Short Skirts and Lace Fronts

Its an epidemic! I haven't been out in a while so a few weekends ago, my friends and I decided to dust our clubbing shoes off and hit the town. It was confusing. Are those clothes really dresses and skirts? Bending over would have been TMI and it wasn't just one or two or ten girls! A lotttttt! And to add to the confusion, they were swaying their hips and tossing their newly done...badly if I might add...lace front wigs. I truly detest the wigs I see here in Nigeria, I thought the whole point was for the wigs to be seamless? Some people do a nice job of it but most are actually not flattering except the idea is to let people know you were able to pay for a lace front...in that case, I hail you!

Picture from HERE

Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

I read somewhere that one should have multiple streams of income. I currently have only one now that I have quit my job. And its not like the money is currently pouring in from that one stream either.  I thank God that I have been called for some jobs, but I'm going to have to get some repeat clients if I'm to make the kind of money I planned for each month (which is quite a reasonable sum). Being an entrepreneur is not easy and I never thought it would be, do I'm pleased with the challenge. This week I plan to  meet with two of my mentors. I think its important to have mentors who can guide you. I've chosen one for his experience in photography and the other for his business acumen. I hope they will accept.

I'm also attending an entrepreneurial workshop hosted by the British council meant for entrepreneurs in the creative field. I'm looking forward to it because you get to meet gurus from your industry and learn a lot about getting your business off the ground.

Its a bit scar not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from. I had a bit of money saved up so that what I'm using as a cushiony cushion right now ( I haven't received it all from my ex company but its still mine :)). I don't expect to be making millions in the first year but I would like to do as many jobs as I possibly can so I can so my I can increase my presence in the market. 

So back to the streams of income. I have only one...yes...one measly stream. I have to think of more. I could

1) Finish my book

I've been writing a book for the past two years. Its actually quite embarrassing. I think I'm going to just have to schedule regular hours to complete this book.

2) Find a writing job (short articles)- 

I was freelancing for a new newspaper but it was difficult to meet deadlines while I was at work but now I have more time on my hands (at least for now), I can actually go back to freelancing.

3) Marry/Date a rich sugar daddy(he heeee)

Don't think I need to explain this. Don't think a certain someone will be happy with this option lol. 

4) Create my website and upload stock photo's for sale 

(I've started the process). This will mean  have to keep my camera handy as well as come up with creative concepts for my photographs as well as travel around taking shots of monuments etc around Nigeria.

5) Team up with my mum to run her boutique when its opened

Which will be pretty soon. 

6) Think think think!

I really need to think up viable sources of income! 

I'll be putting up samples of my christmas photo card offerings on Wednesday.

Picture from HERE

Pay me my money!

I've had a good break from the working world but I've got to get my business on track now. I'm currently focusing on the photography side of things, E Etomi photography but will eventually expand into production. I've been trying to think up creative ideas to make some money with my photography aside from the regular client sessions. Please share any ideas you might have.

One thing I'm really bad at is collecting the money who people owe me. I feel bad 'bugging' them...for my own money! Imagine. So I really have to work on that because people definitely take advantage and end up owing me for months. Now that I'm a broke ass entrepreneur, it doesn't really worth it (I love how bad the grammar is!). From now on I will be collecting a 50% deposit upfront. 

I'm having problems setting my prices as well. People always want to haggle no matter how reasonable the price. Photography is not easy, after hours of running around capturing images, I still have to sit for hours editing each picture. Its very time consuming. The funny thing is that Nigerians seem to equate quality with outrageous costs. People like to say, 'David and Newton provided flowers for my wedding, Astoria is doing the catering' etc etc. So maybe one day they will pay me stupid money and say E Etomi is taking my pictures lol. 

I also have to find a niche so I can separate myself from other photographers in the Nigerian market. I'm looking at concentrating on maternity and women, and children's portraits but I also love pictures of my surrounding environment I'll put up some pictures from my last maternity session in my next post.

IMG:http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/money.jpg

I QUIT MY JOB!

In the time of economic instablility and credit crunching and purse tightening, I, Tminx have quit my job. Not so bright eh? Well the future will determine that. I've decided to pursue my photography full time. That's the answer I give whenever anyone asks..So you have a better offer somewhere else abi?' and then they roll their eyes and say 'Yeah right. You are such a liar!' Why is it that Photography sounds so ridiculous to people?

This decision didn't come easy. It took months and months of prayers and  deliberation and analysing and sleepless nights. Eventually I just had to go with my heart and put all the negative comments in a huge wide box.

So i'm free from the 9-5 institution and have registered my company. Its not going to be easy, infact its going to be a lot of hard work and I'm sure I'll meet many 'special' clients but I know I wouldn't be doing anything else. 

Wish me goodluck!

May

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I wasn't too excited to be turning a year older but there was really nothing I could do to stop the clock from ticking so my friends and I went drinking... enough to make us all merry and form choreographed steps to Wande Coals songs..

See this lepa,
lepa ko bad oh oh, lepa ko bad oh,
lepa ko bad oh, lepa ko bad oh
Orobo,
Orobo ko bad oh....

and

Girl you know that you got me going barnanas,
barnanaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssss



You haven't heard his cd? Seriously slacking is what you are. Grab a copy.

So I'm a year older

This blog still exists you ask?? Yes it does, I've just become really indisciplined and thats bad...I know, I know. It's my birthday today though so I'm giving myself a break for all those days I haven't blogged.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

GOSPEL CONCERT IN LAGOS THIS WEEKEND 13TH DECEMBER

Gospel concert at Calvary House Church, Dover Hotel opp Tantalisers, Lekki Phase 1! I'm sure it will be a lot of fun.

Looking forward to seeing anyone who still reads this blog there :). I promise, resurrecting my blog is my new years resolution! Hope all of you have been good!

Tminx!

UZOMA OKERE: Nigerians DO SOMETHING!

Dear All,

I was with Uzoma Okere in Alausa yesterday and at the Ministry of Justice therafter where we edited the petition to ensure it was explicit about what we want.But let's not celebrate yet. The battle has just begun.It ends when we justice has been served. And we will keep at these protests until justice is administered on these monsters.

If you want to lend your voice to the injustice, please come to 14 Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos at 12.30p.m on Sunday November 9, 2008.We will be there till 3pm with a video camera to record the faces and voices of incensed Nigerians.From there we will proceed to University of Lagos where filming will continue from 4pm - 7pm in front of Moremi Hall.

Similar filming will take place on Sunday in London, New Jersey and Beijing.We all have a responsibility for what happened. We permit the brutality by not speaking out.We intend to broadcast the footage on local and international television in order to inspire shame in each of us as individuals, and in our government for failing in its duty to protect us from such attacks.We will continue to air the clip on rotation until justice is served. Please spread the word.

We look forward to seeing you there on Sunday and please send this to all your friends on facebook.

Ebun Olatoye.-----------------------------------------------------

For details on the Uzoma Okere story, please copy and paste the following links into your web browser:
http://odili.net/news/source/2008/nov/6/410.html
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article32//indexn3_html?pdate=071108&ptitle=Navy%20probes%20assault%20on%20woman&cpdate=071108
http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/21181/42/
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200811081011362

To see the video of the assault, please click here:http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-134234

We are counting on your support to make this effort a success. If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Kemi Ogunleye

YOU SAID 'YES WE CAN'! AND YOU SURE DID!

Only in Lagos

I've been in Lagos a month or so and its been one thing or the other. I've been too exhausted to blog. I promise to come back with a detailed update soon but meanwhile check out my daily photoblog, the link is at the top of the page. There are a few pictures there from a recent wedding I attended and all facebookers feel free to join my facebook group- E Etomi Photography (just search and join). I'll go and do my blog rounds now, please be nice and give me any blog gist I may have missed. 

NIGERIAN IGBO CARTOON

NO noww, not that kind of cartoon. I wonder who even made that one. Hiss!

You guys I just stumbled across this cartoon by Obinna Onwuekwe. I'm sure he is going places and I wish him lots of luck.

Watch Nigerian Cartoon

The funniest part is the army guy saying Chineke God of Umuwani(sp?)!

What do you think?

I'm leaving Bucharest in 2 hours so I need to get to completing my packing. I have no idea how i'm going to get all these things in 2 suitcases. Looks like I'm going to be travelling 'heavy', Nigerian style!

Picture from here

My Friday Story

Procrastination

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." Ecclesiastes 9:10

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." - Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT

My first year of University was smooth sailing. Everything was fresh and new and exciting and I wanted to do the best I could so I went for all my classes and tutorials and studied hard. I didn't have many friends but I had excellent grades.

My second year was a whole other story. Suddenly there was a small Nigerian community. The list of things to do was endless house parties, clubbing, restaurants, afro-Caribbean organisation parties, lol or just chilling. It wasn't just that there were other Nigerians, I also had a good group of British flat mates with whom I partied as well. I can never forget Cheese night with music from the 70's and the obscene number of pints students could drink. I found that I started becoming lazy. I would miss a class here or there saying, I'll go tomorrow, or next week. If we went out late at night I'd definitely not go for any morning classes. I just wasn't able to balance the fun part of uni life to the academic part. Guess what? I had quite a few resits that year. It was a real eye opener because I had never had to repeat anything in my life.

Final year came and I had to work extra hard to make up for my second year results. I promised myself, I'd read my lecture notes everyday, do my coursework as soon as I received them, read continuously...Yeah right. Promises don't work. I wasn't as bad as I was in my second year, but I still wasn't as good as I could have been. Before I knew it, we were in the third semester, exams were drawing close and my 10,000 word dissertation deadline was only a few weeks away. I only probably had a skeleton draft of what I wanted and had seen my supervisor maybe 4 times the whole year giving him the minimum of what he required from me, I thought I had time.

PANIC set in. The only time I ever used to work well was under stress but I wasn't ready for the stress I experienced. I made a study timetable and started going to the library everyday. It became routine, a pack of malteasers, a bottle of coke, me and the silent section of the library. I had never read or learnt so much in my whole three years. The exams were easy and I was happy but exams were only a percentage of the final grade.

The lecturers know what they are doing when they give you a whole year to prepare your Dissertation. The more I worked on the paper, the further I seemed from the end. Soon the deadline was only a few days away and I was working on the paper day and night. I don't think I slept for 2 or 3 days before the deadline and I was still working on it as I watched the minute hand on my clock strike 12pm on the day of the deadline. The flood of tears came as I furiously cleaned up the paper, printed three copies and bound them up as required. I lived on a different campus so I had to beg my flat mate to drive me to my campus to submit the paper. He was very concerned because I wailed all the way there. When I arrived, they had bound all the boxed up to prevent latecomers from submitting and had a different place for submitting late work. The implication of submitting your work late was a 40% cap on your work even if you got 200%. 40 would mean that I would get a grade that I could not take home to my parents, because my second year results also accounted for part of the final grade and the resits had been capped at 40% as well. I sat on the floor in silence and wailing intermittently, thinking about how my father was going to disown me and how disappointed my mother would be and how I would definitely not attend graduation. I was in some kind of lucid state because I hadn't slept in three days.

The lady at the desk looked very worried, I guess I looked mad. She told me to fill out a petition form for the board who would decide if I had a reasonable reason for being late. If they approved, my grade wouldn't be capped. I held on to the hope of and wrote my poor heart out. I begged them to not break my father’s heart because he had paid international fees for three years only for his daughter to come home with a worthless degree. I told them how I hadn't slept for 3 days and how I had tried my best to get things done even though I realised I started late and I begged for mercy and pardon...They must have thought I was bonkers. All the crying started a nose bleed and finally the lady at the desk begged me to please go home and that she was on the board and would make sure she let them know how distressed I was.

Now I look back and laugh, but it wasn't funny at all. Immediately I got home I fell on my bed and slept for 24 hours straight. My flat mates said they had come to my room banging pots and pans and I didn't even flinch. Wicked people lol. Anyway God touched that woman’s heart and the board too because my score wasn't capped. It was a miracle!

I learnt my lesson this time, but every once in a while when I put things off, I remember what went down that day and it gives me the motivation I need...especially at work with msn, gtalk, facebook, blogspot and the likes.

"The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious." Proverbs 12:27

Prayer: Lord, help me to continue to work diligently and to overcome procrastination, sloth and negligence. Teach me how to make the most of the precious time you have given me here on earth and to work with passion and vigour.

Picture from here

YOUR ACCESS AT TOKSVISON

I've seen a few of these shows and I think these guys are defintely getting better and better. I wish them luck. Its a variety entertainment show hosted by two Nigerian guys Toks and Wale and features Nigerian entertainment mostly in the US, with different segments. They are currently in Season 2 and you can catch up on the previous episodes on youtube. Watch out for a friend of mine, Yuwa of Sorrela on 'my diggs'. You can join her facebook group and purchase her lovely affordable purses.

Heres the facebook group description for Your Access

Your Access is a monthly variety show that airs on ToksTv (http://www.toksvisions.com), focused on Entertainment.

Cast:
Producer & Creative Director - Toks Akisanya
Co-Producer - Steve Eguasa
Host & Producer - Yemi Akisanya
Host - Wole Odulate
Contributing Writer - Shola Odulate
Contributing Writer - Sade Akisanya
Music provided by - Chyke 'DJ FineBoy' Igwe

Season 2- Episode 2

14 days and counting!

I'm so excited, my program is drawing to a close! I'll finally be back in my beautiful country. I'm truly tired of living a nomad life. The funny thing is I know God has lots of plans for me so I'm just going to see where he leads me next.

The business plan is really shaping up. I hope to launch the business in December/January...God willing. I'll let you guys in on the developments once I am done with the plan and have some funding lol. Let’s not jinx it now.

Bella Naija blogged about Dragons Den Nigeria. There is a dedicated blog which highlights the events which occurred during the show. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. Maybe it’s the way the blogger writes or the actual Entrepreneurs themselves. Some pitches were truly not thought out properly or outright senseless. But then I sat back to think about it and I had to give them props for even thinking up an idea and wanting to try to implement it (albeit on national TV). It’s better than not thinking at all. At least they can use the feedback they got to try and improve on the business plan or it might have given them new ideas on another business.

I also found another entrepreneur running Booksng.com, a bookstore for books in the genre of Personal Development. He also has a blog...Nigerian Book Seller. I'm not sure how profitable his business is considering these books are sold on the streets and in many bookstores in Lagos. I do know that Nigerians read more personal development books than any other genre...although the reading culture isn't really great. I would really like to discuss his business with him but he hasn't posted any blogs in a while. Once I get a hold of him, I will let you guys know.

It’s the weekend, and I'm going with my colleague and my camera to the mountains. There are two weekend options in Romania...the mountains or the seaside. I've done the seaside so I'm glad I'm getting to go to the mountains before I leave. Pictures next week.

Have a great weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HANDSOME BROTHER.

Tminx signing out.

Picture from here

Decisions to make

This weekend was really chilled. I didn't do much, I have become addicted to Gossip Girls and have been watching the episodes back to back. Its a wonder how fascinating the lives of the young and wealthy are! I mean really, can peoples lives really be that dramatic at 14-17??

I have thought a lot about Entrepreneurship and have decided to give it a try. Lots of great advice out there

1) Make sure the business has growth potential and is targeting a neglected area in the market
2) It should preferably service a niche market
3) A business plan is essential before proceeding any further
4) It is not wise to quit your job in the early stages of setting up the business
5) Guard your ideas, be careful who you tell. A friend of mine nearly had his business idea stolen. The guy had already duplicated the business but was caught before he had done any serious damage. This doesn't mean you should't share you plans with people who will help you out with ideas and good advice, just be selective.
6) Get some experience in the business you are trying to get into.
7) Gather as much knowledge as you can about the industry.
8) Be realistic with your projections for the business.
9) If you decide to partner with someone, make sure they have a different set of skills to bring into the business
10)Don't R U S H. Proper planning is key.
11) Start small and you make small mistakes, start big and you make big mistakes.
12) Pray! Pray!Pray!

So with all this I have started to create my business plan. The problem with business plans is that the 'numbers' for Nigeria are just not available. I may be wrong but you don't find many research papers on Nigeria or surveys in a particular industry etc. Does anyone know where I can find useful resources?

Have a great week. I'll let you know how I'm progressing later on this week.

Dragons Den TV Show Nigeria

All this talk about entrepreneurship and I stumbled across this on naijagals blog. If you haven't heard about this show, you can learn more about it on the website.

Its an international reality show where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to 'dragons', a group of well accomplished entrepreneurs, who will then decided whether to invest in the business or not. I watched quite a few of the UK shows on you tube and I love the show. Now its coming to Nigeria. They are currently taking applications so if you have that idea you have been burning to develop but haven't had the adequate resources to, this might be a great chance for you...Just come correct with a good pitch and business plan.

Don't be like this lady

Entrepreneurship- Branching out

How many people still don't know where they are headed? I think I'm still one of the few who doesn't know exactly where to fit in careerwise. My job is great, I get to move around a lot, but I want to do something I have a real passion for and I haven't yet found it.

Your job takes up most of your day and eventually your life. I'm sure its not too much to ask that at least it's something I really love to do. I've been thinking and thinking and thinking, my brain probably doesn't want to be in my head right now. The best time to branch out and try something on my own is now before I get any older. I feel its better to try now and if I fail, I can always fall back into a job working for the man but change is scary especially unkown, unpredictable change.

What if's plague my mind all the time..what if it you have a crap business plan, what if it doesn't work out, what if I don't have the skills I need etc etc. So as usual I have googled..I am a google freak if you haven't already noticed, google could employ me to test their searches, I'll happily search all day long. I found a great article on about.com and it said to ask yourself these three questions

Look inside yourself and ask these three basic questions before you start your own business:

Do you really want to operate independently and be the person making all the decisions and shouldering all the responsibility?

Are you willing to work hard and make the sacrifices starting a small business entails?

Do you have the self-confidence and self-discipline that will enable you to persevere and build your new enterprise into a success?

I'll think about it this week. It's a whole lot to think about.

Image from here

Gongo Aso- I'm in Love!

With this greek man singing gongo aso. LAWL

HAIR WOES....OLD BRAIDS

This is my hair...it looks neat right. Well you are in for a rude shock. Every morning I look at my hair an I know I cannot be caught dead in Nigeria walking around with these braids on my head. It costs N1500 near my house to get beautiful braids done by some girls from Benin (not Benin City, Benin the country). My aunt did her hair there once...million braids...for N3000. On a side note, a few words in their language sounds like my mothers mother tongue (Bini, Edo)...anyway, yes N1500 and thats with the hair and all. So there is absolutely no excuse to be carrying two month old (or more) braids in Nigeria.

This is another picture. I carry it around like this on most days. Packed up and out of my face. Braids have been a saving grace because I don't have to worry about my hair in the morning, just shower and dress up, voila, I'm done. So anyway as I was saying, it looks pretty good in this picture too right? I went to dinner with a british lady yesterday who said she ABSOLUTELY ADORES my hair. I was a bit shocked because I'm not sure she was talking about the same hair I was seeing in the mirror. Then I remembered she must be used to seeing old braids in London (no offence london 'pipo' (I hate that word) but some girls can be crowned old braid queens).

Get ready







Get Steady







Look at this

Every morning, I look in the mirror and sigh. Disgraceful. To take it off would be even more of a challenge so I just have to wait till I leave Romania....in a few weeks so don't be scared.

PS I wash it oh!


LAWL


The end.

Wednesday Meme

MEME Rules

1. Put Your iTunes/ music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT!!!

After you’ve answered all of the questions, tag 5 other people and then let them know they’ve been tagged to do the meme themselves!

Here we go

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?

Ahomka wo mu- VIP

Basically...I don't know.

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

Slow Motion- Jagged Edge

Er okayyy...I guess I'm kind of laid back. This is how I choose to interprete this lol...slow is good.


WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL

OH- Omarion

He heeeee. This is hilarious.


HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

His Eye is On the Sparrow- Lauryn Hill.

Yes, and I know he watches over me :)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFES PURPOSE?

Shake it off- Mariah Carey

Huh? Diversion...I just imagined a Nigerian singing this song like this Shakirrrofff, I garra shakirrooff. Yes to pick myself up always and keep moving.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Encore- Jay-z

Lawl. Make some noisseeeeeee.


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

God will take care- Ted and Sherri

Amen. Please take care of them oh.


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN

Fuji- Dare feat.Ikechukwu

Riggghhht....Lelelelelele oh, Lelelelele oh. Dance make I dance, infact make we dey dance.


WHAT IS 2+2?

As we lay- Kelly Price

LOL! Two hands + two legs


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BESTFRIEND?

So High- John Legend.

I think highly of all my friends.


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Am I worth it- Heather Headley

Que? But of course. Like duh :)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

This Love- Donell Jones

I don't even know how to inteprete this one lol. All this Love waiting for me in this life?


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Unkown song- Unknown album

LOL! Oh Lord. Well the song playing is Bone thugs and harmony and I think the name is Take Me Home....all i can say to this is With Long LIFE, you will satisfy me Lord.


WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Whatever you want- Keith Sweat

Er, *cough*, *blush*, totally innocent of course.


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Sooner or Later- Raghav

Prob my mums thoughts. Sooner or later she will stop screaming mummmmmy, leave us and go to her husbands house.


WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Rock my world- Micheal Jackson

That would be quite a funky dance routine. I can get the whole train to dance too lol.


WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

You know what- Craig David

Hmm you cuold inteprete the lyrics sort of, but no...What??


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Running with the night- Lionel Ritchie

It's really photography but hey I picked up running last week.


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

If I ruled the world- Nas feat Lauryn Hill

Yes vote for me and find out!


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

We belong together- Mariah Carey

How apt. Lets be one big happy group.


WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?

Oruka- Sunny Nneji

Yah.

I tag anyone who wants to do this. Its fun if you are bored..as I am.