2. Last week I gave an introduction into how I got the idea to start a food delivery service #PRstory
3. Excellent business ideas are meant to solve problems or meet needs #PRstory
4. In my case, my business was going to meet one major need: delivery service #PRstory
5. In the period of nursing the idea, I started fashioning how the business would look. #PRstory
6. I thought of having iconic food kiosks, since I wouldn't be needing an 'eat in', and food would only be served in 'take away' packs. #PRstory
7. The means of delivery would be bicycles; cheap to get and maintain- or so I thought #PRstory
8. Since the first outlet would be located on campus, I started looking out for a strategic space #PRstory
9. The place that came to mind readily was the students' union building- it was central, had high traffic and strategic #PRstory
10. So I set out to see the student union transition committee executives at the time. #PRstory
11. I had thought securing a space at the students union building would be a stroll in the park, #PRstory
12. Considering I knew a couple of the excos #PRstory
13. It wasn't easy at all #PRstory
14. I had to 'stay on the neck' of the house secretary then, who was in charge of shops at the SUB. #PRstory
15. It was frustrating at some point, I had to call him or go to his office everyday for about 3 months! #PRstory
16. His excuse was mainly that the school authority would frown at situating a structure in my proposed location. #PRstory
17. He was right, because I would later be hunted by the university's physical planning unit. #PRstory
18. That's a story for later though, #PRstory
19. Anyway, I had to persevere and be consistent in my pursuit to secure that space. #PRstory
20. In fact, I had to become meek and respectful, swallow my pride, and put myself in position to receive from everyone involved. #PRstory
21. By the way, every successful business man must make sure their ego never gets in the way. #PRstory
22. You will definitely have to 'stoop to conquer' at several points #PRstory
23. Eventually, Enoch was able to get his colleagues to agree on the approval, though they took a big risk on my behalf. #PRstory
24. I had to think out of the box though, I proposed a partnership with the coca cola stand at the SUB then. #PRstory
25. We were going to be attached to them. Our customers would eat in their stand. In turn, we would buy drinks for our customers from them. #PRstory
26. That sorted, I created a design in my mind and set out to look for a carpenter to make the kiosk. #PRstory
27. He gave me a bill of N23,000. I however had only 15 thousand in savings. #PRstory
28. At that time, my mum had also given me 10k for my MSc form too. #PRstory
29. I told her however that I was going to use it for the business. #PRstory
30. She told me she was not in support of me going into business and that once I spent that money, I was on my own. #PRstory
31. She had her reasons though. It had been a major struggle for my parents over the years, #PRstory
32. Paying my bills through school, and now after getting a degree I was going to thread the path of uncertainty #PRstory
33. She had hoped my graduation would bring relief- getting a banking job for instance would have lessened her burden. #PRstory
34. My dad on the other hand had always had so much belief in my ability, and had fully supported me from the word go. #PRstory
35. I explained to her my vision, how the business was going to run, the prospects, but she wouldn't budge. #PRstory
36. On the other hand, I was resolute. My mind was made up. I told her not to bother about me, #PRstory
37. All I needed was for her to give me supplies from her restaurant, and I would pay at the end of the day after sales. #PRstory
38. In the end, she reluctantly agreed, but in her mind, she was hoping I would change mine. #PRstory
39. She didn't change her mind on the 10k for the masters form though 😁 #PRstory
40. In fact, she kept notifying me of job offers, even after the business had started! #PRstory
41. My mum wanted the best for me, she just could not see what I was seeing at the time. #PRstory
42.I however took the money, made the kiosk, branded it, and also made my branded packs and nylons. #PRstory
43. I made my first set of fliers. It wasn't so colourful, but I was smart with my branding. I'll talk a little about branding later. #PRstory
44. The flier was a one-colour flier, just red. I couldn't afford a full colour flier. I had not even paid the carpenter's balance. #PRstory
45. Venue sorted, product and packaging sorted, next was staffing. That wasn't so difficult. #PRstory
46. A neighbour helped me get a young secondary school leaver from his church. #PRstory
47. We agreed on the salary, after that, we were set for the opening day. #PRstory
48. One important thing to note, is that I started small. #PRstory
49. I wasn't looking for some windfall to start. I used the resources I had at my disposal. #PRstory
50. Most times, you only need to look inwards, and you'll discover all you need had been there all along. #PRstory
51. The problem sometimes is that we are too lazy to think of other ways of getting things done. #PRstory
52. In the course of these series, I will be showing you that there can be different means to an end. #PRstory
53. What matters in the end is the 'end'! #PRstory
54. Abeg, no be illegitimate means ooo 😁😁😁 #PRstory
55. "It is not what you don't have that limits you, it is what you have, but do not know how to use"- @iamsteveharris
56. Next week I'll tell you what happened on the opening day, how I arrived at the perfect pricing, and other details. #PRstory
57. Thanks for reading. #PRstory
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