damiOluwatoyinbo.com

One of my reasons for setting up this blog is to provide information on how you can maximise your business potential.Now I’m not trying to suggest that I’m a business guru.I’d let time and the results I produce do the talking for me but I must also make it clear that I know a few things that could significantly increase your bottom line.

Here are ten effective ways to reduce your business cost without compromising your product and service quality…

1. Barter If you have a business you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses. You should try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require little or no money.

2. Network Network your business with other businesses. This will cut down on your marketing and advertising costs. You may also try bartering goods and services with them.

3. Wholesale/Bulk You’ll save money buying your business supplies in bulk quantities. You could get a membership at a wholesale warehouse or buy them through a mail order wholesaler. Buy the supplies you are always running out of.

4. Free Stuff Visit some of the thousands of freebie sites on the internet before buying your business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, backgrounds, online business services etc.

5. Borrow/Rent Have you ever purchased business equipment you only needed for a small period of time? You could have just borrowed the equipment from someone else or rented the equipment from a “rent-all” store.

6. Online/Offline Auctions You can find lower prices on business supplies and equipment at online and offline auctions. I’m not saying all the time, but before you go pay retail for these items try bidding on them first.

7. Plan Ahead Make a list of business supplies or equipment you’ll need in the future. Keep an eye out for stores that have big sales. Purchase the supplies when they go on sale before you need them.

8. Used Stuff If your business equipment and supplies don’t need to be new, buy them used. You can find used items at yard and garage sales, used stores, used stuff for sale message boards and newsgroups etc.

9. Negotiate You should always try negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or supplies. It doesn’t hurt to try. Pretend you are talking to a salesman at a car lot.

10. Search You can always be searching for new suppliers for your business supplies and equipment. Look for suppliers with lower prices and better quality. Don’t just be satisfied with a few.

Get more information about business development here!

I might as well cut to the chase and tell you how i missed my flight.

When I woke on monday morning, I spent a few moments thanking God for the precious gift of another day.

I had a quick breakfast of oats and headed for the airport, hoping to make the first flight to Lagos.The light was scheduled for 9:15 am.Unfortunately, I had been (mis)informed by an acquaintance that the flight was for 9:30 am so as you may have guessed,  the plane had taken off by the time I got to the airport.  I was told that the next flight was for 12:30pm. Thank God, my hosts were still around.I would have probably been bored to death if they had left the airport.

I secured my ticket for the next flight and decided to take a quick tour of the city rather than lounge in the airport.

My very good friend, Flourish (yes, that’s his real name)  was familiar with the terrain, so he was the “tour guide” and my fantastic host, Christina was my fellow tourist. We drove around the city and visited two of the four Universities that the city boasts of-the University of Benin and Benson Idahosa University where I was able to pick up a few books to nourish my mind and refresh my spirit. We also saw landmarks like the mausoleum where the body of the legendary Archbishop Benson Idahosa was interred. We walked into the Faith Arena.

We drove past the Oba’s palace and Flourish was kind enough to tell me some veeeery interesting tales about the city.Then we headed for the airport.On arriving at the airport, passengers were already on the queue to board our plane.I immediately joined the queue and waved my Flourish and Christina bye.

Just as I was about to get on board, one of the flight attendants asked for my boarding pass…then it occured to me that I hadn’t checked in.I had been carried away by my sight-seeing.Checking in had totally skipped my mind.Of course you can’t fly if you don’t check in-that’s the protocol.My adrenaline began to rush in reverse.I had a lot to do in Lagos that afternoon and I urged the attendant to get me a seat.He obliged but  on the condition that there were still seats available.He counted the ticket stubs and voila…they were exactly the number of seats on board,the plane was full.I was upset…with myself but my displeasure didn’t last much longer.There were two of us who missed that flight.We saw the plane take off and disappear into the distance.

The other lady was terribly disheartened. but I  wasn’t  sad for too long.

You may wonder why.

Several reasons but primarily because I had to console the other lady.She was in tears because missing that flight to Lagos also meant she was missing the flight from Lagos…to Maiduguri! worse still, she had cancelled her flight the previous day and…everything seemed to be going wrong!

Well, we had to wait till 5pm. I called my hosts and they came back to pick me.We spent some time at the lounge of a cozy hotel and ate some bowlfuls of “eba”( a traditional african dish) before heading for the airport.This time, I checked in forty minutes before my flight.Lesson learnt.One of the attendants that I had made friends with earlier gave me a front seat and I had enough room to myself.

I got some time to chat with the other lady and by the time I left her, she was smiling. We had a smooth flight to Lagos and I was still able to do most of what I had scheduled for the day.The day ended well and I’m still counting my blessings because I learnt a couple of lessons…

• Get the right information.If I had known the first flight was scheduled for 9:15, I would have made it to the airport in good time
• Never forget to check in.
• Don’t spent too much time frolicking that you forget the business of the day.
• There’s a blessing in every disappointment.In spite of the disappointment, I had the privilege of lifting someone’s burden and putting a smile on her face and I got a front seat with enough space to lounge.
• Never let a disappointment rob you of your appointment.I was still able to do the things I wantde to do in Lagos. 
• No matter how many flights you miss, don’t miss the last one.You may have missed  out on many  opportunities in life but there’s another one right in front of you-don’t miss it!

Enough said.

Stick around for more true stories that inspire! 

The last twenty four hours have been quite adventurous.

In just twenty four hours I have been privileged to make five new friends, address about two hundred promising people, console one fine lady, visit a couple of landmarks, spend a total of about ten hours on the road and miss my flight twice.

I think that’s a whole lot for twenty four hours.

Right now, my body is begging for a nap.

I’d give you more details over the next couple of days.