The Shoemaker Girl: She Said NO to a 9–5 and Built a Footwear Business with ZERO Capital in Ghana

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Shoemaker Girl – She Said NO to a 9–5 and Built a Footwear Business with ZERO Capital in Ghana

Host: Derrick Abaitey

Guest: Edna Frimpong ("The Shoemaker Girl")

Release Date: May 20, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Konnected Minds Podcast features the inspiring journey of Edna Frimpong, also known as "The Shoemaker Girl." Despite having a first-class degree and the option to take a traditional 9–5 job, Edna chose to continue her family legacy in shoemaking, transforming her father's humble workshop into a modern, thriving business in Ghana—starting with zero initial capital. Host Derrick Abaitey dives deep into her motivations, the business strategies that set her apart, her approach to challenges, and the importance of legacy, branding, and partnership.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Motivation

• Family Legacy

  • Edna’s father was a shoemaker for over 20 years, and Edna spent her childhood helping him in the shop—hammering, gluing, and polishing shoes from as young as age 2 (05:09).
  • “If what pursues you determines how you run... even when you fail, there is a leverage for you. But me, there was no leverage. So I had to do something." – Edna (04:37).

• Choosing the Path Less Traveled

  • Despite academic success (first-class degree), Edna felt compelled to elevate the family business, aware of its untapped potential.
  • Saw other shoemakers succeed, fueling her own ambitions to bring modern business acumen and branding to the industry.

2. Starting a Business with Zero Capital

• No Funding, Just Hustle

  • Launched the business while in university, leveraging relationships and personal skills:

    "Honestly, no funding. The money I had was ticket to school." – Edna (17:08)

  • Borrowed a friend’s iPhone to take quality pictures of her handmade shoes, posting them on WhatsApp status to attract customers (00:02; 11:33).

• Resourcefulness

  • Used skills from her academic life to tutor others and barter for favors.
  • Key early breakthrough came via a lecturer-mandated assignment to join LinkedIn:

    “The turning point for me was being on that platform on LinkedIn.” – Edna (15:05)

  • Learned the importance of branding and professional storytelling for business growth.

3. Transitioning from Survival to Legacy Thinking

• From Hand-to-Mouth to Building an Empire

  • Partnership and teamwork shifted her focus from daily survival to building a self-sustaining enterprise (22:56).
  • Advocated for “legacy thinking”:

    “I didn’t want to repeat that mistake of my dad… I have to love that legacy thinking.” (24:24) “People say, ‘But you have a company, you have a book, you’re speaking everywhere, you should have money.’ But you’re building an empire.” (24:24)

• Investment in Quality and Systems

  • Stressed importance of reinvesting profits and not succumbing to short-term pressures.
  • Built systems so the business runs even in her absence (26:34).

4. Business Operations and Scaling

• Profitability & Expansion

  • Cost to make a slipper: 100 GHS; Sale price: 200 GHS; Net profit after costs: ~50 GHS (28:10).
  • Focus on expanding across Africa before a global push (29:23).
  • Emphasis on gradual, strategic scaling—automation, better machinery, and expanding to neighboring African countries (29:24; 31:13).

• Sales Channels

  • Omnichannel approach: showroom, website, social media, and especially targeted ads (32:29; 33:15).
  • Social media ads recently became a breakthrough revenue source (33:15).

5. Branding, Social Media, and Visibility

• Social Media Impact

  • Leveraged LinkedIn and WhatsApp early; Instagram less effective initially.

    “Branding matters a lot. It’s a big deal… I waste all my money on taking good pictures because it speaks a lot.” – Edna (15:36)

  • Social media critical to the business’s current standing:

    “Never. [Without social media, business would not exist.]” (58:02)

• Quality & Gender in Business

  • Being a female in a male-dominated industry was more often an advantage, as customers are “drawn to the novelty and the quality” (34:36).

    “Quality speaks louder than gender. I don't want that tag, that it's a woman who make the shoe. This is our product.” – Edna (34:36)

6. Challenges and Learning Moments

• Industry Roadblocks

  • Ever-increasing cost of materials due to imports (36:03).
  • Challenges of scaling hand-made versus mass-produced (China) footwear (36:03).
  • Managing customer perceptions on price versus value.

• Failure as Growth

  • A near-loss of a big contract due to faulty materials:

    "It rather gave me hope… That’s business. It tests you." (37:08)

7. Philanthropy: Shoe for the Shoeless Initiative

• Giving Back
  • Edna donates shoes to children in need, funding the project through proceeds from her book and crowd-funding (47:51).

    “Success means nothing if you haven’t left anyone… Impact starts with one.” (47:51)

  • Initiative inspired by her own struggles and experiences in school.

8. Key Advice & Principles for Entrepreneurs

• Start with What You Have

  • "Never, never, never… People are winning grants, but those who are actually doing the job are not getting the funding. So start with what you have." – Edna (40:37)

• Importance of Teamwork & Partnerships

  • Partnerships (and diverse skills) are vital for long-term growth; all major shoemaking brands rely on strong teams, often friends or family (27:42).

• Branding and Strategy

  • “Don’t underestimate the power of branding. People buy experiences.” (55:15)
  • “Know your niche, shamelessly sell it, and have your own template for success.” (55:15)

• Financial Discipline

  • Hard-earned lessons on money management:

    “The only way money will grow is through investment. Please be disciplined with money.” (61:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Legacy & Motivation:
  “If what pursues you determines how you run.” (04:37, Edna)

• On Starting with Zero Capital:
  “Honestly, no funding. The money I had was ticket to school.” (17:08, Edna)

• On Social Media as a Turning Point:
  “The turning point for me was being on that platform on LinkedIn.” (15:05, Edna)

• On Quality vs. Gender:
  “Quality speaks louder than gender.” (34:36, Edna)

• On Partnership over Ownership:
  “You can have all the money and you still mess up. Life is not meant to be done alone.” (20:02, Edna)

• On Financial Discipline:
  “Money gives you lots of choices… The only way money grows is through investment.” (58:32, 61:10, Edna)

• On Impact and Legacy:
  “Success means nothing if you haven’t left anyone or been a blessing to anyone… Impact starts with one.” (47:51, Edna)

• On Entrepreneurship:
  “Know your niche, shamelessly sell it, and have your own template for success.” (55:15, Edna)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–05:00: Edna’s early years and father’s influence
• 11:30–16:00: Launching with zero capital; importance of branding and LinkedIn
• 22:56–26:34: Transitioning to "legacy thinking" and systematizing the business
• 28:10–31:13: Cost structure, pricing, and scaling strategies
• 32:29–34:30: Sales channels & breakthrough with social media ads
• 34:36–36:01: Navigating gender roles and challenges in business
• 36:03–39:37: Industry challenges and business setbacks
• 47:51–54:58: Philanthropy (Shoe for the Shoeless)
• 55:15–57:33: Success advice for young African entrepreneurs
• 58:02–62:54: Social media’s necessity, financial discipline, best advice, and book recommendations

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Book Recommendations

• The Richest Man in Babylon – classical lessons on wealth-building
• Who Moved My Cheese? – adaptability and embracing change (64:02)

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Final Takeaways

• Edna’s journey epitomizes resilience, resourcefulness, and purposeful legacy building.
• Her story shows that starting a business with zero capital is possible by leveraging skills, relationships, creative branding, and social media.
• For long-term success and impact, embrace collaboration, continuous learning, and financial discipline.
• Lasting impact comes from a mix of legacy thinking, quality products, community upliftment, and remaining true to your unique path.

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“Step into your own shoes, like I did.” – Edna Frimpong (56:54)

Transcript

[A]

You practically started your business with zero.

[B]

Honestly, no fund. There was a colleague on campus and I always call him. Then I'll go and take one of his iPhones and I'll bring back to the shop and then I'll take nice pictures of the shoes that we are making. So they'll come and put on my WhatsApp status at them and I'll get, oh, Kia, how much I pay was 100. So when they said they want it, then I'll go to the shop and then work on it and then I get my money.

[A]

You just made that slipper you're wearing, but how much would it cost you to make that?

[B]

This one I'm wearing, like, let's say 100 cities.

[A]

What would be your sale price at 200 cities, but how much would be your net profit? How are you gonna scale that business from where you are today to where you really want to be?

[B]

So now you need to learn on land and all that. You need to monitor change, adapt change. And already you can never go. God asks most is what do you have in your hand? And so when God will bless you, there has to be something in your hand. The turning point for me was being on that platform.

[A]

Which point did you really realize, nah, this is a real business. So let's put XYZ together. Welcome to Connected Minds Podcast. My name is Derek and I thank you so much for tuning in to watch this awesome episode. So today I'm going to be speaking with an entrepreneur. Her name is Edna Frimpon. She's also known as the shoemaker girl, and she has got an awesome business and she was trained by her father. Her father was a shoemaker and she decided to take the baton and. And make that business better than her father even did it. Edna has gone through with having a first class degree and she still decided to be a shoemaker. I really want to sit with her today and understand why she chose that path and how it's going so far. Edna, thank you so much for coming.

[B]

Thank you so much for having me. It's such a good privilege to be here. I'm honored. Thank you. Hmm.

[A]

It's awesome. I've been running around like a headless chicken to try to make this conversation happen. And I really appreciate your time.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

It's. I don't take it lightly whenever a guest takes the time out of their home, their busy schedule to come and sit with me. I don't play with that. So I appreciate it.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Now, where do I even start from? The shoemaker Girl, what's your backstory?

[B]

Shoemaker girl. I know people ask me that question a lot. But first off, my dad is a shoemaker for over 20 good years plus. And I stay with him through my entire life. And staying with a father, I mean men, you have to go to him, to the shop, wherever he's going, he doesn't have time for you like that. So I. When he's going to the shop, I follow. And I'll be doing the basic things, the hammering, the polishing, the gluing, the and all that. I was thinking it was just helping out by any time I'm hammering and gluing, if you know Kaneshi Mataiko area very well, Koteco Central University There's a. It's a busy road, people be staring in their cars. What's this? But for me, I didn't see it in a bad light, I saw it in a good way. So one day I was like, well, if I take this business serious, people will take me serious. I'll get the mileage, so why don't I jump on it?

[A]

You said that?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I think I was secondary school then, you know, even after school I come back to the shop and come and help him. So it's like, ah, the way I'm getting the pass, if I don't jump on it, it will lose. And I. When I was going to secondary school, the second semester or second term, I bought glue, I bought hammer because there's a shoemaker on campus. But it was expensive so I could do the gluing and other things. So I bought all these things and the guy even gave it to me for free. He didn't take money. He's late now. And then when I went to compost, when there's no lecturer or teacher in the classroom, I move from desk to desk. It was a missed school. So then I'll tell them, oh, in case your son does get torn, bring it and I'll work on it for you. Because they knew my dad was a shoemaker because my dad used to supply the school, the sun that I was then. And then it worked. So on Saturday, whenever people moved to SU Towers and all that, I'll be at the corner and I'll be gluing all the sunglasses. But as well, I'll get money or transportation back home.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. So I keep saying that if what pursues you determines how you run, if I'm working with you and you're from a very good home and I'm not from a good home, you might Be sleeping on campus. But I can't sleep. Because even when you fail, there is a leverage for you. But me, there was no leverage. So I had to do something. And that was the reason why I'm here today.

[A]

Your father has had a really big influence on you.

[B]

Very.

[A]

At what age did you start playing with, you know, learning how to.

[B]

So I stayed with my dad from two years.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And so let's say 10 years. I was all grown. 10 years. I was growing 20 years. Yeah. So I used to go to the shop with him. Definitely. You have to follow him to the shop and then go buy glue. Yeah, go and buy glue. Go buy this and all that. And then some. His clients will come to show you gay don't money. Hey bro, you know that. That kind of thing. But I was just enjoying playing around it. I didn't know it would take me somewhere. But yeah, I'm here today because of that.

[A]

And at that young age you were thinking about taking over from your father?

[B]

Yes. Do you know why? I've seen other people with shoemaking doing so well. I believe in results. Like you messed up, but let me see the final result. And I've seen people do shoemaking. I mean we know a lot of shoemaking brands doing so well in the system. Having houses, things, properties for themselves. But when it comes to my own, I wouldn't say anything. You know, people even come in, they'll just give us small money for just making sure for them and they'll go and sell it. Huge. Yeah. So people are taking advantage of him and all that. I'm like this business, I will make sure, I will take it. Because he didn't learn the skill. It was a gift from God. So it means maybe God gave this gift to the family. That's what will succeed with it. But he, I mean sometimes mistakes happen. He wasn't seeing the result of it. Like maybe I'm going to school by the grace of God and I will leverage on what I'm having now and make sure I push this business, own it myself and be able to get something from it that my daddy never get from the business. And yes, it's been.

[A]

And what are you different? What are you doing different from what your dad was doing?

[B]

Maybe one education plays a lot of role. Yes, education is an eye opener. And then two people around you. Relationships are advantage in life. Yes, it has played a lot of role for me. I'm here because of relationship and I'll never take that for granted. And then of course you need to learn or Learn and all that. You need to monitor change, adapt to change. If you're not ready, you can never grow. So maybe change family relationship and then education plays a lot of role.

[A]

Are you taking your father's foundation and building on it all you are still in the same establishment that your father has?

[B]

Oh no. Now I've moved. So I. I left the foundation from him. But now it's different. He's doing his business Amazon on my part. Doing our own thing together.

[A]

So where is the cross Learning what's happening. Right. How's it. How's it. I want to know.

[B]

But he's still working because he's still young.

[A]

So how's the conversation going?

[B]

Oh, I mean because do you.

[A]

Who has become more successful financially by.

[B]

The grace of God, I am the one.

[A]

Good. So now almost as if he's giving you experience. But what are you also teaching him?

[B]

I think he has learned a lot. He has learned a lot in terms of business, how to do business, putting family aside. Because that's why I had to cut the across the line family could ruin things. And so I didn't want to lose the fatherly blessings, the father blessings and all that. So let me pull out and let me go so I can shout on, scream on someone but I can't scream on my dad, you know. So I had to move on. And then he understood that because that's business. At the end of the day when you. You are broke, you come back to me. So why not?

[A]

No, that's.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's amazing. What I really want to know is that what have you done for your father in your. For your father's business.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

To also make sure that at least it works better than it.

[B]

I've been able to with the shop he's working was bought by my company. Yeah. He's working the show. Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. And I used to give him contracts work to do some of the shoes for the shoeless. The kids. The shoes I made for the kids. Some goes to him because one person cannot handle all that production. So I make sure I share across all the shoemakers. I know I grew up with them and they're still the same cuz where I learned the shoemaking. The scale is. Is I think the half of shoemakers. KANESHI MATO A lot of shoemakers are around and so they. I've seen all of them for 20 years and they're still in that same business, same terrain, same level. And then they see you can just came right now and all over they. They're not ready to change.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

But I still, I still, I mean, I still, I still roll with them and all that. Yeah, you can't take that away.

[A]

Amazing. So take us on that. On that journey of the time where COVID 19 had a complete turn for you.

[B]

Okay. So I was working with an ngo. I mean they sponsored my primary to SS shs. Yeah. On scholarship. So I think way to also give back to them was to work with them. Yeah. And so it was, it was fun. I was working with foreigners, travel around all the. I mean, Ghana and having fun. But I didn't know that it would turn if things would change around. And luckily for me, when I started that business, that company then I applied to. To go to school. So I went to GIJ now UniMark and first year, second year, they said Covid. I mean 2021, 2019 and covert. Boom. You know, most of our funds come from U. S. And so the foreigners were not coming again. And the funds was not coming because. Why are they coming? Because of COVID So they had to close down the business. But we were building schools, we were giving scholarship to. Yeah. A lot of work that we're doing here, but we have to. And then my boss called me and said this was happening. But I. I can't let you go like that. I can help you pay your fees that terms the upcoming 10 school fees. So why not? I'm, I'm able, I'm gladly able to accept that and do that. And I took that offer.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then I was staying there because it was like a house so you could stay in all that. And during that moment I was there with my brother. He also, by the grace of God, had a very good company working. It worked for him. Very big company in Ghana. And so I was thinking, oh, he's going to take care of me in the university. So. So yeah, I relaxed, not knowing I was supposed to go to do everything myself. And he said one time he came to the house and he said, ikea, I'm not gonna stay with you again. Yeah, I didn't know up to now. I didn't know what I did. And so he took everything and left. And that was that. During that moment, I had to take my own destiny into my hands. And I said, okay. Way back in secondary school, I knew that I wasn't going to enter into the investor street. I have to work for a year or two and get the money before I go. So yes, now's the time. So let me go to school on weekends and then I I look for hustle during the weekdays. And so that's what I did. I go to and I chose gig because of the distance. It wasn't far from my home and Kaneshi to circle wasn't that far reach. Instead of legal I had legal upsc but I said let me go because it's the distance so. So that I'll be able to save. And then I do that. And so weekends I go to school Sunday, Saturday and Sunday and then the whole Monday to Friday I go to the shop go help Puppy that I will work. And then, then I was having a phone. It wasn't really that big. Good phone though. But it wasn't getting me the very good color pictures, good images. So there was a colleague on campus, my course ship, my friend and I always call him, he's still around my area and so I'll call him. Then I'll go and take all of his iPhone and I'll bring back to the shop and then I'll take nice pictures of the shoes that we are making and I'll model some of them so they'll come and put on my WhatsApp status. And then because Instagram wasn't working for me. So I'll post on my WhatsApp and I'll get oh, here, how much? So okay, this is. It was 100, I thought it was 100 cities. And then okay, then they will buy. So when they said they want it, then I'll go to shop Puppy order has come and then work on it and then I get my money. So it wasn't like ha, boom. No, it was, it was like that. And then one time on campus lecturer said oh, you have to open accounts. It was a new media course. So you have to open a create social media account by force for. For max 30 marks. And then I think after the project people, I mean threw it away. And then I said okay. The man spoke so well about a platform called LinkedIn. It's okay, why don't I jump on this platform and see if it will work for me? Because at that time everybody post was about suit and tie and you don't see anybody like shoemaking other profession on that platform. But I think I was there one day and I said let me try and post and see if it worked. So I post and I said hi everyone, my name is Edna, the shoemaker girl. And I saw the reaction and I said okay, it will work here for me. So let me go and do my homework also I went and sit down, read more about how to optimize my profile and all that and read more about my industry as well so that I'll be able to. I read that the LinkedIn is like educating people about your industry. And so I'll come and tell them how to wear the shoe like this, your size matters and all that. And people were enjoying the conversation. And that was a turning moment for me. So the turning point for me was being on that platform on LinkedIn. Yeah.

[A]

Simply because Elektra told you to create it for 30 marks.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I tell you, this is interesting. Now, It took a phone that you did not own. What were you thinking?

[B]

Even that phone was bought by a colleague of mine. I always appreciate her. She bought it for me because, you know, I used to help colleagues on campus academically. But it was the camera wasn't that clear.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And, you know, I think I've got to realize that branding matters a lot. It's a big deal in pictures. It speaks volume. So one thing I'm very good about is my images. I waste more my. All my money on taking good pictures. Yes. Because it speaks a lot. And so I had to do that because it wasn't. The blood pictures wasn't working because the slippers are very good. But you don't get good image of it. People don't appreciate the product.

[A]

Right.

[B]

That is the issue. Because I've seen that people have nice product. People will send you a product with their image. And it was so Blair. But what they bring you, you see the product, it looks so nicer.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So it was the image. So I had to take that decision. Okay, I know. Let me, let me start from here because I. I can't get the iPhone now. I never dreamed I'll get an iPhone so easily. But let me start from where I. So you see, when I was taking my friend phone, a colleague of mine was very close to that guy. He was very close to her, him. And then she has realized that I'm into this shoe making. And she was like, if I get this girl an iPhone, it will appreciate. She would do well because I've seen that she wants to build her brand with this shoe making. But her pictures, she's. She's asking somebody for your phone. So why don't I get a very good phone like an iPhone so that you could help her with her images and all that. So somebody was even thought about that for me. But it took my. Me taking that effort, the initiative before someone noticed my effort and helped me with the phone.

[A]

You practically started your business with Zero funding.

[B]

I tell you. No, you don't need any, I don't think maybe because of the background, because you have your father is there so. But honestly, no funding. Cuz I found the money I had was ticket to school. So.

[A]

So, so, so how did you pay your school fees?

[B]

So I think my boss like then paid the other semester for me and then the side hustle, I mean then I was still doing the shoe making. So the money I got from it, it wasn't really that much, but I could top up. And then again I was also helping people academically on campus. You know, God has given me intelligence, I'm good academically, so I leverage on that. I mean God asks most is what do you have in your hand? And so when God will bless you, there has to be something in your hand. Yeah. People you ask, I, I don't know what I'm doing. But there's something you have that you could leverage on. And that was it for me. Some I was doing it for free, some I was doing it for money. But the ones that I did for free open up the opportunities for me. I had friends paying fees for me and all that.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, sometimes with this social media stuff, a lot of people can do it. Okay. They generate a few orders, maybe they are selling fashion items and then it works for them for like a few months, then they change, they're selling books, then that works for them for a few months, then they will change and they'll go and sell this for you. At what point did you start thinking, okay, now this is not just fun, this is actually going to turn into a real business.

[B]

I think when I started getting the media traction, I've been on TV stations, I'm like, and I don't like today I selling shoes, tomorrow selling clothes. I don't like that kind of business. But then it's a vision. The vision drives you, it wakes you up. So I knew where I wanted to go and I wanted to dictate the family that father business to the next level. And I want that in 100 years to come when dad is no more my, I'm no more that shoemaking. The Fron family have the shoe making. It has to be in the family. Now if you go to the area, you know, oh, it's not Mr. Franpong's daughter. Yes. So I, I just wanted to take the family business. The name that, you know, I didn't want to leave the family.

[A]

But why you?

[B]

Maybe that's God's plan. That was God's plan. That was God's plan. That was God's will.

[A]

Apart from you, was there any other child in the family that spent a lot of time with your father?

[B]

No, I was the only person and I'm the only person who have done that.

[A]

Wow. Shoemaker girl.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So which point did you really realize, nah, this is a real business. So let's put XYZ together.

[B]

Then I was receiving people coming, let's partner, let's do this. Then I'm like, then I'm doing something right. If I'm having people come in that we should put our heads together and it means and people will come in with funding opportunities and all that. But I am not a fan of funding like that because you can have all the money and you still messed up. People win grants and all that. Basically they haven't done any business with it. People are winning grants, but they don't even have a shop or a business. So I was like, nah. But so I had to go to God in prayer and I know that for a business to grow, you can't do it alone. I mean life is not meant to be done alone. Yes. So I needed a team, people to work with and it's, it's how God's work, he brings the people by himself and, and I work by a principle. Can two work together in name was chapter the book of Amos. Unless they agree. And I think that's the biggest difference of every relationship. That is the basis of every relationship agreement. And so and I had a team that we had the same agreement and unfortunately we all had the same name from point.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So we all call frame point in the farm, in the business. And it was. And I could have the skill, I had the visibility. But sometimes I need someone who bring a strategy, somebody who bring in the finance idea. Because we had a first class valetoria who is a first class, a finance person and we have a software guy, money minded guy, has all the funding money, no funding by his own money. And I have the visibility and maybe I have a skill. So why don't we come together and push it? Because honestly, if I was doing it alone, I don't think I would still be here.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. Because. But if you come as a team, you're able to do other things as well whilst you're trying to diversify. And when you came as a team it has helped me to also do other things. Being able to write a book, move from places to place and speak to people and do other things. Imagine if I was in Italy, I Wouldn't have done it.

[A]

At what age did you start this business?

[B]

2025. Because now I'm still in my 20s because yeah. 22, 23. 25, yeah. But then unprofessional wise since childhood, like 10 years or going and all that but professional wise, 2021. 2022, yeah. 25, 24, yeah.

[A]

Amazing. Now for me it's the, the storytelling element of your brand which you did pretty well with LinkedIn. That platform has helped you so much. A lot of the information we gathered about you today was through LinkedIn and a few TED talks that you've had here in Ghana. I think you've done fantastic. Now, now I want us to dig a bit deeper. What did that partnership mean to you financially for the business?

[B]

H. I think it meant everything. I wasn't sleeping thinking about where to get money from for this product. Okay. For this shoot, for this. That because someone is handling that. What I have to do is know my part and play it well. So it was about shoemaking. I do it well. If there's an issue, they call me and say we don't like what you are doing. Start. Because they believe in it. I think one thing that it taught me is about excellence.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

No matter how we could make a shoe or slippers and my people say we will not send this to the client. No. So I think it taught me about excellence. They were so bent on excellence and that has really helped the company really well. And, and, and in terms of financial wise, I mean at first I wasn't generating any revenue from my business, like huge amount of money and maybe it was hand to mouth but I think being in that partnership taught me about a legacy thinking instead of the survival thinking. And that's what I think. The Chinese practice that a lot. And, and, and I think most gane companies are short term, they buy and they just. No, but so sometimes my, my family. Hey. And I say you don't have money. Ah, but you're selling and so you think the money is for just today. No, you're building an empire.

[A]

I want you to talk a bit more about this legacy thinking. Now talk to me more about that.

[B]

Yeah. You're family called. I have a cousin, she's always on my neck. I don't have money. You don't have money. But you have a company, you, you have a book, you are speaking everywhere. So you should have money. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's. I'm scared of the future. Ahead and if you don't take care people will say I saw you on TV on connected minds. I saw you on everywhere but you don't have nothing to show off. I didn't want to repeat that mistake of my dad and so I was bent on that. I have to love that legacy thinking. I know sometimes I go for program and they give me money and I want to spend am I I have a money One mind of my sister said no, that money should be put into this account. It's so difficult but I had to do that and. And imagine years to come you're reaping benefit of that money and that brings you so much joy. So I think you have to be very the discipline aspect for me but so you have to be very strong and very disciplined. If not, they will take over because the same people five years to come they'll tell you that you didn't make it in life upon all that you did. Yes, that's it. I didn't want to say it in she because it's funny they'll say it. I know, even me, I know that five years to come this same person asking me of money every day. But you tell me but you were all over. So what happened with the money that came into your hand? So that's the time for me. So one of the thinking or skills every entrepreneur has to have is to have legacy thinking instead of what survivor thinking. It won't take you anywhere. People say okay, but what if tomorrow you're not here? People say that a lot but as the excuse they gives if you're not there, someone will take over it. That's why I like some business like I don't know, I don't want to. I don't know, you don't want to mention the brand. But even in the absence the company is still working. That is where I want to go. Even in your absence, the. The company has to run. I have. Sometimes I'm not in the company, I don't even go to the shop. We have a showroom but the company is still running. I don't see you around. Yes, we have systems, we have structure. And I play my part, I stay with it and everybody plays their part.

[A]

Let me stop you here for a minute. If you've been watching this show, I want you to subscribe and become part of the family. We are on a journey of changing the lives of people on this channel and we appreciate you for being here. But if you haven't become part of the family, connect with us. Hit the subscribe button. Now let's carry on the conversation. The problem with a lot of Ghanaian entrepreneurs when I have speaking to many of them is they don't want to give a big chunk of their business away. So for example, if there are two people in the business, then it's 50, 50, right. In most cases, like myself, my business partner is 50 50. And people don't want to do that. They, they want to keep everything they want, you know, individual ownership. You know, you are the one that owns it. But what they don't understand is that you can have 10 people in the business and you can still be the CEO.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Because the CEO doesn't necessarily mean that you actually even have an issue in that business. You could, they could just nominate you to be the CEO because you play that role better, you know. So do you advise people to go towards more partnership than single ownership?

[B]

Oh, yes, I believe in that. Even I think in the western world they are doing driving on partnership. All the big companies that we know of is more of and all the, I mean I've, I've done research on all the shoemaking brands. And you, they are all family. It's not about family. They are friends that made up the business. And honestly, you can't do it all alone. Trust me, you need people.

[A]

If I take you through your business right now, you just made that slipper you're wearing, right. How much would it cost you to make that?

[B]

Oh, this one I'm really like, let's say 100 cities now. Let's say 900 cities.

[A]

Your cost price.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is 100 cities. Right. What would be your sale price?

[B]

200 cities.

[A]

Yeah. Fantastic. So your revenue is 100 cities.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. How much would be your net profit from the revenue?

[B]

Let's say if I take all my.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Delivery. 50 cities.

[A]

About 50 cities. So 50 cities then that split between the people of the business or you know, that you make decisions on what you want to do with that business.

[B]

We make decision on what to do.

[A]

How are you going to scale that business from where you are today to where you really want to be?

[B]

So now the company is able to fund itself.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Without individuals money. Okay. And so I mean at first we used to, you could, we could. If I go for programs that I win money, grants and all that, I bring it to the company and all that, but now the company is able to. It's like a human being on its own that can fund itself. And we, we've tried to set up in other African countries.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Instead of you, everybody think U.S. uK but it's gradual. If you haven't tackle your neighboring countries, why do you have to move straight to us? Yeah, because I think most people forget about that. Your neighboring countries, they all need. Sierra Leone don't even have this kind of sand houses, slippers and shoes and all that. So we wanted to first tackle our neighboring countries and then we moved. Even though we sell to all these places, but we want to find our roots in that country. Kenyan civilian, they run this before we move straight to and UK and US but now we want to also have more shops in other part of the country regions. Okay. Yeah. Sometimes the people that you. You. Yeah. Recruiting that becomes the problem. You know, they don't want. They want the fast money. They don't want this kind of jobs. But then it will. I think it will take time. But in terms of expanding, we are on course we are still talking with people in other African countries how we able to set up in that country. And. And then again sometimes this scale up is not only about setting up, it's about even equipment and not. And that's something that we are currently working on to get good, good machines that will aid businesses for. I mean it's good to Germany and they don't even have to hammer themselves. We have a machine that do the hammering machine that could do the cutting and having this we also increase our productivity level. So if you are getting thousand pair of shoes, we should be able to produce within like a month or a week. But right now if you bring thousands of shoes, we have to make sure we split among a lot of shoemakers be able to achieve that aim.

[A]

So that was my next question. Manual production versus automated production. And how are you going to.

[B]

But I think handmade is. Is the best. I don't know.

[A]

I understand it comes with price. So it comes with price. So if I had to make this slipper or by hand, instead of charging you 200 cities, I'll probably charge you a thousand cities because it's taking me a lot of time and my time per hour is pretty expensive. So can you imagine if you have to produce a thousand and the number of people you need to employ to make that happen, that's your business. And I can understand from what you just said that you really want to move from just manual to also add an automated to make things faster and to be able to scale properly. Right?

[B]

Yeah. So recently the we we worked on some productions for a food market. I mean Ghana. And then we had to do a customize their name. The kid's name on the, the slippers. And we only had one. Luckily, we have one machine that would do that and we have to do it manually, one by one. I'm like, what is this? So imagine we have that bigger one. Within a week or that two, five days, we would have finished our production.

[A]

Right. So this is what I'm saying. Right. You have an awesome business now. And I was going to talk about your sales channels. So you've got social media. You have a website as well, Right. What other channels do you have?

[B]

I think we have a shop.

[A]

Okay, you have a shop front as well?

[B]

Yeah. Showroom. We have a showroom.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then we have the website and then there are socials and I think lately. And then of course, by I mean retain client, I think lately what works for us is the ad.

[A]

Okay, Right. Social media ads. Fantastic. So you have all of these things that are coming in now. What could really be happening is that your business could see a complete turnaround if you're focused on more ads, more ecom.

[B]

And that's what we are doing.

[A]

Right. And then revenue then diverted into machinery to automate. Instead of, okay, let's go to Nigeria, Ghana. We take it all through one funnel and then we produce it all from here.

[B]

Exactly. Yeah, yeah. Because I think this year we had a meeting and then we realized that the ad was working. I mean, we. And that's our breakthrough recently. It works best for us. And so we could. Okay, instead of focusing on the a lot of people, why don't we have just a target audience who are willing to pay for what we produce and then we focus on them and then we continue with other things as well.

[A]

Absolutely. I agree. I think social media ads is so powerful. We've seen it in our businesses. It works like magic. You know, it can change things very quickly. So if they. If you have a business and you're not patronizing services of, you know, these social media platforms, and I'm talking do SEO marketing, you could do Google Ads, you could do Instagram, Facebook, you know, meta ads, snap ads, Tick tock ads. Just do ads, search ads, you know, and you see a lot of increase in your business. But obviously, whatever industry you're in, there are rules and regulations as to what you can post and what you cannot post. This is something I learned the hard way. You know, some of our accounts got struck off because we're posting things that we're not supposed to post.

[B]

Right? Yeah.

[A]

But now let's talk about the challenges you're facing as a female in A male dominated industry.

[B]

Quality speaks louder than gender. Yeah. Honestly haven't had a lot of challenges as a female shoemaker and I have a lot of female shoemakers friends and I keep asking the same question and I don't get that. Rather it plays to our advantage. Okay. Yes. I don't know. It plays to advantage. You know it's just fascinating seeing a woman and hammering, making, gluing, making shoe and that's part of our society and it's, it's, it draws them closer. It's just you who are skeptical because they haven't seen such before that will, will work that but one team might. One thing my team taught me is that let produce quality excellence because we have people who understands or speak excellence instead of gender. So when they approach, they come and they get a product. They're not getting the product because oh she's a female because of the quality and sometimes they receive the product and they are wow, is that is a, is a woman and I don't, I don't want that tag. That is a woman who make the shoe. This is for my whole father. This is our product. Not just a woman buying because of the quality, not buying because of female.

[A]

I love it. I, I, I, I, I love.

[B]

But most of the challenges is more of the industry than personality.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What are some of the challenges in the industry?

[B]

Definitely cost of materials. It's crazy because every day you go to the market there's an increment of a product whatever because most of the things are shipped outside the country. So. Yeah. And then of course the purchasing power of the people today you increase the product. I bought this thing recently, this price forgetting that handmade is different from production. They compare China to handmade products. But you see China make it in bulk productions. You don't really take time on it. But you see the handmade. A person has taken his time to make the 10 for you. So there's a lot of time. Like you said effort goes into that than the mass production people don't know about that. And they always come, we go for exhibition. They said but it's expensive. But those who actually knows food, foodware when you mention the price they're okay, okay, this is handmade. So that's it.

[A]

And on your journey what were the moments that nearly broke you in this business?

[B]

Ah okay. I don't know if it broke me but it rather gave me hope.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yes, it gave me hope. We made slippers of 150 plus to a football academy and they received the product the man who gave me that contract spoke well of me, good recommendation and they received the product and all the sanders most of them were removed were getting torn. Wow. And that was the second time we are making shoes for them. So every year they bring the contract. This is the second time. And then I learned the owner told that this is the last chance she doesn't have to messed up because the first one there was no issue but this one an issue. And there's someone else spoke well about you and then this. And the person called it Edna. I spoke well about you. So what happened? That's that that's business. I mean and I'm. I took it normal. That's business. I mean it was meant to happen. It's how you're able to navigate through that issue. And then I said acceptably, don't worry, we'll fix that. And I had to make sure they bring the things from far from everything, revamped everything, removed everything. The issue was from where we bought that soul. I think it has been there for longer. And so that was where the issue was. And so it wasn't from our fault. But you can didn't understand it until later I realized that I told him that it wasn't really our fault. It's from where we bought that particular material. So the one who saw that thing to us made that mistake to us. But there we have to accept the blame and we go back and work on all the shoes. Everything was normal because I'm the face of the company leave everything messed up. It boils down to me. Nobody will mention my other people. They don't know them much but they know me. And so I had to take the course. I did everything within a week. Cuz they look they needing the thing for a week for the kids to wear them. And then it was just recently she. He called me again and said yeah, the good news is that we haven't had any issue again with the shoes. And now I'm expecting another contract again this year. And I feel I get it. So yeah, it was, it was, it was. But I think some of my team members were scared but I wasn't because it's part of business. It tests you that these are bound to happen so that you know that okay, you can, you can stand.

[A]

And in the moment how did you.

[B]

Feel the pressure had attention like oh God, I can't lose this contract. Because that was at first that was our highest source of revenue. I mean it brings a lot of money. And then something like this and I mean because they bring a lot of money honestly and then this is happening, it means you might not gonna get a contract again. They have to look other other elsewhere. Somebody who has to poach in there, other shoemaker. So I had to fight for that for the contract to be remain. And you know what? One thing I did well after everything was done, I need to personally make sure for the one who gave me the contract, that relationship, you need to keep it. I need to keep that relationship. And I had to work on a project with him. So that Edna name will never leave as mine. So you have to be, I mean you have to find something to mend that relationship so that it worked out.

[A]

Do we always need funding to start our business?

[B]

Never. Never, never, never, never, never. People are winning grants like I said. But if you bring them here and then to show you the people they are paying salaries to, where is that? What are they working or their revenue? I don't think you are going to get it. But you have a very good template. They speak so well so they're going to win their money. And those who are actually doing the job are not getting the funding. So you don't necessarily have to need get because you can have the money and you still messed up. So start with what you have. When it comes your way, fine. If it doesn't come, you still move. Up to now, my company haven't received any external funding. At the moment that comes there was maybe I won an award and they gave me, I mean MasterCard's ping board ratio foundation gave me some award and the money and I just, I mean that's just a few money back to a company giving you this fund and a funding to do this. Not yet. And that is something that we are eager to. Because we get that approach a lot. I want to put money into it and say no, wait sometime we need to do our homework well before we bring in an external influence.

[A]

Let me stop you here for a minute. If you've been watching this show, I want you to subscribe and become part of the family. We are on a journey of changing the lives of people on this channel and we appreciate you for being here. But if you haven't become part of the family, connect with us. Hit the subscribe button. Now let's carry on the conversation. Ah, that's, that's amazing. I'm of the view as well that if you have a business idea that you want to execute, go ahead even with a little that you have. So it could be create a logo, create a website, use AI to create models of whatever it is that you're trying to produce. Create the social media account and then create content around it and you know, collect data. That's a good start. You may not have 5, $10,000 to start that business, but I'm sure you can get 200 cities, 300 cities to get somebody to create a logo for you, right? So I think that's even a good start. Then you can create a pitch deck and then see how it goes.

[B]

I launched my book with, with, with no money. Not my money.

[A]

How did you do it?

[B]

So I had the idea, I wanted to write a book about my journey so far. And I was like, hey, who are those going to buy this book? Because I don't have, then I don't know anybody. And I had, it's good to have people around you who are, who think way higher than you and who are above you car. So. And I told one thing, he said no, you write the book, you have people who read it, you have an audience. I don't have any followers. You have followers, you have 10. Then I had 10k plus, right? Only the Uber is in me. I was scared and I, I visited a doctor in the hospital and I told him that oh, after everything when he done shooting me like I want to write her book and even launched it, but I don't think I'll do physical launch cuz I don't have the money so I'll do virtual. And the guy was like nah, it should be physical, why not? People will come, you don't know. So let's do it. So the guy took care of the SMS bulk message, the, the, the cost, the doctor and I said okay, I wrote the book and I had, I leveraged a relationship. I had a friend who is an editor. She said she didn't take me money, she took the, the manuscript and she'd edit them for me. And then, but I'll tell you how I picked them back again. And then I needed what A book cover. I had a lady friend who is a graphic designer. She had never designed a book cover before. So I said why don't you use this as a test?

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And she did it from there. She had people bringing book cover designs for her to do it and that was it. And now the book was done. We have a book, a book of everything was I. Now it's Levit, I think money for printing the books and then physical lunch. Because now I'm convinced that I will launch it because people have convinced me enough. And then I Was there if you look friend called it's been long time. So yeah I'm working on a book and I'm thinking of launching. He said oh then I'll handle the the venue how it came. I have been on his program before. I didn't take money from him.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So but he's trying to pay back that opportunity and that was how my venue was sorted. And then I had someone who promised to print give me money to print the books two weeks at a time. The man said sorry Edna, unfortunately I can't too help now. 2 weeks ago wow. My book launch and having printed I was oh God who I passed and someone also came and said ah Eddie, it's been a long time. So I do and said okay I'm said I'm working on a book very soon I'll published and all. I said oh then what can I do? And I said oh I don't know. I said let me handle the printing for you. And that was it. Now people for getting people for publicity wasn't difficult.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I. I think I keep saying publicity is spiritual.

[A]

Okay, talk to me.

[B]

Yeah yeah yeah. It's God that gives visibility. You can do poster all over and still not get people coming to your church coming for buy your products or whatever. But when God's the visibility falls upon you wherever you are even if you're an energy it will, it will locate you. And so one thing I don't pray, I keep praying is to God should give me visibility. The right people should see me. So even when I'm posting on social media on Insta LinkedIn before I post I need to pray on that post that this post needs to be seen by the people who actually will value because you cannot have a very good gift but the people around you and appreciate they don't appreciate your gift. Forget it. You. You will never go anywhere. And that's most people's story. They are very good but their environment do not appreciate what they have until God moves them. Joseph was in the prison. He was interpreting dreams but he was still there until he met Kim Pharaoh. His life changed at that moment and sometime you need the right people. So I was like God let me meet the right people. Cuz sometime meeting the right people alone changes everything to me. And that was it. So someone will see the post and that was who's this girl? And they'll call I would like to help you. I want to do this and that that's how I launched a book with I honestly there was no money from my Pocket adding to that book launch. Yes.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I launched that. I would tell you there's no money coming from my pocket. It was through strangers and through people that have never. Some have met them. And later on I had to repay them back unknowingly because that's life.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It should be. Should be give and take.

[A]

Oh, it's, it's. There's a universal law. It's called the law of Amra. Give and take and then take. And I love what you said. As a matter of fact, maybe I should say a prayer. May the God of visibility locate me.

[B]

Amen.

[A]

Amazing. Then after you've done all of this where people have helped you, then you know, you also try to help other people. How did you then come up with your initiative for the shoe for the shoeless?

[B]

Success means nothing if you haven't left anyone or you haven't been a blessing to anyone. I have been marvelously helped by God and men. That one. I will never take it for granted for my infancy, to where I am now, to where I'm going. It's all help of God and men. And so what's a better way to also give back to society? Someone will say, but you're not done taking care of your family. The one who took care of Mineral, the person had family, but the person bet on me. Yeah. And so even if it's one person, I said impact starts with one because it's just one that gives you billion. So impact start with one. If I'm able to impact coffee, Coffee will go and impact Amma. Am I going in part. And that's how we all help ourselves. It doesn't mean I have millions of people before I'm impacting people. No, it was just one person enough. So like and I realized that I couldn't give shoe, sorry dresses. I can't give bags. What I could give is what I do. And I remember on campus university, I think we do there's a lot of things we learn in school that people take for granted. I think everything I learned in school, I make sure I implicated it in my life and in my business. There's one course we are doing called I think community. Yeah, it's under PR and you know, pr. One of the job is to be a community relations person, know what's in the society. So I do CSR works and this we're given a task to go and look for a social problem in a society and be able to write a whole, do a whole campaign around it. And I think my, my team messed up we went to do something about medication, all that. But after everything the lecturer realized that we're not getting it. And he's a very good top PR person. And he gave us a typical example. He is into shoemaking. I mean he sells shoes. And he gave us a typical example of something like that, that like he uses company like in Koshu they could do shoes and give to people. I'm like anything. When he was doing it, he was like this girl, I know she's going to take this idea and run with it. And now. So he opened my, my mind to something like that. So later when I started the whole, I mean like I was gaining grounds and I wrote the book, the initial thought was that the part of the process I received from the book was going into that. So that was, that was the idea. So the idea wasn't like to produce thousands. She was just in a short term period. But I think I was sitting down and one of my nephews like Aunt Haydna. So after the whole this, are you going to do it again or that was, that's the end and okay, I haven't thought about it. To do it to, to take it further. And it's like, oh, then missing thousand pair of shoes. When I think about something, I just move it. I don't just think plain. No, no, I just move with it. Then I had to go back to my profile and change on the mission to provide thousand pair of shoes to kids every. And I wrote in my diary, this is what I'm going to do. Then I didn't have any money for that, but the money I used, I, I, the process from the book was there. And then the idea was producing shoe and gift them. Now I was talking to one of my friends again. She called me. She's also very good when it comes to proposal writing and all that. And I said, she asked me so how far were the shoe for the shoeless? And I said, oh, I am currently working on it, but it seems my money will not reach you because I have to do the shoe now pick and go and deliver it. Then he's like, now you don't want to worry yourself. You have such a good a community. People are willing to support a good cause. So put it out there that you need support to put to push this initiative and people are willing to help you. And I was scared, no, because I don't like asking money. No, do it. People will do it. So I had to go back to my drawing board as a PR person and draft a whole campaign plan And I talked to my. I have a graphic guy and he was like let's move it. So we did a flat operation. 50 cities, very good, beautiful flat. So when you see it now, you know you donating the money. And then we did it and then I started ruling out the the campaign and within two weeks able to get 10,000 plus. Wow. And I was like. And I was not. So now the one that I even had to. I had to already to make the shoe was. Was still there. Like ah yeah, it will work like this. And then they have to go back to the drawing board make the shoes. So the first initiative I have to make like 50 pair of shoes because I had the communities already settled and then now you can't go alone. You have to go with at least few people. And people wanted to follow me like and you can't take somebody's daughters for my crowds the other region and not give them food. So I had to come inside. Okay, that will take this. But people are willing to support. So even a day, a week before the the project people were sending money and that was then. That's when I realized that people are willing to support a good cause. Yeah, people really brought their money. And then I was also updating them because you need to update the people who are bringing their money so they don't think that you are spending the money. And then after the whole production was done, we did a delivery. We went to central region and we went to in somewhere area and we donated 30. 30 that yeah, I think 50 or so. And then we came back, we showed the people the progress with the whole flyer to them where we've reached now. And I told them that now the aim is that I'm moving beyond what I initially expected and on my birthday to some of the funds were still there. We had a lot of money again. So why don't I use this money to also produce. I didn't ask anybody money again. So I used that fund to produce another 30 and I sent it to Savannah Region. It is a community there for them. And now there was still little fund. And I said God, you gave me this idea. You gave me. This is. I'm just the convener of this project. You are the CEO so you have to fund this project. I don't care. I. I don't know what's the money I'm going to use for the next month and this two months. But honestly somebody has tackled 200 shoes in December. Somebody has sponsored 60 pair of shoes that I'm next Month I'm going to do the donations. And. And I was sitting down there and I'm like, and I'm not understanding why this is, that this is God's prayer. God is funding his own. And the one who recently approached me was just Instagram. The person said, I want to handle 50. It's her 50th birthday. And so she asked me how many questions? I said, like 50. They said, I'm making it 60. And she bought the money. And the good thing is that she made me customize a scripture on every of the slippers. And the scripture speaks a lot. So it now it's giving me a Clara image that this is the ministry, this is what God want me to do. And so June 7th, I'm going to a community. You know I told you I was working at ngo.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We built a school in a community, that school. I was part of those who built that school because I was a coordinator. Then we moved to move to Accra, to the everyday Bintou to build that school. And so it feels good to go back there, not in the company's name, but in my own way to also give back shoes to them. And that's the campaign I'm soon going to run.

[A]

Wow. No, you've done amazing. If you, if you have to leave the young African entrepreneur, especially a young woman with one truth about success, what would it be?

[B]

I think you need to know your niche. Know it well, okay. When you know your niche, seamlessly sell yourself, market yourself. People will say you are doing too much, but do it because you know what you're looking for. Know your niche, know what you are good at, and shamelessly sell it so well. And don't ever underestimate the power of branding. People don't buy the product, they buy experiences. That's why you go and buy this big brand. It's not because of the product, it's because of what you want to. I guess people buy experiences and so don't underestimate that. Package yourself or brand yourself well, if it is a company, do it. If the product, do it well, the right people will see it. Be bold, be loud and have a strategy that is the defining moment of everybody. I know, every guest you have interviewed, they all come and tell their story, but they all have a strategy that is keeping them afloat. Know yours. Sometimes you might not be physical, like work hard, be humble and all that. You just can't be. What about your be praying every night. Maybe yours can be given to somebody, somebody that got it to this person. Maybe yours might be just singing, dancing, just being happy. So your strategy, if you know it, you are, you are. You're good to go if you know, doesn't make you jealous of other people. You know your journey. And I think we live in a society where we are. They've couched a success template for us. Have a car, have a house, have maybe wife, husband. You are successful. But success differs from everybody because if you have your own template. So I have my own template so that if I see Amma in a car, I'm not jealous because that's not my template, then the. Maybe that's not my route. If I see coffee as a lawyer, I am never intimidated because that's not my template. So have your own templates because society will give you there. So. And that's where the pressure comes in. You want to belong, you want to succeed, by all means. But if you have your own template to go buy, gives you comfort, it gives you edge, it gives you hope that you. Whatever you pass, you also get to your. Your own path. So have your own template and step into your own shoes, like I did.

[A]

I love it. Usually when these happen, these things happen. I don't want to stop. I just wanna. I just want you to flow. Because sometimes almost every single guest I've had, they get into a space where it's beyond them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you've just given us one that was definitely spiritual. I'm gonna ask you a series of questions before we close off. And the first one is, do you think without social media, your business would have gotten to where it is today?

[B]

Never.

[A]

Good. That's the power of social media. And I want you to leave a comment. Why have you not started your social media brand yet? Give me a response. Maybe somebody could help you drop in the comments. All right, let's move. The next thing is, is there anything that I could have asked you, we could have spoken about today that I have not asked?

[B]

Maybe finances?

[A]

Let's talk about it.

[B]

Money is such a very important thing in our life. It gives you choices. I. I understand why people are still stuck in abusive relationship.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Hey. Because I think I started earning early in life. I had money coming to my hands early. Yes. And I love business. I love money. I like money. I don't have money. Because if you love, you kill for money. Because I like money. And I think I'm just realizing how people still stay in that. Because what they leave, what would they survive on? And so where they are getting their money from, if they leave, it will be Difficult. So let me stay like that. Endure. Lots of people are still left there. And so money gives you lots of choices. And even the Bible says, what? Silver and gold are mine. And so why should Jesus baby be poor or be struggling? And so I had that, you know, God blessed me. But I was, I was, I wasn't managing my money, my finances well. I was very bad at that. Spending anyhow, giving anyhow. So 20, just last two years or last year. And I made a decision that God. I went to God in prayer. God forgive me. I've messed up people that have dashed me money. I get people and people's payroll. People give me money just to survive. And I'm messing up with this money. What can you do? Help me. Have mercy on me. And God did have mercy on me. But God never brought money again. But he brought people.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

God introduced, introduced me to one of my sisters and that was the defining moment. And I was disciplined with it. She said, no, Edna, I know you. I came, I know you as a shoemaker and I came to met you as an author. Five years to come, ten years to come. I don't want to see you broke. I want to see you a billionaire. Yes, she told me that. And then I said, okay, why not? It was Jenny. It was a very difficult journey. Just she sat me down, said, this is what you're gonna do. Any money that comes into your hands, we are going to split that you diversify your money. It won't go one way. And so I took that decision. It was difficult, but I had to. And now I'm so happy now. If you, if you are talking about money, I want to also get myself and talk to. Yes, I, I've learned. I have learned my mistake. I have grown last. This just last month I received dividend for my company. I was paying stock and I and my sister was like last year we haven't, we didn't have something like that. But see what God is doing. We are now receiving dividend from company. Not just one company, different companies. And that's, that's, that's, that's God. You discipline with money. Money will come. But if you don't know, the only way money grows is through investment. Trust me.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And that is the only way money grows. So if you do not have learn, sit down, get people. I mean literally we have people on social media giving our tips on that. I think you have one recently on finances and all that. And you have to learn that just sit down. Money way. The only way money will grow is through investment. So please be disciplined with money. And please, the future will need that. If not, it will go broke.

[A]

I thank God that I asked that question because what you've said is so key. And I've got something here that I wanted to say to add in the Bible. King Solomon was the wealthiest in the Bible. This man did not just have one stream of income. He had. And I'm going to list it to you. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ways of making money. And this is in the Bible. You can find this First Kings. If I. If we go through First Kings, you'll find all the strategies that Solomon used to make money. I'll tell you one. Number one was heavy taxation and tribute from other nations. Just one. And then I can talk about the last one, which is extensive real estate and construction projects. So we talk about money and I will make it look like it's not a good thing. It's. It's even from the Bible, from the people that you are learning from.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They made money through several means. So it is important that we work on our money habits.

[B]

Christianity will never grow without money. Yes, it's. It's it. It. Because how can you people in Japan hear of Jesus without investing in good technology? And now you see what churches are doing. They have good cameras and everything. Their message will be across Japanese and all that for them to also hear about the message of God. So you also help.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And that's why you have Kingdom financiers or whatever in the churches. So.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. Motivation or discipline?

[B]

Discipline.

[A]

Okay. Correct. What's the best advice you've ever received?

[B]

I have received a lot. The one. You can't do it all alone. Know your Abraham if you are a lot. And if you are lot, find your Abraham. God called Abraham. He never called Lot. But if you with Abraham, you may think God even called Lot because Lot was so blessed because of the power of association. So you might have the idea, but you don't have the funding. You might have somebody who has the funding, who have the idea. The same vision as yours. Why don't you collect together with the person and move on? It might be Abraham you have. God has given you the mandate. Look for your Lot, the people who carry on the vision with you and make it successful.

[A]

Thank you. I love that. I like that. Now, can you recommend a book for my audience?

[B]

I think. Let me. Can I recommend two books? I think the Richest man in Babylon. There and then. Who Moved My Cheese?

[A]

Who Moved My Cheese?

[B]

Such a small, very small book. But it's very powerful. You need to monitor change. You need to adapt to change. If not, you will still remain wherever you are with your 10 years resolution that you still have.

[A]

Effy Amazing. Well look, I've enjoyed this conversation and I'd like to say thank you again for coming and I hope that people make it to the end. I love the people that usually make it to the end. So if you made it to the end, I want to see that in the comments. I have just spoken with a shoemaker girl. Thank you so much for sticking with me for listening on Apple, Spotify and wherever. If you haven't subscribed, this is your opportunity to make this podcast bigger and better. My name is Derek Abide. Stay connected.