Category: Business

Business isn’t about numbers — it’s about your voice. We share real stories from entrepreneurs, professionals, job seekers, and career changers. From interviews to resignations, work wins to burnout — your journey matters, and we’re here to spotlight it. Work-life balance and everything in between — because behind every job title is a human story worth telling. Share yours with us.

The Magic Of Never Giving Up

Posted on by Jonathan

I didn’t plan to write this article. 

But the young man I am today is a reflection of all my insecurities from when I was growing up. Reflecting on my primary and secondary school days, many people thought I was weird because I was silent and shy. Losing my mum at a young age and coping with my aggressive stepmom was no less than an adventure I never dreamed of. 

My childhood was full of nightmarish times. I experienced more forms of shame and abuse that you can imagine. You don’t have to be ill or poor to live in hell.

(Photo courtesy of Patrick Tomasso via Unsplash)
(Photo courtesy of Patrick Tomasso via Unsplash)

Schooldays

My days in primary school played a significant role in shaping who I am today. I struggled — my uniform was among the most ragged in the class, torn and dirty. Each day, I was also the last student to reach school, carrying an unbeatable record for tardiness. I didn’t have the prescribed textbooks, as nobody cared to buy them for me. I was growing up on my own. I managed to photocopy my peers’ exercises for the class tests and exams. Taunts did not just come within my family, my classmates also bullied me, calling out a “food beggar.” 

Despite going through traumatic experiences both at home and school, I didn’t give up and held myself strong and determined. 

My focus was my studies. My rank at school was always among the top four students in my class, mostly ranked first, second, or third. 

At a young age, I knew what I wanted, I had set my goal, so I read and read every book I could find. I was among the teachers’ favorites, always obedient and sincere, building good relationships with them. I didn’t get the warmth of family love and the comforts that most of my classmates had, but I barely cared about it and never let it sour me.

While my childhood taught me the importance of humility, it also taught me what it’s like to experience hunger and abandonment. This went a long way in shaping me, and how I interact with others. My troubled childhood made me a more tolerant adult.

Secondary school was better, financially, as I could make some money by copying notes for less serious students. I also became more consistent in taking first positions and that helped me garner free textbooks. After finishing junior secondary (middle school),  I was transferred to a state government public school for my senior secondary education (high school). My class had over 494 students, and I was the youngest or at least one of them. I loved topping the class, but with over 50% of the students being continuing students, it was almost an impossible nut to crack. They understood the syllabus and exam pattern better than I did as an outsider. I was scared but I had to do it, or else get back to my gloomy home and I never wanted that. 

I started my senior secondary first term as the eleventh out of 494 students and then climbed up to seventh position by the second term. Although I topped in my class, that was only among a quarter of the 494 students I aimed to beat. 

(Photo courtesy of Himal Rana via Unsplash)

It was almost a tradition in the school that “ladies always graduated as the best overall” — a girl would always be the topper, and that remained unbeaten for a long time. After attending the graduation ceremony of my senior batch, my determination to top my graduation knew no  boundaries. I did it — I graduated as the best overall and the best-behaved student of my batch. Thus, the tradition changed — a major self-boosting change for me. How did I do it? I ignored the obstacles I faced and went for what I wanted. Was it easy? No. I had to work very hard and be super determined.

Attending my higher institution is another phase of my story, but not much different from my previous stories. Given my finances, I couldn’t get a university admission after graduation. Disheartened but not crushed, I settled for a vocational course, National Diploma. I joined the institution two months into the semester and still managed to top the class in all the semesters.

Respect regardless of status

I sometimes asked myself, am I a guru or a super exceptional student? And the answer was always No. I knew what I wanted and was going to chase it. I’m basically an introvert by nature, but my own nature helped me build good relationships along the way. I helped others whenever I could and respected everyone regardless of status.

Most importantly, I never gave up. There were times when I failed, but instead of dwelling on them, I corrected my mistakes. 

In addition to never giving up, there are certain key lessons that I learned through my experiences …

Sincerity

In a popular saying, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” Always keep to your word and be truthful. My sincerity with my words and actions helped me build trust all through my way. 

Humility 

Many people have underrated this very valuable virtue. No matter how independent you are, you still need others, perhaps even the most ‘irrelevant person‘ in the room. One thing I have realized during my journey is that everyone has something to offer. If you neglect anyone because of their status, you neglect the good they come with. 

Emotional intelligence 

You don’t need to take a course to understand emotional intelligence. Listen to your conscience and never rejoice when others are in pain. Then try not to frown when others are rejoicing. Distinguish between your emotions and your work or academics. Don’t let  problems interfere with  progress or else additional problems will pave its way. 

Stand up for yourself and start your engine

You don’t have to be perfect to be great. The president of any country, like my Nigeria, reached greatness in their realm without always being a saintly genius. Sorry. But here they are. Successful people are not necessarily the most hardworking. 

You lose 100% of the chance to succeed on every opportunity you fail to take. No one will penalize you for trying. 

(Photo courtesy of Alexander Grey via Unsplash)

Take advantage of opportunities

There is never a perfect time to get things done. The fact that you are where you are today doesn’t mean you can’t get to where you want to be. No opportunity is bigger than you if you are the driver of your destiny. 


Concluding thoughts

I remember saying to my younger self that one day I will write about my life experience, and I feel elated anytime I pick up my pen to do so. I know I haven’t gotten to my destination yet, but it doesn’t hurt to get a feel for what the future looks like. 

Me. Writer. I Don’t Exactly Have a Point I Want to Achieve

Posted on by Jonathan

I have always wanted to be a writer.
To tell my story to the world.
This raw feeling to be understood
To be validated by others who are willing to read
And see the world through my brain 
Has been haunting me ever since I was young.

But I always chose to run away.
I didn’t want to write because I think I was unable to write.
The way I poured out my words did no justice
To what I actually feel or think.
I was not skillful enough to deliver my words.
They say perfectionism kills the potential
And I have seen it more than enough, yet learned nothing from it.

Yet here I am today.
I want to start to write.
It’s okay if your words are not aesthetic enough.
You don’t have to be fancy French.
I know you have insecurities about being born a country bumpkin.
I am crude, I am not refined enough-— I cannot be
The high-value girl that could attract everything to her palm.
I need to work for it.
I need to carve my way to even arrive at my destination point.
I was not born rich enough to just live a carefree life.
But given my lot, I am not satisfied with just consuming and living a meaningless life.

I feel lost.
Don’t exactly have a point that I want to achieve.
I am scared that greed will lead my life astray.
But become greedless enough and you can be a vacuum.
Delivered to the open front door of nihilism.

Finding the balance between being and becoming
To be satisfied or to be starved
To living by the moment
Or one day living the life.
I am but a 20-something girl, pulled by the world to be an adult
Driven by fear and anxiety
Just to feel enough.

Some people really enjoy being lost.
They say once you are lost
You are pushed to rediscover your path.
They claim that direction is more important than speed
And being lost is the best way to rediscover it.  

But what if you are not lost, just stuck?
You can’t escape.
The job you hate.
The messy room you currently live in.
The toxic relationship you won’t fix.
Which one is more miserable, the first one or the rest?

Or is it just the fault of your state of confusion where you can’t even decide your current state?
You feel like you are lost
But you also think you are stuck.
In this state of bewilderment, you might, really, just be a coward.
With a diary. 

(Photo courtesy of Ashlyn Ciara via Unsplash)

Who Knew I’d follow My Family of Teachers Into the Profession I Hated!

Posted on by Jonathan

Some people would say teaching is in my blood and that I am destined for the job. I strongly disagree with this for many reasons. 

In my family, there are many teachers. My mom is a special education teacher, and so is my grandma. One of my aunts teaches 4th grade and another takes health classes for nursing students. However, when I graduated high school in 2012, I knew that teaching as a profession was not for me. I knew, once I left high school, that I would never want to step foot in any other public school classroom ever again. At the time I graduated high school, I didn’t even want to attend college. I felt forced into the decision by my family who all flew in from out of town to attend my graduation and started handing me cash for college expenses.

People don’t realize that they have such power in the words they say and in how they choose to communicate with their peers, whether that be through kind and thoughtful words or hateful and judgmental insults. The never-ending bullying that I endured throughout my childhood in the public education system turned me away from continuing my education in college, and it was the deciding factor for not wanting to be a teacher myself.  A real shame, because I later learned I have the potential to be a straight-A student and actually enjoy learning new things. 

I go back to school

Unfortunately in 2017, at the age of 23, I was forced back into school — this time, working as a special education paraprofessional. I was a lost soul who was severely lacking purpose and direction in life. It was simply a job that paid money, and that it was all anyone cared about. 

To be a teacher, you have to have the right personality to deal with all the bureaucracy in the schools and among the staff. But you also have to have a real passion for the job to deal with the many challenging behaviors from the children; I severely lacked both qualities. Added to that, there’s the lack of proper compensation for all the hard work and effort you put into doing the job. It became evident to everyone involved that I did not want to do it. 

(Image courtesy of Mick Haupt via Unsplash)

In July 2020, I decided to go back to school, because I did not want to spend the rest of my life working jobs I hated just for a paycheck. I didn’t want to be just another number at a job who was reminded every day that I was easily replaceable. I wanted to do something meaningful with my life and be properly compensated for it.  So, I enrolled in an online degree in an elementary teaching program. Yes, teaching! 

(Image courtesy of Cole Townsend via New Old Stock)

However, it was for a very short time. Later in December of 2021, I decided to change my major after being screwed over by yet another school district.

Working in the schools was a lot like being stuck back in school — a feeling of being forced into school, just like in my childhood. 

There are also cliques of employees at every single school and district, and for someone who never fitted in properly in school, even as a child, work easily became a monumental disaster. Not only were the students at these schools now name-calling me. Yes, hurling pet names at a fully-grown adult!  The staff, and my colleagues, started calling me into meetings and pointing out everything I was doing wrong to bully and harass me. 

Many of these districts got rid of me for stupid reasons that weren’t even justifiable. The nerve. They simply didn’t like me and so chose not to invest their time in helping me become a better employee. It was a no-win situation and I eventually felt like an epic failure. 

I saw admin staff send us educators running for the hills

People are saying that there is a teacher shortage, but from what I am seeing, the shortage is of teachers. The shortfall lies in the way these districts are run and run down by staff and administrations. That is, sending many teachers running for the hills and fleeing the profession in outrage. 

As teachers, we want to be appreciated for our work and to be properly compensated for the immense effort we put into the work, especially with the rising cost of living. We want to feel safe at our place of employment and not fear for our safety every day. We also want to be rewarded for our efforts with respect, and not to be belittled and bullied by supervisors on a rampage.

The public education system is severely broken. I say that instead of trying to force change within the students, educators should first look in the mirror and ask what they can do to help create a better working environment for their employees. 

Because when employees don’t care, students can’t. The teachers burn out, they don’t love the material, they don’t love the interaction with the students, and they don’t address or maybe punish — okay, guide — students who misbehave. Isn’t that enough for you to give up the art of being a teacher?

Which Students Does University Life Really Cater To?

Posted on by Jonathan

When I received my offer to study at a prestigious institution, The University of Edinburgh, I was overjoyed. Still am. I am incredibly lucky to study in the same place as brilliant academics, in a city immersed in culture and history, and to be able to live with my best friends. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities I have come across here. However, I am almost equally aware that my journey within this university is starkly different from the majority of students — I have a part-time job, I do not have any contact in any large industry, and I cannot afford to financially juggle my food, shop, and additional fees. A phrase that often comes to mind is a well-known one: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.


(Photo courtesy of the author)

From state school to uni

I grew up in a small town in North East England and attended state schools my entire life. I did not realize how defining this would be to my identity until I began to attend university. I am not claiming to have an “underprivileged” background or lifestyle: I have a happy family with a lovely home, pets, and yearly family holidays. Yet there’s no doubt that the school I attended has wholly defined my friendship circles, social activities, where I live, the societies I’ve joined, and, essentially, every aspect of university life. 

The varsity’s expenses — a paradox

The first reason for this is arguably the most obvious one: money. Rent prices in Edinburgh are notoriously high, and so the location and size of your flat — as well as who your flatmates are — are, of course, defined by what you can afford. Although notable, I suppose this is more of a universal issue rather than intrinsically linked to university life. What is more significant to the university is the extracurricular activities that are available to students. On paper, every student is entitled to join whichever societies or sports clubs they wish. Practically, this is not the case. 

To join most sports, students are required to pay for sports union membership, gym membership, club membership, kit or uniform, race or game fees, travel fees, and so on. But ultimately, this is not accessible to students of all economic backgrounds. I hear you ask, “But surely the university has done something to help with this?” My answer: “sort of.” I heard from my flatmate of something called the “Learning Opportunity Fund,” where the university would pay up to £350 to any student impacted by recent strike action. This money would provide financial aid to go towards certain opportunities, such as joining university sports clubs or unpaid internships. I thought to myself, “Fantastic! What a step in the right direction!” However, when I went to apply for this aid, I found that it was already closed, surprisingly the funds exhausted, meaning it was not made available even for a full semester. Here, I began to question how the funds could be exhausted when Sir Peter Mathieson, the Principal of The University of Edinburgh, has recently had his expenses for 2022/2023 published under Freedom of Information laws, exposing the fact that the university has increased their payments by £26,000 more than the sum of the previous academic year. This is meant for a range of different expenses, but arguably the most notable is spending £1,089  towards landscaping for Mathieson’s eucalyptus tree upkeep and some painting work. So how is it that the most elite members of the university receive five-figure sums in funding, but I am unable to join a sports club?

Loud whisper of stereotyping

The second experience that has stuck with me as a state school student is certain acts of discrimination. I recall, during my first year of university, a conversation I had with some fellow students. We were discussing topics such as which degree we’re studying, our A-Level subjects, and, by association, the school we attended. Upon revealing that I was state-educated, those students turned around and muttered, “She must have got into this uni on the inclusivity program,” and walked away. 

Based on this experience, I can see why so many students at prestigious, traditional universities experience imposter syndrome. Every day it becomes clearer that getting the same grades and attending the same university does not mend the strikingly obvious class divide in the UK, and that if you went to a state school your work ethic and academic ability are likely to be sneered at. Attending a lecture, tutorial, university event, or social occasion and feeling welcomed should be the norm rather than a privilege reserved for society’s elite. Why is it standard for my peers to be shocked when they have never heard of my school? Or to gasp upon learning that I did not pay for my primary and secondary education, but ended up in the same room as them, nevertheless? To clarify, I do not speak for all private school students here: I have many privately educated friends who aren’t bothered where I went to school. I also have no idea about the schools attended by other friends because it’s simply not on my agenda! But things like scholarly confidence and social engagement should not be conditioned by my education or social class; they should be influenced by my ability to dedicate myself to my studies and who I am as a person.

(Photo Courtesy of K. Mitch Hodge via Unsplash)

Need a little help here

My time at university has always treated me remarkably well, and I’m sure it will continue to do so. I’ll always be grateful for how lucky I am to attend such an elite institution, and I have, indeed, been presented with a range of opportunities, both academic and extracurricular. However, it is my inability to access these opportunities that separates me from a lot of the students here. I feel I speak for many students when I say it is remarkably frustrating to be denied opportunities due to the high cost of living and the university’s lack of financial aid. It must be noted that I truly love Edinburgh and that everyone at this university has worked hard to be here and to achieve their goals. 

However, when discussing students’ pasts and futures, it is clear that university culture embodies the UK’s class divide remarkably well. 


(Photo courtesy of the author)

Swimming Out and Changing Careers

Posted on by Jonathan

Let me set a scene for you. I’m at gorgeous Coogee Beach in Sydney, on the Pacific — just had a really nice swim  — and the sun is about to set on my twenties. 

As I watched the sunset, I thought a lot about what I want my thirties to look like. And it hit me like the waves that struck me during my swim. I thought to myself, “I do not want to be in the office anymore.”

This is not to say the media agency I was at, or the people I worked with were bad. The work is achievable, and ideally, by my age, I would need a stable career. The people I was working with were all fantastic people, and the office and location beautiful. But the one question I kept asking myself was — is this something I want to do for the rest of my life? Simply put, NO! By the time I was at Coogee, I was burnt out at work. The very same day I made a vow to pursue things that give me happiness and peace; that energize me every day. Writing, photography, and teaching are some of those. I wanted to chase them all. 


Fast forward one month, and I handed in my resignation. 

After working for five years in the media industry, where I was involved in successful campaign implementations and met so many amazing people, I stepped away from the comforts and into the unknown. My passion drove me away from the comforts.

(Photo courtesy of the author)

I headed toward a destination more peaceful and fulfilling  — life as a writer, a photographer, or a teacher overseas was my dream. A lot of people in my work circle thought it was a ballsy thing to do and results will not come overnight. So in the meantime,  I’m looking for something temporary or part-time to cover my expenses …

I keep myself busy 

Volunteering for a community center, staying in the gym, learning a new language, and practicing in language exchanges are the ways I kept myself busy. All these activities helped me stay busy and sane through the long rut of finding a job two years ago. With volunteering, I may not get paid, but along with gaining experience and honing my skills, there was an inner joy I got by teaching the elderly English or about using phones. The gym gave me a sense of accomplishment — completing heavy lifts. And learning a new language shows a dedication to learning new things.

That dedication has extended to my pursued career


(Photo courtesy of the author)

Before I handed in my resignation, I started writing a blog about my journey from office worker to potential freelancer. I’ve also been refreshing my knowledge about freelance writing and immersing myself back into a master’s course in writing. Language exchanges have allowed me to learn and get better at a language whilst also helping those who are struggling with English. 

After I resigned, the first thing I did was go back to Coogee where it all started. I then went on the Coogee-to-Bronte walk and took photos from that even more scenic beach. Since then I’ve been on photography trips, heading to different beaches and some areas I have never been to before. There is a lot of testing out of lighting and shutter speeds to help me develop a style of photography that is truly mine; which is actually what this journey has been about — developing a me best suited to writing, teaching, or photography.

Still, I haven’t 100% said goodbye to the media 

You can never be sure in life, so I can’t be certain I’m done with the media industry forever. There have been publishers and people from other agencies that I’ve met that I would go as far as to say are my friends. One good thing about the media industry is that the people in it are quite laid back, so , it was easy to make connections there as I’m the same kind of person. Plus, I’ve always been told to never burn bridges. If this career change doesn’t work out, those connections I made through just being my outgoing self at many media parties will bode well if I  return to the media industry. Never say never.

Career changes are never easy. I can say with certainty that it is still scary stepping away from somewhere that gave me comfort and security to delve into the unknown. But when those doubts start to creep in…

I remind myself of the why


(Photo courtesy of the author)

At the end of “The Last Dance” documentary, Michael Jordan said it was maddening that not only did he retire at his peak, but he and the Bulls didn’t get the chance to go for seven NBA championships. There are so many could haves or what ifs to this day that bothered Jordan, and I wonder if I might feel the same if I didn’t at least try. And it isn’t just because I want the comfort in saying I tried my best, it’s because I want to chase things that’ll give me happiness. I want to break out of the 9 to 5 routine and be my own man. If I do end up back in the media industry, I want to at least proudly say I gave it my best. Working at a desk, I can sit back at peace, knowing that I tried. 

We all have different circumstances in life that make career changes less than  ideal. If an opportunity knocks where you can pursue your passion in life, can we take that leap forward? Life is short and can end in an instant — this year has shown me how to take those leaps instead of sitting by and waiting for those leaps to happen.

Starting an Online Business: My Steps to Achieving Success

Posted on by Jonathan

Have you ever sighed deeply after a mistake or mishap and said to yourself, “If only I knew,” or “I wish someone could have told me…”?

Well, I did. As mindful as we can try to be, I don’t think anyone likes making mistakes. We all wish we could prevent mishaps and unpleasantness.

Predicting the future is impossible, but I eventually understood that I can learn from others’ mistakes and lessons. 

I got ahead on taxes and legal stuff

Starting an online business isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. I scaled my coaching business in less than two years, and it was no walk in the park. I did things right, and I did things wrong, but the lessons learned are invaluable.

Tax and legal bits — definitely the least exciting aspect of starting a business — are super important, and I wished someone had guided me through it all. Especially for a digital nomad, it can be hard to handle the gray areas of the lifestyle that come with it and to keep up with taxes while traveling. Where do I pay taxes? Where should I receive my income? Will my home country have a problem with this? These are some of the questions that filled my head.

Taxes are much more than just tracking your monthly expenses and income. It’s the things no one tells you about, like organizing your invoices, getting your forms, saving your receipts, and setting up a legal structure. 

(Photo Courtesy of Michael Walter via Unsplash)

Since my business took off so quickly, I needed more legal support, tax advice, and help to get my ducks in a row. I consulted with international tax lawyers because only they could shed light on my very particular situation—double nationality, double residency, etc. My instincts were right; I needed to start sorting my legal aspects early on.

Luckily, I’ve always been good at managing money. I always know how much cash I have and how much to spend today after saving for tomorrow. Being aware and on top of all your finances is a gratifying feeling.

Managing my time and energy has been the most important skill I could master

As a new entrepreneur, I was alone trying to do it all. And as my business started picking up, I soon found myself managing strategy, marketing, funnels, and all that good stuff. 


(Photo Courtesy of eduardo199o9 via Pexels)

I learned the hard way how to prioritize my time and energy at every level. As my business grew, it became more and more challenging to balance everything. Just because you master something at one level does not mean you’ve mastered it for eternity.

Business will evolve as we do; shift your priorities as you go. 

Investing in myself is a must-do

When a business starts, it is okay to rely on free advice and resources, thinking that’s enough. Luckily, I realized soon enough that nothing compares to tailored and proper groundwork. You are unique! And so is your business. So why conform to free generic stuff if what you’re trying to put together is something extraordinary?

(Photo Courtesy of Krakenimages via Unsplash)

I did use freebies on and off, but I certainly also invested in coaches, programs, new team members and different ways to support myself. Even outside of my coaching business, I looked for support where I needed it, whether that was mental health, business courses, or outdoor activities — if those things contribute to your time, energy, and momentum, they’re all worth it.

You will only be able to grow a business if you invest in yourself. Period. It’s not if; it’s just when. It will make your business journey much smoother, saving time and money in the long run.

I created a support system by my side

In 2022, I joined a misfit mastermind group. Without a supportive community, I was facing endless headaches and decision fatigue, and this well-suited community was the missing piece that would have made my business journey so much smoother from the start. Let’s just say…a lot of mistakes could have been avoided. 

(Photo Courtesy of Wade Austin Ellis via Unsplash)
(Photo Courtesy of Wade Austin Ellis via Unsplash)

Having support also means you have someone to discuss things with and bounce ideas off. Making decisions alone can be overwhelming, and all biz owners out there know how many choices you have to make as an entrepreneur. 

I learned that money is important, but it isn’t everything 

Money doesn’t change everything. I learned to keep in mind my health, the health of my business, and the passion that drives us both. These elements are ultimately more important than how much I bring in each month.

Money is just a byproduct of all your other things: marketing, working with clients, and building your biz.

Money means nothing unless you assign it a value. What does money mean to you? Honestly. 

Energy is the most important thing at every stage of business

Your audience can feel your energy, I promise you. And I am a real example of it.

The #1 reason clients hire me is my energy during workshops, interviews, posts, launches, and meetings. My energy draws people to me, and it’s everything when turning potential clients into real clients. 

(Photo Courtesy of Anna Tarazevich via Pexels)

But there’s a flip side: I gave so much energy away in 2021 that I had nothing left. I burned myself out. This happens to a lot of entrepreneurs. We love what we do so much, and we love to hustle. I need to constantly go, go, go. 

While it’s good to have drive and ambition, you cannot forget to take care of yourself. Aiming for balance, not burnout.

I learned how to make hard decisions

And making them fast and with confidence. 

When you’re starting an online business, decisive action is crucial; indecision, any prolonged deliberation and agonizing over small things will only stall progress.


(Image courtesy of the writer)

I didn’t fully realize how many hard decisions I had to make as a business owner until this year. I’ve learned that the best way to handle it is to plan and commit, then move forward. The last part is the hardest but most important — make a plan, then lean fully into it.

If you’re having trouble making decisions, get support from a coach or another business owner. Self-trust decision-making is a muscle — the more you practice it, the more natural it becomes.

Starting an online business isn’t just a career decision — it’s a personal one

Becoming an entrepreneur challenges you to grow as both a person and a business owner, so inevitably, you’ll start noticing how much you start discovering about yourself. This is because entrepreneurship is fundamentally different from employment, where everything is set in stone and more predictable, with little room for self-discovery. All of a sudden, you’re in charge of everything, and everything is new: setting up a legal entity, creating a website, brainstorming, and strategy; it’s all new, and it all triggers new emotions and ideas that are rarely felt under the regular employment mode. 

If you want to succeed in business, you must take your personal development seriously. The most important thing is mastering your mindset. You can only make it in this industry with a rock-solid mindset. Mindset is everything in business.

Every day challenges you in new ways, and you have to choose a growth mindset to believe you are capable of more. 

If you’re struggling with this, make sure you’re only managing what you can handle. Take a step back and evaluate how much you’ve taken on, discard what’s too much, and readjust. And make working on your mindset a daily focus. Last but not least, I stopped trying to make everything happen all at once. Being realistic and self-kind should also be a daily focus.

(Photo Courtesy of RDNE Stock project via Unsplash)

Accountability gets things done

Part of why starting an online business appealed to me is the freedom it creates. I don’t have to report to a boss or commute to the office. No one will care if I blow off work to go to the beach. 

(Photo Courtesy of Aditya Saxena via Unsplash)

On the other hand, working only 1-2 hours per day and spending most of my time at the beach isn’t realistic for my business or my bank account. Some people claim to work only 2-3 hours a day — not true. At least not in their first year of business. I learned I needed to look at my goals and craft a feasible plan. If I want to build a million-dollar empire, most likely, it will take more than a few hours of work to get that business off the ground in the beginning.

People also claim you need discipline. Overrated. Do you know what really worked well for me? Accountability. I feel responsible for something I created myself, which is truly precious. That is the true and most reliable engine. I have never worked 24/7, but I have learned to work smart, not hard. 

I know I will be okay

Everyone goes through hard times in their business, so just know you are not alone. 

If you want to quit or can’t handle it, remind yourself that you’ll be okay. I’ve been there, and I can promise it will all work out if you keep moving forward, as every mistake is a learning opportunity. 

(Photo Courtesy of Key Notiz via Pexels)

You have to have persistence, determination, and trust that the process will unfold how it’s meant to. If you believe it can happen, it will. I believed in my success before anyone else did. And I didn’t play small! While dreaming big, I learned to also be patient. 

Everything takes time. Everyone has their own journey. Everyone has their path.

Shifting Paths: Finding Balance After Burnout in a Global Pandemic

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The Fluttering palms, warm sunsets, and rustic charm of Ouled Teima – that’s where my story begins. My name is Abdelwahed Ladham, a proud son of this Moroccan city. My academic pursuit had its moonshot in obtaining a Master Degree in Environmental Science, a crowning jewel from my educational saga. However, with 2020 blindsiding us with the Covid-19 pandemic, what should have been my golden ticket into an environmental career eerily morphed into an uncertain labyrinth of unemployed dreams.

I could sense the early harbingers of burnout: emptiness, apathy, a heightened sense of fatigue, punctuating a professional life that hadn’t even fully set sail. The slide was insidious, born from the gap between my academic efforts and the tumultuous career landscape suddenly deprived of stable platforms to practice my craft. Days of job hunting yielded nothing but monotonous echoes of redundancies and cutbacks. 

This constant friction between expectations and reality waged a quiet war within me. I saw my sharp acuity gradually erode into a savage fatigue pilfering chunks from my life, one day at a time. This wasn’t just burnout, it was a thunderous crisis foisted into my lap by a nonchalant turn of events with its epicenter a world away.

Yet, inside me stirred a resolve. An unflinching beacon that reared its head and graced me with an epiphany tucked within these lines of Albert Einstein, “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity”. Emerging from the wreckage of my dreams, I realized, was a realm that remained vastly uncharted – e-commerce.

E-commerce provided a realm where restraints felt vacuous. The digital sphere knew no walls and oddly held an uncanny lure in a world caged by a lethal rampage. It promised not just a path forward but one that was forgiving to the restrictions birthed by facing an invisible harbinger of doom lingering ominously out there.

Diving headfirst into the world of e-commerce was like dipping into a salad of varied emotions. There were new skills to learn, codes to decipher, trends to understand, and apps to master. What initially resembled an astronomical cavalcade of chaos was starting to piece itself out into an exciting game of chess. Every calculated move fueled by the intuition born of a global crisis that was breeding an adaptability I was only beginning to recognize within me.

Navigating this universe offered a peculiarly therapeutic counterbalance to my burnout. It carved out a new rhythm into my life that gradually brought along its melodies balance and harmony mirrored in my stabilizing state of mind. With each passing day, the symptoms that once defined my burnout began shedding themselves off. Sprouting its place were a steady resolve and a drive, greased by the experience that a global crisis had inculcated within me.

In the winding landscape that was my life’s narrative, these experiences have birthed a lesson, platinum-lined by its timeless relevance. When faced with adversity or even a root-level life change, it’s crucial not to overlook the potential lying dormant within us. A capacity that enables us to redraw the blueprint of our life map when necessary. Indeed, resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it also encompasses a flexibility to bend with the storm, and when times demand, pivot and chart a new path. As I continue this perennial learning process, I am reflecting on my journey – glaring with trials, successes, and an adaptability that has become my most trustworthy weapon, one sharpened and weathered in the forge of my story of resilience.

My identity was never shackled to burnout, nor was it anchored irrevocably into my academic field. It now withstands as a tribute to human resilience echoing through my story, assuring others that while adversity hurts, it also teaches — and its lessons are etched in granite. As long as you are open to correction, flexible enough to bend, adamant enough to learn, and tenacious enough to evolve, the scenarios that the world throws may sway but not uproot you.

Therefore, to every person who might stumble upon this piece, I say this — be brave to redraw your life’s maps. Embrace change like a tavern friend, and guard your resilience like a precious bounty, for they alone can steer you through even the harshest of life’s thrilling yet potentially rewarding narrative pivot points.

Whore Sonnets

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An autobiography (of sorts) in five sonnets

See Me

A figure covered with a sheet.
(Image courtesy of Alice Shardan via Pexels)

A vision of seduction, a slim waist,
Her fit physique an invitation,
To explore the longings your heart craves,
Her energy is your new fixation.
She radiates playful, flirtatious vibes,
With her hypnotic soft blueish-green eyes,
She’s your new addiction, eager to please.
She can bring any man weak to his knees.
Invigorating, trying new places,
Indulging in steamy, intimate fun.
Covering all bases with her graces,
You know you are done before you’ve begun.
Spending time with this whore is a pleasure
A refreshing sweet life, a true treasure.

Feel Me

Hands forming a clay pot.
(Image courtesy of Antoni Shkraba via Pexels)

When I lay my head back to fantasize,
Your tongue gently lapping between my thighs,
With a steady fingering of my ass.
My luxuriant Grace, my Aphrodite!
All the maidens stand around the altar,
Caressing their breasts, tearing their garments.
Your tongue a holy hymn from a psalter;
Ecstasy! I pray to your performance!
I desire. I crave. You set me on fire.
If I had a cock I would live inside
Your warm, wet, eternally perfumed pyre.
My mango, my mystical honey guide!
On a silky white horse, ride me to Troy,
And fuck me, fuck me, like your little toy.

Hands and flowers floating in opaque water.
(Image courtesy of Monstera Production via Pexels)

Touch Me

Every other Sunday at three,
I go to see ancient Ethel.
I lift her frailty gingerly,
And place her in a bubble bath.
I clean her with a soapy glove,
Soft, slow circles across her skin,
Till I can feel her body move;
A mystic melody within.
I lay her down upon her bed,
And with fingertips, tongue and hair,
Massage her soul from toe to head.
Her intense moans, her spectral prayer.
Miss Ethel may not walk easily,
Still, her body seeks eternity.

Know Me

Murals of a woman’s face, with a bike leaning against one of the faces.
(Image courtesy of Maria Teneva via Unsplash)


My breasts started when I was eleven.
And, my period appeared the next year.
I wasn’t ready for maternal lessons,
I kept it a secret out of some fear.
Around then, I began masturbating
Life took on an erotic undertone.
New sensations were constantly waiting,
And I liked paying attention to them.
Sitting, I would squeeze my legs together;
It was a titillating thing to do.
Staying up late, playing with my nethers
Stirring myself into an edging stew.
My body was then my pleasure alone
Sacred, electrifying and of mine own.

Love Me

I would not be amazed if it turns out
You are now a happy mother of twins
Or the keeper of privy passe-partout,
Unlocking secrets to eternal springs.
Running a secret twenty-four-hour crew;
Or tied to monitors, vegetating;
In a condo above Park Avenue;
Going around the world, rollerblading.
Nothing about you would surprise me much.
You are, if nothing else, a survivor.
You always worked hard for your magic touch,
Directing yourself through the savoir-vivre.
The world is yours, you desire it to be,
Even though it offers no guarantee.

I’m not stunned by anything you might do
I’m so in love with the you that is you.

I Am Just As Confused As You Are

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You are not alone, I am just as confused as you are. 

My life hasn’t always been the way I wanted it to be. I hated business studies in my junior secondary school, but surprisingly, I had the highest score on the “termly assessment” test. I wanted to be a science student, but I got randomly selected for a commercial class and ended up loving it. As a student of commerce, I graduated as the best in my set. 

Discovering what I wanted to do with my life and career was even more challenging. 

At 16, I started blogging on blogger.com, and I got so good at it that I began editing the HTML of blogger templates. Later, I got bored, dropped blogging, and moved on to writing poetry and short stories. I had a lot of readers, wow — random people spoke about how they loved my writing — I stopped again. Because I was confused! I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. 

A chameleon amongst leaves.
(Image courtesy of Michael Held via Unsplash)

I transitioned back to tech and began learning to code and write programs. I started from the basics by mastering HTML and CSS. I stopped again! All this, while I was a student of insurance at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. 

Funny enough, I never wanted to study insurance. I wanted to study accounting, but studying accounting was so competitive, I opted for the more guaranteed employment provider — Insurance. I didn’t want to spend an additional year at home and I knew that becoming an accountant only required that you have the knowledge and pass the professional exams.

My grades were good, so I picked up my finance ambition again and dusted it off. I started my journey into investment banking and landed in some internships. I was doing well, yet my interest drifted to product management. I took a course on digital product management. My interest remained, but that was it. Nothing more. I didn’t feel the need to chase a career in product management. I came back to finance.

While juggling my passion for finance with product management, I launched a podcast series on discovering Africa. Unfortunately, after the first two episodes, I stopped. My problem is that I prefer actions to idle thoughts, and I love learning from my failures. I really can’t remember how many times I have edited my LinkedIn profile to suit my dynamic ideas and ambitions.

I can’t say whether I was really confused or not – I was that confused! All I knew was that I wanted to make a difference. Yes, I am crazy. But trust me, I am not the only crazy dude out there. If being crazy is the only way to break out of my comfort zone, then I want to remain crazy.

Why did I write all this? There are thousands of other crazy intellectuals and creatives out there who have yet to discover their passion. They have been on an never-ending journey of discovering their passion, and finding their niche has become their passion. 

If there is one thing I have learned during my journey, it is that no one has it all figured out. It is okay to keep evaluating your potential. It is okay to keep trying new options and exploring new opportunities. The world is limitless to those who know no boundaries.

A Journey from Nopreneur to an Entrepreneur

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Life is full of ups and downs,’ we have all heard this.

For me, this saying is completely justified. I have always been an achiever, since my childhood, with distinctions all through my academics. As an electronic engineer by training and a founder by passion, I took the path from a Bachelors of Technology degree in Electronics to becoming an entrepreneur, but it was never easy for me. Although the beginning was hopeful, later, I had my share of hardships. 


Starting my career in 2013 at the giant consulting firm Tech Mahindra, I was placed via campus recruitment as an Associate Software Engineer. I resigned after two years of association in 2015 with anticipation of starting my own boutique. But fate saw to it that I didn’t get the chance to start my dream boutique at all. 

Hands of various people lined up along a log.
(Image courtesy of Shane Rounce via Unsplash)

Not disheartened, I pushed myself and started preparing for the Masters in Business Administration examinations, managing through it with the little savings I made from my short tenure at Tech Mahindra Ltd. To secure admission into a top-tier institute, I went through the ordeals of SNAP, XAT, CMAT, and CET. Based on my good CMAT and CET scores, I joined a Management Institute. 

I also got an interview call from Amdocs, a US-based company. My parents were reluctant to let me work abroad, probably because they feared for my safety in a foreign land. So I accepted a remote offer from Wcities Content Solutions—a travel and entertainment content publisher—as a Freelance Editor. 

This was in 2017. 

By 2019, I decided to leave the employment world. Determined to start something on my own, I started freelancing, all from zero.

What you are seeking is seeking you

I got my first break from Pete Hillier, a client from London via Truelancer, and there has been no looking back since then.  Content projects started pouring in rapidly from across the world. 

After working for several clients and projects for over a year, it was the Pepper Content website that spotted me and regarded me as one of the ‘Highest Paid Freelancers’. They introduced me to several brands, such as Upgrad, Springboard, Mercer|Mettl, American Technology Consulting, PayTm, and many more. Within a year of consistent performance, they regarded me as a ‘Pepper Certified Writer’.

A gold trophy against a white background.
(Image courtesy of Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash)

After three years of working with Pepper for over 300 top brands, I had the confidence to finally start my own agency. I have now been successfully running my own agency since December 2022. 

The trajectory from being an associate to an entrepreneur has been rewarding. Delightfully, it has earned me the honor of “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2022-23” by the Indian Achievers’ Forum, Delhi, India. As the cherry on top, I am now a part of the IndieFolio network, too.

A decade of tireless days, I am today representing Woman Entrepreneurship, nurturing a team of 20 talented professionals. Having groomed and guided innumerable aspirants over all these years is satisfying. All thanks to my mentors, my friends, and the people who have supported me and who have always been there to lift me up when I am down.

This is a small message from me to everyone out there, that if I can do it, so can you.