Opportunity = #MajorKeyAlert🔑

#67

I’ve read a lot of Big Chief’s posts- his Twitter handle is @asemota (follow him). Today, I found myself on his Medium page and read al his articles. I can’t lie. This man speaks the truth. At least it’s quite convincing to me. And as usual I took my notes, which may be difficult to understand for lack of context. But over the next couple of days, I’ll be putting up my favorite sections of some of his articles (since I know you don’t open the article links 🙃🙃).

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Opportunity

Today also, I was thinking about Jack Ma of Alibaba. He tried unsuccessfully to get into Harvard but now, people in Harvard would kill to work for him and people who went to Harvard want to be like him. It made me think about opportunity and success.

Success has no formula because you really can do nothing about the nature of opportunity. You only just prepare and show up. You can however work hard at making others succeed by creating as much opportunity for them as possible. Opportunity pays back.

When we compete viciously, we create less opportunity for ourselves in the backend. The success is short term. Enemies live longer. When we collaborate, we multiply opportunity all around.

Opportunity is a multiple. It is not a destination. 

Opportunity can be created in other unexpected ways. “Gratitude” and “Opportunity” are bedfellows. Professor John DeLong of Harvard Business School, first made this connection in one of his classes that I attended. He wanted us to write personal letters of gratitude to those who have helped us most in life to thank them and let them know the many ways they have helped.

I told my girlfriend then (who is now my wife) about this strange thing Prof told me to do. She took the initiative before I did, and did it on her own. She thanked the most difficult boss she ever had because she realised that her boss being tough on her was what made her better at the job and career. She would not have decided to go get an MBA from INSEAD, if not for that boss. The lady’s response was overwhelming, emotional and priceless.

Sometimes, the people who give us a tough time are also still creating opportunities for us to shine. To be our best.

To all those who believed and all those who also did not believe us and inspired us to prove them wrong — Thank You!!

Opportunity comes in many guises. Be alert. Be prepared. Show up!

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Article List— What I’m reading (10 articles a day x 7 days x 4 weeks x 12 months = 3360 articles a year). 

China wants state media to peddle its “soft power” in Africa, but tech platforms are a better bet: Just take note of what Opera (OPay and co) are doing in Nigeria and how they plan on taking over the rest of the continent. 

All modern humans originated in northern Botswana, study says: Watched a documentary on this on Netflix. Anyone know the name of that documentary? Very very very interesting stuff. But we learn something new every day. Botswana was here first. 

Scoop: The grandees headed to Saudi Arabia's “Davos in the Desert”: I want to go :( Everyone following the money lol lol. Shows that money makes people forget really quick. Masayoshi better be there to explain for We’s flop. 

Soho House raises $100m to step up expansion: What is so 2B$ about Soho House? Anyway, where do I sign up? 

Kenya’s mobile money revolution: Momo- Good or bad?

Let’s have a word about what3words with Clare Jones at Disrupt Berlin: Not sure why this company isn’t getting more press coverage. I think this is one of the dopest companies out there and can serve millions and millions of people worldwide. The startup has divided the world in three-meter squares. Each square has been assigned three words. This way, it’s easy to read, easy to write and even easy to say. And more importantly, it’s unique.

Football transfers: an essential money-spinner for African clubs: Here we go again— the continuous disrespect of African institutions. SMH

The ‘Uber for Trucking’ Tries to Navigate Some Uber-Scale Problems: Hope Kobo360 and Lori Systems are on this track to profitability, though. Would really set them apart. 

The Rebundling of Craigslist: I love this so much. 

Vertical or horizontal business model?: Horizontal FTW

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Podcast— What I’m listening to (1 podcast episode a day x 7 days x 4 weeks x 12 months = 336 podcast episodes). Broadening my experiences through others’ stories. 

Building the Future with Dotun: Dotun is a big man now with Novastar so he can’t put out any more of this amazing content. Doesn’t have time for us again 😭 I went through the list of interviews he’s done over time. My favorite is still the double episode with Jason Njoku. Check them out.

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Book— 1 Chapter a day  x 7 days x 4 weeks x 12 months = 336 chapters. Most books have 10-12 chapters, so 1 year = 28 to 33 books. And my book list is nearing 1000 books. Send help 🌚

Becoming is finally done. Amazing story and couple. Congratulations to them both.

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📱📱Quote of the day 

Cheap things are expensive long term. — @asemota

The best way to succeed in life is not just to be smart or prepared, it is to be organized. Everything else is easier when you are organized. — @asemota

“Delivering value is about meaningfully changing something in people’s lives”. —Han Rabinovitz

Remember folks: “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”