Selling Your Business Story – Using VAR

Story story,
Once upon a time…

  • Every Business story is hinged on an idea
  • A story well sold, can become a brand well known
  • Mastering the art of StorySelling leads to improved media presence, enhanced sales and productivity
  • Expressing your business idea by leveraging on value , accessibility and relevance
  • Creating relatable and marketable content

Every business has a story to sell for the ultimate purpose of attracting patronage and clients. The marketplace hosts a wide range of transactions, but is mostly rampant with stiff competition. It is therefore important to map out strategies for development and sustained progression.

This article highlights three vital components that make up a marketable brand. The place of having a professional content creators in your business is indisputable, however, these components can be beneficial when composing content for posts and publications.

By mastering the art of StorySelling, you paint a clinical description of your craft to clients. This serves as a call to action, and makes an appealing case for your business to thrive.

Value
Accessibility
Relevance

Value

Quality value attracts quality returns. In a world crowded with relentless demands and needs, the quality of a service rendered or product offered, is hugely sort after.

Just as the customer index have the bronze category, so is there the platinum level. So it is only logical to attract platinum patronage via valuable offerings. The value of a product is measured by its benefits and durability in relation to its price.

For instance, the market value of a typical designers would be determined by its appearance, material and texture. Prices placed on products like gadgets, would also be determined by their model, functionality and specifications. However, prices placed on edible goods would be contrasting, due to its nature of production and durability.

It is therefore safe to allude to the fact that value varies, depending on the type of craft.

Nurturing Growth on Rocky soil

Accessibility

Products like sachet or table water can be said to be more accessible than a dispenser, and therefore have varying pricing respectively. This is not to state that a dispenser will sell less than a table water, but that both will have varying advantages.

Case in point, one table water bottle bought for about ₦70, can solve an instant need, but may need to be purchased up to five (5) times in a day to quench thirst. However, the pricing and sales of either, are dependent on availability. One dispensing machine bought for ₦40,000, can also solve an instant need, and would only need to be purchased once, tho, more expensive.

Therefore, when creating content to sell your business idea, endeavour to take into consideration which category your product or service fall into; cheap and instant, or expensive and long-term. Both have their edges.

Information begets transformation, as the currency to bargaining in life isn’t just money, but quality insight.

Gbenga Gboyega – The X-Pro

Relevance

The most important question in the minds of entrepreneurs going into a business venture, should be – how relevant is my business idea to the demands in the marketplace.

Instances can be drawn from academics and career, as there are certain career part that may seem irrelevant to the Nigerian labour industry regardless of their depth and course. The same applies to the business world, as not all concepts or idea are marketable to the average Nigerian client. Well, that’s unless the said business isn’t international.

Also in the entertainment industry, there are cases of dope, insightful and creative artists or thespians who have become underdogs or redundant, due to the perception of their alternative style.

Relevance is achieved by carrying out due diligence and streamlined survey, on customer behavior and demands.

Gbenga Gboyega – 7 A’s Framework

Tell your story, sell for glory.

PiggyIT

Save and Invest productively by embracing FinTech solutions.

Piggy

In the middle ages, people used pots, containers and clothing materials to keep money. According to history, the pots and containers were mostly formed from an orange coloured clay material known as “pygg”.

As time evolved, the name transformed to “piggy”, before the modernization of the English language, where more people started to refer to it as “piggy pots”, making a pun of words.

This then informed the “pig” symbol to connote a container stashed with money.

Early 1900s
Fig. 1.1 A Piggy Pot Icon

Not until the 19th century, people started requesting their containers and jars be made in pig shapes – and so it was, the birth of the now modernized “piggy bank” symbolism.

A careful look at the money market from the stone ages would outline one fascinating factor that defines money over the years – that is relevance.

FinTech

FinTech is a neology of the words “finance” & “technology”, which implies the advent of utilizing digital means to automate and enhance financial processes and services. This revolution has virtually disrupted every aspect of the financial industry.

Today, FinTech makes it possible to invest, save, transfer and transact online and on mobile with convenience.

According to CB Insights, a leading tech market intelligence platform, there are 41 Venture Capital (VC) backed unicorns, worth a combined $154.1B as at the year 2020.

The history of financial technology dates as far back as the 1950s, when the earliest set of credit cards were adopted by the general public.

Customary banking offers an estimate of 4.06% to 6% interest rates per annum, while some digital platforms offer up to a range of 8% to 23% on wallets

Cc: piggyvest

Although, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), corporate banks grew from around 13,500 commercial bank branches to about 83,000 as at year 2008.

The need to buy, sell, exchange, invest and accrue wealth comes from the unabating relevance of money, as trust grew weary in traditional banking, FinTech proved a worthy alternative through its online financial services.

There are processes involved in milking this amazing technology. These methods are explicitly outlined in the ePackage – 𝗣𝗶𝗴𝗴𝘆𝗜𝗧. A premium quality e-manual that teaches the basics of spontaneous financial services, such as; quick savings, padding interests, trading forex, safe locking and target banking and loads of investment options.
PS: A free 𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗴𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗴 User Guide inside for @piggybankng users. Feel free to click the link below to claim yours, and begin your productive fincancial journey.

I want to get PiggyIt

Its time to take hold of your finances and earn while saving and investing productively.

Brand with Style; Market with Class – Smile to the bank

Selling your story, branding your craft, and promoting your business are birds of the same feather, flocking together in the sky of business. Getting your craft to the top of the food chain, will take some determination in adopting the right strategy to packaging.

  • Mastering the art of StorySelling is a to-do for all business minds and entrepreneurs.
  • Selling a product or service goes beyond the craft, and is dependent on certain strategic principles to follow suit.
  • More SMEs are experiencing a surge in patronage and trade, by improving their branding and style.
  • Your mode of packaging can make or mar your business transactions.
  • Selling involves both private and public awareness.

For entrepreneurs, there’s the challenge of having the right packaging to attract their target customers. A business structure could be in place, also the goods to sell or services to render, but little or no patronage coming through. Well, your business may be missing the right strategy to packaging and branding your craft effectively.

However, your craft has to posses the adequate quality of work or service needed to replicate the value placed on it [pricing]. This follows through a set of principles that are functional and appealing for sustainable progress.

Keywords

craft, quality, value, principles, functional, appealing, progress.
Fig. 1.1 Selling your craft’s ideology

Competition would definitely exist around what you offer, but what sets you apart and gives your business an edge is the sense of style your trade portrays, accompanied by the level of quality exhibited. This StorySelling Act, involves three marketing elements to consider –

The Market Place (customer)

This is where the customer’s ideology influences your package. Factors like surveys, site reviews, cache data, and other customer feedback tools are implored to understand the thought pattern of your target. Cheap is relative, so also is Expensive. A customer is concerned about value for money, so let your package express the value the client will relate with.

Craftsmanship (seller)

This is where the seller’s ideology comes into fore. Your business attracts patronage based on how prospects perceive what you offer. You could have a premium product in an inferior package, which may repel your premium clients. A low budget craft could also be packaged as premium, making customers to only engage, and not patronize. Understand how your craft can relate to your target.

ROI – Return on Investment (profit)

We are all in business to make profit and smile to the bank, however there’s a reason profit returns on investment and not vice-versa. You don’t make profit before investment, so spend a considerable amount to invest in your business package and branding, then watch the profit return. The investment stage is usually the project defense period, certificate and graduation follows suit when project is approved by HOD – in this case, your project is your craft, and the HOD are your clients. Defend your business idea through your packaging.

People will always hunt for treasures, so make your business precious to your esteemed target. The ability to marry these three marketing elements, will help make your brand feel more relatable, and your craft or business, marketable.

Some tips for the road…

  1. Be more inclined to influencing the market space, affluence will follow suit. Value is paid for quality not quantity.
  2. Be informed and current in the dealings of your trade. Get acquainted with latest tools and plugs that relate to your craft. Evolve from the basics.
  3. Be exceptional in delivery. Customers can become your ambassadors if they are satisfied with your service. Strive for excellence.
  4. Make your business a lifestyle. Become what you sell, and make your offers relatable. Customers patronize You first, before your craft.
  5. Always give it your best shot. Private and public branding go in sync, so invest smartly in yourself as well as your product.
Branding
Styling
Marketing

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Packaging influences how your audience view your brand. First impression is critical. You are a living representation of your business.

Excerpts:
Fig. 1.2 A view of some well packaged products

Good content, quality service, and great packaging will not just get you the desired reactions on your social media posts, but will also ignite engagements that could lead to patronage. This is where followers are distinguished from customers.

How to package any craft (product or service):

  1. Be simple, but classic. Prospects can loose interest in your content easily if you do too much. But endeavour to portray elegance as well.
  2. Have a consistent theme that’ll become your unique identifier. This goes beyond your logo, and can be a moto, color or signature.
  3. Employ professionals to do your promotions if need be. Imploring experts in design, PR, creative content and digital marketing can become a defining factor to improving your media presence.
  4. Create Customer satisfaction surveys to get feedback on your products and services. It helps your decision in making your craft more relatable.
  5. Be creative. Make your packaging more about the product and less about finesse, by giving your customers a striking idea of what to expect, and compel their curiosity alongside.

Our people say in local parlance “stew wey sweet, na money kill am”. Be ready to spend smartly to earn snappy.

The Elders

The High-functioning Anxiety – An Unusual Disorder

A case of maintaining a high level of excellence, success and composure on the outside, only to fight unrest and awkwardness within self.

Fig. 1.1 A State of Constant Worry
  • The struggle with procrastination, binge productivity, insomnia, overthinking, are few of the many symptoms of this anxiety.
  • The disorder could be as a result of factors brewing from childhood trauma, fear of failure, and an overbearing survival instinct, to mention but a few.
  • People who suffer from this, may feel accomplished by their achievements and exploits publicly, but battle internal unrest fervently.
  • Therapists have spoken of building self awareness and confidence on a reoccurring basis as remedies to maintaining mental sanity.
Therapy
Mental Health awareness
Anxiety disorder

In today’s world, the need to strive for perfection can be positively inspiring, but consequently tiring, if expectations are not adequately managed. People can get overwhelmed with the consuming pressures, commitments, and deadlines at our disposal, and consequently almost always want to feel excellent and secure.

A highly successful individual who thrives in excellence at all levels, may not realize why they get somewhat unfulfilled, even after making strides – overthinking sets in, questioning if enough has been done regardless. The night comes when nature beckons for the body to rest, the brain remains adamant, and continues to fixate on the mirage of appointments laying ahead – insomnia sets in. You do not want to let others down, so a level of excellence, composure and mark has to be portrayed at all times, and most times one is unable to set boundaries or refute certain commitments. If any of these sound familiar, well, you’re here right?

Characteristics:

Positive – very jovial, punctual, proactive, organized, passionate, loyal, helpful, ability to multi-task, ambitious…

Negative – people pleasing, repetitive (always recounting steps, tiles, habits), nervous, overthinking, procrastinates, insomnia, avoiding eye contact, consumed by fear of the unknown, constantly seeking public validation…

Symptoms are subjective to personalities

Challenges:

People who function constantly on a high level tend to get praised for over achieving on the long run, but in hindsight, the efforts, struggles and worries that are required to attain such levels are mostly ignored. Deep down there’s the fear of not meeting up with expectations.

Most times, the individual doesn’t get things done unless it seems like a die affair, which mostly becomes the adrenaline needed to getting the task done before deadline.

This challenge, is mostly internal and vague to the public.

Most, if not all of the symptoms are born from childhood trauma, caused by the constant request from folks and peers alike to be perfect and always get things right. So a survival instinct is instilled as a lifestyle at a tender age, leading to always living up to expectations. Anything short of a pass mark is often met with strict scrutiny and criticism, leaving little or no room for self appraisal and commendation on efforts applied. This could become a stubborn mental state to battle if taken lightly overtime.

Fig 1.2 The Brain – A Vital & Complex Organ

Possible Remedy?

The High-functioning anxiety disorder is not yet a medically diagnosed condition, but has been referred to as a term by professionals, especially Therapists, to define the opposing feelings experienced internally and externally by an individual causing mental unrest and awkwardness.

There are possible therapeutical remedies for this feeling, and if imbibed may bring relief to the reoccurring worry of perfection;

  1. Believe more in what you’re convinced to do for self, than what others feel you should do.
  2. Build self confidence constantly by seeing projects, jobs and contracts through to the latter. Always endeavor to complete tasks, regardless of the outcome. There’s a sense of relief that comes with completion.
  3. Learn to agree to disagree even when convinced about a particular outcome or process. Open-mindedness leaves room for serenity, and repels rigidity.
  4. As a Jack of most trades, resolve to taking things one step at a time. Your processes may be concurrent, but allow yourself to settle in all your crafts.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

If you’ve never been diagnosed of a mental disorder or health issue, but are familiar with the symptoms indicating a high-functioning tendency, do not hesitate to seek the assistance of a professional physician or therapist.

A Piece worth 30 shekels – Judas the Rat

The Gospel of Easter

Once upon a time…

“Judas”, a name we’ll hardly find anyone go by in this age and time unfortunately. If only he (the Judas) had the ability to forgive himself, would have realized his “disappointment” was actually for Jesus’ & the world’s “blessing”, well, in disguise.

Alátiṣe ní ḿmọ àtiṣe ara-a rẹ̀ – The person who must settle his/her affair knows best

Judas Iscariot, 284 BC

At the time, it wasn’t looking rozy for Rabbi anymore, going from one court injunction to another, facing several panels and jury, he had to make up his mind before it’s too late.

The son of Iscariot had his permutations as clear as crystal; give a kiss, identify the target and cash out – NB: 30 shekels of silver in today’s NGN equals approximately ₦3000. E worth pass urgent 2k.

He’s the messiah, he should save himself.

The Gang

Will you blame the poor man? He was the official treasurer for >Rabbi & the Gang< for three years and counting. Local man had been through thick and thin with Jesus, his fellow disciples and their occasional “honorarium” from various missions and ministrations. Who would have thunk it, that he sly the Messiah?

And so it happened…

Whenever I hear the name “Judas”, asides from biblical references, memories of M. I. Abaga & Vector da Viper’s rap diss tracks begin to flood my consciousness.

Ofcos, it was VEC who named his own version “Judas the Rat”!

Do you know what it means to be termed a rat? Even poverty is associated with “church rats”, vendors displaying rat poisons upandan, let’s not even talk about lassa fever; can anything good come from a Rat?

That’s not all…

His fellow Gang Exco, Simon the Peter, had his own agenda, “when kasala burst, na to FEM!”. He had to remain anonymous, deny the Messiah blatantly, and avoid getting apprehended. Alas, the messiah who they taught should save himself, was inadvertently to be crucified.

Judas broke down, Peter mourned, but the deed had been done, and there was no turning back. While the son of Iscariot got overwhelmed by his guilt, Simon’s remembered the Lord’s merciful personality. Three years were enough to see how many times Jesus had told others, “Go, your sins have been forgiven”.

So Peter triggered his guilt release clause with the savior, confessed and repented. Judas on the flip side closed up shop and signed off on an acrimonious note. He flings the bag of silver at the Sadducees, and went on to hang.
After all said and done, Judas became the Rat, Peter became the Saint.
Just a kiss was enough to end what would have been an illustrious career for Judas to this day.

It is finished… 
Whatever you do, always remember, to err is human, and to forgive is divine.

The gospel of Easter. ✌️😇

Procrastinate Enough?

Here’s 5 Ways on How To Make Quick Decisions:

There are times when there’ll be power supply at home, and I’ll be busy with my phone but not bother to charge up the battery even when running low.

The moment it gets to 3%, my village people will blow their trumpet for their contemporaries at the power station to heed the clarion call and seize their light.

Now, there’s no light, battery on 2%, and it is unknown unto man the time nor the hour there’ll be power supply again.

Fig. 1.1 What God cannot do doesn’t exist

Well, the good news is there are effective way to be conscious of time – that is to set time based goals & objectives. These don’t always have to be long-term, they could be short-term, precise and concise.

This is where you filter public validations or opinions of your choices, however you’ve got to be convinced of your PPA (Personal Authentic Ambition) to make informed decisions.

Feed your mind with the consciousness of time to be able to effectively actualize a better future.

Psalm 90:12
Fig. 1.2 Be in control of your time

How then do we overcome procrastination?

Identify where grace [based on belief] takes a pause, and where work [based on skill] assumes position.

Grace does not do your work, but provides ability to carry out the work [i.e. You still have to put in the effort]. Life’s principles remain constant, irrespective of platform, belief or circumstance.

To make instant decision try indulging in the following:

  1. Always exercise your mind through reading and info surfing, to build an informed mentality, and subsequently character.
  2. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Don’t just wish for it, map out an agenda on how you intend to get it accomplished.
  3. Have a scale of preference (remember Economics?). Stop spending too much time on frivolities and cruise (there’re time for those), but incline more on what matters.
  4. Rate your progress constantly in concurrence to times and seasons. Are you better in your interests or career than in time past? Have you improved? If not, return to Nô 2 above.
  5. Excuses don’t provide a healthy lifestyle, if wishes were horses beggars would ride on it. Stop wishing start improvising.

Negativity – Quite Pleasing

If experience is anything to go by, you’d agree with me that when a thing appears to be “too” good, it begs for extra level of discerning and intuition before accepting the offer to be true or valid regardless.

The devil you know, is preferable than the angel you know not…

Someone Somewhere
Fig. 1.1 Relentless contemplation
Continue reading “Negativity – Quite Pleasing”

Wave Your Banner!

Have you ever wondered a phenomenon so critical, that it bonds diverse kinds of people in unison, the screams of that one synonymous word which cuts across different languages and tongues with passion ignited, and banter personified; that one instinctive roar of Gooooaaallllll!!!

🥅 ⚽ 🥅

Let’s not even mince words here, as this can only be an extraordinarily divine feeling of ecstasy as we highlight the formidable crew members ranging from seasoned analysts (pundits) behind the mics to Stakeholders (owners) who invest in these clubs. To the tacticians (coaches) who have individual responsibilities to manage team players to outplay and outscore their opponents, not forgetting the major actors themselves, the team players, with sweat, dust, and blood as they consistently ignite the passion for sportsmanship all over the globe.

“Clears throat“… Here’s a brief overview of what I’m describing here, as we use the king of sports herself, Soccer. ⚽

The ongoing ’19/20 top-flight footballing season especially in Europe has seen its share of turns, twists, ups, and downs. That even had adverse effects contracted from something inversely proportional to it, the legend, the one, the only, Sir Corona C. Virus (COVID a Chinese attacker who dorns the ’19 jersey).

Excitements ranged from the highly tactical arena in the Italian Série à, to the ever formidable German Bundesliga. The diplomatic but well-branded yet controversial empire in the English Premier League cannot go unmentioned, just as the Cabal and Gang leaders in the Spanish La Liga, would always but come to the fur tagging their counterparts in the French Ligue 1 along the jolly ride.

Guys were bored abeg, no football for three (3) months straight. About ninety plus days of no talking points, banter, statistics check, even “over 2.5” was unavoidably scarce, as masses couldn’t latch unto green fibers of sure winnings.

Unpopular opinion

Alas, Football came back, sanity restored, tho half-baked, as fans could only chant echoes of support for their beloved teams from the comfort of the homes with the aid of digital media and networks.

Be that as it may, you may not feel the interest in whatever makes 22 grown men run around a small round leather ball for about an hour thirty minutes only to consolidate the game when it tickles their fancy.

Unpopular opinion

However, as the world would converge for the prestigious World Cup competitions, and nations gear towards qualification for their respective continental glories. Cities in Countries would train weekly to tackle in their respective leagues; you’ll always find a dad who’s an Arsenal fan, a Mum who’s a Man U fan, a firstborn who’s a Chelsea fan, the Blacksheep who’s the Barca fan, and that tender last born whose love for Real Madrid never wax cold.

Wherever you are, Wave Your Banner! Sports Unites us all.

#SportsLover #repyourClub

It’s just another Excuse!

The best way to be conscious of time is to have goals & objectives set.

Now this has nothing to do with what others think about you, as lots of opinions and advice would fall in, but you’ve got to be convinced of your personal authentic ambition (PAA).
Lack of control of emotions and feelings play a huge role for waste of time which invariably leads to procrastination. A goal isn’t achieved based on how you feel in your heart, but on conscious decisions made by the mind.

“Feed your mind with the consciousness of time to be able to effectively actualize a better future.”

Psalm 90:12

How then do we avoid procrastination? Know where grace [based on belief] stops, & where work [based on skill] starts. Grace does not do the work, but grace gives the ability to carry out the work [i.e. You still have to put in the effort]. Principle is principle, it does not depend on the platform, belief or circumstance.

When God spake the Word of creation, that was the first step. The Holy Spirit (Who was hovering over the surface of the earth) was doing the work to bring to fruition. 

“So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

To develop a principle on instant decision making one has to… 

✅ Service your mind consistently with oil of information to proper manage decision making.

✅ Whatever you don’t plan for, will eventually almost never be accomplished. Learn to set up an agenda.

✅ Prioritize based on relevance and importance. Too much time of the day is wasted on frivolities that one most likely forgets things that matter. Have a scale of preference.

✅ Constantly rate your progress in concurrence to time. Are you a better person in your sphere or field than you were the last time? Have you improved on anything? Self appraisal is key.  

✅ The next time you have an excuse to relax and do it later, remind yourself of the excuse of wanting to be successful and fulfilled inside life, then you go ahead and you do it!

In conclusion, procrastination feeds on indecision. Indecision feeds on indiscipline. Indiscipline feeds off inferiority complex.
When you believe in yourself so much as to be convinced by your objectives, you will always have an excuse to take a progressive step towards success.
Shalom 🙏

What about Effective Communication?

Communication can only be effective when there’s an eloquent speaker, an active listener and an understanding.

G²

Speaking and listening go concurrently and are vital in passing a salient message and guaranteeing attention. There’s so much rush for data that most times we deal with “information overload” which later leads to misinterpretation or misunderstanding.

Effective Speaking…

It goes beyond combining words together and expressing them to an audience. It has more to do with engaging your listener(s) in every phrase, clause, sentence and even facial and body gestures. Same goes for writing.

Whether you be a Comedian, Compere, Anchor, Actor, Orator, OAP, to mention but a few, your index is measured by the amount of decorum you command when you speak.

People long to hear what you have to say because every word you speak counts. There could be applause and gearing, but when there’s distraction and misconduct while you’re making your stance, then there’s something you’re not doing right.

Don’t just speak to be heard, speak to be apprehended (not arrested oh) 來. Just endeavor to pass a meaningful message.

Effective Listening…

Regardless of how eloquent, audible or animated a speaker is, the communication remains half baked if the listener isn’t actively attentive. A listener can stare, with both eyes glued and ears directed at the speaker yet nothing is being comprehended? of cos we all experience it one way or the other, we often term it to be “absent mindedness” .

Which buttresses listening with an active and open mind without bias. A wise man once said and I quote…

“Most listen to respond, instead, listen to understand first, then speak from an informed mind”.

G²

Well, that wise man is composing this write up tho. 😉

We can therefore draw a conclusion to this whole matter by saying we would have; less of arguments and more of discussions, less of debates and more of brainstorming, less discord and more harmony; when an eloquent speaker and an active listener combine to communicate effectively.

Shalom! ✍🏼

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