Segment: Your Presence in Business Changes Everything-How He Built a Supply Business From Nothing

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Episode Segment: Your Presence in Business Changes Everything – How He Built a Supply Business From Nothing
Date: March 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Derrick Abaitey talks with Kingsley, an entrepreneurial guest who shares his journey of building a supply business in Ghana from the ground up. The conversation dives into finding opportunity in local problems, essential attitudes for success, and the often-ignored importance of the business owner's physical presence. Kingsley’s hands-on, relationship-based approach offers practical inspiration for young Africans seeking to identify and act on business opportunities in their communities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spotting Local Opportunities and Problem-Solving

• Sanitation Business Example
  • Kingsley highlights the sanitation issue in Koforidua, Ghana, and illustrates how a simple service (collecting refuse from households for a small fee) can be a lucrative business.
  • Quote:

    “Money is in Ghana. But the youth don’t like this kind of work. They want to be in offices because the average youth cannot think… If you are to get five. Five CDs on 100 pack is actually a lot of money.” — Kingsley [00:00]

2. Major Business Challenges

• Logistics & Transportation Limitations

  • Kingsley faces logistical hurdles, using borrowed or improvised transport to serve high demand, which limits business growth.
  • Quote:

    “The challenges in what I'm doing is in the aspect of logistics…My mode of transportation to get goods to people is limited.” — Kingsley [01:15]

• Warehousing & Competition

  • The fast pace of expansion outgrows existing storage space.
  • Competitors attempt to undercut by targeting his customers.
  • Customer loyalty is built through exceptional service, not just price.
  • Quote:

    “By God’s grace, I have some loyal customers… Some people brought some of your brand but… they told them, ‘You are here so you don’t buy from them.’” — Kingsley [02:01]

3. Sources of Knowledge and Learning

• Kingsley admits he doesn't read books but learns from YouTube and online chats.
• Quote:

  “You have already told me that you don’t tend to read books. You just watch YouTube videos and also use chat.” — Derrick [02:33]

4. Foundational Advice and Personal Values

• Best Advice Received
  • From Mr. Frank Porn: “Be truthful. Don’t spoil your reputation.”
  • From his grandmother: “Tame down your ego and money will look for you.”
  • Kingsley emphasizes the importance of reputation and humility in business.
  • Memorable Story:

    “The driver will be playing high music. Anytime you just prompt him to lower it, he gets angry… that moment, you’ve lost money… Tame down your ego.” — Kingsley [03:00]

5. The Role of Motivation, Discipline, and Relationship Building

• Motivation is key; discipline follows organically through determination.
• Built a network of 180 customers in just 1.5 years—mostly by direct, personal engagement.
• Relationship/Customer Retention: Visits customers in person, helps them sell, and often goes out of his way to deliver surprise goods (e.g., Christmas).
• Quote:

  “It’s difficult for a customer to change their supplier… I just go to their shops, help them to sell. This Christmas, I bought goods and supplied it to all of them. People I don’t even know.” — Kingsley [03:52]

6. Mindset Toward Friendships and Distractions

• Kingsley is selective with his friendships, prioritizing those aligned with his future goals and business values.
• Avoids negative influences and focuses on business and self-improvement.
• Quote:

  “I only have one friend—I’m actually not the type that… difference from my workplace to home, from home to market mostly.” — Kingsley [05:02]

7. The Power of Presence in Business

• Strongly advocates for business owners to be physically present; absence can harm business operations, especially regarding financial trust.

• Quote:

  “If you own a business, you need to be there because being there and not being there is two different things.” — Kingsley [05:53]

• Shared a story about a failed collection by a salesgirl in his absence; customers insisted money be given “when he comes.”

• Quote:

  “They told her, ‘If he has traveled, he will be back. When he comes, we give him the money.’” — Kingsley [06:35]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Money is in Ghana. But the youth don’t like this kind of work.” — Kingsley [00:00]
• “Just be truthful. Don’t spoil your reputation.” — Kingsley (quoting Mr. Frank Porn) [03:00]
• “Tame down your ego and money will look for you.” — Kingsley (quoting his grandmother) [03:00]
• “If you own a business, you need to be there. Being there and not being there is two different things.” — Kingsley [05:53]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00: Opening with identifying business opportunities in everyday problems (sanitation example)
• 01:15: Business challenges—logistics and warehousing
• 02:33: Sources of learning—YouTube, chat, not books
• 03:00: Best advice received, personal values, impact on business life
• 03:46: Motivation vs. discipline and relationship-building with customers
• 05:02: Philosophy on friends and distractions
• 05:53: The critical role of presence in business operations and customer trust

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Actionable Takeaways

• Solve visible, real problems in your community; don’t overlook “unattractive” work.
• Build trust and loyalty through consistency, physical presence, and helping customers beyond transactions.
• Protect your reputation and temper your ego—reputation earns business.
• Motivation combined with determination and resilience is crucial for growth.
• Curate your circle to avoid negative influences, and remain focused on long-term goals.
• Learn through the channels that work best for you—formal or informal.

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This segment is an empowering guide for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially young Africans, emphasizing that attitude, presence, and relationships can be as important as capital or formal education in starting and growing a business.

Transcript

[A]

You see, there are so many problems in Ghana people can't solve. There's a problem in Kofridia which I would like to use this platform to educate your viewers. See, Kofridia now has a sanitation issue because I heard where they do dump their refuse, that, that place is full. They can't dump. So someone can just buy this tricycle, then drive it every morning to every house, take the app, take their refuse. They'll give you five cities. If you are to visit 100 houses in Kofridia, you see the one you are making. That's what I'm saying. Money is in Ghana. But the youth don't like this kind of work. They want to be in offices because the average youth cannot think. In a sense, if he or she ends 800amonth, she's okay. But that's, that's sanitation business I'm talking about. If you are to get five. Five CDs on 100 pack is actually a lot of money. Just a day. Just a day or yeah, just a day. If you prefer to do it a week, you. You are going to get another money. Three weeks, one month, a year, two years. So the cash that's in Ghana is in debt.

[B]

Okay, Kinsley, what are some of the challenges in what you're doing?

[A]

The challenges in what I'm doing is in the aspect of logistics.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The demand is more than. Even though I can supply a lot, but my mode of transportation to get goods to people is limited. Right now I actually use Mr. Fron's truck. It's a pickup and at times we, we. We could load it to a very large. Anytime we get to the bar, they just tell us cut your coat according to your size. That's what they tell us. So one of my challenges I'm facing is logistics. And the second is warehouse because how other how the. The how I'm expanding. I actually need a very big warehouse. And also people are trying to chart little so they can get my customers.

[B]

I see.

[A]

Yes, people also do supply. They actually don't know where they do get their product. You know, in, in marketing people try to be smart but we, we to by God's grace have some loyal customers. There was a time this woman malism and anti nana. They called me that a. Some people brought some of your brand but we told them you are here so you don't buy from them. Don't buy from them. So I just called to tell you and I said God, this is a miracle.

[B]

Awesome, Kingsley, thank you so much. You have already told me that you don't tend to read books. You just watch YouTube videos and also use chat.

[A]

I normally watch

[B]

Legend. I would have asked you to recommend the book, but one of my favorite questions, in fact two, the first question I'll ask is the best advice you've ever received. What's the best advice you ever got?

[A]

The best advice I've ever received is just be truthful. Don't spoil your reputation. Because Mr. That, that was from Mr. Frank Porn. He said it's because I have worked with them, that's why they brought the goods. So don't disappoint me. So that's the best advice. And also my, my grandmother also advised me that tame down your ego and money will look for you. You see, at times we do take public transport. You see, the driver will be playing high music. Anytime. You just prompt him to lower it. He gets angry and the person just, just say stop. I just want to get down that moment. You've lost money. So that's the best advice. Tame down your ego and amazing with

[B]

what you are doing. Which one of these has helped you a lot? Motivation or discipline?

[A]

I would say motivation. I see. Yes. Because it was not easy. It was not easy. Now, Eastern region, I have 180 customers. Some I've not even seen them before. I see. Yes. And for, as I was saying, it's difficult for a customer to change their supplier. So out of the blue, within one and a half year to gather 180 people, which means I was doing something exceptional, foster a good relationship with them. As I was saying, I just go to their shops, help them to sell. This Christmas, I bought goods and supplied it to all of them. People I don't even know. I've never set my eyes on them. So the day I actually took the goose to Aquatica, that was the first time I saw some of my customers. That was the first time I saw them. So the, the journey was not easy.

[B]

Yes, but you are doing it, you are trying.

[A]

And I must say, it's determination and resilience. Just let's say, listen, if you know where you are going, don't let something distract you. Don't let anything distract you. Just move towards your goal and you make it.

[B]

How about friends? You know, are they not trying to pull you back?

[A]

Oh, I, I wouldn't even give you the chance to pull me back. Because now let's say I, I only have one friend. Freemid Bay Ben. It's actually a childhood friend. He, he is also in the picture industry. There's that frames and he told me now, if you call me, it's not about things that will make me someone in future. Oh, my new. So now I've just left some people behind. Is it that you talk to me? You told me I have this investment. If you can invest this, you put money in and restructure profit. That's legit business, not any other fraud business. So friends, I'm actually not the type that difference from my workplace to home, from home to market mostly. One funny thing is I'm not actually at the office. Mostly I'm in the market. I'm with my customers. So every day I visit everyone in Gofriedia. Every day I try much as possible to visit all my customers. You see, I actually don't believe in doing business with your absence. If you own a business, you need to be there because being there and not being there is two different things, right? There was a time I went to Akwetea to I went to Akutia to share smart to my customers. So I told my sales girl to go around and take some money from my customer. They said they don't give it to her because I'm not there. And with money issues, a lot of marketing men have a lot of marketmen, they have issues with money.

[B]

I see.

[A]

So in. In case I am outside, I'm someplace and they told, they told her if he has traveled, he will be back to when he comes, we give him the money. And the following day I went for the money.

[B]

Kinsley, thank you so much for your time. To my viewers and to my listeners, this was a very different conversation, but I hope it met your expectation, especially the young people that are looking for other opportunities to make money in the country. You can apply these same principles and concepts you've heard today in several other African countries. You know, find a product, find a supplier and you know, give it to them and add your markup. So I appreciate you and if you made it to the end, I would like to know in the comments. I'm going to leave details of Kingsley in the description as well, so you know where to find him.

[A]

I'm out.

[B]

My name is Derek Abayte.

[A]

Connected Minds Podcast.