| PreambleWhat I am about to share with you is my | | | | by the school Principal - ALL of which was paid to him |
| personal vision of what I am convinced is a workable | | | | upfront.The obvious learning from the above is that if |
| strategy that can be used to move (especially | | | | an entrepreneur knows s/he can successfully pursue |
| developing) societies across the world FASTER on | | | | alternative avenues to earn needed income, s/he will |
| the path towards sustainable socio-economic and | | | | be less willing to lower his/her fees to unprofitable |
| political development. What I write about here is a | | | | levels that would most likely impair his ability to deliver |
| strategy which properly implemented can make | | | | results to the required standards. (By the way, that guy |
| INDIVIDUALS in many countries worldwide achieve | | | | "John", was actually this writer).Multipreneurs are |
| their truly great potentials, and then work together with | | | | entrepreneurs who avail themselves of the above |
| like-minded others to help their respective countries | | | | wisdom by harnessing a variety of skills and |
| prosper in ways unprecedented.If on reading the | | | | competencies to generate multiple income streams. It |
| foregoing, you are already skeptical about how | | | | is for this reason that I believe Multipreneurs hold the |
| workable or realistic my proposed plan is, I urge you to | | | | key to future prosperity anywhere in the world. As we |
| be a little patient and continue reading. Understand that | | | | progress, I will explain in more detail who a Multipreneur |
| I make these assertions drawing from very deep | | | | is, how/when he can be called a Digital Multipreneur |
| reflection and extensive personal experience in | | | | (TM) , and HOW the strategy of Digital Multipreneuring |
| successfully applying the principles I advocate for | | | | can help any willing person(s) - and the society at |
| adoption in my personal life. AND this, in one of the | | | | large.I define a Multipreneur formally, as a person who |
| most difficult environments any human being could | | | | uses a variety of marketable skills to earn income as |
| possibly choose to pursue achievement of legitimate, | | | | the opportunities present themselves in the market |
| authentic success on this planet, called Nigeria.I Have | | | | place. To learn more about Multipreneuring, contact me |
| NOT Said It All, Here!Let me quickly warn that even | | | | for a copy of my article titled "If You Lack Capital, |
| though I have tried - in this paper - to be elaborate in | | | | Intelligent Multipreneuring Can Help You Get It!"A |
| my explanation of how this proposed strategy can be | | | | Multipreneur can be looked at as many entrepreneurs |
| implemented, I cannot possibly cover all the necessary | | | | rolled into ONE. This therefore means that the benefits |
| aspects, nor can I cater for every possible scenario. | | | | of entrepreneuring will become even more available, to |
| This is why I offer to make myself available to speak | | | | a society in which Multipreneurs flourish. Not everyone |
| to and/or work with ANY groups of serious-minded | | | | can be a Multipreneur however. Few people are willing |
| individuals who would like to make use of the ideas I | | | | to commit the energy and time required to LEARN |
| offer. This way, I believe any peculiar issues that arise | | | | HOW to do many things at the same time - and do so |
| can be properly considered and useful adaptations | | | | successfully, on a long term basis.But the few who |
| evolved.Important Requirements/Understanding For | | | | are, can make life better for the rest of us. Think about |
| Use Of This StrategyWhat I am about to propose is | | | | Richard Branson and his empire of affordably priced |
| NOT in any way a plan that needs to be handed over | | | | Virgin products and services, and you will immediately |
| to ANY national government, regional authority, foreign | | | | see what I mean.The Strategy of Digital Multipreneuring |
| governments or their nationals to implement. It is | | | | (TM) This strategy is what I believe is the ultimate |
| imperative that I also point out here, that the strategy I | | | | workable plan. And I have held this belief for many |
| propose for adoption in this paper has been | | | | years. Back in 2003, I wrote in my personal philosophy |
| deliberately formed to be usable by ANY INDIVIDUAL | | | | paper titled "Why I Do What I Do, The Way I Do It" as |
| who is willing to make the commitment to sustained | | | | follows:"People with mental attitudes and skills that |
| application of effort, till the desired results are achieved. | | | | enable them to take control of what happens to them |
| Having said that, if they are sure of each others | | | | daily, are unlikely to be seriously(if at all) negatively |
| "reliability", like-minded persons can also team up to use | | | | affected in the long term by the vagaries of their |
| these ideas.The Three Big Questions1. How do we | | | | countries socio-economic circumstances. They are |
| make it possible for any willing person(s) in our society | | | | likely to make the best of them rather than fall apart. It |
| (including the most disadvantaged e.g. indigent, poor, | | | | is my conviction that knowing how to ADAPT to |
| handicapped) to become capable of rendering | | | | inevitable changes that could make your survival skills |
| economically beneficial products/services to others | | | | obsolete, is of crucial importance....The foregoing is one |
| within and outside our countries and continents?2. How | | | | of my motivations for being a Multipreneur. To |
| do we ensure they do this in a way that enables them | | | | succeed more frequently, one needs a multiple-career |
| earn adequate remuneration to achieve financial | | | | strategy i.e. have a variety of skills to generate income |
| independence so they are less vulnerable to being | | | | and capture opportunities in today's fast-changing |
| manipulated for their voting power?3. How do we | | | | market place - leading to prosperity and fulfillment |
| create a situation whereby opportunities for | | | | independent of economic fluctuations."The foregoing is |
| socio-economic benefits accessible to those in | | | | an excerpt from a one-page Acrobat PDF document I |
| developing countries make the option of their leaving | | | | wrote back in March 2003. My vision and conviction |
| home to settle/work in developed countries far away | | | | has not dimmed or waned since then. Not only that, |
| from loves ones less compelling than it currently is?My | | | | my achievements since that time have given further |
| Answer - A Vision Statement"The world's most | | | | verifiable proof that what I said can indeed be made to |
| successful entrepreneurs in the future will be | | | | work - for ANY individual who is willing to put in the |
| Multipreneurs. That is why I believe our future | | | | required effort and time.A Digital Multipreneur (TM) will |
| economic (and sociopolitical) prosperity depends | | | | be a person who deliberately acquires a variety of |
| greatly on the creation, and evolution of INDIVIDUALS I | | | | inter-related competencies in different vocations which |
| call Digital (D) Multipreneurs (TM) in every society. They | | | | he then cost-effectively combines to earn multiple |
| will be multi-skilled, independent minded thinkers, with a | | | | streams of income by leveraging PC and Internet |
| passion for creatively adapting technology and the | | | | technology.A Multipreneur who is PC/Internet illiterate |
| Internet, to achieve sustainable economic (and | | | | will struggle to compete favourably with one who IS |
| sociopolitical) benefits.These individuals will be notorious | | | | literate. The former will therefore not enjoy the degree |
| for depending MORE on their Creative Brain Power - | | | | of competitiveness of the latter in terms of pricing as it |
| and LESS on their Muscle Power - in working to | | | | relates to maintaining steady or increasing profitability. |
| ensure they can continually provide for themselves | | | | Note also, that examples of possible areas of |
| and those that depend on them. They will also be | | | | vocational interest I have given in this paper are those I |
| recognised for their ability to successfully coach willing | | | | have personal bias for, and experience in. Any |
| others to become competent to succeed in society in | | | | interested person can choose to adapt the wisdom |
| the same way. In preparing themselves (and those | | | | offered here for use in other areas that they find |
| they coach) to succeed, they will typically emphasise | | | | suitable.Lastly, I must state very clearly here that your |
| functional skills and knowledge acquisition, over formal | | | | ability to function effectively, successfully and profitably |
| schooling.Most significantly, they will be known for | | | | as a Digital Multipreneur, does NOT require that you |
| earning income mainly while working from home, using | | | | have anything more than a secondary school |
| digital technology and Internet resources, instead of | | | | education! Once you can read and write proficiently, |
| being what Robert Kiyosaki calls "paycheck slaves". | | | | you will be able to acquire many practical vocational |
| Their activities will ultimately have a multiplier | | | | skills, including using a PC and the Internet.So, What |
| developmental effect on their societies. Incidentally, | | | | Makes A Multipreneur "Digital"?As far as I am |
| such individuals already exist today, especially in | | | | concerned, a Multipreneur can only be called Digital, if |
| developed societies - proving that this idea WORKS. | | | | she KNOWS HOW to use PC and Internet technology |
| That is why Self-Development Academy(SDAc)'s | | | | to :a. increase the quality and value s/he delivers to her |
| main objective is to actively promote the proliferation | | | | customers or employer.b. dramatically cut down |
| of D-Multipreneurs (TM) ." - Tayo K. Solagbade, | | | | expenses incurred in delivering the product(s) |
| Founder Self-Development Academy(SDAc) Limited - | | | | service(s).c. significantly increase the marketing and |
| 2006 Vision White Paper, 1st January 2006.Download | | | | advertising reach impact of her work in a way that |
| the FREE Acrobat PDF E-book version of this white | | | | complements her use of conventional methods.A |
| paper from arriving at the answer/strategy I propose - | | | | Multipreneur CANNOT be called Digital simply because |
| described above as the active facilitation of the | | | | she can use the PC or Internet. No, that would not be |
| creation and evolution of Digital Multipreneurs (TM) , I | | | | enough.To be a Digital Multipreneur you need to:a. be |
| have considered a number of perspectives based on | | | | competently skilled in multiple vocations that your |
| current realities in many societies:Perspective A. | | | | target audience will be willing to pay you for.b. KNOW |
| Poverty & Self-Esteem:For many countries, the main | | | | HOW to intelligently apply relevant computer and |
| need is economic empowerment of the larger majority | | | | Internet resources to improve your ability to do the |
| of the citizenry. No human being can survive for long in | | | | different things you do, in a way that makes it easy |
| the absence of very basic necessities like food and/or | | | | for you to operate profitably for the long term. Note |
| shelter. Both are easily acquired when money is | | | | that many income earning opportunities exist on the |
| available. Eroded self-esteem/belief is gradually | | | | Net alone.For anyone to succeed as a Digital |
| restored when the ability to EARN money that is to be | | | | Multipreneur requires a very clear understanding of the |
| spent meeting daily needs is realised such that | | | | above distinctions.Example: A self-employed person |
| dependence on the generosity of others becomes | | | | who works on a PC at home offering various PC |
| unnecessary.Any answer/strategy to be adopted | | | | based services such as graphic design, Excel |
| MUST address this most fundamental need if it is to | | | | spreadsheet programming, freelance writing, Website |
| be taken seriously by majority of the | | | | Design, Automation, Web marketing strategy |
| people.Perspective B. Choice Unavailability:More jobs | | | | development, and other related services for individuals |
| would help, but even better will be the creation of a | | | | and businesses.S/he would easily maintain a |
| rapidly growing pool of multi-skilled people who | | | | homestead Catfish Farming and/or other livestock |
| understand that they have a choice to become (or | | | | ventures in the back yard, which would constitute a |
| remain) employees or to be self-employed and | | | | significant addition to the income stream from the |
| independent. And, who know HOW to go about it. | | | | computer services delivery. She could also have an |
| Again the solution to be adopted MUST address this | | | | aquarium construction and ornamental fish breeding |
| need if it is to be widely accepted.Perspective C. | | | | homestead business alongside the catfish venture.Her |
| Entrepreneurial Conviction:For those who are | | | | PC based services would be affordable because she |
| self-employed or independent, they need a clear | | | | would have fewer overheads, and would not be |
| conviction about the value they offer their clients or | | | | working for an employer who would have gotten a |
| customers. Most critical is the need for them to | | | | part of the money to be paid by clients.As a result, her |
| UNDERSTAND that a true entrepreneur DOES NOT | | | | clients would also benefit, because this highly skilled |
| NEED any Samaritans.Getting repeat business or | | | | professional would offer relatively lower fees (or more |
| referrals from clients/customers MUST NEVER be | | | | value for the same fee) compared to her counterpart |
| about someone feeling sorry for you and doing you a | | | | employed in an organisation with overheads to cover. |
| favour by telling others to give you business. It MUST | | | | Consequently she would be in a position to command |
| be about ONE(or more) happy, satisfied client(s) or | | | | more frequent patronage(in both local and foreign |
| customer(s) excitedly telling other potential clients | | | | currency), and be able to retain more of her revenue |
| customers about you, such that the latter inevitably | | | | as tangible profits, which can in part be channeled to |
| feel it would make sense to engage your services, | | | | her other income generation ventures to further |
| over others, whenever they have a similar | | | | increase the flow of multiple income streams.If s/he |
| need.Without this understanding, venturing into | | | | were to be employed under the current situation |
| entrepreneuring (particularly in developing countries | | | | extant in a developing society like mine, the employer |
| continents like mine) will continue to be regarded as a | | | | would balk at paying her the kind of rates her clients |
| dead-end rather than an avenue through which | | | | would offer her as a self-employed, independent |
| creative geniuses accumulate wealth (while making | | | | contractor. Also, s/he would have less free time of her |
| society better) by bringing their unique ideas from | | | | own (on a 9 to 5 job for instance) to pursue other |
| conception to reality. An example is the way Bill Gates | | | | income-generating interests. Most importantly, as an |
| has today made use of the PC easier for everyone | | | | employee, the volume of work she does will not |
| using his MS Windows software. If Gates had not | | | | necessarily directly translate to a proportional increase |
| chosen to quit Harvard when he did, he may have | | | | in money s/he gets on a salary!As you can see from |
| NEVER gotten around to starting | | | | the foregoing there are huge potential benefits to he |
| Microsoft.Entrepreneurs are to be reverred, valued and | | | | reaped from becoming a self-employed |
| encouraged. This is because they offer society an | | | | Multipreneur.However, even if you decide to be a |
| opportunity to make progress in quantum leaps (rather | | | | salaried Multipreneur, with the intention of using your |
| than by taking baby steps), through their selfless | | | | after-work hours and free weekends to nurture your |
| implementation of paradigm-shifting ideas and | | | | additional income stream generation ventures, the pros |
| concepts. Wherever authentic (non-corner-cutting) | | | | still far outweigh the cons.The bottom line of all that I |
| entrepreneurs are able to proliferate, the inevitable | | | | am saying here is that depending on a single source of |
| result is a never ending cycle of innovation and | | | | income for the long-term in today's world can only be |
| creativity that makes society continually, and rapidly | | | | described in one word: STUPID.Key Benefit Of Digital |
| improve to the benefit of all its members. It is because | | | | Multipreneurs (TM) To SocietyThe proliferation of |
| MANY entrepreneurs in developing societies like mine | | | | financially independent and socio-politically aware |
| do NOT understand the above that they allow | | | | empowered persons in society, functioning as Digital |
| themselves to be manipulated out of their earned | | | | Multpreneurs, with an enduring passion for cloning |
| income for work they have done (via the giving of | | | | themselves will bring multidimensional benefits to the |
| percent cuts, and kick-backs etc).Another reason why | | | | society as a whole.Digital Multipreneurs (TM) will ideally |
| many such entrepreneurs lamely accept bad/shoddy | | | | be self-motivated INDIVIDUALS who see an |
| treatment meted out to them is because they have no | | | | opportunity for financial liberation of themselves and |
| other skills, or alternative means of earning income. As | | | | those they love using their unique abilities. As they |
| a result, when threatened with the possibility of losing a | | | | increase in number over time, the problems highlighted |
| contract or project they are bidding for, such | | | | at the start of this paper(i.e. "The Three Big |
| entrepreneurs readily break down and | | | | Questions") would progressively suffer diminishing |
| compromise.Ironically, the terms under which they then | | | | relevance, due to increasingly influential positive Social |
| accept to work make it even more difficult for them to | | | | Change Agent roles that will be assumed by many |
| deliver satisfactory products or services, thereby | | | | Digital Multipreneurs, in their bid to give back to society. |
| damaging their future ability to secure patronage from | | | | Take a look at what Bill Gates is doing with his |
| the same or other clients/customers.Multipreneurs (TM) | | | | foundation, and you'll get an idea of what I |
| Hold THE Key!When you consider all of the scenarios | | | | mean.Summary Of Digital Multipreneuring(DMg) |
| discussed above, it becomes quite obvious that | | | | Features/Benefits1. Digital Multipreneurs(DMs) (TM) can |
| Multipreneuring offers multiple benefits that reward | | | | be self-employed or paid employees.2. There is almost |
| those who practice it in line with efforts they expend, | | | | no age limit. Once a person is capable of creative, |
| while protecting them from the negatives typically | | | | value-adding, income-generating effort - especially |
| visited on entrepreneurs and others.For instance, I like | | | | using PC/Internet resources - s/he can become a |
| to point out that a Multipreneur is less likely to bow to | | | | DM.3. DMs can work for longer periods daily, and will |
| pressure to accept poor remuneration, shabby | | | | have no need to retire formally.4. They do NOT need |
| treatment, or demands to give cuts, kick-backs etc in | | | | any formal qualifications or education beyond being |
| exchange for contract awards, due to her ability to | | | | schooled to upper primary or secondary levels and |
| pursue multiple alternative avenues of income | | | | being able to read and write competently. Everything |
| generation simultaneously.Consider this true story. John, | | | | else can be learnt through diligent self-effort and |
| a Multipreneur, is asked - by the principal of a leading | | | | access to appropriate resources.5. A true DM will |
| secondary school - to drop his fee for building one of | | | | easily integrate her online and offline income-generation |
| his 6 gallon size custom natural self-cleaning aquariums | | | | activities.6. DMs, for the most part will not be limited by |
| (biologically balanced; use no electricity or air pumps - | | | | physical handicaps or social status. Hence disabled |
| thereby giving long term savings) by almost 75%(!). | | | | persons, housewives, orphans etc can successfully |
| When he explains to her that what she wants is | | | | become DMs.7. Activities of DMs will create multiple |
| impossible, she ignores his response and says: "go and | | | | income opportunities/jobs for others.8. This strategy of |
| think about it"!That day, John left the principal's office | | | | DMg will dramatically increase chances of micro/small |
| knowing he would not be going back. It was not that | | | | business startup survival since very little startup capital |
| he did not need the business. He did. But he knew it | | | | is required. Also multiple income generation |
| would not make good business sense to take on an | | | | opportunities will help DMs keep going for longer |
| UNPROFITABLE client (one does not need a university | | | | periods till they break through.FINAL WORDS: My |
| degree to deduce this). More importantly however, he | | | | Vision Statement - AgainLet me now end by asking |
| knew that as a MULTIPRENEUR, he had a CHOICE. | | | | you to re-read my earlier outlined vision statement |
| This was because building low long-term operating | | | | (above) of how Digital Multipreneurs (TM) will |
| maintenance cost aquariums was only ONE of his | | | | determine our future prosperity. Hopefully, you now |
| income-generating competencies.A few days later, he | | | | understand it better.I would be glad to take on any |
| picked up a cheque for TWICE the amount offered by | | | | questions you may have on HOW this idea/strategy |
| the principal, after delivering a one-hour talk to 14 new | | | | can be successfully implemented by interested, |
| management trainees at the corporate headquarters | | | | adequately motivated individuals, groups and/or |
| of a leading fast foods company(he had been invited | | | | organisations.Self-Development/Performance |
| as an external speaker by a consultant organising a | | | | Enhancement Specialist - Tayo Solagbade - devotes |
| week-long induction for the new intakes). Some | | | | his time to exploring new frontiers of |
| months later, he would build and install one of his 6 | | | | Self-Development Education, especially as it relates to |
| gallon size natural aquariums in the reception of the | | | | showing people what they can do by themselves, for |
| main premises of a large group of schools, for a | | | | themselves to achieve their set goals - DESPITE the |
| discounted price which was FOUR times that offered | | | | limitations of their circumstances or environment. |