Brandevo 21-Day Content Challenge (Aug 11–31)
DAY 8- A Tool or App That’s Helping Me Stay Sane

When I say I'm not on Snapchat, Twitter nor Tiktok, the next thing I hear is "and you're a gen Z?, na lie". They are surprised at how I was doing just fine without those apps. I really can't blame them, if my parents were active users of these apps, then what exactly could I say to defend myself. Let's just say I'm intrigued by the way my mind works. How I don't do things like my peers. Not because I can't but there's just no interest whatsoever. But I was always online so where exactly was I spending my time?

Brilliant minds across the globe sat down and thought of another medium through which people can not just interact, spread information and communicate but also make money and they came up with apps alongside social media platforms. People began installing these apps and I just like other users came into the picture. Coming online, my first friend was google. For those of us that always have questions and always want to know. We spent our time asking questions after questions.

Any word or person I don't know, my to go app was always Google and it served me as best as it could. Although there were some things I couldn't get from it and I knew immediately that this wasn't that app for me. I started exploring other apps and I found Youtube. This very app is so dear to me, I'd never dreamt of a day I'll brag about an app like this but let's have it. I was led there by my classmates in secondary school. Were you having issues with cooking?, you wanted a lyric to one song?, was bored and wanted to watch a movie, you wanted to see a part of a celeb or their lifestyle? You name it, Youtube serves almost all type of purpose.

I remember the first time I wanted to make pap, Youtube was my go to app. I watched a video and I didn't need anymore assistance or explanation. The pap came out so well. Or is it the times I had difficulties with Chemistry, one of my core subjects as a science student. I went in search as usual and I found tutors that broaden my understanding of the subject and made me like it. Even when I went to Aviation school and we were given assignments to study flight attendant history and various types of aircrafts. Youtube was my to go app. I ran to it for every issues I had and I found solutions.

Although there are other apps that I use like the Note app. Where I pen down all my thoughts and ideas, even programme outlines and structures for my church. There's WhatsApp that houses all my communities, friends, mentors, teachers and business partners. There's Instagram where I get to explore the world outside of my house and connect with people from all around the world.

I don't think I'd be the same if Youtube was no more. You can call it "the app that keeps me sane" I'd hold on to "my to go app anyday, anytime".

@Brandevo
#day 8
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

Brandevo 21-Day Content Challenge (Aug 11–31)
DAY 7- How I Plan My Day (or Try to)

My teacher back in secondary school has a signature statement that stuck with me. "He who fails to plan, plans to fail" As simple as this statement is, it has so much depth and carries so much weight that I didn't understand until much later. My intial plan for a day would include, personal devotion to start my day, have my bath, make breakfast, do the chores, study the bible, reading time, make dinner, night devotion then I sleep.

In between, there could be classes, slides to cover, assignments, laundry and errands. The thing is I never had a detailed plan for my day, I just had things to do and juggled between them. Whenever I woke up I took the activities one after the other till the day runs out. No structure just taking each day as it comes. Gradually I began to notice I couldn't complete some tasks as at when due because I prioritised others. Laziness and procrastination settled in. I'd find myself reluctant to do alot of things and these were important.

What I failed to realise was I never actually plan my day so it's expected that I'd slack in so many areas. Having a plan makes it easy to navigate whatsoever. Planning helps you restrategize, remember and keeps you up to tasks. You can easily track your progress and see your loopholes. When I finally started to plan, I noticed the difference in my results. I complete my tasks on time and I'm less stressed.

To plan my day all starts with what the day entails and what I'd like to active that day. If I'm due for an assignment, I know that in between all that I have to do there has to be more time specifically for that assignment. If I need to be somewhere the next morning, I know that once I'm home everything that I need for the next day has to be prepared and ready. Likewise if I have a busy day, I know I'm starting my day with what's most important and urgent.

However, now that I've started to plan my day I can't over emphasise how easy life has been. I go as far as setting alarms in line of each activity on my to do list for each day. I have better study time, I'm less overwhelmed and stressed. Although there are times I want to be lazy and just careless but I know what is at stake. And progress takes discipline.

In the nearest future, I'd like to have my own study where I do my brainstorming and strategize. Have a detailed outline about each day and evaluation to track my growth and success. My day starts with God and ends with God. Every other thing finds their way in between depending on their importance.

Brandevo
#day 7
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

Brandevo 21-Day Content Challenge (Aug 11–31)
DAY 6- One Common Problem People Have (That I Can Help With)

People love and enjoy the thrills of celebrations and felicitations but only a few want to be the force behind the scene that makes everything happen. They know the things they want to see in that event, they know where they want that function, they have all of the ideas to make the programme exceptional but they never want to be the one overseeing the running around. Who actually likes to be stressed? Let me just seat back and be taken care of. They have an event and everyone is looking for a planner. That's where I come in my friend.

Growing up and having to fill in the role of taking care of others had automatically made me a planner. Wake up in the morning, makes sure everyone has breakfast, do the chores, prepare for when my younger ones are back, make night food for everyone and so on. Gradually and overtime, these little things had molded me into a perfectionist. At every opportunity I get, I'm up on my feet and putting things together.

One of the reason I became a steward in my children' church. At first, I was placed in Protocol. I created my own mini team that was in charge of ushering during service. We made sure the seats remain arranged, the auditorium remained tidy, my team members at all essential corners of the room directing members of the church, the ones in the restroom making sure every visitor leaves their toilet clean. It was strenuous cause I had to be everywhere just to make sure there was no slacking of any form. But it was also satisfying seeing the results of all the hardwork.

Later on I was moved to programmes where we not just introduced new activities, we outlined order of events and ministers, out sourced funds and sponsors, worked across all other departments to make our gatherings worthwhile, drafted retreats and outreaches, also procured for every programme. Why ?, because they had a new recruit that is willing to go far and beyond for the success of any and every event. I can't help it, a satisfied addict of planning and organising.

I don't know about others but I feel so good with myself when I can solve a problem. When I can create solutions and successful implement it. I'm looking forward to establishing an event planning company in the nearest future that will not just serve home and abroad but also the poor and rich.

There are many problems in the society today and I choose to restore order and harmony.


Brandevo
#day 6
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

Brandevo 21-Day Content Challenge (Aug 11–31)
DAY 5- 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Coming Online

Coming online for me was a decision made out of sheer curiosity. I just wanted to know more of this other world. The skill acquisitions, relationships created, platforms joined, "the belonging", "attachments" and what not was never part of plan. I'm the type that enjoys being invisible, not seen, nor accessible. I didn't come looking for any commitments whatsoever and I believe the first lesson learnt is "never say never"

The word of the Lord says " a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his path". If anyone had told me four years ago that I'd be running from platform to groups to apps to create my own niche. I most definitely would have laughed in their face, so hard and so loud. Anything I had in mind as ar that time had nothing to do with the online space and I preferred to keep it that way. I've had this affinity for writing as far back as I can remember but never for once have I thought to showcase to the world. Well let's just say life truly happens and here I am. However you currently feel about something can change in a blink of an eye, never forget that.

You know there's a belief that Youtube can only teach you so much. You'd still need to be trained by a professional for you to go pro. Which is true but I'd also like to tell you that differs from person to person. It's no news that some people will always have an edge not necessarily because they are richer or have better opportunities but because they're just that good. Yess, they are just that good. Everything I know about cooking today is all thanks to Youtube. Spatial learners are real and I'm one of them. Second lesson, there's so many opportunities online, just find out which works best for you. Not that my teachers are boring, visual formats just works alot better for me.

The very last thing on my mind, relationships. I've never believed in long distance relationships. I've always preferred up close and personal. Whether it's parenting, mentorship, friendship, dating, I've always just wanted proximity and opportunity to experience people in person. I felt distance might meddle with authenticity of whoever the person truly is. Maybe it's trust issues or the fact that there's just too much lie in our world, I just knew it was either in person or in person. Ironically for a spatial learner.

I'm a good observer so instead of talking I always just relax and absorb. I didn't think that was possible online, I never believed I could build safe and genuine relationships not until I started to open myself up to the idea of it. I joined Christian communities that fuelled my journey with God and made me a better follower of Christ. I found genuine and beautiful friendships that have helped me grow in more way than I can count. I found my first mentor on Instagram and I can go on and on about the amazing relationships I've made in my years of being online.

Yes there are stereotypes and they'll continue to exist as long as life continues. People will have opinions, people will talk, people will gossip, people will criticise and they'll condemn but that should never be the blueprint on which you'd navigate life. Be it online or not. You'd have negative encounters, traumatising experiences and ugly realities but this too should not be the grounds on which you build and journey. As difficult as it sounds, the only way to truly know, is to try and the only way to truly live is to continue to try. In a nut shell, I'd always be grateful for the world online. It shaped and continues to shape my life.

Brandevo
#day 5
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

Brandevo 21-Day Content Challenge (Aug 11–31)
DAY 4- A Time I Helped Someone (Even for free)

I get lost in thought alot and most times, one of the major things that plagues my mind is this thing called "Help". I often wonder how something so great is looked upon with disdain. You can refer to people as many things, but the moment you address them as "the help" they are offended. Why should being the solution or part of the solution be a thing of shame. Why have we created so many blueprints and turned the world that bring us comfort into something else. Just because of one experience, one encounter, one decision gone wrong. We now look upon our greatest strength as our weakness.

I have a friend who owns a fashion brand. His name is Oluwakorede, a fine thriving young man in the business world. What I love so much about his fashion brand, is his decision to make it an African brand. Which means majority of his wears and designs are carved out and inspired by our African origin and roots. I can visit Korede just to stare at his craft and admire the creator in him. With so much hardwork and consistency, he now attends fashion shows, exhibitions and sometimes his brand walks the runway.

On this very day, his brand was to exhibit at a Lebanese funfair and his assistant bailed out. Korede is one person to never ask for help until, the situation has him in a chokehold. Birds of the same feather flock together. He didn't have anyone as at the time that was free to tag along with him so he called me. I was a bit surprised but I would never miss an opportunity to help a good friend when I know I can. I met him at his store and we left for the venue.

On getting there, it rained heavily the previous night so some of their tents were destroyed. The tent space he was given happen to be one of them, so we had to start looking for space. Everywhere wet and messy. Their workforce team came late so mist people that came earlier had sorted themselves out. The look on my guys face was screaming disappointment and "let's go home, this was a waste of time". Trust me to come in with jokes, prayers and every word of encouragement I could think of.

Finally we were able to get a space and set up for the event. Korede's pieces are a sight for sore eyes so people came around with compliments and question. Many followed his page, took his business card but we didn't make sales. I kept encouraging, praying and begging God even if na one clothe. As people kept coming by I turned myself to brand ambassador. Styling, attending to all enquiries, sharing his card to as many as possible, dancing and singing. Just so he is not downcast or sad.

The day was gradually coming to an end, yet nothing. That day truly felt like a waste of time and by before we knew it. The day had gone, we packed, and left the venue. But one thing I noticed all the while we were dismantling and packing up. His joy was palatable. He was lighter, carefree, full of life and just wearing a smile. While I was doing everything I was doing, I had doubts because I wasn't seeing any external sign yet. But it just goes to say that everything in life that you're pouring into is a work in progress, just give it time.

I was happy and satisfied with myself. Whether it was the beggars I gave money, or the elders I assisted in carrying their luggage, or the students I helped crossed the road or even the times I took up all the chores at home. Providing assistance or being the help, is something that comes naturally with me. Even when I'm inconvenienced, even when you don't ask, I just always want to support in any and every way I can.

@Brandevo
#day 4
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest