Locating Your Place in the Nigerian Market
Ministering: Elder Ayo Arogbo
Topic: Locating Your Place in the Nigerian Market.
Growing up, we often looked at the lives of our parents especially if they were poor and asked, ‘Why are we like this while others are better off?’ Unarguably, these are difficult times in Nigeria today. Is this perculiar to our country alone? No. Can one still thrive or aspire to do well despite the situation? The answer is yes.
There are three (3) approaches you can adopt, in order to farewell in the Nigerian business environment.
- Rise above the noise.
We are an environment that is prone to a lot of ‘noise’ (negative statements and conclusions).Some of the common ‘noise’ include: ‘every government is the same’, ‘the economy is so bad’, ‘the education system is in shambles’, ‘the security system is poor’ and so on. Most of these statements are not just ‘over the top’ (exaggerated) but wrong.
Even if you accepted all the ‘noise’ as true, there are two (2) course of actions open to you:
- Accept the situation as it is and succumb to the doom and gloom.
- Rise above all the noise and focus on the numerous opportunities that a changed Nigeria presents to you.
Listening to too much noise from the market, will distort your focus. If you struggled to survive in Nigeria, it’s likely you will also struggle in any other environment. To rise above the noise, your spirit has to be open to the possibilities that the Nigerian market can offer you. This is where God has planted you. Nigeria being the way it is, with myriads of challenges, opens a wide range of opportunities to a discerning and innovative business or professional. Some of the problems today are actually opportunities and they will change naturally.
- Make a commitment to doing ‘stand out’ work like Daniel, Joseph, etc. (Dan.6:3, Gen.39:2-6, Prov.22:29, Ex.31:2-6).
There is an alarming level of low quality work in Nigeria. We should develop zero-tolerance for poor quality work. A sustainable business cannot be built on sentimental patronage. Commit to high quality work like David, Samuel etc. The reason why many in the church are struggling is because they have not done any work for people that others will come across and ask, “who did this job?” Your work should speak in your absence.
- Locate your place in the market of the future.
As the society is developing, needs are increasing and innovative services are continually required. Nigeria is gradually transforming into a 24-hour economy and it’s starting with Lagos. You have to position yourself to gain from the opportunities that will be created. For all the mediocrity we are seeing in Nigeria today, there will come an inevitable time of change. Get ready to reap from the change. Some of the areas of opportunity include the Power, Transport, Logistics, Lifestyle and Entertainment Infrastructure sectors. Some of the chaos you see, are as a result of not doing your own bit. You are the solution to some of the problems.
Pastor James’ Exhortation and Concluding Remarks
In chaos, there are opportunities. God may just be saying something to you (Haggai 2:7). We are stewards; hence we must seek God’s guidance in the use of all that’s in our care: talents and gifts, money etc. For example, if you helped a ‘Jonah’, you will get into trouble because he already had a case to settle with God. We must prayerfully select where we invest and who we associate with. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Keys to locating you place in the market.
- Learn to listen to the footsteps of future events and invest in them.
‘If you had Bill Gates in your house, telling you how he succeeded, it may not benefit you because everybody’s story is different’ – Daniel Lapin, American author and speaker.
Watch out for where economy, industry etc are heading for and make yourself a stakeholder. Position to partake of the opportunities that will be created.
- Invest in relationships.
It is one of the currencies of the Kingdom and money comes from it. Enlarge the circle of your friends. If you are jobless, there are two likely reasons:
- You are not in relationship with the right people
- People doubt your character.
‘We don’t count our critics, we only win them’ – Anonymous. You shouldn’t be too concerned about what people think of you so as to allow it affect your self esteem. However, you should be a little conscious of what people think about you, your reputation does matter. People relate with you based on what you exude. We must imbibe the type of humility that Jesus exemplified (Phil.2:7, Rom.12:16, Gen.42:25, 50:20).
- Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit. (Jn.16:12,13)
We are stewards; hence we must seek God’s guidance in the use of all that’s in our care: talents and gifts, money etc. For example, if you helped a ‘Jonah’, you will get into trouble because he already had a case to settle with God (Jonah 1:1-11). We must prayerfully select where we invest and who we associate with. Let the Holy Spirit guide you. He will tell you where the coin is, in the mouth of the fish (Matt.17:27).
Actions to take
-Learn to have times of quietness with the Holy Spirit
– Take action on what you have heard.
Prayers
In the name of Jesus;
– God give us the power to have quiet times with the Holy spirit,
– God help us to take the required action,
– God, restore everything that we have lost (Is.42:22),
– Henceforth, we pursue every power that has hitherto pursued us (Gen.36:6), Amen.
Declarations
In the name of Jesus;
-You have the victory,
– Every limitation is broken,
-Henceforth, you will hear clearly. You are empowered. You are quickened. You are sensitised,
– Your next catch will bring you gain (Matt.17:27). No more loss,
– Your eyes, ears and hearts are opened,
– Prosperity is yours from now on,
– Henceforth, the power of God resides with you.
– It’s a new day, a new dawn.
– Father, thank you for what I have become today. Thank you for I am not going back the way I came, Amen.
