Develop positive mindset to business success, prepare to engage in menial jobs – Coach Victoria

Coach/Director, Leadway Branding Academy, Mrs Victoria Adano Dama, in this interview with ETIM EKPIMAH, bears her mind on how hard work, consistency, patience are essential elements for business success. She also tells business owners to be ready to engage in menial jobs if things get tougher in the intervening periods.

How may we know you?

I am Victoria Adano Dama, from Kogi State and from a family of nine. I am the 8th child. I was born in Kwara State before we moved to Kaduna when I was nine years old. I grew up in the barracks as my dad was a soldier. I faced many challenges as a young lady, who is passionate about bringing a positive change in the society and the world at large. The challenges led me into hawking sachet water under the bridge of Kaduna when I was 17 years old.

You have been training individuals and business owners on how to turn their businesses into profitable ventures. How do you do this despite the current economic quagmire?

Yes! I am passionate about helping individuals, business owners, and career professionals build a reputable and profitable business brand online.

Business is all about risk-taking and as a personal branding strategist, I use some hacks and strategists to help business owners restore their businesses to normalcy.

Last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses crumbled, and this affected sales. As a business branding strategist, I helped train so many business owners on how to leverage the digital space, build visibility and start up an online business to enable them to be highly positioned in the global market.

And like I do tell my students in the academy – Leadway Branding Academy, the global economy has changed drastically and for small business owners to thrive, become known, liked, and trusted, attract their ideal clients, they must be willing to build their brand, leverage the online space because social media is the new market and branding is one of the new ways to showcase to the world what you have.

Since your business also involves training young people, what issues do you often encounter while dealing with them, knowing that they’re impatient and that they want to be billionaires overnight?

Hahaha, you see when it comes to coaching young people, especially in these days of social media, it is difficult. Young people are in a hurry to make it. They don’t believe in enduring process.

One of the major challenges I face while coaching them is their inability to wait: they are always in a hurry to make or earn a 6-figure sum without first understanding the blueprint, getting clarity on what they’re passionate about. They also feel the marketplace is saturated, and this makes them feel intimidated to show up.

What has been your advice to them and to other young people who are not privileged to be coached by you?

Life is all about process and true success doesn’t come overnight. We make them understand that there’s seedtime and harvest time. True success requires hard work, consistency, patience, discipline, determination, focus, and resilience. As young persons, they have to develop a positive mindset towards success and life, they should also invest themselves, engage themselves in menial jobs and avoid microwaved success and shortcuts.

Oftentimes, I have received tons of messages from young people who are inspired and motivated by my impact in the online space. And one of my pieces of advice to them is for them to strive hard to become their better selves, register for online courses that will give them an edge in the global economic world. Take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, skill up and become a tool for change in the society.

Do they all need to have a formal education up to a university degree level to take the opportunities your academy offers?

I believe in life; God has bestowed every individual with a unique potential and superpowers to create wealth and become relevant. One thing I love about building your brand is that you don’t need to be a graduate to build your brand, but if you’re, that’s a plus on your side.

Branding helps you promote your skills, knowledge, expertise, talent, passion, and stories to the world. Once you believe you have something to offer, you need to build a brand that will help you stand out and differentiate you from other competitors.

Does a new business need a bank loan to be successful?

When I started my fabrics business in 2019, I didn’t start with a loan. I started with what I had. And with time the business grew; I was able to manage it without a loan.

It’s not advisable for a new business to start with a loan, just start with what you have, and later on, you can get loans to help you boost your production and supply.

Does integrity matter in business as many businesspersons often play fast one on their customers and clients?

Integrity is everything in business. One of the courses I teach businessmen-women in my academy is how to use the KLT factor to sell to their clients.

The KLT factor which means Know, Like, and Trust, is very essential for business owners. The truth is that people cannot build from you if they don’t like, trust and know you.

To sell to people, you must be your authentic self, keep to your brand promises and always have the reputation of your brand in mind. You may have the best products in the market but once you lack integrity, trust, and credibility, you lose your brand’s worth.

Have you ever got responses from young ladies, and if ‘yes’, how do you respond to their inquiries?

As a young lady who is determined and passionate to become a public speaker, inspiring people around the world with my stories, especially the female folks, I never allowed my background to put my back on the ground to stop me from achieving goals. I keep pushing and trusting God that one day I’ll be celebrated globally. I refused to give up on myself because I believe my dreams are valid and my mission on earth is possible.

So, my advice to young ladies, who want to achieve their goals and dreams in life is to believe in themselves, see beyond their present condition, be dedicated to doing the work of God, they should invest in themselves beyond their beautiful faces, refuse to be defined by what the society is saying and should also strive to become world changers using their skills, knowledge, expertise and talent to become a change agent wherever they are.