-
If Your Life Was A Startup!
Over the last couple of years, I embarked on an unconventional journey, applying startup principles to my personal development. This was no simple experiment; it required dedication, a shift in mindset, and an openness to embrace both success and failure. Reflecting on this path, I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact it can have on one’s life, making the effort truly worthwhile despite the challenges. Drawing from the startup world, I started with a fundamental question that might seem straightforward yet is deeply introspective: If my life were a startup, would it be profitable today? This wasn’t about financial gain but a richer, more nuanced form of profitability — personal fulfilment…
-
Entrepreneurial Resilience and Vision: Insights from “Things Fall Apart”
I recently was gifted a copy of one of my favourite teenage books “Things Fall Apart” by the renowned author Chinua Achebe. As I read through pages and went from chapter to chapter, I realised for the first time the many life lessons embedded into it. I have read this book like many others several times before, but I have not had the level of insight I have had in the last few days. I strongly believe that while the book holds several interpretations, as an entrepreneur/Startup Operator it tells a very powerful story and offers viable lessons for operating in Africa. In the intricate dance of entrepreneurship, where the…
-
We Just Move On Because Everyone Says We Should: Addressing Mental Well-being in Africa’s Startup Scene
In the rapidly evolving African startup landscape, the shimmer of success and funding milestones often masks a deeper, more personal battle. The year 2023 proved particularly challenging for many African founders globally, marking a period of intense strain that has continued into the current year. From Lagos to Nairobi, the stress of navigating a complex and demanding business environment took a significant toll on the mental well-being of these entrepreneurial leaders. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, captures the relentless nature of entrepreneurship with his words: “Running a startup is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss. After a while, you stop staring, but the glass chewing never…
-
Starting with WHY?
Starting with WHY? 2023 was a year of diverse experiences and lessons for many. For me, it was a period of profound learning. 2023 was a year of diverse experiences and lessons for many. For me, it was a period of profound learning. Entering 2024, the key takeaway from last year is the significance of beginning with the question “WHY?” In late 2023, a friend presented me with Simon Sinek’s book “START WITH WHY,” which included a remarkable story that I’m sharing in this article. The story goes: A team of American car executives visited a Japanese assembly line. At the end of the line, doors were attached to hinges, just as…
-
WE ARE KILLING OUR FUTURE! But we can SAVE IT.
For a very long-time young people have been marginalized and lacked active participation in the governance of our country even before the 2007 elections. Amongst the numerous things that affected the SLPP administration led by the former president, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (Blessed memory), was the predominant lack of representation of young people and women in leadership. In 2017, the APC administration led by His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma (Immediate Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone) began to increase the appointment of young people in leadership significantly. Today, the current administration under the leadership of His Excellency Julius Maada Bio has arguably appointed more young people than any…
-
COMMUNITY- THE DYSFUNCTION, NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IN SIERRA LEONE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. This beauty opined by the writer is based on its rich religious tolerance, its welcoming nature to foreigners, it’s very diverse ethnic backgrounds and the overall natural landscape and resilience of its people. But like every other country in Africa, Sierra Leone faces a lot of socio-economic and political constraints. The purpose of this article is not to deep dive into the socio-political or economic issues faced by this beautiful country but to explore the concept of community. For this article, the writer has defined a community as a collective group of people/individuals working in a collaborative,…
-
BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT RACIST
Racism in itself is a disgusting term, in fact whenever I hear the word, it reminds me of the many times I have faced this. As subtle as it could be, it still hurt very much by the mere thought of it. The truth is, no matter how we define racism, the fact remains that it is the manifestation of how horrible the person (racist) is on the inside. The Oxford dictionary defines racism using terms like “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism” all of which are very horrible act against another individual (strictly referencing humanity). So, can Black people be racist? irrespective of how much philosophy one wants to back it…
-
THE POLITICS OF CORRUPTION
Corruption! I mean not to be dramatic (maybe just a tiny bit), but I believe a five-year-old raised somewhere in Africa must have come across the word. Not that they would understand what it means. I do believe that most adults do not seriously understand what it is, but i am sure they must have heard of it. This article will NOT define what corruption is, if you are reading this expecting that this article will provide you with the definition of corruption then, DO NOT continue reading it. It’s intended purpose is to explore very simply, the politics in the fight against corruption. Maybe, also let readers decide whether…
-
THE MANY PROBLEMS OF AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THREE SHORT HEADINGS
Over the last ten years, the concept of entrepreneurship has seen increasing popularity. In African countries, many young people are taking the risk to venture into business and explore new opportunities to solve their most pressing problems. This in itself is a win for a continent that boasts more than 60% of its population made up of young people; so, to see increased entrepreneurial activities is something that makes us proud. However, as entrepreneurship begins to take shape in the continent, multiple problems that act as barriers start to arise. Bringing simple context to these challenges will hopefully provide clarity on the crucial next steps for entrepreneurship growth on…
-
IT IS A NEW YEAR, AND SO WHAT?
We have started a new year and like every year, it is a tradition to set goals and make new year’s resolutions. It is more of a tradition now than anything else really, but the truth is, it is no different than any other day. Like every other day in the previous year, nothing changes unless you have prepared for that change; there is no way to guarantee your future than being prepared today. So, we are in the New Year 2021 and so what? What is different from the last year? Many of us wore the same clothes on the December 31st 2020 to the January 1st 2021,…
