Friday, 30 October 2015

THE SCRATCH BOARD

The first edition of The Scratch Board held in Lagos on the 27th of June, 2015. 

The idea of #TheScratchBoardLagos was born out of years of study and work as a business developer and enterprise educator. In 2007, I discovered I had an insatiable desire to build things and improve on every idea I heard.  

We took modules from enterprise programs across academic platforms and practical application.

Let's do one-liners for each module;

Enterprise Education (start-up information for sustained enterprises -projects,programs,organisations,events,ideas). 

Cultural Entrepreneurship (environmental influences on entrepreneurial activities-policies, customer buy-in, timing). 
Innovation & Creativity (finding the "zing" in/for your idea). 

Exploring Opportunities (ways to maximise chances - networking/negotiation).  

Viability, Availability & Desirability (3 keys steps before leaping).

U-niche™ (self-awareness to self-application for unique performance).

Ubuntu Model™ (understanding the place of “people”).

Values (lifestyle statements for positive living). 

Other topics we discuss are; legal implications for start-ups, basic accounting & digital marketing. 

#TheScratchBoardLagos has evolved to a 2day program "THE ART OF THE START" in Abuja hence #TheScratchBoardAbj 24/25 November 

Our facilitators are Coach Sam Obafemi a sought after life coach & transformation guru. Also we have Femi Oni, a brand consultant/strategist and Ihotu Amuta, an enterprise educator.

Our panel has Mima Angulu, CEO   Krump Studios, Ikechi Ugwoeje CEO Frontline Media and Dimeji Obimakinde CEO DreamHive.

Fee: N20k only! To participate go to www.thescratchboard.com or send "yes" and your name & email to 08036009082

We have limited seats and will be able to take only the early birds. For more info call 08036009082 or 08038257139
  
THE ART OF THE START is a 2day program inclusive of materials, meals and panel sessions with successful entrepreneurs. SIGN UP NOW!!!

Our next stop is a masterclass in Lagos on December 8th & 9th, Makurdi 16th & 17th of February and PH in March. 

You can also send enquiries to training@thescratchboard.com

See you soon Abuja.

Monday, 22 June 2015

ON MY TERMS



I waited.

Fell asleep while waiting, woke up intermittently and checked my phone. All I wanted was a reply. It took me a long time to realise that he doesn’t reply messages within the first 4 hours of reading them in fact it may be 24hours before a response comes in and it just made my eye twitch.

I am sure some of you will say “it’s not such a big deal” but I have come to realise that I may have a mild case of OCD and therefore things have to be done a certain way. I arrange cups according to types and sizes (and the colour may influence it too) in my cupboard. I shut my wardrobe every night before I sleep because the tiny creaking noise irritates me and keeps me awake. It costs me a lot to walk away from my car if the tires are not straight. So I love some order like getting a reply to a text especially if “you” started the conversation.

Life is on your terms!

I said that to the audience at a seminar and they looked a little unconvinced and I explained about my OCD(ness) and told them that they make choices every day to be who they are even if influenced by someone else ultimately the choice is theirs.

This is seen clearly in the kind of friends we keep. Most of the friends we have allow us be ourselves even when they don’t like it. But that is the prerequisite for good friendships. If I know I can be myself with you then it will be easy for me to be around you and to want to spend time with you. So when I walk into a room I unconsciously study facial expressions and body language to pick a seat because I don’t want to sit beside someone who makes me uncomfortable. And if they smell, I change seat. I don’t say “oh maybe they are broke and can’t afford cologne or a bath” I just take off because there are other seats in the room.

Above all else be accommodating but do not change who you are for someone else because you will become a fraud and loose sense of what’s important to you. When your personality is not clear to people it confuses them and they stay away from you.

Be yourself.


While you’re at it BECOME A BETTER YOU.



photo credit: simple pleasures gallery 










Monday, 15 June 2015

My Many Faces

                        


A few days ago my sister asked how many faces they were in this picture and we all got it right and it got me thinking about how many "talents" I had that would be called my many faces.

To some I'm daughter, sister others friend, buddy, colleague, consultant, teacher and still others see me as writer, speaker, strategist and trainer. 

Someone asked me once if I would compromise on any one of my faces at anytime maybe for a guy, someone else said maybe I should slow down not to frighten them away. 

I say, what would I say to my Abba Father if I bury my talents in the ground and do not get 10 more? What would happen to those who need me to be the face they can relate with to live life a little better? Shouldn't the people in your life enhance you rather than make you hide?


I choose my 10 talents and I wear my many faces with pride.
To all the multi talented people, we make the world the eclectic place of colour it should be. #Talented #Faces #Life #Love #Give #Purpose #JustBe #StrongWoman #Passion

Photo credit: anonymous

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

The Scratch Board... starting your idea from scratch



Exactly 10years ago my life changed.


In 2005 I got a clear understanding of why I was here and in 2010 "JEWELS NETWORK" a non profit platform for women to express themselves was started.
Along with it came clear pictures of the future and one of them is "THE SCRATCH BOARD" an enterprise education class for ladies who aspire to own their businesses or already have start-ups.


This class will feature modules on cultural entrepreneurship, idea viability, discovering your personal niche and 7 others.
This is the first of its kind and it will be setting the stage for global brands from Nigeria.

Date: 27/06/2015
Location: Lagos

Are you a lady entrepreneur or do you want to be? Get your business plans or ideas written down and lets take you on a journey to building enterprises and institutions.

To sign up for the class and for more info? send a mail to: jewelsnetwork10@gmail.com

"THE SCRATCH BOARD...starting your ideas from scratch" is brought to you by Jewels Network!
Sponsored by; BizImpact Limited & Steve Harris II
Supported by; Paragon Efx, Steph B School, Paul & Lois Legal Practitioners, Wise Planner Consults and others.

Convener/ Facilitator,
Ihotu Joy Amuta
Twitter: @aihot

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Leadership By Bullets



On my way to church I noticed that the street to church was blocked off by the police and all the streets down the road as well and I had to turn back and park by the road side to get to church on foot. I asked why there were so many angry-trigger-happy-men-in-black blocking of 4 major streets in Lekki1 and I was told someone with a political office was in one of the houses. My informant noticed my perplexed expression and added that the politician was of the wrong party and on the wrong side of the opposition’s godfather. I laughed out loud before I could control myself and walked off smiling.

How is it possible that a politician who is not the president can block off 4 major streets in a famous neighbourhood and all we can do it stand around and watch to see if other “goons” were coming for a fight. I could see the expectation in the eyes of those standing around and it made me sad.

True leadership is service to the people anything else is terrorism.

You don’t need to bear a certain crest and blow people up to be a terrorist. The fact that those who put you in office now have to cower at your presence and suffer because you came into town is cruel and makes you undeserving of that position.

I was smiling because he was more afraid of his opponents than the man of the street. But the man on the street was his worst enemy. As someone has said, "when the poor have nothing left to eat they will eat the rich".

Leadership entails direction. If you are pointing us to decadence and disruptive behaviour you are an anarchist not a leader

I am one of the millions of Nigerians waiting for the new administration to work a miracle and praying for divine help for right decisions and protection. I didn't write about missing money, election drama, peoples opinion or fuel scarcity because I am holding out for “change” and it has to be a complete “transformation” if not we are only ‘mice on a wheel’.

God help us.



image curtsey nairaland.com