Your Zero Isn't Zero—And That Changes Everything

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Hey there

I've been sitting with some thoughts lately that I think are worth sharing

When people talk about "starting from zero," they're missing something crucial. If you're building a business in Nigeria—or honestly, anywhere with infrastructure challenges—your zero isn't actually zero. You're already carrying debts before you even begin.

Here's what I mean: Let's say you want to become a video editor. That's hard enough, right? Learning the skill itself is a challenge. But then you hit walls that have nothing to do with editing. The power cuts out. Your internet speed is too slow to download or upload files. Your laptop overheats because you're working in an environment without proper ventilation.

These aren't skills problems. These aren't mindset problems. These are environment problems—and they're real.

The first debt you have to pay is creating a working environment. Your surroundings don't just support your work; they can make or break it. Before you can even think about mastering your craft, you need to ensure you have consistent power, reliable internet, and a space built for focus. That's not optional—it's foundational.

So when you hear someone success story about starting from nothing, remember: they started from nothing in a context. And that context matters enormously.

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We're Living in a Different Era (And We Need to Act Like It)

Here's the second thing on my mind: the tools available to us right now are unprecedented.

AI has completely transformed what's possible. I've used AI to generate images, compose songs, write content, and countless other things. But the real breakthrough came just recently when I had a sparring session with ChatGPT as a business coach. I told it: "Be my coach. I'm going to share my problems and ideas, and I want you to give me honest feedback."

It worked. ChatGPT revealed blind spots I didn't know I had. It identified gaps in my thinking. It pushed back when I needed pushing back.

A few years ago, this wasn't possible. You'd have to pay a coach thousands of dollars for that kind of feedback. Now? It's free.

The real question I'm asking myself is this: Am I building my business like it's still the Stone Age, or am I leveraging the tools available right now? The answer has to be the latter.

My Local Media Brand Update

Last week, I talked about building a local media brand for Edo.
This week, something shifted:

I found a name I truly love.

I feel excited again.
I’m bringing on an intern to help with research.
And I’m finally seeing the vision take shape.

Once the brand is ready for public eyes, I’ll share it here.

The Real Reason My Past Ideas Failed

This one stung a little.

It wasn’t lack of talent.
It wasn’t lack of ideas.
It wasn’t lack of motivation.

It was lack of systems.

Everything was running on feelings:

• “I think I’m doing well.”

• “I feel like I’m making progress.”

• “I believe I’m being consistent.”

Now I know better.

Over the next one to three days, I’m building a system that reviews my work objectively—not emotionally.

A system that tells me:

• Did I show up today?

• Did I move something forward?

• Did I get closer to the goal?

No more guessing.

About the Podcast Course

Let me be honest:
I haven’t been working on it.

Not “I’m still working on it.”
Not “it’s almost ready.”
Just the truth—I paused it.

But I’m done postponing.

So here’s my commitment:

The first version of the podcast course will be ready next week Friday—December 12th, 2025.

Hold me to it.

Closing Reflection

Sometimes building a business feels like wrestling with shadows.
You think the problem is skill, but it’s environment.
You think the problem is motivation, but it’s lack of structure.
You think the problem is you, but sometimes… it’s just the reality of where you live.

Still, we move.

I’m building in public.
I’m documenting everything.
And I hope each edition of this newsletter helps you see that you’re not alone—and you can build something meaningful no matter where your “zero” starts.

That's what this journey is about. That's what I'm documenting here.

I'll see you next week.

—Wisdom