Segment: Stop Waiting For Jobs - Create Businesses That Work When You Can't

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast with Derrick Abaitey

Episode Segment: Stop Waiting For Jobs – Create Businesses That Work When You Can't

Date: June 4, 2026
Guest: Ami Adebra
Host: Derrick Abaitey

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of the Konnected Minds Podcast, Derrick Abaitey sits down with creative entrepreneur Ami Adebra to discuss why waiting endlessly for employment opportunities is a limitation—and how individuals should adopt entrepreneurial thinking and leverage digital platforms to create sustainable businesses that operate even in their absence. The conversation navigates the evolution of online entrepreneurship, the challenges and opportunities presented by digital spaces, strategies for building businesses with longevity, and candid reflections on planning for the future, especially in creative industries.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Learn It or Live It

• Adapting the "Thinking Mindset"
  • Ami Adebra discusses the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset, whether acquired through learning or forged by life experience.
  • Quote: “Having that thinking mindset, whether you are going to learn that mindset or it comes naturally from life's experience, it's important that you bring everything in and then apply.” — Ami Adebra [00:30]

2. Rejecting Passive Waiting—Make Use of Time

• Critiquing the "Wait for a Job" Mentality
  • Derrick questions the logic behind waiting for job offers for years without pursuing other productive ventures during that period.
  • Quote: “The problem I have is that the concept of simply waiting for a job when it also means that some people would have to sit at home seven years. So within that seven years, what's happening? Couldn't they have done something?” — Derrick Abaitey [00:44]

3. Evolution of Digital Opportunities & Social Media

• Platforms: From Instagram's Early Days to the Rise of TikTok

  • Ami reminisces about the early days of Instagram when enterprising individuals showcased and sold unique wares; contrasts it with today’s shift towards viral, content-creator-driven trends.
  • Expresses frustration at how algorithmic changes have made it harder for original creators and entrepreneurs to maintain visibility.
  • Quote: “…a lot of those people now, they're not even being seen. It's more of the viral content, the frivolous things that we see... Even if it makes money for those doing it, fine. But let those people who have also a need for different kinds of growth also grow on the platform.” — Ami Adebra [01:14–01:59]

• Adaptation vs. Platform Limitations

  • Derrick proposes that perhaps creators should better adapt their content, but Ami argues that platform algorithms, not necessarily content, often obscure quality work.
  • Quote: “So it's not like they've forgotten about me and say, oh, he's not doing it. The thing is, I'm doing it, but they don't see it. And that is where the worry is. And I blame it on the platform, period.” — Ami Adebra [03:11]

• Spreading Across Platforms

  • Ami balances his presence across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and is learning to engage with TikTok, despite initial reluctance.
  • Quote: “I ruled it [TikTok] out completely. I'm like, I'm not for this... but now convenient and naturally it's moving to TikTok. So I'm finding myself on that platform. Again, I'm not there to do what everybody is doing. I want to do what I'm doing…” — Ami Adebra [05:17–05:21]

4. Business Sustainability and Succession

• Planning for Longevity Past Active Years
  • Derrick shifts the conversation to sustainability: what’s the plan for business owners and creatives as they age or reach retirement?
  • Ami shares his hope for building systems and teams that allow the business to continue running when he can no longer be hands-on.
  • Quote: “…the studio is going to work [with] the people. I have a team that is running everything when perhaps I cannot go… I want to establish products or things that can grow or leave me in a way.” — Ami Adebra [06:55]

5. Financial Security & Pension: Realistic Conversations

• Reflections on State Pensions and Savings

  • Derrick references a social media post about monthly pension payouts in the diaspora, noting how inadequate traditional pensions are.
  • Discussion highlights the necessity for creators and entrepreneurs to plan their own financial security, not rely solely on state or employer-based pensions.
  • Quote: “That's not enough. Again, these are the reasons why I am so crazy about teaching people about money. Because our good days are very short.” — Derrick Abaitey [08:10]

• Statutory Savings vs. Holistic Financial Planning

  • Ami underscores that he and his company do contribute to statutory pension funds, not only from necessity but as a legal requirement.
  • Quote: “I started doing it not because immediately it was important. I saw the importance, but I saw it more in terms of the statutory requirement.” — Ami Adebra [08:32]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Having that thinking mindset...it's important that you bring everything in and then apply." — Ami Adebra [00:30]
• "Couldn't they have done something?" — Derrick Abaitey [00:44]
• "Let those people who have also a need for different kinds of growth also grow on the platform." — Ami Adebra [01:59]
• "I'm doing it, but they don't see it. And that is where the worry is. And I blame it on the platform, period." — Ami Adebra [03:11]
• "I'm not there to do what everybody is doing. I want to do what I'm doing so that people understand the tone and the voice." — Ami Adebra [05:21]
• "When I'm not working, I hope that...I have a team that is running everything when perhaps I cannot go." — Ami Adebra [06:55]
• "These are the reasons why I am so crazy about teaching people about money. Because our good days are very short." — Derrick Abaitey [08:10]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 – Ami Adebra on the thinking mindset and its importance
• 00:44 – Derrick Abaitey critiques passive job waiting
• 01:00–02:46 – Discussion of social media’s evolution and challenges for creators
• 03:11 – The impact of algorithms on creator visibility
• 05:17–05:21 – Ami’s journey to embracing TikTok
• 06:55 – Business sustainability beyond active years
• 08:10 – Derrick on pensions and financial education
• 08:32 – Ami on statutory pension contributions

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Final Thoughts

This episode provides a realistic look at the present and future for creatives and entrepreneurs—stressing the need for adaptability, diversified income streams, and planning for life beyond “good days.” Both Derrick and Ami encourage listeners to stop waiting for external validation or traditional opportunities, and instead cultivate ventures that can function and flourish even in their absence. The conversation is filled with wisdom, candid moments, and practical insights tailored to Africa’s growing entrepreneurial scene and beyond.

Transcript

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[Ami Adebra]

Having that thinking mindset, whether you are going to learn that mindset or it comes naturally from life's experience, it's important that you bring everything in and then apply.

[Host/Interviewer]

The problem I have is that the concept of simply waiting for a job when it also means that some people would have to sit at home seven years. So within that seven years, what's happening? Couldn't they have done something?

[Ami Adebra]

Exactly, Exactly. Well, I think. And then again, that's why sometimes I like the times we find ourselves because I feel opportunities have come through tech and digital means that have opened more opportunities. And when, say Instagram started as much as people were just doing for the fancy things, there are a lot of people who now became online shops because you can find them only on Instagram, selling oil or selling something. And that early stage of social media was a lot of that. But now where we've gotten to those are selling are now more the content creators and it's like more of the. I don't know what to say, but the easy way out and not the entrepreneurially creative way out, that is a bit more louder. But when at the early stages, a lot of the guys from tech, whether they were doing art, metal works, they were killing it and being visible online. And that is where my frustration also with the platforms comes in. Because a lot of those people now, they're not even being seen. It's more of the viral content, the frivolous things that we see. Even if it makes money for those doing it, fine. But let those people who have also a need for different kinds of growth also grow on the platform. So I may be old school, but that's what drives the passion, that the new is good, but the old must coexist in terms of this evolution in online media.

[Host/Interviewer]

And if that doesn't happen, then it means that is people like yourself who have been there for. So for 20 years, you feel left out.

[Ami Adebra]

You feel it online and offline, because sometimes you go somewhere and people who follow you are Like, I haven't seen you nowadays. You don't post. I'm like, I post every day.

[Host/Interviewer]

Isn't that the same thing as what they do to musicians who get one hit, two hits, four hits.

[Ami Adebra]

Yeah, yeah, that's true. Because we forget quickly. But this one, it's also because of the platform, because they don't even see you making the daily post for them to even engage with it and say, oh, he's still here. Do you get me? So it's not like they've forgotten about me and say, oh, he's not doing it. The thing is, I'm doing it, but they don't see it. And that is where the worry is. And I blame it on the platform, period. You can't take it away from them.

[Host/Interviewer]

You blame it on a platform, but you don't blame the fact that maybe you might need to adapt the way you create your content to suit.

[Ami Adebra]

Not so much. Because every now and then something happens and the people find it and you realize that they still like it, but they just don't see it. Because then again, this same content is connecting with them somewhere else and they are connecting with it and it's working. So that's where my. My problem is. Yes, we all like to doom scroll and all of that based on fun things, but I think, and I think I like it that every time I raise these things, a lot of people agree and want it to change, but we all understand that's not where that world is going. So we just have to find ways. Because for me, a lot of it is often it's not about me being seen, but if I'm working with brands, I want to give them a certain level of eyeballs, right? And so when it's not happening, then I'm like, I'm not doing the job I sign up to do. And so that's where usually the worry is. But because I try to put things across different platforms. So when it's not happening on Instagram, Facebook is happening, Twitter may be happening. TikTok. I'm now trying to get a hang of TikTok. It may be happening there. So it's so interesting. It's interesting. I was TikTok. I ruled it out completely. I'm like, I'm not for this.

[Host/Interviewer]

I'm gonna get a hang of TikTok.

[Ami Adebra]

I'm like, Whoa, yeah, yeah. For me, the things that were coming from TikTok or something that I. I shout out, I was completely. I said, no, I don't want this.

[Host/Interviewer]

Connected Minds became very popular because of TikTok?

[Ami Adebra]

Yeah. So it was not until I started being there and I realized that it's a big mix of things and a lot of people are even now making their sales or whatever there. Like I said earlier, a lot of the early people were using Instagram to showcase and like an online shop but now convenient and naturally it's moving to TikTok. So I'm finding my, my, my, my myself on that platform. Again, I'm not there to do what everybody is doing. I want to do what I'm doing so that people understand the tone and the voice and then move with it. So yeah, I'm a bit of old school. Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer]

This, this next part of the conversation is going to be real gold, especially if you are open minded about it and give us the value we're expecting. But before we get into it, on the 9th of September Kumasi Connected Minds Live. Last year we did it in Accra at the British Council but this year is a sacrum all the way at the Great Hall Knust. You need a seat to be able to show up. We're also calling for vendors so the details are in the description and in the comments. Click on it and get in touch with the team. Now let's carry on with the conversation with Ami Adebra. When you have done something for 20 years and you are getting into age 45, there's usually one question I usually ask myself when I'm working pension. What is the plan for such an industry that you are in?

[Ami Adebra]

I'll probably say I don't have a clear set plan but that's where I'm hoping that over the years evolving to have businesses that have different sort of feel and look would help because when I'm not working I hope that for instance the studio is going to work the people. I have a team that is running everything when perhaps I cannot go. That's why I want to establish products or things that can grow or leave me in a way. But in terms of funding pension, I think those normal contributions which really don't amount to much when you are claiming them. But it's a. I want it to be a combination of all of that set up so that the business I'm doing is able to run when I cannot run as well.

[Host/Interviewer]

I did a post some time back on my Facebook and I asked this question, people in the diaspora, how much are people paid for state pension a month? And the answers were 800, 600, a thousand.

[Ami Adebra]

It's never enough.

[Host/Interviewer]

That's not enough. Again, these are the reasons why I am so crazy about teaching people about money. Because our good days are very short. You know, do content creators paste it into their own accounts?

[Ami Adebra]

Yeah. Well, I do, I do and I do for the people that work with me.

[Host/Interviewer]

And you think it is important that creators do that?

[Ami Adebra]

For me, I think I started doing it not because immediately it was important. I saw the importance, but I saw it more in terms of the statutory requirement.

[Host/Interviewer]

You are such an honest man.

[Ami Adebra]

I am.

[Host/Interviewer]

That is a true statement.

[Ami Adebra]

Yes. So that was an initial thing that got me to say, let's do it.

[Host/Interviewer]

So, like me, right when I'm having my shower. And today I was thinking about it, I was crazy because yesterday I think I bathed like three times. And then because, you know, I was doing exercise and then I went to see sights and stuff.

[Ami Adebra]

Connected Minds podcast.

[Carvana Customer]

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[Host/Interviewer]

Well, that's cool.

[Carvana Customer]

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[Carvana Representative]

So what's the problem?

[Carvana Customer]

That is the problem. Nothing in my life goes as smoothly. I'm waiting for the catch.

[Carvana Representative]

Maybe there's no catch.

[Carvana Customer]

That's exactly what a catch would want me to think.

[Ami Adebra]

Wow.

[Carvana Representative]

You need to relax.

[Carvana Customer]

I need to knock on wood. Do we have wood? Is this table wood?

[Carvana Representative]

I think it's laminate.

[Carvana Customer]

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[Carvana Representative]

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