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self development

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We often hear about the  importance of showcasing our strength and accomplishment while building our personal brand but what about our mistake? What about the times when we failed, the times we wanted to give up or give in,  Why don’t we share these moments as well?

The truth is most mistakes can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even painful, but they are also an integral part of life. We all make mistakes, in our businesses, careers and personal lives, and while they can be difficult to navigate, they can also present opportunities for growth for us and inspiration for others.

Contrary to what some people think, sharing your mistakes and past failures actually shows how strong you are. They show what you’ve been through and make your journey a source of motivation to everyone going through a rough patch. With your failures, people can easily connect with your brand and this makes you relatable which is the spice of every brand that desires to stand out.

Before you go sharing your mistakes, there are a couple of things you must know  to protect yourself, inspire your audience and attract your desired opportunities.

They are:

Embrace Your Mistake

The first step in leveraging mistakes for your personal brand is to embrace them. Don’t beat yourself up about them but recognize that they  are a natural part of the learning process and that they can be a source of valuable lessons. Believe that they are only in your past to push you forward. Accept them and embrace them by doing this, you demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity, which can help to build trust and connection with your audience.

Acknowledge The Lessons

 The second step is to learn from your mistakes. This involves reflecting on what went wrong, what you could have done differently, and what you can do to prevent similar mistakes in the future. If they are mistakes in your business or career, recognize the cost of it and adopt a growth mindset approach to see how you can turn them into opportunities for improvement, which can help to build your brand as a resilient professional or entrepreneur who learns from the past and moves on.

Share The Lessons Not The Mistake

 When you do the first two, this part becomes easier but must be done focusing on the outcome of your failure and not the failure itself.

Create content around the lessons you learned from that mistake or failure and how you are applying these lessons. If the application of these lessons have led to a win, use that to your advantage. This way you are not talking from a place of pity but of strength. You are using that mistake of yours to prevent others from making it, inspire people who have made it and teach them how to push through after making it.

The goal is to brand yourself based on what you learned from the failure  –  not the failure itself.

While sharing this you should focus on:

  • The investment you made (You can keep this as vague as possible)
  • What made you realize your business wasn’t ready for it
  • The lessons you learnt as a result
  • How your business recovered
  • How you knew your business was finally ready for the investment
  • Your progress so far
  • What this means for your business

This way, you are:

  • Being human and building an emotional connection with your audience through your mistakes
  • Inspiring other entrepreneurs and teaching them from your failure
  • Inspiring other people who may not be entrepreneurs but can learn from your failure
  • Showcasing your expertise through your progress
  • Promoting your business and positioning it for opportunities

Most importantly, it is coming from a place of strength and you don’t feel bad about your mistakes anymore because you’ve learnt from it and are now leveraging it to attract opportunities and connect with your audience. You are flipping the coin on failure and taking advantage of it.

In a world where perfection is often expected and mistakes are viewed as failures, it can be difficult to imagine how making mistakes can actually be a good thing. But with this article I have shown you that it is possible.  I have shown you that by leveraging the power of personal branding, you can turn your failures to opportunities.

 

About the Author

Blessing Okebe is the game-changer for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs who want to stand out in crowded markets, attract high-level opportunities, and make a lasting impact. She does this by helping them amplify their work and voices while building thought leadership in their respective fields. Reach her via okebeblessingifegwu@gmail.com or @blessing.okebe

ABCD Africa is proud to announce the release of the 50 Most Impactful Voices List to mark 2023 International Women’s Day. This list recognizes African female coaches, content creators, and community builders who leverage their voices and digital content as tools for impact.

Women all over Africa have made significant strides in breaking barriers and challenging norms. Despite this progress, women still face numerous challenges that hinder their voices from being heard as much as they should be. 

The ABCD Africa 50 Most Impactful Voices List features 

Thought leaders, change-makers and bold storytellers who have engaged their audiences, and inspired others with their unique stories, perspectives, and skills across various digital platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Netflix, Podcasts and Blogs.

“We are thrilled to unveil the 50 Most Impactful Voices in Africa and amplify their contribution. We hope that this list inspires other women to use their voices, create impactful content, and shape conversations that contribute to the development of a more equitable society,’’ says Joké Pearl Oyebamiji, Founder of  ABCD Africa

The selection process was rigorous and thorough, with nominations received from digital experts and the general public. The finalists were evaluated based on their creativity, impact, authenticity, and engagement.

Here they are:

  • Jumoke Adenowo

Polymath, Founder, AD Consulting

Olajumoke Adenowo is an award-winning Architect, Academic Laureate, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Arbitrator, Author and Radio Show Host. She is the founder of AD Consulting, a leading Nigerian-based architecture and design firm.

A renowned passion-driven polymath with several media of expressions – she shares insightful content via her books, global publications, social media platforms, radio show, and global events.

In 2020, Jumoke was awarded the Forbes woman African Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

  1. Bodam Taiwo

Marketing Executive, Change Catalyst

Bodam Taiwo is a Change Catalyst and a Master Manifestor for women. Through her coaching programs, book (titled Be-You-Ti-Ful), masterclasses and YouTube Series – The Refined Lady’s Conversations, she helps women get unstuck by inspiring and organizing them to dream bigger, see clearer and live brighter so they can create the life they really desire. 

She is a Seasoned Business Leader and Marketing Executive with 15+ years of cross-functional experience.

  1. Modupe Ehirim

Marriage Coach

Married for thirty-four years, Modupe Ehirim is passionate about helping people get marriage right. She has worked as a Marriage Educator since 2014. 

She talks about marriage, Building Understanding among couples, Building Communication Skills, Building through Conflict, and Building a Covenant Relationship. 

Ehirim is the current National President of the Association SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts)

 

4.Tricia Olufemi-Olumide (TriciaBiz)

Marketing & Sales Strategist

Tricia equips entrepreneurs and experts with marketing strategies, funnels, growth strategies and systems to scale their revenue significantly to 9 figures and beyond. Through her social media platforms, newsletters, and YouTube Series – ‘How They Did It’, she is fueling the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa and beyond.

In 2020, she was recognized as one of The Top 10 Marketing Coaches To Follow by Yahoo.

  1. Udo Okonjo

Global CEO/VC of Fine & Country WA

Udo Maryanne Okonjo is the Global CEO/VC of Fine & Country West Africa, an official member of the Forbes Business Council, a sought after global transformative speaker and possibilities igniter.

A prolific writer, she has authored several books, and regularly shares content around female leadership development, financial freedom for women, real estate, entrepreneurship, business development, and wealth mastery.

  1. Wendy Prince-Amahdi

Founder, Women In Portharcourt 

Wenenda Ndu-Ajikeru is the Founder of WomeninPortharcourt, the largest Online Business Community in South-South Nigeria, creating visibility for growing businesses, and connecting entrepreneurs with potential customers via social media. Through corporate partnerships, business  masterclasses and events, she provides learning, networking and business growth opportunities for her audience. 

  1. Dr Ola Brown

Founder of Health Cap Africa

She is a Director at Flying Doctors Nigeria, and Founder of Health Cap Africa, an Africa-focused investment firm. 

An international speaker, she has spoken at the TED global conference, the UN, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the World Health Organisation, amongst several others. Dr. Ola and her work have been featured by CNN, the BBC, Forbes and Al-Jazeera.

Her prolific tweets on Business, Innovation and Tech have garnered a following of over 209,000 on Twitter.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Brenda Okorogba

Founder, MomentsWithBren

Brenda Okorogba is a multi-award-winning service and learning experience designer and a facilitator. She has a gift for creating targeted learning solutions that address relevant classroom, workplace, community, career, and business needs in advancing opportunities for equity-deserving groups in particular.
Brenda has provided college and career readiness coaching to diverse students and professionals in Canada and across the world who have successfully secured $80.4M in college funding, transitioned into dynamic career paths, learned specialized skills, built positive personal identities, increased their social and emotional learning skills, and improved their leadership abilities.
Brenda is the Founder of Momentswithbren Consulting, a professional training and coaching company based in Canada that supports a variety of clients, organizations and institutions through professional and leadership development training, strategic advisory, and outcomes-based programming to help them better accelerate their successes. Brenda currently serves on the Board of Directors of social-impact driven Canadian Charitable organizations like the Students Commission of Canada, Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity, and the Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO).

Her insightful tweets have garnered a 177,000+ following on Twitter.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

9.Temitope Olagbegi 

Life Coach, Entrepreneur 

Temitope Olagbegi is a Life Coach passionate at helping women find purpose. A multipotentialite, she shares her unique stories and perspective to help her audience rediscover their true authentic selves, fulfill purpose, and balance life on different levels.

She is a recipient of over 50 awards and recognitions for business and enterprise development in Nigeria, including the Bank of Industry Recognition Award in 2015 amongst numerous others. 

  1. Roseanne Kamau

Founder, Treasure Fitness

Roseanne is the Founder and Managing Director of Treasure Fitness, a weight loss and healthy lifestyle service firm.

A Kenya-based ardent advocate for healthy living, she shares content around holistic approaches to help women live sustainably wholesome lives.

Roseanne and her work have been featured on National and global media such as BBC

  1. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo

Impactonaire, DMD, Falcon Corporation

Audrey Joe-Ezigbo is a multiple award-winning Impactonaire, business leader, life and business transformation coach, speaker, and author. Her digital content helps people discover their life’s purpose, build sustainable businesses, and unleash the most profitable expressions of themselves in all areas of life. 

She is the Co-Founder of Falcon Corporation Limited, an industry-leading company in the middle and downstream Energy, Natural Gas distribution sector in Africa. 

She was recognised among the 100 Outstanding Female Executives in the African Oil & gas Industry in 2021.

  1. Nkem Onwudiwe

Founder, HerNetwork

Nkem Onwudiwe is a Public Relations professional, Marketing Consultant and founder of Her Network – a global inspiration and lifestyle platform for women.

Through Her Network, she has impacted over 50 thousand women through the network’s impact events and experiences, including the annual Her Network Woman of the Year Award Ceremony. 

She was previously the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

  1. Confidence Stavely (SisiNerd)

Cybersecurity Leader

Confidence Staveley is a Cybersecurity Awareness Evangelist and Inclusion Advocate.

Her superpower is a deep understanding of cyber security fused with great communication skills; enabling her to communicate cyber security best practices in a relatable and engaging way with no jargon, to audiences of all types. Little wonder she has been nicknamed “The Relatable CyberSecurity Leader”

She was listed among the 45 Most Influential Women in Digital Transformation 2021-2022. She was also Featured on the 40 under 40 in cybersecurity List in 2023

  1. Omotolani Tayo-Osikoya (Diaryofakitchenlover)

Certified Culinary Expert

Popularly known as Diaryofakitchenlover, Tolani is a Nigerian Food Blogger/Recipe developer, Food tutor, and entrepreneur. 

Tolani shares amazing food pictures and curates detailed recipes from regular home ingredients to the delight of her over 1 million followers. 

  1. Funto Ibuoye

Marketplace Apostle, Entrepreneur 

Through her several expressions across her books, courses, events, business and speaking engagements, Funto Ibuoye is propelling and equipping individuals to launch a higher version of their purposes and businesses.

She was listed among the Ynaija & Leading Ladies Africa 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria in 2017, Mogulettes Africa 100 Most Inspiring Moguls in 2020 and 100 Most Impactful Women in 2022 by The Richer Woman Inc.  

  1. Crystal Chigbu

Executive Director, IREDE Foundation

She is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and a development consultant. She founded IREDE Foundation, which provides prosthetics and other walking aids to children 18 and under. Through her foundation, Crystal has provided over 120 prosthetic limbs to over 82 children across 17 states in Nigeria.

She leverages her social media platforms, book and speaking engagements to advocate for Child Amputees and NGO Corporate Governance.

  1. Ife Olarinde

Founder, CoolHouse

Ife Olarinde is a serial entrepreneur, doctoral researcher, and graduate of the Imperial College London.

She is the founder of Cool House, the largest African/Black community on Clubhouse with over 70,000 members. 

She shapes conversations around topics that impact people of African descent. Her key areas of interest are Human Capital Development, Entrepreneurship, Politics, Health Care Systems, Poverty Alleviation and Wealth creation. 

  1. Yolanda Cuba

Regional VP, Southern and East Africa, MTN

Yolanda Cuba is the Regional VP, Southern and East Africa, MTN

She was once the youngest CEO of a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange,and has been blazing a trail through corporate South Africa since she was in her mid-20s. 

With years of experience as a business leader, Cuba shares tips and lessons on leadership and entrepreneurship, as well as insights into Africa’s business landscape.

  1. Tobi Ayeni (misstechy)

Video Creator

She is a Digital Strategist and the founder of MissTechy, a tech oriented blog that has gained prominence due to her innovative VFX Videos. 

She talks about tech and technological gadgets on her social media platforms and has grown her following to over 130,000.

  1. Yetty Williams Founder, Lagos Mums

Yetty Williams is a Digital Media Marketing Consultant

passionate about helping businesses, particularly women owned enterprises, leverage technology to thrive and scale up. 

She is also the founder of Nigeria’s premier and first parenting blog, Lagos Mums which convenes annual parenting conferences bringing together thousands of parents, experts and vendors and holds a community of nearly 55 thousand people.

In 2020, she was listed on the YNaija Top Media 100; recognized for curating culture and driving conversations.

  1. Tonye Briggs

Founder, Port Harcourt In Pictures

Tonye Briggs is the current curator of Portharcourt Global Shapers Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

Passionate about Human capacity development, she curates insightful content via her social media blog @portharcourtinpictures which has garnered an audience of over 70,000 on Instagram.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Peace Hyde

Head of Digital Media and Partnerships, Forbes Africa

Peace Hyde is the head of digital media and partnerships as well as the West African correspondent at Forbes Africa. Passionate about shaping the African narrative, she co-created Netflix’s first African reality series in 2022, which won the Best Reality TV Show at the African Entertainment Awards USA.

Through her content, Hyde aims to inspire younger Africans to own their stories. She shares her personal journey, unique perspective, and ‘random dumps’ that we find ever so inspiring.

  1. Sinikiwe Kademaunga

Disability Activist

Sinikiwe Kademaunga is a disability activist and a member of the African Women Leaders Network, Zimbabwe Chapter.

Through her social media platforms, she advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, especially women.

As an advocate for gender equality in Zimbabwe, she believes that as women, it is time to rise, and to create the generation that we’ve always wished for.

  1. Debola Deji-Kurunmi

Transformational Coach

She is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, ministry gift, public policy advisor and transformational coach for visionary leaders. Through her coaching, consulting, capacity building, and digital content, Debola deploys her extraordinary gift of unlocking potential in people, institutions and nations.

She is the Founder of IMMERSE Coaching Company (a professional coaching practice), Executive Director at Ideation Hub Africa (a public policy and impact advisory firm) and President at Kingdom Leaders Global Alliance (a non-denominational Christian Ministry).

  1. Malama Maryam Wahid Ahmed

Skincare Coach, Entrepreneur

Malama Maryam Wahida Ahmed is a multi-faceted educator at the Federal College of Nigeria, Kano.

She is also a safe skincare evangelist, championing ‘stop-bleaching’ campaigns on social media, and offering insightful skincare advice to African women.

  1. Tolulope Adejumo (Tolulope solutions)

Lifestyle Content Creator

She creates wholesome lifestyle content around her Christian faith, Marriage and Motherhood.

From inception, her social media platforms have been more than numbers but a way to share the big and little moments of her dynamic life. Her YouTube channel and Instagram profile have a combined following of over 250,000

  1. Rinu Oduala 

Human Rights Advocate

Rinu Oduala is a Human Rights advocate, Influencer and community organizer focused primarily on issues of equity, justice, humanity and community advancement. 

Leveraging social media, she advocates against police brutality in Nigeria and beyond. Rinu has become a key player in the work to confront the systems and structures that have led to mass incarceration and police killings of Nigerians.

She has been nominated for CAHR Aminu Kano award for Leadership, 2020, and one of NBCWashington 31 Women creating a positive impact in Africa.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

28.Kobe Campbell 

Trauma Therapist

Kobe Campbell is an award-winning licensed trauma therapist, author, media expert, and speaker.

Kobe shares content around healing from trauma on TikTok and Instagram, where she has garnered a combined following of over 150,000.

She is currently preparing to release her first book titled Why Am I Like This?: How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith.

She is Named one of Charlotte’s Most Influential Women by Charlotte Lately Magazine and awarded as the Rising Star Under 30 by WILMA magazine.

29.Blessing Abeng

Branding & Communications Expert

Blessing Abeng is the Co-founder and Director of Communications at Ingressive for Good, a non-profit organization through which actively connects African youths to tech training, scholarships and resources for the growth of the African startup ecosystem.

She regularly shares content on her social media platforms and email newsletter around branding, communications and tech.

In 2022, she was recognized as one of the United Nation’s 100 under 40 most influential People of African Descent.

  1. Bolaji Bolu-David

ESL Instructor

Bolaji Bolu David is a professional editor, ESL Instructor, and Founder of Eliz Pro.

She is passionate about helping people gain correctness, precision and confidence with the English Language and regularly shares pronunciation lessons on her Instagram profile which has garnered over 71,000 followers.

  1. Oluwatosin Olaseinde

Founder, Money Africa

Tosin Olaseinde is the founder of three leading African tech financial brands – Money Africa (a personal finance & investment literacy edtech platform), Ladda.ng (an investment fintech platform) and Money Africakids (a finance and investment literacy platform for kids and teenagers). 

Through her social media platforms and podcast, she shares lessons on financial literacy and connects her audience to investment opportunities 

Tosin was named a LinkedIn Top Voice, Finance & Economy in 2020 and is also a member of The Mandela Washington Fellowship. 

  1. Glory Edozien (Phd.)

LinkedIn Visibility Expert

Glory Edozien is passionate about helping African female executives build visibility and gain global recognition using LinkedIn & Personal Branding. 

A LinkedIn 2022 Top Voice, she shares thought leadership content on LinkedIn and Instagram to enable her audience to become visible.

Glory Edozien is a Forbes Coaches Council Member

  1. Ifeoma Nwobu

COO, Sendstack

Once the face of Vogue online, Ifeoma Nwobu is now the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Sendstack, a mobility tech startup in Lagos, Nigeria focused on achieving next-day delivery infrastructure for African businesses. 

Through her social media platforms, she shares her thoughts around entrepreneurship, building a tech startup, and living purposefully.

  1. Ifeyinwa Omesiete

Co-Founder, Nutrition4Kids

Ifeyinwa Omesiete is a pediatric nutritionist and co-founder of Nutrition4Kids – where she is helping to provide effective feeding techniques and assisting parents with curial information for proper child development.  

In 2019, she co-founded the first pediatric Nutrition Challenge in Nigeria. This quarterly online programme provides materials in different learning styles to reorient the minds of parents on the importance of feeding children healthy homemade meals.

Through her website, burgeoning telegram community, and Instagram page, she shares valuable content that provide nutritional support, education and advocacy. 

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

  1. Foluso Gbadamosi 

Coach, Author

Foluso Gbadamosi is a global speaker, author, and trainer who is vocal about helping people unleash their superpowers and gain mastery of their talents towards achieving maximum growth in all areas of life 

A Gallups Certified Strength Coach, she regularly shares insightful content that helps individuals and organizations live out their purpose.

She is on the Board of Directors of Swift Networks, Croissant Technologies, and Intense NG. 

  1. Adaora Mbelu

Founder, Lumination Global

Adaora Mbelu is the founder of Lumination Global – an Afrocentric transformational learning organization, and the co-founder of Socially Africa – focused on teaching people to Be Good, Do Good and Inspire Good. 

A multipotentialite, she leverages her Book (This Thing Called Purpose), Music, Podcast, Social media platforms, Newsletters, and social enterprises to shift mindsets and transform lives.

Adaora was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent in 2020. 

  1. Aisha Yesufu

Activist

Aisha Yesufu is a political and social activist, influencer educator, public speaker and advocate of African women’s rights. 

Using social media and physical means of protest, she has played key roles in social -political movements such as the #BringBackOurGirlsCampaign, which served to draw attention and action to the kidnapped schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno, Nigeria in 2013.

She is a recipient of the Martin Luther King Award and was named on the BBC top 100 Women List of 2020.

  1. Bunmi George (Jbums)

CEO, Shredder Gang

Bunmi George is the Founder, and CEO of Shredder Gang – a health and wellness consultancy where she has helped over 70,000 women achieve their body goals through the right nutrition plan.

An avid storyteller, she inspires and educates her 120,000 + followers on Instagram with her unique faith-based perspectives and experiences.

Bunmi is a brand ambassador for Carex Soap. 

ABCD Africa

  1. Bolaji ‘Billions’Ajibare

Social Media Coach

Bolaji ‘Billions”Ajibare is a social media coach and content creator with experience in public relations, digital marketing and communications.

Bolaji has trained over 240 students to start careers in social media management and curates one of the largest social media managers communities in Nigeria.

A seasoned content creator, she creates explainer videos to improve the content creation skills of her over 60,000 followers on Instagram.

  1. Olere Odior

Style Expert

Olere Odior is a leading style expert and personal stylist who is focused on helping African women differentiate and showcase their value by creating an authentic personal style. 

Leveraging her social media platforms, she helps African women find their confidence, rediscover their style and build executive presence.

She has built a community on Instagram and TikTok with a combined following of over 35,000. 

  1. Niven Postma

Leadership Expert

Niven Postma is a South African leadership, personal career growth and business politics expert with an audience of over 19,000 on LinkedIn. 

She helps her clients build beneficial business networks, foster leadership, navigate the murky waters of office politics, drive leadership change across organizations and build sustainable work culture.

Niven is an author and visiting lecturer at Henley Business School; contributes to Harvard Business Review and Inc. Africa, and is currently pursuing her PhD.\

  1. Ifedayo Agoro

Founder, DANG!

Ifedayo Agoro is an avid community builder, creative storyteller and founder of Diary Of a Naija Girl – a vibrant community of over 630,000 women where she shapes conversations around topics that impact women professionally and personally.

She is also the founder and CEO of Dang Lifestyle, a premium Skincare, Home and Body Fragrance and Gifts brand.

  1. Jola Ayeye

Co-host, ISWIS Podcast

Jola Ayeye is a creative writer, storyteller and strategist with an unwavering interest in contemporary African culture and its global representation. 

She is the co-host of the famous pop culture podcast  “I Said What I Said” (Number one podcast on Apple podcast, 2022). 

She is also a co-host on “Cash Madam Collective”, a work, money and leadership women-centric podcast.

Jola is currently the Head of Development at Salt & Truth, a Nigerian and African entertainment provider focusing on indigenous story content for film, television, and global features

  1. Stephanie Busari

Senior Editor, Africa, CNN

Stephanie Busari is a multi-award winning journalist,  notable for exclusively obtaining the “proof of life” video for the missing Chibok schoolgirls in the wake of the Bring Back Our Girls advocacy which led to negotiations with Boko Haram that resulted in the release of over 100 of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

She is the pioneer and head of CNN’s first digital and multi-platform bureau in Nigeria. In May 2020, she was listed among 25 of the most powerful female journalists in Africa by Women in Journalism Africa.

  1. Anita M.V Erskine

Entrepreneur, TV Host

Anita M.V. Erskin is a TV Host and Producer, Event Moderator, Actress, Keynote Speaker, and Entrepreneur. 

Anita employs storytelling to showcase African cultures, traditional and social pillars that hold up our communities and how tech Innovation, entrepreneurship and education are creating African solutions for African problems. 

Anita Erskine’s Sheroes show garners over 15 million global viewers.

She has been named among the top 500 most influential Africans around the world, and one of the top 100 Women CEO’s in Africa

  1. Amin Ameen

Founder, Every Na Art 

Amin Ameen is the founder of Every Na Art and a Monetization Product Professional who pivoted from Engineering & Projects.

Driven by her passion for teaching, she shares knowledge that produces access (from a social-economic standpoint); especially to those who are underserved via her social media platforms. 

In 2022, she launched the #LinkedUp Series which connected thousands of young professionals to  practical tips on how to navigate Tech Interviews.

Through her digital content, she continues to connect young people to global opportunities.

  1. Folashade Daini

Brand & Content Strategist

Folashade Daini is a brand & content strategist.

She shares wholesome relatable content around navigating life, family, and faith on her YouTube and Instagram channels where she has garnered a combined audience of over 100,000 followers.

  1. Abena Brigidi

Founding Partner and the CEO, Nimed Capital Limited

Abena B. Brigidi is a Founding Partner and the Chief Executive Officer of Nimed Capital Limited; a leading investment banking firm in Accra.

Through her blog and social media platforms, she shares insightful content on investing and finance.

  1. Patricia Murugami

Group CEO, Breakthrough Leadership Transformation Group

Patricia Murugami is the Group CEO of Breakthrough Leadership Transformation Group – a leadership growth advisory solution group.

An award winning global leadership coach- she inspires her audience to evolve into their next best selves through her academy, books, podcasts, and other digital content. 

She is an accredited certified executive coach with The Performance Solution UK.

  1. Dr Nkechi Harry Ngonadi (NHN Couture)

Entrepreneur, Founder, NHN War Room

Dr Nkechi Harry Ngonadi is a multi-award winning entrepreneur. In 2018, she was recognized as the Designer of the Year award at the Runway Dubai Fashion show.

An ardent community builder, she established the NHN War room, a faith-based global community of women, and continues to touch lives across her social media platforms which has a combined following of over 430,000.

Follow her here 👉 CLICK

ABOUT ABCD AFRICA

Abcd Africa is a growth marketing and education company that offers world-class online education programs, coaching, and agency services to growth-focused coaches and experts. We are on a mission to help our clients sell high ticket offers with ease, using our signature ABCD methodology

Special Thanks to Our Media Partners

Exquisite Magazine

Olorisupergal 

Working Mums Diary

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Nowadays, if you’re not on social media, you feel like you’re not truly living in the 21st century. Everything from businesses to personal and professional relationships, social media has a strong presence—and with that, a luring temptation to spend even more time using its features.

So, how do you take back the reins of your life and curb your time on social media (and stop social media addiction)? Here are some steps to get started.

1. Think About Why You’d Like to Be on Social Media

Everything we do in life is about intention: why do you want to do something? What will it bring you? The same goes for social media use. It may be silly to ask this question when thinking about a Facebook or Instagram account, but if you want to truly control your social media (instead of the other way around), asking this question may truly be eye-opening.

Do you want to just keep in touch with friends, or do you want to promote your business? Getting to the crux of why you’re online will help you clearly mark your time on social media effectively and eliminate everything else.

2. Be Meticulous About Who You Follow and what you post and share

Attention is your greatest currency. Read that again.

Everything that you click on or “like” becomes a thread in the tapestry of what comes back to you on social media newsfeeds. You want to create the kind of information spread that works for you, your needs, and your time. So, often, we impulsively follow people who may not be serving our best interests.

Give yourself permission to clean those contacts out every once in a while! It’s okay to disagree with someone. Instead of plummeting into a rabbit hole of social media thread arguments, unfollow anyone who you don’t connect with. It’s much better for your mental health and helps you get rid of social media addiction.

Likewise, be meticulous about what you share. Are you posting misinformation yourself? Just like you are planning on cleaning up your contacts list, someone who follows you may be thinking of doing the same. Make it a priority to share and post things that not only have significance to you but also serve others.

3. Curb the Time You Spend Online

If you have a laundry list of things to get done but have spent the last three hours scrolling your newsfeed, it’s time to close the app or the computer. Set a timer on your phone, if that’s what it takes to solve your social media addiction.

Once you begin the practice of detaching from being online so much, you’ll notice that you get so much time back! This time has always existed, but you were just using it poorly. It’s not that you don’t have enough time—it’s just that you spend too much time scrolling online instead of being productive.

4. Change Your Notification Settings

If your productivity is suffering because you’re constantly distracted by the pings from your notifications, there are ways to turn those notifications off in your settings. Better yet, you can always delete the apps from your phone and devices and resolve to check your social media notifications on your desktop. This way, you can get back to finishing your work without facing the temptation of checking your messages.

5. Not Everything Has to Be Posted and Shared

It often feels like we’re in a perpetual case of “FOMO” when it comes to posting on social media. If the Superbowl came and went and you didn’t post anything at all, will the world continue to spin? Of course.

We don’t have any social obligation to our followers to keep them abreast of every single event that happens in our life. These are choices that we must make consciously and in alignment with our desires.

Think about the last concert (in the pre-COVID world) you went to—did you immediately post bits of the concert to social media or snapped and uploaded a selfie of you and your friends?

These are habitual things that we don’t even think about, which brings me to the final point…

6. It’s Okay to Put Your Phone Down and Enjoy Life

In fact, this one very simple point could truly help you cut that social media addiction! Precious moments of your life are one in a million—like seeing a shooting star or catching the smile of your favorite person. These moments are so fragile, and they never happen the same way twice in your lifetime.

Don’t run towards your phone to capture that moment. Capture it instead with your eyes and with your heart. Let it become a sweet memory. Enjoy the moment  you’re so keen on sharing with others and instead, prioritize sharing it with yourself.

Final Thoughts

Social media addiction, when left unchecked, can lead us to depression and lack of self-worth and authenticity. If we “follow the flock” in search of creating a perfect online life, we’re stepping further away from being ourselves. This brings about a slew of consequences, which can snowball over time and lead to worse obstacles in our lives.

When we finally learn how to use social media, to what extent, and with what intention in mind, we can take control over it before it takes control over us.

Belief and confidence are like the chicken and the egg, inextricably linked in such a way that it doesn’t really matter which one came first because they are both essential to the other’s existence. When building confidence, we must believe, and to believe we must be confident that what we believe is right.

When you question your beliefs, it directly affects your ability to be confident. However, it is almost certain that you will fail and be disappointed from time to time. Therefore, knowing how to maintain your confidence in the face of those low points is paramount. 

In an effort to help you avoid the destabilizing effects of failure and disappointment, here are 5 steps to building confidence that is unshakeable.

1. Create a Strong Personal Belief Statement

A strong belief statement, or affirmation, can be a game changer. Your belief statement should be both a distillation of your beliefs and a statement of encouragement that reminds you of your capabilities. You should feel positive and empowered when you say your belief statement to yourself.

An example of a belief statement is: “I fearlessly succeed, no matter the circumstance, and remain victoriously affluent.” The statement speaks to an ability to overcome life’s failures and disappointments while still accomplishing whatever must be accomplished.

In order to create your belief statement:

  1. Take 10 minutes to write down some challenges you have faced thus far and any themes that keep coming up in your life.
  2. Spend 10 more minutes generating some possible beliefs statements (1 or 2 sentences each) that sum up your ability to overcome those challenges and rise above any negativity presented by the themes while still embracing the positive.
  3. Spend 5-10 minutes saying the statements you have created out loud.
  4. Choose the statement that evokes the most positive emotion and confidence in you when you recite it.

When you have finished, memorize this statement, write it on your bathroom mirror, or carry it in your pocket to reference when you need a pick-me-up. Frequent recitation of your belief statement out loud or internally will start to lay the foundation for long-term confidence.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Through repetition we gain facility. The more you practice being confident, the more confident you will be.

There are things that you already know you are good at or are capable of. The data from those past events can be helpful as you intentionally practice being confident, especially when it is used as evidence to support the belief that you can do whatever is required in the moment. [2]

Any time you believe you can accomplish something or deliver on an expectation, that is an opportunity to practice confidence. Simply expressing your confidence out loud to yourself or others can have a truly transformative effect.

The act of verbalizing your self-confidence immediately gives a positive belief more weight, and sharing it with others allows them to validate and support you in that belief. When they echo their confidence in you, it will help you in building confidence in yourself.

You have to strengthen your confidence like a muscle, otherwise you don’t stand a chance when life hits you with unexpected disappointment.

3. Surround Yourself With Confident and Competent People

You are a reflection of both the people you spend time with and your environment. Therefore, making sure that you’re spending time with people who exhibit confidence in themselves is important. They are modeling behaviors that are beneficial for your growth.

Watching others exercise their confidence despite life’s challenges will help deepen your belief and confidence in yourself. Their presence will not only serve as reminder of how to be confident in tough times, but it will also remind you that you are not alone on this journey.

Building unshakable confidence

4. Keep Track of Your Wins

You can’t argue with evidence. The internal critic can get pretty loud and aggressive when you are dealing with self-doubt, which can snowball into an all-out assault on your beliefs and confidence.

We tend to be very good are remembering what went wrong but not as great as remembering what we did well. Keeping a record creates an archive of valuable data. [3]

When you have your wins written down, you can always refer back to them as tangible examples of your capabilities, bravery, and accomplishments. Your inner critic will be hard pressed to negate such compelling examples of your confidence in action. These examples are great prompts to reconnect with your confidence and exercise that muscle.

5. Establish a Foundation of Trust in the Greater Universality of Life

Trust, here, refers to a deeper knowing that allows you to experience a deep faith that leads to confidence.

When you trust that there is something greater in store for you, that everything happens for a reason, or that nothing is random, then you are able to tap into a sense of acceptance when thing go awry.

There is a beauty in your individual spiritual experience that is unique only to you. Many things are unknowable, including the future. However, what you do know is that you are here on this planet with millions of other people, all trying to live their best lives and bring something of value to their community.

Cultivating a deep trust in the universality of life and the things we know to be true is an invaluable anchor for our confidence.

Final Thoughts

Building confidence is important, and for many that process can be daunting. Ultimately, what we believe about ourselves effects our confidence. We have all heard the old adage,

“If you don’t think you can, then you won’t.”

It may seem like an oversimplification, but it’s not. When you believe in yourself deeply, and the belief is rooted in deep trust, there is very little that can shake your confidence. Remember to practice confidence daily, be unafraid to create a belief statement that fires you up, track your wins, surround yourself with confident people, and establish a foundation of trust. Practices like these will give you the confidence you need to accomplish what is possible every day.

 

I just can’t do it anymore!” , “I am tired of life” We have all said it at least once in our life. But before you throw in the towel, tell yourself these 8 things to give yourself the last ounce of motivation you need to accomplish the impossible:

1. Take a break

Get up, stretch and take a brief walk. Even taking a few minutes away from a stressful situation can help you come back with a fresh mind and determination to tackle your difficult task.

2. You are doing this for a reason

Remember why you started. Maybe you picked up a second job to provide for your family or maybe you volunteered to bake 50 cookies to support your child’s bake sale on Saturday. No matter the task, remind yourself why you need to follow through. Remembering the purpose behind your daunting load can give you the motivation to carry on.

3. Asking for help doesn’t make you a failure

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of humility. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed. The people who love you want to help you any way they can.

4. This is a challenge for you

It’s OK to admit something is difficult. You don’t have to stay in denial. Accept your challenges and decide to face them with confidence and optimism.

5. Be grateful

List at least one thing you’re grateful for. It can be tough to come up with things you’re thankful for when you feel like the world is crumbling, but take a moment to focus on the good in your life.

Watch: 5 Ways To Stop Being A People Pleaser

6. You can do hard things

What you’re going through is difficult, but you can get through it. Things always seem more challenging when you’re in the thick of it. Remind yourself it’s possible even when it doesn’t feel like it is.

7. Here’s the plan

Break your large project into smaller tasks to make it easier to accomplish. For example, if your goal is to have a clean home, focus on one room at a time. Looking at the project as a whole can be overwhelming and leave you stressed and unmotivated to continue. Tackle one thing at a time, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish.

8. Release negativity

Give up things that are holding you back – negative thoughts about yourself, frustration, worry or whatever else. You will find it’s easier to focus when bothersome thoughts are pushed out of your mind.

Whatever your challenge may be, you’ve got this. You’ve done hard things before and you can do it again. Assume your Wonder Woman pose and conquer your responsibilities like the super hero you are.

Do you want to be happy? Like really happy, I mean innate happiness that gives you inner peace?

Most people do! But what do you do when that happiness eludes you? If that’s the case, it’s time to take a close look at your life and how you conduct it.

How to stay happy

Often, we put ourselves in damaging situations without realizing the harm that they cause. Being aware of these patterns can stop them in their tracks. I can share this conveniently because for some funny reason I always find myself in some of these situations, but I am aware the lot of it could apply to others as well

Here are 13 situations you should never say yes to if you want to be happy.

1. Feel Lonely When You are Alone

While there are things best done by your lonesome, it’s hard to get some positive thinking going when you allow yourself to actually feel lonely while you’re alone. Here are some things that bring happiness if you may be alone or away from friends

-Playing online multiplayer games, solitaire, etc.

-Reflect on your place in life, where you want to be and what it takes to get there.

-Watching movies where booing the characters is encouraged.

How to stay happy

2.  Comparisons

The human want and need to compare ourselves with others is something as old as time itself, although there is nothing positive to be gained from it. There is no point in chasing after a life we don’t have, all the while ignoring what we do have. Consider instead doing the following things when you feel jealousy:

-Turn off social media for the day.

-Control your content feed. Don’t fill it with things that will cause you jealousy.

-Indulge in the things that make you happy, with no regard for how “good” or “productive” it is.

-quotes to be happy

How to stay happy

3. Exes Calling you back cannot make you happy

The relationship had ended for a good reason. Leave it there for the sake of your mental health, and move on towards more positive things instead:

-Do some self-introspection. What lessons about yourself did that relationship teach you? What else can you do better next time?

-Hang out with your friends. Have them support you in this emotionally distressing time, and let them distract you.

-Acknowledge the bad, but also celebrate the good that came from it. Positive thinking doesn’t have to be one done through rose-tinted glasses – it’s essential to recognize and appreciate both the good and the bad in any relationship.

4. Working for jobs you hate

The term ‘burnout’ exists for a reason – if we don’t get that much-needed rest, it starts having dire consequences on our emotional, mental, and physical health.

Medically, this should come as no surprise – just the single, independent factor of working overtime increases the risk of coronary heart disease. So – just what should you do for the sake of your health?

-Consider leaving your job, or switching to a different position within the company if that isn’t possible.

-Take a look at The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor – the principles in it are an excellent place to start.

-Identify what the individual elements about your job that is contributing to your stress are. Perhaps you can deal with them on a case-by-case basis to make it manageable.

How to stay happy

5. Sitting for Too Long

Since physical health is related to mental and emotional health, this might be something you’d want to look into. Studies have shown that sitting down for too long can negatively affect your cardiovascular health – no matter how much exercise you do. Sadly, with the whole #Covid19 situation, It is possible to find yourself siting at a spot for a longtime, since there is an enforced stay at home to contain the virus.

So instead of lounging on a sofa or hunching over your keyboard, why not consider the following?

-Invest in a standing desk. A motor-controlled one can raise and lower the height, depending on whether you need to stand or sit for something.

-Watch your favorite shows while walking on a treadmill, If you don’t have one , just walk around while watching the movie, Better health and good entertainment equal a positive net bonus!

6. Drama and Gossip Inhibit Happy Feelings

There’s no point in being nosy about someone else’s circumstances and behavior – especially if it has nothing to do with you. Instead, it’s best to just focus on your own lives, and what is immediately relevant to you. Here are some reasons why:

-Improving your personal experience is something that should take up all of your focus.

-Engaging in drama and gossip about someone else’s lives only serves to add more stress and distraction.

-Do unto others what you would want others to do unto you. If you would hate to be on the receiving end of that kind of unwanted attention, then why would you inflict it on others?

7.  Worrying too much

Just what has worry ever brought us aside from fear and anxiety? While some may argue positive thinking in these times is naïve and simple-minded, the fact is that nothing good can be gained from worrying. So – what can you do instead?

-Enjoy every moment as it comes into your life.

-Be productive, make something tangible with your hands as some kind of progress.

-Narrow your focus towards things you can directly handle and have control over.

8.  Idleness

It’s so easy to try squeezing in one more episode of your favorite Netflix show before getting started on work or hitting that snooze alarm for another five more minutes. This all inevitably ends up in stress and frustration when we realize too late that we’re now out of time.

-Chip away at it. If you can’t get started properly, just pen down some notes first.

-Happy people do not procrastinate. Start when you should.

-Talk to someone about it. Sometimes you just need someone to organize it for you.

9.  Settling

At some point, it can be incredibly easy to just settle for “good enough.” This can apply to just about anything – career, friendships, and relationships. It’s one thing to be comfortable, but it’s another to settle for complacency and bare minimum. If you find yourself getting bored, consider the following points:

-Sign the both of you up for some sort of adventurous trip, or a simple pottery class.

-Talk to your friend. Maybe there’s something between you both that’s been making it hard for you both to bond closer.

-Aim for a better job or career – there’s no point in staying in a poor job.

10. Hurrying

It’s tempting to rush forward and to prove to yourself that you’re capable of keeping up with the pack. This, however, is detrimental to your happiness. Here are a few ways to steal back a few more precious minutes:

-Prioritize things that are important first.

-Manage your time efficiently.

-Don’t pressure yourself – you don’t need to rush.

-Understand that you can’t do everything you want in one go, and that’s okay.

11. Spending Time with Toxic People

It only makes sense that surrounding ourselves with toxic, negative people will only serve to worsen our moods and mental states. Just how can you improve yourself and find a better life’s purpose if you’re continually being sabotaged at every corner?

The best way to be happy is to avoid such a scenario. Here are some tips:

-Avoid people who belittle you. It’s hard to keep a positive outlook when they’re always talking down your goals and dreams.

-Look out for people who bring joy and happiness into your life and drop anyone who doesn’t.

-Cut out people who don’t know the difference between crushing you and giving you constructive criticism.

12. Blame

Nobody likes to be in the wrong. It’s a horrible feeling and one that we naturally try to avoid. This often means that our first reaction to trouble is to blame someone else, so we don’t have to deal with the consequences.

In reality, this actually can make things worse. Yes, it’s unpleasant, but there are benefits to be gained from taking responsibility for your actions:

-Taking responsibility also means taking control of the situation and yourself.

-You create an opportunity for you to learn from the problem.

-You forge your sense of self and your capabilities through the process of resolving the issue.

-You’ll learn to develop a sense of courage, and as you overcome the problem.

13. Learning to say NO

Many of us have been raised with this mindset that unless there is something that makes fulfilling the request impossible, we should always say ‘yes’ to it. In our minds, to refuse would be to hurt somehow or disappoint them.

In reality, learning how to say no is an important skill. Here are some reasons why:

-You establish healthy emotional boundaries. This isn’t just good for you – it’s also great for others, as they know where your clear boundaries lie.

-You give yourself time to do things you want to do. You don’t need an excuse to reserve your limited time and energy for things and people that are important to you.

-You’ll learn how to stand up for yourself.

My final thoughts

Being happy can be difficult. The journey to happiness is often fraught with other more negative emotions. But by choosing the situations you allow yourself to be a part of, you can move more quickly along the rocky road that leads to that happiness.

Remember it is okay to take this one step at a time, if perhaps you are guilty of all.

Esther Ijewere™©

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Irregular menstruation  could occur If you’re eating a diet that’s rich in unhealthy carbs or if you’ve gained weight. Your body will produce varying levels of certain hormones, shifting when you ovulate.

It is a well-known fact that ladies experience irregular period or abnormal flow at certain points in time. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that about 30 percent of women experience irregular periods.

Be that as it may, irregular periods are not something to worry about since they are not a sign of danger healthwise. But then, it is important to understand the reasons they happen and what the body is trying to say.

A woman will, on average, get her period for three to seven days once a month (every 30 days or so). After menstruating for several years, women tend to settle into a cycle where some women can even predict down to the hour when their periods will come.

However, a menstrual cycle would be considered irregular if there should be distortions in the normal twenty-eight days cycle pattern such that menstrual bleeding occurs more frequently than every twenty-one days or lasts longer than eight days.

1. Diet

Another common reason for a late or missing period is the food you eat and, more specifically, the weight you’re carrying.

If you’re eating a diet that’s rich in unhealthy carbs or if you’ve gained weight, your body will produce varying levels of certain hormones, shifting when you ovulate. The same goes for women as they lose weight.

2. Infections

Any infection ranging from std’s, STI’s, yeast infection, as well as illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, can cause irregular periods if blood levels of the thyroid hormone go too low or too high.

3. Stress

Stress is the most common cause of irregular periods. Cortisol, the stress hormone, has a direct impact on how much the two sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone are produced by the body.

If you have too much cortisol in your bloodstream, there is the tendency for the time and flow of your monthly cycle to change.

4. Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition that causes tiny cysts to form on ovaries which interfere with regular ovulation.

Women experiencing (PCOS) have almost always been recorded to deal with such anomaly in their menstrual cycles.

5. Over-exercising

Over-exercising like for instance, burning too much energy in the gym affects menstrual flow, if you burn too much energy during exercise there will be nothing left for the body to use at that time of the month.

6. Birth control pills

It takes months for the body to get used to hormones birth control pills release and this affects menstrual flow. As a matter of fact, birth control pills can actually make your periods lighter, or cause you to miss periods or have less or more frequent periods or even no periods at all.

7. Alcohol

Excessive intake of Alcohol can cause damages to the liver as well as affecting period- normalizing hormones. The liver helps regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle by metabolizing estrogen and progesterone where the liver is overworked or damage this affects the woman’s cycle.

In conclusion, other factors like early onset of menopause, cysts, and pregnancy could possibly disrupt the monthly flow.

However, it is advisable to seek medical help if you suspect that irregular flow could be as a result of other factors.

Nigerian designer Addie Elabor is a woman cut from the self-made cloth. She launched her Philadelphia-based ready-to-wear African fashion brand D’IYANU in 2014 and has grown it into a million-dollar business.

The company, which focuses on creating culturally conscious-pieced with bold prints, features handmade and ethically sourced products from West African and the United States.  Addie shares the strategic moves she made to launch her idea, build a team, and continue to grow an e-commerce business, even in troubling climates.

When did you start your brand and how did you get the idea for it? What inspired you to turn it into a business?

Addie: I was inspired to start D’IYANU at the beginning of 2013 when I realized that there was a void in the fashion world for ready-to-wear African inspired pieces that were easily accessible to people like me. There wasn’t a leading brand that allowed you to celebrate your culture in a modernized way. I asked myself “why not me?”. I immediately had this vision of developing a brand that would become the African print version of Zara or H&M. I didn’t have a fashion background, but the vision was so compelling that I had to make it happen.

At the time I was dissatisfied with my career and relished the opportunity to launch my own business with the goal of building a legacy in mind. D’IYANU was launched in January of 2014 with six women’s styles and has grown exponentially ever since.

Addie Elabor
Addie Elabor

What was the first investment you made into D’IYANU to get it off the ground? Why?

Addie: D’IYANU was launched with a $15,000 investment which came from my savings and a credit card loan. The bulk of the initial investment went into producing 50 units each of my first 6 pieces produced in Philadelphia which included the pattern and sample making, fabric, and production of the collection.

Tell us how you were able to scale D’IYANU to a million-dollar business? How long did it take you from the time you started to hit the million-dollar mark?

Addie: The beginning of 2014 was a struggle since I was still working full-time and running the business on the side. I decided to quit my full-time job in May of 2014 to focus full-time on D’IYANU. I knew I needed to invest all my time and attention in order to get the brand off the ground. With the goal of gaining more customers, I would set up at various festivals and even managed to get some products into two boutiques in Philadelphia, but I wasn’t really getting much traction.

I knew that the best place to find customers was online. At the end of September of 2014, I took a course on creating Facebook ads. That course was quite an investment, but it transformed my business practically overnight. With the help of Facebook ads and email marketing, we were able to hit $1 million in sales by the middle of 2016 which took 2.5 years from the launch date.

diyanu addie elabor founder

What makes D’IYANU unique from your competitors or other “African clothing” shops online?

Addie: D’IYANU is unique from other African clothing brands because we are the most innovative and offer the widest range of products for Men, Women and Kids. With the goal of being a lifestyle brand, we offer products that can be incorporated into our customers’ everyday life. Our product offerings include everything from active wear to formal, and office attire. Our innovative spirit is one of our core values that pushes us to explore other types of fabrics and materials so that our items are more comfortable and functional for our customers.

For instance, we use our unique African print stretch woven fabric to make dresses, skirts, pants, jumpsuits, and tops for women so that they’re extremely comfortable and accommodate curves and movement. The fabric looks like the traditional Ankara, but it has amazing stretch and softness.

No other African inspired brand is using this type of fabric. We also print African print on french terry to make our Men’s polo shirts, jogger and hoodie sets. Recently, we launched an iconic Jean Jacket with Kente inspired print for our pre-fall collection and we will be launching more denim and print products in the near future. We’re also looking forward to our knitwear pieces that will be featured in our Fall and Winter collections.

Were you the only person working on your business when you started? When did you realize you needed to hire or build a team in order to be successful?

Addie: I was the only person working on my business up until April of 2015 when I hired my first full-time assistant. I had been working out of my studio apartment up until March 2015 when I moved my operations into an official office space. I realized that my business was growing quickly and I needed the assistance sooner rather than later.

What has been your biggest challenge with growing your business?

Addie: My biggest challenge has been finding quality employees who are also a good cultural fit to fill various roles at D’IYANU. Two additional challenges have been learning to better manage people to bring out the best in them and finding senior employees they can lean on who are operating at a higher level and can provide guidance into their work.

If you knew now what you knew then, what is one thing you would have done differently to accelerate the growth of your business? 

Addie: I would have hired a marketing team sooner in order to scale faster. I was doing way too much in the beginning and naturally I couldn’t handle all of our marketing needs.

diyanu addie elabor founder

What is your advice for someone who wants to start an e-commerce business? 

Addie: My advice would be to make sure that the product you’re selling has a unique selling point and tells a story that will resonate with a sizable audience. Set aside a marketing budget and make sure to leverage social media marketing early. Lastly, start building your email and SMS list pre-launch so that you already have customers on launch day and continue to grow that list post-launch, since email and SMS marketing offers the biggest return on marketing spend.

Source: Bauce Mag

Dear single parents,

I understand the pain of doing it alone with no support system. I know it hurts when you think about the sacrifices, and you feel life is not fair.

Believe me, I also have those moments. When I say I understand,  I truly mean it.

However, you  must understand that while trauma isn’t your fault, healing is your responsibility.

You can’t heal from pain If you continuously  visit old wounds or give life to topics that put you in a “dramatic” position where you entertain the public with your private matters. You will end up looking like the problem you are trying to solve.

One thing I have done to protect my energy and peace since I became a single parent is to stay away from things, people, and places that trigger any old wound I’m trying to heal from

The Power of Healing

Healing is an art.

It takes time, it takes practice, discipline, and self-love.

I also learned that healing is in phases, and the more inner work you do, the more things came to the surface.

Instead of explaining myself to folks who have not walked a mile in my shoes, I focused on my healing journey, prayer, and affirmations.

Also Read: Before You Judge Another Single Mom

Mindfulness Practice

Healing affirmations for tra.u.ma is one of the tips I shared in my soon-to-be-released self-help book. If you would like to have a copy, kindly click here to join the waitlist. I also shared some techniques I used over the years to stay grounded and focused, even when I was gaslighted.

It’s not easy really, but once you learn to forgive yourself, you have the power to control your emotions and your impulse.

Read Also: 5 Dating Tips for Single Moms

You will know who or what deserves a response or reaction and avoid drama.

I also realized that what some saw as my inadequacies ( single parent status), others appreciated as my strength. I focused on the latter.

Watch: 5 Ways To Stop Being A People Pleaser

The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is how to silence the mind and be discerning.

Sending love, light, and good vibes to single parents who are trying to heal from pain.

Remember, healing is your responsibility.

signed,

A single mom doing it alone.

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Supportifly celebrate valentine with its “School is not scam” exercise book donation project. The initiative which kicked off last year is aimed at fighting miseducation, and helping to reverse the trend that education isn’t profitable.

Supportifly
Students holding the excercise book

For the special valentine exercise book donation, the Supportifly team visited Ijokodo High School and Cheshire High School, and sensitized the students on the importance of staying in school, getting good grades and making their parents proud.

Founded by Philanthropist, Bolarinwa Kashif, who believes in the power of education and committed to using his platform and resources to create change in the education sector in Nigeria.

Bolarinwa Kashif-Mr. Fly
Bolarinwa Kashif, CEO- Fly Multi Company

Asides the school project, Bolarinwa who is also known as Mr. Fly, create jobs, and  gives back to the society by supporting vulnerable persons, empowering youths and  children of low-income homes.

Speaking on the reason why his team decided to give back, the astute business man had this to say;

I am committed to restoring hope, educational value and create a better Nigeria. I want these children to know that education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

The philanthropist has been recognized by several organizations across Nigeria for his contribution to the society.

His Fly Fitness gym, which is another arm of his business has become a safe heaven for pregnant women, where they are assisted with free stressless delivery through healthy exercise, the gym boasts of world-class equipment, and it is one of the most visited in the ancient city of Ibadan.

Supportifly Book donation
Supportifly Team member with the students

The Supportifly team will be visiting more schools through out the year, and using it’s social media platforms to financially support the downtrodden, vulnerable and helpless who are in dire need.

The Supportifly team led by Bolarinwa Kashif O and Bolarinwa Haishah O, supported by their amazing team,; Olasunkanmi Olayinka Habeeb, Yusuf Balkis Oluwakemi; Samuel Lance Momodu, Olokede Oluwatobi Samuel, Jimoh Awawu Folake, Aluko Shahudah Folashade and Rufai Ojo Ibrahim.

See more photos from the outreach below;

Fly Multi Company by Bolarinwa Kashif