I Had a Near-death Experience with Sleep Paralysis and This is What Learned

I Had a Near-death Experience with Sleep Paralysis and This is What Learned

The first time I had come across the word sleep paralysis, I had laughed and declared that it could never happen to me. Who gets paralyzed in their sleep? So I thought.

Yet as I read further, it joggled a memory of a night I had woken up frozen in place. My body had refused to move no matter how hard I tried. I couldn’t scream, my chest felt heavy as if someone was choking me and of course, I felt a presence in the room. I also saw shadows of black smoke. It was as if someone had cast a spell on me and my life was about to end. This lasted for less than two minutes but I must say it was the most terrifying of nightmares I have ever had.

It is estimated that 1.7% to 40% of people experience sleep paralysis. So If you are have also experienced this, then do not be afraid because you are not alone. After my experience, I went digging and this was what I found.

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is defined as the feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between the stages of wakefulness and sleep. That is, when you are about to fall asleep or when you are waking up. During both of these times, your eyes move quickly and dreams occur as part of rapid eye movement sleep (REM).

Sleep paralysis may be accompanied by hallucinations or intense fear. It is not life-threatening but can cause anxiety as it is often accompanied by hypnagogic experiences which are visual, auditory, and sensual hallucinations. For years, its symptoms have been attributed to an evil presence.

Almost every culture throughout history has had stories of shadowy evil creatures that terrify helpless humans at night. Canadian iniut attribute sleep paralysis to spells of shamans, Japanese folklore says it is a vengeful spirit that suffocates its enemies in their sleep. While in Brazilian folklore, the demon has a name — Pisadeira, which means “she who steps“.

In Nigeria, Hausa people call it Dannau while the Yorubas attribute every neuropsychiatric disturbance during sleep to Ogun Oru.

Sleep paralysis can be a symptom of a medical problem such as clinical depression, migraine, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, anxiety disorder and other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis

The signs and symptoms include;

  1. Inability to move the body for a few seconds to several minutes while either falling asleep or waking up
  2. Being completely conscious
  3. Choking or feeling breathless caused by pressure on the chest.
  4. Feeling there is a presence in the room.
  5. Having hallucinations.
  6. Feeling of intense fear.
  7. Sweating
  8. Having headaches, muscle pain, and paranoia

Although it is unclear why hallucinations occur, researchers believe a harmless neurological disturbance may be involved.

People Who May Experience Sleep Paralysis

Nothing is scarier than the inability to move especially when you are sleeping in your bed. People who are most affected by sleep paralysis include

1. Adolescence (May become frequent during the 20s and 30s.)

2. Laying on your back

3. If you have a family history of sleeping disorders.

4. Narcolepsy

5. Sleeping Irregularly(due to shift at work etc)

6. When you are undergoing serious stress.

How to Avoid Getting Sleep Paralysis

There is no treatment for sleep paralysis but there are ways to curtail its occurrence. These include managing stress, regular sleeping, and observing good sleeping habits. Some examples of good sleeping habits are stated as follows

  1. Ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment, preferably a dark and cool bedroom.
  2. Reducing light exposure in the evenings
  3. Not working or studying in the bedroom.
  4. Avoid eating heavy dinners or eating within two hours before bed.
  5. Do not sleep on your back.
  6. Keep bedtime and wake-up time consistent.
  7. Abstaining from alcohol and caffeine
  8.  Manage every underlying illness etc.

When to Seek Medical Help

Sleep paralysis is not normally considered a medical diagnosis, but if the symptoms become concerning then one should see a doctor. Please seek help when;

It happens regularly

There is anxiety about going to sleep

Difficulty falling asleep

Suddenly falling asleep during the day

FAQs

Q: Is sleep paralysis the symptom of a serious problem?

A: No, sleep researchers conclude that in most cases, it is just a sign that your body is not moving smoothly during sleep and not a serious illness.

Q: Do Drugs cause sleep paralysis?

A: Yes, the use of certain medications may have side effects on individuals which can disrupt their sleep and cause paralysis.

Q: What do I do if I experience sleep paralysis?

A: You shouldn’t get worried if you experience sleep paralysis and take steps to control this disorder by making sure to get enough sleep. But if it becomes repetitive, you can contact your doctor for medical help

Q: Are demons real?

The paralysis is real but the demons are not. Though they seem quite creepy. People have described what they see which includes aliens, an old gag with a claw, a ghost, a vengeful spirit, etc.

Conclusion

Remember that a stitch in time saves nine, you should try to indulge in good sleeping habits as it not only helps you to avoid occurrences like sleep paralysis but takes care of your body health in general.

Check out these signs to see if you are not getting enough sleep.

11 Signs That Show You Were Raised by Nigerian Parents

11 Signs That Show You Were Raised by Nigerian Parents

To be born in Nigeria is one thing. To grow up with Nigerian parents is another. But then, growing up with Nigerian parents comes with its perks. This is so because their methods of moral orientation will shape you in such a pattern that allows you to perceive the intricacies of life while growing up. Nigerian parents don’t allow their children to do useless things. Thus, they nurture their children until the ethos inculcated in them becomes unforgettable.

However, growing up in a Nigerian home can make some children feel suffocated by the iron hands used in moulding them. But it doesn’t kill them. It only makes them stronger. You know, sometimes, they can just be difficult to deal with. Moreover, when you see certain children or people behave in a disciplined manner, then, such is attributed to the proper upbringing. Nevertheless, Nigerian parents are often glorified for their nifty style of parenting.

Signs That Show you Were Indeed Raised by Nigerian Parents

1. Helping an Elderly Person with Work

One of the traits which exhibit that you grew up with Nigerian parents is helping an elderly figure do something. The thing may be heavy or not, it doesn’t matter. In Nigeria age is revered. Once you become an elderly person. Young people cannot just watch you carry anything by yourself.

Also, when you see an elderly person working, you give a helping hand to that person. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your parents who need helping household chores but it’s expected that the ethos inculcated in you must have given you common sense. It is more like a taboo for you to pass an elderly person without proffering any form of assistance.

2. Sneaking Out to Play With Friends

Nigerian parents so much believe in controlling the playing time of children. It’s as though they have no idea that playtime is an essential part of childhood development. For their child to play too much, it is better they read too much. If you really grew up with Nigerian parents, you can attest that it’s the strictness that makes you weasel out of the house to play with your friends.

“All work no play makes Jack a dull boy” is most common among the boys. They scheme their sneaking timetable in tandem with when their parents leave home. Nigerian parents don’t understand the language of harmonizing work with play.

3. You Never Cry When Lashed

Spare the rod and spoil the child, has always been one of the most cherished principles of Nigerian parents. They don’t want to hear you preach things like counselling their children to stop them from doing something wrong. The only instrument that serves as deterrence towards something bad is “Koboko whip”. They’ll batter your body black and blue, adding that, “if I hear pim, you’ll receive more.”

You are already in pain and wouldn’t want to be flayed alive, so you’ll cry inwardly. When they flog you, they warn you not to wail.

You may want to check out: Beating or Scolding? This is the Correct Way to Discipline Your Child

4. Wanting to Become a Medical Doctor

One of the most intriguing parts about growing up with Nigerian parents is the subconscious persuasion of becoming a medical doctor. (Nigerian parents are not moved by the mere idea of becoming veterinary doctors.) Nigerian parents love to extol the medical profession like it is in every child’s destiny to embrace it. They make it seem like any profession that isn’t MBBS is second.

A lot of Nigerian children out there were, and are still made to believe that becoming a medical doctor is one of the best decisions a child can make regarding future ambitions. But their parents preferred them to study MBBS as one of the most accomplished courses in one’s life. They imply that other professions do not have first-class regard like medicine.

5. Sneaking Out to See Your Lover

This point is mostly connected to girls. Nigerian parents are anti-boyfriend and protective when boys start seeing their daughters. They get this popular belief that boyfriends are a distraction as well as a harbinger of shame.

More so, parents are always cautious of the bad influence that comes with dating. A lot of girls on the other hand cannot do without seeing their boyfriends. Thus, they sneak out to spend time with their lovers.

6. Putting on a New Dress You Don’t Fancy

You just can’t escape this one if you’re growing up with Nigerian parents. From sewing dresses with mawkish style to buying clothes you don’t find attractive. Sometimes Nigerian parents don’t give you room to select what suits your taste buds.

It’s one of those annoying things Nigerian parents do. You must bend to their command, which is regarded as absolute.

7. Avoiding Eye Contact With Elders

Whenever an elder speaks to you, your eyes must never meet theirs. It is perceived as utter disrespect seeing a child look at elders in the eyes when spoken to. So when you’re growing up with a Nigerian parent, you’ll learn to lower your gaze when an elderly person is talking.

The moment an elderly person notices you look at him/her in the eye, the first thing that comes to their mind is that the child is from an uncultured home. And most Nigerian parents don’t allow such indiscipline to manifest in their children.

8. Early Morning Pleasantries to Parents

Nigerian parents love it went their children are well disciplined. Whenever a child wakes up in the morning, it is a ritual to greet his parents. When you grow up with Nigerian parents, early morning sleep isn’t an excuse. If one wants to be free from their drama, it is best to occupy oneself with morning chores.

In addition, Nigerian parents do not tolerate nonsense. They strongly believe in discipline from A-Z. If you happen to come across someone who greets his/her parents early in the morning, you should understand that that person comes from a Nigerian setting. It becomes part and parcel of that person.

9. The Joy of Guests’ Leftover

Truth be told, everyone knows how Nigerian parents regard guests, they treat them like gods. The way they appease them will amaze you, so much that their children will be craving for the leftovers of either juice, snacks, etc.

Nigerian children like to scavenge the packages given to guests. They will be yearning and waiting patiently for the guests to say “I think I shall be taking my leave” so that they can taste all the sweat their mothers broke to make such a masterpiece. Nothing excites Nigerian children like asking their mother, “can I drink the remaining Fanta?” They’re always hopeful that their requests become granted after their long-term patience.

Typical Nigerian children are crazy!

10. You are Always Greeting a Person You Don’t Know

One of the signs that shows growing up with Nigerian parents in one is when parents call their children to greet a distant relative or a family friend. “Mansur, come and greet my mother’s step-grand uncle. He used to visit us when you were born.” And then, the guest will respond, “You won’t know me.” Proudly, they will say it in a tone of jest. And as a child, you have no choice but to greet them.

Nigerian parents are funny people. You can’t take it away from them. Some of the things they do will just leave you shaking your head inwardly, especially as a child. “Mama why na?” can be one of the things that will cross your mind but then, you love them anyway because of their selfless sacrifice.

11. Assisting an Elderly Person Carry Stuffs

There’s a difference between growing up with a Nigerian parent and growing up with a “Nigerian parent”. The first one in bold means Nigerians who are hardworking and train their children to be disciplined in all ramifications, while the second one simply means Nigerian parents who do not strive to inculcate proper values into their children. In a nutshell, when we speak of Nigerian parents, we talk about the first one.

Another sign that shows one grew up with Nigerian parents is assisting an elderly person carry anything with a considerable amount of weight. It is taboo to see an elderly person carrying, let’s say a piece of luggage, and you confidently just walk past them or even ignore the elderly person. The ideal thing to do is to quickly collect the item from the elder, even if the elder says you should leave it. When they say leave it, you should have the sense not to “leave it”.

Nigerian parents don’t allow the infection of indiscipline to afflict their kids.

Conclusion

Summarily, it is reasonable to conclude that growing up with Nigerian parents impacts you in so many ways. Yes, Nigerian parents are strict, that’s unequivocally true. But then, they display their strictness at the cost of giving their children the best in everything. Nigerian parents hate to hear people blemish either their name or reputation.

So as a child, when you’re being raised by them, you’ll ooze with so many traits that whenever people see you, you’ll be recognized and also respected. Those signs can boldly be perceived like messages written on a billboard.

Please feel free to drop your thoughts and opinion on this article. Thank you.

You can also read on: How to Raise a Child as a Single Parent in Arewa.

How to Create a Successful Gig on Fiverr

How to Create a Successful Gig on Fiverr

 Do you want to know how to create a great Fiverr gig to make big bucks? You have come to the right place. 

Fiverr has become the number one place to go to when trying to quickly establish an online presence in the business world. It is a vast community that has a lot to offer to those who are looking to sell their products and those who are looking to buy.

But how does one ensure success when selling their products and services on Fiverr? Well, you will need an awesome Fiverr gig in order to achieve that. 

That is where this article comes in. Here, you will learn how to create a great Fiverr gig in no time. 

10 Easy Ways To Create An Awesome Fiverr Gig 

1. Be Specific About The Gig You’re Offering 

The first step in creating a great Fiverr gig is by knowing exactly what you’re offering clients. 

Being as precise as possible when describing your gig will help you find your niche and increase the chances of showing up higher in the search results because you’ll be using keywords that buyers use often when searching for freelancers.

For example: if you’re a writer, creating a gig called “freelance writer” just won’t cut it at all. 

Rather, create something like “I will write Press releases”, “I will write timely and entertaining Blog posts” and so on. The main idea is to be precise so that the buyers know exactly what it is that you do.

2.  Use Concise and Specific Titles for Gigs

This is the next step to ensure a great Fiverr gig. One of the things that attract clients to your gig page is your title. A well-written title quickly gets the attention of a client looking for the type of gig that you offer.

Note that each title has to start with “I will…”, the rest is up to you to fill in and make it as appealing as possible in order to rope-in clients. 

Pro tips: 

  • Include keywords for your services and put them up front in your title. 
  • When writing a title, avoid using words like “great” or “awesome” as much as you can. Why? Because nearly every one uses those words and what you need is to be unique, also, such qualitative words don’t really tell the buyer much about your skills. 
  • Focus on words that accurately and specifically describe your gig. Example: ” I will proofread mystery novels”. Do not worry about that title seemingly dry, you can always add more in the gig description section. 

3. Be Creative When Writing SEO Gig Description 

This step cannot be overlooked when creating a great Fiverr gig. You need to pay extra attention here. 

SEO-optimized gigs significantly increase your chances of generating traffic on your page. 

In this part, Fiverr offers sellers a maximum of 1200 characters to succinctly describe what your gig is about, and to capture the full attention of clients. 

When buyers look for freelancers on Fiverr, they sort out information in order to weed out the pros from the novices. That is why it is highly important to use effective language to nail them once they stumble upon your gig page. 

4. Induce Introspection 

This comes into play when describing your gig. When introducing your gig, you can creatively chip in a question that’ll make the buyer really think about stuff. 

For example, you can start by saying

 ” Are you tired of late project submissions and undesirable results?”

Asking such a question throws the buyer into a mild state of introspection, and if indeed the buyer is tired of such unprofessionalism, he/she will be willing to read more about what you have to say seeing as how you have highlighted one of the issues the buyer is trying to get rid of. 

5. Describe the Gig  Effectively

The next thing to do is to describe the gig accurately and effectively. Offer proper details about your product and services. 

Remember when you made the reader partake in introspection? This is where you take advantage by explaining how you can solve their problem with ease. On Fiverr, the competition is stiff, so be sure to tell your buyers how your services are unique and better. 

 Be clear about what your buyers should expect. Statements like 

” I will do ABC and deliver within 24- hours”  will inspire some form of confidence in the buyer. 

6. Do Not Forget SEO Keywords

This is another great way to create a Fiverr gig. Buyers generally locate freelancers or sellers through searches, so it makes even more sense to utilize search engine optimization effectively.

Think about the different ways people would search for the type of services you provide and include those search terms in your description.

For example, if you offer English proofreading services, you can include variants such as proofreading in English or Expert English proofreading in your description. 

7. Proofread Everything! 

Once you have your title and SEO-optimized description all set up, go over everything over and over again. You might find a few errors here and there that you can correct. Grammatical errors or ‘typos’ besmirch any well-written piece and makes you seem unprofessional.

Let’s face it, someone that offers expert English proofreading services with grammatical errors on their page will make you raise an eyebrow. 

8. Make Use Of Great Visuals 

One of the sure-fire ways to have a great Fiverr gig is to generate lots of traffic. Fiverr says creating a gig video can increase visibility up to 200%.

Gig videos are normally 1 minute and 15 seconds long, so make every second count. 

Pro tips:

  • Use natural background lighting
  • Look directly at the camera, it shows your boldness 
  • Express yourself freely. your personality to help buyers feel comfortable

Another visual pro tip:

 Add images showing your work to your gig gallery. This is a good way to get attention which can help your Fiverr gig stand out.

9. Share Your Gig On Social Media 

You can never go wrong by marketing your gig. An easy and free method of doing this is by sharing your gig on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and so on. 

The whole essence of doing this is to create as much awareness as possible. Share your Fiverr profile URL on these social media platforms and watch how your popularity steadily increases. 

10. Watch Your Pricing 

If you’re just starting out, monitor your competition and see what they charge for the same services you provide. Do not set your price on the high side. Rather, find a comfortable average range and set it there. When you charge too much, it might reduce the rate at which you get hired.

Setting a high price only works out when you become a Fiverr superstar. In this case, your clout alone is enough for clients to rush you. 

As a beginner on Fiverr, you can charge between $5-10 minimum, depending on the kind of service you offer. However, ake note that Fiver takes 20 % of the total income you receive.

Conclusion 

As you can see, creating a great Fiverr gig does take some effort to achieve. Then again, anything that’s worth doing, is worth doing well.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that there are a lot of people on Fiverr providing your type of service, be sure to stay unique and original to the best of your ability.

Once you follow these steps correctly, it will be only a matter of time before you start making good money online.

Here is the list of the 30 most profitable Fiverr gigs 

The roaring Wave of #SecureNorth Protests in Northern Nigeria 2021

The roaring Wave of #SecureNorth Protests in Northern Nigeria 2021

11500 Nigerians have fled to Niger for safety from the banditry in northern Nigeria. From a country full of mineral resources and with over 200 million citizens, people have fled to a country with much fewer opportunities in hopes of securing their lives. The citizens in the country have taken to the streets to support the #SecureNorth Protests.

For several years now, there have been serious insecurity problems in our country Nigeria. As of late, these problems are seen to have reached a peak as almost every week, there seems to be a new banditry report. So far, the statistics show that 3,125 people have been killed while 2,703 have been kidnapped by armed bandits.

Thus, it is no surprise that citizens have started to rise and raise the #SecureNorth protest. The protest itself has been simmering for a while but true recognized action began on Friday the 10th of December 2021. On that Wednesday same week, bandits had openly set travellers ablaze in Sokoto. It was reported that 23 people died and several more were injured. The group of protesters in Sokoto refused to take this lying down and they gave a statement on Thursday.

The group leader was arranged and blamed Monguno (the National Security Adviser of Nigeria since 2015) for his inability to curb this situation.

So far, the protest had been ongoing since Friday the 10th in northern Nigeria and the FCT capital. Later, states like Kaduna, Katsina and Kano joined the protest in an effort to bring government attention to the effect of banditry in the country.

The protest was seen to have been held simultaneously at Katsina, Bauchi, Kano and Abuja. On Saturday the 11th, Kaduna, Gombe, Yobe and Kebbi had joined the protesters and Sokoto and Zamfara are said to be making preparation to join it. The protesters aim at bringing together the 19 northern states to declare in one voice for the government to secure the north. They pledged to continue the protest until true action is taken towards ending the massacre.

Youth Protested in Abuja

In Abuja, the protest started when some distressed youths gathered at the Unity fountain with placards mainly written in the Hausa language. The protesters, who were initially chased away by the police were later allowed to gather. However, they were prevented from taking the protest further.

They chanted solidarity songs to call for government attention on the ongoing mass killings in northern Nigeria. They also declared bitter stories to the press and urged for immediate government intervention. They had vowed to continue their protests in the following week and have kept to their word.

One of the Conveners, Rahama Abdulmajid, said that they had kept quiet enough about the ongoing “armed war” in northern Nigeria, hence their decision to raise local and global attention to the insecurity in the north.

We are out this time to raise global attention on the level of human carnage going on in northern Nigeria. Evidently, lives are not long valuable in Nigeria. People are being slaughtered daily like chicken and nobody is saying anything about it. We are tired of these killings and we will continue this protest until steps are taken to end this.

Rahama Abdulmajid

The co-convener, Zainab Nasir Ahmad added; “People have been afraid to speak the truth to the government on the level of daily unreported or underreported killings in northern Nigeria. But I think we can’t take that anymore.”

We are out here to take our destinies in our own hands. It’s better we die with our dignity intact than to be slaughtered like chickens as being experienced in some communities where people are killed in their sleep, markets, roads, and other locations recklessly.”

Zainab Nasir

Police Prevented Protesters in Kano

Protesters had trooped out in their hundreds on Monday against the taking of innocent lives by bandits. The police, working hand in hand with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), barricaded the gate to the office of the National Union of Journalists in Kano state. This was to stop the #SecureNorth protesters from going in as that was the location for their protest.

They arrived in several security vehicles dressed in anti-riot outfits and were heavily armed. The coordinator declared that the Buhari administration and all 36 state governments have failed in securing the lives and properties of their citizens

He also added that the economic state of the country was in shambles.

The problems and sufferings in the north today without being compounded by a further hike in prices of essential commodities and mobility are traceable only to the inept and insensitive leadership at national and state levels as well as the cowardice of other community and religious leaders who lack the courage to stand up to them in the interest of the people of the region and Nigeria.

Some Pro Bono lawyers have stood up to support the motion and are ready to stand up for the protesters who are being arrested after the protests. Barr. Abba Hikima, the head of this team of lawyers confirmed this when he promised to stand up for the protesters after one of them was intimidated by the DSS.

Low Turnout in Katsina

In Katsina, where assassins killed a serving commissioner in his own home, protesters have also been on a march in support. They insist they were calling for an end to the bloodshed and security for their lives. Although the march was hot on Friday, it has been reported that the turnouts have been considerably lower.

They were recently dispersed by the police in an effort to get them away from the streets.

Protesters Trail Kaduna Roads

In Kaduna state, there have been reports of incessant kidnapping for more than half a year. The situation had gone more awry making the Abuja-Kaduna Road more of a minefield than a road. The protest in this particular state is vigorous. The youth on Tuesday took over Kaduna to protest the unending insecurity in the northern states.

The protesters had marched through the Muhammad Buhari way all the way to the NUJ secretariat where they were interviewed by newsmen in the afternoon.

The youths carried placards reading “#SecureNorth”, “Enough is Enough”, “Stop the kidnappers among us” etc. One of the protesters demanded President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on what his government was doing about the genocides.

Convener Invited by Security Agencies in Jigawa

In Jigawa state, one of the organizers had been invited by the State Police Command and he stated that he shall honour their invitation on Monday the 20th of December.

Despite this, he vowed to continue to join the protests. He left no one in doubt that he will lead Jigawa youths for a peaceful protest over the rising insecurity.

Protestets Storm Sokoto and Zamfara

After the horrible murder of 23 innocent lives in a bus heading from Sokoto to Kaduna, which was what lit the fuse on the already loading protests, it is little wonder that its citizens are eager to join the protest.

For almost 3 years Sokoto has had nonstop terrorist attacks with several local governments under the control of the terrorists. 

The residents of Zamfara state had already been on a statewide protest since August. There was an incident where the youths blocked the Gusau-Kaura highway in the state in protest against rampant abductions in May. In October, hundreds of women were reported to have come out and blocked the Gusau-Kaduna Road.

Although preparations to join the protest are still being made by these states to join the formal protest, it is a certainty that they too shall soon raise against this social anomaly.

How Celebrities Joined the Fight

Celebrities have also taken to their respective accounts to speak out against the killing.

What did we really do as citizens of the country (Arewa most especially) to deserve such cruelty and disregard from our leader?? All we did was VOTED!! We are not calling out anybody but EVERYBODY at the top-level…”

Rahama Sadau

Other celebrities such as Hadiza Gabon posted a video of a crying woman, whose dear one had been raped by 8 men then killed. She put a simple caption which read “My God this is heartbreaking” then posted a picture of herself wearing a red cap with the “#SecureNorth” logo with another caption “Is that too much to ask?”

Other celebrities such as Ali Nuhu, Mansurah Isah, Maryam Booth, Baballe Hayatu etc. have also taken to their accounts to say their piece on the killings.

They are all soliciting for government interference in the situation and a way to make the states safe again.

Conclusion

15 killed in Sokoto, an attack on a Niger Local Government Area where whole houses were set on fire, Kidnap of factory workers, road insecurities, indiscriminate shootings in broad daylight.

All of these are happening right under our noses in our beloved country. Yet, nothing has been done. The woes of this country are truly beyond comprehension. The turn to the Secure North protest is a call by citizens to their government for action. A call that hopefully, will be properly heard and adhered to.

7 Tips That Will Help You in Starting a Small Business

7 Tips That Will Help You in Starting a Small Business

We do a lot of little things in life which lead to a much bigger effect in the long run. This feeling that the challenge of starting a business is a big primary obstacle many young entrepreneurs see blocking their road to financial independence. They fail to realize that there are positive tips for starting a small business.

Every small-scale business starts as a big idea, but you have to be able to execute the plan into action and by doing this, you have to know the rudiments and tips for starting a small business. The execution is what gets new entrepreneurs overwhelmed and makes them give up before it even starts.

With little dedication and knowledge on the tips for starting a small business, getting started is easier than you think. Breaking your idea into smaller tasks will help you tackle most of the challenges in getting started.

Here are some tips for starting a small business.

Tips For Starting a Small Business

1. Consider Your Skillset First

You may be wondering how your skills relate to starting a small business, the truth is it does relate. Considering and building on your skillsets is a good way to start a small business because it gives your business a good and strong foundation.

Some skills include marketing skills, managerial skills, digital marketing skills amongst others. These are ‘simple’ skills that need to be considered when planning to start a business. A lot of young entrepreneurs fail to take this point in. they just get a business and expect their ‘friends’ to patronize failing to realize that one needs to understand what their skills and crafts are before venturing into a business.

To start a small business of your own, you should consider your skill set and what you’re good at, and also what your product can bring to the market.

2. Get A Strategic Business Plan

A business plan is the living structure of your company. It creates a pathway for success and lays out strategies for revenue, marketing, and even budgeting.

It does not matter how great your business plan is, the most important thing is making sure it captures your intended actions over some time. Your business plan does not have to be the best before you set out to realistically achieve your goals. A business plan is a blueprint for any business, the business has to have a strong foundation.

Although your business plan does not have to be spontaneous, all it has to be is good and lays a good foundation for your business.

3. Find Your Market

Most entrepreneurs fall victim to this very important point which puts their small-scale business in jeopardy. Finding your market encompasses just your friends and contact list, you have to set out to build a strong and reliable network and also means to get more customers.

A good way to achieve this is through the popular WhatsApp business group chat. One can find their buyers through social media most of the time. Most small-scale business owners who have made it will tell you that they got most of their customers through social media.

Once you’ve found your market, you’re good to go to start your business. Another way of finding your market could be reaching out to friends who have mutuals who require your product. Once you’ve sold to one, the rest is history because buyers will be sure to come.

4. Know and Understand Your Market

After you must have found your market, the next step is to acknowledge and understand your market. Weird right? This is very relevant to starting a small business.

You may be aspiring to sell a product but your market may have a preference for other varieties, you may think this is a bad thing, the truth is it is a good thing. You have to understand your customers, what they like and what they prefer. The saying, ‘your customer is always right’ is perhaps common. This is a way of getting and listening to the preferences of your customers.

Acknowledging your market is another thing, you have to make it a ‘must-do” if you want to start up your business. Acknowledging your market requires acquiring massive and beneficial knowledge on your market which is also where comprehension of your market comes in. you have to acknowledge the information gotten on your customers, then you comprehend that information before setting out to execute your plan of starting your business.

5. Another Tip for Starting a Small Business Is Creating a Brand

Not to be too personal, but I will say this. I have asked a lot of people, especially my friends about their brands and they go along the lines of “oh I gave it to a graphic designer to do” or “ I will just draft a logo I have been thinking about that will fit my business”.

Most wannabe entrepreneurs fall into this category. They fail to understand that creating a brand does not only mean the logo of the company or just creating a very fanciful logo that. They may not even know the meaning of it.

Creating a brand encompasses not just logos, it talks about your vision and mission, your motto, and most of all, you as the owner. You may not know this, but the secret to a small but strong business is the face of the owner. The owner of that business is the brand of that business. Take, for instance, Elon Musk the owner of the automobile Tesla. The brand’s name is Tesla but the owner, Elon Musk. But when people are acknowledging Tesla, they also regard the CEO and owner Elon Musk.

This should be the same as your business, be your brand and treat your potential business as your own body, create yourself and you have a brand for your future business.

6. Have a Budget

It is highly recommended you keep your costs at the barest minimum. However, you still need a budget to determine how much you will be needing to spend to start the business. If you are funding your business yourself, be realistic about your costs and whatever anticipation you expect from your budget.

You have to keep the budget of your business in check before it shoots out, that is knowing how much and how much equipment is needed to start your business. You should also keep tabs on how much your budget would be when wanting to start another business in the long run.

7. Start With Your Money

Even with so much availability of platforms where you can access a loan in Nigeria, it is not so advisable to cover the cost of starting a business entirely through loans.

Many small business entrepreneurs cover the cost of starting up through loans, intending to pay back the loans from the profits from the new business. Many new companies can take months or years to start making a profit. Not to be a bad luck giver, but some businesses never even gain profit and they are forced to close down.

What would you say to those sorts of businesses? Well, I would say, do not start your business with a loan, save before you start your business and use that to start a business in order to gain your profit.

Most businesses that start with loans never go anywhere, all their profits are put into paying debts instead of saving to boost your small business. Start YOUR business with YOUR money.

Finally…

 Starting up a small business can be tactful but not hard to do, it all begins with that entrepreneur’s mindset. Entrepreneurs are risk-takers but they should also take calculated risks, think with their heads and be very calculative.

There are a lot of tips for starting a small business, these are just a few which have been neglected but need to be used to start a small business. To potential entrepreneurs, pick your business niche study the losses and gains you will come in contact weigh the former and the latter and know what the outcome will be, and pitch your decision on starting that business.

To wannabe entrepreneurs, know your skill set, build on it and let your business plan be your blueprint for a strong business foundation, and lastly but most importantly, be your brand.