Smart Money

The Mystery of Time


I’m intrigued by the mystery called time.
In elementary science we are told that matter is anything that has weight and occupies space. By this definition, time is not matter. What is the weight of one second? How much space does an hour occupy? The next five minutes on this page, could alter your life.
Commonly, we say time is money. You and I know that is the furthest thing from the truth. How much is one minute? Since we all have only 24 hours in a day, how come some people or companies are richer (financially) than others? There is a mystery about time. We can only scratch the surface, but I invite you to pay attention to these few scratches today. It could start you on a journey that will be remarkable.
There was a time when there was no time. As confusing as that seems I found it in the bible. Time as we know  it came about on the fourth day of creation. When God created the sun and moon, He gave them a specific function – of times and seasons. Gen 1:14  Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years… and the evening and the morning were the fourth day. This in my understanding is the beginning of time.
With our scientific knowledge, we know that what constitutes a day, is the earth spinning on its axis in a complete revolution. We know that the seasons are determined by the path of the earth as it travels around the sun and as the moon revolves around the earth. So what were those first three days? Could you measure them with a clock and calendar as we do today? You may have your answer, and it does not have to agree with mine. But scientifically, those days could not have been measured in hours and minutes, not because the equipment was not available but because the equipment used to measure time depends on factors that were not in existence.
I know that theologians and scientists argue over this issue. Because what this discussion brings up all the time is whether the six days of Genesis chapter 1 were literal six (24 hour days). Time is a mystery and that mystery is compounded by our measuring equipment.  There are two concepts of time in the bible – the chronos and the kairos. Perhaps if we look at them we could resolve a tiny bit of the mystery.
 Let’s look at the concept of time as in chronos. When we attempt to number our days and our dreams, we approach it from a chronos perspective. Chronos is the Greek word from which we have chronology, chronicles or even chronic. It depicts a sequential ordering as epitomized by the chronometer – your wristwatch or wall clock.
Chronos tells you it is 8 am you should be at work. Chronos enslaves you and leaves you always feeling choked. It is concerned with how fast, how soon, how frequent, how old. These questions – the measures of chromos -   put us under pressure.
You are 35 years old and yet not married. You are too old for men to look in your direction now. You have been married for ten years any yet you do not have a child. You are past child bearing age. You are getting too old for the job. Or the time is too short, we cannot supply the materials you need. Time – chronos – robs you and puts you under pressure.
Chronos  is not matter; it occupies no space, we cannot touch it, see it or inhale it , yet we are controlled by it.  You know time is there by perception and our measure of that perception. That measure can often be wrong because we are a matter-based civilization. Our best sciences can only measure things that are physical, things that conform to definition of matter- things that occupy space and have weight. So chronos forces this interpretation of perception on time. That is the challenge with numbering our days. We try to measure something that is not matter – by tools that measure matter. We are using the wrong tools for the job! You cannot measure temperature with a ruler or a barometer– no matter how sophisticated the ruler or barometer is. You must get a thermometer. And not just any thermometer will do. When you want to measure the temperature of iron ore for instance the ordinary household thermometer becomes useless. Unfortunately, this is what we try to do all the time with our calendar. We are using the wrong instrument to number our days.
Do you want to learn a better way? Join me next week.


Small Business                                                                                                                                         

The 3Ms of Highly Effective Marketing


Why do some marketing work and others don't? What constitutes an effective marketing strategy? How can you get the most from your marketing efforts?
These questions and many more run through the mind of entrepreneurs as they struggle to build a thriving business. And the reason is quite clear; Marketing is the lifeblood of any business. If you get your marketing right, your odds of success in business will be greatly improved.
But why do many struggle to get their marketing right?
This is the central focus of this unusual article. You will learn the three essential 'Ms' that constitute a winning marketing strategy.
Let's begin!
The 3M's Of Highly Effective Marketing
1.    Message
What is your story?
The foundation of highly effective marketing is storytelling. The best marketers are storytellers. At the core of effective marketing is a strong message. This is why marketing is often referred to as communication. Because there's a message that needs to be communicated to the target audience.  This message is the goodness [value] your product/service brings into the life of the target customer. Without this message, there can be no marketing!
This is contrary to what many entrepreneurs would like to admit. Many entrepreneurs often think the core of an effective marketing is the product/service. This is somewhat true, but more true is the story or message or idea behind the product/service.
People don't form emotional bonds with products/service; they form emotional bonds with a story, message or idea. That is, the eventual outcome or benefit that accrues from using the product or service.
If your story, message or idea is compelling and relevant enough, the product/service will naturally sell itself. This is why Apple is one of the greatest marketing companies ever. They have a very compelling message that drives every product/service they offer; “challenging the status quo”.
Apple's products/services are designed to challenge existing norms, beliefs and standards. They create products that disrupt the existing market. This message is at the core of everything they do as a company and is communicated through out their marketing. Their business is creating products/services that appeal to a tribe of 'weirdos'  people who are unusually different.
From their product development phase, they have created a secret cult that prevents the market from knowing about the next product until it launches. This further reinforces their message of “challenging the status quo” as it clearly communicates to the market that their products are not for the average Joe.
 Only those who dare to be different fit the profile of Apple's ideal target market.
What does this tell you?
Behind the product lies a message, story or idea that gives the product or service a meaning customers can relate with. That you have created the best product in your industry or niche isn't going to make the customers beat a path to your door. No!
Customers identify first with a message, story or idea before making the decision to buy a product/service. Their decision to buy is an outward reinforcement of their inward attachment to the message, story or idea behind the product/service.
Here's how this works; we are essentially emotional beings more than we like to think of ourselves as rational beings. People buy based on feelings [emotions] and justify with reasons [logic]. Meaning, the first question in the mind of every buyer is 'why?'
Why should I buy this?
Why should I buy from you?
Why should I trust you?
Why should I do this or do that?
Contrary to what you think, customers don't begin their buying process by asking 'what?', they begin with 'why?'. Highly effective marketing begins with asking and answering this question; “why do customers buy?”
The best answer to that question is a compelling message, story or idea that will communicate value, trust and relevance. Give people something they can connect with, relate to and emotionally identify with, and you've won their heart over.
So here's how to start creating a highly effective marketing strategy craft a compelling message, story or idea around the product/service you're offering for sell. 
What is your story? What cause are you fighting? What are you fighting for or against? To what purpose does your business exist? What is the big picture behind your product or service? Why should people bother or care about your company? What problem is your business solving for humanity? What contribution are you making through your business, product or service? What is your BIG 'why' for being in business? What gospel [goodnews] is your business spreading?
Finding answers to those questions is how you create a compelling message, story or idea for your marketing strategy. You have to answer the 'why?' question before the 'what?' question.
2.    Medium
The second 'M' of highly effective marketing is Medium  how do you get your message out? It is not enough to have a compelling message, story or idea if it's not being heard by the right people.

For your marketing to work, your compelling message has to be shared to the right audience via the right medium.
This is where medium comes into play. How do you get the word out? Through what channels are you going to disseminate your message, story or idea?
Most times, the message is right but the medium is wrong. For example, trying to sell a particular product/service to a bunch of uneducated people through a blog or website is highly ineffective. Meaning, your message won't be understood however compelling it might be.
So you've got to use the right avenues to spread your message to your target audience. This is where advertising agencies and media houses excel. They help you identify the right medium to disseminate your marketing message.
What are the different marketing mediums available?
They are essentially classified into two parts;
Print media: all forms of spreading your message in print forms such as newspaper ads, newsletters, handbills, billboards, books, magazines, brochures, catalogs, complementary cards, posters/flyers, stickers, branded clothing, souvenirs/gift items etc. 
Electronic media: all forms of spreading your message electronically such as online, TV, radio, audios, videos, mobile, etc.
The most important factor to consider when it comes to choosing a medium for your marketing is its relevance to your target market. You must identify the relevant medium for your target market. Failure to do this is failure in your marketing.
3.    Messenger
The third 'M' of highly effective marketing is the messenger. The message and the medium are incomplete without the messenger. The messenger is the face of the brand. This is why most marketing campaigns use celebrities or other known public figures.
Other than the message, story or idea, people also connect with people they admire. Successful marketing must involve the effective use of a strong personality. As an entrepreneur, you are the first brand ambassador of your company, product or service. You are the face that must win the confidence of your target market.
For Apple, the strong personality of Steve Jobs was one of their most effective marketing strategies. Steve was eccentric [weird] and nothing could be more fitting to their message of “challenging the status quo” than having an unusual leader. 
He was the face of Apple. People connected with his personal philosophy of life, they bought into his message of daring to be different. And it worked!
For some other companies like Nike; they are known to always use highly successful athletes as their brand ambassadors. This further reinforces their core marketing message of “competitiveness” which comes from their brand name Nike  the greek goddess of victory.
So what does this tell you?
A message becomes more compelling when connected to a person. People form emotional bonds with other people and this is the secret behind the messenger strategy.
Personal branding as a form of marketing originated from the messenger strategy. The more a person can be connected to a message, story or idea, the more compelling and sticky the message becomes.
So here's the takeaway; give your message a face!
And for startup entrepreneurs who do not have so much marketing budget, no other person fits this position better other than you the entrepreneur. You've got to back up your company, product, service and brand relentlessly.
The faith you have in your message, story or idea will become contagious the more you boldly communicate that message to your target audience both in words and in deeds.
So stop expecting others especially your salespeople to do all the selling. This is your business and the success rests more on your courage to face the world and boldly declare what you stand for!
Your turn
What do you think about these 3M's of highly effective marketing? Do you find them necessary? Have you noticed them in application? Are there any other 'M' I forgot to mention? How do you intend to put them to use in your business?
Shoot me an email tito@MADphilips.com and let's discuss more.

About the Author
Tito Philips, Jnr., is the unusual CEO of MADphilips Development Company and the author of 'The Entrepreneur's Journey'; contact: tito@MADphilips.com 08028518313, 08072690612


FinancialTutorial

Investing in Fruit Juice & Drinks Processing and Packaging Plant


From market analysis carried out this period between November and December, 2011, there are clear indications that the present Government policy on protection of local industries and encouragement of more investors has yielded good results. Before the recent study, the number of packaged fruit juice in the market was as high as fifty-four different brands. Today we have about five popular packaged fruit juice, all produced in Nigeria. With this development, there is no how these five indigenous local producers can meet up with the demand of the whole nation with a population of 150million. More investors are therefore needed in this area.
It has been discovered that human beings daily food intake should be a mixture of the following; Grains, cereals and bread (provide vitamins, carbohydrate and protein, vegetables and fruits (provide vitamins, and mineral) as well as meat, eggs, milk and fish (provide protein and mineral).
If a nation cannot provide balanced diets for its citizenry, the people become malnourished. This will definitely have an adverse effect on mental development and productivity of such people.
In this regard, one of the solutions to these problems is identification of investment opportunities towards solving our food problems. One of such investment opportunities is the establishment of fruit juice processing factory to produce natural fruit juice. The recommended minimum daily requirement of fruit juice has been estimated at 75mg. Our present intake in Nigeria is still below this daily requirement.
Fresh fruit juice is one of the chief sources of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), required for the proper functioning of body's inter cellular materials. It prevents some diseases from occurring. Deficiency of vitamin C leads to scurvy (bleeding of teeth gums) and failure of the body to form corrective tissue fibres. In this regard, establishment of fruit juice processing factory will contribute immensely towards the improvement of our health care delivery.
Establishment of fruit juice processing factory will greatly solve the problems of food preservation in Nigeria.
Ours is a nation characterized by excessive production during the production season and chronic shortage during the off season. With the establishment of such factory, excess fruits can be purchased and preserved during the production season. This will be made available when fruits are not in season.
The project will definitely help in rural development since farmers can now sell their products. The question of their products wasting away in the farm or fetching ridiculous low prices will not be there again.
The economic well being of the promoters will surely improve since the project is a viable one. The raw materials are variable, the market is guaranteed and not only this, the project is highly profitable. It is a viable source of improving one's economic status.
The project can further extend to export market. The idea is to export fruit juice instead of raw fruits being exported at present.
The versatility of the plant to process various fruits such as oranges, limes, lemon, mango, pineapple and pawpaw points to the fact that there will be an all the year round production at the factory
This also widens the market among various consumers of fruits.
The project involves the purchase and installation of fruit juice processing plant. After installation in a suitable accommodation, raw materials which are sweet oranges, pineapples, cashew fruits, lime, lemon and mango are procured. The fruits are washed and peeled and fed into the processing plant. The plant in turn extracts the fruits juice, process and pasteurizes it with the addition of some preservatives.
The next thing is to package in bottles. For the project of this nature, we are recommending 30cl bottles. After the juice is filled into the bottles, the bottles are later cocked and pasted with appropriate labels ready for market.
The processing plant has the following components: sorting table, washing machine, juicer, homogenizer/mixer pasteurizer and cocking machine.
The project can be jointly promoted by group of individuals to reduce the level of financial commitment on the part of single promoter.
It has been found out that N500 worth of fruit will produce 1, 000 30cl bottles which we are recommending to be sold at N150 per bottle liquid content. The plant has the capacity of producing 5, 000 30cl bottles in a day.

Winningwithstock

SEC Probe: Effect on the Nigeria Capital Market




We recently witnessed the probe of the capital market which was initiated by the Federal House of Representatives even at this crucial time that the confidences of the investors are very low. I strongly believe that any probe at this point will rather worsen the situation of the market. For instance, instead of presenting this kind of issues, which are no longer news in the market, something better would have been presented, because our Nigerian capital market is just operating like any other frontier markets within the global world. It not a hidden fact that the financial meltdown started from USA, therefore ours should not be an exception compare with any other part of the world. In fact there is no single market that is free from this mess.
The most pathetic things is here is that, when other markets are making move that will make them step forward, we are wasting our time to take care of issues that are not relevant The truth of the matter is that there is no two way about it, the problem facing our market is a global problem which is facing any other  financial markets in other countries, therefore ours should not   be excluded, as it affects  all the frontier market, emerging market and even the developed market with no exception.
Analysts from various part of the world have come together, in order to look for the way they can help their different markets, to move it forward. Although when you look at the frontier market you will find out that the Nigerian Stock Exchange performance is the worse compare to other countries that are closer. Countries like Egypt, where they have crisis is   even better than Nigeria. The capital market there is today doing better than our own market. And the simple reason is that those who in charge, looked at the problem and then finds a way in order to address them,
For in instance, immediately the financial crisis started coming from the global financial market, CBN took some measure to salvage their banking system, which they did perfectly. Today it is on record that Nigerian banks are the less risk banks compare to other bank in the frontiers market. This makes other Africa countries to be looking towards Nigeria as a model. They all want to adopt our backing system method in order to apply it to their banking sector for them to move forward.
This should have been what the National Assembly should have done also. They should have looked  for the way forward and then try to move the Market forward, instead of pulling it backward  with  all un-necessary setting up of probe which could yield no result but rather affect the growth of the market.
With this kind of uproar, where do you think we are heading to?  I believe this is not the kind of thing the market wants right now. Number of papers, seminars, conferences was held to review the financial crisis particularly in Nigeria. Instead of those in the authority, including the National Assembly to look at those papers and come out with the positive way that will make our market better and also recover, they rather look at it from the other way round.
The only thing I think they should address properly now, is providing forbearance and forgiveness for those leaders in the high places of the Capital Market sector. We all know that some years after banking sector have been relieved from the merging facility. Not a single effort has been made to relieve it till date. This is the implication of what we are having on our market today either we like it or not. The Stock market is played and dominated by foreign investors. Over seventy percent of the transactions that are running in our market currently are being done by the foreign investors. And the more the foreign investors played this market, the more the widening up of activity. That is why the strength of some of these banks is low. Despite the good dividend they declared, some even included bonuses, yet their shares prices are not better than their price before their declaration. Those who played the market are just after the volatility.. They buy today and sell tomorrow; they keep on taken their money out. The majority of the local players in the Capital Market which formerly played within 70 to 80 per cent of the market have now been reduced to 20 or 30 percent; some cannot even play anymore. All these are the issues expected of the Capital Market Committee which is set up by the National Assembly. They should also look how to boost the liquidity of the stock market.
Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria has made a declaration that there shouldn’t be lending to the capital market. But other sectors of the economy like aviation, agriculture, manufacturing sector and many others were been excluded. Billions were set aside to fund those sectors. But today, we are yet to receive a penny from this institution.
 Another major problem that has failed to be addressed is issue and revisiting of compulsory listing. Looking at history, despite over two hundred and seventy equities that are listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, you cannot point at any multinational company that was not forced to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Therefore these companies need to be forced into the Nigerian Stock Market.

MoneySpinner                                                                                                                                             


Online Import Business with 50,000

The entrepreneur’s dream of becoming an importer can be realized with as low as fifty thousand naira only. That is, importing under US $ 1 Product from China that are selling like hot cakes here in Nigeria. An extra income can be earned in this business from free product samples that have no product and delivery cost attached.
This business is recommendable also for the employed who want to make extra income to augment their monthly take home pay. An extra monthly income of about N30,000 to N 70,000 can be realized to complement the employee monthly salary. This is one real project on can invest his money, get product for Chinese manufacturers and be sure of good returns with an opportunity to get free product without paying a dime.
The Project.
This is a simple online import business, buying cheap fast selling goods from China and selling them at over 100% profit in Nigeria. In the China export market, there are goods under US $1 to import and sell at good profit. China products all over the world are believed to be substandard, fake and inferior to European and American products. In recent times China products have attained great quality that could be tested from the free samples.
Chinese Manufacturers are willing to give out free samples of their products to interested importers all over the world including Nigerians to substantiate the quality of their products. Therefore an aspiring importer can seize this opportunity to import quality product from China by first testing them through getting free samples.
The Online Import:
This business is online that is, you do not see and interact physically with the manufacturers you are importing his goods, so online business is very risky because there are so many fraudsters who pose as Chinese manufacturers and suppliers in the internet. Online fraud is real and has become the biggest challenge of online importation. In order to combat the online fraud, free samples products from China manufacturers has come to the rescue. Getting free products from the manufacturers goes beyond just to enjoy free product that the importer does not pay for. The free samples enable the importer to judge the quality and packaging. It also helps to confirm all doubts and fears about online importation, like fraud. The free sample also helps to establish a reliable manufacturer/exporter of the product the importer is interested in buying. In this instant, loosing money to online fraudsters is avoidable. Nevertheless, the writer advises that the importer verifies all Chinese manufacturers and suppliers met online.
Online Import Fundamentals:
In as much as an aspiring entrepreneur is zealous to tap into the huge income opportunity of online importation of fast selling products from China, he must be cautious to understand the fundamentals of importing product from China through the internet.
The basic fundamentals center on:
-          The criteria to determine products that must be hot cakes in the market.
-          Products sourcing.
-          Online resource for cheap products that sell for under US $ 1
-          Protecting against online fraud.
-          Verification of genuine manufacturers and suppliers.
-          Online product monitoring until delivery to your shop.
Online Product:
Many fast selling cheap products abound online for import. These include: Consumer electronics, Telecommunication equipment, Digital products, Computer hardware, software and accessories, Home and office, including school and garden supplies, textiles and leather products, fashion accessories, food and beverages, gift items , time pieces, jewelries and eye wares, bags and cases, packaging and paper` materials, furniture and furnishing, automobile and motorcycles, personal care products, toys, clothes, etc.
Recommendation:
The writer strongly recommends the business to all interested importers, either part time or full time. In like manner, online importation is more technical than ordinary import, and therefore the importer is advised to get some training.
All interested importers can contact the writer for training, guide and assistance on online import fundamentals and procedures of cheap fast selling product from China.