MEET MARIA, THE AMAZING ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS EMPOWERING A GENERATION AND BAKING HER WAY TO THE TOP

Everybody loves cake.

Except you’re avoiding the tasty treat for health or religious reasons, you’re almost certainly a freak. How can any living, breathing human not love cake?

We gift and expect cakes to celebrate birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduation, promotion, retirement and dozens of other special moments. In fact, cakes almost always show up whenever there’s a reason to celebrate.

With the rise of Africa’s middle class and the growing influence of Western tastes and culture on the continent, the baking industry in Africa is expected to experience significant growth to meet the rising consumption and demand.

It’s no surprise the baking industry is attracting hundreds of young entrepreneurs who are looking to learn the science, art and skills of baking so they can start their own business, build a brand, and earn a fulfilling income.

 Maria Makanjuola is a pioneer who has built a thriving baking school on the internet. Yes, on the internet!

Unlike the traditional face-to-face style of tutoring, she has created an online baking school that allows her to share her talent and skills with thousands of aspiring baking entrepreneurs within Africa, and across the world.

The value of the global e-learning market is estimated to reach $243.8 billion by 2022. Using the omnipresence of the internet, online learning is significantly disrupting the education industry such that anybody can learn anything, wherever they are, as long as they have access to the internet – via their mobile phone, laptop or TV.

In this interesting interview, Maria shares the inside story about how she stumbled on this business idea, her successes, challenges, and aspirations in building a truly African global brand for cake bakers across the world.

Let’s meet her:

Tell me about yourself. How did you end up in the cake business?

My name is Maria Makanjuola and I live in London with my family. Often I say that I am British-born, but Nigerian-made!

My background is in the life sciences, engineering and food science. My journey into cakes started 8 years ago when I needed a birthday cake for my first son who has multiple food allergies and intolerances which includes eggs and dairy.

I needed a birthday cake for him and there was no local baker that could make the type of cake I needed for him so I decided to research about alternative ingredients and give it a go myself.

I enjoyed the creative process so much that I carried on baking and experimenting with all sorts of recipes and techniques and I would take my tempting creations to church with me on Sundays and other members started to request that I make cakes for them. Both traditional cakes, with eggs and dairy, as well as allergy-free cakes. Gradually, the orders started to come in and I started a cake business.

What exactly do you do at Sweet Cake TV School, and how did you come up with the name?

Sweet Cake TV School is a baking and business school. It is an online learning platform where students, also referred to as “sweet cakers”, log in to access video courses on professional baking and cake decorating, and also cake business management-focused courses that are delivered via video, podcasts, e-books and worksheets.

 In the school, we also have a chat community and a Facebook group where members interact with and help each other with their baking or cake decorating problems on a daily basis.

As part of joining the school, sweet cakers have access to on-demand business mentoring/coaching to help aid their business growth. We do not only teach how to make professional cakes for all types of occasions, we also teach sweet cakers about business management, marketing, customer service, social media marketing, food safety and hygiene, digital marketing, financial management and bookkeeping and ways to diversify their business so they can generate passive income streams.

It may sound surprising, but I saw the name ‘Sweet Cake’ in a dream and I saw myself being called out to teach a cake decorating class full of people. I guess you can call it my calling, but more than that I am very passionate about helping other women succeed, I am business-minded and I like the creativity I express when I decorate cakes so it’s a perfect marriage of my interests, passions and skills.

How did you move from ‘idea’ to ‘action’ with the business?

I started a Facebook group, called Cake Business Club, in April 2015 which quickly turned into a community of 25,000 members within a year. I knew that I wanted to help cake decorators in Africa and also in the diaspora to be more skilled and also more business-minded and strategic in how they run their cake businesses.

Cake decorators are notorious for undercharging for their services and skills. Most do not make enough money to foster any kind of personal financial freedom because many fall into running a cake business accidentally without prior preparation or knowledge of how to run a cake business. As a result, many do not see much profitability in running their business, which leads to a lot of frustration and disappointment.

I started the Facebook group to help educate other bakers about the business side of the industry and how to maximise their skills for maximum monetary gain. I shared information within the group, every single day, through articles for several months for free and the community grew organically, members referring their friends to the group so they can learn together.

There are hundreds of people in the baking business. How did you know the market would be receptive to Sweet Cake TV School?

It was the time I spent interacting with the members of the Cake Business Club that helped me to get a great level of understanding of the cake industry in Nigeria, Kenya and other countries in Africa.

By conducting weekly group Q&A sessions whereby members can ask me questions and get answers to their most pressing problems, I learned about the challenges in the industry and thought of ways to provide solutions to those problems.

One of the major problems is access to world-class tuition which I knew I could solve by creating an online school (www.sweetcaketvschool.com) where they can easily access baking and business development/management courses. I knew they’d be receptive because they requested that I teach them formally and they stipulated that they would be receptive to online learning because of the convenience and lower cost of getting excellent quality education.

What were the main challenges you faced (or are facing) with operating and growing the business?

The main challenge that I am facing is inadequate awareness about the nature of online learning. Many people still think that higher-cost live classes are better. And that’s because they do not understand the convenience and cost-effectiveness of learning online from your phone, tablet or laptop from anywhere in the world.

Another challenge, from the customers perspective, is high internet data charges. However, when they calculate the cost of joining an excellence-minded school and internet usage charges and compare it to the cost of undertaking sub-standard training locally which is at a higher cost, they soon see the advantages.

Furthermore, the added bonus of business mentoring, which no other school in the whole world offers within the cake industry, is invaluable.

What are the top 3 things customers are saying about your product/service?

The sweet cakers are saying that the courses are comprehensive and fully loaded. They are saying that they appreciate that I do not withhold valuable information from them and I give my knowledge freely. Lastly, they say that they like the international perspective that I bring to the table.

Where do you see yourself and Sweet Cake TV School in the next 10 years?

I see myself at the helm of a global brand that originated out of Africa, which is not a common occurrence!

Sweet Cake TV School as a brand is already extending this year into Sweet Cake TV (a free-view online channel for cake hobbyists and mums who want to see how to make quick healthier meals and treats for their kids which will also be featuring allergy free food preparation), Sweet Cake Magazine ( a bi-annual digital dessert, cakes and pastries magazine fusing both African and world culinary influences), and Sweet Cake Publishing which will be focused on getting more African cake decorators and chefs to publish their work to a global audience and bring much needed authentic African influences to world cuisine.

 It’s common belief that entrepreneurs are restless people. Tell us about the next big idea in your pipeline.

Yes, I am restless! Still within the same cake industry, I am working on launching the African Cake Artists Network (www.africancakeartistsnetwork.com) which will be an association/network for all African cake decorators/artists to learn, grow and also promote their skills and talents to the world. It will also exist to set high standards of excellence in the African cake industry.

We launched with the largest cake collaboration between African cake decorators on this year’s Africa day on the 25 May 2017. This was a virtual collaboration where pictures and live videos of artists and their cakes were shared across social media. It’s the third collaboration that Sweet Cake TV School has sponsored since inception, but it was the largest.

What’s your single most important advice to entrepreneurs who want to start a business?

Research your market and target audience thoroughly before investing significant funds into any business. Get inside the mind of your target customers. Discover their problems, then conjure up solutions and think how to monetize those solutions.

Lastly, be passionate about what you do. You will need it to help you get through the long days, sleepless nights and more.

How can prospective customers and partners reach you?

You can reach me through the Sweet Cake TV School (www.sweetcaketvschool.com) or email me at hello@sweetcaketv.com.

- SmallStarters

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

By Helen Mukoro Idisi

Let me share this testimony.

When I was doing my year two at the Faculty of Law, I became broke, I could not pay the fees.

I passed my exams but the university sent a letter asking me to pay the fees in 10 days. I had no money. I started crying and praying at the same time.  I went on bended knees in our garden, I prayed and prayed. 

On the ninth days, a voice asked me to take the copies of the book that I wrote to the Ministry to register it and get the copyright. I hopped the bus, it will take 2 hours to get there. 30 minutes later, a crippled man joined the bus, no one wanted him to sit next to them.

He changed his seat and came to sit next to me. He greeted me and I replied.

He asked where I was going, I told him, he asked to see the copy of the book, I gave him. He kept talking but I was quiet and he asked why I stopped replying him. Tears were rolling down my cheeks, he asked why I was crying and I told him. He said to me, your tears have reached the heart of God.

When I got to Alicante, my destination, he asked for my telephone number. I asked him why and he said he's a cripple who need someone to call in case of an emergency.

I don't give my telephone to strangers but I pitied him, his situation was worse than mine. In the evening I received an alert of 50 euros top up in my phone. I did not pay for that, I called the telephone company to tell them that I did not pay for it and they said someone paid for it. Five minutes later, the crippled man called me on phone, I never knew he was the one because I did not request for his number when he requested for mine. He said he was the one that topped up my credits, and I thanked him. He said that the reason why he called was for me to give him my bank account. I was reluctant, and asked him why. He said to me: “To give you financial assistance whenever I can”.

I was shy to do so, but a voice asked me to do it.

The following morning, at 10am, I got alert from my bank. A huge sum of money was deposited into my account, I called the bank immediately to tell them that I received an alert but that must be a mistake. They said it wasn't.

On my way to the bank, the crippled man called me and said, I have wired money into your account, run to the bank and go pay your fees. Your faith has spoken and God heard you. It was the tenth day. I paid my fees and thanked God for His wonderful miracle.

Do you know that after that day, I did not hear from the cripple again?

I called his line so many times but the answer that I get was: “The number does not exist.” I went to the bank to get information about him, and they told me that he wired it at the Bank's counter in Madrid, they tried to fetch for his image on their camera but could not. I wanted to thank him. I went to the telephone company and they said that number does not exist, that was when I realized that God can send the Holy Spirit in a human form to solve an immediate problem and to let me know that He is with me and that He watches over me.

You will give your testimony. I am God's property. Period!

THOUGHTS ABOUT PASSIVE INCOME

By Eden Attai

Take a few minutes to think about and answer this question. If you earned enough money to take care of your living expenses without working actively, what will you do with your TIME and LIFE?

 I have been in classes where people have given answers such as:

“I will build orphanages and ensure all orphans in my neighborhood are taken in.”
“I will ensure there are no destitute in the land by ensuring there are opportunities to help them survive.”
“I will teach.”
“I will author a book for teens.”
“I will travel around the world.”
“I will ensure I have time for my family, especially the children.”

These are just a few answers I’ve received, and I’m sure you also have a very good thing you would rather be doing. I’ve just one question, though: Why then are we all not doing the things we ought to do?

Life is all about fulfilling the purpose for which we were born and this is usually innate in our desires.


It, however, looks like the majority of the populace are satisfied with making a living instead of making their lives count.


I am sure you feel justified that you should work and make a living. Many of us are lost in making a living in such a way that we may never live a fulfilled life.


How can you get out of this situation?


How can you help yourself to do what you should do?


Active income is good in the short run because you and your family need to eat and drink, put a roof on your heads and be clothed.


You, however, need passive income in the long run.


Passive income is income you make without having to expend your energy and time anymore.
You will have to put processes in place to ensure this is a reality. You will have to plan ahead. It works just like the tap where you get your pipe borne water. As soon as the pipes are laid, water flows from the taps.


Do you have such plans? Will they be long term; say 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years or even 25 years? Have you ever considered getting to a point in your life where you can decide to follow your passion?


Have you put any processes in place to earn passive income? You can earn passive income from real estate, paper investments (stock, bonds, treasury bills, fixed deposits, etc.), intellectual property, automated businesses and a network marketing business that you have built for more than 5 years.


Are you working towards any of these already? Don’t be comfortable with your wages or salaries alone. One income is not even ideal for anyone. You also cannot guarantee that you will be all strong for as long as you want to work actively. Even if you are, resist the urge to only be a receiver, plan to contribute to your society. 


Start working towards making passive income!

LEARNING THE FRENCH LANGUAGE: STRESS-FREE AND POCKET-FRIENDLY!

By 'zika Olofin

Francophone Wannabe,

Quite frankly, my friend Overah’s French classes are not for everyone. And not everyone who applies to attend is approved.

However, because I know it will do you a world of good, I am letting you in on this special opportunity to learn French in a relaxed and fun environment.

If you are an Executive or Entrepreneur worth taking seriously, you’ll know French speakers are taking the world by storm. Don’t believe? Take a look at the facts and statistics:

•French is a language spoken on all 5 continents, one of the few spoken all over the world.

•French is the second most widely learned foreign language in the world, with almost 120 million students and 500,000 teachers.

•Thanks to the growth of the French-speaking population in sub-Saharan Africa, the OIF (International Organisation of Francophonie) estimates that the number of French speakers will rise to over 700 million in coming decades.

•Even the British Council acknowledges, French is the language most sought after by those employers looking for language skills (49 per cent). It was also the second most frequently requested language in a survey of job advertisements carried out in 2012.

•An international language of reference. French plays a special role in international sporting life as an official language of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and hence of the Olympic Games.

•French has long been a key language for diplomacy and remains an important language for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

•French is extremely important for both inward and outward tourism.

•Opens up opportunities for immigration. Specifically for Canadian Immigration, candidates in the Express Entry pool, with proven French abilities may obtain an additional 15 or 30 points to boost their CRS score.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, here is what learning French can mean for you:

•Be reckoned with.

•You can finally stop grumbling about being passed over for those mouth-watering opportunities that come up every so often at work, and actually, go for it!

•As an entrepreneur, the world is your market, literally.

•Freedom to tour the world and be entertained, in French.

•You can boost your CRS ranking by adding another 15 or 30 points to your score. Don’t worry, thank me later.

Why should you book a class with Overah?

•Quality: You get the chance to be taught by native speakers and actual graduates of the French language.

•Accessibility & Convenience: Classes are located on Lagos mainland, and you get to learn in a fun and relaxed way.

•Experience: Language immersion visits to francophone environments

•Price: Super pocket-friendly. I promise.

Nota bene: This opportunity is not for you, if:
•You are a fence-sitter
•You are a no-show person (a.k.a. promise and fail).

Voilà, now that we’re clear on that, what are you waiting for?

Stop thinking and start doing! Get thee over to Overah’s classes and start speaking French in as little as 4 months! Call Simon on 08023404962 or 08160004988.

À bientôt!

10 THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT KIM JONG-UN FROM HIS CLASSMATES

BY JAKE ROSSEN

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is one of the great agitators in modern political culture. Known for being temperamental—he is said to have executed his uncle for plotting a coup—and unpredictable, Kim has helped give his country the reputation of being a wild card that can capture the attention of the world’s superpowers.

Like any powerful leader, Kim was once just a bright young man with homework. At the behest of his father, former supreme leader Kim Jong-il, Kim was schooled in a Swiss boarding school between 1998 and 2000, and the media has often turned to his former classmates to uncover details about his teenage personality. No one has yet discovered his doodled-on yearbook or a prom photo, but his peers did have some other insights. Here’s what we know about Kim Jong-un’s formative years.

1. HE LOVED HIS AIR JORDANS.

Young Kim probably never dreamed he would one day be hanging out with former Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman, but it must have been some kind of life goal: the 17-year-old was obsessed with basketball in general and the Bulls in particular, devoting an entire room in his apartment to memorabilia. Kim also spent time penciling sketches of Michael Jordan and was said to favor Air Jordans both on and off the court.

2. HE HAD AN ALIAS.

Not wishing to be identified as the son of Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, Kim registered with the Swiss school Liebefeld Steinhölzli Schule under the name Pak Un. He claimed to be the son of a North Korean embassy employee in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Both teachers and students alike noticed that Kim’s parents never showed up for school functions.

3. HE LIKED ACTION MOVIES.

In 2009, friends of Kim’s related to The Washington Post  that Kim was slightly socially awkward, particularly around girls; when he wasn't watching basketball, he was usually watching action movies and using his Sony PlayStation. Kim played combat games and reportedly enjoyed the filmography of Jackie Chan.

4. HE HAD AN ENTOURAGE.

Kim’s presence was unique in the Swiss school for his entourage: At any point, a small number of Koreans appeared to be acting as servants, bodyguards, or assistants for Kim. Two employees would videotape his basketball games. Friends thought it was “strange” but wrote it off as “a Korean thing.”   

5. HE OVER-SHARED.

Despite the lengths his family went to keep his real name a secret, Kim couldn’t always help but share his father was the leader of North Korea. According to classmate Joao Micaelo, Kim once announced his heritage during a conversation with him. Micaelo thought Kim was lying. “Normally the children of people like this, they don’t go to a normal school,” Micaelo told CNN in 2010.  

6. HE WOULD NOT TOLERATE COLD SPAGHETTI.

Friend Micaelo often visited Kim at his apartment, which was located at the Korean Embassy’s headquarters. While he noted that Kim was typically a little reserved, he didn’t see any flash of anger until the Embassy’s chefs served the two of them lukewarm pasta one evening. “He spoke to the servants in a manner that was quite sharp,” Micaelo told The Telegraph in 2010. “I was surprised because it was not how he normally was.”

7. HE FAVORED TRACK SUITS.

Like Tony Soprano and his father before him, Kim tended to dress for comfort, not presentation. His wardrobe apparently consisted heavily of Nike track suits, which he wore to class. 

8. HE WASN’T THE SMARTEST KID IN CLASS.

Although Kim was two years older than most of his classmates because he wasn’t as proficient in German, he still struggled to keep up academically. In 2012, The Telegraph reported that Kim missed 75 days during his first year of school and 105 days his second, flunking natural sciences and getting minimum passing grades in most other subjects.

 

9. HE GORGED HIMSELF ON SWISS CHEESE.

Prone to bragging about how much he can eat and drink, Kim may have developed an appetite for gastronomic excess during school. He was reportedly so fond of Swiss cheese that he later deployed his personal chefs to a French culinary school to try and replicate the medium-hard Emmental he had enjoyed while he was a student. Kim is said to have gained 90 pounds from 2012 to 2016, though it's unknown how much of this was a result of his cheese intake.

10. HE TOTALLY VANISHED.

Kim still had a partial school year to finish out when he abruptly disappeared in 2000. He offered no forwarding address nor any indication that he might be leaving. “We thought he was ill or something and would soon be back,” former classmate Nikola Kovacevic told The Washington Post “I hope he is a good dictator, but dictators are usually not that good.”

Source: http://mentalfloss.com