My Style Camera Action Journey

A Journey to Freedom

This is the story of a Working- class Lagos girl with big dreams of changing her world and impacting the lives of others. She's not your everyday chick. She's the passion chaser with a white-collar job. 

Oh no it's 6:40 a.m. Gosh! I over slept again. Argh!! I need to get myself out of this house before 7:00 a.m. or I’d be so late.

Didi rushes out the door after a 5 minute bath, and a 10 minute dress up. She rushes into her car and is off to work. Not long after she's stuck in traffic, and is staring at her wind-screen, wishing she could fly over the traffic with her car. Wow! That traffic, at the Ajah roundabout. At this point, she's 5 minutes away from her office, but it feels like she's 10 hours away. 

She has considered abandoning her car and walking down, her office is just a stone throw away anyway. That won't work since she still needs the car. Now she's officially late and grumpy, she looks downcast as she walks into the office at 7:45am, when office call time is 7:30 latest.

Her boss is staring at her like 'Today Again’. 

My drama filled life. This is what happens, when you work two Jobs, in Lagos. You get paid for one and you constantly work hard to build the other.

She gets to work, with a dozen things on her mind. Almost thinking out loud, she’s playing her plans in her head. It’s a fresh start this New Year (2016), my long to-do list is endless. How in the world am I going to get all this done, while working my 9-5 job (or you mean 9-7 job and sometimes 9-5 on the weekends).

Hmm! You know how your blogging career crashed when you thought you could do it all?

Oh well! That doesn’t matter “When there is a will, there is a way” Yes she had blogged about young talented people, carving a niche for themselves in the creative industry. She wasn’t frequent with posting on her blog, she never promoted the blog, and she sometimes forgot she had a blog. I wonder how she expected people to know about it.

Now it’s time to get this thing out once more. Didi the workaholic, so what’s your plan for the next Aprilseed initiative? What about the Event that keeps popping up in your head, can you finally get it out there? You wouldn’t be the only one; people come up with beautiful ideas in Lagos, every other day.

They say make the Vision clear and run with it, you’ve spoken to your sister about this a million times, and she is 100% supportive.

You can do this Didi, you can do this. With a good plan you can.

All these questions and answers sef, you see you like to over-think things, just host this fashion event and get it over with. A lot of budding fashion-entrepreneurs need this. Nigeria needs this… Oh stop the save the world speech and just get it done.

She calls up her friend Rose; she answers with a shout “Didi”… whats up! Didi loves the excitement in her voice, she replies Rose how far na? What about our discussion the other day, can we meet up this weekend at our usual Pizza spot? We need to prepare the proposal. Rose replies with a Yes, sure we can.

Fast forward to Sunday, Didi and Rose are having lunch. Rose is the friend who always has the wild ideas and a critic point of view about everything. While they discuss about Didi’s project, Rose is amazed about the idea and is wondering why Didi will want to put in so much work into an event. She asks, are you now an Event planner? What did you say the name of the project is again? Didi replies I’d use the name of my blog, “What we Love” What a boring name for an event, Rose replies in her usual critic way. Think of something else abeg. Didi decides to brainstorm for a name later in the week.

Rose is still concerned, so she had to ask, “This particular group of people you are reaching out to, what do you have to offer them? Didi takes a long breath and replies; I don’t have to have what to offer, it is a platform. All I need to do is get people who have something to offer to feed those who need what they have.

The project without a name has a purpose. Allow me serve it to you in my next post.

P.S 

Dear Woman you are special, strong, and brave, you are good at multi-tasking, and you’re purposeful. Don’t let anybody tell you the opposite. Just do you.

Edidiong Eyire is a Banker; she is also the founder of the April seed Company. Aprilseed is a Youth Empowermentorganization. Style Camera Action is an initiative of Aprilseed.

To connect follow her on instagram- @eddy_eyire and @stylecameration for updates on the next project.

Visit www.aprilseed.com email- info@aprilseed.com for more information.

April Seed Vision

I won't say I've been gone for so long, and I haven't posted for decades...WWLTD blog will always be known for my first step, my baby step in putting my thoughts on paper. 

I didn't go away, I was always here you know, in the spirit. Lol.. I went out to work hard on Aprilseed. Good things don't come easy. You can say that a million times because when Aprilseed was founded in the Year 2014. I didn't know I'd tell a story like this in 2017.

This Blog is my first born but Aprilseed is my second born(My first son)

I was born in the month of April, its not hard to understand where the word April came from. A unique being born to impact her world. Made in Gods own image. Made to perfection, sculpted in pure awesomeness.. now I'm toasting myself. But that's how God sees us. 

Aprilseed was founded to showcase young talents in the Creative industry and it has lived up to its expectation.

Let me tell you about Aprilseeds first initiative, The Style Camera Action Event held on Oct 22nd 2016. 

SCA 2016 showcased Fashion entrepreneurs in 4 categories : Make-up Artistes, Photographers, Fashion bloggers and Stylists.

This event held at The Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu Bello way, V.I Lagos.

It was full of fun and was a unique opportunity for the contestants. 

Four groups consisting of Four categories contested for the Star Prize.

The contestants had Live make-over sessions on stage with judges observing and judging their work. 

We love Oct 22nd 2016 and can't wait for the next edition this year. 

This was a great experience and I had to put this down here to explain why I haven't blogged in forever. If this can pass as a good excuse.

These are my favorite photos of the event if you ask me.. checkout www.aprilseed.com for more.

Best Life Ever

A life of fulfillment is the best life anyone can ask for. Sitting here and typing this words, I ask myself 'What really makes a person fulfilled'? Is it the endless hours of working a 9 to 5 job with so much reward or endless hours of doing what you are really passionate about, without even getting a good reward. I'd pick the second option anytime.

I definitely find doing what I love fun. This brings me to the questions; What do you really love? What would you do in your next life? What can you wake up at midnight to do without feeling uncormfortable or frustrated. Then you must really love that thing. To the younger folks reading this, the best advice you can get for free is to make sure you spend quality time training yourself to be better at what you are passionate about. You may live a life of regret if you are too laid back thinking everything would automatically work for your good. Working hard at your skills would eventually pay. Whether it's a game, an instrument, an art or any skill at all, as far as you find it interesting then it's totally worth it.

Despite the fact that being educated is extremely important, always find out what you can do that'll set you apart from others. This would give you direction on the part of your destiny. 

Everyone has that special gift they can be identified with. Your passion lies within your gift. 

I promise you, you'll never regret giving your passion your best shot because it would eventually be rewarding in the end. The endless hours would seem like you are playing a video game in the history of life, because there is no better way to live life than to do what you truelly love.

Just My Thoughts

5 Tips You Need to Build a Good Network

Building a network is a good way to grow in every area of life. You'd always need people, and when I mean people, I mean the right people. 

How do you build your network of creative and influential people? 

Here are 5 quick tips

1. Try to meet 5 new people at every gathering, party and event: When you meet a new person always find an area of interest where you have same views, that way you can gain from each other.

2. Build your Brand: Always bear in mind that your a special brand. You are unique and there are special qualities you have that others don't, so sell yourself at every chance you get.

3. Attend functions and gatherings where you can connect with like minds: You must surround yourself with people in your industry. People that think and function like you do.

4. Make sure you keep contacts: Keeping contacts and information should be a habit. You'll never know when you need a helping hand.

5. Smile: You attract the best people when you smile. This is the best tip and one that I need to work on as well. Smile before you get into a room, smile before starting a conversation, smile while having the conversation. Smile at all times. It's a Magic Gate-pass.

Opportunity and Preperation

This is one Great phrase that's been on my mind. You have one chance at a great opportunity, and two options. It's either you Win or Fail. 

Get ready for what's before you. You never know when opportunity might come knocking. Put in great hours of practice. Make out time to learn and gain knowledge. You have a greater chance at your opponent when you are ready.

Most times we are relaxed, hoping and waiting for a miracle. The thing is a miracle won't happen if you are not prepared to receive it.

With great expectations, work with courage and discipline. Be persistent in acquiring skills and knowledge.

I love the saying,

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity”-Henry Hartman

Go get your dreams but make sure your are not too late. Make sure you gave it your very best and even if you had to loose, the reason is justified. You did your best anyway.

The Best is yet to come. 

Just my thoughts on paper.

Big Win at CommonWealth Games

Congrats to Blessing Okagbare for making us proud at The Commonwealth Games.
In the final of the Womens 100 metre race, the 25 year old won the race beating Jamaica's Veronica Campbell Brown who came second.
The fastest woman in CommonWealth won the race in 10.85 sec. She stands out with her bright blonde hair. See pic below

Great Story of Eniola

A 23 year old who makes importing look easy. He Started his importing business with N10,450 from home.
He makes N250,000 profit monthly by importing and selling Mobile phones, Accessories and jewelries.
The most interesting part of this story is that he was just a secondary school product from Akure and started this business with little capital.
Capital was his initial challenge. He had to lend from his mum to start the business.
Being a good entrepreneur is all about determination, discipline and persistence.
Check out cheapimportationsecret.com for more details.