:16.719
to be the person actually that you
now want to change from. So something
578
00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:22.400
that it wasn't very conscious to me
but now is to the very short presentation
579
00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:29.440
give on branding, is that becoming
a world of branding actually helps you reflect
580
00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:31.480
on who you are as a person, and if you didn't like something about
581
00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:37.960
yourself, it encourages you to change
from that and build a brand that is
582
00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:43.199
more toward the new person that you
want to become, which is very you
583
00:42:43.239 --> 00:42:45.960
know, which is something that I
guess most people don't talk about now like
584
00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:49.440
it has a kind of a transformative
element to it. So that's very great
585
00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:54.119
glass to hear that that may be
so happy. Okay, so now let's
586
00:42:54.119 --> 00:42:58.159
talk about Aggressive of Good and what
if you are doing that. You you
587
00:42:58.280 --> 00:43:01.079
join as a director of communications and
like with all the other things, you
588
00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:05.880
quickly ruse um and you became a
co found that what is Aggressive for Good
589
00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:08.559
death and why has it been so
successful and raising so much money? And
590
00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:15.119
what is the impact that is making
across technology in Africa. Wow, that's
591
00:43:15.159 --> 00:43:17.719
a very big question, but I
would try to answer is as simply as
592
00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:21.440
I can. As you can tell, I'm very excited whenever we talked about
593
00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:25.239
Aggressive for Good because our soul mission
is to increase the any power of African
594
00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:30.559
news by empowering them with tech skills
and resources and community that they need for
595
00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:35.800
growth. Right, and how this
all came about was, you know,
596
00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:40.840
we explored someone who graduated from school, two people who graduated from school,
597
00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:45.320
one person doing you know, a
banking job entry level, and somebody doing
598
00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:47.639
a tech job entry level. Chances
are the person doing the tech job will
599
00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:52.599
get two times to five times more
pay than the person who's doing the banking
600
00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.639
job. Um. We also explored
what would be the barrier to entry,
601
00:43:55.719 --> 00:43:59.639
you know, what does it take
to really learn a tech skill? And
602
00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:02.719
for many tech skills, especially the
ones that we're focusing on, you need
603
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:07.159
just three to six months to lend
the basics and then you spend your life
604
00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:13.480
perfecting it. Um and basics.
Sometimes it's all people need, just saying
605
00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:15.639
the way that we've been able to. Initially used to struggle, you know,
606
00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:21.360
I used to say, why exactly
are we Why exactly are we you
607
00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:25.800
know, trying to exactly We're trying
to impact so many people, you know,
608
00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:30.079
we could have different connections with each
one. But then when I see
609
00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:34.480
the kind of success stories that we
get where there's a woman who was making
610
00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:38.360
soap to make ends meds was earning
only twenty tho our own month and and
611
00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:43.480
that's all she had. And then
six months down to line she has learned
612
00:44:43.559 --> 00:44:49.360
a death development ski and sorry stuff
with death skill and we've given high laptop.
613
00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:52.159
Next thing, we know, she's
in a job where she's earning two
614
00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:55.079
hundred k, which is ten times
where she's the end before or someone who
615
00:44:55.119 --> 00:45:00.400
was a farmer. And then certainly
you know lends skill in this line and
616
00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:04.639
now she can fend for herself because
she's earning enough money from the jobs and
617
00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:08.440
the projects that she's being able to
do UM to make ends meets for her
618
00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:13.480
family. All of those kind of
stories just sort of transform, like it
619
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:16.320
changed my thinking. Made me realize
that sometimes some people just need one to
620
00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:22.159
encounter and they take that little seed
and turn it into something really huge.
621
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:25.000
It feels like Investive for Good is
that mustard seed for a lot of people,
622
00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:30.280
they just need that suit into them
and their lives change. UM one
623
00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:35.239
of our one of our beneficiaries actually
two of our beneficiaries where community leads came
624
00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:38.960
together co founded a business that was
solving a social problem and now they're in
625
00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:44.920
y SI valued at thirty million dollars. So the success stories are there.
626
00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:51.239
The work is speaking for itself consistently, so I guess when people see that,
627
00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:53.119
they wasn't happy to reach out and
say, this is something we love,
628
00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:55.800
this is something we want to support. To anybody who's listening to this
629
00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:59.440
podcast right now, it's feeling inspired, was to do a bit more,
630
00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:04.239
you know, diggin day just such
inrestive for good on on any platform and
631
00:46:04.559 --> 00:46:07.559
you will find the stories. You
know, you'll find the success stories.
632
00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:12.800
UM always like it's so beautiful to
see how many entry level tech people have
633
00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:16.719
encountered aggressive for good in one way
or the other. And that's inspiring for
634
00:46:16.840 --> 00:46:22.760
us. So Google, sorry,
yeah, Google alphabets UM supported us with
635
00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:27.559
two hundred and fifty k U s
D to be able to drive division.
636
00:46:27.880 --> 00:46:34.320
We've had so many strong partnerships with
like Facebook, UM yeah, Cosera,
637
00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:39.920
these account interesting people, Global Partnership
Masterclass, and it's just inspiring all around,
638
00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:44.599
to be honest, that's really the
work. Now. Our community has
639
00:46:44.639 --> 00:46:46.840
gone from zero and in just two
years, we have a community over two
640
00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:51.360
hundred thousand people. We've trained over
a hundred thousand people. Um, were
641
00:46:51.400 --> 00:46:55.559
consistently also realizing that women make up
the bulk of our community. We have
642
00:46:55.599 --> 00:47:01.159
fifty six percent women in our community
and and we men have been just fantastic.
643
00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:07.000
And so yeah, that's that's in
in a nutshell, just such inspiring
644
00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:09.400
work. And I know I sound
really really excited for It's the topic I
645
00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:13.119
really love to talk about. And
I could go on and on and on
646
00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:19.880
and on. So what is the
next transition for aggressive, especially for me?
647
00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:25.559
I mean knowing that you've led this
organization to now bigger hides and you
648
00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:31.000
as a woman putting your work out
there, what is the plans that Inclussive
649
00:47:31.079 --> 00:47:37.320
have specifically for women and technologists found
as people who are aspiring to great things,
650
00:47:37.320 --> 00:47:39.519
who probably who also got a project
to go to y see like some
651
00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:45.360
of the sex and stories. Okay, um, I think that's the next
652
00:47:45.400 --> 00:47:47.920
thing for us. Really, it's
just ensuring that more and more people get
653
00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:52.000
placed. One of the gaps that
we're finding is because of how fast face
654
00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:55.920
the text face is. Most people
are looking for senior talents, but they're
655
00:47:55.920 --> 00:48:00.480
not necessarily recognizing the power of junior
talents, right, and so you just
656
00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:05.159
see all these like big roles that
people are trying to feel, but not
657
00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:12.639
enough internship roles or um entry level
opportunities. And you would never really have
658
00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:16.239
the next generation of senior level talent
if nobody is giving the junior level talents
659
00:48:16.239 --> 00:48:22.440
of today opportunities to be able to
express the talent and build and grow or
660
00:48:22.480 --> 00:48:25.760
even learn under currency your leadership.
So one of the things we're really trying
661
00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:31.320
to do is build a culture where
entry levels talents are seen as valuable and
662
00:48:31.440 --> 00:48:36.440
they're giving the opportunities that they need
to become the next level talents of the
663
00:48:36.519 --> 00:48:39.079
next decade um. And so that's
something that we've been prioritizing a lot.
664
00:48:39.480 --> 00:48:44.440
That's something we've been going into a
lot of partnerships for just to figure out
665
00:48:44.679 --> 00:48:47.800
how can we create more opportunities for
entry level talent. So that's something that's
666
00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:52.400
in fact, that's priority. That's
that's the most important thing on our on
667
00:48:52.440 --> 00:48:57.239
our checkbox. But yes, side
starts. You know, um, I
668
00:48:57.320 --> 00:49:00.679
think that the community is in a
place where it it's building itself and it's
669
00:49:00.719 --> 00:49:06.159
fuel in itself where community members who
have gone on to be successful, are
670
00:49:06.159 --> 00:49:09.199
now coming back and putting donations back
into the company and say, oh my
671
00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:13.760
god, you touched my life in
this way. I want to donates back
672
00:49:13.880 --> 00:49:16.519
to this organization that formed me or
shaped me. I want to hire from
673
00:49:16.519 --> 00:49:20.280
your talent ball. I want to
do X y Z so I can pay
674
00:49:20.280 --> 00:49:22.679
this forward. And that's really really
strong. But I think that we would
675
00:49:22.679 --> 00:49:27.239
even be able to do way more
if more people are donating and supporting us.
676
00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:34.239
So anybody who wants to support,
please support We're here. You know,
677
00:49:34.280 --> 00:49:37.599
in one of the articles that you're
featured on, you spoke about the
678
00:49:37.639 --> 00:49:42.199
fact that, Um, you're creative, but you're able to combine the logic
679
00:49:42.239 --> 00:49:45.719
side of things. How does that
work in practice for you as being a
680
00:49:45.800 --> 00:49:49.960
very creative individual who also likes to, you know, thing deeply about things
681
00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:54.159
and plan and have structure. What
has that balance look like in the practice
682
00:49:54.239 --> 00:50:01.079
of your numerous endeavors. Um,
I don't know how to directly answer this
683
00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:06.880
question, because it sort of happens
very organically for me, Like it happens
684
00:50:06.920 --> 00:50:12.840
like brilliant for me. You know
how you're breathiant, like automatically right,
685
00:50:13.119 --> 00:50:15.800
and you just pot for a second
to think about with how am I breathing
686
00:50:15.840 --> 00:50:21.239
and then it just becomes liberals.
That's the same story for my logic and
687
00:50:21.320 --> 00:50:24.039
magic side. UM. I don't
start out saying, oh, I want
688
00:50:24.079 --> 00:50:28.320
to do something creative or oh I
want to do something strategic. For me,
689
00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:31.519
the two worlds exist together. Everything
you must be doing, must have
690
00:50:31.639 --> 00:50:36.960
a result, must have goals,
must have something that you're trying to achieve,
691
00:50:37.079 --> 00:50:39.599
right and then when they don't,
you know that you're just experimenting.
692
00:50:39.639 --> 00:50:43.199
You know that I don't know what
the end good of this thing is,
693
00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:45.440
but I'm just trying to see where
it goes. So knowing that these two
694
00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:51.519
things can exist very differently but then
can also be combined, it's such a
695
00:50:51.559 --> 00:50:57.039
powerful skill. Um. I guess
I've always cared about if whenever I work
696
00:50:57.079 --> 00:51:00.599
for any organization, one of the
first steps or things that I do is
697
00:51:00.679 --> 00:51:04.480
ask what is the company's goal?
What are we trying to achieve as a
698
00:51:04.519 --> 00:51:07.079
company, And then I go back
and reflect on what is my role in
699
00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:13.440
helping the company achieve these goals?
And so making my mindset work like that
700
00:51:14.280 --> 00:51:16.599
has been very pivotal for me,
and I guess that's what gives me the
701
00:51:16.599 --> 00:51:22.880
strength that I have where I don't
see things from just a very black and
702
00:51:22.880 --> 00:51:24.719
white point of view, but I
also don't see from the very colored point
703
00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:28.320
of view, knowing that there's a
green between. But then you could also
704
00:51:28.360 --> 00:51:31.679
special pastels. That's how I see
life, and that has been very instrumental.
705
00:51:31.760 --> 00:51:36.480
It's so sad that I can give
like a formula, but this is
706
00:51:36.480 --> 00:51:40.119
exactly how it works for Anybody who
works with me knows how it works because
707
00:51:40.119 --> 00:51:44.440
I expressed it. But maybe that's
my next assignment. I'm going to spend
708
00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:49.920
time over the next couple of months
just really paying more attention to my process.
709
00:51:49.960 --> 00:51:52.679
But one thing I also do is
documents. So maybe I could reflect
710
00:51:52.679 --> 00:51:55.039
on things that I've documented in the
past and pay attention to the trends that
711
00:51:55.079 --> 00:51:59.920
I've noticed. Okay, if you
do that, to be happy to know.
712
00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:07.679
Um, you are a winner.
So you have progressed so fast and
713
00:52:07.719 --> 00:52:10.639
so many things. What is the
ultimate winner's mindset? At least for you,
714
00:52:13.199 --> 00:52:16.840
the ultimate winners mindset is heavily tied
to the failure mindset. How you
715
00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:22.760
perceive filia would ultimately affect how you
perceive winning. UM. For me,
716
00:52:23.320 --> 00:52:28.519
based on just this experiment point of
view, I don't see failure the way
717
00:52:28.559 --> 00:52:30.880
I used to see failure many years
ago. Before failure used to be like
718
00:52:30.920 --> 00:52:35.039
something that would drain my energy and
make me feel so sad, lost,
719
00:52:35.280 --> 00:52:37.079
depressed everything like, you know,
you just be like in the state of
720
00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:42.119
all I have, I have failed, you know, and the grass should
721
00:52:42.119 --> 00:52:46.800
open up as swallow me. But
being able to embraise this experiment cell point
722
00:52:46.840 --> 00:52:50.119
of view, where I say the
goal is not to be right but to
723
00:52:50.199 --> 00:52:55.599
discover it makes video sound like another
discovery. So it's like I experimented with
724
00:52:55.639 --> 00:53:00.480
this. Nobody in this world,
to be honest, knows a thing for
725
00:53:00.599 --> 00:53:04.440
sure. It's like we're all just
trying things out and hoping that they would
726
00:53:04.480 --> 00:53:08.360
work out. We really don't know
anything for sure because it's not really even
727
00:53:08.440 --> 00:53:13.719
just your choices that are making decisions
for you. There's so many other choices
728
00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:16.079
that are outside of your control.
There are things within your control, but
729
00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:20.880
there's so many things outside of your
control that sometimes have nothing to do with
730
00:53:20.920 --> 00:53:23.280
you. The best you can do
is what you're doing or what you can
731
00:53:23.360 --> 00:53:28.000
do. So do the one that
you can do, and then when you
732
00:53:28.039 --> 00:53:30.760
put that out into the world,
you know you've done your path right.
733
00:53:30.159 --> 00:53:34.840
How it comes back to you.
It's not entirely your faults, but then
734
00:53:34.880 --> 00:53:37.679
you could take your lessons from it. That could there have been a better
735
00:53:37.679 --> 00:53:39.440
way that I could have shown up
for this. Is there anything else that
736
00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:44.119
I can do to make the odds
come to my favor? Is there something
737
00:53:44.159 --> 00:53:45.920
that I could learn from this?
Is there something else that you know?
738
00:53:45.960 --> 00:53:51.800
Like just exploring the failures. Every
single failure led me here. Every single
739
00:53:51.840 --> 00:53:54.760
failure either made me decide, you
know, more, resolved for something,
740
00:53:55.119 --> 00:54:00.639
quit something else, you know,
poll more, try a different strategy approach.
741
00:54:00.920 --> 00:54:06.800
It just prepared me to win again. So approaching my life from the
742
00:54:06.880 --> 00:54:09.360
point of view that failure is not
there to break me, And maybe think
743
00:54:09.400 --> 00:54:14.159
about it like a game, you
know how you have to keep repeating a
744
00:54:14.280 --> 00:54:15.679
level until you pass it so you
can get to the next level. When
745
00:54:15.719 --> 00:54:20.039
you're playing games, I think that
that's really how life is. You just
746
00:54:20.639 --> 00:54:23.000
have to keep trying until you pass
it. You don't have control over the
747
00:54:23.039 --> 00:54:27.440
obstacles that are coming. You only
have control over you, the player,
748
00:54:27.800 --> 00:54:30.840
right, so you only have to
learn newer ways to tackle that obstacle.
749
00:54:30.920 --> 00:54:34.840
But you will not learn it if
you don't feel it. And that's how
750
00:54:34.880 --> 00:54:40.519
I see it experimenting consistently and I
guess that's the ultimate winners mindset thing that
751
00:54:40.599 --> 00:54:44.920
I have going for me for myself, and I hope that more people can
752
00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:50.719
embrace it as well. I like
how when being asked about winning and success
753
00:54:50.719 --> 00:54:53.719
you tied directed failure, because that's
not how lots of people would approach it.
754
00:54:53.800 --> 00:55:00.199
But I really really agree with you
that you need to face the obstacle.
755
00:55:00.360 --> 00:55:04.000
You need to face whatever is in
front of you, and you need
756
00:55:04.039 --> 00:55:07.119
to try to beat it down before
you get to the next day of life,
757
00:55:07.159 --> 00:55:10.519
and your inability to do that is
what time is your journey. But
758
00:55:10.679 --> 00:55:16.000
it means also that consistently trying means
you're growing and you're failing, but the
759
00:55:16.079 --> 00:55:22.559
failure is building more myself for the
next stage. And I really really agree
760
00:55:22.559 --> 00:55:27.400
with that sentiment. UM, what
would be your message for young women who
761
00:55:27.400 --> 00:55:31.239
are aspiring too. I have tried
to move away from saying a sparring to
762
00:55:31.280 --> 00:55:36.519
be like other people like you,
but who are sparring to going to your
763
00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:38.599
own journeys, but you know,
are facing the obstacle of having two for
764
00:55:38.599 --> 00:55:44.599
example, UM, stretched careers,
or start a company when they're so young,
765
00:55:44.840 --> 00:55:49.320
or moving in to aspiring to great
lives, but are not so confident
766
00:55:49.320 --> 00:55:52.000
about himself. And I am asking
that for young woman specificity, because you're
767
00:55:52.039 --> 00:55:58.039
a young woman who's driving so well
in your field. Wow, I have
768
00:55:58.199 --> 00:56:01.280
so much advice for them. And
one of my my biggest advice first would
769
00:56:01.320 --> 00:56:06.400
be pleased. Don't take every advice
that everyone gives you. When you're taking
770
00:56:06.440 --> 00:56:09.440
an advice, try to filter all
of the advice that you're getting and say,
771
00:56:09.599 --> 00:56:14.199
a might the target audience for this
advice is this advice based on my
772
00:56:14.280 --> 00:56:16.599
context? How can I tweak it
to match my context? And how can
773
00:56:16.599 --> 00:56:20.000
I implement it in a way that
it works for me? Right, So
774
00:56:20.039 --> 00:56:23.119
don't just take everything just at face
value. Some will apply, some will
775
00:56:23.199 --> 00:56:28.239
not. Um speaking of things that
would apply, my very first thing would
776
00:56:28.280 --> 00:56:31.639
be too shift to build confidence in
itself, you need to shift focus from
777
00:56:31.679 --> 00:56:37.039
yourself because when you focus too much
on yourself, you begin to pay attention
778
00:56:37.079 --> 00:56:39.800
and zooming to your feedures like nobody
knows you like you know yourself, and
779
00:56:39.840 --> 00:56:43.480
so you begin to zoom into your
felure, zoom into things that you're no
780
00:56:43.559 --> 00:56:45.519
good at, and you end up
under estimating what it is easily You're good
781
00:56:45.519 --> 00:56:50.559
at and overestimating what other people are
good at. So shift your focus from
782
00:56:50.599 --> 00:56:53.719
yourself for a quick minute and try
to focus on the people that you want
783
00:56:53.760 --> 00:56:58.679
to serve. Think about all this
talent that all the things one of the
784
00:56:58.719 --> 00:57:00.360
things that people ask me to help
them with, one of the things that
785
00:57:00.480 --> 00:57:04.719
I think I'm good at that would
be of value to the world. Um.
786
00:57:04.760 --> 00:57:07.440
One of my favorite examples is if
you're holding biscuits in your hand,
787
00:57:07.519 --> 00:57:14.320
and there's a there's like a hungry
child that is standing besides you, hungry,
788
00:57:14.480 --> 00:57:17.639
visibly hungry, with like veins and
everything popping up with their bones and
789
00:57:17.679 --> 00:57:22.239
stuff. Hungry, But you have
biscuits in your hand. Are you going
790
00:57:22.239 --> 00:57:24.360
to say, I'm going to give
you this biskuits because I want to go
791
00:57:24.440 --> 00:57:28.559
home and make rests and chicken before
I come back and give this biscuits.
792
00:57:28.920 --> 00:57:31.039
I really hope that that's not what
you would do. I think that it
793
00:57:31.079 --> 00:57:36.840
would be helpful to give that person
temporary relief now while you make plans to,
794
00:57:37.079 --> 00:57:38.679
you know, go and make rests
and chicken as well, or call
795
00:57:38.760 --> 00:57:44.280
for backup. Um. That's also
how I see using your gifts. If
796
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:47.559
you have something now that you're good
at, start using it, give it
797
00:57:47.599 --> 00:57:52.079
to the people who needed the people
who need it exactly how it is like
798
00:57:52.159 --> 00:57:55.519
that, serve them, and as
you serve them, don't just stop there.
799
00:57:55.920 --> 00:58:00.960
Still give yourself room to improve,
and the more you serve them,
800
00:58:00.239 --> 00:58:04.920
the more you improve. There's so
much that I'm doing now that I am
801
00:58:04.920 --> 00:58:08.320
only doing because I did other things
before, and those things when I was
802
00:58:08.360 --> 00:58:10.880
doing them, I didn't know that
I would be doing what I'm doing now.
803
00:58:12.239 --> 00:58:15.519
And I know the sounds like a
puzzle, but every single thing you
804
00:58:15.639 --> 00:58:20.599
do leads you to the next step. Embrace the spirit of doing, not
805
00:58:20.760 --> 00:58:25.000
just thinking, dreaming, wishing,
hoping. Um do show up the thing
806
00:58:25.079 --> 00:58:29.320
that you have, used it and
show up. Share your work, the
807
00:58:29.360 --> 00:58:32.079
one that you've been able to do, share it, do do do.
808
00:58:32.119 --> 00:58:36.679
The more you do, the better
you get. Practice doesn't make perfect,
809
00:58:36.679 --> 00:58:38.920
it makes progress and progress. It's
really what a loss of us needs right
810
00:58:38.920 --> 00:58:42.280
now to be able to get us
to the next phases of our lives.
811
00:58:42.559 --> 00:58:45.159
You'll be able to encounter new people, people be able to speak for you.
812
00:58:45.440 --> 00:58:49.239
I found one needed to exist for
I puttin to exist. If you
813
00:58:49.320 --> 00:58:51.760
don't use what you have now,
you're not going to get better as is,
814
00:58:51.840 --> 00:58:53.679
and it's not going to be phenomenal
in the future, So use what
815
00:58:53.840 --> 00:58:57.599
you have now to get you to
the next phase of your life. UM.
816
00:58:57.719 --> 00:59:00.719
Second thing would be build community.
See build community with people who are
817
00:59:00.760 --> 00:59:04.480
better than you, people who are
like you, and people who are not
818
00:59:04.519 --> 00:59:07.119
even as good as you. UM, the ones that you learn, teach
819
00:59:07.119 --> 00:59:09.199
it to, the people who are
not as good as you, the ones
820
00:59:09.239 --> 00:59:13.119
that you don't know learn from the
people who are better than you. And
821
00:59:13.159 --> 00:59:15.360
then the things that you you're happy
to share share with the people that are
822
00:59:15.360 --> 00:59:20.559
as good as you, so you
can treat their ideas and find any community
823
00:59:20.599 --> 00:59:22.719
you find yourself. At least identify
one person you want to connect with,
824
00:59:22.800 --> 00:59:27.679
because in twenty years time you don't
know what they're going to be. But
825
00:59:27.719 --> 00:59:30.199
that shouldn't even just be your reason. Being able to have an ally who
826
00:59:30.280 --> 00:59:36.320
is working with you to get to
the next level, who is also hustling
827
00:59:36.360 --> 00:59:38.039
like you're hustling. Maybe hustling is
not the best world, but who is
828
00:59:38.119 --> 00:59:43.280
grinding and you're also grinding, It
inspires you you could both be You know
829
00:59:43.400 --> 00:59:46.960
the shoulders that you lean on each
other for, so knowing those things really
830
00:59:47.239 --> 00:59:52.119
help as you build to your next
level. The Internet has helped a lot,
831
00:59:52.559 --> 00:59:58.960
so you have an advantage. Don't
let anything be an excuse if you.
832
00:59:59.239 --> 01:00:01.920
One of my new as mantras now
is if I find myself complaining about
833
01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:07.559
something or dissatisfied with something, I
would ask myself do I have the capacity
834
01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:09.719
to change it. If I do
have the capacity to change it, I
835
01:00:09.719 --> 01:00:13.440
would change it. If I don't
have the capacity to change it, I
836
01:00:13.440 --> 01:00:15.440
would shift my focus to something that
I can change. So, if you
837
01:00:15.480 --> 01:00:19.079
don't like where you are now,
or if there's something that you aspire to
838
01:00:19.159 --> 01:00:22.719
be, or if there's a place
that you're aspiring to, if there's something
839
01:00:22.760 --> 01:00:24.679
you can do about it, do
it. If there's nothing you can do
840
01:00:24.719 --> 01:00:28.519
about it, shifts your focus to
something that you can do something about.
841
01:00:28.840 --> 01:00:31.519
And I think that those are going
to be like helpful ways to to build
842
01:00:31.519 --> 01:00:36.199
yourself as as you as you try
to be whatever it is that you want
843
01:00:36.239 --> 01:00:38.880
to be. Don't let anybody tell
you that you you are limited. You're
844
01:00:38.920 --> 01:00:43.840
not. You're limitless. You can
be anything. You can build the life
845
01:00:43.880 --> 01:00:49.000
that you want, and the life
that you want is possible. Okay.
846
01:00:49.039 --> 01:00:55.159
That would be the end of our
conversation with the brilliant and wives blessed and
847
01:00:55.159 --> 01:01:00.360
not being affecuacy from submissions of other
desation. Is there any other thing that
848
01:01:00.400 --> 01:01:07.719
you want to add blessing before we
top of the podcast? UM, I
849
01:01:07.719 --> 01:01:10.280
think I just want to share like
a very interesting story, and I think
850
01:01:10.280 --> 01:01:15.039
he came to me while I was
watching an anime UM the anime. I
851
01:01:15.039 --> 01:01:19.039
don't know how many people watch animes
here, but while I was watching the
852
01:01:19.079 --> 01:01:25.440
anime UM it was about humans fighting
gods, and all of the best humans
853
01:01:25.559 --> 01:01:32.719
were feeling until a certain guy who
has been known throughout history as the biggest
854
01:01:32.760 --> 01:01:37.360
failure because he keeps fighting people knowing
that he would feel. However, the
855
01:01:37.440 --> 01:01:42.840
more he fights people, the better
he gets. He learns their techniques,
856
01:01:43.000 --> 01:01:47.199
he learns new ways to defeat them, but he's happy with feeling because somehow
857
01:01:47.239 --> 01:01:52.719
it was helping him build strength and
resilience. He was the only person who
858
01:01:52.760 --> 01:01:57.639
was able to eventually defeat a god
after like four or five people had thoughts
859
01:01:57.679 --> 01:02:01.639
before him. This story made me
so emotional, and I said, you
860
01:02:01.639 --> 01:02:05.679
know, Initially, I was like, this is just the story, maybe
861
01:02:05.719 --> 01:02:08.280
maybe it doesn't really exist and it
doesn't really apply. But then in the
862
01:02:08.360 --> 01:02:14.440
last couple of weeks, I have
been. I've been playing FIFA. I
863
01:02:14.519 --> 01:02:16.880
snared played before then I stopped and
because I didn't practice for a while,
864
01:02:16.920 --> 01:02:20.960
I forgot how to. But I
started again, and I this time,
865
01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:27.360
I've been using Xbox to play,
and my husband has constantly been beating me
866
01:02:27.400 --> 01:02:31.760
in FIFA, like consistently, like
I've It's not like it's big, it's
867
01:02:31.760 --> 01:02:35.679
a big deal. It's like,
but we used to have a specific gap,
868
01:02:35.800 --> 01:02:37.679
right, so he would probably not
called me more than five goals and
869
01:02:37.719 --> 01:02:42.159
I would probably score like two right
to at the minimum. But there there
870
01:02:42.199 --> 01:02:45.119
was one particular day He's called seven. I was so sad. I was
871
01:02:45.159 --> 01:02:46.719
like, how do you score seven? One? Like? What was I
872
01:02:46.800 --> 01:02:50.920
doing? While? And I started
with strategizing, like what am I going
873
01:02:50.960 --> 01:02:52.159
to do better? How am I
going to do this? Do I learn
874
01:02:52.159 --> 01:02:55.159
how to pass better? Do I
learn how to you know shoots better?
875
01:02:55.519 --> 01:03:00.119
By consistently feeling, I was learning
the things that I was weak as,
876
01:03:00.360 --> 01:03:02.119
I was also learning things I could
get better as, and I was getting
877
01:03:02.199 --> 01:03:07.480
learning the things I was great at. Fast forward to me playing with a
878
01:03:07.480 --> 01:03:12.000
couple of friends after and beating those
friends like it's nothing and those people are
879
01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:15.400
not bad, like I'm beating them, and I didn't realize that I was
880
01:03:15.440 --> 01:03:20.039
getting that good, like I was
developing another strength within me that was making
881
01:03:20.039 --> 01:03:24.800
me better. Now fast forward to
even yesterday, I am now winning games
882
01:03:25.159 --> 01:03:30.039
with my husband like we're either drawing
or winning, or if he wins in
883
01:03:30.119 --> 01:03:34.519
wins by like just won't goal ahead
of me. And he's even admitting that
884
01:03:34.559 --> 01:03:37.000
I am now difficult and more difficult
to bid. We had a friend over
885
01:03:38.119 --> 01:03:43.840
the friend struggled to win me.
My point is, I'm still feeling enough.
886
01:03:43.880 --> 01:03:46.880
We for our bought. I can't
recognize my success. So keep a
887
01:03:46.920 --> 01:03:51.800
win journal. Document your wins,
no matter how little they are. You
888
01:03:51.840 --> 01:03:54.559
will often forget human beings. We
forget. We tend to focus on the
889
01:03:54.559 --> 01:03:59.119
things that are negative. When you
forget, go back to your win journals
890
01:03:59.159 --> 01:04:02.000
and remind yourself how amazing you are. Reminds us of the amazing things that
891
01:04:02.039 --> 01:04:08.119
you've accomplished, and you realize that
you would only get better, only only
892
01:04:08.159 --> 01:04:10.840
get better. The father you're bad
at one thing doesn't mean that you are
893
01:04:10.920 --> 01:04:15.880
stupid or bad or a failure.
I see I'm smart. I've spoken to
894
01:04:15.920 --> 01:04:17.400
you now, you definitely know I'm
smart. But that's a bread in my
895
01:04:17.440 --> 01:04:19.760
life. That I didn't know how
the big bread. Does that mean that
896
01:04:19.800 --> 01:04:24.000
I'm stupid? No, I've met
an inventor. Sorry, I watched an
897
01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:27.960
inventor on TV who didn't know how
to operate a microwave. Does that mean
898
01:04:27.960 --> 01:04:30.800
he's stupid. No, It's just
there's some things that we're good at,
899
01:04:30.840 --> 01:04:32.440
and there's some things that we're not
that good at, and we can learn
900
01:04:32.519 --> 01:04:35.320
them. And for us to learn
them, we would feel a little bit
901
01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:41.760
more so. Embrace failure, embrace
experiments, but I also embrace the life
902
01:04:41.760 --> 01:04:45.719
of possibility, the life that you
want again. It's possible. That's it,
903
01:04:46.679 --> 01:04:49.920
life you want again, It's possible. Thank you very much, blessing
904
01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:55.159
for doesn't inspiring words and for coming
to the chain apri A podcast and talking
905
01:04:55.159 --> 01:04:59.920
about how you've been, you know, transforming young people's life build and brea
906
01:05:00.039 --> 01:05:04.639
and and you know, inspiring young
people a young women. It's been an
907
01:05:04.639 --> 01:05:11.760
amazing opportunity to have the space um
with you and to share your journey,
908
01:05:11.920 --> 01:05:16.800
your knowledge and your wisdom when all
of us thank you. It's been a
909
01:05:16.840 --> 01:05:39.320
great pleasure. Thank you so much. M
