The Top 10 Reasons Why Startups Fail

Madison Robinson: Millionaire at 15

Image Source: FishFlops

That day in 2006, Madison sat in her home doodling on paper and as her dad walked in she said to him, “Look dad, Fish Flops”. Madison probably wouldn’t have anticipated so much success from designing flip flops (or slippers as we like to call them here in Nigeria). Her company, FishFlops®, has now made over $1 million in sales and she was just 15 (now she's 16). Madison has struck deals with more than 60 stores, including Macy’s and Nordstrom, to sell her flip flops.

12 Important Things to Note from KFC’s Beginnings

Image Source: Act Two Magazine

1. Harland Sanders’ idea for a restaurant was based on customers’ suggestions. In the 1930s, Harland was running a petrol station along a road in Corbin, Kentucky. Whenever customers came to his filling station to buy petrol, they would ask where they could get food from nearby. From many questions and conversations about this, he opened his first restaurant in the front room of the petrol station.

5 Factors That Characterized Adidas at the Start

Image Source: Wax Wane

1. Passion. Adolf Dassler (Adi) was an enthusiastic sportsman who had passion for extreme sports. Adi even built his own ski jump. Adi was a runner as well and this enabled him to spot a gap in the sports market: the need for more quality sports shoes. In starting your own business, you must make sure that you begin something that you have strong passion for.

Inviting You to the Startup Grind, Lagos

Startup Grind, the popular event series for entrepreneurs and investors announces the opening of its Lagos chapter and its inaugural event to be held March 9th, 2014 at the Iroko’s headquarters in Anthony Village. The featured guest will be a panel of founders of Irokotv, Africa’s largest internet streaming company supporting Nollywood. Tickets are on sale online now for $10/N1500, or at the door.

 More information is available on the event webpage. www.startupgrind.com/lagos

Jason Njoku, co-founder and CEO of iROKOtv has been credited with igniting Nigeria's internet and tech start-up scene, as well as revolutionizing Nollywood's global distribution system. In 2012 he was touted by Forbes Africa as one of Africa's Top Young Millionaires to watch and has also been named as one of London's Top Black Men of Power in Black Enterprise Magazine.

Diamond Bank Centenary Challenge

You may or may not know about this. It's a good opportunity for you to push forth the Nigerian in you:

Will you like to win an iPad Mini and cash prizes? You’d love that, right?

Enter for the Diamond Bank Centenary challenge and stand the chance to win mouth-watering prizes.

How:

WRITING COMPETITION PROCEDURE:

• Write short article in not more than 100 words on what makes you a true Nigerian
• Send your entries with your name and phone number to diamondgames@diamondbank.com
• Closing date for entries; 7 February 2014 at 11:59 pm
• All entries will be reviewed by our esteemed panel of judges and the five (5) best articles will be selected for the final round.

NEW MUSIC: This is Me (Mixtape) -JSwiss (yimi_x_cross)

Though I've known this guy for sometime now, I must admit his talent keeps surprising me. His first mixtape 'Music in Session' was awesome (download here) and it really proved to me how good he is. However, 'This is Me' is definitely better and I am sure he will only improve. This is his second mixtape in one year. This is a pointer to the fact that this young man is hardworking and he is out and out to hit it big. With quality mixing and mastering, you're sure to experience fine music and brilliant lyrics. Personally, my best track on the mixtape takes after the album name: This is me. Lyrically speaking, it's hard to tell which song is the best but I will go for 120 bars and as for instrumentals, I think Logan stands out. Click here to download it and spread the word. GOOD MUSIC IS IN TOWN!!!

PS: Please don't hesitate to leave your comment here about your thoughts on the mixtape. Let's talk about it.

How to Get More Followers on Twitter

1. If you aren’t a celebrity, learn to follow back. Even some celebrities follow back. It’s not nice for someone to ask you for a follow back and you refuse to. Most people will eventually unfollow you ASAP. If you are looking to build your online presence, learn how to follow back when asked to. However, follow back with sense. It is not everyone that you should respond to. 
2. Let your account be known for something. You can’t deny that those we refer to as twitter celebrities usually have a particular thing they are known for. Some of them thrive on controversies. Some other try to start twitter trends or TTs. Some others tweet only inspirational tweets while there are some that like twitfights. Whichever way, make sure you start building an identity for your twitter account now. 

25 RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AS AT 4-NOVEMBER-2013

Carlos Slim Helu, 1st

Bill Gates, 2nd

Amancio Ortega, 3rd

1. Carlos Slim Helu, Mexico, Telecoms. $73bn

2. William ‘Bill’ Gates, USA, Microsoft. $67bn

3. Amancio Ortega, Spain, Zara. $57bn

4. Warren Buffet, USA, Berkshire Hathaway. $53.5bn

5. Lawrence Ellison, USA, Oracle. $43bn

6. David Koch, USA, Diverse Businesses. $34bn

    Charles Koch, USA, Diverse Businesses. $34bn

8. Li Ka-Shing, Hong Kong, Diverse Businesses. $31bn

9. Liliane Bettencourt & Family, France, L’Oreal. $30bn

10. Bernard Arnault & Family, France, Louis Vuitton- Moet -Hennessey. $29bn

11. Christy Walton & Family, USA, Wal-Mart. $28.2bn

12. Stefan Persson, Sweden, H&M. $28bn

13. Michael Bloomberg, USA, Bloomberg LP. $27bn

14. Jim Walton, USA, Wal-Mart. $26.7bn

15. Sheldon Adelson, USA, Casinos. $26.5bn

16. Alice Walton, USA, Wal-Mart. $26.3bn

17. S. Robson Walton, USA, Wal-Mart. $26.1

18. Karl Albrecht, Germany, Aldi. $26bn

19. Jeff Bezos, USA, Amazon.com. $25.2bn

20. Larry Page, USA, Google. $23bn

21. Sergey Brin, USA, Google. $22.8bn

22. Mukesh Ambani, India, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas. $21.5bn

23. Michele Ferrero & Family, Italy, Chocolates. $20.4bn

24. Lee Shau Kee, Hong Kong, Diverse Businesses. $20.3bn

      David Thomson & Family, Canada, Media. $20.3bn

Source: Forbes

EASY WAYS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS INTO THE GROUND

These are simple steps on how to kill your business quickly. If you’re wise, you’ll learn from them and do the opposite:

• Treat your customers like crap. This is the fastest way to kill any business, no matter how big it may be. Some businesses are dead even before they start because they refuse to acknowledge their customers. They forget that the customer is the boss and that he can fire you and substitute your business with another person’s. 
• Improper planning, preparation and consideration before taking action. Many business owners just jump into certain decisions that end up being the death sentence of their business.