"AJALI"

Ifeyinwa Ojekwe

Ifeyinwa Ojekwe






According to: 


www.sheleadsafrica.org 

 

"What advice would you give to help someone build a successful business?

1. Do something that you are passionate about but make sure it makes business sense.

 

You need to test whether you’re actually going to make money – is this something you’re going to live off of?

 

If you’re going to have a sustainable business you need to have that research.

 

 

2. You don’t have to do everything yourself, though.

 

I use freelance websites to make logos, improve my website and do other graphic design.

 

Make sure you have mentors around you, people who can support you – someone you look up to who you can pick their brain and get their advice from.

 

So try to build up your network, if you don’t know where to start, start in places like SLA and educate yourself

 

3. Be ready for the journey.

 

Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur, be a risk taker, willing to work later, and pay less until you reach that sweet-spot in your enterprise.

 

4. Have a plan.

 

I always feel like a hypocrite but it’s worth taking the time to plan for your business.

 

Having learned from my experience with AJALI, all my future ventures will be clearly planned from day one.

 

Going forward, all my future ventures I see the value in having a business plan and actually doing the planning from day one.

 

5. You need to invest in the right team of people.

 

The biggest thing young entrepreneurs struggle with is talent because we can’t always afford the talent we need.

 

If you are going to invest in anything invest in the right people.

 

Empower your team with responsibility so that they can focus on the strategic work.

 

Do not expect to do everything yourself, learn to delegate.

 

6. Don’t go into any business just because of money.

 

For most entrepreneurs, it takes a while before you are really making anything.

 

I didn’t pay myself a salary until January 2016 – nearly 3 years after we launched.

 

This is why you need to have passion, it’s the only thing that will keep you going.

 

Luckily, I had a few other side hustles to supplement my income, but all my savings went into having the physical store and updating the website.

 

Ultimately, I have a lot of faith in God that everything I need will be provided for, so I try not to worry about it too much."