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Mixing with great minds is the best investment I have done to myself since my adult life; I have sometimes asked myself what my life could have been without these relationships. We are where we are today based on the relationships we keep and where we would be tomorrow would be based on the relationship we cultivate today. So, it is safe to say that relationships are crucial but taking the spectator’s seat and watching your relationship mate take risk, fail, stand-up and eventually succeed is not a great position to assume. This is one of the reasons I am facilitating the Online Business Workshop tagged BLOG MONEY. Click HERE to know more.

Since 5 years of successful online business, I have observed loyal followers who have watched me risk, fail, stand-up, succeed, fail again and eventually going to succeed in a bigger way. These followers have read my posts and made positive comments about my work but do not actually understand the in-road to a successful business venture in the 21^st century: It’s not just having an online presence (so many people have set up blogs, forums, etc without success), it’s about picking the right ingredients from the right resource to leverage whatever you want to do with your life.

Before this workshop commences on the 20^th of March, I would be exposing my readers to young millionaires who have leveraged the online business to succeed in their line of business interest. One of the great minds, I am fortunate and privilege to mix with is Deolu Akinyemi: He is the CEO of Generis Solution and one of the major players of Network Marketing in Nigeria. I have watched him leverage his online presence (www.deoluakinyemi.com) to become one of the most promising self-employed multimillionaires we have in Nigeria.

I have been trying to tackle him since his trip to India but I finally caught up with him online in Dubai. He helped me convert the Dollars I made in Holiday and Cash (H&C) to Naira and was I glad for the extra money. We later chatted and to my surprise, he informed me about the gigantic improvements that have been made in H & C and Network Marketing in Nigeria. Suddenly, I realized how having the right Online Business can be leveraged into something so huge. This is an interview I had with him concerning Network Marketing and H&C: It is a must read!

1. Congrats on establishing a legal framework for Network Marketing in Nigeria – National Institute of Network Marketing in Nigeria; can you give us a hint on what this would mean to all Network Marketers in Nigeria.

Thank you Dipo, it’s been a 6 months project, and I’m excited we’ve crossed the major hurdles. The relevant ministries have approved, and we are simply dotting the “Is” and crossing the “Ts”.

The implication of having this institute is birth of standards and structures for the industry in Nigeria. Just like ICAN has established accounting as a veritable profession, Network Marketers are 21^st century professionals, and it’s only proper the industry operates on proper foundations of knowledge, skills and attitude requirements in Nigeria as well. It also means it will be more difficult for just any company without standards or sustainable systems to operate in Nigeria and deceive Nigerians.

I’ll ask Nigerians to be patient and watch that space, as we begin to partner with reputable universities to develop and deliver a curriculum that makes it possible for people to build a career in this industry. These systems are well established in many other countries, and encourage proper people to function in the industry. Businesses fail; more out of people failure than failure of ideas. Defining a basic minimum standard of knowledge is critical to sustainable growth in any industry.

1. Network Marketing players (including yourself) have always advocated Network Marketing as an effective Plan B for Nigerian workforce. Is this feasible knowing full well, the kind of devotion the network marketing requires? (e.g. training attendance, sales presentation, etc)

Network marketing is a lot of work, it’s no get rich quick, it however is one of the 5 options that can help people build passive income over a life time, and is the most reasonable option for someone who doesn’t have as much as $1million to invest. If people are serious about their future, it’s something they need to look at with an open mind. The interesting thing is that people who have the wrong perspective are not knowledgeable about the industry or the requirements of success. How many books have they read, how many DVDs have people watched? Success is not spontaneous combustion, its deliberate effort. It’s a solid plan B, a true character and personal development vehicle and a business school for people who like helping people.

I also try to educate people that to work until you are 50 to begin to do any business is bordering on suicide. The first 3yrs of a company are usually its demanding years, and its learning years. Learning involves bad experiences, and shocks. People should get themselves involved and learn the basic rudiments of all businesses (lead generation, leads conversion and sales retention). Learn while you are young, better now than later.

1. From your experience, what does it take a very passionate and ambitious persons to be successful in any network marketing program

Every industry has their success parameters, in Real Estate its location, in Network Marketing, it’s perseverance. There is a book I’m reading, my first year in Network Marketing, the author says you won’t be super rich until the 10yr. You need to be willing to fail forward until you find the right company with the right model, and stick to it.

E.g. I have given myself a 10yr commitment for example, and I’m not backing down until I rank with Number 1 in any other industry.

1. You are one of the most successful bloggers in Nigeria; what is the correlation between owning a blog and having a successful network marketing campaign?

Sincerely there is not much of a correlation; you can succeed without owning a blog. Facebook and twitter are levelers. However, online presence is equity in the 21^st century world; if you are not there you are gradually becoming irrelevant.

1. For the past one year now, I realize you have been single minded concerning one particular program (Holiday and Cash). What are your motivations towards this particular program?

I had given up on the industry – due to the bitter pills of failure and the aftermaths of success without successors, but I got an experience that got me to empty my cup. I met a guy about my age that had spent 9yrs+ in the same network marketing company and become super successful and had loyal and grateful followership that I could only dream about. I decided to learn from the past, and face the future. I chose to do the opposite of what majority would do, I decided to fail forward.

I also discovered that when good people unplug themselves from any system, then evil people will dominate it. We called any music that doesn’t fit our framework secular and sex merchants took over the industry, we declared politics unfit for good people and now we have rogues. I decided to occupy and not vacate.

1. One of the main attractions of any Direct Marketing Program is product: H&C does not seem to have any specific tangible products. What are your comments on this?

H&C has products, tangible and intangible. The tangible and intangible products in H&C are valued at more than 10 times their purchase price. Some of them when you hear will literally blow your mind. It’s so good; the possibility of an upward price review is imminent.

The reason people think like that, was that in the beginning it was not so. A lot of things have been added in time, so much so that today, it’s almost unthinkable not to have the privilege pack (the H&C product bundle). You can get more details by clicking  HERE

1. You seem to be the only visible player online advocating for H&C; can you give us an example of some successful protégés.

There are many successful protégés, online and offline. If you check very well, I have not been doing direct advocacy for H&C. The internet is more a place to generate leads, not to close sales. It’s an industry people join by faith and succeed by knowledge. I am careful of marketing people without knowing them, and that learning is being passed to all, so you might not see much talk online, it’s deliberate.

However for an idea of successful protégés, I was in India with 35 other Nigerians in my team. We met with the rest of the world. Here in Dubai in the platinum meeting there are 7 Nigerian Couples. These are people who have grown to the highest levels in the company and are being offered shares in the global company.  A few of the India pictures on my India Experience article will reveal some names. There are lots of ordinary people with extra ordinary results. There are a number of great people of who I am really proud, who have left their fulltime day jobs to face this full time.

1. Nigerians experienced the bitter pill of online business in 2007 with some few players (e.g. me) cashing in on it. How does H&C eliminate these kinds of scenario where only a few reap the rewards?

H&C is built on a model agreed around the world by Network Marketing Gurus to be the fairest reward plan (profit sharing plan actually). Also because the company is constantly reinvesting in creating more value for the product, even if you don’t market, you gain. Imagine you have access to travel to Thailand, Dubai, Mauritius and Las Vegas without paying a dime for your hotel bills, imagine you also have e-books worth $3,000 and imagine these are just a tip of the iceberg.

1. The leadership program of H&C is a great opportunity for most Nigerians to experience a different cultural and geographical landscape. Tell us your experience (good and bad)?

Travel is higher education! I usually tell people there is a difference between going abroad on training and going for an all expense paid vacation. 7 days on the exotic alluring laps of luxury is beyond description – either in Egypt cruising the Nile for 3 days on a ship, the exotic tours to the pyramids and the temples of Ramses of Moses, or moving from island to island in the natural paradise of Mauritius or beholding the great sights of the Taj Mahal. It’s been an experience that makes you demand more from our leaders, and gives people the privilege of expanding their horizons.

1.  In 5 years time, how would H&C be relevant to the Nigerian economy and political landscape?

I’m amazed that you can see the connection clearly between the economy and the political. If you asked me 5yrs ago, I’ll be excited about 5yrs. These days however I think in 10s and more. So please permit me to say that 10yrs from now, I’ll be able to sound better and more excited, than a 33yr old guy I met in Malaysia that said “When this company started, the MD said that one day we will own our own country, I’m proud to tell you today that having a customer base of 5.5million people in 10yrs, this dream has already come true.” We will be relevant.

Wow, that was a mouthful and I hope you have digested and chewed on it. Please, do not get it twisted; one of the levelers to Deolu’s success is online presence. Learn the rudiments of adopting a successful online presence by participating in the Blog Money Workshop:

DATE: 20^TH AND 21^ST March, 2010

TIME: Saturday (10.00am to 4.00pm); Sunday (1.00pm to 6.00pm)

FACILITATOR: Dipo Tepede, MBA, DCP, PMP^R (soon)

VENUE: Realty Point beside GT Bank, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ikeja

FEE: 12, 000 NAIRA ONLY

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 25 persons only

If you have indicated interest and have not received payment information, I would send to you ASAP. A minimum commitment fee of N5000 must be paid before 10^th March, 2010 to secure a seat. Seats are reserved on first pay not first inquiry. Please, kindly click HERE to get payment information. Have a lovely week!