Counting Blessings - My Highlights of 2020
Last year around this time, I saw an article on Medium from someone documenting how 2017 had been for him.
For some reason on the night of November 8th I laid awake thinking about the year 2020 and how it’s been for me. So I decided that I was going to document the highlights of this extraordinary year. Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living.
I showed this to someone and I was advised to remove some sections for personal reasons. I have redacted these sections.
More and more, I’m beginning to think that writing counts among life’s greatest blessings. The ability to put and arrange your thoughts into words is underrated. We would live in a vastly poorer world today save for the documentation of some of our ancestors. Indeed, I wager that one of the reasons Africa is lagging way behind other continents today is because of our lack of written tradition. A culture that does not write its own history is doomed. A person who would not write down his own personal story is lost to history.
Anyway, I’m incredibly grateful for 2020, the successes and the failures. I hope reading my own entry will inspire you to write yours. You don’t even have to share it with the world like I am doing even though I won’t mind you sharing it with me via DM. As you know, reading is one of my greatest loves in life.
BUSINESS FAILURE
In the course of this year, we lost RideArena. RideArena, a ridesharing platform, which existed to bridge the gap between car owners looking to put their vehicles on the Uber/Bolt platforms and drivers looking to drive the business, was already tethering on the verge of failure due to unthinking regulations by Lagos state in late 2019. Then came COVID-19 and all hopes of a turnaround vanished. Lockdown made sure that there was no leisure car on the road for many months. But I’m glad my integrity remained intact. We returned back all the cars in good shape and till date I get messages from the investors praising our forthrightness and asking that they be the first people I approach if I need angel investment. Many of them are on my Facebook friend list. I never and will never take people’s trust for granted.
SCAM VICTIM
As much as I think that I am a careful person I still lost some money to a scammer. There was this Telegram group I belonged to. I had done transactions there several times. The group acts as an intermediary. When you want to buy something from someone in the group, you send the cost of what you want to buy to the Admin (plus Admin charges). You send evidence to the group. The Admin confirms. The seller sends whatever items you bought and the Admin sends the money to the seller. Again, I have done this several times, but on this occasion after I sent the funds to the Admin, I just discovered I couldn’t find the group again. Apparently, the Admin and the seller ganged up against me. Once I sent the funds, they deleted me. The seller also blocked my contact. I thought of reporting to law enforcement because I still have the account details I transferred the funds to, as well as screenshots of my private conversations with the seller (you still see previous chats when you block, right), but I wasn’t sure it’s worth the time and money it will involve. I will likely still follow this up.
NEW BUSINESS
In May, I started Freshly Pressed (www.freshlypressed.ng) with Seun. Mercy and Juwon soon joined us. These guys are the best. Freshly Pressed is a tri-weekly news bulletin which summarizes local and international news in the most readable and digestible way possible. I got this idea in 2019 but couldn’t figure out how to go about it until I came across Morning Brew in April. Interestingly, Morning Brew sold some of its stakes to Business Insider in October for a valuation of $75m. We are on our way to getting 1000 subscribers. What delights me about our progress is the open rate and especially what I call the hook rate. More than 30% of our readers read any particular newsletter more than once. We have not done any thoughtful ads, it’s all been organic, so I’m sure we’ll have more readers once we start the right advertisement. Curating this news every other day is tasking but I sincerely believe we are on to something.
Yes, a former boss reached out to me after seeing the progress Freshly Pressed has made. He is proud of what we have. In his words,
“I am getting to read many of the things you write these days, and I am having to discuss them with my friends. I knew you were going places.
“I particularly love Freshly Pressed. I have a few friends you can speak to if you need to raise some investments for it.”
This kind of validation is deeply encouraging, especially from someone I consider incredibly smart and humane. Oh, Philip is a fantastic human.
MAIN AND SIDE GIGS
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
I disappointed myself this year on this front. At the beginning of the year, my plan was to take two international examinations. I ended up taking none. Partly because they became expensive due to the Naira devaluation and because the training I planned to attend for them got cancelled due to COVID-19. Still, these are not tenable excuses. I still had the money and I could still self-study to pass any examinations.
If it’s any consolation, I took LinkedIn courses almost every month this year. LinkedIn has some great resources for the discerning mind.
PERSONAL FINANCE
I believe my grasp of personal finance is way up there. In fact, I refuse to believe that anyone other than Morgan Housel has a better grasp of teaching and explaining it than I do. Fortunately, my knowledge tallied with my activities this year. My financial discipline was cutthroat this year. 2021 may well be the year I will start a personal finance group, and I will charge for it. If you want to take charge of your finances, you need to allow me to guide you. I am the best I know in Nigeria. I will discuss about my investment activities later.
I’m organizing a Free Financial Planning Class to guide you through your personal finance in 2021. It will be taking place on Saturday Dec 12. I will provide a link to register tomorrow. Register if you think you need some helping in putting your finances in order.
BOOKS
I continued with my reading this year. I read 41 books in 2019. This year, I have read 43 with one more left before the year draws its curtain. Thanks to COVID-19, I had more time to spare. I read a lot of varieties this year. I will continue to say that it’s unbelievable the riches in books. People who do not read shortchange themselves. We live a very short life but through books we can have access to the experiences of a wide range of people, both past and present, and can immerse ourselves in cultures that are strange and different from ours. Before year end, I plan to write my Books of 2020, an overview of all the 43 books I have read this year. Yes, I’m grateful for the book club, Naija Book Club, we started. Nzubechukwu deserves some praises for practically bullying me towards it and Mercy for being a really thoughtful and creative Admin. I thank Mercy especially for her commitment. She’s a rare gem. I’m not entirely sure it’s had the impact it should have, but let’s see what 2021 brings.
WRITING
I made it a point to continue my writing this year. I did write a couple of thought-provoking articles mainly on the economy and politics. For my generation, these two are the most far-reaching aspects of national life that affects us the most. So I write. As a registered and professional civil engineer, I can write engaging public articles about engineering and project management (currently writing an abstract with a friend to submit to the Society of Petroleum Engineering, SPE), but as we have come to see, nothing really counts on a large scale when our politics and economy are in tethers. I see many young people fixated on political power and wrestling power from the old guards, but very little thought is given to how they will manage the economy. This is a big mistake. We need a plan for the economy. We must give the market a chance. We can’t continue to go on vibes and ‘by God’s grace’ in this regard. I will continue to write about these two.
I wrote a lot of book reviews this year too. I’m glad a lot of people have taken up reading on account of this. Aspiring people to read will always be a win for me.
BOOK PROJECT
This year, I started a Corporate Biography of a Nigerian company. Writing a book is not easy, especially one that has to do with interviewing scores of people. I am having to schedule interview sessions with some of the biggest names in the Nigerian business community because of this. It’s an excruciating process for me. Interviewing, transcribing, sifting mistruths and leaving the substance, analyzing the words, writing, providing context to the information shared, linking the stories, proofreading, doing a first level editing. It’s so hard. Sometimes I feel like pulling off my hair. It’s just so hard. I have to finish early next year and I have palpitations already.
INVESTMENTS
Because I’m such a personal finance buff, I invest a lot. This year has been no different. I just checked my budget excel sheet (it’s a mess and I need to clean it up to share with others), and discovered I invested this year than in any other year. It’s unbelievable the level of discipline I cultivated this year.
One of the best things I did for myself was to join an investment club in 2018 as a foundation member. This is the best investment club around, and it’s not like there are many around anyway. We invest in the Nigerian stock market and real estate around the country. We have purchases in hectares of lands in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja.
The club is already worth billions in just 2 years. It’s an amazing concept. The club has several arms with proven professionals in charge of them: Real Estate, Health Insurance, Vehicle Importation, Loan for members, etc. The loan part is perhaps the most life transforming for its members in this very harsh economic situation. The effective process we have designed for the repayment and disbursement of these loans at 1% interest per month, a process which takes as little as 10 minutes after application to disburse is mind blowing. Never seen anything quite like it.
Okay, a caveat for my praises: I’m a committed member and even the Chair of the Real Estate committee. Together with that, I am the Project Manager for a N1.6billion deal with one of Nigeria’s topmost luxury real estate developers. It’s a daring project. The club is made of some really stand-up persons. I consider myself someone with first grade integrity so I can rest easy the club is built on that quality.
And no, this is not an invitation. I’m sure we are not taking in new members in 2021 and fairly certain we are not taking in new members within the next 3 years. So it’s not an advert for the club. I’m merely counting my blessings.
On a personal note, I started investing in foreign stocks this year. I wasn’t liquid enough to participate in the dollar bonds opportunities that came my way, but I was able to get some more cryptocurrency to my wallet. People continue to talk up Bitcoin but we don’t know if the crypto that will ‘blow’ eventually will be Bitcoin. Humans are poor predictors, even worse with market forecasts, and I don’t think it will be Bitcoin when the dust settles. May be it will be. I have other ‘promising’ coins. I don’t have Bitcoin. I also honestly don’t like that all this asset class has is capital gains and the rate of speculation on this asset is the worst I have ever seen. But we have to spread risk, right? But let me tell you something about my cryptocurrency assets: If I lose all my funds there today, I won’t panic. And I have quite a sizeable there. That’s the mindset for this asset class. Very volatile.
Let’s talk about something relatively low risk. Started a construction project with my two fathers. They really want this project and since it is something I call a partnership with very favourable terms, I don’t see why not. I can use my professional civil engineering and project management skills which is always something I look forward to.
I really wish I can get good businesses to invest in. I invested in an agro business this year. I believe Temitope Olatimehin is one of the most astute businesswomen I know. I call her an Agricultural Billionaire. I doubt she believes me but watch out for her. If you have money to invest and she also happens to need money for business, you should seriously consider her. I have, and I like to believe I have an eye for good business.
But generally I’m afraid of investing in Nigerian businesses. The economic climate is terrible. Just one regulation and an entire industry is ruined. I gotta get into government. We deserve better than this mess.
LOAN
Talking about businesses, someone on Facebook approached me for a loan to start a food business. Without informing my wife (which I have found out is always a terrible decision), I gave him the money. He ended up not paying the money as at when due despite the heaven-on-earth promises. He set a deadline of September. This is December and he’s still pushing the payment date. And he does this ONLY when I ask him. He never takes the initiative to tell me he won’t be paying on the date he promises. When will I learn? I couldn’t even tell her on time I lent this guy the money after it went south. I mean, this stuff happens to me almost every year since I became an adult. I make a promise right now that no matter how urgent and serious anyone tells me their condition is, I will not lend out any money in 2021. I promise. I am not even leaving room for the money I can do without. I am not lending even five naira in 2021. I don tire.
This issue of lack of integrity takes me aback often. I never thought it a big deal fulfilling a promise until some years back when Obasola John — Cole put some money into my account for safe keeping. About a year later, he requested for his money and in less than 5 minutes I sent it to him. He was dazed. But I was confused that he was dazed. He said he didn’t expect I’d not have touched it. And my question is, why would I touch someone else’s funds? It sounded so ridiculous.
Bless you, mama. I hope I can instill these same qualities in my girls.
Still, Facebook has been amazing for me. I’m currently teaming up with Olumide GlowVille and James to organize an interview mock program for mostly entry level graduates on December 5,6 & 19, 20. Today is 5th and I write this during the break of the first session. I have had several other opportunities for these collaborations with several people on this platform. Such is the greatness of Mark’s baby.
Sometimes I feel I spend too much time on Facebook, then I remember all the benefits that have accrued to me therein. As much as you see me post a lot on Facebook, you will be amazed at the sheer number of what I post that you don’t see; posts I set to Me Only. I think I have too many friends on Facebook. All of a sudden I found out that from about 2000 friends, I am now inching to the Facebook limit of 5000 despite how reluctantly I accept new friends. One of the things I like to do as a hobby is to call people on their birthdays, never mind that I absolutely detest calls myself. After calling consistently for about 10 years here, I find myself unable to keep up because of the sheer number of birthdays every day. The number of birthdays have become difficult to track. And it’s distressing to me that I’m unable to keep up this wonderful tradition. Now, I try to weed my list using the daily birthdays notification but the problem persists. I may have to intentionally do that in 2021. I was surprised when Victoria Chukwuma said she pruned down her list from 5000 to 1000. She likes to know everyone on her list. I was also surprised to see that Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze has less than 2500 friends. Do you know that 150 is the limit of real friends on social media?
One feature that has helped me the most is the Memories. Facebook Memories is tremendous. I get to remember my thoughts of the previous years. The progress of my thoughts amaze me a lot. My growth. My improvement. It was this year I also set my Facebook limits. After a certain time, it cuts me off. Very helpful. Self-control is overrated, you need systems. I have also triggered settings such that the only time I see notifications is when I log into the site. No push notifications. Try it.
FRIENDSHIP
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GIFTS
I believe in gifts. I believe in having a budget for charity. I believe that regardless of how little you earn you should still set some funds aside to give to those who are less fortunate than you.
It’s a tradition that is 3 years in the running for me. On my spreadsheet I devote an amount for that every month. Out of what I give out, there is always a book. About every 6 months, I look at my friends, including Facebook friends and look at those I can send books to. I have sent out at least 2 books every month this year. If I regularly interact with you here and you love to read and I’ve not sent you a book, it’s likely you’re on my list. Be hopeful. 😊
As usual, I encourage you to give. Give to people who don’t have. Give to people who are not as privileged as you. The joy of giving knows no bounds.
FITNESS
Lois introduced me to systematic running. I do about 20km every week now. And I now do 6 minutes per Km. Pretty cool, ehn. I’m not sure I want to really improve on that especially on the distance per week. I’m not fleshy anyway.
New York Times reports that an hour of running statistically lengthens life expectancy by seven hours, the researchers report.
More people should exercise. I get that many Nigerians exercise because whether we like it or not, those who engage in manual labour and walk distances to work are engaging in exercise. Poverty has its benefits, shey? But there’s something appealing about structured exercise. Structured exercise helps you save time, allows you to try new exercises, creates more balanced results and, most importantly, supports noticeable progress in strength, muscle size, movement, posture and cardiovascular capacity.
SLEEP
I continued my love for sleep this year. Someone has told me that my middle name is Sleep. Nothing spoil. Since I read Matthew Walker’s book about sleep, my life has not remained the same. Bill Gates said exactly the same too. I try to sleep at most by 8pm most days and for about 8 hours (wake up at 4am) while doing my best to take at least 15 minutes’ nap in the afternoon. It’s the most energizing activity I do every day. You should try it. Don’t fall for those who say sleep is for lazy people. Your health will thank you.
When I wake up at 4am, I somehow feel like I’m cheating the world. What I achieve between 4am to 8am is often massive. I wonder if other early risers feel like that.
HEALTH
I have generally being healthy this year. I am AA and O+, and like others like me, I am cursed with malaria. As I am medicine illiterate, my wife supplies me with anti-malaria tablets when she sees I’m going down. I don’t know what I can do without that woman. Nothing beats her love for me. Oh yes, I had a syncopal episode as a result of my carelessness. But overall, it’s being a healthy year for me.
FAMILY
I have the most supportive family in the world. Engr. & Mrs. Adeoti and their consistency in loving and supporting me and my family is not taken for granted. I consider it a privilege that I know nothing called Black Tax as a Nigerian. A privilege I don’t take for granted.
Yesterday, my mum sent me a Whatsapp message,
“Good evening.
How was your day?
Hope everyone is doing well.
Please can you send your measurement.
We have a material here to be sown for you.”
She still gives me Christmas clothes. LOL
Same great treatment from my in-laws. The universe conspired to bless me. I pray for sound health for all 4 of them.
Diekara turned one this year. Pearl turned three. May be it’s the paranoia of a father, but watching them grow up in Nigeria scares me.
20.10.20
The events of October 20 was the turning point. Wife finally decided that I cannot use my own ‘sufferhead’ to affect her girls. I think she’s right. Nigeria doesn’t care about our girls. Yes, they can love the country from afar. I have advised my brother to leave, and I strongly believe he is making a big mistake refusing, especially with his talent and all the resources at his disposal.
At that moment as I watched DJ Switch’s Instagram live stream, I wanted nothing more than to leave the country. Now, two months later, I’m back to vowing to contribute to turning it around.
I continue to believe that this quest will kill me.
There goes my 2020. May 2021 be kind to me. I’m not naive to think that 2021 will go according to plan, 2020 was a hell of a year for the world, but cynicism is never the way to go. Heck, how can you be cynical when you see how humans developed the coronavirus vaccine in less than a year? It’s unprecedented in world history.
Hope. Dream. Soar.
