12 Life's critical Questions with Mrs Ibukun Awosika
You cannot summaries the lives of great women and men. So I should say, I am not going to try to summaries The Mrs Ibukun Awosika's life in a single post, rather, I will use her story to answer some of life's most daring questions. As I noted in previous posts, these series both Men Crush Monday and Women Crush Wednesday are to help me and you get a small ray of light into the uncertain journey of life. So lets get down to it and I hope you become inspired.
1. How did you get to where you are today?
I cannot boast of my own competence, my Father has brought me here for his glory.
With that, from the beginning I have focused on being competent at what I do. I have a strong value system and to be quite honest character gets you to places more than competence.
It is people that recommend other people for board positions, so just focus on working hard and doing your very best because you never know who is watching and people are always watching. Focus on mastering your skills, becoming a master in that area and leaving a positive mark wherever you work.
I cannot boast of my own competence, my Father has brought me here for his glory.
With that, from the beginning I have focused on being competent at what I do. I have a strong value system and to be quite honest character gets you to places more than competence.
It is people that recommend other people for board positions, so just focus on working hard and doing your very best because you never know who is watching and people are always watching. Focus on mastering your skills, becoming a master in that area and leaving a positive mark wherever you work.
2. How did it all start?
I was a very confused young girl. And in high school I wanted to be a doctor, but when I found out that they use actual dead bodies and I knew I couldn't do that one.
Then I wanted to be an Architect, somehow I went to university to study chemistry. By the end of first year I hated it. Then I wanted to change to law, I invested everything trying to change to law, the dean of law said to me, " You are so determined, if I am going to take one new person in law next year, it will be you, you just have to pass very well".
This also meant that to pass very well is to guarantee that Chemistry won't release me, and to fail guaranteed that law would not accept me.
So I stayed in chemistry and then I decided not to be a lawyer and instead I wanted to be an accountant. So I began taking electives in the administration faculty and did that until I graduated. After that I insisted to work in an accounting firm, I did everything to make sure I was posted in an accounting firm for my youth service. ( Nigeria has a compulsory youth service system after university). By the end of one year in a firm which is now Deloitte, I hated accounting. I had wanted to study accounting so I could work in a bank. I still liked and wanted the bank job but not accounting anymore.
I found out that I was too restless for their monogamous processes that had no innovation and creativity, it just didn't match my personality. I finished the youth service at the firm and they offered me a full time job which I declined.
I went back home still hoping to get a bank job. My first job that I got one week after the service was at a furniture company. I took the job just to keep myself busy waiting to get a job at the bank. I lasted three and a half months in that company.
First I discovered why I wanted to be an architect at school. I love the creativity involved in the design process. But at this time I came to hate the value systems of the company with which I worked, they were just not right.
With the exuberance of a young person I said, "I could do what they do but I could do it with better values". I left and went to start my company, I didn't have any money.
I was a very confused young girl. And in high school I wanted to be a doctor, but when I found out that they use actual dead bodies and I knew I couldn't do that one.
Then I wanted to be an Architect, somehow I went to university to study chemistry. By the end of first year I hated it. Then I wanted to change to law, I invested everything trying to change to law, the dean of law said to me, " You are so determined, if I am going to take one new person in law next year, it will be you, you just have to pass very well".
This also meant that to pass very well is to guarantee that Chemistry won't release me, and to fail guaranteed that law would not accept me.
So I stayed in chemistry and then I decided not to be a lawyer and instead I wanted to be an accountant. So I began taking electives in the administration faculty and did that until I graduated. After that I insisted to work in an accounting firm, I did everything to make sure I was posted in an accounting firm for my youth service. ( Nigeria has a compulsory youth service system after university). By the end of one year in a firm which is now Deloitte, I hated accounting. I had wanted to study accounting so I could work in a bank. I still liked and wanted the bank job but not accounting anymore.
I found out that I was too restless for their monogamous processes that had no innovation and creativity, it just didn't match my personality. I finished the youth service at the firm and they offered me a full time job which I declined.
I went back home still hoping to get a bank job. My first job that I got one week after the service was at a furniture company. I took the job just to keep myself busy waiting to get a job at the bank. I lasted three and a half months in that company.
First I discovered why I wanted to be an architect at school. I love the creativity involved in the design process. But at this time I came to hate the value systems of the company with which I worked, they were just not right.
With the exuberance of a young person I said, "I could do what they do but I could do it with better values". I left and went to start my company, I didn't have any money.
3. How did you manage to start your own business?
I Started really small, my first workshop was at the back of my father's house. I did not have money but I could outsource.
My customers paid 70% for down payments, front right. And that was how I worked, I could hire carpenters who came with their own machines and other processes we outsourced.
I Started really small, my first workshop was at the back of my father's house. I did not have money but I could outsource.
My customers paid 70% for down payments, front right. And that was how I worked, I could hire carpenters who came with their own machines and other processes we outsourced.
4. How did you grow?
Patience and I moved in stages. I did market research and I found out that with a growing middle class we could be scalable.
At first I sold my furniture to close friend and members of the family but of course they do not need new furniture everyday. So I chose a market segment that had many customers and that would grow with my business.
With time I moved from the backyard of my Father's house to renting a workshop.
We reached a time that we had so many customers and weak production, so we ended up disappointing customers. Because we couldn't produce at the same rate our customers needed furniture and at that point I got an opportunity to get a big loan and we grew from there.
Patience and I moved in stages. I did market research and I found out that with a growing middle class we could be scalable.
At first I sold my furniture to close friend and members of the family but of course they do not need new furniture everyday. So I chose a market segment that had many customers and that would grow with my business.
With time I moved from the backyard of my Father's house to renting a workshop.
We reached a time that we had so many customers and weak production, so we ended up disappointing customers. Because we couldn't produce at the same rate our customers needed furniture and at that point I got an opportunity to get a big loan and we grew from there.
5. What knowledge did you use to grow your business?
I had developed money management skills and I believed you cannot eat your dinner for breakfast and I had to save for rainy days and I did not spend unnecessarily. I did not even own a car until when I was 40 and that is when my husband bought a brand new car for me. So I had learnt discipline and I made sacrifices and I used the profit I made to grow my business.
Understand your own reality but keep your vision infront of you.
I had developed money management skills and I believed you cannot eat your dinner for breakfast and I had to save for rainy days and I did not spend unnecessarily. I did not even own a car until when I was 40 and that is when my husband bought a brand new car for me. So I had learnt discipline and I made sacrifices and I used the profit I made to grow my business.
Understand your own reality but keep your vision infront of you.
6. Life's greatest and hardest question is "Who are you?", how will you answer that?
I am The Child of The Most High God. I am a Christian first then a business woman. And the place my Father has assigned me to is the Market Place.
I am The Child of The Most High God. I am a Christian first then a business woman. And the place my Father has assigned me to is the Market Place.
7. What is your purpose in life? Your calling?
My purpose is to go into the market place (the business world) and into every place that I occupy and show what it is to be a child of God. And to get to the highest level possible without betraying the gospel. The totality of the bible is to restore people to the master reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ and that is the totality of our assignment as Christians. We are to do all things for the glory of the Father. I carry the flag of righteousness.
My purpose is to go into the market place (the business world) and into every place that I occupy and show what it is to be a child of God. And to get to the highest level possible without betraying the gospel. The totality of the bible is to restore people to the master reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ and that is the totality of our assignment as Christians. We are to do all things for the glory of the Father. I carry the flag of righteousness.
8. What does your calling demand of you?
At the most trying moments even when I would lose billions, I choose God I dare not choose anything else. If I choose anything else I choose not to be a child of God that means I abandon the calling.
At the most trying moments even when I would lose billions, I choose God I dare not choose anything else. If I choose anything else I choose not to be a child of God that means I abandon the calling.
9. What can you account your success to?
○ Discipline
○ Character and Integrity
○ Hard-work
○ Support from other people
○ Passion
○ Devotion and my Relationship with God.
○ Discipline
○ Character and Integrity
○ Hard-work
○ Support from other people
○ Passion
○ Devotion and my Relationship with God.
10. How do you know what to do in a very difficult situation?
One thing I have discovered is that everything, in any kind of situation I would find myself in business there is a scripture that deals with it. Example how to price, how to deal with customers, how to be a good leader and so on. Every and any kind of question is answered in the Bible. So I search in the Bible. My first book that I published is called Business his way, involving business principles from the bible.
One thing I have discovered is that everything, in any kind of situation I would find myself in business there is a scripture that deals with it. Example how to price, how to deal with customers, how to be a good leader and so on. Every and any kind of question is answered in the Bible. So I search in the Bible. My first book that I published is called Business his way, involving business principles from the bible.
11. As a woman you have a family, you are married and you have 3 sons, and you still manage to run businesses and also serve in several boards and a chairperson in others. How can you do it all? How can you have it all? Every woman's dream is to have it all, so how do you do it?
I have a strong support system and I collaborate with people. You cannot do it all alone. So accept help. You need the house help, the mother in-law, the aunties and everyone else. Admit you need help and appreciate and value your helpers bring. Delegate and let people do their jobs.
And more than anything be ready to pay the price of wanting and having it all.
I have a strong support system and I collaborate with people. You cannot do it all alone. So accept help. You need the house help, the mother in-law, the aunties and everyone else. Admit you need help and appreciate and value your helpers bring. Delegate and let people do their jobs.
And more than anything be ready to pay the price of wanting and having it all.
12. It’s evident that a support system is important to you.What advice do you have for young women who are inspired by your career but are finding it difficult to balance it all? ( This particular question and answer is by smartmoneyafrica.org , found here)
My husband is my gift. He is my support system and takes absolute pride in everything I do. So the life partner you choose is extremely important. I think these days young women get carried away by how handsome or rich a man is and money shouldn’t be a measurement when choosing a husband.
I think that before picking a husband, you have to know yourself first.
Women need to realize that they come first and should spend more time nurturing their vision and ambitions. Every life has an assignment and you are accountable to God to carry out that assignment and when choosing a life partner you want look for someone that has been assigned to help you fulfill your purpose.
For you to blossom outside, the environment in your own home must be conducive. A supportive husband is better than a financially well husband.
Bonus Question.
13. If I have messed up until this time do I still stand a chance as a young person or even old?
Until this moment you can decide today to start doing things right. Don't take things for granted, life keeps records and these records will either speak for you or against you.
Purpose in your heart where you want to go and act like you are already there. Do whatever you need to do and do it right
Be deliberate about life. Everything that you do matters and people are your biggest asset in life.
Treat people right everyone you get a chance to meet now, leave a legacy of goodness. Smile and be polite, show respect.
Appreciate and value people's strength, understand people's weaknesses and don't put people's liabilities infront of them.
13. If I have messed up until this time do I still stand a chance as a young person or even old?
Until this moment you can decide today to start doing things right. Don't take things for granted, life keeps records and these records will either speak for you or against you.
Purpose in your heart where you want to go and act like you are already there. Do whatever you need to do and do it right
Be deliberate about life. Everything that you do matters and people are your biggest asset in life.
Treat people right everyone you get a chance to meet now, leave a legacy of goodness. Smile and be polite, show respect.
Appreciate and value people's strength, understand people's weaknesses and don't put people's liabilities infront of them.
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