What advice would you give a sacked banker 3?

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. God allows this so that He can show that there are higher grounds attainable. You may never overcome your fears until you experience a crisis.

It happened to Bisi Olatilo.

The Bisi Olatilo Show (BOS) we know today was borne out of a push, frustration about a cruel system and a resilient fight for survival. BOS is a colossus, a social diary of the crème-de-la-crème and a TV show for those who want to see the latest social fad.

For Olatilo, it didn’t happen overnight. He looked inwards, identified his skills- he could speak and write Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba & pidgin fluently, he could do master of ceremony. So he chose the latter and set up a company, leveraging on his network of contacts. Just like that? But it took time, patience, passion and perseverance plus guts!

Then, from the events he covered, he created a 15-minute Social Diary, which later became the 1 hour show currently syndicated on many local and international TV stations. He also has a 24-hr channel on HiTV. That’s innovation.

He advises that ‘You cannot eat with all the 10 fingers. You must have a residual thing you can fall back on in times of trouble. I was asked to leave [FRCN] and I felt bad about it, but I had a few things to fall back on.’ Hmm.

I believe that the Fortune 500 companies of the future are being built today. What is in your heart to build? Build. “Where is the capital?” you complain. Normal Vincent Peale says, “Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.”

Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin II

Please read ‘Mind Your Business’ series again.

What advice would you give a sacked banker 2?

He’s a broadcaster extraordinaire, a polyglot and an exceptional master of ceremony, MC. That he’s a world-class media personality is no doubt. His name- Bisi Olatilo. You have certainly seen his show.

Saturday Sun says “his story is an inspiring story of audacity, persistence, passion and hard work.” His broadcasting career has taken him through Radio OYO, Radio Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, later Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.

What you may not know about Bisi Olatilo is that he was sacked from FRCN! Sacked? Yes, you read that right. He was laid off for engaging in private practice (PP) or freelance business deals. That included legitimate jobs like script writing in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo & Pidgin, MC-ing and jingle production.

He says, “I didn’t bargain for it. But today, I am thanking God that it happened the way it did.” That’s because 10 years after, he’s a multi-millionaire doing the business he established after his dismissal. More importantly is the brand, fame and the goodwill he’s been able to build for himself. I doubt if this would have been possible as an everyday newscaster in FRCN. Do you agree?

To be continued…

Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin II

What advice would you give a sacked banker?

Let’s have a discussion on the current issue in our labour market.

What would you advise a friend who just lost his job to the current wave of massive job loss? 5,000 bank jobs were lost last December alone, that’s over 15,000 Nigerians deprived of their daily bread as a result of organisational restructuring and global recession, or what do you feel?

I have a few thoughts…and I guess you’ve got yours too.

 Develop latent talents- I’d advise my friend to look inwards. Inside every individual are resources that have the potential of creating wealth. He needs to list his talents and develop 1 or 2 into marketable skills. Creativity for fashion, humour for stand-up comedy, organising for events management… talents abound that can be developed into money-making ventures.

 Make network work- he should leverage on his wealth of contacts garnered through years of experience in the banking industry. Goodwill is the intangible currency money can’t buy.

 Above all, I’d tell him to see his job loss as an opportunity in disguise. People never know how high they can jump until a lion chases them. Creativity is birthed when one’s mental faculties are effectively engaged. This crisis should create an avenue for new ideas/opportunities.

Okay now, have I given some sound advice? Oh, you feel he should scout for another job? That’s if you’d give him one. If you still have your job, this is also for you.