Stop Reading, Start Earning: The Nigerian Business Application Cycle

Today on the podcast, we're going to look at the proper way to learn a skill. And the reason why we're going to look at the proper way to learn a skill is because even though it's not the kind of question I would normally answer, it's the question that I was asked by a podcast listener. His name is King, or rather introduce himself to me as a King. So King, this is me answering your question again on the proper way to learn a skill.

And even though it's not the kind of question I would normally answer, I guess it's OK to tackle these sorts of things because sales is a learnable skills, IB skill. Sorry, forgive me. And then marketing and sales and business and you know, every, every, all the things you talk about over here are a combination of different learnable skills. So I guess eventually we would have to come to this so that we can learn how to learn a skill.

OK, All right, I know that didn't sound too elegant. Anyway, I'm making today's recording. I'm out and about. I'm in the parking lot. But don't worry, the windows are wound up. So we shouldn't have too much noise bleeding in from the background. Now, these are the sorts of things that you like learning about business, learning skills, things like that. Then this podcast is your jam. Welcome to the podcast. I'm your host, Tara Shima Aidi,

and for years this is all I've been doing, bringing you guys good advice, relevant practical things that work in the Nigerian market. So let's learn how to grow our business the Nigerian way. Stay strapped in. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, Apple or any player of your choice. And if you'd love to connect, you can call, send me a text message or WhatsApp message on 08064662140. Now back to the question, what is the proper way to learn a skill?

So like I said, this is a listener question from King. By the way, Mr. King, I didn't tell you this, but I'm saying it now. It's kind of impolite when you're having a conversation with someone face to face or text or phone conversation, and the person asks you what's your name? And then you say, oh, call me King. You know, maybe that works in the USA and in the UK, maybe in Australia, but in Nigeria things are different, especially when you're talking to someone who's little older than you are.

And OK, let me just leave it that way, especially when you're talking to someone who is little older than you are. And when the social dynamics are all I put it, when the social dynamics aren't equal. Let me put it that way. So when someone asks you what is your name, the proper thing for a gentleman or for a young man in this part of the world is to actually say your name first. Give your full government name first, then you can add any qualifier.

So King, in the future, someone other than you ask you what is your name? The answer is, by the way, I'm just making this up because I don't know his real name. The answer is my name is Oluwa Shogun, Oluwa Logbone. But my friends call me King or my name is Adetunji Adekombi, but my mom calls me King or my name is Francis Ihenatra. But you know, my classmates called me king, you know, whatever. So in this part of the world, as a gentleman, that is how we do it, especially in the business context.

So for instance, for me wife, he calls me Lord Sugar. Because of that, some of my wife's colleagues have started calling me Lord Sugar. There's one of my wife's senior colleagues who keeps calling me the Sugar Man, and I want to tell her that Auntie is not the Sugar Man. And you know, if you say the sugar man now, that means something else that I can't explain on the show. But if somebody asks me what is my name, I will not say call me Lord Sugar.

I'll give them my full government name first. I can say my name is Tavishima George Aidi, but my friends call me Lord Sugar. Alright, so sorry if I was over stressing it. It's just that now that the podcast is growing in popularity, I've noticed that I'm beginning to get the attention of listeners, mostly men, you know, between the ages of, you know, 18 to 20 something. So there's some stuff that I thought was just common sense that I find myself having to stress over and over and over again.

Like yesterday I was in the coaching session in a meeting, of course, young people who are in the tech space and the kind of names that they picked. Like you're showing up for a business meeting and you're coming up with all kinds of, you know, fancy names, you know, Lord Dragon Slayer 69722 And then your profile picture is an anime, you know, photo of a, a, you know, North Korean dude. And you do like anyway, let me let me just say you young ones,

you have a lot to learn of, you know, as in business is business and you know, other things business is business trips is trips. So anyway, let me move on. So some of you will be asking how do I know that I'm older than this guy? We are not. I'm not just making an assumption because, you know, we're just in the guy is a recent graduate of Lao Tech. And for me, have you been listening? I don't want to betray my age, but, you know, I graduated more than a decade ago.

And even though I'm not saying how long ago it was, so clearly I know that I'm older than this guy. And yeah, So, yeah, yeah, he could have introduced himself better. Now, back to the question how to learn a skill. Now, that question is too broad. And that's a problem. Some of you who reach out to me, you're asking me questions in a manner that is just too broad. So. And the reason why it's too broad is this how to learn a skill?

It depends. What are your innate abilities already? What is your aptitude, your learning aptitude? What are your interests? What are your deficiencies? What are the things you struggle with? What is your vision? What are you aiming towards? What are you trying to do? You know, all of these things determine how you're going to answer the question, how do you learn a skill? So that is too broad. So this kind of question, how do you learn a skill is not a very helpful question to approach a coach or a consultant with,

especially if you're going to have limited time with the person. Because for me, especially for those of you who reach out to me for free, I'm trying to 'cause there are lots of people that I'm trying to attend to and then also have paid clients. So you understand, I'm not trying to be rude, but I have to deal with you guys, you know, you know, sharp, sharp, sharp. So the more specific you have the question is the better.

So if you come to me and you say I'm a crypto bro trying to build a business in a so, so, so space and I feel as if I need to attract XYZ kind of clients and I've been trying to pick up skills in this particular field that I'm having a problem doing that. What is the proper way to learn that skill? Uh huh, that is different. It's very specific. We can talk sharp, sharp, sharp. You know, I pick up the phone, I call you 5-7 minutes, you know,

we wrap it up and then, you know, we're both done. You get the value that you need. And I also fulfill my promise of making sure that every single person who comes my way get some value, whether they give me money or not. But if you're going to insist on these kind of broad questions, then my suggestion is pay me money. And let's talk for two hours. And, you know, sure, pay me money if you want this thing to be very broad.

But the more specific your questions are, the better so that we can cut straight to the chase. Now, eventually I was able to tease out a few things from him, and we got to the thing of his reading books. A good idea. And the answer is YES. The answer is yes, but when you read books, right? Reading books is not just the main thing. There are some simple rules you have to follow when you read books. Now, for those of you who went to boarding school in Nigeria,

you already know these rules because there's always that one teacher who keeps trying to jam these rules into your head. I refused to listen when I was in CKC Gwalata, That's Christ the King College in Gwalata. I was a school that is run by the Marius Brothers and it's a very liberal Catholic education, very traditional focused. And there was one brother there, Brother Pius and her and that was his name, Brother Pius.

Brother Pius, if you're still alive and you happen to listen to this podcast, you know I'm healing you. Much respect, much love. I didn't listen to you back then, but honestly, Brother Pius, you know, I've lived life small now and I can see that actually you, you are correct. Your rules about how to read books, you are correct. You are correct. I was just being stubborn at the time because my father was also telling me the same things.

And you know, in primary school, there's another teacher who was telling me the same things. So I was resisting. But Brother Pious, you are correct. And my father, you know, I hate to admit it, but you are correct. So these are the rules #1 don't read too many books. That's one problem that those of us who like to read and gather information, that's one problem we we make. We go from one podcast to another podcast to another podcast to another podcast before you don't, you know it,

You don't subscribe to like 120 podcasts. And let's be real here, you subscribe to 120 podcasts and you're listening to the 120 podcasts. You feel like you're making progress, but are you applying anything? Is anything registering? So let's be real here. Reading books is good, but don't focus on too many books. It's not about the number of books you read, all right? It's about the focus of your reading habits. So you don't want to read 500

books. You want to read maybe two or three books and then read them 500 times. Or do you squeeze the milk out of those books? So in the liberal Catholic education system, the focus is usually on the classics, and that is what you should be doing when it comes to business as well. Look for the classics, focus on the classics. The reason why is classic literature is condensed wisdom and condensed best practices. So some books become popular in some fields precisely because it is considered to have the best information, the best knowledge,

the best wisdom, the best everything distilled. So if you're a medical student in Nigeria, the reason why certain books are on your reading list is because, OK, Nigeria is 65 years. I mean, over the last 65 years that Nigerian medical faculties have been conducting medical exams, they have come to find that XYZ books are the classic and they're the best. So as a medical student, it's not about reading 500 books, it's about looking at that list.

And if that list is 17 books, read those 17 books 500 times. So yes, read books, but it's not how many you read. Focus on the classic, the classics in your field that is considered the best, a condensed version of the best. All, I put it now, anyway, whatever it is that you need to know in your field, if you read the classics, it is considered that you know, that's where you get all the meat, you get all the good stuff.

Because the danger is for those of us who like to gather information, we end up gathering information, we end up reading books, we end up listening to podcasts, and we end up doing it just for doing sake. You would read book for reading sake. I read one book a week. Oh, really? Last week I read 52 books. Oh really? What did you learn from the book? Well, you know, I enjoyed that one by Robert Greene. I enjoyed this one by this by this.

I enjoyed this one by that other. OK, really. What did you apply from the book? Well, you know, reading itself is a pleasure. You know, reading itself is a joy and you know, it makes 1 sophisticated. And you know, you're just reading book for reading sake. You're feeling yourself. You're feeling popped up. I'm listening to 120 podcast. Meanwhile, what are you applying? You're applying nothing. You're not applying. You're not playing gang.

So, Brother Pius, you are correct. I was reading too many books. Don't be reading too many books. Focus on the classics and #2 Brother Pius, you are correct. I confess you are correct. Write down the things that seem reasonable. Write down the things that seem doable. Brother Pius used to tell us back then that the bluntest pencil is sharper than the sharpest memory. I repeat, it took me a while to understand this one.

What Brother Pyos used to say, the bluntest pencil as your pencil no sharp is sharper than your than the sharpest Mind, he said was a Chinese proverb. I don't know your brother Pyos made that. Your brother Pyos made that saying of then. Well, anyway, he told us was a Chinese proverb. So right now, what seems reasonable, right now what seems doable, because the truth of matter is you will forget. All these books are really,

really interesting stuff. And then apart from that, you know, life, life just happens. You know, this is an interesting idea. You want to apply the idea. But then you know, something happens. You know, your girlfriend comes over, you guys start chatting, you forget or mumsy calls, you start at home, mumsy you forget. Or you know, life just happens. You forget, write things down. When you write things down, you end up applying more stuff only to argue with brother Pios.

And I did that look is not necessary, but I'm telling you honestly, Brother Pios was correct. Just write these things down. Write it. Don't be too proud, especially for those of us who think we are smart, that we have good memory. Just write it down. The chance that you would do this thing increases when you actually write things down. Don't ask me the psychology why I do not understand it. If I understood it, I wouldn't have argued with my father.

I wouldn't have argued with Brother Pius. So of course, we've already gone to Step 3, because you're right. Then you apply the things that you noted down. After a while, you know when you write things down because writing helps you to sort through your thoughts. One day you wake up and realize, why did I write this thing down? This thing doesn't really make any sense. No problem, delete that one. Just cancel it. The ones that make sense, apply.

Then the next step, the things that work. Repeat. The things that work. If it works, keep doing it again and again. For the things that don't work, the things that you fail at, you either ignore them or you continue to refine until you get it right. Then these steps, step four and five, repeating the things that work and then ignoring or refining on the things that you fail at. If you keep doing that over and over again, this is the best part.

You will now know the next steps that you need to research. And that's the conversation I used to have with my dad. I was always wanted to know, OK, like what next? OK, I read this book. So what next? You know, so it is by applying the one that worked, refining the things that failed, you now know what the next step is. Back to the medical student example, recommended reading 17 textbooks. You read 17 of them. You start applying.

After a while, you realize that hormone pharmacology, that's where they hang. So for you, the next things you need to research, where you need to double down on next skill you need to learn is pharmacology. Because in repeating the things that work, you have seen that anatomy, you have mastered it, circulatory system, you have done mastered it. This one, this one, this one, you have mastered it. But pharmacology, pharmacology get ACB.

So you now know that that's where you should research next. By the way, if you're a medical student and you know some of the things I'm saying don't make sense, you know don't mind me. It's been a while since I left uni and I'm not even sure if pharmacology was a course in pharmacy or a course in medicine. But anyway, forgive me Sharp, but you get the point. Then step 7. Repeat the whole process, which is don't read too many books,

don't listen to too many podcasts. Look for the things that are considered the classics because that is where the best wisdom and best practice are. Then write down what seems reasonable or doable. Apply the things that you have written down. Repeat the things that work. Ignore or refine the things that failed. When you repeat things that work and you try and refine all the things that failed, you will now know where your deficiencies are and you know where you need to research next.

And then you repeat the whole process. The summary of what I'm trying to say is when it comes to learning a skill, don't overthink it. It's a reasonable question to ask. Well, you know King, you are kind of overthinking it. And it's not just you. As a young myself, you know, me too. I was, I was overthinking it as a teenager. You know, sometimes it's, it's that simple. So it's very, very simple. So Mr. King, since you are a Lao tech guy based in Obama, sure,

if you want to marry an Obama, sure babe, it's very simple. Go and talk to another Lao tech boy that you respect and ask for his advice. Note down the reasonable advice that he gives you. Apply it. When it comes to toasting Lao Tech babes. The thing that work, repeat it. The things that don't work? Ignore from the things that work or from the things that fail. It will determine where you need to research to learn more so that you can improve your toasting skills so that you can marry and go on short babe.

Then you repeat the whole process until you find a wife. When you find a wife, exit the market, you have no need to learn how to toast babes anymore. So you can see in business as is the same in relationships. If you want to start a gadget business for instance, because King wants to start a gadget business, try and look for what is considered a classic in the industry. Unfortunately, I don't know of any classics in the industry when it comes to these sorts of things.

Although I try to sell the course on seller and and seller that's SELAR and there's another content creator who is there on seller. His name is Tunji Ajibade of and he wrote a book How to start a profitable Phone accessories business in Nigeria. It's an e-book. The thing has no reviews. So you know, buy a beware. Go and check it out for yourself. Although in the conversation I had with King, I told King, you know what, follow this guy Tunji Ajibade on his social media.

Check him out. If some of the things he says makes sense, then you know you can go ahead and follow him. But you can see how you know. In this case, try and look for some good literature in the field and then follow it. The guy is going to talk about some specific strategies in the books. Note it down. The one that you think you can apply, note it down. Apply those ones. Some things work, some things you don't work. The ones that work, reiterate,

you know, repeat it. The ones that don't work, reiterate, refine it, or delete the things that don't work from that whole process of applying. This one worked, I will keep it. This one didn't work, I'll delete it. This one didn't work, I'll refine it. You will now know where your knowledge gaps are and then you now know how to start this process again. So for you guys who do phone accessories, merchandising is serious for you guys.

I mean, I know nothing about merchandising. Merchandising is about how. You take your inventory and then you have to apply your you have to set up your inventory well so that everything you know, looks good. So in a mobile accessory shop, you know, there's there's a way that they arranged things, you know, mobile phones in front, you know, computer accessories, you put it here, you put this kind of lighting on this kind of items.

If the Samsung Fold is the one that is raining and that's the one that you want to highlight, there's a way that you place it. There's a way that you position it. The kind of music that you play in the shop, you know, whether you have AC or whether you have fluorescent lighting or not. You know, merchandising is complicated and to be honest, you know all these complicated things, I stay away from them. But for those of you who are doing mobile phone accessories and all that, you know your ex,

your merchandising gas to be on point. There's a reason why when you walk into slot slot by the way, slot SLOT sorry for those who are non Nigerian listeners. Slot is a is a chain of mobile phone, computer and mobile phones now mostly shops in Nigeria, northern Nigeria, eastern Nigeria, South. So that's what they do. And if you notice that shops are arranged a certain way, it doesn't matter which slot to enter. The outlay is always the same,

the staff dresses the same, the lighting is the same, the way that the spotlight phones is the same. You know, that is merchandising. The same thing with Apple Store. You enter inside, you know, cool AC, the way everything is arranged, the way the iPads are arranged and all that is merchandising. Take your inventory, put it down, lay it out, you know, make everything nice and sweet in a way that we'll just be calling people, calling people so that when you enter into the iPhone store, you know, the iPad will just be calling your name.

The iPad will be calling you. The iPad will be saying share gonna come here, share gonna come here, buy me, buy me, touch me, touch me. So that's merchandising. So from reading all the books and, you know, getting the knowledge, applying, you now know whether, OK, I'm good at merchandising. The next skill I need to learn is this, or I'm good at all these other ones. And then the skill I need to learn is this. So for me, it was going to start a mobile phone and accessories business.

Yeah, the skills that I would have to learn probably would be merchandising because when it comes to having the conversation to figure out what people want so I can make the right recommendations and and order part. But merchandising, I have no idea about that. So in summary, that is it. That is how you learn a skill or please, when you reach out to me, the more direct your question is, the better because I'm receiving lots of questions now the podcast is beginning to grow in popularity.

I want to answer everybody. So the more back, back, back, the more to the points we can be, the better. So all these general questions like how do I prove improve my motivation? Like when that's that's broad. What did you say? I'm a real estate professional and based in Abuja. I've been in this game for three months. I've not been able to drum up my sales. My line manager shouting at me every day or more. My mood just the flat big was the way out.

OK, that's a very specific question. We can, you know, I can pick up the phone and you know, like 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We actually can make some headway on that. Oh, by the way, in case I haven't figured out, those of you who are reaching out, most likely I'm going to make a podcast episode about you. So if you don't want your name to appear in the podcast episode, the first thing you do when you reach out to me and say, bro, I beg, don't talk about me on the podcast, right?

If you don't put that notice, I'm going to assume that you're going to be cool that I might talk about our conversations on the podcast. So if you reach out to me, I will be talking about you on the podcast. But already I leave our personal issues, you know, relationship issues, mommy daddy issues, girlfriend issues, academic issues, financial issues, don't I leave out all those issues and I stick to the business lessons that we can learn.

So that's it and that's all. Remember, if you'd love to connect, you can call, send me a text message or WhatsApp message on 08064662140. And if you love all the things we're talking about here, then we got you covered. There's plenty more in your in your, what's it called? Is it timeline? Anyway, whatever it is that you're listening to right now, whether you're listening on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, or anything, we have over 1000

episodes. So Scroll down, keep listening, but remember, it's not about listening. Go and apply, I beg. Go and apply. When things work, reach out to me. That's why I give you my phone number. Tell me what work. When things don't work, reach out to me. I tried this thing. This thing didn't work. Let's brainstorm and then if you disagree with something, reach out to me. You said this. I disagree. You're misleading people.

You're lying to people. I love those kind of conversations. Let's have that conversation as well. So I'll see you soon.