AZEEZAT: GRACEFUL QUEEN OF LOVE

For Nigerian music enthusiasts of the 90s, the name Azeezat will always ring a bell.

With her show-stopping hairstyles, sonorous voice and energetic stage performances, Azeezat Niniola Allen wormed her way into the heart of many Nigerians.  Now nicknamed the ‘Queen of Love’, contemporary soul singer Azeezat is back with a new single titled ‘My Valentine’ – and with a classy video to show for it. Throughout the holidays, the petite lady was breathing the studio air and now has this love song ready.

“My Valentine is a love song.  It is a song of dedication. It is a song full of sincere promises to a true love. Actually, I released it as part of my first album 'Simply Magnificent'. As Valentine’s Day was approaching, I decided to remix it; and that’s how I visualise it.  Every time you feel like renewing your vows, you will always bring it out, for generations! It’s a timeless song”, she explains.

The track which was produced by Seyi Allen and Jiggy Jeggs, mixed and mastered by Dan Jiggy had its video directed by award-winning video director, Emeka Obefe.  It is already enjoying rave reviews on the internet.

 From such songs as Lonely World, Hold On, Keregbe, Lorawagbo, Ife and Love Without Language, the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta Mass Communication graduate has aptly earned herself the appellation ‘Queen of Love’. “People know me with love songs. I didn't realise it myself until people started pointing it out. And that was how I got the title 'Queen of Love'. It’s actually ‘Queen of Love songs’. But it has been shortened to ‘Queen of Love’.  It made me realise that I love love, and I love singing about love”, she says.

The fact that Azeezat is back in business is no doubt.  She is not just back on the scene; she is now a decision-maker in the music industry.  How?  Well, every Nigerian musician wants to be paid their dues – and that isn’t just in recognition but fiscally.  Hence, she has joined the helm of affairs at the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and the only female EXCO member. So, female artistes finally have a voice and hope in getting their dues, we wonder.  “There's no discrimination at COSON. Everyone who has royalties with us is being paid. It’s true that the bulk of calls I get are from women, and I understand that it is because I'm a woman and I do everything I can to resolve their issues”, she explains.

In the area of tourism and culture, she has also been promoting Tarkwa Bay (the place she has made her home) as a great tourist destination in Nigeria.  This she did through her ‘Weekend with Azeezat’ concept.  Here, fun lovers were treated to musical performances from Azeezat as well as night life by the water and fresh food.

However, the initiative in now rested.  Why, we ask.  Smiling, she says:  “For every venture in life, you must take a step back and re-strategize.  So we are re-strategizing.  I also know the driving force of ‘Weekend with Azeezat’ is my career. So I need to take a break to get my career on the right footing; then we will start again”.

Born to the family of Alhaji and Alhaja Olatunji Salu in the mid 70's, Azeezat is a lover of music, poetry, love stories and cartoons. At a tender age, the Ogun State-born lady discovered music as her first love and began the journey of fulfilling her desires. By age 13, she had begun writing songs and participating in singing competitions. After her tertiary education, she took a shot at radio and TV presentation and production – she worked at Ogun State Broadcasting Service (OGBC) –  but soon returned to her first love; music.

She was spotted in a talent show by Seyi Allen, who she eventually married in 2002.   For 11 years, commitment is what has kept Azeezat and Seyi going.  To them, commitment is important.  Azeezat is of the opinion that love is essential but isn’t enough. “It is the mindset that there is no way out. There is no window out of marriage; it is that strong unbreakable wall. It portends that no matter how great the problem in marriage, you are not ever thinking of opting out. Because you are not thinking of opting out, it will mean that you are always trying to find solution. It is very essential. And communication between the couple is also important, there is also character and personality. The reason commitment is very important is because if one of the couple is doing something that is not that suitable to the other, commitment will make the other party compromise. That would be because you are committed to lasting longer”.

Raised as a Muslim, Azeezat showed her commitment to her spouse by making a compromise. 

“Before I met my husband I don’t think I had stepped into the four walls of the church.  But I did after we married”.

 She was nominated at the MNET organized “Where you at” Awards as Best Up-coming Female Act and Best Female Act in 2000 alongside icon Onyeka Onwenu.

ESTABLISHING A SMALL BUSINESS: THE 6 BIGGEST MISTAKES

By Ian Mills

There is no one instruction manual on how to successfully set up a small business. Much of it can only be learnt through personal experience in the field. However, the successes (and failures) of other small businesses can be valuable learning tools that can guide your own small business journey. From the recurring stories of thousands of small business clients, here are the six biggest mistakes small businesses make when getting set up.

1.    Not knowing your market.

Whatever the product or service is that you are intending to sell, do not make the mistake of thinking customers will be straight away beating a path to your door, just because you consider it to be the best thing since sliced bread. You need to fully understand your market, and you must do thorough research on exactly what it is that people are looking for, and how much money they will be prepared to shell out. There are countless examples of a failed small business where the founder thought their idea was so great that it would sell itself.

2.    Not having a plan.

It is not necessary to have a detailed 25-page business plan, unless it is part of an investment pitch. However, it is critical that you do have a business plan. If you do not have a plan to follow, this will mean you will have to make lots of decisions in a reactive manner, without perspective. Thus it is crucial to have a plan that sets out your business focus and strategy. You can then consult the plan as a guide and reference. Include in your plan your outlook for time markers such as six months, 12 months, two years, and five years. Your business plan does not have to be set in stone – it can be reviewed and updated along the way as your business grows.

3. Underestimating required effort.

Even the tiniest business takes much effort and resources to run. With a small business, you must create, productise, manufacture, and market your products. It is essential to continually develop to ensure your business keeps up with growing demand and keeps ahead of the competition. As well as selling, you must also stay on top of administration such as bookkeeping, accounting, tax returns, and reams of other paperwork. It is crucial that you do not underestimate the huge amount of effort required. Ensure that you have a grip on how you will handle all these matters – and pay for them, both during the start-up stage and when you get to steady running.

4.     Not using experts.

When setting up a business there is a strong propensity to want to do everything by yourself, either to save money or to avoid losing control. However, it is very difficult to look honestly at yourself and make an assessment of your strengths (and weaknesses). Often the best thing a small business owner can do is to be aware of their own weaknesses, and then hire professional people who are strong in those areas such as business website development and how the website is marketed to your audience. When you are honest about what you are not so good at, you will be positioning yourself and your business for the greatest chance of success. It is a given that you cannot be good at absolutely everything, so do be prepared to outsource particular tasks to the experts.

5.    Not attending to bookkeeping.

You must pay extra attention to this point, even though it may sound boring. You will be driving blind if you do not have accurate books. You personally may not be the best with numbers, but you must find someone who is. In essence, the success (or failure) of your business is determined by the quality of your financial records. The greater the accuracy of your financial records, the more rapidly you will be able to make informed decisions to correct business mistakes, and you will be able to take advantage of what is working well in the business and thereby make more money.

6.    Not being agile.

The running of a small business rarely, if ever, goes exactly to plan. While it is critical to have a clear focus, it is also of key importance to be flexible, as well as aware of what is working well and what is not. It is likely that the business you set out to create will not look much like the business you end up running. Be open to opportunities that may present themselves. Be prepared to reposition your focus on to what it is that is working well. If you are inflexible and hold too tight to your original idea of how things should run, then you are asking to fail. You need to be flexible and follow the money to where it is, not where you want it to be. The fact that your business is small means that you can rapidly adapt as needed by your customers or the market. Take heed of the feedback you receive from your staff, your customers, and your competitors, and be prepared to make necessary changes.

50 HABITS THAT PROVE YOU WERE BORN TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR

By Jayson DeMers

Most aspiring entrepreneurs feel it in their bones -- they were born to be an entrepreneur, to the point where nothing else in life could satisfy them. They’re dissatisfied as employees, followers or consumers. They want to create, build and grow their own enterprises, and they’re filled with the passion of their own ingenuity.

Here are 50 habits that born-to-be entrepreneurs can’t help but show. How many do you possess?

1. You can’t sit still. You’re always itching to come up with something, and do something great.

2. You’re always coming up with ideas. Good or bad, the flow of ideas never stops.

3. You can pinpoint flaws in other ideas. It comes naturally to you.

4. You marvel at successful business owners. Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates are just a few of your heroes.

5. You get excited when you see a successful business in action.Whether it’s a local bar or a supermarket franchise, you can’t help but smile when you see a good business.

6. You constantly think of ways to improve your employer’s business.When you’re at work, you only think about how it could be better.

7. You hate being told what to do. You’re resentful of taking orders.

8. You love to learn new things. How tos and tutorials are what you’re all about.

9. You take things apart to see how they work. Remotes, toasters, phones -- you love to see the inner workings.

10. You dream of wealth. Money isn’t everything, but you can’t help but have it on your mind.

11. You don’t give up easily. You face tough challenges but keep going.

12. You’re disciplined in your habits. You have set routines that don’t get broken easily.

13. You aren’t afraid of hard work. You give everything in your life 100 percent.

14. You have a high threshold for risk. You don’t take blind risks, but you don’t stay complacent either.

15. You meet as many people as you can. You aren’t afraid to branch out and meet new people.

16. You talk to everyone you meet. Strangers aren’t intimidating to you.

17. You bounce back from failure. You’ve experienced crushing failure, but it’s never stopped you from coming back.

18. You like calling the shots. You like the sound of being a director.

19. You set goals for yourself. Big or small, goals fill your life.

20. You help people whenever you can. You’re interested in the greater good.

21. You find challenges in everything you do. You seek out opportunities to challenge yourself.

22. You find ways to inspire people. You’re inspired by inspiration.

23. You plan everything down to the little details. Plans are a prerequisite for any activity.

24. You’re proud of yourself. You like who you are.

25. You help your friends solve their problems. You’re great at problem analysis.

26. You effectively delegate tasks and assign resources. In household chores and business operations alike.

27. You set deadlines for yourself. No excuses.

28. You like telling stories. You love to tell people about your experiences.

29. You’re hyper competitive. You can’t even play a board game without flipping that switch.

30. You get involved with things. If you see a car on the side of the road, you get out and ask if you can help.

31. You cut out things in your life that don’t work for you. If it’s inefficient or bothersome, it’s gone.

32. You negotiate whatever you can. Flea markets and salaries are just the beginning.

33. You see the potential in people. You don’t see people for who they are. You see them for who they could be.

34. You’re calm in a crisis. When stuff hits the fan, you still think logically.

35. You follow up with people when you want something. You don’t let opportunities go.

36. You avoid things that waste your time. You’re immune to mobile games and idle social-media time.

37. You persuade people to your side. You’re a natural rhetorician.

38. You make rational decisions, not emotional ones. For the most part, you trust your logic over your emotions.

39. You don’t forget people’s emotions. Still, there’s great sympathy in you.

40. You lose track of time when pursuing passion projects. Time seems to fly when you’re heads-down working on something.

41. You frequently start new passion projects. Every week, a new idea is transformed into a hobby.

42. You constantly upgrade your house (or car or anything). There’s always something to tinker with, replace or improve.

43. You’re crazy about new technology. You’re addicted to learning how new technologies can improve your life.

44. You read the news every day. It’s an ingrained habit.

45. You read books voraciously. Every book offers something new.

46. You listen to that internal voice. You trust your instincts.

47. You listen to others’ advice. You make your own decisions, but listen to others’ opinions too.

48. You don’t dwell in the past. When bad things happen, you keep moving forward.

49. You make sacrifices for what you want. You know you have to give things up to see greater success.

50. You never write off your dreams. You take your aspirations seriously. They’re a part of you.

Were you born to be an entrepreneur? If these habits sound like you, it’s time to start pursuing your true calling in life.

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HOW TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE BY AGE 30

By Grant Cardone 

Getting rich and becoming a millionaire is a taboo topic. Saying it can be done by the age of 30 seems like a fantasy.

It shouldn’t be taboo and it is possible. At the age of 21, I got out of college, broke and in debt, and by the time I was 30, I was a millionaire.

Here are the 10 steps that will guarantee you will become a millionaire by 30.

1. Follow the money. In today’s economic environment you cannot save your way to millionaire status. The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that. My income was $3,000 a month and nine years later it was $20,000 a month. Start following the money and it will force you to control revenue and see opportunities.

2. Don’t show off -- show up! I didn’t buy my first luxury watch or car until my businesses and investments were producing multiple secure flows of income. I was still driving a Toyota Camry when I had become a millionaire. Be known for your work ethic, not the trinkets that you buy.

3. Save to invest, don’t save to save. The only reason to save money is to invest it.  Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use these accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I cannot access.

4. Avoid debt that doesn’t pay you. Make it a rule that you never use debt that won’t make you money. I borrowed money for a car only because I knew it could increase my income. Rich people use debt to leverage investments and grow cash flows. Poor people use debt to buy things that make rich people richer.

5. Treat money like a jealous lover. Millions wish for financial freedom, but only those that make it a priority have millions. To get rich and stay rich you will have to make it a priority. Money is like a jealous lover. Ignore it and it will ignore you, or worse, it will leave you for someone who makes it a priority.

 6. Money doesn’t sleep. Money doesn’t know about clocks, schedules or holidays, and you shouldn’t either. Money loves people that have a great work ethic. When I was 26 years old, I was in retail and the store I worked at closed at 7 p.m. Most times you could find me there at 11 p.m. making an extra sale. Never try to be the smartest or luckiest person -- just make sure you outwork everyone.

7. Poor makes no sense. I have been poor, and it sucks. I have had just enough and that sucks almost as bad. Eliminate any and all ideas that being poor is somehow OK. Bill Gates has said, "If you’re born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is your mistake."

8. Get a millionaire mentor. Most of us were brought up middle class or poor and then hold ourselves to the limits and ideas of that group. I have been studying millionaires to duplicate what they did. Get your own personal millionaire mentor and study them. Most rich people are extremely generous with their knowledge and their resources.

 9. Get your money to do the heavy lifting. Investing is the Holy Grail in becoming a millionaire and you should make more money off your investments than your work. If you don’t have surplus money you won’t make investments. The second company I started required a $50,000 investment. That company has paid me back that $50,000 every month for the last 10 years. My third investment was in real estate, where I started with $350,000, a large part of my net worth at the time. I still own that property today and it continues to provide me with income. Investing is the only reason to do the other steps, and your money must work for you and do your heavy lifting.

10. Shoot for $10 million, not $1 million. The single biggest financial mistake I’ve made was not thinking big enough. I encourage you to go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough.

Apply these 10 steps and they will make you rich. Steer clear of people that suggest your financial dreams are born of greed. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, be ethical, never give up, and once you make it, be willing to help others get there too.

5 REASONS MANY NIGERIAN MEN REMAIN UNMARRIED

Like the ladies, quite a number of Nigerian men remain unmarried even though due and overdue for marriage. Several reasons could be attributed to this situation. Below are five prominent ones.

·         Family Responsibilities

As a result of the harsh economic realities in this part of the world, parents as usually assisted by their older children to fend and ensure upkeep of younger ones and the family.

In contemporary Nigeria, it is commonplace to see unmarried men in their mid-thirties and sometimes older. Majority of them either have school fees or parents to cater for. At this point, marriage to them is secondary. It is relegated to the background until siblings are partially or fully independent.

·        Financial Challenges

We have several men of marriage age who still choose to remain single until further notice because of their poor financial situation. Many are unemployed albeit being graduates.

No job, no business capital, no shelter. They just squat with friends and relations, submitting job applications and hoping for positive outcome. Someone in this kind of circumstance would hardly think of a woman and be totally oblivious of marriage. At this point, survival is paramount.

·        Career Focus

Just like many of us, I have also heard and seen some professional men who seemed so much attached to their jobs that marriage doesn’t seem to be on their mind.

Some love their job above all things and have little or no time for any other issue.  While others in this category believe they should make a fortune in assets and in cash before considering getting married.

·        Immaturity/ indecision

Some of us would want to call this immaturity or indecision in so men. They find it difficult making their own decision.

Those in this category include those who depend on parents, friends or relations to choose wives for them. The ladies are there; they like these beauties but cannot muster the courage to approach them. 

They always want a go-between.

These guys, in most cases, would give about anything to make an “arrangee” affair possible.

·        Casanova Syndrome

This is one very popular reason our matured men still remain unmarried.

We have often read and heard people say that men are loose by nature. At maturity, instead of considering getting married and settling down, many of them still want to carry-on from one lady to another. 

This attitude gradually becomes a norm thereby keeping thoughts of marriage in the cooler, indefinitely. 

SAVOR OFE NSALA

Ofe Nsala is also known as white soup is interesting dish that has its origin from the Enu-ani people of the Igbo-speaking part of present day Delta State, South-south Nigeria. 

It is also very popular in the eastern part of Nigeria, the Igbos and some other parts of the south-south are very familiar with white soup and pounded yam.  It is called white soup simply because it does not require the use of palm oil. 

PREPARING OFE NSALA

Required Ingredients:

• Uziza Leaf (a bunch)
• Utazi Leaf (a handful)
• Meat of choice (chicken, beef, turkey, etc.)
• Crayfish
• Fresh pepper
• Dried Fish
• Head of stock fish (medium size
• Pounded yam (thickener)
• Seasoning (2 cubes of maggi or Knorr)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Normally, you parboil the meat with ingredients (Maggi, onions, salt and others), cook for about 15 minutes before adding water. Then cook till the meat is tender enough for consumption.

Blend the Cray-fish; cook and pound about 1.5 kg of yam, normally, cocoa-yam is the favorable thickener for most soups of this kind the only exception is when you are make Nsala soup, pounded yam is used. Wash the dried fish/stock fish with hot water. This is done to soften the fish for easy washing (to remove sands and other impurities).

Add more water to the meat on fire (when it is tender enough for consumption) add water depending on the quantity of thickener and the available ingredients.

Add the washed dried fish, crayfish, stock fish cook for about ten minutes before adding the pounded yam.

Allow the pounded yam to dissolve (about 10 to 15 minutes) before adding the meat, chicken, Uziza leave / Utazi leave. Allow to boil for another five minutes and you just made a delicious nsala soup. 

You can serve with eba, semo, wheat or fufu.

5 BRANDING TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

It’s not necessary to be a multi-billion naira organization to come across as a professional, high-end looking business.  Building a brand awareness strategy doesn’t have to involve a big budget.  Here are 5 branding tips for small businesses with a limited budget.

1.     Have a strategy in place before taking any action

All too many businesses put actions into motion without proper consideration.  Some of the things businesses need to decide on in advance are budgeting, what near and long-term branding goals are, how they will engage potential partners, provisional plans for brand repositioning, brand management delegation, and review procedures.

2.     Build a professional website

A website is essentially a must have for businesses today.  Official company websites act as virtual business cards, portals to engage customers and potential business partners, point of sales, and a way to communicate the latest news and information about the company. 

The design, layout, and content of a company’s official website are outstanding ways to convey the brand image.  A professional services company, like a small accounting firm or homebuilding contractor, could choose to have a clean, simple website that describes the needs they can fulfill.  Trendier design businesses might opt for more style.  Technology businesses tend to go the cutting edge route.

Businesses that don’t have website building skills in house can conduct a search for professionals that understand design, SEO, and hosting.  Of all the tips on this list, this is probably the most costly, but small businesses can minimize the cost by doing a little research and finding a website designer who charges a competitive rate.

3. Logo and slogan design

Image and design branding are excellent tools for a comprehensive brand awareness strategy.  Anything that positively differentiates a company and its products is a good thing.  Logos and slogans do just that.

4. Networking

Part of an effective brand awareness strategy is choosing the right partners.  Networking with parties that will be able to enhance the company brand expedites the process.

5. Market research

Monitoring market trends helps small businesses determine how best to orient the brand.  Social media is one way to interact with customers and conduct market research.