How I Turned ₵1500 into a ₵1,000,000/yearly Business in Ghana in 3 Years

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Konnected Minds Podcast with Derrick Abaitey
Episode: How I Turned ₵1500 into a ₵1,000,000/yearly Business in Ghana in 3 Years
Date: December 5, 2025
Guest: Felix Efutu, founder of MacPhilly’s (plantain chips & other plantain products)

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Episode Overview

This episode features an inspiring in-depth conversation between host Derrick Abaitey and entrepreneur Felix Efutu, founder of MacPhilly’s. Felix shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings and a starting capital of just ₵1500 to building a thriving business generating over one million cedis a year—all in Ghana, without a university degree. The conversation tackles entrepreneurship, mindset, resilience, the impact of upbringing, and real truths about business success and failure in Ghana.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Felix’s Early Life and Upbringing ([00:00] – [09:16])

• No family precedent: Felix was the first in his entire extended family to complete high school.
• Poverty and instability: Grew up in a broken home, often struggled with basic daily needs, and moved between relatives’ houses all around Accra.
• Early business exposure: Lived with a foster mother who ran a successful local shop, teaching Felix entrepreneurship and discipline through chores and direct business involvement.
  • “There’s no room for errors, no room for being lazy, and no room for being academically low.” (Felix, [08:26])
• Discipline and structure: Developed a sense of responsibility and punctuality, recalling everything was scheduled to radio jingles in the morning.

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2. Shaping An Entrepreneurial Mindset ([09:16] – [16:36])

• Resilience through adversity: Felix credits the tough, disciplined environment for building his work ethic and business instincts.
• Siblings’ different outcomes: He reflects that upbringing—and not just exposure to wealth—is what separates financially successful siblings.
  • “It’s not money and exposure but the training... I see money, but I’m disciplined on how to handle money because that was how I was raised up.” (Felix, [15:06])

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3. The Role of Environment and Exposure ([16:36] – [22:49])

• Wealthy vs. basic community upbringing: Compared growing up in Jamestown (basic amenities, distractions, lacking structure) vs. East Legon (routine, learning business/money-talk from parents).
• Exposure leads to ambition: Children exposed to business and financial conversations develop an empowered mindset.
  • Felix shares how his 5-year-old daughter already talks about “money mindset” and knows about his warehouse and business.

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4. Discovering His Path – Why Not University? ([23:08] – [31:53])

• Family expectations vs. personal vision: Felix was expected to be the first university graduate in his family, but after high school, he returned to poverty, reconsidered, and chose business.
• Early business lessons: Had multiple experiences with food trade (bread, yam, “gobe”, plantain chips). Chose plantain chips for its market gap and ability to be branded for higher-end clientele.
  • “I started from a tabletop. Nothing too fancy, just a basic tabletop business.” (Felix, [34:26])
• Calculated risk: Recognized he might “fail or win, but either way I’ll get experience.”
  • “I discovered myself very early... I know my strengths and weaknesses.” (Felix, [31:09])
• No regrets: Values the rich learning from his non-traditional path.
  • “Never. Not even a bit. I’ve learned a lot. I have learned a lot out of this path.” (Felix, [31:55])

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5. Starting with ₵1500: Practical Steps ([32:03] – [35:19])

• Raising capital: Felix collected ₵1500 from friends and family (in small bits), invested in simple equipment (table, stove, saucepan), and raw materials.
• Lean startup: Used an abandoned lot in East Legon with no rent. Focused on minimal costs and maximizing output.
• Scaling vision: Initially started to support himself, but saw potential for generational business as profits grew.

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6. Business Challenges, Partnership, and Painful Lessons ([35:24] – [39:13])

• Early mistakes: Brought family and friends into the business without contracts (“trust is good, but controls are better”).
  • “I didn’t really misuse my money, but I misappropriated my money.” (Felix, [38:12])
• Betrayal and competition: Trusted relatives turned into competitors; this led to stressful disputes and even police involvement.
• Learning systems: Now, “even the basic cleaner in my company is under contract.”
  • “I’ve learned my biggest lesson... it was like a matter of life and death.” (Felix, [38:26])

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7. Business Growth, Failure, and Adaptation ([39:13] – [43:17])

• Branch expansion gone wrong: Tried to replicate initial success with new branches using the same methods—these failed due to lack of structure and context awareness.
  • “Success comes from your experience and what you’ve learned.” (Felix, [42:18])
• Importance of adapting: Now, each expansion is built on careful research, planning, and proper legal/operational structures.
• Factory development: Now operates a manual factory with plans for further automation.

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8. Product Pricing & Managing Fluctuations ([43:32] – [54:03])

• Thorough costing advice: Felix describes his full approach to pricing products for profit and sustainability—factor in all expenses (raw materials, packaging, “waste,” labor, rent, utilities, and expected profit plus future growth margin).
• Dealing with price fluctuations: Plantain (his main ingredient) is seasonal and price can jump by 500–600%. He bakes in a margin for fluctuation, maintains prices for customer trust, and cross-subsidizes with other product lines.
  • “Sometimes you’re making profit, and other times you’re not even breaking even. You must plan for that.” (Felix, [49:56])

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9. The Real Truth About Entrepreneurship in Ghana ([54:03] – [55:06])

• Lonely and tough journey: It’s hard, often isolating, and requires strong self-motivation.
  • “It will really break you to make you. If you are not passionate, you’ll end up being a failure.” (Felix, [54:18])
• Learning from everywhere: Felix compensates for lack of formal business education by studying from other successful CEOs and constantly learning.

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10. Resilience, Motivation & Mindset ([55:06] – [58:48])

• Overcoming discouragement: Felix has faced emotional lows, social friction, and people doubting his right to succeed.
  • “…sometimes you get to a platform that people make you feel like you don’t deserve the platform.” (Felix, [56:55])
• Purpose beyond money: His business is driven by impact and building a legacy, not just profits.
• Discipline > Motivation: Attributes his achievements to discipline learned early in life.

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11. Practical Advice for Young Entrepreneurs ([58:48] – end)

• Best advice ever received:
  • “If you don’t plan today, you will regret tomorrow… Secure the future before you get there.” (Felix recounting his uncle’s words, [59:02])
• Book Recommendations:
  • How to Lead Without a Title
  • How People Think
  • The Psychology of Money (by Morgan Housel)
  • (Derrick adds: Surrounded by Idiots)
• Final encouragement: Anyone can start with little; whatever you have can scale with discipline and learning.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Resilience & Mindset:
  • “Giving up has never been part of my vocabulary. I am a survivor. I fought a lot of battles from my infancy to where I am now.” – Felix ([55:16])
• On failure:
  • “You can't just start something at one particular place and be successful and think you can apply the same method to another place… No, success comes from your experience.” – Felix ([40:32])
• What's more important, discipline or motivation?
  • “I always say discipline because I was raised up out of discipline. So I know how discipline can really shape your life and be on the right path.” – Felix ([58:40])
• Planning for the future:
  • “If you don’t plan today, you regret tomorrow... the future is always not promised, so we never sleep.” – Felix ([59:02])

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Key Timestamps

• [00:00] – [09:16]: Early life, family, and foundational values
• [13:09]: Full-circle moment with foster mother’s pride
• [23:08]: How and why Felix started his plantain chips business
• [32:03] – [35:19]: Raising initial ₵1500 startup capital, launching the business
• [38:12]: On partnership mistakes, trust, and control in business
• [42:18]: Learning from failed branch expansions
• [44:56]: Pricing and costing products for entrepreneurs
• [54:10]: “What’s the real truth about entrepreneurship in Ghana?”
• [55:16]: Discussing personal lows and what keeps Felix going
• [58:40]: Quickfire round: Motivation vs. discipline and best advice ever received
• [60:46]: Book recommendations for entrepreneurs

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Final Thoughts

Felix Efutu’s journey is a testament to the power of discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience. The episode is filled with practical advice and hard-earned wisdom for anyone looking to start a business with little capital, particularly in Ghana (but applicable anywhere). Felix’s story shows that success is possible with a clear vision, willingness to learn from mistakes, and the discipline to keep showing up and improving every day.

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This summary preserves the inspirational energy and candid tone of the interview, providing a detailed guide for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[Felix Efutu]

Out of my mom's siblings, right down to my cousins, my nephews back then, and then right on to even our 10. There has never been any graduate in the family. And then by the grace of God, I've completed high school and I started on my tabletop. I have a lot, I've been through a lot and I've experienced a lot. And that is what has really developed me to become who I am today.

I didn't really misuse my money. I. But I misappropriated my money. I opened the branches, but disloyalty broke the branches. And that was when I learned my biggest lesson, that you can't just start something at one particular place and be successful and think you can apply the same method to another place to think you become more successful there. No, success comes from your experience.

[Derek Abayite]

And also, what is the real truth about entrepreneurship in Ghana?

[Felix Efutu]

But there are times I've really been broken down.

And I felt like, why did I do. I know there is going to be a lot of challenges, but that has never discouraged me because I'm not into business for money or profit. I want to impact life.

[Derek Abayite]

All right, beautiful people, you are listening and watching Connected Minds podcast and he's your host, Derek Abayite. I'm going to be having a conversation with an entrepreneur, Mr. Felix Efutu. He owns a company called McPathy. I personally buy there. It's probably the best chips, plantain products that I've had in the country. And you should sit through and watch this conversation because we are going to talk about how did he start and what amount of money did he start his business with. So for the young people that are expecting a conversation on how to start from zero startup capital or very limited startup capital and you don't have any opportunity to travel abroad, this conversation is for you. You've always been asking and I've delivered and welcome to my studio.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you, Mr. Bate. Very awesome. And more relaxed than before. Yeah.

[Derek Abayite]

And you look great. You look fantastic.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you very much.

[Derek Abayite]

Thank you. From the last time we met, business is hard, isn't it?

[Felix Efutu]

It's very hard in this country, but it's also more enjoyable here. Like, there's a lot of fun doing business in Ghana.

[Derek Abayite]

Yeah.

[Felix Efutu]

Because you tend to experience all the experience the world experience you don't even expect to experience. Yeah, it is. It is very possible here.

[Derek Abayite]

Yeah. So your business is in planting products, essentially, that's how you started.

[Felix Efutu]

Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

Talk to me. How was the journey like starting up?

[Felix Efutu]

The journey, I would say, is just the regular or the basic startup business as any other young entrepreneur who want to adventure into food business will also experience. But what makes mine stand out is the fact that I was able to start up from a tabletop to right now owning a company out of plantages production. And the journey has never been smooth. There have been times I cry, there have been times I get overwhelmed and there are times I just have to be in the moment. And I think such is life. So it's all part of life. And we are grateful we are here today because the main vision is evidential now and we are happy that we are impacting life and we are living the dream.

[Derek Abayite]

You know, I just, I don't want to cut you, but I must say this. What I love about you is the fact that I have seen you in several places where you've literally just gone there to support other people who are building their businesses. And you did that for us as well. At the Connected Minds Live, our maiden edition. You were there to support. You gave us so many gifts for our audience, for our speakers. It's amazing. Where do you find.

The joy to do that?

[Felix Efutu]

I'll say the joy will come from within. Because if you don't have abundance in you, you can also give out. So before you would think of helping someone or being in support of something, it has to come naturally or else you realize you are giving, but you are not really pouring out how it's expected. So you have to have it in abundance in you and then you can freely give up. So it is something that I have in me. It's a natural gift. I love to give, I love to support. When I have the capability to do that, I'll do it effortlessly. Effortlessly.

[Derek Abayite]

Felix, did you finish university?

[Felix Efutu]

I did it.

[Derek Abayite]

So look, you've done incredibly well. I want to know your path from the school you went to at low, you know, in the early stage, all the way through to the point you decided, I don't want to go to university, I want to start a business.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you for the question. And I would say my beginning has never been as rosy as a lot of people may as experience as their upbringing to be like. I grew up from a broken home, from a very basic family where even feeding 3 square mil a day is always a challenge. And unfortunately, my parents couldn't really cater for my education, so I ended up living with other families and relatives that can help me with my upbringing and my education. So I basically didn't grow up in one home, but I ended up growing up or being Raised in different homes. So I basically in the whole of Accra, I've lived from the east to the west, at the north, in the southern part of Accra. So I started from Jamestown. I was born and raised in Jamestown. My mom is actually a Ghan. My dad is also a Ghan. We are all from Jamestown. So I was born and raised there. And I could. I recall when I got to class one, my daddy and my mom has already separated. So I had to live with my father. Because you know, Ghana here tradition says that it is the men who raise men. So I had to live with my mother. My father, I lived with him for quite, I think a year to two. And I realized things were extremely difficult. And whenever I come to my mom's place.

So whenever I come to my mom's end, I get whatever. You know, as a child your basic need is food and somewhere better to sleep. So when I come to my mom, I get what I want to eat and then somewhere better to lay my head. So as time goes on, my need gone beyond just basic needs than also how I can like the component that will bring up a right child. And I realized it was being lacked in my community. And luckily for me I had relatives who also noticed that default. And then they came to my rescue. So I ended up living with my grandmom in Kaneshi. From there. I left there because she. I was had so she couldn't handle me. But I came back to live with my father and it was still the same story. So I had to leave my father's end and go to live with other relatives which are actually not my family. So basically I was like a houseboy to them. And that was where I discovered my true potential.

[Derek Abayite]

Right? Talk to me. What was happening in this, in. In that house?

[Felix Efutu]

It was a lot. So luckily for me, she. She was also an entrepreneur. She was into coach store business. And back then, I think around 2008, huge. So she was living here in East Lagoon. And then her shop is in Medina Market. And back then in the early 2000s, she had one of the biggest coastal shop in Medina Market. So I live with her here. So right from the morning I'll do my morning choices as a regular child. And then from there I'll go to the shop with her and assist her in setting up and everything. Because she doesn't trust any other person than me. So she makes sure I put everything she needs in order for her. And then I will go to school. Right after school I have to come back and help her to Close the day before we come back home and then the day was ended. So that is how my life routine as a young teenager.

[Derek Abayite]

Do you think you overworked yourself in that house?

[Felix Efutu]

I would say yes, but it was impactful because that was what has built my resilience and my confidence to where I am.

[Derek Abayite]

How, what exactly did they give you?

[Felix Efutu]

Basic training of how a boy child is supposed to be raised and I had it all. There's no room for errors, there wasn't any room for being lazy and there was no room of being academically low because luckily for me right from Cyto it took me to one of the best preparatory school in Medina back then. So I had no other excuse to fill my exams. So I needed to sit up academically, I needed to sit up with my, my house choices and also I needed to also sit up with my morals. And it was a tough journey for me because coming from Jamestown and all, all the way to East Lagoon, it's, it's a two different society or community altogether. Yeah, the 360 was a sharp one for me.

[Derek Abayite]

I'm just trying to figure out exactly what aspect of the training you had in that house that made you very entrepreneurial.

Is it the chores you had to do around the house and to help her with the business as well?

[Felix Efutu]

I'll say yes. So the choices. Yeah, as I said as I mentioned earlier, you don't have an excuse to be, to be, to be lazy. So there's a time I had to wake up and do all my choices and there's a time back then we, we. We used to listen to Dr. Ghana in the morning at 6 o' clock and then my mom will get up from her room at 6 o' clock and then right at 6:30 I think at 6:30 they give a particular segment on the radio and that was when. Okay, so our radio is on open, right? But I know six o' clock they moved, they switched to Radio Ghana to take the news and then right after 30 minutes they'll come back to open. So then when they are coming back to open FM there is this kind of money search money.

Drive they, they have. So when they have, they have a jingle for the morning drive. So when the jingle starts ringing wherever I am I must know there's time, it's time for me to bathe, for us to leave. So that is the discipline. And then when the jingle starts ringing and I don't rush to the room to change or b to prepare to work.

The yelling alone, you can't Handle. So you have to. You just have to make sure you are doing things at the right time. So that was discipline for me.

[Derek Abayite]

You were disciplined.

[Felix Efutu]

That was disciplined for me. And then the entrepreneurial side was when I go to the workplace, I quite remember there was a time she, she, she. She brings in a lot of goods and. And then there was a value tax added to the product cost. And they've, They've. They've separated the tax. You know, whenever you buy product, they give you the product cost, and then when they calculate the total, then they'll add you the tax element, and then they'll give you the total cost. So when they brought the product, me, from the, from the onset, I thought the product cost was there. So we just add our profit and then we sell. But I realized when we. When I add a profit, when I add the margins to the product cost and then we sell, we are not making the actual profit that I was expecting. And I asked myself why. That was where my curiosity started. So that was when, where I realized there were tax rates, margin added to the product, and I needed to get the cost, the value of the tax on the product. So I added to the product, and then I add my margins to the product. And that was me back then in jhs. I was doing all that margins to help us get the right price for us to sell. And from there, I was really loved.

[Derek Abayite]

I want to get a bit deep into this. Okay. Every time I speak to a guest, I'm really trying to figure out what aspect of their childhood has contributed to their success.

[Felix Efutu]

Right.

[Derek Abayite]

And I'm kind of getting there with this. How many siblings do you have?

[Felix Efutu]

I'll say five.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay. Out of your siblings, would you say you've been pretty lucky with life?

[Felix Efutu]

Of course. Of course. Awesome.

[Derek Abayite]

I'm getting there. Now, let's talk about the siblings of the woman you lived with. How many siblings?

[Felix Efutu]

She had one daughter.

[Derek Abayite]

How many? One daughter.

[Felix Efutu]

Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay. And how is she doing now?

[Felix Efutu]

Oh, she's better. You know, the house is already established.

[Derek Abayite]

Established.

[Felix Efutu]

Great.

[Derek Abayite]

So it's basically, for me, this is what I figured out. The fact that you moved away from parents and then went to work under somebody else and they worked you. You worked really hard.

[Felix Efutu]

I did that.

[Derek Abayite]

Gave you a different type of makeup that you have today. Would you agree?

[Felix Efutu]

I. I totally agree. 100. I'm always confident with that. And then, you know, do you know the. Do you know the irony of all this? My current shop, the annex shop, is right at my poster mom's junction. So anytime Whenever she's from uk, I just walk into her house, I give her products and she's always proud of me. She's always proud of me. She calls me anytime, she comes to check on me, anytime.

[Derek Abayite]

I've asked this question to myself. Why do you think we can have siblings from the same family but only one or two become financially successful? What's the aspect of the person that becomes that others may not have?

[Felix Efutu]

Yes. So when you read a pattern, it all boils down to the upbringing. That is, that is what makes all the difference. Because there are some homes, you go there and then you realize that they are from a very good home, well educated home. And the parents make sure that the kids are well educated. They have the knowledge, they have the basic understanding, understanding to life. And.

They will all be successful in as much as they will 100 not be the same at the level. But you realize that if one person is standing at a particular pedestal, the, the.

Spaces between them is not very much, right? It's not that really much. And then on the other side, if you are from a particular family whereby they there's already a kind of tacto school you are living to and then you get the, the opportunity or you are graced enough to break out and then be raised from a particular good home, you realize when you come back.

[Derek Abayite]

You stand up, you would actually say that you are raised in a, in a better home than the home you were born into.

[Felix Efutu]

100%. 100%.

[Derek Abayite]

Is it because of the new training you had or because.

Of the money and the exposure this woman had?

[Felix Efutu]

I wouldn't say the money and the exposure, but they're training because a lot of people get exposed to money, but they don't. They don't even have the principles or the discipline to handle the money. But I had the opportunity to, to see money and then also experience discipline. So right now as I'm sitting here, I see money, but I'm disciplined on how to handle money because that was how I was raised up with. So it is the two components coming together.

[Derek Abayite]

If four more of your siblings were raised by the same woman, do you think it would have all been financially?

[Felix Efutu]

Absolutely. Absolutely. Because my siblings are very. We are all hard. We are very strong. We are all strong. As I'm speaking to you now, none of us are still not. We are all survivors. They are fighting really hard and I think lately the narrative have changed. So we are being exposed to a lot of opportunities and they are really doing very well. But the, the only difference that made me Stood out was that I was the last, but one of my parents, okay, of my mom, actually, I was the last battle. I was a fit child of my mom. And then I started experiencing life or let me say I started making money or started business very early. At age 20, 21, I've started my own business. And by age 25, I'm driving my first car, I'm getting married, I have my kids. Things moved very fast for me. That, that was only, that was the only factor that made a difference. But right now I'm speaking, my siblings are also doing very well. They are really pushing.

[Derek Abayite]

So I was having a conversation with one of my friends, right? And then I said, have you realized that most of the kids in the UK who go to, you know, private schools, you know, private boarding schools, they end up performing really well at a very high stage. Like the rate at which they perform is really high. And even, you know, in some high level private schools in Ghana, like the school my kids go to, the performance of the class is really high compared to the average government school, comprehensive school. And then I was asking myself, what is it about rich people and wealthy people that they teach children that poor people don't?

[Felix Efutu]

The fundamentals.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay?

[Felix Efutu]

The fundamentals about life. So you go to a rich home and right now, let me, let me give you a, a storyline. I was driving, so I recently had, how will I say it, A nanny who is taking care of my children. And we were, we were, we were going to church. I left something in my office, so we were coming to my office to pick what I left. And then we'll move, we'll just proceed to church. And then immediately we got to the junction. My second daughter just asked the lady, do you know where we are going to? And then the lady was like, no, I don't know, tell me. And then she told her, I'm going. We are going to my father's warehouse. It is her kids company and that is where we, we do business, we talk business and we talk a lot about money. So this girl is 5 years old and she knows there's something called business, there's something called work, there's something called money mindset. And this is the path you follow to have that kind of achievement that you want to achieve in life. So instantly the fundamentals has been laid, right? So she knows my dad is hardworking, my daddy goes to meetings, she has been seeing a lot of my podcasts and the events I'll be going to. And so subconsciously she's being raised to exceed the father or do more than the father. So you realize whatever they are exposed to at their younger age, they tend to do better in life rather than the basic Ghanaian that is brought or raised in the basic community whereby life is just basic for them. Because I've had an opportunity living both the basic Ghanaian community and then I would say the wealthy Ghanaian community. And I know the difference there Jamestown on a regular day you wake up in the morning, you just brush your teeth or sometimes you'll be giving toothpaste. We don't use. Majority of Jamestown people use sponge that chewing sponge and then there's no. So there's no. Most of the family houses don't even have a lavatory or a washroom in the house. So you have to walk like a distance a mile or a kilometer to the public restroom and then you come back and then you prepare and bath and then go to some like even the bathroom you also have to work out and then bath change and then you come back to prepare to school. And then whilst you are going to school you have to walk through the communities and you see a lot of activities happening before you realize you'll be distracted of your. Your direction of where you go into. So before you realize you even get to school and there's a lot of activities running through your head and you can't even focus in class whereby you are. You come to East Lagoon Medina whereby a kid is.

Raising a will I say a bungalow, a confided home whereby everything, all basic amenities is provided in the house. So when they wake up in the morning they are just following routine and then they either be picked up with a bus or if you have. If you are fortunate to have a car. You drive your kids to school and when they are going to school you talk about life. That is what I basically do every day with my kids. We talk about lifestyle, we do spellings, we talk about I. I open an atmosphere so that they can think out loud. We talk about what is happening in school, what they are reading, what they're up to. Because most of the times I don't get time to meet them in the evening before they sleep. So I make that short period as a bonding with them. We talk about life and everything before they get to school. And sometimes they even have to read in the car whilst you're heading to school. So this kind of kid always have something ahead of them. If it's at academically they know no, I did A and I have to move to B. So they are thinking about what and what they have to add up to get the achievement they need. So these are the different background and the effect it has on most of us as we are growing up.

[Derek Abayite]

Let me stop you here for a minute. We are on the journey of changing the minds and the lives of people. So if you haven't subscribed and become part of the family, please hit the subscribe button and turn on the notification. Thank you. Now let's carry on with the conversation. This is amazing.

[Felix Efutu]

Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

Like what you just described is exactly what it is.

[Felix Efutu]

Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

The interesting thing is that.

Even in the west there are people.

Who don't have this exposure. They live abroad, but they don't have this exposure you're talking about. So they are not experiencing the Sikh knee vibe. The, the.

The rich mindset there. The, the upbringing, everything you are describing. They are not experiencing it.

[Felix Efutu]

Exactly.

[Derek Abayite]

So most of them are trapped in a cycle. This is crazy.

[Felix Efutu]

Let me tell you one funny thing. The last time I went to my community where I was raised and you know I have a couple of cars, so I don't drive one type of car. So the last time they saw me driving one type of car, the next time they saw me drive a different kind of car and then the next time to have changed my car again, they were like.

[Derek Abayite]

Right.

[Felix Efutu]

And I'm like, look at this mindset. Like so you think it's not possible to break out from this mediocrity mindset and then break bondages and make a difference in the community? It is possible. It's all from the mindset.

[Derek Abayite]

And you got this mindset. The, the aha moment or the epiphany was when you spent time with this woman in this lagoon. Okay, great. So now you've spent amazing time, you've taught you all the things that you're supposed to learn as a young man. Now talk me through the journey of starting your business.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you very much. Yeah, so starting my business, I would say it was. It comprised of a lot of factors. It was a miracle, it was a direction and it was also a well directed plan. I would say that it was everything altogether. So basically right after senior high school I was supposed to go to tertiary ride. But unfortunately I've left my foster mom back then. I've gone back to my family home and I've gone back to the genesis of where I started from. Things were difficult, no family support here and there. But I still had the dream of making a difference. So I knew to break one status quo is to graduate from tertiary because out of my mom's siblings right down to my cousins, my nephews back then and then right on to even our 10. There has never been any graduate in the family and I was the light to that, to that part because they were seeing me moving from one stage to the other. And then by the grace of God, I've completed high school. Unfortunately, I didn't do well with senior high school. My result wasn't good but I reset again and then wrote my navdig which I did. I excelled. So they were expecting me to go to the tertiary. That was where I also started discovering myself. So right after senior high school I realized things were difficult and I said to myself, I have the experience of entrepreneurship, I have the experience of trading. Why should I be sitting here and suffer whilst there are vast opportunities out there? So why don't I start doing something for myself? Why don't I start trading a kind of trade for myself that can sustain me, give me a little cash backup to further my education. That was the whole mindset. So that was where starting a business, processing all started from. Because luckily for me I've had exposure. And then even in senior high school I did a bit of, I did visual art. And in visual art you learn entrepreneurship. So I had a little, a very tiny knowledge around.

Entrepreneurship. So that knowledge was what I really applied. So back then 11 years ago I knew if you want to start a business one, you have to find a problem in your community. So one, what is the problem in my community? Okay, I search, I search, I search, I search. And first and foremost you have to look to yourself and see the value you carry to give to the community. What value do I have? What, what value do I think I have that is so exceptional to a lot of people in the community? When I provide to the community, it will impact the community and also make me a good impact. And I realized I could cook. Cooking was, was a gift for me because I didn't go to any kitchen school but I could cook all any local dishes and with the continental teach me to them tomorrow I'll be perfect. So I realized cooking was my gift and I didn't want to waste it. So.

Right from the onset I knew I was going to do food business. But the particular food business was still not discovered because I have to look at the community and look at what kind of food business is not really trending and how I can come in to fill the gap and then make some cash. So luckily for me, after senior high school I work with a couple of caterers, I've Baked bread before I've fried Kelly Willi before I've fried r.

Yam and chips. Yam and toffee. Do you know yam and toffee? Yeah, of course. I've even sold bankun rice. So yeah, I've had all those experiences growing up back then. So I had. I have, I've had a couple of exposure to a lot of food trade. So when I was thinking about the particular value I wanted to give to my community, the particular food trade that I think is not really trending the community to give to my community was when plantain chips came in mind, I realized plantain chips was kissed, not just cased. People were selling, planting. But back then, if you recall 10 years ago, if you need plantain chips or less on the traffic that you buy plantain chips in the tide rubber and that it wasn't standardized. And back then in senior high school, I was taught how to brand a product. Sorry, packaging. I didn't know too much about branding. So packaging. So I knew how to package a product to make it more appealing to a certain level of client. So with those basic knowledge, I said, okay, why don't I start also planting chips, package it in an exceptional package and present it to a particular caliber of people that can patronize my standard of value I'm giving to the community and then make some money. So it was a basic knowledge. It wasn't too much like someone really going to school to learn all this, but it was out of all the experiences I've had. So I had those broad knowledge around business and starting a business. So the first step was to find my target audience. That was when I came to East Lagoon because looking at plantain chips, I was looking at a working community, a business class community where people in that community are busy, they don't have time to cook, and then they need quick food, quick snack that they can carry it everywhere, anytime, at every moment they can enjoy and be full.

So I think I had a couple of communities in mind. First was Airport Residential. Second was Pinterest. Third and third was East Lagon. And I knew those were where my targeted audience were. So I came up with a plan.

[Derek Abayite]

You were thinking very creatively.

[Felix Efutu]

I was very, very calculating. But bruh comedy, like we were suffering and we wanted to break the yoke of poverty. So there was no time, there was no time to. To make errors.

[Derek Abayite]

Yeah, but look, why not go the regular path that, you know, go to school, get a job and get employed. It's, it's.

If you want to break the yoke of poverty. Why did you not just go for the regular route and then decided Entrepreneurship.

[Felix Efutu]

It's.

[Derek Abayite]

It's beautifully crafted. I. I think looking really through your path, it's. It's almost as if you were being molded. Of course, you know, they throw you into wealth. You see a feeling, then you go back again again. Right. So why.

[Felix Efutu]

That is why earlier I said it was a defined direction. Because sometimes I look back and I became. I become very emotional because from the beginning I didn't even understand what I was doing. I wouldn't lie to you. You recall earlier when we're talking, I told you sometimes I do things I don't understand. So I even tell my wife, oh, when we get. I normally does what I even discuss with my wife, oh, when we get to the crossroad, we'll cross. That is. That has always been my.

My anthem in life. When we get to the crossroad, we'll cross. Because sometimes I. I actually take a path. A lot of people around me tells me it is risky, but I would take a lot of people.

[Derek Abayite]

Are you like the chosen one or something?

[Felix Efutu]

I'm yet to know.

Yeah, a lot of people. Like one day I'll intentionally let you talk to a lot of people around me. They talk, tell you this guy is different. I take part. That is not. It doesn't make sense. By talking about planting chip business. How can a young guy from senior high school that the whole family is looking up to him to go to tertiary find a white colored job to do is going to the roadside to sell plantain chips? Yes. And my family was against it.

[Derek Abayite]

Why did you not go to university anyway?

[Felix Efutu]

Because I discovered my. Myself very early. I discovered I got to know of my strengths, my weaknesses and everything very early. I was picturing myself back then. How is Felix going to like navigate through tertiary? Right? After tertiary, right. And I was even as early as that age. I was even calculating my monthly salary and the things I wanted to do for myself before 30 years. And I said to myself, no, you can't go that path. That was way back when I was in my early 20s. And I said to myself, you can't go that part. Rather through this path. I. And it's 50. 50. It's either you fail. Even if you fail, you'll get an experience. And if you win, you become a victor.

[Derek Abayite]

Have you regretted the decision?

[Felix Efutu]

Never. Never. Not even a bit. I've learned a lot. I have learned a lot out of this part. Please.

[Derek Abayite]

How much was your initial startup for your business?

[Felix Efutu]

I'll say 1500 for the capital to start a business. Where did you get it from family and friends.

[Derek Abayite]

And how did you structure that money to be used for the business?

[Felix Efutu]

I, I did very well. I did very well because I had, I had a broad idea of how to, how to run. One thing about me I'll. My people will tell you I don't write too much, I just envision things and then I do calculation in my head and then I put the things in structure. So right when I started I wanted to start a business. I told people to get, to just gather money for me that I wanted to start business. So some gave me 100, some gave me 50. I think one of my auntie lended me 500 cities or so and I brought all those monies together and then I looked for the space. Luckily for me, the space was an abandoned land in East Lagoon. There was a bit of, there was a bit of contention on the land. So I had the opportunity to enter there and then start a little business. So I didn't have to pay for a space, it was just a big tree under. So all I needed was my table, my stove and gas. And then luckily for me, you know, from an extended family home, you get stove at a convenience, you get a frying saucepan at a convenient, you know, starting plantations. You don't need so much equipment to start planting cheese business. So I was able to put together all these basic stuffs and then the main factor was considered that was the, the main raw materials was considered, that was the planting, the oil and basically the salt. And back then, if you recall, planting wasn't as high priced as now. So you could have. I was able to afford 30 cities worth of plantain. And these 30 cities was like, you know, the large back, large polytin. But I had about three big, large rubber back of planting for 30 cities. I had my vatic bottle of, of oil like I bought like three or four my fire and just one iodine salt. And that was how I started by the roadside. And back then planting cheese rubber was I think three cities for a packet. I had about a couple of two or three depending on the size ranges. And I started on my tabletop. Nothing too fancy, nothing too extraordinary, just a basic tabletop business. You can imagine.

[Derek Abayite]

How many years ago was this?

[Felix Efutu]

11 years ago. Exactly around November.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay, so if you're watching, you know, a young guy or a young lady who is thinking of starting a business, maybe you're around 22, you just finished university and you're thinking to yourself, well, you know, I want to start a business. The story you're hearing is, you know, someone I've become a bit close to, I've heard him speak to me several times. We've had several conversations. I've patronized his business so many times even before I met him. And he's been doing this for 11 years. And he started at a low scale of 1500. Today you have friends that you know, you can probably go to and raise about 5,000 cities to do some business. And you're thinking, well, how can I grow 5,000 cities into what, a million or 2 million cities worth of business? It is possible.

[Felix Efutu]

It is.

It is.

[Derek Abayite]

It is possible.

[Felix Efutu]

Absolutely.

[Derek Abayite]

Now you had some issues with partnership when you started your business. Talk to me, what happened?

[Felix Efutu]

I'll say it's out of a little bit of ignorance and I'll say also immaturity. So I am the type of person who always love to help because I've really struggled in life. So when I see people suffering, I feel like, why don't I also be like a shoulder for them. So I. When I started my business, I didn't start alone, but I started with a couple of relatives. I'll say that, a friend and a relatives. But right along the line some of them dropped. And then it was level one. We were doing so well. But it got to a time, we got to a stage whereby I realized no, we needed to part ways and parting of ways didn't end up so good. And it always hurts. But that is really, that was the reality needed to accept and it, it was that bad. And unfortunately it wasn't just one, but it was two. Because right along the line I also had an idea of starting a gober business that time. Back then, go branding wasn't a big branding. I was saying that I was part of the pioneers of GO branding in Ghana. So I had a shop right at American House that I, I had that fancy idea of selling go. But I was also really focused on building my plantain brand because I have had a, like I have the vision of where the plantain brand has to get to and we've not gotten there, but money was coming. I was like, why don't I diversify some of my funds to other investments. So go back shop was opened. I also went to look for a family to also manage the space and stuff. And it will surprise you. When the business started growing, she came back and told me she wants to be a partner of my business. And I told her no, I will never agree to that. And then we were like okay, the. The best way to to to end this is to separate. So please find a way and let me maintain my shop. And you know what happened the moment I. I sat there the next three days. She has also started the same coffee business as just a stone throw from my shop. Wow. And that was where I realized how Ghanaians we can sometimes be very funny when it comes to trust and relationship.

[Derek Abayite]

Pastor Eric, one of my senior mentors would always tell me that Derek go by this trust is good, but controls are better. And control to him is put a contract in place. But what I've realized especially with us Africans is that are all well and good, we're great. We want to do business until you pull a contract. Then you realize that now somebody doesn't want to do it anymore.

Why didn't you have a contract?

[Felix Efutu]

As I said earlier, I was inexperienced. I was just a young guy making money and I wanted to support family and friends around me. So why, why not God is blessing me. Why don't I also be a blessing to my sister? Would you.

[Derek Abayite]

Would you do that again?

[Felix Efutu]

Absolutely not. Why? I've learned my biggest lesson. Like this issue was like a matter of life and death. I wouldn't lie to you. She had to even send land cars to come and attack me. We ended up in the police station and then everything was resolved and I learned my biggest lesson right now. Even the basic cleaner in my company right now is working under a contract and it has really saved me and has given me the best peace I could ever imagine in business.

[Derek Abayite]

So what's there your failure story?

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you for that question. Because I have a lot, I've been through a lot and I've experienced a lot and that is what has really developed me to become who I am today. I wouldn't touch much, but I want to talk about my.

My follower and not really planning. Well.

As I mentioned earlier, I just wanted to start a business to survive and they have some cash flow to. To support me with my education. But as I started the business and then in the process of the business I realized no, this is actually not a survival business, but it is a generational business. I can really make a whole generation out of this. But the first thing I needed to do was to have a structure and have a better business plan back then earlier. But I failed because you know, young guy, you are working, money is coming. So you feel like you can do everything with your money. I didn't really misuse my money, but I misappropriated my money. So what I did was at first I wanted to open branches because macphilis is selling in silicon. So I wanted to venture into other communities to sell planting chips, which I successfully did. I opened the branches, but disloyalty broke the branches. He couldn't survive the first year. So I had to close it back and then come back to East Leygon. And that was when I learned my biggest lesson, that you can't just start something at one particular place and be successful. And you can apply the same method to.

Another place to think you'll become more successful there. No, you have to read the environment. You have to see what. What they buy into, the. The psychology of the buyers and all that comes in place. That was one thing I failed. I was thinking, because I've been able to build a brand somewhere, I can just translate the same brand or transfer the same image to the other location to do there. And that was where I failed. And also there was. There wasn't a good structure in my business back then. So, you know, back then I was just a sole proprietor. I was running and controlling everything by myself. So there wasn't any structure that impossible is not here, this and that. And that is the flow we need to follow. And that really broke the two branches. And I needed to come back to factory reset to continue building myself. Yeah. So I failed. But I learned my lesson and then it gave me a second thought. So what can you do to still meet Ghanaians beyond East Lagoon? And that is how. That is where the rebranding of MacPhilix all started from. So from sole proprietor, we had to move to limited liability and rebrand the brand and then push.

[Derek Abayite]

Let me stop you here for a minute. We are on a journey of changing the minds and the lives of people. So if you haven't subscribed and become part of the family, please hit the subscribe button and turn on the notification. Thank you. Now, let's carry on with the conversation, but I mean, you've done well with the second branch.

[Felix Efutu]

You have.

[Derek Abayite]

Where I met you, we had a brief chat. You've done well with it. I mean, I mean, I know it's still in East Lagoon, but how have you been able to succeed with that compared to the other branches you opened that failed?

[Felix Efutu]

Okay, so success comes from your experience and also what you've learned. So out of my experience and the lesson I've learned, I was able to apply the best structure and system to help me with the branch. And then I wouldn't lie to you, after opening the branch, it gives me the idea or the, the. The open mindedness to do more because right after the branch was when I opened my, my factory. And it's a fully working factory now with a lot of stuff because it's not an automated factory. We are working manual out there. The automation is just like 10% and you can just imagine. So out of my experience and what I had to learn because I have to go back to the books and then learn from the expert to do what is right. And I had a lot of advices from people as well that really shaping my understanding to business and my understanding to the direction I was going to.

[Derek Abayite]

For someone who did not finish university, didn't even start, you've done fantastic for yourself.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you.

[Derek Abayite]

I must say, if you haven't heard this from somebody who is not a family member before, Charlie, I'm proud of you.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you.

[Derek Abayite]

That's a great job.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you.

[Derek Abayite]

I'm gonna.

Ask a favor of you in the next few minutes. So I'm gonna get your some products here.

[Felix Efutu]

Okay.

[Derek Abayite]

And don't think of it as your product. Think of it as education for somebody starting business and how to.

Sell the products, monetize that product and push the product. Right. It could be anybody, it could be anything. It could be any product.

[Felix Efutu]

Okay.

[Derek Abayite]

But unfortunately or fortunately I have you here. So I'm gonna show you a set of products too. Right.

[Felix Efutu]

Okay. Awesome. Thank you.

Fantastic.

[Derek Abayite]

So these are two products I have.

[Felix Efutu]

Okay. And.

[Derek Abayite]

Oh yeah, it happened to be my Philippines I as well. So this I've seen in traffic. Yes. And a lot of, you know, women selling this. And this is usually what I would buy. I usually get this from your, one of your branches in East Lagoon when I'm driving out.

As a company. Which one did you start with?

[Felix Efutu]

I started with the Tide ones.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay.

[Felix Efutu]

And then we evolved to this and then we introduced this one.

[Derek Abayite]

So this is your latest product. So very quickly, for someone who is trying to start a product business business and not a service business, what would be your plan to cost this product? How do you do it or how should the person do it?

[Felix Efutu]

So pricing, right. That is where pricing comes in. So pricing is a total amount of cost plus your expected profit plus your future plan. And that will give you your pricing. So this is a plantain chips and the basic raw materials are planting oil, salt and then fuel. And then there are other hidden expenses that you also have to consider. That is the expenditure.

Operational expenses. You also have to consider the operational expenses, which is the human factor if you are using labor, you also have to consider waste because sometimes the planting, some of the portion of the planting will over fry. It will, it will darken, it will not be up to standard. They are waste. And then there'll be, there'll be other components that also will cost to the costing, will value to the costing. So you need to consider all those value to your costing. So let's say I had this plantain. I went to the market and bought 10 cities worth of plantain. I bought oil, 10 cities. I bought four 10 cities. I bought packaging 10 cities, making 40 cities. I have fried the plantain and then I've gotten like let's say 20 packs of plantain, right? Chips. So right now I have to consider every component that I, I added together or I brought together to have this 20 sachets of plantain chips their total cost. So from the oil to the gas, and I know definitely there'll be a bit of oil left and stuff. So you have to consider the value of oil left behind, subtract it from the main course, meaning the main course will go a bit down outside that. Then you also have to add in. If it's a shop you are using or a working space you are using, consider the utilities there because you'll be using light and stuff. You have to consider those utilities there. If you are operating under administration, you have to consider administrational cost. And then you also add your expected profit. So the expected profit that bounds to you how you want to, how much you want to get, how much you want to achieve after selling the product. So if it's, if it's a value of 10% or 20%, you just add considering how much you want to make out of the product. So you add that. And then don't forget there's a future plan of what you are doing. So if you are adding your expected profit margins, then make sure that those margins are a bit substantial enough so that when you even spend some, there'll be some savings for the expansion of the product. So you bring all together and then you, so you bring all together and then let's say with the operational cost alone maybe let's end up, let's cap it at 70 cities. Okay, so you spend 70 cities of producing this 20, such as of planting. That means you say you, you divide the 20 by 70, you get about 3.5 cities or something of one package. So out of the 3.5, then you add your profit expectation. Let's say you are expecting 10 cities of profit, a 1 city of profit making 4 cities 50 pesos. And then you consider, let's say, logistics and stuff and how to get into the shop. And the shop you are selling everything. You add your 5 pesos to it, giving you your 50, your sorry 5 cities to it. And then it's giving you a value of five cities per pack. So when you sell this five cities per pack, you are covered with every, every margins you're expecting to get out of the planting. And then your business is good to scale up. But sometimes when it comes to pricing, a lot of young entrepreneurs make a lot of errors. They look at the competitiveness of the market. They also consider their customized emotions. And they most of time think for the customers, how am I going to please the customer? How am I sure that if I sell it to this particular amount of pricing, they will buy a lot? We are looking at moving numbers, we are looking at moving products rather than considering the future of the business. That is how, that is where a lot of entrepreneurs feel. And most importantly, with this planting product, you know, planting price fluctuates. It doesn't have a fixed price as a raw materials. You go to the market, you have it at a particular amount when it's in season and when it goes out of season, it gets overly expensive. It's so ambiguous. Like it gets overly expensive, it gets to over 500 to 600% of the original price. And this is a product that you are compelled to still sell to your customers at a competitive or so that's a persuasive pricing. So when it comes to some products, when you are pricing, you have to consider that underlying factor, consistency and most of the times the fluctuation of the pricing. So if you don't consider the consistency or the fluctuation of the, of the raw materials you sometimes sell, sometimes you think you are making profit and it'll get to a time you'll not be even, breaking even. And this has happened to me before. I've had a couple of experiences to that before. Even recently, if you can recall this year, planting really went out of season. It was extremely expensive. And I was considering my customers because from, from a particular price, from I think we were selling this around 70. And then all of a sudden it has to be, shoot, 208, 90 cities. And even at that 90 cities, I'll tell you me that I was still not breaking even.

[Derek Abayite]

Wow.

[Felix Efutu]

But I still have to maintain because if I don't take care, I might lose my customers. And then we're planting card market season. Who I come to who? And who is coming to buy my plantain chips? And that was what I considered. I wouldn't lie to you, I lost a lot. But to me it's not a loss because I've been in the business for years and I know the dynamics of how I maintain my pricing. Because I sell plantain chips, I have other products that supports my planting. But what about the regular or the basic entrepreneur that just started business and they want to survive to extend to 10 years? You have to be very strategic and be very, very thoughtful of your pricing. Have the future plan attached to the pricing so that you, you get to the future with no regrets.

[Derek Abayite]

But as a business, how do you manage the fluctuations in prices? Say I'm starting a business.

[Felix Efutu]

Okay.

[Derek Abayite]

How would you advise me to.

Manage that?

[Felix Efutu]

Yeah. So.

Coming back to Ghana here, you know, you know raw materials pricing has never been consistent because we rely on the dollar to trade in Ghana here. So one basic knowledge I think most Ghanaians know is that if they are pricing their product, they will not price it according to the rate of how exchange rate is running in the country.

[Derek Abayite]

Okay.

[Felix Efutu]

So you have to give a room of fluctuation and a room of any occurrences so that even when.

The cost of raw materials even escalate, you have quite a number of space or room to readjust gradually to get to the expected pricing you want to change to. So that is what I've always been applying. So there's always that rule.

Or a space for correction and it's not, it's not a very big gap. So let's say if the plantain I know even if I sell for 10 cities, I'll make two 20 pesos out of it. Why don't I sell it for 10 cities, 20 pesos. And then that 20 pesos margin is going to be to solve to support that fluctuation. So when planting is out of season, let's say my two cities is taken away and then I'm even losing like some little percentage off from my expected profit, I'll still be in business. And the wet planting comes back in season. My, my 20 is added to my 10 CD or my, my one city and it's still making me sustain in business. And when price even escalates, I know I've even been able to get a little aside profit from my original expected profit. Two, even the margin I'm selling. So that side profit can even support you pushing you to break even. And then you gradually also adjust, readjust your price to the market demand. And that is how it flows.

[Derek Abayite]

Felix, what is the real truth about entrepreneurship in Ghana?

[Felix Efutu]

It's a very challenging part. It's. It's quite a lonely part. And.

It will really break you to make you. It will really break you to make you. And if you are not. If you are not passionate enough for that part, you end up being a failure. Because I've. I personally had to go through a lot of personal.

Breakdown to rebuild myself to meet the expected capacity. Because I'm speaking to you now. I've never been to the university, but I'm talking business like someone who has a. Who has learned business and learned how to structure business to get to where it is now, but it is out of the whole process. I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to be a successful CEO. So I have to learn from them. I have to learn the language they speak. I have to follow the path they follow. And if. If you don't have that passion for it.

You say to yourself that that is not your calling, and then you walk away from it.

[Derek Abayite]

What was the moment in your business that really broke you, made you feel like you wanted to give up?

[Felix Efutu]

Giving up, I would say, has never been part of my vocal, my vocabulary, but there are times I've really been broken down and I feel like, why did I get here? But giving up has never been the option. I am a survivor. I fought a lot of battles from my infancy to where I am now. And in as much as plantains is just a basic commodity or a basic product that I'm trying to build an industry from, I know there is going to be a lot of challenges, but that has never discouraged me because I'm not into business for money or profit. Yes, I want to have a comfortable life, but not to build enormous amount of wealth out of it. I want to impact life. I want to. I want to make a legacy. I want to create a legacy whereby my offspring will come and be proud of the man who raised them or who brought them to the world. So when it comes to challenges, that really broke me down. I would say I've really cried a lot in my room. Sometimes you get to a platform that people even make you feel like you don't deserve the platform. I have a lot of friends, I have a lot of people that comes around me, and indirectly they make me feel like you don't deserve it. So why are you. Why are you getting it? Like, indirectly even? You know, some people can just give a random talk and then you know that no, they are. They are saying something to you and Then when I hear those statements, I laugh and it makes me keep pushing. So I'll say it is out of treatment I've received from a couple of people that it will make you feel like you don't deserve where you are because.

University. How are you doing this? Yeah, you want to race with the big boys, but you've never even passed the party. They've actually passed to get to where they are. And I will tell you, it hasn't broken me. It's so disheartening. I'll say that it sometimes breaks your heart, but I'm the kind of person, I don't give up. I'd rather prove to you a point that, yes, I deserve this space and I'll be here.

[Derek Abayite]

Did you listen to the conversation I had with Hon. Ken when he spoke about the fact that he had to quit university? And the story you gave was beautiful.

[Felix Efutu]

Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

So he very simply said that there was a moment in his life where he had supported a specific candidate. And when the moment came when the man was, you know, giving out the positions, he got a pat on his shoulder saying that, you know, he'll be a good businessman so he should focus on his business. That was the time he decided to go to university. He went to university and realized that his business in Ghana was making a million USD. And when he looked at how much the professors were making and people were making and thought to himself, this young guy, you know, look at how much money I have in Ghana. He quit and came back, but look at him now. Yes, right. So me.

I think the people that are really going to change the world are people who are passionate about what they do, not about not the education status.

[Felix Efutu]

Right.

[Derek Abayite]

And your certificate is really a. What? What's a certificate?

[Felix Efutu]

It's just the work of your hands.

[Derek Abayite]

You know, what you are doing to the people and how people feel about the message you give to the people.

[Felix Efutu]

That's.

[Derek Abayite]

That's the proof of your education.

[Felix Efutu]

Exactly.

[Derek Abayite]

You know, so I think you've done fantastic and thank you so much for coming.

[Felix Efutu]

Thank you so much.

[Derek Abayite]

Motivation or discipline?

[Felix Efutu]

I always say discipline because I was raised up out of discipline. So I know how discipline can really shape in your life and be on the right path.

[Derek Abayite]

What's the best advice you have ever received?

[Felix Efutu]

The best advice.

I would say from my uncle.

He called me one time.

And one thing he told me, you know, I was young and money was coming and I was having fun. And he called me and he told me, please look at my state today, because I didn't Plan. Right. So if you don't plan today, you regret tomorrow. And he even made a reference of the mother that growing up she had a lot of money and she, she, she, she was living life, involving friends in his personal matter and stuff. And at the end when she lost everything, all those people that was healing her left her. So she really advised me on how to actually re. Invest or return that energy into building myself, building an empire and focusing on my future. Because the future is always not promised. Anything can happen. So you need to secure the future before you get there. And it has always been my daily prophecy or uncle that the future is always not promised. So we never sleep.

[Derek Abayite]

So like for the, for the past two weeks, I haven't recorded a podcast. Right. Because I traveled and you know, I had a conference outside.

I think this is a conversation I've enjoyed so much. I don't know, maybe return to the seats. I don't know. I've really enjoyed this conversation.

[Felix Efutu]

Amazing.

[Derek Abayite]

And I, I just hope that the people in the comments and on Spotify and Apple really enjoy it the way I have.

[Felix Efutu]

Absolutely.

[Derek Abayite]

You've been an incredible guest for us today. Recommend a book for us.

[Felix Efutu]

Books.

First book is about leadership. I used to be a very bad leader, so I needed to read about leadership to know how to be an effective leader. And the title is how to Lead Without a Title. Wow. Yes. That's the title of the book. So how to Lead Without a Title. And it's really, it really spoke to me directly from, from, from the beginning of the pages to the end of the chapters, it really spoke to me directly. And then the other book is how people Think.

How People Think. It also really, it was a big rescue to me. And thanks to a friend of mine, Jonathan, I was really having a very difficult moment with a friend about our relationship. He just looked at me and told me, take this book and read. And I realized I was, I was really making a lot of errors with my relationship with people. So as an entrepreneur, as a growing human being who wants to excel in life, you need to read this book. How people think. It will help you to understand the psychology of people and how you can relate to them. And the last is about money. The psychology of money. Yep. Yes.

[Derek Abayite]

Morgan Housel Yes.

[Felix Efutu]

It was amazing. It makes me found confidence in what I was doing because initially I feel like I was doing so much, but I wasn't getting enough. And I was like, am I feeling, I was asking myself, am I feeling. In some part. But I read that book and it made me understand my path and where I'm supposed to be. And I realized I was at the right place, on the right path and that gave me a full confidence in what I was doing. So amazing.

[Derek Abayite]

Instead of two amazing, you've given me three books. My readers and I know my audience love reading. They love expanding their understanding and things. I'd add a fourth book. It's called Surrounded by Idiots. So look for that book. It's an amazing book. He's going to talk to you about the temperaments we have and how to deal with people.

[Felix Efutu]

Awesome.

[Derek Abayite]

So thank you so much for being here today. Thank you, Mr. Felix. I appreciate you. I also appreciate it for your time and for all the gifts that you keep giving to us and to the people that are going to be coming on the 2nd of January. I have a master class for just 70 people. So if you haven't gotten your ticket, I'd love to see you there. Stay connected. My name is Derek Abite. I'm out.