B (2:29)

So can you imagine when you moved after your service? You know, you were searching for jobs and you never got jobs. And it's been five, six, seven years and you're still looking for jobs. How would your life had been at the time?

A (2:41)

I would have been miserable. Yeah, I hate discomfort. So I think that also makes me a go getter. I don't like to be uncomfortable in life, in anything I'm doing. I like to do things in my own pace and you know all that. So if five years and I had still not been able to make it to this point, I don't know, I. I don't imagine it because it would have been horrible. But I didn't even have it easy, you know, when I left my job, honestly, I was staying with my friends and we had it tough. When you say tough, we were bathing AC water. Wow. Because like we had, you see that water drops that come from the ac. We were so broke that we couldn't fill our tanks. And then luckily for where they were staying, I went to their house to stay with them. Where they were staying, they had illegal connection, you know, they had illegal connections. So the AC was, will always be on from morning to evening. And then we put like a small barrel there so it will fill up. That's how we're able to get water to bath because we couldn't afford to fill our tanks and all that. It wasn't easy.

B (3:50)

Has your life changed so much? Are you happy?

A (3:54)

Very happy.

B (3:56)

So if somebody has just finished university today and they are waiting for the government to create jobs for them, what

A (4:02)

will you tell them? You don't have to wait. I think right now there are a lot of businesses you can start. But as I always say, make sure you know what you want to do, you have passion for it. If you don't have, if you are just motivated by money, you are in for a short term. The money is nice. But if you feel like I want to create a company, I don't want to have just a business. No, I want a brand, I want a company. And ever since I've known, I wanted a want to be a business owner. That is my goal. So I work towards that. If you are just motivated by money, you start today. And if you don't get sales tomorrow, you are done. And that's why people move from one business to another because they don't put, you know, I said I had about 500, you know, order. I've sold 500 products in a span of three weeks or so. And it went on like that. But from the third month going, I wasn't getting orders.

B (4:57)

Okay.

A (4:57)

But I didn't say okay because the orders are not coming. I'm going to stop. I sat down and I was like, how am I going to do this better? And that is when I started reaching out to other influencers instead of. I was using one person. So I was like, let me put money into this. I want to make it stand. At that time, I didn't even have a business name. I. When people come in, ask of my business name, I didn't know because I didn't have one. So I sat down and I thought about it and I was like, I don't care if one thing. My friends always. I'm bored when it comes to decisions. I was like, if I was to put all my money that I've made into this business, I'm going to make it so I, you know, dossy the influencer doors. Yeah, yeah. So she brought the light into my business. I went to her and then at that time she was charging, I think her demonstrative advice was like 2500. And then I paid her for 2500. And then in a span of 24 hours, I've sold about 25, 000 cities. I took that same money I made and I gave it to her and I was like, I want us to do one month. I paid her for the one month, it went well. Another month again. I paid her again. I. I didn't want to give up. I wanted, I want. It's like, this is a brand. I want it to be international one day. I wanted to make waves. Not just a business that wake wakes up and sells. No. So I. It's like the vision is, you know, there.

B (6:22)

The vision is big. But if you look back when you, you know, you were starting life and I'm talking the times when you felt bullied, not being heard, not being listened to, not being nobody, actually sitting you down to understand your problems.

A (6:37)

Yeah.

B (6:39)

And now what you're doing now, are you fulfilling those gaps that were missing when you were growing up?

A (6:47)

Yes, I think I am to some extent, yes. I mean, I feel so happy when people come to me and, you know, they've seen results from what I'm selling. Yesterday, I think, was it yesterday? Before yesterday, I was just. There's so many reviews were coming in, I was like, wow, it makes me so happy. It's like I'm fulfilling a purpose because when I started I wanted freedom for women because, I mean, I saw feminine hygiene products. So many people don't know feminine hygiene. We African homes, we are not taught. Our parents don't even know. So if I have the knowledge and I'm passing on to other people and they are learning and they are seeing results, I'm happy.

B (7:26)

You're happy.

A (7:27)

So, yes, I'm fulfilling. I feel like I'm fulfilling a purpose and it makes me so happy.

B (7:31)

How does your father feel about you?

A (7:34)

So proud. Even my mother, I've forgiven her. She's so proud. Yeah, they're all so proud. You know, sometimes they didn't think, I'll get to this point. My siblings, you know, they, they feel like I've, I have, I've made it or I'm making it. Yes.

B (7:51)

Sometimes when we are growing up as kids, do you think our parents or people around us set a target for us? Like this is, this is the bar.

A (8:00)

You know, the reason why my mom didn't want me to come to Accra was because she wanted me to work, and I mean in a government institution. Because she felt like if you become, if you go and work in shops and those things, she'll be laughed at. Like they would laugh at her. So she wanted me to wear the suit and go to work, wear the, you know, nine to five stuff. And that was in me. I didn't want that. So, yes, you know, she was against it because she wanted to do the nine to five stuff.

B (8:28)

And I, you are still wearing a suit. I think this is some things that sometimes our parents don't understand. I get, young people come to me, they're like, Mr. Derek, I want to, I really want to do this, but my parents don't get me. They, they. Today I made a conclusion that parents, some parents don't really take the time to understand their kids.

A (8:52)

Right.

B (8:52)

They don't actually know their kids.

A (8:54)

Yes.

B (8:55)

They may be living with you in the same house, but they have not taken the time to, to really understand you.

A (9:00)

I think they should.

B (9:01)

Locally we say something, say, right. So every parent think their child is bad.

A (9:06)

Right. But I think they need to take their time and then allow your kids to choose their path and then direct them. Yes. Mold them on the way. If you say you want your child to be a doctor and she doesn't, or he doesn't want to be a doctor, ask her, ask him, what do you want to do. You might not have knowledge on it, but showing your child just love being there for her or him. Listening to them would just mold them into the right path. Unless a child who don't want to do the right thing. Connected Minds Podcast.