Hi,

I have a strong feeling that while this message may not be for everybody, it just might be for you.

In the picture below, I was 32 years old and broke. I had just had my baby girl a few months after quitting my job to chase my dream of being a globally acclaimed and recognized Business Strategist.

No one knew me.

I didn't know how to do any of the things I do so effortlessly today, like write books, create sold out online courses, electrify audiences with my live sessions, or build businesses.

I was writing my book on two paint buckets and using my wife's LaserJet printer to send out proposals to corporate clients, hoping they'd give me a chance.

One night, my wife, baby, and I slept in my car overnight, because the house was too hot and we didn't have enough money to buy fuel to power the generator, so we could use the air conditioner.

I had been married for over 2 years, and I felt like a failure.

That night, watching over my girls sleep in the backseat of my car,...

This picture was taken 20’years ago & brought back some nostalgia

So I thought I’d write a letter #ToMyYoungerSelf .

You were 21 with a lot of hope and one heck of a mischievous smile.

Little did you know that in 1 year, your life was gonna take a roller coaster ride of failure and disappointment that would ultimately wipe that smirk off your face. 

You’re gonna get an invitation to join a cult, sha give yourself brains and don’t go

That decision’s gonna lead you to @thelovefamily_official and you’re gonna make a lot of meaningful friendships that will last a lifetime and build your faith in God.

Trust me, you’re gonna need Him... sooner than you think and every day afterwards.

Don’t worry about your Math department lecturers, they’re a bunch of morons, especially Baba and your course advisor.

In hindsight, stay away from that chic in MathEco, don’t say I didn’t warn you

Now, you know how everyone...

Today, I wanna talk about failure and how you can deal with it 

In 2015, my bro Paul Foh had an idea for both of us to collaborate & teach Thought Leaders how to sell out their events, since we both were always selling out our events

So we designed the flyer & began promoting the event. It was just N10k 

We got lots of responses, with people asking if they could pay at the venue

We paid for materials, food and the works for at least 50 people

Do you know how many people attended this mega event? Remember that Paul and I are a big deal

I’ll tell you

Zero

Not a soul. What’s the name of our event again?

It was like all the Thought Leaders created a WhatsApp group and agreed: “we won’t attend Steve & Paul’s event” #badbellepeople 

For a seminar called “how to fill out your seminar seats and make money”, we couldn’t even fill one seat

Ironic right? Na so life be

It hurt like hell & we...

Today, I wanna share something very private with you.

It's something most people don't recognize, but suffer from

It's depression

I was sharing my thoughts with members of my exclusive Mastering the Business of your Talent group and I spilled my guts, shared my failures and anxieties and how I deal with depression (hint: ice cream helps)

It's pretty emotional

I hope it helps you

Download and listen now

Steve

Some weeks ago, I was preparing to run a coaching session with a particular client in the Oil & Gas industry and in developing my content, I stumbled on a picture that captured the essence of what I want to share today).

Looking at this picture, it seems pretty obvious; a guy doing his best to get away from the cops.

He’s determined to get away, but they look pretty determined to catch him.

But here’s the question.

Who has the greater compelling reason for running?

It’s like the age old question; which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Who has the more compelling reason to run?

Is it the cops, determined to catch this perpetrator and finally put him behind bars where he belongs? 

Or is it the felon, the underdog (no pun intended) who knows that if he gets caught, he’s looking at a 3 to 5 stay in a maximum security penitentiary, rent free?

Who’s got the greater compelling reason?

To capture or to...

Last week,

I posted a business case study on my Instagram page about the controversial skincare dude, Bobrisky.

And man, did I get into trouble!

LOL

I pretty much went as close to "breaking the internet" as I've ever been before.

My post got shared on so many handles, blogs like Bella Naija and it generated so much controversy and conversation (that as as this morning, I'm up to 401 comments). I got insulted, had my faith questioned, accused of being Bobrisky's bae and a lot more.

It's a good thing I have a thick skin.

Here's what I shared (and I'd love your comments too)

"BE LIKE BOB!

You've gotta hand it to him, I admire Bobrisky business acumen .

Yeah, I do. .

Why? Cause he's not afraid to be his AUTHENTIC SELF & OWN HIS SHIT. .

Look at those pictures. That's Bob before and after

Bob has a story of being insecure, ugly, sad and broke (which creates an EMOTIONAL CONNECTION you can relate to)

Today, he's in the skincare business.

What does he sell?

If you said cream, then you're...

Allow me to explain, when last did you buy a phone for its ability to make calls?

Sounds like a dumb question, right?

The phone company doesn't sell phones, they sell your desire for filters that make you look hotter on Instagram and Snapchat.

They sell your desire for prestige. .

So when you see a phone with 400 mega pixels (you hear it makes me look better), or can be used underwater (bad guy) it fuels your desire to be noticed, and ultimately (its a small price to pay for to be noticed) you buy the phone and they get your money.

You don't buy a Range Rover to move from one point to another!

You buy the Rover because it's either taller than most cars or faster (Bentley) than others.

You buy it because it gets you preferred parking by security guards, gets you noticed by clients, strangers and envied by your friends.#Status

What makes a Louboutin special? Do you know that people don't even call Loubotins shoes, just because of a red sole, it has ceased to be a shoe. .

What...

The story is told of a man who'd been paralyzed 38 years and stuck at a spot, waiting for his miracle to happen. .
.
One day, Jesus comes around that spot, and being a pretty nice guy, felt bad for this homie.
.
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So Jesus asks "Do you wanna get well and outta here?"
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Dude replies "I have no one to help me..." and proceeds to tell his sob story about how everyone's abandoned him.
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That's not the answer to the question.
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It's a closed question. .
The answer is either YES or NO .
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Just like Jesus, life asks you tonnes of questions...
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Do you want to be successful?
Do you want to be happy?
Are you tired of being passed over and passed by?
Do you want a better quality of life?
Are you tired of being broke?
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Stop throwing a pity party, no one's attending .
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Stop focusing on your sob story and limitations.
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No one is listening.
.
Not even Jesus. .
He didn't acknowledge the man's weakness.
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He just said " Get up pick up your mat and walk"
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Notice that Jesus didn't give him a hand. .
He just gave the word and it...

I've got a confession.

I GET SCARED... A lot.

Now, I know I've got this whole tough guy image locked down, but sometimes, I get scared.

Scared you wouldn't read my messages.

Scared that I wasn't making any sense.

Scared that I should just focus on my Consulting practice and stop creating all these products

But I've never let fear stop me.

What most people never get to see are the countless hours that I put in daily to get life to work in my favour (and all the times it doesn't work)

But the reason I'm becoming a "success" is that I've worked harder than you.

Now, I know you're thinking; "what a jerk!

That's such an arrogant statement".

Hold on a sec.

I'm not discounting your time, effort or sweat equity.

All I'm saying is that I'm willing to fail more times than you're willing to try.

I'M WILLING TO FAIL MORE TIMES THAN YOU'RE WILLING TO TRY

It's a numbers game.

If I fail more times than you try, it means that my odds of succeeding are far higher than yours.

I'm not as smart as...

Now,

I know what you're thinking... what do you mean Visualize Failure?

Allow me to explain.

Every Tom, Dick and Sheila (let me guess... Still expecting Harry, right? What's my name?) SMH

Where was I? Ah yes... Every Tom .. You know the rest, tells you to visualize success to achieve your goal. 

• Think of the holidays you can have..
• Think of the nice cars...
• Think of the freedom...

I have a different opinion.

Visualize Failure.

Success is a harder proposition for most people because many haven't actually lived very successful lives.

It's like saying "visualize St. Tropez, Venice or Ibiza". You might have read online about them as tourist destinations, but it doesn't mean you're familiar with them.

Instead, I'd rather you visualize something you might be familiar with and that is ... FAILURE.

• Think about ... Never getting out of debt.
• Living an eternally average life
• Going through the motions of a relatively mundane existence
• Having more bills than money
• Working that dead...