Staying Focused Pays

Focus is a critical and foundational ingredient for any entrepreneur. It is one thing to discover yourself but it is completely another thing to accept responsibility to stay on your vision, work on yourself, conquer your limitations and become a person of impact. According to Oxford dictionary, focus is the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition. Having discovered yourself, it's important you focus on your vision so as to become relevant in life. All of us have beautiful dreams but one of the greatest destroyers is lack of focus. Without focus, achieving vision is practically impossible.

As I am preparing for an upcoming training engagement with one of clients in my office today, I remembered when it all started and how it looked like a waste of time pursuing after the vision that was before me. The vision is very simple: - to raise leaders and entrepreneurs that will transform the economy of Africa. The vision came to me in April 28, 2008 as an undergraduate student of the university. I communicated then with five of my friends on what my vision was and we started campus entrepreneurship and leadership campaign programmes but the move was not sustained as I and my team did not have enough knowledge and resources to keep pursuing, so I was left alone. But I was never demotivated.

I knew from the depth of my heart that I was on the right path. I had just completed my university studies and national
service, and I went to working full-time on my vision. I took part-time jobs to support the vision but I never agreed to take a full-time job that will take me away from pursuing the vision that was before me. At some point, it became very red that I could barely have anything to eat but funny enough, I never noticed or considered those periods as give-up periods. I had made up my mind to see to it that the economy of Africa gets better. I was desperately committed to continuous learning to enhance my capacity to help others discover themselves and build value that will contribute to advancing the African economy. Even with the reality that I did not have enough resources but I was (and still) desperate for knowledge. I read as many books and attended several trainings as I could afford. I took opportunity of every value-adding moment to build my capacity and I am still doing that till date.

Since my entrepreneurial journey as a speaker and trainer, nothing has been more important to me than the pursuit of relevant and applicable knowledge. In fact, I garner motivation to keep moving from relevant trainings and books read. I have learnt more from books and professional development programmes than any other source of knowledge available to me. In my life pursuit, I have come to realize that discipline, determination, focus and understood knowledge can transform any life. My life has really been progressive since 2008 that this vision came to me.

I started my first company in 2012 as a serving corps member with National Youth Service Corps, Nigeria but the company didn't thrive. I started another one in 2015 after learning my lessons from the first company. Running the second company was never an easy job especially in our first 3 years but I had made up my mind that I had no option as I would not quit. For 4 years, I was paying staff but never took any allowance except for food and transport. Buying clothes, shoes, expensive phones or any other luxury was never found in my list. I lived in a seemingly uncomfortable apartment but was never bothered.

I had an encounter from a book that further repositioned my mind. I read of a speaker who was earning 7 figure income per engagement and I made up my mind that whatever it would cost me, I would one day have such value. I raised a standard of working to having 8 figure income per engagement. It looked so unbelievable but today, as I was going through the memory lane, I found that life has been so good. I was a little shocked to notice that I have stabilized on 7 figure income per engagement and now moving towards 8 figure income.

In my little life, I have been privileged to speak in conferences with over 21 nations in attendance; speaking to people of different categories and capacities. I have over 20 people working with me and are being paid. I have coached and mentored unnumbered people to become outstanding entrepreneurs in Africa and I have earned respect, honor, dignity and money by staying focused on my vision.

Today, I serve as the Founder of Lead Africa Foundation, President of the Integrated Institute of Professional Management and a Mentor with Tony Elumelu Foundation.

I do not in any way consider myself to have started but I am here to encourage someone to stay focused.

Sincere appreciation my wife @peachyladiva for being a great motivation to me and others.

Best regards,
Eburuche Banito.