Utibe Utin

Day 1. An Ode to Failure It was November 2016. I was full of life and hope. I had birthed the dream I had in mind: a new company, and I was working several angles to see it grow. I had travelled a few times out of Nigeria; I had seen models of what I wanted to build. Over time, with patience, I had sold this dream to a team who, despite near-zero financials, believed with me. I remember how we crammed into my car with my wife and first child of less than six months earlier in the year, on one of our campaigns promoting our new venture. I remember how cockroaches terrorized the ladies in the room where they all crammed together because that was all we could afford at the time. I was vibrant, and many discounted my youth for inexperience; some believed I was too young to have any value to offer. All I had was my energy, a dream, and a belief that my dreams would come through. When some would ask what we had to offer, my answer was simple: ‘’come and see’’. I was perhaps the youngest speaker at that event, but I was full; I was ready to go. It was November 2016; I hosted my very first conference in Lagos. My hopes and expectations were high; I had a fantastic lineup of speakers; I had paid for one of the best hotels in the city of Lagos, utilized one of the best event management softwares in the market. BUT the paid registration list left much to be desired. I braved the odds; I ran headlong; I dared to fail. Yes, I had been told it would not work. We had an amazing event, but financially we were in the red zone. Today, as I begin this 60-day consistency challenge, I wanted to pay tribute to all those who had one time or another looked failure in the face, confronted with the stark reality, and yet dared to fail. As the saying goes, ‘’the only person that has never failed is the one who never tried in the first place’’. Every success was built on a foundation of failure. The more you dare to fail, the more your chance of success. It's May 2024, and I have failed many times more than I can count since November 2014, but I am not yet tired of staring failure in the face. The path to my success sometimes branches through a street called failure. JD

44

6 Comments

Timely and motivating pieces of advice in pidgin English.

9

3 Comments

"What is all this?" Nnenna exclaims, her voice laced with worry😔. "It's like the sun is angry. Everything feels parched." Ogochukwu nods solemnly. "The worst is the rain," she adds. "It's supposed to be the rainy season, but the skies are empty. I don't know what's happening to the climate."🙄 Across the room, Jide overhears their conversation. A flicker of concern crosses her face. Jide, unlike the others, is not resigned to this new reality. She believes in solutions, not despair. "Hey girls," she calls out, joining their table. "Did you know we all contribute to climate change in some way?" Nnenna and Ogochukwu exchange a confused glance. Climate change? It felt like a distant problem, a news headline, not something impacting their everyday lives. Jide smiles gently. "It's true," she continues. "But the good news is, we can also be part of the solution. And a big part of that solution lies in agriculture." Yes, the very act of growing food can be a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. Here is how: 〽️1️⃣Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Traditional agricultural practices often contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizers. However, sustainable agricultural techniques can significantly reduce this impact. Practices like cover cropping, which involves planting additional crops between main seasons, helps capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Additionally, composting food scraps and manure creates nutrient-rich fertilizer while reducing methane emissions from landfills. 〽️2️⃣Building Healthy Soil: Sustainable practices like no-till farming, which minimizes soil disturbance, and using organic fertilizers promote healthy soil ecosystems with a higher carbon storage capacity. This not only helps mitigate climate change but also improves soil fertility and crop yields. 〽️3️⃣Enhancing Biodiversity: Monoculture farming, where a single crop is grown over a large area, can be detrimental to the environment. Sustainable agriculture encourages biodiversity by planting a variety of crops and promoting beneficial insects and pollinators. This creates a more resilient ecosystem that can better withstand the impacts of climate change, such as droughts and floods. 〽️4️⃣Reducing Food Waste: Did you know that approximately one-third of all food produced globally gets wasted? This wasted food decomposes in landfills, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By adopting sustainable food consumption practices, such as buying locally-sourced produce and planning meals to minimize waste, we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint. By making small changes in our daily lives and supporting sustainable agricultural practices, we can collectively create a more resilient food system and a healthier planet. Remember, the future of our food and our climate is in our hands. Let's choose wisely. #agribusiness #climatecrisis #climatechange

5

1 Comment

How I was pressured to compromise my integrity.... 4years ago I had an experience while working as a school administrator in one of the most expensive schools in Lagos Island. During the period of resumption, some mothers usually try to convince me to increase the school fees of their children so they could make profit from their husbands. The plan was to speak with their husbands to attest to whatever amount the wife must have quoted. Hmmmmm ( took a deep breath) All promised to share the profit 50:50 If I decide to go with this, I would make my annual salary in one month with just 2- 3 mothers. Although I could have earned a large sum of money, I refused to - compromise"My integrity" - use innocent children to make profit. - ruin my reputation and career My father told me that "a good name is better than riches" Going down memory lane, I'm so happy I didn't play such game. And I know that my older self would be proud of my decision. Did I forget to say that one of those parents offered me another job in her friend's school due to this singular act. "never compromise your integrity". Choosing integrity over profit isn't always the easy choice, but it's always the right one. Post inspired by Taylor Jones ........................ As your Airbnb virtual Assistant and Customer Support, I prioritize the integrity and reputation of your business. Not only will I help drive business growth, I will also ensure that your brand is always represented with honesty and excellence. Send a DM let's discuss further on this. ⁉️ Have you ever faced a situation where you have to comprise your integrity over personal gain. How did you handle the situation? See mine in the comment section. #integrity #airbnbhost #realeastate #virtualassistant #airbnbcohost #vacationrental #shorttermrental

15

6 Comments

No matter how good you are, if you are in the wrong place, you're worthless. No matter how good your course is, if sold to the wrong audience, it's worthless. Know your audience! Happy new week. FOLLOW Linet Baraka for more tips on how to create high-ticket courses. #linetbaraka #coursecreator #copywriter

3

4 Comments