An experience that changed my life for good.
Sometime in mid 2018, I was just a few months into blogging. I was invited for a programme organized by the Edo State Government in partnership with the First Bank of Nigeria. I arrived at the meeting a bit late and some how, I couldn’t get a front seat and had to sit at the back, very unlike me. I always like sitting at the front, and I always do, whether I come late for a meeting or not. But that day, I just couldn’t get a front seat.
As the meeting went on, the chairman of First Bank, Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Awosika made to empower ten female entrepreneurs. She asked that ladies who have started up on something should raise their hands and she will pick the first ten. I was seated way behind the conference hall, quite a big hall and a lot of persons raising their hands, of course, I raised my hands too. But she wouldn’t see me, she couldn’t. At a point I even stood, but the hall was too big for her to notice or perhaps I was too small for her to see me. She has almost chosen ten. I was becoming very restless. I felt I needed to be among them. I wanted to be among the ten.
I summoned courage and stepped forward, moving towards the podium. Of course I expected it, ney sayers; “she didn’t point you, where are you going” I turned and spoke to any of them who could hear me or cared to listen, “she didn’t see me so she could not have called me..” And that was it, I matched forward on. Fortunately, I wasn’t sent back even though I was around the eleventh or twelveth person. She saw me, asked me what I do and choose me. I got one of the few gifts I have ever received in my life that day, which gave me a paradigm shift in my mindset and set me fully on the path of entrepreneurship.
Why did I share this story?
I showed up! I positioned myself to be seen. And I was chosen. It’s the same thing that happens online. The internet is large enough, sometimes, it seems no one is noticing you, other times, you may feel too small for anyone to notice. Some persons may even tell you to stop wasting your time that you are disturbing and making noise, don’t let that bother you. Keep creating content and putting it out. Keep adding value and showing up. I got my first ever paid writing gig, after a post I made on Facebook.
So I featured on a business forum on Independent Television, (ITV) you could catch us on air this Friday by 1:30pm prompt. I’m sure you will learn a thing or two on Content Creation. Through that I am invited for another TV and radio programme. Why am I excited about all these, they are all opportunities to keep shining my light and let the whole world see.
Many small SMEs don’t see the need to consistently show up on the internet, some just manage to show up once in a while. Truth be told, the world has gone digital. And if you are really serious about anything in this day and age, you should be talking digital! Have your space there, occupy it. In fact, keep expanding it.
There are a lot of things happening in your industry, things happening in your business, happening in your environment, there are a lot of things happening with you, you could talk about. But because you do not see the need, and its importance, you allow these beautiful content slide…
Who are the richest and biggest brands and companies today?
They are those who have possessed the internet, and they are always on our face. From Facebook to Amazon, to Alibaba express and even recent brands which just springs up like Airb&b and Uber, these ones just came up but have already dominated their industry.
Obviously, Africa has a long way to go in terms of technological advancement and economic development, but there are simple things small and medium business owners can do to help them scale and succeed in today’s modern world.
What presence do you have online? I actually believe that very soon, people will be ordering water to drink online. And I need you to be ready.
You may think nobody is watching, but that’s not true, the whole world is watching. And as you remain consistent, they will have no choice than to recognize you and associate with what you are doing… Keep showing up! Gather every valuable content, create content. Put them up. Take your space in the digital world. It’s easy to do. Just do it!
Mercy Omoregie
Writer, Content Creator
EntrepreneurshipMonday
EveryMonday
BeInspired
BeInspired Show
www.inspire.show
This is good. Thanks for this
You are welcome Vic