¶ Youth Entrepreneurship and Product Management
Hey , mindful Partners , how have you been ? How are you doing ? Right ? It's a new month , okay , and this month , of course , is the month that we are hosting man at a Fight for Life at the Rembrandt Hotel , ikeja .
And you know that , leading up to a Fight Flight For Life , we've been having conversations with men , and today I sit with a very , very enthusiastic young man who's not even 20 yet . Well , by the time this is , he will be 20 , but is ready to take the world of entrepreneurship by the stump .
This conversation is short , fast-paced , but one that makes one question if you truly took advantage of your youth and maybe revitalize the essence of youth , enjoy this conversation with massive javine . He's a startup builder of products , body , and he is 19 . Enjoy this conversation , all right .
So let's get to the conversation quickly , you know , so that I don't allow maybe we fall again today .
Don't worry . Don't worry , I'm really prepared . I had to clear up everything I had to do today , so I'm fine , oh , and I appreciate that . Yeah , no problem .
It's good . So , to be honest , it's the first time I'm hearing about Product P . What's product party ?
yes . So let's , let's look at the name product party party , as in friend in the yeah , the broken english context . So I was opportunity to intern at um system specs , the parent company of remita . Okay , so basically that's where I had , that's where that was where I had my first industrial experience . I was a freshman that just had a summer holiday .
Then I was like , what am I doing at home ? I just went out there , though they had come to my school , they had a collaboration with my school . Then I met someone . I was like , I want to be an intern here , because when we went for the um , so went for like um , how would I put it ?
I don't call it an excursion though , yeah , but it was a yeah for a month of better word excursion .
Okay , let's make it .
Let's make it simple , yeah , so when I saw the pillar I was like , wow , well , I need to be here . So they were like you know , we grant an internship . Blah , blah , blah . Meet some of our staffs . Then I sat , then I looked Okay , it was when I went for the internship . I got the name AI Because basically I was just asking questions about AI .
I got the name AI because basically I was just asking questions about AI , because I just loved the concept that something could make my day , my work , my like anything I'm doing , more efficient . I don't have to start from scratch , I don't I . It could give me even precisely what I want , then I could tweak it .
Something like a company , something like an assistant , basically . So I asked a lot of about ai and my friends started calling me ai and that's how I got the name ai in school . So if you go to mcpherson university , you just ask who is ai , those ? Ah , this is me . They'll point to me directly .
So , um , I wanted to be there and I didn't have any experience to say , okay , I have these , I want to intern in these . So during the summer I was like though I had collected a man's number there . Mr Terry , I had a relationship like more of a familiarity with him . And how did this happen ?
So I usually tell some people in any way you can give value , value is one of the most important things you can give as a human being and that's why I call myself the value catalyst because , wherever I go , I make sure I impact or I give value in one way or the other . So they came .
The first time they came I was not with them , so I was in my room . They were like aha , these people pouchy . They came , they're giving us a bottle , they're giving us shirts like what are they ? I didn't really bother , you understand . But the second time they came I saw them . I was like oh . So I just went to me .
I said okay , um , we are trying to get students together , so we could , you know , engage them . I was like no , you know what ? Let's do this , let's do this , let's do this . Come out , I'll take you to our portals . You can come to the boys' hostel you talk about . So Mr Terry was like my God , I like you , I like your vibe .
So it worked out and they were able to do some engagement . I was with them all the way to the right left . So I collected his number . So he now started my name as a I , because he saw one of my mates calling me ai so this is how the product body started . So okay , let me . Let me hasten a bit .
So , um , so , when I got into the company unfortunately so that holiday I just called him I want to intern here , please . I was like this man , okay , give me something . So I kept disturbing him . Tell him okay , if you want someone who is ready to learn and unlearn , do . I know I don't have experience , but I can do things , I can do anything .
So it was like okay . So what I did was I know the app debuted for my schools could have having some problems and I just told what I did was I went on my own , created a form and sent it to a lot of our students and I said what are you facing on this app ? There were a lot of replies and I got about 20 to 30 yeah , okay , 30 replies .
Then I sent it to him . I just I didn't say anything and I was like you know what , come to the office , I want to see you . Like , okay , no problem . And as I got into certain specs because I was able to give value , they were like how were you able to get this reply ? And I told them that I just created a format .
No , and that really helped them to reform the app . That was the turning point for the app and they were like we need someone to be there when we are making this up so that we need a point of contact as a student and I was the one . So I was the one they were like coming , this is your form of internship now .
And as I got into the industrial space and I said that when I started learning about product management , so there I made a lot of friends who were product managers and I was . Sometimes I was we have to do this . This um roadmap , this stakeholder I was , this tax is too much for me . So one of my guys like , oh my , don't tire .
So I was like you know what ? I was not thinking what can I do to make this thing more efficient and fast ? What can I do ? What can I do ? I started thinking . So that is when I got the first idea fe flow , efficiency and flow . So basically I didn't know what , what it was , but I just needed to get started with something .
So I started um gathering some information . I did a crash course on product management and then every flow was kind of a very last . I was trying to put products , product flow charts , blah , blah , blah into everything . So there was this guy , mr chinedu . Alicia is one of the , so he's the um business manager of remita . The guy is wonderful .
So he was the one who was like I like your idea , but it is not a refined . So you walked with me . No , trying out your eyes , it was like you need to solve a problem that is very specific . This is not specific , though . There were like some people there who supported me . So there were some designers , some developers .
I was like I told them about it and they were like this is good . So , basically , along the line , it didn't work . So I had to go back to the drawing board . I started talking to my users who were product managers , started learning about this . What can , what I ? What problems are you facing ? What challenges are you facing , your day-to-day activities ?
Then I started getting replies . Then it was like so I was updating . It was like good , now gather those challenges , start picking them one by one and start asking yourself how can you solve this problem ? And good , okay , I started that . Then I went on linkedin .
I was not so familiar with linkedin , but I had to start , you know , start familiarizing myself with linkedin . Started talking to product managers . What are you ? What are you facing ?
So there were a lot of problems you were facing , you understand , which was basically mostly tax management , like they had , they they had to do tax day to day , and how to execute those tasks were an issue , which was a problem I saw . Then I was like you know what I could do something here ? This is basically the turning of a blank page .
It is what if I create something that helps them not start from scratch , like an AI tool ? It's not telling them what to do , it's basically helping them in executing a task , then they themselves can customize it to how they want and over time , the AI learns from them and do product their way
¶ Navigating Challenges in Entrepreneurship
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Oh , how beautiful that is , how sweet that is , because right now , everybody , of course , we live in a society or in a world where everything is fast forward and we're all trying to be productivity geniuses . Everybody wants to do a million and one thing in a day . I hear everybody wants to do a million and one thing in a day .
Yeah , okay , I hear , I hear and see . For those who can see , I hear and see his , your excitement about products , padi , and you know all that he can bring to help people manage their time and their productivity better . Yeah , but I have a question . This is mind-blowing to me . After all , I have a question .
I know , like I said earlier , that the entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint Ha at all , so it comes with its own challenges . Sure , what has been some of your most challenging challenges ? We're going to go there a lot .
Yeah , sure , yeah . So there are a lot to , but let me pick one of the most important .
Let me pick one of the most .
Let me pick the most important ones . It's getting started . I had to get started , I didn't know what to do , and that is where so I knew I needed to do something . I didn't have money , I didn't have a team . Basically , I didn't even know the solution I wanted to solve .
I didn't know the problem I wanted to solve and how to our how to get this solution for that problem , but I know there was a problem to solve and I needed to solve that problem and that is where most entrepreneurs gets hung up now let's assume I've gotten the idea . I needed a team . How do I get a team ?
So I would say most entrepreneurs at this point would be like I need money to get started . I need money to hire a team . I had that mindset at first , so it was a whole lot . The journey was very tough , but I want to be positive here it was also .
even so , here , this here is supposed to be a safe space where you come talk about the journey . You know the challenges of the journey because in some of us most of us are used to seeing the success stories Alone , yeah , and everything that happened in between we try to knock off . But that's what the story is , isn't it ? That's what the story is .
That's the beauty of the story , isn't ?
it Exactly .
So you know , tell me how mentally demanding what did you go through , how did you navigate , especially the challenge of , you know , uh , uh , startup funds and and all that as a young man , exactly as a young man , okay , and and especially in a society where young people are looked at as not serious or young people look like they're not ready for the process ,
yeah , you know , so how did you navigate ?
all of that so so I had to get started , like I said , and I needed to get it seen . So now let me share something for every entrepreneur out there linkedin is your friend . It's the best place you can get started on , no matter what you're doing . You don't need to , if I would tell you , you don't need to have any experience before getting started .
If you see a problem and you want to solve it now , what you know about that problem is all . It's not all that there is to know about that problem so just go to linkedin , start something . First of all , you need to define your target users . I did that . I knew I was trying to build a product for product managers .
I started talking to product managers how can I solve your problem best ? So okay , you've gotten the problem you want to solve . Now you need a team to execute it , and not just any team , a visionary team who is as optimistic as you to follow you to the end . And how do you get this team is where the question is .
The question is let me tell you how I did it . I use myself as a case study a lot of times . So I started posting about product management , um problems they face , blah , blah , blah . So I mentioned something about agile , because I love doing um things the agile way .
Agile gives you enough flexibility , even in your life , if you implement the principles and the ideologies of agile . And one thing agile is not a methodology to everyone out there . Yeah , yeah , it's not a methodology . I'll tell you why later . So I posted , I wrote a post on linkedin and I and I posted it on a group . Then someone answered my question .
The way he answered my question was I see he was so passionate about that thing that he knew I made a mistake and I did not know so , but he was ready to correct me . Hmm , now I also tell every entrepreneur out there , every founder out there pay attention , listen , don't talk too much . Yes , you want this . You , I know you are building the product .
You want everybody to know that you have the upper c , keep shots , thank you listen . I , I know that . Yeah , you know it . But see , even if a baby saying rubbish , rubbish from rubbish comes something what you think is rubbish .
Yes , because we all live by perception here .
There is always a point to something , so use your superpowers as a founder to always listen . So it was like Matthew . So his name is Steve Ash . So Steve Ash is a um . It was a retired marine , sorry , royal navy worked in , yeah . So he fought some wars then . So he came into product management and he was a scrum master .
He has been doing agile for over 30 years . In fact , he was one of the ones who created the agile framework dsdm agile and he has been building product for a lot of companies for over 30 years . So he has a lot of experiences . And it was like matthew , this is this um , do it this way . Um , next time it's not called this .
I was like okay , yes , sir , I . I though I could have said no , I don't , but I just said no , shut the fuck up .
I have to listen I have to listen , so I .
I told him , I now one thing as a founder . I know , yes , you already call yourself a founder , but be humble I said . Sir , I'm trying to get the product out there and this is just a question that I wanted to know about .
Please , I would love for you to be my coach , my mentor , because I need someone with your experience I was like oh matthew , I'm retired and , um , yeah , no problem , I'll , I'll be part of your team . I was like , oh , thank you .
So we had , we had a call where we did some talks and he was on my team , started telling me okay , this , this is the first thing you do . Have you talked to you some users ? I said , yes , okay , do this , do this , do this , do this .
So in fact , that was like now we need to get an mvp out to validate so an mvp is a minimum viable product okay , okay it is what validates your solution out there that , yeah , your users are ready to use this . It's what validates that , yes , this product is really in need for your users .
Okay , okay .
Now there's a misconception about MVPs to most founders . They think it's something you should just put out there . That is crappy . No , an MVP is a minimum viable product . But that doesn't mean it should not be functional . Functional Because the first how do I put it now ? Because the first how do I put it now ?
When your users use your product , no matter what stage it is , but once it's out there , the first impression matters . If you're able to get their attention and attract them to that product with your MVP , trust me , you're good to go . The product will sell . So if you want to build an MVP I'm not saying it should be a large system .
If it's just a feature you are putting out there , make sure that feature is functional as you say it is . It might not have the aesthetics and everything , but make sure it is functional . And so it was like so we're delegating , okay , so , um , I could . Just , I could do some code .
I can do something like okay , well , I'm also good in php , what do we do ? And that's where I discovered another superpower you should have as a founder go out , go for events connect network . Not , I don't . I don't want to mean network . I don't mean you should go and say hello , my name is this , I am building this . No , have deep connections .
Make sure what you are saying to the person there's a connection between you guys and there is an exchange of value at that point . So I started going for events and I was . So I was at the event AIpreneurs by Remo Starts . So I was talking to a person , ibukun , yeah so , so we're talking ibukun and I were talking . I like I said I listen a lot .
I wasn't like , um , there's this man , dlm , that's gonna be here today . I was like dlm , you mean dr larry mensah . I was like , yes , I was like DLM you mean Dr Larry Mensah ? He was like yes , I was like ah , I messaged Dr Larry Mensah on LinkedIn , I chatted him on LinkedIn and I didn't get a reply . Even up to now I haven't showed him .
I was like so he's going to be here . I was like you know what , today he will not go unless we talk , he bless me . Unless he bless me , I unless he blesses me . I was like today . He was like , don't worry , I'll introduce you to him . He's actually the founder of First Founders where .
So what First Founders do is that they incubate talent more of a VC studio . They help , they make sure that , yes , you build your product . They help you build your product to get out there , give it a product market fit .
So they more of help startup founders at the very early stage , and I think that is one of the good works that larry mensah has been doing for a long time . I really love the man he's so so I don't know he has the vibes into your uh , in all of that , you know , all of this .
I see in the story , all that you've shared in the story now , that as a startup and as a young startup , integrity is important . Yes , um , mentorship is important .
Building community is important to help support your dream as a stand-up , and humility is one of the things you also said is as important and this I think will be will be uh , build support system , because this is , this is where I'm going . I've had questions .
You know , when people connect with me on instagram via mindful young , you know 20 year olds , 25 year olds , 30 year olds who just and they are like , okay , I , I want to do this , because one of the first things you said was like , if you don't have money , just start and all that .
How are you going to advise that they cope with this uncertainty that comes with starting up a business or that comes with being a man , that comes with being a young man in the face of harsh economic realities ?
okay , yes . So , like I said this , deflation in nigeria or more , you go far I have to say it's fine it's a lot . Yeah , deflation is a lot we get .
¶ Founders' Mindset for Success
But first , if it's , if , if there's nothing to make you afraid about what you are doing , then it's not big enough to be called a dream . And I believe every founder who is trying to get something out there , who's trying to build a product , should see it as a dream , not the way of making money or making one quick money .
Startup will not make you rich quick . I guess you are trying to get a product out there so that you can get investors to put money , and that's why you know , you want to know if you are building a startup , if you are trying to build a product , to make sure it's a vision , it's a dream . You want to build a product ?
To make sure it's a vision , it's a dream . You want to solve a need for a user .
Now , that's not reorienting your mindset , now your mindset comes into play with your subconscious .
Now I say this a lot when you vision something , every time you are thinking , you are thinking about that thing . You are programming your mindset , you are programming your yeah , also you are programming your subconscious .
Now , your subconscious does not know negative , does not know positive , and that's why I tell people be positive always , Because your subconscious does not , it's not able to differentiate . So . But now , once you always have vision in that thing , you are walking towards it , it's already in your mind .
Then your subconscious will make your reality that thing so I'm going to be a party pooper right now . When you're when what you're manifesting as to what they use , now , when you're trying to envision this thing and it seems that it's tiring , and it seems that it is taking longer , you know , and bills are piling up , how do you stay positive ?
you have to be to become , and when I mean you have to be to become , and when I mean you have to be to become to stay positive . Like I said , it needs to be a dream that you really believe in .
There are just times that life is just so hard .
Yes , it's very hard . Yes , I get Even . Sometimes I have to rethink Divine , think who you are the firstborn . Think you are the firstborn . Yes , yes , there are four at my back , so make sure that what you are doing , like I've had to say let's not go and look for a job like this oh , you just go to one company .
Then that might , because I have experience . So just look for a job and start doing something and start earning money . But when I , when I see what I want to achieve , at the end of the day it's so big I have to just continue and it does you never .
You are you saying that you never get to the point where you ?
it cripples you mentally so now , like I said for for that mental part , so like everything still revolves around your mindset , because when you now have that , when you now reorient your mindset , things will start falling in place . So preparation and opportunity comes luck .
So if I say I want to do this and I've been shown that , yes , this is what I want to build out there , though when things come by , I'll just look at my small and now you are a founder that solves problem . So there will always be ways to solve a problem for me . I see challenges as um stepping stones .
When I see one , I get happy because I know that if I , if I can get through with that I'm not divine of yesterday , I'm 100x better . That should be the mindset you should have for any challenge . So when you have that mindset , it will not cripple you , like the way it's true , to a normal person . Would you be my normal person ?
Yes , because as a founder , you are not a normal person . You can't be normal . Things that apply in america , things that apply to american founders or any other place in the world , will never apply here in nigeria . So for you to break through as a founder in nigeria , you are not normal . You have to be , you have to have a level of I see serious .
Yeah , you're not normal because take it , for instance you know what you've done to come to this point . Has anything been normal with the way a normal person would have done it ? I wouldn't know that , because I don't know what normal is so , yes , normal is , um , the normal thinking okay , if I do this , I'll get to this .
I'll get to this if I do this the normal way of thinking . But as a startup founder , as a founder , as an entrepreneur , you are thinking five steps ahead if we start this conversation about normal , we'll finish it because normal is different to different people .
Because what is normal to me , you know what ? What is normal to me , definitely normal to you , what is normal to you ?
And I was like , okay , that's , that's no big deal , like it's probably something that I eat for breakfast , if you , you know , saying metaphorically , but I , I love how you have spoken to the mindset for success because , of course , yeah , for those who are used to the masculine energy and talk about the masculine energy , you exude all of this like , okay , I'm
a man , I have , I'm the oldest , and all of this , and um , with product party , where you , for those who have well to help those who need productivity solutions , I see that your enthusiasm is going to not just get you there but , as we try to , you know , round this up towards .
You know , it's been a long time , I'm not even going to lie , it's been a long time , I'm not , I'm not even going to lie . It's been a long time .
¶ Building Relationships for Entrepreneurial Success
I've sat with a young person who's this um , excited about , yeah , about life , excited and not thinking about this other , the other parts of life . Maybe you think about it , but right now , so if , if , if you had you've already said it If you had a magic wand and you wanted to do something , you know you had a magic wand .
Okay , if I wave this magic wand as an aspiring entrepreneur , this is what I want to happen . What would that be ?
Okay , so let me get it right If I had a magic wand and I said , okay , let this thing happen , yes , so yes . Now I would say that is not quite possible , because we are living in fantasy right now . Okay , let's live in fantasy .
Yes .
Now . But yeah , the entrepreneurship world is not in fantasy .
Things happen unexpectedly , guy live in fantasy for a moment . Okay , let me try . If you had a magic wand , okay , this is .
You're talking to an aspiring , I'm an aspiring entrepreneur and you want to say to me that , if you want to , if you , what you could do as a person with the things that you've learned on your journey towards entrepreneurship , this is one thing that can make it easy for you .
Okay , does that make it clearer ? Okay , one of the things would be making connections to the right people at the right time at the right moment . Really , really important , because you can . So .
So , connecting to people , networking with people , goes a long way , because that will also help you when you are now funding , when you are trying to raise funds , because I will tell you , the investment ecosystem right now is 90% based on relationship , connection and relationships . Yes , you can't come to an investor and tell I have this good idea .
Everybody has a good idea . They need to know you , they need to know what you're capable of . They need to know how you think you talk , because it also affects the way you do things and the way you will run your startup . So , yes , that'll be it .
That's a good magic wand . Yeah , that's a good wish .
Yes , because not just not just fundraising , it will also take me , you know , to make me have the experience I don't have . So if I'm talking to someone because so I was talking to um , okay , the , the , the , the , the , the , the know , was it there for yesterday ?
So last week , thursday , I can't remember , but yeah , recently I was at a hotel where I attended the inspire africa founders connect and I was , I was , I was to meet um , the product manager , baga samura very , very eloquent man .
So the way he spoke and the the advice I got from him , I've added three to four years of experience to mine without having to experience it , because it showed me a new way of , let's say , doing a particular thing .
So it was like , yes , if you are a founder , I get , you are a founder , you want to be able to control your team , but sometimes be humane . If you're talking to your engineer , come , come , what is wrong , tell me , what can we do . Hey , let's , let's rehearse . And funny thing when I implemented this thing it sort of worked marvelously .
This has been so that advice that it gave me in a couple of minutes it would have been something that I've learned a year or two , let's say , with experience .
I don't have to go go through it again , okay . So relationship and connection , yes , thank you . Thank you , matthew , for bringing your energy . Thank you for bringing your . Your energy is very um , I don't know what do I want to say . It's very infectious and I'm almost sitting in your head .
Thank you very much yeah , thank you um , so , yeah , you know that , um , what , on ? Mindful of championship , we're always hammering on community support , on friendship , on connection , on deep , deep connections . And from what Matthew has said this today , he tells us , just as we've said , that even in business , even in business , relationship matters .
Yes , you can be a genius and you can be all of that , you can be all that , but when your relationship you are , your connection with yourself , your connection , the way you connect with other people and relate with other people , you know , um , if it's not , your self-awareness is as good as your self-appraisal , you'll do well in the world of business .
Thank you very much again , matthew , for coming . Thank you , remember that you can be part of a fight for life , a day retreat for men coming up November 23rd , november 23rd 2024 , at the Rembrandt Hotel in Keja . All right , of course it is ticketed . It is 10,000 Naira . Just go to Mindfully With Tumishe on Instagram and register and secure your space .
It is going fast , trust me . Of course , there you will get the details of all that is going to happen at 5 for live . There you will get the details of all that is going to happen at , uh , five , four , live I am . Love yourself , love your neighbor , love your country above all of us . Love god is the essence of your being , matthew .
Yeah , thank you very much um Go ahead . Is this the ?
end . Yes , it is the end , okay , yeah .
So I want to use this opportunity to shout out to my team yeah , wherever you are , kudos to you guys . Steve , justin Chuka , all of you , ikena Onikachi , all of you kudos , yes , and we are going to make this possible . We are going to so to all product managers out there too , we are going to give you your wife and husband .
That will help you through your day . So stay tuned , stay tuned for Product Party . We are here .
Oh , thank you so , so much . And before we go , I want to say a huge thank you to Anitel and Kim Creatives . Thank you very much for connecting me with Matthew Divine of Product Buddy . Until next time , stay winning , stay curious , love yourself , thank you .