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Hello, and welcome to the podcast. Today's conversation is OK. Today I want to talk about a few things related to timing. Timing. Yeah, when to start the business. So you have a business idea, you're trying to put one and two together, and you're trying to figure out when is the perfect time to start. So excuse me, today's episode is going to be a freestyle session around these sorts of issues. And the reason why this is what we're going to be talking about today is because I had a conversation with what?
A text conversation. What do we call it? Text position, A text conversation with a listener of the podcast. Let's just call her Mary Kay. Now, Mary Kay is a core member, so she's still doing her NYC thing and she's trying to escape House of Culture. We've been shining back and forth on a few things. So I just want to come here and share the conversation today. So dear Mary King, of course, not her real name. If you're listening and you think, is this me?
Yeah, it actually is you. I'm just coming over here to share our conversation because I think there are some people who are going to benefit from some of the things that we are talking about. And also because I want to very publicly issue you an apology there, Mary Kay, for, should I say, disappointing? OK, maybe I don't know if disappointing is too strong a word. But anyway, shall I just want to use this as a very public apology to you, Miss Mary Kay,
for disappointing you or maybe pushing you or prodding you to start before you are ready. Because like I've been saying on the podcast for a very long time, when it comes to sales, business development, business growth, you know, these sorts of things, usually there's no right or wrong answer. Usually there's most appropriate and there is least appropriate. So it's not as if I'll say my methods are correct and what you're planning or what you're thinking is wrong.
We always have to be thinking about what goals we're trying to achieve, you know, for ourselves and for our businesses. And we have to look for the most appropriate methods or the most effective methods to get there and the least effective methods to get there. But Mary Kay, you are absolutely correct. Nobody should force you to run faster than your own pace. So you're correct. And so apologies, my dear Mary Kay, that I tried to make you run faster than your own pace.
So that's the reason why I'm making today's podcast episode. So lots of things about when to start a business, how to start a business, the right order to start a business, and yeah, that's it. So we'll discuss some of those things. I've already issued you my very public apology, so let me go, go and then head straight into it. And then I always give my phone number at the beginning and at the end of every episode because just like how Mary Kay, again,
not her real name, just like how Mary Kay reached out to me. I do intend that anybody who's looking for business advice should reach out to me. I have no qualms of giving people free business advice. Just make sure you state it early in the chat that you're looking for free business advice. Sure. If that's the case, yes, I'll answer one question and answer it sharply for you. Well, then if you want more advice, more context, if you want me to walk along with you as you're trying to figure out some of these issues, then it'll have to be a big paid consultation.
But yeah, I'm not willing to talk to anybody. Just say from the beginning that you're looking for free business advice, and I'll answer your one question. So think very hard before you reach out about what's on your mind and what's really what's really burning you, you know, on your chest so that we can go straight to that question. So now I've issued an apology to Mary Kay, but then I'm now going to issue a warning to those of you who are going to take me up on my offer.
Oh, by the way, my name is Tavishma Aidi, our former lawyer turned business consultant. And if you'd love to connect with me, you want to take me up on this offer for free business advice or you want to hook up a paid consultation, No problem, Just hit me up. The number to call, the number to text or the number to send a WhatsApp to is 08064662140. But now here's my warning. My focus is always on execution. Even if you want to listen to 2-3 episodes, you can tell that for me, the focus is OK, where are we going?
Are we going here? Oh yeah, let's move. If we're not going, let's not go. If we're going, let's move. If we're standing still, why are we standing still? If we aren't sure or something? All right, let's get clarity so that we can move. Because if the goal is to go somewhere and for some reason we are not moving, at the end of the day, who are we helping? Nobody. At the end of the day, who are we hurting? Some of you might say nobody,
but in a sense, you're hurting your future self. If we can start this journey today and get somewhere next year, but you're content with not moving today, you're hurting the future outcomes, the future profits, the future proceeds, the future of whatever that could have accrued to you, you know, next year. So, yeah, Mary Kay, I apologize wholeheartedly for trying to push you to run before you are willing to run. But then for others who are going to call, for others who are going to reach out, if you think like you're like Mary Kate, please don't call me.
Don't text me because it's going to be a painful experience for you because you feel like I'm pushing you too much. And it'll be a frustrating experience for me because I'll be like, what's going on? Am I not trying to get this person somewhere? Why is this person not moving? So if you're like Mary Kay, you listen to this episode and you're like, Mary Kay, I beg you, do not reach out to me because it's not going to be fun for either of us.
So like I said, no Mary Kay, sorry I'm being so dramatic. She actually is a correct babe, Very, very correct babe. And I like her. You know, I like her. What will I say? I like her scope. I get, you know, I like where she's where she's heading it also to reach out to listen to the podcast. She's trying to escape the hustle culture and I didn't tell her at the time, but anyway, let me just say it now in case the other people who are listening to the podcast now who are trying to escape the hustle culture.
I'm sorry, but I have bad news for you guys, all girls, anybody who's trying to escape the hustle culture. There is no such thing as escape the hustle culture. It's not possible. It doesn't matter where you're going to shook your hand also is involved doesn't matter if you really really want to escape the hustle culture and popsy get connects or moms. He knows one or two people or you know an uncle who knows somebody go and talk to them.
That's not yourself. In civil service, there is no also you clock in at 8 or 9 whenever you're supposed to clock in, clock out at 4:00 sharp, collect your salary, you live a nice life. No horseshoe involved. Although if you want to start getting, you know, government contract, you want to get an appointment, you want to get extra code, you know, travel abroad and decide if you want to do that, then even in civil service, horseshoe is involved.
So for those of you who are listening to the podcast today, I think you want to avoid the horseshoe culture. How bad news for you? Hustle is involved no matter where you shook your hand. In fact, for those of you who want to escape hustle culture, I'm begging you, unsubscribe from the podcast now. There's no point listening to your podcast where you hear somebody saying things that are frustrating you every single day.
If you're trying to escape hustle culture, unsubscribe from the podcast now. So for those of you who haven't paused and have unsubscribed, let's continue. Here's the reason why I say there's no such thing as escape hustle culture. Because no matter the business opportunity that you want to put your hands into, whether as web developer, because I have worked with developers, whether as people who are in the alternative energy space, you know, solar panel inverter.
Because I work with those kind of people, whether it's wedding photography or video. Because after my legal practice, I started off as a lawyer. Now I'm a business consultant. After my legal practice, the next thing I did was events. So whether events or whether export, because my brother and I would try to do export business. Whether you're in the academic research writing space. Because 2 days ago, I advised somebody who is in that space,
try to give him some ideas on their webinar strategies. In fact, the reason why he reached out was because he listened to the podcast episode where I spoke about webinars and he realized that he has to make some changes to his webinar strategy as a way for lead generation, for getting leads, you know, to get people to raise their hands to show that they might be interested in this product or service. Then what? Again, I can't remember all the business people I've worked with and all the sectors that I've worked in.
But The thing is, I have not found one sector that did not involve. Also, I have not one found, I've not found, excuse me, one sector that did not involve. You wake up today and you're thinking of how you will physically go after customers or how you will online your customers to come after you. But either way, hustle is involved. So what I'd like to tell people is this, there's no such thing as escaping hustle culture.
Just decide the kind of hustle that you're the, the, the kind of hustle that you're comfortable with and then align. So if you're not a outdoor, outdoor, you know, go and see people make phone calls. If that's not your thing, you're making phone calls, not your thing. I wanted to be an inbound strategy, content marketing, online, social media content, that sort of thing. Fine, no problem. But just be honest with yourself and then align accordingly.
So hustle is involved. Pick the hustle that is comfortable for you, but there is no such thing as escaping hustle culture. Now, there is only one person that I spoke to where hustle was not involved. And I know that you guys don't want to be in that kind of business because if you wanted to be in that kind of business, you won't be listening to the show. You'll already be in the business. So there's one guy that called me and he's in the business of Allah Buddhit.
Now he sells illicit substances, if you understand what I mean, If you can read between the lines, you know, when you're depressed and you need to pick me up, he's the kind of guy that you call. So that is the powder he will give you. Whether is the liquid he will give you, whether is the gas he will give you. Your mood is low, you want to get high, He will give you, you know, for those who have years, you understand the business I'm talking about, That's his business.
So for him in the beginning also was involved because you need to get your early clients when you're getting into that kind of business. By the way, I'm not endorsing or glorifying the drug business. I'm just trying to tell you it is what it is. So in the early days there was also to break into the market, but after that customer lifetime value was good. This is what cost my lifetime value means. Cost my lifetime value means when you get a customer and the person that dies into a buying relationship with you, how often do they come back and give you money and how long do they stay with you?
Now in the illicit drugs space, customer lifetime value is high because people are addicted. So if somebody's addicted and you're his supplier, guess what? The person would call you every single week. And any which way the person will find that money and the person will be dropping that money. And depending on the kind of substance that you that you sell, the money would be good money. And so this guy who called me, but we had told him that, you know, I can't those people listen to the podcast, you know,
you know, the anyway on ethical ground shot told the guy that boss, you know, I really can't anywhere between me and him. We settled it. Let me just leave it like that because I can't put my hand in that kind of something. You know, that in Nigeria these things are still illegal. So even if I wanted, I was thinking like, ah, this guy gets your husband. And then I put my hand, you know, tomorrow, if enough that shows up, you know, don't come and bundle me.
So anyway, cost of my lifetime value on that kind of product is good and the margins on that kind of product is good. So once you establish A reputation and you get your clientele, the money is good. So my guy used to do, he now had a natural problems because when I say my guy, I don't mean like he's my friend, you know, I don't really know him, you know, just, you know, now listen, now the podcast people just reach out and then we start talking.
In fact, that's the benefit of this podcast, man. I've been talking to people from all walks of life, all works that just are making money, doing all kinds of things. So you're not in financial problems because you know, it's kind of like a soft life. You wake up, you stay in your house, you're blowing AC and then your phone is pinging. People are like, oh boy, where you did, where you did give me 500 grams, give me one KG, give me 2.5.
You know, people are just calling you. That's the life. Then you go out, fulfill order and then your bank account is swelling. So of course of that, you know, he was now living a soft life and then he was overspending. Then he now enter financial problems. So except if you want to be in that kind of business where the profit margin is good and the cost of my lifetime value is good. Because like I said, once your customer is addicted and you are the plug, they'll be calling you every week, they'll be chasing you.
And anyhow, anyhow, they will find out money. So except if you're involved in that kind of business, I'm afraid hustle is involved. So you guys also just decide the kind of hustle that is good for you. And then please, let's not listen to all these American content producers who say things like down with hustle cultural, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. The funny thing is they say down with hustle cultural, but then when you listen to them or when you look at them, you'll see that they're hustling.
It's just that they define horse in a different way. Let me give an example. There's a bot has episode I made about this guy and let me not call his name is my boss. So let me not disrespect my senior. So whatcha is a well known name? He was talking this whole thing also cultural blah blah blah blah blah. You should not do direct sales. You should not be obnoxious diseases. He was talking about how you need to take things nice and easy, but then one of his tactics was that if there's anybody who wants to sell to what he does is he selects if there are people he wants to work with.
He selects 9 people and then for 90 days he comments on their posts and you know things like that. I know what not before sending them Adm that he will now use to try and sell product to them. So you heard me correctly. He selects nine people that he's going to be commenting, you know, blah, blah, blah, on their profile for 90 days straight before he now sends the medium. Now that person by a ball, now an American, by the way, that kind of person will now tell you downward hustle, cultural.
Can you imagine the level of household that is involved that for 90 days, three months, every single day you're living on somebody's profile, trying to drop something, trying to drop messages, trying to whatever. So that your profile is, you know, they kind of see your profile, kind of know your name so that when you now eventually try and get the sale in three months time, you know they're familiar with you. Almost no horseshoe.
I think my own method is even easier. So my own method of trying to figure out where the potential customer is and walking up with the customer to have an honest conversation or making the phone call to try and have an honest conversation. I really think my own is a lot easier. I'll call you down one time. We'll have two or three conversations. You're interested, you're not interested, you're not interested and then I move.
I live my life, you live your life. These are some of the people who are paying attention to. They'll say that will also culture. That will also culture. They will now tell you do this, do this. At the end of the day, what I recommended for you to do is even harder than those of us who they say all of us now also culture. The ones that we were recommending seems a whole lot easier. All I'm asking you to do is make one or two phone calls.
If the person says good and you're moving forward with the person says I'm not interested and no problem, you delete the person's phone number. Do not be shouting down horticultural. Then they'll start trying to teach you how to stalk somebody online for three months straight. Be careful you guys listen to anyway, forgive me, I'm ranting too much. Anyway, so Mary Kane now like I said she's a career girl but she doesn't want to do horticultural.
So she started off by saying my communication skills are exceptional now is the very first message that that she sent and that's how we started talking By the way, can you guys see when I say that flattery will get you everywhere. Imagine now you open your phone, someone's like a bro, you are exceptional. Of course, you continue to yarn now. So that's how we started off with a good relationship. Me and her continue to yarn.
So let's see. OK, she's a copper NYC. No, she no get money and you know she doesn't want to do also also also also well, OK, then she also wanted to know about the training that I was putting on at the time, because at the time I had announced a training on how to the training was around getting people better at selling using the phone because of course, the phone is a primary way that lots of us used to try and run more business.
Whether you're making phone calls like I recommend or whether you just want to be posted on social media and responding to DMS or whatever, but the phone is a primary way to drop off sales. So I had to training on that. So at the time I was in the middle of promoting that training. And so she wanted to know about that, you know, but of course, you know, you couldn't couldn't work because, you know, she's a corporate. She says you no get money.
So that was no problem. Now we discussed what a consultation would be like. And so she fears, she says she no get money. And I understand everybody has money, but The thing is, I'm actually quite reasonably priced. I actually am. I have options available and I've said it before all the way from 400K all the way down to 15 K. So it's not as big as some of you are thinking. I don't charge 1.5 million yet. As of 2026, I'm currently not charging 1.5.
Yes, that's all my colleagues who charge 1.5 but I don't yet. So if you're listening to this in 2031 or 2029 or something, yeah, my, my price is different. But if you're listening to this in 2026, is there anything between 400 all the way down to 15? So it's not that bad. We now she says she's a cop, but she no get money. So no problem. We see the we see the flow. Then, you know, from there we started talking about kinds of,
you know, rubbish things, you know, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, no one true God, this and this and this that and that and that. So just, you know, small hands because I always like to get a sense of who my listeners of The Who the listeners of the podcast are. So that's the reason why when any of you hook up with me, I actually do ask you questions because I actually want to know. I want to know things about you. It helps with the different examples that I come up with.
It helps to be able to speak directly to aspirations. So when I'm engaging you in conversation, those of you who reach out, you know, it's not as if I no get work. Just think of it as as I'm also doing customer research and put it that way, customer research. Because the podcast is still young. Yes, I've been doing this for six years. But relatively speaking, you think it's still young? That's on the OG's in this space.
They're on a podcast for like, I don't know, long time. Like this guy, what's his name? Duct Tape Marketing. Yeah, like Duct Tape Marketing. His podcast is 20 years old. He's a newsletter. On the other hand, I don't know, maybe not his 30 something years old, but that duct tape marketing guy, 20 years broadcasting. Then these other guys, Bill, Bill something and Arnold. Is it Bill and Arnold? I can't remember their names anyway.
But now on his advanced, the advanced selling podcast. Yeah, 2 American guys, the advanced selling podcast. That podcast is 20 something years old. Then who again? OK, Gary Vaynerchuk. Done, you know, podcast video, Facebook, and now he's been around for like 30 years then I mean, so you guys, you understand what I'm saying that relatively speaking, you know, I'm still a baby in this space because I've only been podcasting for 6-6 years.
Maybe by Nigerian levels you can say I'm a veteran, but on a global scale, I'm still a baby. So me having a chat with you guys, you know what yours does the yeah, casual. I'm just, I'm doing research. I'm trying to figure out who is my audience, who are my people because I'm a professional salesman and I can't sell to people who I don't know. So, so all that talk about Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, there's no true God, blah, blah,
blah, spirituality, my one true self. And all that was just research. I'm trying to know who are the people who listen to my podcast. So eventually conversation picks up. I will start talking about doing jewelry business and she wants to do it without having a physical store and I'm interested. I was curious. I was like, OK, that sounds interesting and I can't remember the details, but I think one of the thing I advised her to do here was to go online and then there are already people who are in this space.
See, it never is a bad idea when you're about to enter 1 space to go and see who is there, what have they been doing, what have they tried, what is working, what failed. It's not a bad idea at all to go and do that kind of market research before you move. You should never go into anything blind. So I told her, OK, for the kind of jewels you have in mind for this kind of business idea, you know, follow this kind of person, follow this merchant,
follow this merchant, you know, these like market research. Just be following these people. Just be seeing what's up on their timeline. Just be seeing what's up, you know, if you talk to any of them physically one-on-one, it won't be a bad idea. Although to be honest, it looks like the average Nigerian person, they don't want to breed competition. So even if you reach out to them and say, oh, I'm inspired, I want to learn your trade, they won't answer you because they don't want to create their own competition.
By the way, that's just one of those things. Then let's see, OK, she had one really interesting idea. She said that since she doesn't have physical space in order to communicate trust, I was thinking of doing online consultations. So somebody who call her online, you know, do see video to video, do the consultation, you don't look at the jewelry, that kind of thing. Then she'll also ensure the dispatch. I thought that was good because on the podcast I've been talking about risk mitigation as a way of increasing your sales.
Now, this is the idea behind risk mitigation strategies. The ideas behind risk mitigation strategies, especially in economies like Nigeria where what's this thing hyperinflation is on the rise. The idea is that people are afraid of losing money. So whenever you have something, your business process that can assure them that look is a risk, but this is how we go around the risk. This is how I protect you. This is how whenever you can do things like that, it makes people kind of mellow.
So I thought was was a good idea, but of course we'll never know because to be honest, Mary Kay didn't start this business idea. So that will be a good idea that oh, that's nice. Insured dispatch. This is the value of the consignment. I'm sending it to you. I'm sending it through DHL and this is going to be an insured dispatch. So you know, as in any which way anyhow, anyhow, anyhow, like you know, you're covered. Everything gets lost in transit.
You know, I will ensure it. I'll be able to give your money back. You know, as in anything you can do risk mitigation, you know, go and Google it, go and check YouTube or just use chat ChatGPT or something and just put risk mitigation, you know, as a business strategy or risk mitigation as a as a sales strategy. You know, you see some real, real interesting stuff and see how you can do that in your business. So I thought what Mary Kay,
again, not her real name. This idea she came up with was a good idea. I'm insured dispatch for this jewelry business since she won't have a physical space. Oh, by the way, you also see the benefits of me talking to you guys. I also get to talk to very creative individuals from across the length and breadth of Nigeria is one of the things I enjoy from this podcast. You guys are reached out. You guys are absolutely wonderful.
You guys are top notch. You guys come up with good ideas, really good ideas. So we kept on talking. No shoe bounce out some ideas. So there was that video thing after a while started talking, talking about drop shipping from Lagos. Then what else? This is where the quarters started. She now entered this whole thing of branding. For those of you who've been listening to this podcast, you know that when I hear Brandon, you know my my brain starts to glitch.
It starts to torch. So I told her, look, ignore branding, like I tell everybody, ignore branding. Branding is just a distraction. Yes, to do this thing ideally, to do this thing wonderful, to do this thing beautiful, You want your brands to be on point, you want to get the office, you want to get the designs, you want to get the furnishing, you want to get the logo, you want to get the website, you want to get everything, you want to be the perfect brand.
That's that correct. But The thing is to achieve that, she needed to raise between 4M and five M Now to start that journey, more advice was that's the goal. What do you have, 4:00 or 5:00 AM now? No. So what you do is be buying them is more small batches and they start selling to get your feet wet. Buy them is more small batches, Gold, gold, silver, silver, diamond, diamond, you know, platinum, platinum. Be buying them small, small,
small, small and be selling one or two things. You'll get an experience. You're interacting with clients, you're interacting with customers, you're figuring out what exactly it is you like, because might be coming into this industry thinking that you like gold. And then you now discover that actually you prefer platinum, that you're better at selling platinum. Or am I coming thinking that diamond is where all the profit margin is?
But then when you come in, you discover that, yes, the profit margin on diamond is big, but that if you're selling gold, you know, with a smaller profit margin because gold is moving faster, that one is making you more money. See, The thing is, you never know when we're sitting down and I'm thinking, I'm thinking I'm branding and branding and plotting and plotting and strategizing. I'm strategizing. We're staying in one place.
What's there in one place and who are we helping? Are you helping yourself? But Mary Kay, you're absolutely right. Nobody should force you to run before you are ready. That was my advice. Just buy some small, small batches. I served in Kano. Kano has a famous gold market and there was some of my coppers. When I say my coppers, I mean like my classmates, babes. That's how they were making good money. Yoruba girls, we landed in Kano.
They heard that Kano has gold market, went to gold market shop. Yoruba girls. What do you think they started doing? They started buying gold in Kano and then selling in Lagos, making money on the spread. There are some people that that is how they enter into the business. At least I know three people in Kano. 2 was gold, 1 was, was it onions? I can't remember was onions or tomatoes or something very sharp. Yoruba girl, before we knew it,
she was mobilizing trailers. I was around a local government. She was mobilizing trailers from different local governments, packing all those produce, sending it down to Lagos. I said these babies are strong people who care for NYC. This woman has become a, he has become a market mogul. So that is what I advised though just you know, small, small, small, small, small, be trading like that. So that's where quarrel started.
Essentially what I was saying was get your feet wet because I told her if you focus on branding now, you won't have done anything by March, April. By the way, all these ideas we're talking about, we've been talking about these ideas since November of 2025. Our quarrel happened in February of 2026. So November, December, January, February, four months has passed. Those of you who think I'm being dramatic when I start ranting on the podcast episodes, can you see how quickly four months can pass and you have done nothing?
You mean well, but while you're deliberating, while you're thinking, while you're plotting, while you're strategizing, while you're branding, while your time is going, you never know what time is going. Casual conversation November, December, January, February. We quarrel, Relationship is over but she's done nothing. Funny enough, when I asked her in November of last year, she said she will be ready by August of 2026.
And yes, you heard me correctly, August of 2026. My own take has always been is this a good business idea? Yes it is. Could this be profitable? It could. Then why do we have to wait until August of next year before we start? In fact, and now listen up. This is the thing that a lot of you are kind of missing, but I have to say it my way is actually the safer way. It seems like I might be pushing some of you to run before you're ready.
But listen, clearly my way is actually the safer way. This is why our own way, we wait until August, we raise the initial 4 to 5 mil that we need to start. By the way, whenever you raise 4 or 5 million to start, it never is enough. Remember Niger, hyperinflation, hyperinflation, sorry I'm speaking house and now hyperinflation. The cost of good is always going up and stuff like that. And then I had a studio before and believe me, the cost you have set aside for your office or for your studio, it is not accurate.
I can tell you first hand, yes, the capital will give you an estimate for everything that needs to be done. But then by the time they start the work, oh auger, we supposed on like this. We supposed to this. I didn't add this, I didn't add this as our carpentry budget will go up, plumbing budget will go up. The guy not supposed to fix your AC. You agreed on this place. You say, oh, we can't put the AC here because this one is a load bearing wall.
So we have to move the AC to this place. You start puncturing another place, you puncture here, you puncture here, you know, have to buy cement to patch it up and this and this. The cost of installing the AC is going up. Everything just be going up, be going up, be going up. So at the end of the day, even for someone who is in Mary Kay situation and you say you need like four or five M, I'm telling you that four or five M, that's what you think you need.
When you start, you see that you need maybe like 8-9, maybe even 10. Now This is why my own way is safer. I talk about starting your business in three easy steps. The first step is we're going to pick the right idea. We've picked during. Next we're going to validate it. We're going to figure out if there's market demand, if people are willing to pay for the product or the service, if you can indeed sell the product or the service.
Then after that, we'll build a selling system around it. It is after step three that we go all in because we have figured out that this is an idea that can work for those of you who want to do it the other way. Everything was perfect to build the perfect, the perfect brand, the perfect everything. You raise all this money, then you start. Then some of you discover I'm not really interested in this business. Also, maybe you discover that there's not really money in this thing, or you discover that there's some kind of celic somewhere.
Then what next? All the money that you've you've invested? Zero. You don't have to shut down this business. The money that you collected from Mumsy and Popsy or from your uncle and auntie wasted the time that you invested wasted. So my own way seems like it's a scary way, but actually is the safer way to say what business are we going to do? OK, we have decided. Sorry about the noise in the background. I'm making today's recording at home.
And then Step 2. Let's validate this business idea is their market demand. The only way to can validate this idea actually is to go out and start talking to people, try and sell one or two items. So for Mary Kay, the next step actually was try and sell one or two things. Try and sell some gold bangles, try and sell some earring, try and sell some diamond studded rings. Come and sell some, you know, diamond studded bag or whatever it is shadow she can lay her hands or try and you know, sell one or two things based on the attraction that you get.
Are people buying any quick or not the profit margin? Is he healthy or not? We now know whether you know what this line of business that we were staying on, let's continue, or this thing is too difficult. Let's make AU turn. So actually what I am suggesting is a safer way at some point, Mary Kay, before we quarrel and before she broke up with me. When I say broke up, I mean in the business sense. You know, I'm happily married.
Oh so and I know they carry small shops under the carry side cheeks at least not now I want to be rich like that was when I get to down with a level I can now start misbehaving born to them. So before she broke up me now she asked me direct. She said, are you suggesting that I dive in and learn as I go? And I answered yes, that is precisely what I'm advising. Dive in, then learn as you go. In sales, they call that the MVP, minimum viable product.
You want to start something. So what you do is you build a small version of that thing. First you put together a small, you know, a small version of the thing and then you start selling it. You start executing small, small, small. When you figure out that your MVP works, then you now pour plenty of money into the thing. So yes, that is what I'm recommending. Dive in, learn as you go. Take the smallest money, smallest amount of money and the smallest amount of money that you can invest in this game without losing your head.
You know, if you take like those ladies who are with me in Kano, I wanted to join them at some point. But me, I was afraid because that was, you know, I don't know anything about precious stones. So me, I was afraid if I'm by fixing, how will I know? So just like those ladies in Kano, your first consignment, see, I don't know, I don't know how much, but let's just say your first consignment, you drop 25 K, you buy some stuff, you go to Lagos, you sell it, you realize 50K in profits, you come back again.
Next time you stop buying 25K, you buy 50K, you go and then you make XYZ number of profits and then you keep coming back. I keep raising the money, I keep raising the amount that you invest. Then eventually, yes, you now have your physical location in Lagos, your own shop, you hire somebody, you put security cameras, you do this. You do you know, hey, you don't have that beautiful brand, you know, but in the beginning,
small, small, small, small, small, small. How much money can I afford to lose? 25K oil, let me go and buy gold or 25K let me see how much I can sell. Get in the game and start and then learn as you go. So I told her that another reason why I'm asking how to do this is because it will help her figure out if it is the right business for her. And I don't think she got that because when me and Mary Kay started chatting, she was trying to figure out which business should I do because remember,
she doesn't want to also. So even this diamond thing, this precious stone thing, she's still not sure if this is the business that she wants to remain in ultimately. And that is why with the framework that I have, step one, select the right business #2 validate. That is the reason why these two are important. Because believe me, I've been there. It sucks to jump into something wholeheartedly and then wake up in 2 years and say to yourself,
what the hell am I doing here? I'm miserable. I don't like this place. So anyway, I've been writing for 40 minutes. Let me just bring it to a close. So Mary Kay. If you're listening, you know, no XI, apologize for trying to push you before you are ready. And then for other people who are interested, because I gave my phone number at the beginning, I'm giving it again now. The number to call to text or to send me a WhatsApp message is 08064662140.
I have no problem with speaking with people for free. You're interested in free, free consultation. Just let me know at the beginning of your message or at the beginning of your phone call. We'll set up a time. We will have that conversation, but I will only answer one question. If you want a paid consultation so that I can take my time, let's sit down. If you have paperwork, let's look at the paperwork. If you have a framework, let's examine it.
If you don't have a framework, let's put up the framework together. Let's walk through this, the different options available and for now is between 415 grand. There's plenty of room for me to work with plenty of you. So you don't have to be afraid. I'm not charging 1.52 million yet. I will eventually, but as a 2026, I'm not charging that yet. Well, please, just to avoid situations where because for me, remember, I've told you guys that anybody who you know, I'm a trusting fellow, like if we're yanning and we're cool, we're friends.
Especially if you give me money. If you give me money, you're my best friend. I don't want to be in a situation where you know, I'm quarreling with my friends anyhow. Anyhow, anyhow, please, if you want to take his on a soft, soft space, don't call me, please. I can't work with you. I can't be by your side if you're taking his on a soft, soft space. If you have decided in November of 2025 that this is what you're going to do and you want to relax on to August of 2026
before you start August of the next year, how many months is that? August, happy. November, December. January. February. March, April, May, June, July, August. That's ten months. OK. If you want to wait 10 months before you even start, please don't call me. I beg, please. It's going to be a very frustrating relationship for both of us. You will think where's this guy rushing to isn't all my life and I'll be thinking why is this person holding on like and what's going on waiting She live here.
So Mary King, I've said it again, I'm really sorry, but for the rest of you who want to reach out, I beg if you want to take things soft, soft, soft, then don't reach out to me. I can't take this off with you. My own is let's decide where are we going? OK, now we know what medium are we going to use to get there? What kind of business are we going to get there? Are we going to sell cars? OK, cool. Are we going to sell solar?
OK, cool. Are we going to sell gold? OK, cool. Are we going to sell yam? Are we going to sell ginger? It is cool. Are we going to sell crypto? It's good. Are we going to sell whatever, It's all good. Now that we know where we're heading and now that we know what our vehicle is, the next thing is what is the next step so that tomorrow morning, 8:00 AM, we know what to do next. And that has always been my focus on this podcast.
That's why I keep trying to keep it practical so that you leave the episode just like the guy who listened to the webinar episode. You listen to an episode and you know that you know what? Tomorrow morning when I get to the Office 8 O clock, I'm telling the boys, this is what we're doing. So thank you very much for listening again. Apologies again to Mary Kay. For those of you who don't like hustle culture in quote, please unsubscribe as you finish listening to this podcast episode.
For the rest of you who are going to reach out 08064662140, please be ready so that we can we can move. Even for those of you who pay me, I don't like collecting people's money. And at the end of the day, we don't do anything. You know I'm Catholic, so I have too much of a conscience. So especially for those of you who give me money, I will be on your case. I will be on your case. If I was supposed to meet Wednesday by 9, I will call you Tuesday before to remind you.
I'll try and make sure we stick to Wednesday. If we miss that Wednesday 9 timing, I'll be on your case so that we can reschedule. If we miss it, I'll try and I'll do whatever I can to get the ball back on course. Anyway, I'm wasting, I'm talking too much. I'm not wasting people's time. So that's it. That's all for today. Don't worry, the next podcast episode I'm going to make will have much more useful, practical BT content about how we can grow our grow our businesses.
So yeah, that's it, That's it. And that's all for today. I'll catch you all some other time.