Book Review: Zero to One – Peter Thiel

A book by PayPal co-founder and Facebook early investor

If I say this is the best business book I’ve ever read, I may be right, and I may be wrong. But, the most important thing is that Zero to One is among the best business books I’ve ever read.

In Zero to One, Peter Thiel talked about everything every start-up should know in just 14 chapters. This 160-page book uses concepts from physics, biology, and other fields to explain business growth.

“Every moment in business happens only once.” “The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Mark Zuckerberg won’t create a social network. If you are copying these guys, you are not learning from them.” Those are the first statements you will find in Zero to One.

Beyond startups, this is a book for every business leader. The concept of the book which is also the title is that moving from nothing to something is a vertical growth. However, moving from something to another is rather a horizontal progress. In real terms, 0 as a number means nothing. Rising from that point of nothingness to substance which is 1 takes effort. From 1, you can move to 2, 3...which Thiel describes as “n.” However, you are not progressing upward; it’s a mere horizontal improvement.

Think about the most pressing issues in today’s business landscape, and Thiel got an answer or clue for each. He succinctly made known his optimism for the future as regard AI (Artificial Intelligence). To him, computers will never replace humans; they are complimentary tools that make humans work faster, better, and more effectively. He made an example of his time at PayPal when they devised a new means of limiting scammers’ activities by complementing man and machine.

If you read between the lines in tech, business, and energy, sustainability is one of the major discussions. Clean tech makes headlines quite frequently. Thiel noted that energy startups are failing because they are not honest with what their market is. He made a comparison between Solyndra and Tesla. The first is a failed company; the latter is a thriving venture creating its own industry.

There are lots to learn from this book than I can compile in a review.

It’s easy to say I recommend it for business-minded individuals. But, this is highly recommended for those who want to grow from nothingness to substance. This is a book for those who have enjoyed massive success but still want to create new and interesting things for themselves and the people they will never be able to reach. 

GuysNetwork 4th Newsletter: Jan 2018

GuysNetwork 4th Newsletter: Jan 2018 

Connecting People with Opportunities

The Mission:       A networking platform for those who want to move forward

Our Vision:          To help people achieve dreams that are bigger than them

Content

1.      Dedication

2.      Intro – Rowland Olawale Emmanuel

3.      Seeking and Seizing Opportunities – Timmylehyn Okungbowa

4.      Epilogue

Dedication

To people who keep pushing forward

To those who see beyond now

For their vision and strength

Intro

When we started GuysNetwork, everyone wanted to be a part. Probably because then, it told toward merry-making. Maybe not. But as we grew, as we clarified, identified, classified, modified, and defined what GuysNetwork is and what it is not, people began to draw back. This got me thinking, and I asked myself some serious questions – is it because we aren’t go-getters? Perhaps, because we aren’t high-fliers? When I examined those of us in this network, it took me no time to discover these weren’t the causes. We are a team of brilliant, energetic, young individuals that can do extras to get whatever we want.

So, what could make promising young lads wane out of a network that promises to be something bigger than life itself? Honestly, I never knew I was waning out, until my recent discussion with one of the influential members of GN. Like me, you may not know you are waning out too – it may not be intentional. As I write, none of us has indicated interest in any of the roles/positions published in the second newsletter. Only very few paid their monthly subscription fee. All the plans we had – the fresher’s orientation, publicity, awareness, and conferences – are only taking their tolls on paper. A clear indication of laxity!

We all clamour for a bigger GN; a platform for everyone who wants to move forward; a network that will connect people with opportunities; a network that will help people achieve dreams that are bigger than them; yet, we sit with our fingers crossed, while one, two, three guys run the affair. One is too small a number to achieve greatness. We all have to get involved and stop seeing GN as someone else’s thing.

Although, it will be cool to have everyone ride along with us, yet we wouldn’t love to push anyone to do so. Our dedication towards the success of GN should be more of a reflex. We don’t have to be pushed. The cure for alienation is commitment, but there is no cure for commitment. Sure, some will definitely fade out, some will not. Though the future may seem blur today, if you can take your time to see close, you’ll discover that the success that lies ahead is bigger than us all. Gone are those days when we were still clueless. Now, we have direction, we are men of focus, we are determined, and our recent inattention isn’t enough to shatter our dreams for GN. We will not quit! Not even till forever. 

As we draw closer to the second month in 2018, I want each of us to have a new look at GN. Be willing to take-up responsibilities and make GN a true networking hub.

If you carefully read through the lines, you’d have known what I covet – it’s is your COMMITMENT. We all need to be involved.

Rowland Olawale Emmanuel

Rowlandolawale100@gmail.com

+2348106151712

Seeking and Seizing Opportunities

In the 1970s and 80s, the United States was privileged to have a number of young men in their 20s and 30s who saw great potentials in the utility of a computer. These people forged friendships among one another, matching themselves with other people who matched their drive and complemented their weaknesses. They would change the world forever, putting computers on every desk, on every palm, and in every pocket. There are huge lessons we can learn from them. However, I am only using them as illustrations in this article – Seeking and Seizing Opportunities.

Often times, we say “I just need a big break.” While I truly believe everyone needs a break to showcase the talents they have inside of them, I also believe opportunities are all around us. In this article, I will be telling you how to seek opportunities, and how to seize them. Let’s get started.

Seeking Opportunities

When seeking opportunities, you should remember these things are vital…

1.       Information

Today, everyone can leverage information. No one is more privileged than another in terms of the information you can get. Well, except you can’t access the internet. If you can access the internet, the information you get is fundamentally the information you seek. The quality of information you access will largely determine the opportunities you are open to, and eventually the quality of your living. Everything you need to know is already well-documented on the web. You just have to seek it, retrieve it, and execute.

2.       People

The people you have in your circle will directly influence the opportunities you have. Have you noticed that your friends know about everything you know? A circle of friends operates in a way that once an individual knows about a certain subject, the rest of the team become knowledgeable of same, and are either motivated or dissuaded by the subject. If you are looking for a high-yield stock to invest in, having a circle of friends who are inclined to entertainment news would be fatal to your target. Everyone around us, everyone we spend our time with, influences us in some way.

3.       Purpose and Passion

Inasmuch as I wanted to separate the two, I believe success is impossible when one becomes missing. What are you passionate about? What do you believe is your purpose? I’ve noticed this: You can have several professions in a lifetime, but purpose is usually one. For me, purpose is communicating, simplifying things, doing the simple things in a complex world. Like I said about information, your purpose and passion will direct you to the information you want, to the opportunities you crave.

Seizing Opportunities

Presumably, you’ve found that ‘big break.’ What next? A lot. Opportunities are all around you. Everyone finds opportunities at some point. However, few seize the opportunities. Seizing opportunities is more important than actually seeking them. More so, what’s the point of seeking what you won’t or can’t seize?

To seize opportunities, you need

1.       Passion

You have to be passionate about what you do. Without passion, there is no reason to pursue anything. Passion keeps you going. It is the fuel you need to stay on track and keep moving forward.

2.       Drive

I consider Drive to be much bigger than Passion. There are times you wouldn’t feel like doing what you should do. There would be days of emotional breakdown, financial woes, and lots. Passion may not be enough, but drive will sustain you. Being driven is like being crazy. You know it’s not just about being passionate. You are no more doing it for the fun. You are doing it because you should. You are doing it because to you, it is the only thing that makes sense.

3.       Timing

Every achievement in life is about timing. Irrespective of your perspective, everything in life has a deadline. Even your life has a deadline. The same thing with opportunities – they all have deadlines. When you find an opportunity, the best way you can seize it is by executing it before the deadline. The quality of work together with awesome timing will push you to the next stage.

Everything man needs is around him. You just have to look for it and seize it.

Cheers!

Timmylehyn Okungbowa

Founder, GuysNetwork; Environmentalist; Business and Tech Analyst/Consultant; Writer

Timmylehyn@gmail.com

+2348136830824

Epilogue

This edition is centered on ‘passion,’ ‘commitment,’ and ‘drive.’ It was never pre-planned. It just happened. I believe it’s a message someone needs to hear at this moment. The world needs you at your best. No one can replace you. No one can do the things you can do. It’s time to fly like an eagle that you are.

Book Review: The Smart Money Woman by Arese Ugwu

I have read fiction books, but this one stands out. I’m particularly in awe of this book because it teaches you about the real value of money and finance in general. Aside from the author’s will to ‘Nigerianise’ the concept, she did a wonderful job by pointing women’s focus at working for their own money, while depending less on ‘Sugar Daddies’ and ‘Rich boyfriends.’

In twelve chapters, Arese Ugwu depicted a young woman or what you call a lady – Zuri – from being broke to living her dreams and pursuing her every goal. You have probably been told numerous times that you’re the average of all the people in your circle. Nothing is truer. In The Smart Money Woman, Ugwu outlined this in the best possible manner.

You can’t read a chapter of the book without highlighting one or two sentences. Although, I wished she used more finance terms that will intrigue people like me. I didn’t like the fact that she explained almost every finance term. Readers should be allowed to do their assignments. Also, Zuri is a realtor, and she is expected to know the meanings of ‘asset allocation’ and ‘investment portfolio.’ She didn’t have to be astounded hearing those words when she met Oomosede. Overall, I love the book.

Some quotes I’m taking home: “Nigerian women have to be the CFOs of their financial lives and learn to take control of the income they earn now, instead of waiting for their incomes to increase in the future before they learn to manage money.” “Instead of worrying without action, we need to plan for emergencies.” “You need to get clear on what your goals are so you can spend and earn intentionally.” “Society and culture sells young African girls the lie that marriage is the financial security they should aspire to.” “…Bring value to a marriage and not depend solely on a man for my bread and butter.” “…Most African women are great at saving but they tend to save to spend instead of saving to build.” “…It’s more important to be entrepreneurial in your thinking…”

I believe this book should be made into a movie. Movies have a wider reach than books. It’d really teach our women the importance of finance. I’d recommend this to just anyone – men and women, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. 

Timmylehyn Okungbowa

Founder, GuysNetwork; Environmentalist; Business and Tech Analyst/Consultant; Writer

Timmylehyn@gmail.com

+2348136830824

Stop! Don’t Make That New Year Resolution

This is for the 20-somethings; for the 30-somethings; for the high-achieving teens; for everyone who wants to build a meaningful life; for those whose desire is to create their own dreams.

So, you want to make that New Year resolution again? Perhaps, you’ve done yours. What’s the point of jotting down resolutions you wouldn’t follow anyway?

2018 is too long; 365 days are long enough that your 5 or 10 point agenda won’t help you navigate the boat successfully.

Rather than being conservative and doing the unproductive routine you’ve done for years, I have a new strategy for you. I’m committed to doing the same myself.

A lot will happen in 2018. Like every year, 2018 will be flooded with opportunities. You have to be very flexible to seize these opportunities. Resolutions might just keep you from those opportunities.

Resolutions are usually tailored to change a habit, improve character, or cultivate a better attitude. All these are good. If you deeply want to achieve them, it is better to be engaged in activities that fundamentally require them – a fantastic attitude and a crazy work ethic.

Here is what I’d rather love to see you do in 2018:

ü  Go build that business you’ve craved all your life

ü  Create that organisation you’ve always wanted

ü  Be part of a team that challenges you every day

ü  Read. But, write much more

ü  Do something entirely different

ü  Do something bigger than you thought you could

ü  Embrace opportunities

Don’t just change habits and make resolutions; take actions that propel you forward!

It’s important to improve one’s habits, character, and attitude. However, these can’t be improved on their own.

Being part of a team (such as GuysNetwork), building an organisation, chasing your never-ending dreams, and seizing opportunities are the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) that help you measure how far you’ve gone, and how close you are. That’s how you become better in 2018 and beyond.

GuysNetwork 3rd Newsletter

GuysNetwork 3rd Newsletter: Dec 2017 

Connecting People with Opportunities

The Mission:       A networking platform for those who want to move forward

Our Vision:          To help people achieve dreams that are bigger than them

Content

·         Dedication

1.    Prologue

2.    Email: The Key to Our Digital Presence

3.    Supporting Small Businesses – Ekwubiri Tochukwu

4.    Beyond Commitment, Be Actively Engaged

5.    Member Subscription

6.    Fearing Failure – Abdulganeey Toyyib

7.    GN Events and Conferences

8.    Epilogue

Dedication

For readers, thinkers, and doers; those who want to move forward

For knowledge hunters and opportunity grabbers

For everyone who believes nothing is impossible

Hold your ideas in your brain

Ruminate it with your hands

Believe it with your lips

Soon enough

Your realities will be those dreams

Someone said were impossible

1.       Prologue

December is always the month when we start making resolutions for what we want to do in the next year. With resolutions, the statement everyone tries to make is “I’m taking on a new character, I’m leaving behind an unproductive life, I’m doing more next year,” and more. All these are great. That’s exactly what everyone at GuysNetwork is trying to achieve in 2018. We are aiming to do more, and be more resourceful in the subsequent years, with 2018 holding the key to the following years. This monthly newsletter is vital to that future we see and the vision we have.

Well, before I wish you a prosperous New Year, permit me to invite you to a new realm. Here comes the 3^rd GN Newsletter, released December 2017.

2.      Email: The Key to Our Digital Presence

We now have an online form that everyone is expected to fill for proper registration with GN. With the form, our aim is to gather each person’s email address so we could push notifications and vital documents directly to your email, bypassing the need to contact you via WhatsApp or phone.

However, the turn up hasn’t been encouraging. Without a well-built email network, it will be hard to connect with you remotely which is important to any organisation operating in the 21^st century. If you haven’t filled the online form, kindly do that via https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjg57N_9Yn_V2_ZDLyPkSox5j3rsEyuFxj4J3g_FrR2MBATQ/viewform.

Additionally, you can let us know what strategies we can use to garner the email address of every member for easier communication and networking.

Our web platforms will soon be available. They are all in progress as we need to make some payments for web hosting and architecture. Stay tuned.

                                              

3.      SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES

Have you ever wondered why most people don’t support small and growing businesses? It’s very difficult for a small business to grow without the proper support, especially from friends and family. I started my small design company about a year ago. I started making T-shirts and printing designs on them. It was very difficult at first, and I wanted to give up because the competition was stiff. Then, I got support from my mom and my brother who is also my partner. I’m still designing and sewing street wears for cool people; I’m happy doing it.

With a lot of reading, I’m going to give ten (10) reasons why you should support your friends or whoever close to you doing or involved in a small business.

1.       “Choosing to support an independent business is an act of respect; it’s acknowledging the tremendous risk and challenges inherent to starting your own thing.” - Matt Kliegman (co-founder -- The Smile, The Smile To Go, Black Seed Bagels).

2.      “Most independent businesses are run by people - not by boards, not by stockholders, not by algorithms. And so you get a different kind of care and quality in their product because their work is a reflection of themselves. Instead of focusing on the next market they’re expanding into or the next round of funding they’re raising, they’re focusing on the details and being the best they can be.” - Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur (co-founders -- Of a Kind).

3.      “Independent business brings originality and variety in a world that’s becoming increasingly homogenized.” -- Craig Costello (Artist and founder, KRINK).

4.      “Supporting young and small businesses brings about close relationship, increasing your willingness to succeed and challenges you in creating uniqueness.”- Ekwubiri Tochukwu  (Creative Director and Founder, Sleek Men Designs).

5.       “Independent businesses create and offer choice.” - Lyndsey Butler (founder, creative director - VEDA).

6.      “Independent businesses are where most interesting concepts and new ideas are generated.” - Sabrina De Sousa (co-founder -- Dimes).

7.       “Independent business is the fabric, man.” - DJ Clark Kent (DJ).

8.      “Small businesses provide the feeling that a real person is behind it all, someone who cares more about giving us a quality product or service, over just taking our hard earned dollars.” - Annie Bukhman (Designer, founder -- Gift Shop Brooklyn).

9.      “Authenticity and hustle - that’s why you should support independent businesses.” - Yu Ming Wu (co-founder -- Sneakernews, Sneaker Con, partner - Stadium Goods).

10.   “They’re authentic, they’re original, and they care.” - Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria (co-founders - Coming Soon New York).

These reasons could change your orientation about supporting that your friend, classmate, brother, or cousins who are into small businesses. Be the connection that makes that small business a great business.

EKWUBIRI TOCHUKWU ABIOLA

Creative Director and Founder, Sleek Men Designs (SMD)

+2348165647563; tochiemmy@gmail.com

4.      Beyond Commitment, Be Actively Engaged

One trait we’ve all shown toward GN is commitment which is quite laudable. Nonetheless, we can always do more. You can always bring in ideas and share important posts with others. You can do more to connect people within the platform with opportunities that you know of.

Secondly, no one has signalled his/her interest in volunteering to fill any of the roles discussed in the previous newsletter. In case you have forgotten, they have been included below, and you can let us know what roles you will fill. Thanks.

·         Hunters: Hunt opportunities that are deemed vital to the various sets of people on the platform. These opportunities include scholarships such as the Gate-Cambridge scholarship; entrepreneurial contests/opportunities such as the TEFund or the Next Titan; coding opportunities such as the Facebook Hackathon; and lots more. Your job is to hunt down opportunities and stay abreast of global information.

·         Bloggers: The focus is to write and publish in your own words, the information gotten by the Hunters. Even when the Hunters seem to be getting little information, go on your way to find good content on motivation, business, finance, et cetera, and publish to the public. English Proficiency is needed.

·         Social Media Publicists: Though you should publicise everywhere, but social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp – should be the main media of publicity. You are to publicise the blog and the platform itself. You should have good eyes for what can win the public’s eyes. Just publicise GuysNetwork. To do this, we will be having social media pages to support our WhatsApp group. Your job is to run the platforms. English Proficiency is needed.

·         Record Holders: The Record Holders will keep record of the number of members and their details. Also, they will keep record of the subscription fees that have been collected, and the expenses made by GN.

·         Realists: The role of the realists is to think of ideas and ensure those ideas or the best ideas are brought to realisations. The realists will think of the new directions to go. They will focus on where and when the next conference should hold, including how. They will think together with others what is best in each situation.

Each person should fill a role that is coherent with his/her characteristics.

Irrespective of the team you choose, you are still obliged to collaborate with others to write the subsequent newsletters.

5.      Member Subscription

Going by our reinvention from a ‘guys group’ to a networking platform, every member is expected to pay a minimum monthly subscription fee of 500 naira. This is to ensure that we keep GN afloat during events and conferences. It is also needed for the several philanthropy acts we will be engaged in.

Why don’t you pay yours today? With 500 naira every month, we can reach out to thousands of global citizens.

Account Details:

Timileyin Okungbowa

0228122197

WEMA Bank

6.      FEARING FAILURE

Fearing Failure is the lure that makes an individual lose his potential, his dream, incapacitate his emotional ideas about himself, and strangle his developing ideas. The fear of failure is like the fear of success because success doesn’t come without failure as both of them are like a snail and its shell.

There is no such thing as failure; rather it is just life trying to move us in another direction, therefore, making us fear and doubt our chosen path. Rather than fearing failure, it is better to develop our mental faculties in providing tactical solutions to the fear of directional deviation -- failure.

Failure in our chosen path may occur when there is a wide gap between our emotional, moral, and internal GPS. Thus, disabling us from locating ourselves when lost in ideas. We need to develop a very strong mental map that will help us locate our minds and ideas. We need our minds to be deep in thought like the deepest ocean on earth.

Not everybody who succeeds in life kowtows with failure, but they took it upon themselves as part of the success. They survived a cascade of failure that leads to an everlasting success. Don’t allow the failure to chain you down like a prisoner, rather utilize the failure as a trap towards capturing your awaiting success.

We must not allow the fear of failure in us be expressed so that our big dreams have to be fulfilled, our nascent idea to become performed ideas, and our ultimate goals achieved. 

BEFORE ANY SUCCESSFUL SUCCESS, THERE EXISTS A FAILURE

Abdulganeey Toyyib             

toyyibabdulganeey@gmail.com; +2349096721382

7.      GN Events and Conferences

People are the most valuable asset we have. Consequently, there is a need to engage them and bring them together. Events and conferences will be vital to our growth in the forthcoming years. Here, you will see that the monthly subscription fee is being channelled in a resourceful direction.

To start with, FUTA is the root of GN, and I’ve thought about Tosin’s suggestions during our previous meeting and many others’ ideas. I think we can do a proper Freshers Orientation for new Futarians. I know you have a bunch of ideas in your head. Now is the time to share with everyone. Kindly let us know of your thoughts on what events and conferences we can hold in the subsequent years. Every idea, every perspective is very much welcome. Thank you.

8.      Epilogue

Thank you for reading every word in this newsletter. There’s no better time to communicate with such a valuable friend as you. I wish you a prosperous 2018.

With each dream,

Work twice more.

           

GuysNetwork 3rd Newsletter: Dec 2017 

Connecting People with Opportunities