026 - By A Stroke of Genius with Jide Benson

Sam Shaibu 0:09 Hello, my name is Samuel Shaibu, and I'm documenting my journey from immigrant professional enterpreneurs. And highlighting the lessons I have learned from the works of coaches and mentors who are guiding me. Each week, you will get to hear me share steps I'm taking to build my business, as well as conversations with other successful and like minded individuals. I bring on this leaders and business owners to tell their stories of success and failure. So we can take and apply the lessons they have learned over the years, if you aren't an internationally trained professional just like me, or an enterpreneur in the early stages of your business, or maybe you're stealing your nine to five, and probably considering starting your own business and looking for guidance from some of the brightest minds on how to treat a lifestyle of freedom. Absolutely control and fulfillment in life in business. And this is for you. Welcome to the podcast. Unknown Speaker 1:06 This is the League of icons, mind your mind being your focus and play my a different set of rules. Sam Shaibu 1:19 I have with me, Jide Benson, Jide Benson is the Chief Executive Officer of CAST PR. I've known Jide for the last couple of years, I'd say almost 10 years, if not more right now. And I view God as someone that has come through a lot in his in his journey. And I thought it would be a good example of an icon to highlight onto this episode today. Thank you for joining us. Jide Benson 1:41 Thank you for having me, Sam. It's a pleasure. And I'm humbled. Sam Shaibu 1:44 The pleasure is also mine. So Jide, I'll just have you briefly share with us. Jide Benson 1:50 I mean, Nigerian, I live in Lagos. My parents told me that I was born on the 18th of November, using street lingo. You can call me a hustler. But many things are only second generation printing business. And then I run my own public relations company. In between those two, I am professional master of ceremonies, I emcee at corporate events and social events. I broadcast on radio, part time and electro pattern. So that's a summary of the things that I do. Sam Shaibu 2:25 Amazing, you know, just listening to that brief intro that you just gave Jide, I'm aware of all of these things, but just listening to you again, it gives gives me goosebumps, because, honestly, honest, and this is why I thought you would be an excellent guest to have on the show, just listen to you. It just gives me goosebumps because you're talking and I'm casting my mind back to when I first met you in I think it was 2009 or 2008. When I met you for the first time, it was a master's of science, in media and communication. And you know, and I'm just casting my mind my memory back then as far back, I'm listening to you now. And I'm trying to compare you with the man of almost 10 years ago, 10 years, I don't know how many years? Yeah, 12 years, you know, I'm seeing the transformation over the years. And I'm hoping that this will be an explosive episode where people can actually listen to your story. Now, you mentioned that you run a second generation printing firm. And when I first met you, this was the part I know about you give us a brief background of this printing press Jide Benson 3:28 right? Yeah, my father was in corporate communications as well. And then when he left paid employment, he started his own printing markets, markets and services company, as it was then your secondary school holiday was never your dad who asked you to come to the office to come and do your homework. Today. You don't stay at school, my airplane, or you asked me to come and lend a hand. And then, consciously and unconsciously as I learned few things about printing, as I advanced in age, he got me involved in the business. I learned the ropes and learns the technical parts, I learned the business part. And so when I was my final year in school, I think it was it's days to my birthday, on two weeks of my final exam father died. So I woke up the following morning and had to carry on with the business. And having to fit into a shoe that was bigger than me was very difficult. So the business nearly collapsed on my head. But of course with the support of different people became from wherever God sent help us. Some of them were family, some of them my friend was able to stabilize and carry on with it's still running. It's Sam Shaibu 4:44 so I'm aware at the point we met. You were having this this challenge at the time. And I think if I remember one of our conversations back then you weren't so sure if your EP was something you're going to if you're going to continue to run because again, because of the challenges that you that you mentioned, how old are you You understand when you were when we're thrusted into enterpreneurship mastery for basically the experience you had before prior to that time was the once in a while that you popped into the office to help you that yes, 1000s 1000s Were there any guiding principles sort of that he probably shared with you? In the words of wisdom back then? Jide Benson 5:19 Oh, yeah, there were a lot. But beyond that was that he didn't, he didn't pamper me one way or the office, he treated me like a staff not like his son. So he made me do everything that the other members of staff were doing. And of course, the only thing was that he cautioned me. Yes, and I was. So as I was learning, I was mindful of the fact that I had the higher responsibility than the members of the staff. I'm not just the staff, but I'm the son of the owner. So the things that they decide to be careless about, I'm, I cannot afford to be because he will encode come back to haunt me. And as my father in terms of wisdom, I had a lot of that. My father is my number one hero and mentor role model. Sam Shaibu 6:03 It's amazing that you mentioned your dad being your number one hero, that was just kind of lead me into this next question about who are the people that you will see, besides your father have contributed to, to the growth that you've experienced over the years? Jide Benson 6:18 Okay, so let me let me say that it changes with like, times and seasons. When I was younger, I had a different set of role models and mentors that I have now. So whatever we've often mentioned names the one limb that I will mention was a man called Gamal and prosody. So Gamal, and also the was a neighbor of mine. He was literally six buildings away from where I live. Oh, really? Yes. And my mother always spoke about him so eloquently. So you know, when you when you misbehave as a teenager. And every time they wanted to scold you, they will mention the name of what's a man called Gamal, and the masa de. And those are people that have to go see all your models and mentors and what have you. I didn't know who he was, I didn't care about who he was. In fact, at that time is I heard his name. I used to be very angry, because in front of my house, and his cars drove by. And the mom said, Oh, that's a gamble. And I'm not saying I'm always talking about. And I said, Well, I didn't seem as good to have it. A few days later, the car the same car was passing by. I think that that time he was either Chairman and Managing Director of Dunlop. So I was able to recognize the car because it had the logo of dollop on it on it. So as he drove by, when he drove further bits, he was held up in traffic. So I ran towards the car just to peep into it to see who was there. And then I was the first picture I had about how to serve Him. And then I realized I was already I had seen in the papers. So yeah, so I think the first person was the movie gamma and also the and thankfully, I had the privilege meeting a few years before he died. That was MCFC. He had personally, they awfully few other people who have met some I've also made some like pasta to me. Appreciate it, be sure fair calm. So in Bishop equals three is a very interesting one, because my father mentored him, and, you know, mentors me. There's also Christopher cola day. And that's one of my lecturers in different in school at different times. But number one, like I said, is my father. Sam Shaibu 8:22 Now as you're speaking, it is beginning to give me some some clarity and context because I'm not sure whose quote, This was why he says, You cannot see the picture when you're in the frame. Okay, when you're the person in the picture, did, you cannot see yourself because you are inside the picture, you need somebody else to look around and be able to describe what they see. So because I have been, I've been sitting on the outside and not necessarily this conversation has given me perspective. And I'm beginning to understand and gain clarity as to why you become the person you are. Because now I can see that as as you progressed in life, you had different role models and mentors, at different stages in life. And these are people that we all know, these are people that are, you know, what's called elder statesman in Nigeria, as of today. And it's amazing how that relationship with these people have, you know, impacted who you become today. Let me follow down I like to have you speak to the importance of having people like role models or mentors in their lives. Now, when we were in school, for some reason. I'm not sure if it was it was a skill you had or it was something you you discover a demo in school. You just seem to be that guy that, you know, would always make people laugh, and you'll make your life easy. I mean, with all the stress involved with postgraduate education, and some of us have already we're married and have kids. So they will come to class and then you will, you know, you came to class and you made you kind of took the burden and the stress off of us by virtue of how well you You made us laugh. Again, he Jide Benson 9:48 was part of the evolution of what you now refer to as God Benson. Of course, I've had times when I didn't know who I was. So it's been a journey of self discovery. I was I was it semi done shy child, because I was from a broken home. And so that affected me in. I thought it at some point I thought it was a crime or was it taboo to, for people to hear that your parents are not together? Because I mean, when I was in primary school, when I was in secondary school, I saw parents bring their children to school or consoling them from school. But for me, it was either my mom was coming or my dad was coming. They were not coming together. So it wasn't something that ever made me happy. That affected me in some way. But of course, as time went on in life, I had to break out of such an aside to discover myself. I am ordinarily very playful person. So as you would imagine, when I was much younger, I will be playful. And Rolf, I was rascally or be deti. And so as I grew older, that became been verbally mysterious. Let me put it that way, being being funny what you refer to as funny. If that's the way you see it, so yeah, it's a combination of his skill and something I learned. I when I first learned that, look, I think I have that part of me aside to take note of people who did it for a living. I mean, watch a lot of comedy shows where we've grown up local ones, and for everyone's, so all of those pieces together to help me become in quotes that funny person you talk about. Sam Shaibu 11:27 And the reason why I decided to, to ask that question is, you know, very recently, well, most times I have people ask me this question. I'm not. And the question really is, I'm not sure what my purpose in life is. I'm not sure if I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing. And my response a lot of time is this purpose thing is about what your passions are. Because over the years, I've also watched you evolve into becoming a master of ceremonies. And firstly was, you know, again, I figured this was where this skill started from, because through school, you were doing a lot of a little bit of this. And then after we graduated, you started taking that seriously, and you gradually evolved and you eventually you started handling and emceeing corporate events for cheap companies and even government agencies and organizations. And the reason why I asked this question was I wanted to be able to get your thought process of how you evolved and how you became this person that that leveraged this potential or this skill that you had unused, you turn it into an income over the years, as you started doing this? What were the opportunities that you know, that open up to you as a result of this skill that you have you leveraged? Jide Benson 12:34 Let me start from the point of the opportunities, the opportunities have been Legion, and pulled away. And some of them have not even touched or not touched at all. Some of them, I have scratched. So what happened was about the time I finished youth service, I attended the program at a place called the Star Christian Center, I was called the digital leadership academy. So they were taught lots of results in lots of things, live planning, you're having a vision and all whatnot. Then I think some sometime after that, I started on a book called positioning. It was written by a marketing communications professional for I think it was our rise and his daughter or our reads, I don't know how it's pronounced. But before then I had wanted to be a must out and wanted to be comedian. Because I had attended nights of 1000 laughs from the very first edition to what's I think 9000 Last must have started around 96 or 97. I think I attended the first five editions. And I like the comedians I saw and I thought I could be like them. I wanted to be like them, I think is the first comedy show in Nigeria was put together by somebody called oppa. Williams. So almost every comedian that should note today that has a name and brand have performed at had performed at 9000 laughs at some point. And I really look forward to being part of that one at some point. Then, at some point, I realized that hey, I need I might be need, it might be important for me to be very good at pidgin English. And so looking back now, I realized that if I had been adamant and wanted to remain a comedian, in the legal speaking pidgin English, I'd have fizzled out like smoke. So that's where the corporate angle came in. So from reading the book positioning, I found out that I could carve a niche as a corporate emcee. And then I started to gravitate towards like the likes of Sony Robbo among COVID, herons, iqoo, the late Femi shed go. There was BC allottee law. There were a couple of there was a man called Ottawa. He came by he was a veteran broadcaster. He spoke so we'll start They realized that look, I think I'm more tilted I should be more tilted to this guy's done to comedy so that was it. And then as well school the opportunity came once again there is a God factor. Most numbers almost add that. Two of our classmates I don't if you remember what's her name? Vivian Viviana Muna. Aqua director from Viva la Mona was selected for my class to be served on a committee that was supposed to organize an event I went in when the ideal the implementing an emcee came up. He mentioned my name, and I was not seeing school on that day. And I got screwed and following day and the dean said, Whoa, you came highly recommended to be the emcee. Sam Shaibu 15:40 I remember this day vividly. I do I do? I do. Jide Benson 15:45 So it was over lunch. And I said, Oh, you will be my pleasure. And then the day came, and apparently I did well, because from that day, till now, I mean, I don't events before then don't weddings. But I think from that particular points, I really started doors started to open in the corporate space. And I can say that I've met almost everybody that is worthy of being met. It has taken me outside the shores of the country. It has given me a name has given me a platform. I know what's Sam Shaibu 16:20 not. And when was this? How was this how you now metamorphose into broadcasting was was would you say this was the one of the the, the the fruit I'll say, of your foray into into MC. Jide Benson 16:37 So if you allow me to be a bit spiritual and scriptural, if you remember the story of the parable of the talents, so if the person who had five talents use the five talents, and he got five more than the persons who are two talents, use the two talents and go to the person who had one talents buried the talent, and that which he had was even taking for him a part of our scripture that, that also says that even he who has not that which he has will be seen in. I don't know what to figure out speaker that's in the literature. So it means that everybody has something. So yes, I started to MC. And I met people who really encouraged me. We said, have you tried broadcasting? Have you considered broadcasting, and then because of course, again, I have an ear, an eye for the media. I mean, I listen to radio, I used to listen to radio or phone and watch TV a lot. I used to see the good side, I see the bad sides. And then broadcasting started becoming an area of interest. And considering that I had finished from the School of Media and learned quite a bit about media and how it works. I've met people. And then I went to radio broadcasting school, the FRC and training school in Canada. I met lots of people there. And at the end of the program, we had the opportunity to do a one week internship in a radio station, and then I did that. And then I liked it. And that was the end. Yeah, after. Yeah. I think it was a year after. So let me let me give you my numbers right now. So I mix it up. Yes, before I went to trade radio school, I had attended the creative careers fair, somewhere in Lagos. And I had met somebody who worked in a radio station. And he said, I'd like to be sound. We're about to open another radio station. And I'd like to give you a chance. So he asked me to come in for an audition. And then I got there and they put me just the way you are now they put me they gave me a headphone and they put a mic in front of me. And they said I should speak pidgin English. That was when I knew that speaking pidgin English is not easy. You laugh about it now. But it was a lot of work. You asked me to talk for three minutes non stop speaking English, and I couldn't get it done. The same pidgin English that I speak on the street was conducted by something in the shop or your Buka I couldn't speak pidgin English or radio for three minutes non stop. And they halted me. And they asked me to listen to myself that I was laughing. I was smiling and the audience will be able to hear that. So they gave me a second chance and I flunked it. So the person said, Okay, maybe this is coming to us, suddenly. We'll let you go. Come back after a few days. And do this again. And I went back again. And I said, Look, ya'll, but this is not for you. pg&e is not your thing. So those struggles. And as I went to radio, school, and after radio school, I had the first opportunity for internship to be on radio. And then again, that was it. As well as that while I was doing my MBA, I met somebody who was the chief executive of a radio station. And then one morning says, I'd like you to come to my radio stations calm. And we'll do some review and analysis of what's happening in the policy. I said, Okay, I'll think about it. And I think I was second guessing myself. And I was avoiding this person here. I was, I was avoiding the person. So one day I got into school and right at the door, I was listening. So I was expecting feedback. And I said, Okay, I'll do as I go to read you, the first day was a breakfast was newspaper review and analysis, I was paired with somebody else. I think we did a good job on the first day. On the second day, the person didn't show up. On the third day, the person didn't show up. I was meant to come on alternate days. So they called me and say, Look, this person is not showing up again. And we don't know why can you please come to fill in for him tomorrow. And then I went there, and it became an everyday thing. Later, they found out that the person that was in an appointment, as far as I was doing the breakfast show, they said, Look, we have this Sunday, show that we'd like you to give a try. And that was it. So yeah, that's what opened the door to radio was from having the requisite training. And I don't I don't know, well, I was doing well, one of the talents, which was MC, and then the radio opportunity came. So that's it's Sam Shaibu 21:26 amazing. Listen to your story reminds me of, of how Les Brown, the famous motivational speaker, how he got into broadcasting. I think he had just lost his job or something at the point. And he was trying to get himself into on the radio. And you know, he would tell his mom, I'm not sure if it was his mom, or somebody would just tell them, hey, I'm going to the radio station today. Just listen, I'll be on I'll be on air. He hadn't been offered the job, you know, but he would just go in there hoping that someone would find a job and the very first couple of weeks, he would go in there to us to request a place on air. And I'm not sure who this manager who the director, whatever the person was, would always tell him get out of here. We don't, there's no openings. But Les Brown went back every day, come to this very fateful day there was this presented I was I was on air, he was probably getting drunk, I don't know he had been drinking or something. And he had drunk himself to super that he could not even hold himself anymore on the program. And then the, the manager came around and saw Les Brown hanging around the street. And I asked him, he said, Is this something you can do, and this guy had been preparing for this day, because he had gone to the radio station every single day waiting for this opportunity. And that's how he got on the On Air. And he has practice his script. And when he got that opportunity he blew up, it just kind of reminds me of that story and how, like you said, fate mixed with preparation and being resolute as to what you wanted to do, you know, all matched together and created the platform that that you now eventually had. Okay. So moving forward, Jay, you eventually went into politics. Now. I'm trying to understand how how are you? Oh, no, because, because when I first saw that post, contesting and the first thing that crossed my mind was we needed role models in this offices, because again, you had been through a lot. You had to you have created for yourself, I mean, everything you had listened to your story and everything he has set out to do, you are achieved and and it was to me became apparent that we needed people like you no matter what, at what level of governance he was. He may have been, but just tell us how did that happen? Jide Benson 23:33 Yeah, politics. Okay. So I'll say that politics has always been there. I've always been there. I mean, my father was a politician. My like grand uncle was a politician, the First Republic. So I mean, at home some way somehow political has always been part of the discussion. And then sometime in 2011, I went for an event and I was listening to somebody who was chairman of local governments. And I was encouraged. I was a smart young lad. And I said, Hold on what's happening in my local government, I live our work in Sri Lanka. And I was trying to imagine the quality of leadership that was on at the time issue Louisiana, I wasn't happy about it. I said, Okay, look, I wouldn't give this thing your shots. I'm sure that is not rocket science. It might not be easy, but I'm sure that given the opportunity, I can do better than whoever is there now. Because I found out who the chairman was a new way he lived. Roads in my community were bad. So I found out where he also lived the roads to his house were also bad. And so that person was buying a new car. The people were working with him about were buying new cars. So it was very annoying that you had the responsibility to fix the bathrooms. You're not fixing them. They are driving new cars on bad routes. That's your responsibility. So I'd say to give it a shot. Of course I didn't make it. This was 2011. I tried again in 20, I think was 2017. Still Okay. Well, I mean, this time around, I think I did better I came second in the primaries. And so after some discussions, I became diverse chairmanship candidates, to the person who won the Premier League we run and we lost whatever remained in the political process since then, at least I pay attention to what's happening by environments. I don't leave it for anybody to tell me because all politics is local. I think it was. A former US president has said that, if you think about it, where you are now, you're in one, I don't know where you guys call it over there, where as a province or borrow or what have you. So there's somebody who has a responsibility for that lukau. So if my local government works, if the next local government works, if the other local government works, our state will ultimately be better. And our country will ultimately be better. Everybody lives and works in local government at time. But we pay very little attention to what's happening at the local government. So I mean, this is there's a test that I've administered on people very many times. And half more than half the time, I find that nine people feel the question only one person makes that same ask, who is the chairman of your local government? Sam Shaibu 26:27 I don't know, I wouldn't even have known. Jide Benson 26:30 I will. Everywhere, everybody measures the governor and the president, we were there, the problems affecting the most many of them are problems that under the word responsibility of the local government chairman. So I think that we should all pay more attention to that that was what led me into politics. And then I'm still there. Sam Shaibu 26:49 I totally agree. Because when I first saw your, your post about going running for office, I immediately I knew there must have been an issue of leadership and, and your desire for wanting to probably create a lasting legacy in your community where you lead. And this is where I find it a bit challenging, because we have people in office that don't understand the the concept of leadership. And, and that's why John Maxwell says that everything rises and falls on leadership. But I think we flip it the other way around, because we feel once I'm the leader, I'm supposed to be this way. And the people that are that I lead way down there. And all I do is just dish out, you know, dish out instructions or, or, or whatever they do at that level. And I think with people like you continually trying to contribute your your little might, we would definitely cause the kind of change we're hoping to create in our in our nation. So what do you do right now you run a PR firm? Can you just tell us how did you evolve into that role? Jide Benson 27:49 Oh, well, again, I've done PR now for about 19 years. Again, there's there's the universe conspiring to make the innermost desires of one's heart coming to pass. I was expelled from the University in India $2,000, outside Lagos State University, and I was expelled for exam misconduct in 2000. I almost committed suicide. That's the part that people don't know when they see I have a digital version or today. So but I again, I'm grateful to God for the kind of parents that he gave to me. My parents, even though they were separated, they handled it the, the crises together. They almost came together because of me, the manager that destroyed has the burden the responsibility to the following year, thankfully, I go back into schools on Saturday afternoon, I was flipping through the pages of punch newspaper. And I saw an advert by the Nigeria instance of public relations. And as I read, it's I just saw myself as a PR person, everything that was written about who a PR person is, was who my DNA told me I was. So I caught that page out of the newspaper. A few days later, I went to their secretary ads to make inquiries. And this was 2001. But I was still in school then. Then, in 2003. I ruled for the exam I wrote the first set of the I wrote the first medical the first day of the exam. And I heard the second day later. And then this was before I came for, this was before we met we did a master's in Media and Communication shortly after that I got I got an opportunity you remember to do well for your creative careers. One of the people that I met there was a PR company and just by having a chat with the HR person she said look, let me have your CV we might be able to work together and then the invited me I was there for almost a year. And again join join our MSc when I was going to my internship I didn't a PR firm this house for four months. That was when I first came in contact with the concept of Investor Relations and sounded really nice. It's under corporates, you have to do the figures and banking and all whatnot. So I was excited about it. And then I got a full job, which I did for about seven months. And then I left that. And then I freelanced with a lot of for a lot of people, I don't know writing for the PR companies and people needing PR services. But as a press release or proposal, a sponsorship proposal the PR was on. And I just thought it was it was about time I floated my own. I've been quite active in the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Lagos State chapter. And you know, in all of my journey, the dots were connecting that look, there are opportunities here, you might as well flute your own. And then I registered a company one years ago, I did almost nothing with it. And then the beginning of this year, an opportunity came, somebody had just got into an organization, I was looking for a PR person. And the person reached out to me and said, Hey, we can give this a shot, and then invited us for a pitch. We pitched alongside three other big PR agencies that we want. Amazing. We're happy we did the projects. And you know, they were they were pleased with our pitch, and they give us the opportunity. And so yeah, I registered a second agency and well, I don't know I mean, the first PR company had always existed just registered and nothing happened. Okay, and we're middle of this year I was I was ready. I've been thinking about it I have a second line agency is called cast CST, which is communications advisory strategy and training and showing every everything within that framework, communications, advisory, communication, strategy and communications training. Sam Shaibu 31:54 I want to be able to give people perspective. I mean, this is Jide from 10 years ago, and you've you know, shared your journey over the years, the ops the downs, the challenges, the triumphs, the opportunities how you took took advantage of them even though you were not sure what they might lead out to, to be and and I hope that as people have listened to you, they can begin to see that this whole question about what is my purpose? What is my what should I be doing my life? Should I quit my job? Should I start a business? It's they all don't provide answers to you on the surface. You always have to dig deeper and fumble your you still do MC on the side, right? Oh, Jide Benson 32:30 no, I don't need to underside I do doesn't mean it's on the main menu. Just because of the lockdown. You know, they've been? Sam Shaibu 32:40 Yeah. Yeah. That's Jide Benson 32:41 why we're doing a lot more PR services now. Sam Shaibu 32:44 Okay. Okay. Jide Benson 32:45 I hope and pray that COVID will go with old normal, because this new normal is not something I'm enjoying. Sam Shaibu 32:52 It's my favorite the main cause? Jide Benson 32:55 It's not, it's not. Yeah. So I would say that any working as an MC been working as an MC sorry. Earning from that is less stressful, because I'm doing what I absolutely enjoy. I'm playing I'm having fun. Public Relations requires a lot more thinking and strategy, what have you. So in terms of figures, I won't say that I've earned much as an emcee this year. Okay, because we've been on lockdown since since. Sam Shaibu 33:26 much, Mark. Yes. So yeah, Jide Benson 33:29 I think I think I think I did just two events before we locked down. And then so now I think I've done only another two I did want during, as the lockdown started to ease. So that's it. Sam Shaibu 33:42 And and the reason why I asked that question really is also again, I is to give perspective to people to people listening, because you said, what would your MC and you're doing what you absolutely love. So you're doing, you're doing it without stress, it comes natural to you. And this is where the going back to the question of what my purpose is only what potentials do I have? Because I always tend to let people understand that it's an easy way to arrive at that answer is to first ask yourself, what are the things you have passion for what what are you passionate about? What How could you turn that into adding value to people and and how could that, you know, potentially generate revenue? And that's why I asked that question. And I wanted you to clarify that for those who are listening today. For those that are listening and wanting to venture into what you currently do, what advice would you have for them. Jide Benson 34:29 So as for a chaotic, it's in bits. So first of all, just do it as Nike says your first attempt is always to be excellent. So if you're waiting to be excellent, you may never get started. In other areas of my life. I've procrastinated and in doing that I've held myself back. So it's about using your skills, they are yours anyway, so you might as well use them. So one of the things that annoys us as a people is when you see somebody that is doing something that you know you can do or you can do better. So that person has been bold or has acted boldly. And so that's what's asked to that person out. So the world does not celebrate potential rewards celebrates multiple potentials that are maximized or failure to action. I remember growing up sin Maradona. So imagine if Maradona had continued to say I can play football, I never really got onto the field of play. So it's like, you know how to drive a car. And you you always like going to driving school to learn how to drive. And then you know how to drive a neglected certificate and say, in Australia, we never really get behind the wheels. So it's about your skills, the first thing is use them and then find a way to articulate harness on sorry, find a way to polish or hone those raw skills. I think it was the same John Maxwell, who you mentioned, assess talent is not enough. I'm not sure whether you understand that. Yeah, yeah. Yes, talent is not enough. You must find a way to finesse and say some people have design skills. And then I'll go to a fashion design outfits to put some finishing touches to it. So which is what I did. I follow that I love to MC I love to speak. So I went to training school, radio training school, I went to MIT to do a master's in media communication. I observe people who do this things the way I like to do it. And these things have become much easier now with the internet. I mean, YouTube is there. So if you're not watching TED, you be the face you can be watching David Letterman. Or Steve Harvey or Jide Benson, Alibaba, or, you know, depending on where you want to play. The world is now every everybody's oyster. I mean, if you google it on YouTube, we've started to tap on to YouTube, how to be how to be good at whatever it is that you want to do. I'm sure that something would definitely come Sam Shaibu 37:03 up. Okay. If people want to to how will they find you? Jide Benson 37:06 Yeah, social media. I'm on Instagram. I'm on Instagram, at babajide Ba ba. Jed why I'm on LinkedIn as Jide Benson. Also on Facebook as Jide events on LinkedIn and Facebook, I'm there as Jide Benson. And on Instagram, there's a budget in the Sam Shaibu 37:28 G word. Okay, and how would we find Casper Jide Benson 37:32 Casper is also a LinkedIn. So just type cast PR mg. It's on LinkedIn, it's on Instagram, it's on Twitter. Same as PRNG. Yes. caspia underscore Engie cast var underscore Engie on LinkedIn on Instagram and Twitter. Sam Shaibu 37:49 Thank you. Thank you. So guys will have the will have all the links that God has referred to in the description when the show goes live. And all the the names he's mentioned, the Alibaba the Gmail and also days we'll have all of those links. So you can always go back and you know, see who these people are and how they have influenced GTS journey over the years. Gina, honestly, it's an awesome privilege to have had you. I mean, you're taking almost one hour of your time, if not more. For me when I was growing up, I I never knew anyone that had run it business of their own. So when the idea of becoming entrepreneurs that are creeping into my mind, it was it was scary, because I've never known anyone that had done it besides. And I'd like to mention his name here. His name is T Bell came, he was the first man I ever knew as an enterpreneur. And he gave me the first opportunity to work. And all I know about enterpreneurship in practical terms I learned from this man, and I would watch him do what he did. And he did it with so much passion. And I wanted to just be like him, you know, and that's how I started. But again, unlike you, you've you've had several people mentor you all through the ages. I didn't have until that first opportunity. And even when I started my own foray into enterpreneurship it was it was a struggle. It was a struggle until like that until I met John Maxwell and I finally understood what what the missing links were and announced a big thank you for for your for sharing your story with us for being vulnerable enough to even tell us the not so good part of the journey. At least it gives us a better clarity and it helps us appreciate who you have become. today thank you so much for having me for for joining us on the show today. And Jide Benson 39:24 that's that's very key. Nobody's entitled to live without tribulation. So if you have not if there's anybody out there whose story has been what smooth all the way the trials are coming, so we're going to have it at different stages or phases of our life. So it was going to be their health. So we have a little bit of finances, there's going to be their their carrier, somebody is going to be their children. So the challenges will come. It's for us to be able to whether it's as I think was one of those motivational speakers Robert Schuller something that is tough times never last I think that as we grow, particularly in Africa, we should be able to tell this shortage pots as well. So people don't think that you will always be. I mean, I watch I worship on the Reverend somebody, and he shares his own downtimes airport miss. I just decided that I'll take a cue from that. When I share my stories, I'll always share the negatives as well. Sam Shaibu 40:27 Amazing. Thank you so much, once again for joining us on today's episode I'm so so honored to have Unknown Speaker 40:36 this is the League of icons, mind your mind being your focus and play by a different set of rules. Transcribed by https://otter.ai