Hello good evening. Good citizens of Nigeria. Hello Lagosians. How are you all doing this lovely lovely Friday evening.
It’s exciting to be here on The Good Citizen Show today. I’m your host for this evening. My name is Dami Cruz, and I am so excited about the discussion we’re going to have today and the lovely guests we have in house with us, who I will introduced to us later.
It’s been an exciting week. I know it’s been challenging because of this whole matter of fuel and it’s not just Lagos I think it’s everywhere in Nigeria. I think a couple of our colleagues are in Abuja right now. And they were like Lagos is not suffering like Abuja is suffering. You would think that it’s worst. Like basically a guy leave the house at 4:00 AM to look for fuel, as at 10, he hadn’t still got fuel. Which is tough and I can imagine what it’s like in Lagos where I tell you, even though, I think I got my fuel last week and I was queuing, I was like ok, well, I will just buy maybe you know 4 thousand, 5 thousand, to just to hold myself. I knew I didn’t have enough but at the same time I spoke with my mom
My mom said, you know what?! Just fill up. Just to be sure that you are okay (Dami and guest laughs)
And thankfully, I’m glad I did, because like I was really lucky. To actually find that fuel that last week Friday because it was just before the show, I was thinking I must find feul before I come to this show (guest laughs) because I cannot think of where else I will go to now to find fuel. But, as we all are doing,I know you are trying to go and pass on through these challenges that we’re facing. I know that these two shall pass.
I think even when I was going through, I think I was going through Tik Tok this week, and someone says a rare picture of a rare picture of something you will never see again. And he puts a picture of like a fuel price notification. Petrol N65 meter. Diesel N112and I’m like wow.
We’d back then. I think someone just said I think we should frame this so we can show our children (Laughs). When petrol was of N65 million. Here we are, I think 165. N100 difference. Diesel is over a N1000.
But it’s just crazy how things are getting bad, and especially for business owners you know, it’s very challenging, especially when you’re running a business and you have to buy fuel or you have to buy diesel. Your cost, your operational cost has considerably increased just because of diesel alone. I mean and for those that are renting, you’re never talking of rent. And landlord can come and say, I’m increasing my rental please. And you can’t but not continue in that light, and which is why we’re talking today, really, in a story like we are trying to talk about building a “Business That Lasts.”
Especially in just like we have even heard from the news headlines that inflation is at the all-time high of 17%, that is crazy.
And I think this is also a global issue because I think in the UK to their experience in their own level of increase in bills ETC, which is very very challenging. So, we are talking about building a business that last. Today we have a special guest again who I would introduce, but do you know that you know I mean, if you’ve been running your business for the past five years, right? Of course, you have achieved what 80% of starter founders in Nigeria couldn’t do.
If you’ve been running your business successfully for five years, you’ve achieved, so if you’re thinking to yourself, oh, I’m still struggling. Honestly, it’s not easy. I’ve not made it yet. If you’re running for a business for five years, you are actually I think you should be grateful because in times like this, if you’re able to pull it off, I mean if you can succeed now, what else? What can’t you do, really?
Obviously with the help of God and with the help of every other thing that you need, but what really, can’t you do? and then this study shows that only one out of 25 businesses that started together in Nigeria so survive after 10 years. Well, while about 80% fail within five years. You know that is crazy and crazy statistics. And this is a whopping 96% really in Total.
And you know, for aspiring entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners, you are like, am not sure I want to start. Maybe I should just stay, you know, continue with my 9:00 to 5:00. Or you know, whatever it is they find themselves doing.
And I’m going to introduce our guest today who’s been running our business for over 10 years. I’m sure even more. It’s interesting to see that which will come into what she’s been able to achieve in those ten years really with her business. So, we have with us today, Mrs. Bolaji Edwards.
She is the founder and director of Cantan Conquers you know, with she’s had over 20 years of experience managing teams. And have passion is in education and this can be seen through her various volunteer rules and service to humanity. And some of you may be wondering what is Cantan conquers really. Which we will definitely do so Cantan Conquers, easy business hub that offers booking of flexible facility office facilities to cater variety of business needs.
And this is where, the reason we have her on the show today is, should I say our host, Bekeme, as well, B’MO as I call her, so when CSR-in-Action started a few years back, over 10 years ago as well, We used to use Cantan Conquers for our office facility. So, Cantan Conquers kind of offers facilities for, you know, young startups or startups, why am I saying young startups? (Dami and Mrs. Bolaji laughs). But startup who, you know you may not have money to start paying some ridiculous amount of rent, but it can at least, you know that kind of you know, like how we have this shared workspace. If you can just come in, maybe pay N2000 or N3000 for one day, and that in itself will obviously flourish to something better.
So, thank you for coming on the show Mrs. Edwards
Mrs. Edwards: Thank you for having me.
Dami Cruz: It’s a pleasure and we’re just discussing really about how she started this.
You know, this business really, you know, and the business is actually located in Victoria Island, Oniru.
And we’re just talking and she’s like, well, she mentioned like when they started, when she started before Oniru was Oniru.
(Mrs. Edwards laughs)
It was like when you I must leave it. I’m having a big boy; you know that’s where he is
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: But how did you come up with that name? Canton conquers it’s very, it’s very interesting
Mrs. Edwards: It is a tongue twister
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Dami Cruz: So, how did you come up with that name?
Mrs. Edwards: UM, to be honest with you, I can’t take credit for that name. My husband actually came up with that name
Dami Cruz: Really?
Mrs. Edwards: Because I had my names Uhm, being a man, he rejected pretty much every single name that I have got.
Dami Cruz: Ican very much imagine.
Mrs. Edwards: You know, so he was like you know, you need something that people remember. You need something that you know, isn’t something people hear about all the time
Dami Cruz: Yes
Mrs. Edwards: So of course, picked up the dictionary started going through, you know, all the possible names.
Dami Cruz: Hmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, for me, Concourse is a place where people gather it’s a gathering of people.
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: So that was fine by me
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: But first, it was still too simple
Dami Cruz: right
Mrs. Edwards: So, he came up with the Canton Concourse. Canton actually means a small district. concourse means a place where give people gather.
Dami Cruz: Oh!
Mrs. Edwards: So, where you put the two together? It’s a small district in a large gathering
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: So basically, the office space as you just mentioned
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: Individual office spaces within a collection of office spaces
Dami Cruz: Yeah, very very I mean that is very well I think thought out. Like that would have taken you like months
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Mrs. Edwards: I can imagine
Dami Cruz: How did you come up with the business name? I’ve worked with certain people, and you know different people go different ways. Or maybe we should use something in Latin, or maybe something in Greek or Hebrew.
Mrs. Edwards: The business, we actually went down the Greek route
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
I went down. Because in the training floor we have names for all the rooms in the training floor.
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: I actually went down the Greek road and you know people were like what does that mean?
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
And I was so tired of explaining Canton Concourse. I said I’m not going to explain Greek word either
Dami Cruz: I know. You have to be careful, especially, so we have started this conversation. So when I mean obviously this to show how interesting it is to build a business that last. You have to think of the name that will stick. You can’t just randomly go, and then sometimes you think of a name, right?! and to you, this is this is magic, and you go to someone, I’m like sorry what’s that? I don’t think so. So you get it
Mrs. Edwards: Yup
Dami Cruz: but the other person looks at you like what’s that? So it goes to tell that sometimes it is always good to get a second opinion.
Mrs. Edwards: I’ll tell you. That is a fact, and I’ll tell you why.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Because the name at the top of my list at that time was actually Access
Dami Cruz: Hmmm. Right
Mrs. Edwards: Before Access Bank came out
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards Laughs)
So, you can imagine if I had stuck to Access.
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: Then there will be Access opposite the Access Bank, nd there will be confusion (Laughs)
Dami Cruz: I can imagine very much someone typing into Google map, I’m going to Access and you are like
Mrs. Edwards: Heey (laughs)
Dami Cruz: Ok. Which of it. And I can imagine that very much
Mrs. Edwards: I’m happy that changed.
Dami Cruz: Honestly. I mean, I’m thank God for your husband
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: Who decided to query. It’s always good to have that person with you
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: Who would query every of your decisions
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: and really allow you to go in depth
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: Into what it is. So as a business owner, this seems very, very essential to building a business. You know that last and you know it’s very interesting how like I mentioned, we at CSR-in-Action started with the very few years ago and something I asked, most likely you’ve said the same thing but over 10 years ago I think, Bekeme could, she had people, she saw people who were there, the security, staff, IT officer and some other people. And we just recently had a training there in I think was it may or June
Mrs. Edwards: May. Yeah
Dami Cruz: This some people are still there after 10 years, I would love to wonder, I’m sorry. How are you doing this?
Mrs. Edwards: (laughs)
Dami Cruz: In this society, where after two years, like I mentioned earlier, like after two years, somebody wants to up and doing. See, I want to build my career. I can’t remain in one place
Mrs. Edwards: (Laughs)
Dami Cruz: where we have people who are happy. I don’t think for you to have been there for over 10 years, that means you’re comfortable, you’re happy. You don’t see the need to want to leave
Mrs. Edwards: Yes
Dami Cruz: so how have you been able to manage it in all this sense. Like I mentioned yesterday you’re still the one managing it. It is not like you’ve handed it over, maybe like to someone will be managing the business while you kind of sit in the background, you’re still the one doing the strategy, up and running. How have you been able to manage especially with keeping these people?
Mrs. Edwards: Uhm honestly you have to ask them that question.
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
I’m not sure I can answer on their behalf. I’m not perfect
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: I’m just a mere human being like everybody else. While they’re still there, honestly, I have no clue, but the only thing I can say that I do consciously
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Might not be the reason why they’re still there
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: But the only thing I can say that I do consciously is that I don’t micromanage.
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: I allow everybody to be who they are.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Everybody has their own, everybody has their own offices within the office meaning their own departments.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So for me, whoever, if this is your department I have to respect you because that’s your department.
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: So, for example, the guy in the cafeteria, that is his office
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So for me, when I go there, I have to succumb to whatever he tells me because that cafeteria is his own
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, if he says no, this is the time I want them to come out, I can’t say no, They must come out at this time.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: You know?! the only thing I do is this cafeteria must be spotless.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: I do not want anything but everything else around that that his
Dami Cruz: It feels like, so you’re giving them their own autonomy and run
.
Mrs. Edwards: They do
Dami Cruz: They’re doing this way is like being an intrapreneur
Mrs. Edwards: Intrapreneur. I see myself as part of the team
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: they see me as their boss, but I see myself as part of the team
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, they tell me off. If they don’t like anything, they tell me off. So for example, the guy in the training floor (laughs) complains and I give too much discounts.
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
He comes and say, it is only that gives discount. We don’t get this kind of discount, so he tells me off. Sometimes he even says you have to pay for that discount that you gave
Dami Cruz: Ah
Mrs. Edwards: So, I now I will call and say please, can you, this person just called me, how much can you do for this person? He will say what he can do, and I’ll have no choice but to say OK
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: If the person is special to me, close to me, I’d say abeg, abeg, abeg, abeg, just help me do something more
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, I think I just had allowed everybody to be who they are
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: and they’re all in control. The only thing I tell them is that any decision you make, I have no choice or to abide by it, or you have to be responsible for whatever decision you make
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: If something goes wrong, I’ ain’t going to take the back for that. But for that you have to be responsible for that
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, they take their decision knowing that. But I think the most important thing is, just allow, let people be
Dami Cruz: Hmmm Hmmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Let people be. No matter what
Dami Cruz: That’s very, very interesting, which is not many Nigerian, should I businesses would I mean, in Nigeria unfortunately, in our culture we are used to that, uhm
Mrs. Edwards: I’m the boss
(Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Dami Cruz: At the same time, especially when we talk about micromanaging, you must all show up in the office. I’m sure you’ve discovered When COVID pandemic came
Mrs. Edwards: Hmm
Dami Cruz: And everybody had to work remotely, it was a huge challenge, I’m sure for many organisations because we’ve gotten used to that culture
Mrs. Edwards: yeah
Dami Cruz: I must be at the office, if you like be working, if you are not working, I want to see you
Mrs. Edwards: yeah.
Dami Cruz: Well, unfortunately, at the same time we are, we understand our people
Mrs. Edwards: Yes
Dami Cruz: If we can be non-chalant with these kinds of things
Mrs. Edwards: Hmmm hmmm
Dami Cruz: Meaning, OK, let me go to the markets
Mrs. Edwards: Hmm hmm. Yeah.
Dami Cruz: During, you’ve agreed with your office, right? OK between 9:00 and 5:00, when I work at home, I will be at home
Mrs. Edwards: True
Dami Cruz: Yes, I will take my maybe little break to have lunch.
Mrs. Edwards: Hmmm
Dami Cruz: You’re in your house. You don’t have to dress up but at the same time you find someone who is going from Lagos to Ibadan
Mrs. Edwards: Hmmm hmmm
Dami Cruz: It’s still work hours. I’m like
Mrs. Edwards: Let me not lie o, I do have You I do have, and the ones that been with me for a while, but there are still some that have passed
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laugh)
So, I do have those people, do make it
(Mrs. Edwads laughs)
Dami Cruz: I mean, every organisation would have such
Mrs. Edwards: Yes, I had I had somebody that was getting married that I called. I was out of the office. I needed to get something done ASAP. She was in the market.
Dami Cruz: Oh! Dear Lord.
Mrs. Edwards: She told me the morning that she had a running stomach meanwhile she was in the market
Dami Cruz: Wow
Mrs. Edwards: Shopping for her wedding. So, you do have those people (Laughs)
Dami Cruz: It happens. It’s not just a Nigerian thing though, it’s a Global thing, especially with this whole pandemic
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: And work remotely. I think I’ve seen a lot, especially on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: Where you find people like well, my boss just booked a meeting for 30 minutes. Am on a flight to somewhere
(Dami and Mrs. Edward laughs)
How do I get myself out of this? Yeah, it does happen. So, we’ll take a short break at this moment. So, when we come back, we’ll continue the conversation, and we open up the phone lines.
If you have any questions to ask as a narrative entrepreneur or business owner, how you want to ensure that your last and the number to call before we go for our break is 0700-923-923-923. Again, that is 0700-923-923-923 or WhatsApp message on 0817-313-6493. we’ll take a break now and be right back on The Good Citizen Show. Don’t go anywhere.
(Break)
And welcome back to The Good Citizen Show on inspiration at 2.3 FM.
I’m your host, Dami Cruz. And I have with me Mrs. Bradley Edwards, who is the founder and director, and managing director at Canton Conquers.
And if you have any questions, we are talking about building a business that last.
If you have any questions as a business owner, you would like to ask and you want to know exactly how you can run your business better, please do call in 0700-923-923-923. Again, that is 0700-923-923-923 or you can send a message at 0817-313-6193. Again 0817- 313-6193.
So, as were talking, I mean, a thought just occurred to me, really, but how did you feel, I know you’ve started this, what make you think, you know offering a world class, I mean, you’ve been there for 10 years.
So, basically, this is about, you are ready delivering word class experience for anyone who comes. It was pleasantly surprised, I mean, it’s pretty nice for me, especially when we came to train, you know?! Using your facility just in May, and what prompted you to want to do such a hub? And you know, offering these for businesses and training facility. Where is your driving force? Where is your motivation?
Mrs. Edwards: (laughs) I’m actually quite a lazy person
.
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laugh)
I loved my 9 – 5
Dami Cruz: Oh! Wow
Mrs. Edwards: Let me do my 9-5. Let me get paid
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: Family Matters
Dami Cruz: Hmmm Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Family commitment. My husband was always jetting up and down always traveling as two kids and you know; you get the School Report, and they say or your son has been promoted to the next class.
Dami Cruz: Ah
Mrs. Edwards: Meanwhile, the boy cannot spell.
Dami Cruz: Oh dear
(Mrs. Edwards laugh)
Mrs. Edwards: I just said no, this is not right. So, it took me a while actually. I mean I had a little notebook and I wrote down all the possible bits. I knew I had to quit work anyway.
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, I wrote down all the possible businesses that I could possibly do. I wrote it down.
(Call comes in)
Dami Cruz: So, we have a call. Thank you for calling The Good Citizen Show. What’s your name? Where you calling from?
Caller: Good evening, ma. Good evening, sir
Dami Cruz: Good evening, thank you for calling The Good Citizen Show. What’s your name? And where you are calling from?
Caller: Yeah, from uh, Agege area. Badmus
Dami Cruz: Badmus. Ok. Thank you, Badmus for calling. So, any questions or what do you want to know?
Caller: I want to know if you want to increase your knowledge or to, how can I grow my business, in terms of say, I (voice becomes inaudible). Something like that.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Caller: I’m just upcoming (voice becomes inaudible). Some like that
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Caller: (voice becomes inaudible) something like that. How will I do it? In terms of fiinances and everything like that.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Caller: Because I just opened, and I Just meet this program just right now. I don’t know how you are discussing right from now
Dami Cruz: Ok. Ok. Ok
(Call ends)
Thank you very much, Badmus. Just tune in. I think we can try answering that question. So just before you continue, do you want to just quickly answer this question?
Mrs. Edwards: The question was, how does he grow his business?
Dami Cruz: As he just starting, as a bread maker I think is what he said.
Mrs. Edwards: OK, well, how do you grow? I don’t know much about your business so I can’t really tell you how to grow your business. But one thing I know that you can do is to know exactly where you are going to. Where you want to go to.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, I think he’s talking about furniture making.
Dami Cruz: I think it was bread making
Mrs. Edwards: Bread making
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: So, for example, if what you do today is to bake like how many loafs, maybe 30 today.
Just try and see how you can, you can’t go from 30 to 60 by next week
Dami Cruz: Yes
Mrs. Edwards: So just see what you can do. Let me, even if it’s just to Add 1, 2 or 5 for the week.
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: for two weeks.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: It’s a step. What I find with a lot of people is that they want to Jump the scale so fast
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: And the higher you jump so fast, the faster you crash
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, you just take it one step at a time.
Dami Cruz: Hmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, if you’re doing 30 today, try and push yourself. Give yourself, I don’t know how they operate
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: One week two weeks. It’s OK. Let me try and do 5
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: if you can’t do that, for if you project to do 5 and you can do 3, that’s an achievement.
Dami Cruz: Yes.definitely
Mrs. Edwards: There’s no point in projecting to do 20.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Above that 30,
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Then you can only do 1. You
Dami Cruz: (Cuts in) You feel like a failure
Mrs. Edwards: Like a failure
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: So, it’s just a gradual step
Dami Cruz: Little steps
Mrs. Edwards: Yes
Dami Cruz: Yeah, obviously by the time you’re like you mentioned, by the time you increase your production that will most likely increase your profits.
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: It will allow you to increase more production
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: Which is a domino effect
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: Of how,
Mrs. Edwards: In the beginning, you know, you cannot eat your profit
Dami Cruz: Obviously
Mrs. Edwards: You must pump it back into your business
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: (Laughs) Which is the mistake a lot of people make
Dami Cruz: I know right
Mrs. Edwards: The mistake that a lot of business owners make is that they separate themselves financially from their business
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, pay yourself in salary and do not take more than what you’ve said you are going to get paid
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: Because what happens is because you are in control of the business. The money is passing through you. You can take anything to pay School fees. Take anything to do this. Take anything to do that. The first thing is to pay yourself a salary
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: And then you know that everything else is going back into the business.
Dami Cruz: The business, yes, definitely. So that I mean Badmus and anyone else who is listening with this would actually benefit as well. This is very, very essential. So, you were saying about, you, know your son and having to create
Mrs. Edwards: (Cuts in) Oh, right (Laughs). So, what I did was I had a real notebook and I wrote all the most possible businesses I could do
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: Believe me, it took me about four months
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: To go through everything
Dami Cruz: Wow
Mrs. Edwards: As tiny as it is, as big as it is I wrote, and then after about four months, I started to just knock off.
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: I can do this. I Can’t do this. One thing I wanted to do, I wanted to do something I had experience in, and knowledge gained. So, by the time I knocked everything off and say okay. No, I don’t want to do this. I wanna do that blah blah blah blah blah. I narrowed down to two
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: Which were my two previous experiences
Dami Cruz: Hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Right?! Because, I don’t want to be, I want to be taught, but I also want to know what I’m doing
Dami Cruz: hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, because I couldn’t decide between the two previous experiences, because I loved both of them so much
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: I decided to just combine the two (laughs)
Dami Cruz: I know right. After many years?
(Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Which is very interesting. You know, and I know, we usually are very short on time. I’m just about to nearly roundup and all. Do you have any tips really for anyone just about to start? At least you’ve had engagements with, so maybe I use this from a business owner perspective. You’ve had a lot of experience, a lot of business owners
Mrs. Edwards: Hmm
Dami Cruz: From your relationships, and your engagement with these various business owners, what are the tips you would give to someone who is just starting? I mean, you’ve even mentioned, basically, don’t eat your profits, you know?! Ensure that you are actually be disciplined enough
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah. Be disciplined.
Dami Cruz: Really, because it’s very easy to see many and touch it
Mrs. Edwards: Yeah
Dami Cruz: Very very easy because it’s still.
Mrs. Edwards: (Cuts in) Right in your face (Laughs)
Dami Cruz: So, any tips for any other tips that you feel like you should share
Mrs. Edwards: Yes. What I think, what would I say is that first of all, if you are going into a business, you have to love what you do
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmm
Mrs. Edwards: I think that’s one of the first most important things, because if you don’t love, you know you can have a job, but you hate your job or you’re getting paid, but no big deal
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: but that cannot happen in business.
Dami Cruz: Hmmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: You have to love what you do because the challenges will come
Dami Cruz: Yes
Mrs. Edwards: Covid was a huge challenge
Dami Cruz: Definitely
Mrs. Edwards: You know, but the challenges will come. So you have to first of all, love what you do
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: Two, you have to surround yourself with a good support system.
Dami Cruz: Oh, well yeah
Mrs. Edwards: Generally, and externally
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, for example, for me a Lot of my staff, they have Gifts that I don’t have
Dami Cruz: Hmm
Mrs. Edwards: Do you understand? What I know is my weakness, I ensure that one of my staff has that strength.
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: So, we’re able to support each other
Dami Cruz: Right
Mrs. Edwards: Three, Stay in your own lane
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
You know Nigeria. We do copy and Paste
Dami Cruz: Hmm hmmm
Mrs. Edwards: We just see what somebody else is doing is making money and you just want to do it.
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: It doesn’t work that way
Dami Cruz: Yes
Mrs. Edwards: Stay in your own lane
Dami Cruz: Definitely
Mrs. Edwards: Like the Yoruba say, use your own watch (Laughs). Do you undertand?
Dami Cruz: I know right
Mrs. Edwards: Yes. You’re looking at somebody’s else, the person is growing, you’re thinking, how about me?
Dami Cruz: Hmm
Mrs. Edwards: but hey
Dami Cruz: Everybody is at their own pace really.
Mrs. Edwards: Everybody is at their own pace. Yeah
Dami Cruz: OK, so just to round up. Just to quickly round up, plus we have like about one minute left and we have some trivia questions for you
Mrs. Edwards: Oh My gosh
Dami Cruz: So, what would you do? Would you rather change the past or see the future?
Mrs. Edwards: Neither
Dami Cruz: Really?
Mrs. Edwards: No. Because you learn from your past
Dami Cruz: Right? The future may affect it
Mrs. Edwards: Exactly
Dami Cruz: Otherwise, yeah
(Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Family vacation or couple vacation
Mrs. Edwards: Family
Dami Cruz: Family OK
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
Which of the good old days? University or secondary school?
Mrs. Edwards: Who la la. University.
Dami Cruz: Really that must have been very, very exciting
Mrs. Edwards: (Laughs) It’s very boring, which is why I want to go back to it.
Dami Cruz: I know, right?
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards laughs)
And one last one is some alone time or in night out with your girl
Mrs. Edwards: My girls
Dami Cruz: Yeah
Mrs. Edwards: It’s got to be my girls.
Dami Cruz: Ah, that’s it
(Dami and Mrs. Edwards)
So, I think that’s very interesting. Thank you so much.
Mrs. Edwards: Thank you so much for having me
Dami Cruz: For coming on the show today.
Mrs. Edwards: It’s an honour
Dami Cruz: Certainly, time just go by so fast
Mrs. Edwards: So fast (Laughs)
Dami Cruz: So fast when you’re having fun
Thank you so much for listening to The Good Citizen radio show today. Please business owners, do not eat into your profits. Stay your lane o. (Mrs. Edwards laughs). Don’t look anybody eye. Stay your lane
We will be here again same time next week, Friday at 5:30 PM on The Good Citizen show. Do enjoy your weekend and have a lovely lovely rest.
Take care and bye bye.
Mrs. Edwards: Thank you
