If You’re Currently Not Excelling In The Industry… Here’s Why
I would like to assume that you’re here because you want to grow. You want to be seen, heard, booked, and paid. You’re not asking for too much. In fact, your voice, your story, your experience — they all deserve to be rewarded.
But the truth is, many gifted people are still stuck. Still struggling. Still broke. And it’s not because they lack potential. It’s because of a mindset and method problem. So today, let’s diagnose it.
If you’re not excelling yet in this industry, here are the brutally honest reasons why — and what to do about each one.
1. You’re Only Looking for Quick Fame or Viral Popularity
Fame is cheap. Impact is rare.
Many aspiring speakers or coaches want to go viral on Instagram, get 10,000 followers overnight, and be invited to speak on TV before they’ve served 10 real clients or changed 10 lives.
But the truth is, popularity doesn’t equal profit. Fame doesn’t feed your family if you don’t know how to monetize it. Real expert business success comes from depth, not hype.
What to do instead:
Focus on building depth, not clout. Serve a small audience well, and they’ll grow your platform better than any trending post.
Example: There are trainers in Warri or Enugu running life-changing workshops with just 20 people and earning more than influencers with 100K views but no product.
2. You’re Not Willing to Put in the Work, Practice, and Personal Development
You can’t wing this industry.
Some people believe because they’ve read two books and watched TEDx, they’re now motivational speakers. But the best in this field are constantly reading, refining, studying other greats, and investing in their growth.
What to do instead:
Commit to lifelong learning. Attend trainings. Record yourself. Take feedback. Read obsessively. Hire a coach.
Example: Before speaking to thousands, I spoke to 12 people in a dusty hall in Abuja. But I treated it like a TED Talk — and that practice sharpened my delivery and presence.
3. You Think Talent Alone Will Make You Rich
You may be a natural speaker. But so what?
In this industry, talent is not the business. It’s the tool. You must know how to package that talent, market it, price it, and deliver results. That’s where wealth is made — in structure, not in charisma.
What to do instead:
Build a business around your talent. Learn packaging, pricing, branding, marketing. Combine your gift with a system.
Example: A powerful coach who doesn’t know how to build a program or generate leads is like a Ferrari without wheels — beautiful, but not going anywhere.
4. You Expect Everything to Happen Without Marketing Yourself
You’re not Coca-Cola. You can’t sit quietly and hope people “find” you.
In Nigeria especially, if they don’t see you, hear you, or stumble upon your value, they move on. Being good is not enough. You must be visible. Consistently.
What to do instead:
Post value online weekly. Send emails. Host free sessions. Go where your audience is. Talk about your offer clearly and often.
Example: The experts who consistently show up online — teaching, engaging, telling stories — get more invitations than those quietly waiting for “organic growth.”
5. You’re Uncomfortable With Selling or Charging for Your Value
Let me be blunt: if you’re afraid of selling, you’re not ready for business.
Many African experts feel guilty charging for what they “do with ease.” But ease doesn’t mean worthlessness. It means giftedness — and people pay for gifts that help them solve problems.
What to do instead:
Reframe selling as helping. You’re not forcing anyone. You’re inviting them to a solution. And you’re charging for the transformation, not your time.
Example: A coach who solves ₦500,000 problems shouldn’t be afraid to charge ₦100,000. That’s not greed — it’s fair exchange.
6. You Believe Nigeria (or Africa) Is Too Limited to Succeed as a Speaker
This is one of the most dangerous lies. Because it’s self-fulfilling.
Yes, Nigeria has challenges. But so does every economy. Right now, African audiences are hungry for empowerment, strategy, healing, business guidance, leadership, confidence — and YOU have that to offer.
What to do instead:
Shift from local limitation to global positioning. Use digital tools. Speak online. Publish on global platforms. Package your expertise in ways that cross borders.
Example: African coaches are selling digital programs to people in the U.S. and U.K. right now — from their phones. What’s stopping you?
7. You Don’t Have Anything You Are Selling
This is perhaps the biggest one. If you’re not excelling, it might be because you don’t have a structured offer.
You may be inspiring, talented, and visible — but what exactly can I pay you for? If you haven’t packaged your knowledge into a product, service, program, or offer… there’s nothing to buy.
What to do instead:
Create 1–2 signature offers. This could be a coaching package, a training program, an online course, a book, or a consulting solution. Put a price on it. Start selling.
Example: A speaker who offers “The Career Clarity Bootcamp” for ₦75,000 will get more clients than one who simply says, “I’m available to speak.”
To wrap it up…
My friend, you’re not behind. You’re not doomed. And you’re not invisible.
But if you keep repeating the same mistakes, you’ll stay stuck—no matter how gifted you are.
This industry rewards clarity, consistency, packaging, and positioning. The people getting paid are not always the best — they’re just the most prepared and most visible.
So if you’re not excelling yet, now you know why. But more importantly… now you know what to do.
Let this be the turning point.
Your message is valid. Your voice is needed. Your impact is overdue.
