JENNIE IFEATU

Over the week, I had a conversation with a friend who was being skeptical about demanding her worth from a gig because a senior colleague in the same industry tried to talk her out of it. When asked about my opinion.  I had two questions for her.  "What have you done to get you to where you are? (I wasn't concerned about if she had movement pace so far had been an inch) How bad do you want to get what you deserve? She looked at me with intent eyes and told me about the efforts, time and discomfort she had invested to get her where she was. As for how much she wanted what she deserved, she wanted it just as much as a drowning man will need a lifeguard.  Sometimes, in life, business, career, relationships or even pursuing an education, we are going to be talked out of reaching out to what we truly deserve. These suggestions and lame excuses often come with whispers of " You are not good enough," You need more experience," or  Wait a ...

"I will like to walk into a place empty and walk out with bags," I said with an air of carefreeness.  "You are on a road trip to being a bandit," My friend chuckled.  Come to think of it. Only a woman with a gun walks into a place with an empty bag and walks out with a bag full of goodies.  What direction is my merry-go-round talk headed? The unwanted marksman who never misses a shot in a squad,  the industrious wife of a lazy man whom he never sends away, the arrogant ultra-skilled employee who can't be fired, and the badly behaved yet talented Mario Balotelli of the 2010 Inter Milan squad all have something in common.  As much as they are not totally indispensable, they had value to offer. This is what kept all the individuals mentioned in place.  I am no proponent of behaving in an uncultured manner but suffice me to say, that the good, bad and ugly is a triad.  Value is the leverage that enables you walk in as a nobody with a...

"Click! Click! A shutter sound follows suit. Jojo takes a more intent stare at the selfie. It was not her perfect shot. She tilts her head, takes a few more shots then heads off to the buffet. Nodding her head to the beats of the newest song on the town and munching on small chops at an event no doubt made her feel like the coolest kid on the block.  The DJ was the next best thing after strawberry parfait. His playlist was the real deal. Gradually, guests were soon leaving in skeletal numbers till Jojo thought it was time to go too. She would go home with the DJ's rhythm in her head but without the memory of anyone she had introduced her new startup to. With the rise and rise of entrepreneurship and the need to advance a career, it is becoming next to impossible to go for an event and come back home without a new name. As much as we might prefer to wait until we have to attend a seminar, workshop, conference, symposium or masterclass before we can networ...