Losses and Wins. Hive naija prompt #41.

Pleasant greetings everyone!

The concept and idea of making earnings by the side was sold to me many years ago, just a few years after I ventured into the labour market. A coursemate of mine had contacted me about a business I could run while still running my nine to five work schedule. He motivated me with a long speech, just to persuade me into agreeing to his business idea.

Amongst all he said, one thing struck a chord in me and that was the fact that as an employee, you are only busy building someone else's business. Some employers underpay their workers, paying them stipends for sustenance instead of what can prosper their employees. I began to see reasons with his point of views and soon I said "yes" to his business proposal. The unfortunate thing was that it was a networking business idea, where I would have to register and then bring in some set of people and get them registered under me before I can start making profit. I knew I was not cut out for such type of business at all, thus it did nit work out.

Although I was not keen on the networking idea, I still wanted a side hustle, something to bring in money by the side before pay day. I quickly carried out a survey around me to find out what kind of business or service I could render and it occurred to me that there was no one selling snacks in that area. That was how I began my first business.

I did not make the snacks myself rather I contracted a baker who supplied me with snacks, mostly chinchin, plantain and potato chips. During lunch hour, I would display my wares and get patronage. In just a few weeks, I became well known and those who needed snacks at work would seek me out even before lunch hour. Things were looking progressive until the snacks supplier travelled for Christmas holiday. She promised to return on time to continue the supplies but she ended staying till the first week of March, ruining all my business plans, as I could no longer sell snacks when work resumed in January. Thus, the snacks business came to an abrupt halt.

But after being initiated into the side hustle stuff, I could not give up. Some months later, I began recharge card business. A young lady came to me and introduced me to virtual airtime top up. It was a very simple business that only required me to sell airtime to customers without paper and I get a discount from my dealer when I purchase airtime in bulk. This was a turning point for me because in just a month, I got the funds to expand the business to the point that I got a stand in the street and asked my younger brother to help sell cards there while I continued selling my virtual airtime to colleagues and neighbouring companies.

I fell sick with toothache in 2014. Salary was not forthcoming plus my boss was out of town meaning no payment till he returns. It was the profit from the week's sales of recaharge card, about six thousand naira that helped me then.

Till date I am still in that side hustle. I sell virtual airtime and data, all from the comfort of my seat. No sweat, no hassles and so far I have been lucky not to get scammed through fake cash transfers nor have I made errors in sending the airtime or data bundle to respective numbers.

I felt bad when the snacks business stopped abruptly but I'm gladhat another door opened for me through which I can make and earn some income. In all God is faithful and I am advancing.

Thank you all for reading...shalom

Images used are mine.