Things you should do in your 20s to be successful in your 40s

Many times, we hear people talk about their past and think aloud, “If only I had…” They wish they had saved more; they wish they had taken more risks; they wish they had been more proactive; they wish they had been more courageous. There are some things which need to be done early on in life so that it either turns into big-time dividends as you grow older or it makes the journey to the top of the ladder smoother. As millennials, the biggest advantage we have on our hands is time. Be it financial decisions or building professional networks, even minor steps we take in these directions can have a huge impact on what our career shapes into in the years to come. So here are a few things you can do in your 20s to ensure that by the time you are 40, you will be able to taste success, professional recognition and satisfaction.

                                             

                                     
 Take risks, sometimes even uncalculated ones

Of course, you can play it safe and still be successful in your career, but the payoffs will be much bigger when you bring yourself to take risks. Unhappy about your job? Take a risk and quit it to follow your heart. You have all the time in the world to try something new or start something on your own in your 20s. Being unfettered by domestic responsibilities is a huge advantage at this age. Also, even if you do make a bad decision, there is enough time for you to pick up the pieces and put something else together. Author Rob Salkowitz once wrote about how “young people offset the advantages of maturity with greater energy, fewer encumbrances in their personal lives, a streak of unjaded idealism, and, a willingness to take risks that more seasoned people might consider foolish,” in a Fast Company article. He ends the article saying, “The kinds of business founded by young entrepreneurs make a much bigger impact when they succeed, and leave a much lighter mark when they fail.” You don’t want to be 40 doing the same job you were in your 20s and regret that you never had the courage to follow your real passion.

Take employer-paid training seriously

Many employers provide their best employees a chance to learn from the best and develop both personally and professionally. Do not take these opportunities lightly, grab them when they are available. Remember that at a later stage in your life, you may not be able to afford such training courses if you were to independently invest in them. It’s not just a matter of getting a truly valuable education for free; it is also about what you learn. You are investing your time and your employer is paying to help you pick up valuable skills. As you grow older and when you move on from one job to another, you will realise the importance of these certificates (that you picked up without much of an effort) in shaping your professional portfolio.

Get a grip on your finances

This is the time to equip yourself with valuable financial information and up the ante when it comes to your financial literacy. Pick up a few skills that will help you at least plan, if not manage, your finances. If you are not good with numbers, seek professional help right now. Planning earlier will help you design your financial portfolio in the most rewarding way. Taking out insurance policies while younger reduces the amount of premiums you need to pay greatly. Start investing younger. Pay off your student loans at the earliest and start saving for your retirement. More importantly, do not cash out your provident funds or other retirement savings while moving jobs. Roll it over to your new employer’s account and save from losing out through withdrawal penalties.

Be courageous while approaching seniors and mentors

Don’t be shy or scared to approach your seniors for help, advice or to request them to be your mentors. Experience teaches many things, and these lessons cannot be found in any book or tutorial website. Establish a good rapport with your seniors so that they do not mind sharing their learnings with you. It is only going to get tougher to find a mentor at a later stage in your career, and after a point it might even become too late to become a mentee. So don’t pull yourself back. When you see someone you think you would want to grow into in the next few years, talk to them and learn from them. They have been there, done that and can also be a strong link in your professional network.

Network and maintain these relationships over time

The point of making connections is so that you can tap into them for professional reasons at a later point in time. Networking with well-connected individuals is like a bridge you are building towards better opportunities in the future. But do not forget that relationships are not easy to maintain, and it calls for genuine, dedicated time and effort to stay in touch. So take that initiative early on and make it a habit to keep renewing your connections by communicating with them at frequent intervals. Even if some connections may not come to benefit you in the short run, do not abandon or walk away from them. They might come in handy, say, 15 years from now, and you will thank yourself then for not falling out of touch.

Your 20s are the time when you lay the foundation for what your life and career will be in the future. So put in your maximum efforts to make this foundation as strong as possible so that it will be able to balance and support a stronger, more fruitful professional and personal life.

5 reasons why Introverts make better entrepreneurs

It is a common misconception that to be a successful entrepreneur you need to be a ‘born leader’ and possess the ability talk your client’s ear off. Truth is, we tend to generalize when it comes to the ‘idea’ of an entrepreneurship. We overhype the fact that they need to possess unparalleled oratory skills and a foolproof networking mantra.
                             
                                      

Although these two qualities are certainly to be revered in the business world, this does not mean that introverts cannot make for great, if not better entrepreneurs. It was Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung who first coined the term ‘introvert’ in the 1920s. The official definition, as per Webster’s Dictionary goes:

An introvert is someone whose attention and interests are directed towards one’s own thoughts and feelings OR more broadly speaking- someone who is reserved and shy.

Probably not the most accurate definition one could go by, but then again when have we ever been able to perfectly define and categorize the fifty shades of human personalities?

Introverts are the deep-thinking, risk-analyzing, loyal co-workers and silent masters at execution, whose seated cautionary measures work really well in the long run. They have mastered the skills of learning by observing and are, thus, the king sharks of the business ocean.
He who does not speak listens
The thing that works most in favour of an introvert is the fact that he knows how to listen. Be it at social gatherings, meetings or interviews, introverts pick up important details that are often overlooked by extroverts. As a bonus, the introvert usually has a sharp memory and will pull out important pointers from a meeting that no one even remembers. He will, thus, piece together these bits of exclusive information and combine it all to create the perfect seller.
They like being undervalued
The introvert knows he’s good at what he does, but he doesn’t make a spectacle out of it because that gives him the space to win even better. Extroverts, however, are known to thrive on praise and acclaim. Although introverts and extroverts strive for the same goal, introverts do not make their intentions vocal because being undervalued saves them from the constant pressure of needing to outdo themselves. But when they do, they make sure everyone knows it.
They walk alone
Introverts can work best when they’re alone and free from the obligation of consultancy. This doesn’t mean that they don’t work well in a team. It just goes to show that if push came to shove and there was a call for a last-minute one-man show, an introvert would be the best man for the job.
In it to create, not dominate
Introverts tend to give great thought to their actions. They analyse every risk to the bone and may often come across as ‘prudish’. But the truth is, they are the real game-changers, the designated drivers and goalkeepers to their businesses. They are not impulsive and they know how to win it big, with caution.
They like to share centre-stage
Introverts are always looking for the best possible solutions to any problem. They lend an ear for suggestions from all and do not let their egos cloud their judgement. They don’t crave the limelight and are more than willing to give credit where it’s due. This also helps them win the confidence of those working with and around them and, hence, earn a good reputation of being approachable.

So, for all you introverts, who have been told otherwise, know that you can change the very face of the business world. Who knows, maybe Bill Gates will be looking you up on Google someday!

5 ways small businesses in Nigeria can build a positive online reputation

                                                       


With the current economic situation in Nigeria, small businesses are finding it extra hard to survive or at least stay relevant. There are a million and one things they have to worry about now as well as strategies they have to consider if they want to keep shop. One of such strategies is “online reputation management”. It is no secret that everything is literally done online now and so, if you want your business to succeed, you need to put it online. Basically, a business’ online presence can make or break its actuality. Aside from having an online presence however, it is essential for any business to know how to protect its online reputation.

Do you own a small business and you are wondering how you can do this? Jumia Travel shares 5 tips that can help you protect and manage your business’ reputation online.

                                                 

Join and remain active on Social Networks 

Social media platforms, when used in the right way, can be an effective way to shape a business’ reputation. The results may not be instant, but with a genuine profile and consistent original content that resonates with your target market, you gain real connections. Start with Facebook or Twitter accounts and ensure you constantly send posts on the platforms. Delays in responding to Tweets, posts, comments and questions can have a negative impact on your reputation. Think about reciprocation and engage your customers rather than constantly adopting a direct sales approach.

Seek publicity 

Aside from being on the social media, seek other ways for self-promotion. Try web advertising and if you cannot afford to do that, an alternative way to seek publicity online would be to write articles for other sites and blogs and ensure you write on topics that will establish yourself as an expert in your field and essentially spread your good company name. 

Get in directory listings and business profile sites 

Anyone who wants to check the authenticity of a business, would usually check to see its inclusion on official listings and directories. Just the act of registering on these sites sets a positive reputation. Listing and online directories are essential as they help customers with searches and they eventually drive traffic to your site where you can adopt reputation management tools to keep your visitors interested and active on your pages. 

Encourage reviews 

Most businesses tend to shy away from reviews as they are afraid they may eventually get damaged by a negative review. It is important however that these business owners keep in mind that feedback is valuable as it gives essential insights into the reputation of the business. If you don’t know what people are saying about your business, you do not know what your reputation is, much less what must be done to manage it. In the case you get a negative review, see it as an opportunity to correct an issue or satisfy a dissatisfied customer. Take the time to respond both publicly on the review and privately with the customer through email to make it right. Do not be lured by the temptation of paying for good reviews either, as this breaks the terms of service of many directories and can result in long term harm to your visibility on their site. 

Manage your offline reputation 

Do not be deceived, your offline reputation is as important as your online reputation. Your online reputation is essentially built upon the offline experiences of your customers with your business and as such, they heavily influence how your small business in perceived online. Do all you can to ensure your customer has a positive experience with your services, products or facilities. Ensure you have a system in place that allows dissatisfied customers to express their concerns and also allows you to answer questions and make decisions that address and resolve issues before they become online complaints.

  Contact  info@nethubnigeria.com for your Business plan