Hey Reader
Growing up, business was the only language I understood.
Everyone around me was doing “import and export.” It sounded big. Important. So I decided early—that was my future too.
In my head, business was simple:
Open a shop. Sell something. Make money.
That was it.
By the time I finished secondary school, I was ready to start. No university. Just real life.
Then my parents stepped in.
They convinced me to go to university first—with a promise: finish school, and they’d support whatever business I wanted.
I agreed, reluctantly.
While in school, I started a small side business.
That’s when reality hit.
Money was going out faster than it came in. Customers owed me. Some never paid. Prices changed overnight. And sometimes, even when I did everything right, I still lost money.
I had always been a good student. Academics came easy.
But business?
Business humbled me.
I saw the part nobody talks about—
When the numbers don’t add up.
When losses stay quiet.
When you smile outside but worry inside.
That experience changed me.
I gained real respect for business owners—the ones who show up every day, even when things aren’t working.
Today, I understand this:
Business is not just courage.
It is endurance.
And in Nigeria, that endurance is tested daily.
Unstable electricity. Rising costs. Constant uncertainty. Business owners don’t just run businesses—they solve problems they shouldn’t even have.
Yet, they still open shop the next morning.
So here’s the truth:
If you’re running a business in Nigeria, don’t build for perfection.
Build for survival.
Things will go wrong.
Costs will rise.
Plans will fail.
Cut unnecessary expenses.
Have backup plans.
Know your limits.
Not every opportunity is worth it if your foundation is weak.
Looking back, I think my parents knew exactly what they were doing.
University wasn’t just school.
It was how I learned the reality behind the shop.
And for that, I’m grateful.
Josh 🙏🏼
