Succeeding In A Small Business - Take Care Of The Details

I can't count how many times I've met entrepreneurs (myself included) who feel like they must make a certain amount of money before they decide to formalise their business operations. After losing out on a couple of major jobs, I respected myself and re-branded. Why? Because just like you would never go shopping without a list, you should not be in business without a plan!! If you have made even one hundred thousand naira profit from your business idea, I implore you starting this weekend to take the following actions:

 1. Register your business - Look for a lawyer and register your business. Did you know cannot access certain funding and opportunities if your not registered with CAC? Now you do so go find a good lawyer and register your business.

 2. Brand your company - You can carve a niche for yourself as a consultant in your field but today start thinking about the services you want to provide Nigeria within the next fifty years and create a business name and logo. Hint: if you're stuck, go online and check out names/logos of companies doing what you want to do so you can create generate ideas in order to create your own unique brand

 3. Create a business and marketing plan - You will not succeed if you are jack of all trades unless you are a handyman. Decide on at least one service you'd like to do. Research what is available already in the market and find a way to do your thing differently. When this is done, create a 5 year business and marketing plan.

 4. Hire at least an intern - I have learnt the hard way that I can not be in ten places at once but you don't have too. Starting today, keep your eyes open for a young woman/man that can help you achieve your goals and objectives who is waiting to serve or just finished school. Set aside a stipend each month to cater for them and build a weekly plan of action for them. Hint: don't think you must do 9am - 5pm and kill your intern in the name of saving a naira. If you need them to work 12 hours a day, stick to that and work out a plan that is right for your business and interns. If you'd like help setting up an internship programme, please feel free to write me at insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com

 5. Use your smart phone smartly - you may not be ready to get a website but you can open a twitter account or group on your blackberry.

 6. Get a mentor - find someone who is not risk adverse and beg if you have to so that they will find time in their busy schedule to provide you advice and listen to your problems. Even if this happens for 2 hours a month, if you receive sound advice, it will make a big difference before the year runs out.

 Ok readers, these are my top six tips for ensuring you increase your profit and build your business within the next seven months. Follow them and I guarantee success! If you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact me at insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com Have a great evening everybody!

Vacancies in ICT Firms in Abuja

Good morning everybody, Insiteful Solutions, a premier recruiting firm is looking to hire senior professionals in two large ICT companies in Abuja for the roles of IT Manager, Sales & Marketing Manager, Head ICT projects, Technical Business Analyst, and Business Development Manager. To apply or for more information, please send your message/CV to cv@insitefulsolutionsconsult.com please spread the word as we do not charge candidates and there are no hidden fees. Regards, Nkoyo V Efretei Insiteful Solutions

Vacancies in an ICT firm in Abuja

Vacancies! Vacancies! Vacancies! A reputable ICT firm located in Garki, Abuja is looking to hire against the following vacancies: Financial Accountant, Technical Business Analyst, Solutions Architect Technical Manager, Sales Manager & Business Development Officers. Note: This firm has one of the best welfare packages & career development schemes I've seen till date! So to apply, please send your cv to cv@insitefulsolutionsconsult.com

Vacancy in Abuja - Lead Architect in a Real Estate Firm

 

 

Sow Real Estate, a high end Real Estate firm located in Wuse 2, Abuja is currently looking to hire a proactive, dynamic, and excellent communicator to join their team as an Architect. Some of the job duties will be as follows:

·         Using IT in design and project management, specifically using computer-aided design software

·         Producing detailed workings, drawings and specifications

·         Specifying the nature and quality of materials required

·         Preparing tender applications and presentations

·         Negotiating with contractors and other professionals

·         Preparing applications for planning and building control departments

·         Preparing tender documents for contracts

·         Project managing and helping to coordinate the work of contractors

·         Controlling a project from start to finish

·         Regular site visits to check on progress, ensuring that the project is running on time and to budget

·         Resolving problems and issues that arise during construction

·         Ensuring that the environmental impact of the project is managed properly.

Qualifications and Requirements:

·         A good degree in any related discipline

·         At least 1 - 3 years’ experience

·         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

To apply for this vacancy, please send your cv to cv@insitefulsolutionsconsult.com on or before 30^th November 2013

BIRTH ORDER AND THE SURPRISING WAYS THIS AFFECTS YOU AT WORK

Ever since I became addicted to the reality TV series "Addicted", I have been fascinated by how birth order affects us at home and at work. While watching this series, it shocked me how many of the recovering and close to dying addicts were First Born Type A personality Overachievers who had crashed soon after experiencing raging success. It scared the crap out of me cause guess what? I am a type A First born daughter, first born grandchild (Those of us are Nigerian know what that means and all the issues/benefits/burden that come with that title even if you are a "female" as opposed to the "male heir apparent") I watched these addicts struggle with not meeting a standard of perfection that they had placed on themselves. They were constantly depressed, feeling like they were not meeting up to society's expectations of them when the reality was even on their bad days "pre-drugs" they were doing a lot better than their counterparts and even family members. That show made me ease up on myself which is still a journey on its own and trust me I'm grateful for the life I have and all its potential. It also got me thinking though, of all the first, middle, last children (and all the type in-between) that are curious as to how birth order affects their life and more importantly how it affects them at work. As a confirmed skeptic, trust me, if you keep your skepticism aside, birth order says a lot about you and understanding yourself better is never a bad thing. For more on this topic, please click the link below:

 

http://www.strategichrinc.com/articles/July2011.html

 

Have a fab weekend!

REMINDER FOLKS:BEING CONFIDENT AT WORK IS A GOOD THING!!

Hey guys, here’s another article from our guest blogger Kunle Adebayo.

I have been thinking a lot about confidence, healthy self-esteem, and positivity at work. In Nigeria, more often than not, confidence may be mistaken for arrogance. However, according to Wikipedia, “Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person's overall emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgement of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, "I am competent," "I am worthy") and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame”. It is a way that we try to evaluate ourselves positively and negatively and how we feel about this evaluation. Self-esteem is a combination of a feeling of personal capacity, self-confidence, and self-respect – knowing your worth and treating yourself accordingly. How then could this be arrogance? The answer is it isn’t.  Confidence is a good thing especially if you have been put in a position of authority. Many times though we expect other people to treat us with some regard or respect, but we fail to actually ask:

·         Do I deserve the respect I command?

·         What position have I placed myself for me to expect to be treated with respect?

In order to earn the respect we command, it is important to develop one’s skill set and develop a courteous polite attitude at work. This will earn us the respect and regard we need in our place of work. As it is said “respect is reciprocal”. As it is expected of a subordinate to respect his/her superior, so also is some form of respect expected towards the subordinate from the superior. This kind of respect cannot be earned if we don’t place ourselves in the right position. It is important to develop our self-esteem because it increases the capacity to be happy. Also, many people with the right self-esteem always have the conviction that they deserve to be happy.

With high self-esteem and a lot of confidence, there is a high tendency for an individual to be able to cope with stress, and take on difficult tasks because of a high level of self -belief and optimism, thus nothing seems to be difficult or stressful. It is therefor highly important that we try to build confidence in ourselves. Look sharp, speak smartly, respect others, learn new skills to empower you at work, and never ever forget to pray.

Kunle Adebayo aka Dr. Kae a budding human capital development and brand consultant with a passion for social welfare and community development. In his spare time, Kunle volunteers at an adult teaching facility and is an advocate for developing individuals and communities in order to foster nationwide development. He tweets via @doctorkae and he works with us right here at insiteful solutions.

FOR CEOS ONLY - HIRING REMOTE WORKERS, IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

So the business landscape has changed dramatically including the way in which we hire the staff that we need within the office. One tempting new way of doing business is the outsourcing of core job  functions or departments to remote workers. For example, lets say I need human resource support after I have hired a Human Resource consultant to lay out a work plan, and I hear it is cheaper to outsource to a remote worker, what do I do? Do I Just get one. Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes it is no. It is not right for every organization and sometimes it is about timing... To read more on this topic, please click on the link below:

 

http://www.killerstartups.com/startups-tools-and-guides/hiring-remote-workers/

GUEST ARTICLE - HOW TO REGISTER AND BRAND YOUR BUSINESS IN NAIJA

Business in Nigeria can be a tricky thing and even trickier when you are a woman, but hopefully the tips we share will help you navigate the often murky waters of business much, much better! In my first article, I shared 6 business tips for current and soon-to-be business operators. From the feedback I got, people are asking for “more details … por favor!!” and I am happy to oblige. So here goes, let’s look at tip 1 and tip 2 in a bit more detail...please read more at the link below:

http://www.poizemagazine.com/2013/08/15/how-to-register-and-brand-your-business-in-nigeria/

 

 

 

GUEST ARTICLE - 6 TIPS FOR STARTING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN NIGERIA - PART 1

Hola Folks!

 

Below is a guest article I did in Poize Magazine. Please read and enjoy! thanks.

 

Business in Nigeria can be a tricky thing and even trickier when you are a woman. Apart from the regular worries like start-up capital, location and how to choose the right playing field to enter, there are other things you must tackle. Things like: how to juggle a business and a career, how to have a life without losing yourself, navigating the waters of sexual harassment, and remaining true to yourself in a country that forces definitions on you that you don’t want or care for....

 

 

Read more at

 

 

http://www.poizemagazine.com/2013/07/23/6-tips-for-business-in-nigeria/

GUEST POST: STANDING OUT AT WORK FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS

Happy Monday everyone!

Please help me give a warm welcome for our guest blogger Kunle Adebayo aka Dr. Kae a budding human capital development and brand consultant with a passion for social welfare and community development. In his spare time, Kunle volunteers at an adult teaching facility and is an advocate for developing individuals and communities in order to foster nationwide development. He tweets via @doctorkae and he works with us right here at insiteful solutions. He truly is doing great things in Abuja. Please Enjoy!

 

Be it the private sector or public sector, one of the major fears of Nigerians is getting laid off work. Many organizations run appraisals to check the relevance and productivity of their staff, and it is during these periods that individuals run around trying to get the favour of their superiors towards a positive appraisal. Some people actually believe that the only way they can remain relevant and indispensable to their organization is by keeping certain work-secrets and ensuring that no one can handle their responsibilities as well as they can. However this often backfires spectacularly because no one can hoard information indefinitely without having their colleagues come after them. Being relevant to our work or society doesn’t mean that we should only work towards achieving or completing tasks that are expected of us in our place of work or in the society, it should also include self-actualization - achieving those personal set goals, dreams, and being who we want to be. We should be able to improve on ourselves individually, because the truth be told, whatever goes on inside of us determines greatly what comes out; if we try to improve on every aspects of our lives positively, we would notice that without even placing more efforts on completion of tasks, we would be increasing productivity since all will be done wilfully with the help of the inner freedom and force.

In making ourselves relevant at work, there are certain steps/methods we can use to achieve this, some of which are but not limited to:

·        Developing yourself beyond your technical abilities

Looking out at the market these days, everyone seems to have the same set of technical skills – we are brand designers, we are advertising gurus, we are office administrators, we are sales people…blah blah blah. This is the reason why it is important that we develop our soft-skills and also let the positive side of our personality shine through at work. We are not all perfect but we all have inherent strengths and positive traits that we should develop.

 

·        Being A Team Player

It is greatly advised that we try to collaborate with other members of our team, by sharing knowledge and information which not only improves productivity for the tasks at hand but also improves our knowledge base. By sharing information we get to find out some things from others which we do not know. Being a team player also means having the ability to blend and adapt to any situation which is a very attractive traits both employers and customers appreciate.

 

·        Staying Up-To-Date

With the world that we live in today, staying up-to-date is highly essential. Something new is invented and discovered in the world every day and there are new ways to having tasks done. Through the use of our numerous devices which connect us to the internet and millions of other people of the world, we get to update ourselves on new inventions and ideas which develop us and make us more productive.

 

·        Adding Value

It is expected of every relationship - work and human- to add value. every employer expects employees to add value to the organization. If you are not adding value, then quite frankly, you become dead wood and what happens to dead wood…yep you guessed right. Setting up personal goals and organizing our work to maximize creative output will not only maximize the end-results, but also keep us focused throughout. The days of working for a mere salary is long-gone, modern employers wish to see impacting results.

Being indispensable to any organization requires hard work and diligence. The above tips are a few effective ways of achieving this. it is also important to note that, by trying to improve ourselves individually we will also be improving our productivity in our work place and God forbid the worst happens and you find yourself in a position where your job is no longer safe, you would have done enough to have employers running to come hire you