Business Lessons Nigerian entrepreneurs can learn from Bishop David Oyedepo
David Oyedepo is a Nigerian pastor, author, business magnate, architect and philanthropist. He is the president and founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide. He is also the Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota and Landmark University, Omu Aran. He is also the President of David Oyedepo Foundation. Bishop Oyedepo was born on September 27, 1954, to a Muslim healer father while his mother reportedly went to Cherubim and Seraphim church. His parents were named Ibrahim and Dorcas. Bishop studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. Eventually, he also got a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States of America. He got to use his architectural degree briefly when he worked the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin.
These are some of the preliminary background I want to give you about the bishop which I feel are somewhat important before diving into the actual discourse of today. Today, everyone knows who Bishop David Oyedepo is and how high he has risen into prominence and wealth. If you are an entrepreneur or a business-owners, you definitely have many wisdoms to learn from such a man who has been able to rise from the obscurity of poverty and low background into the limelight of wealth and world-wide recognition. That’s why what I am interested in discussing with you today are the business lessons Nigerian entrepreneurs can learn from Bishop David Oyedepo.
- Goal Setting
Bishop Oyedepo wrote, “Success begins with a goal, a defined target. That is why successful men are usually referred to as ‘goal-getters’”. You do not get a goal except you set one. Where there is no target, you will never hit one. So, a life without a goal is sure to suffer frustration and setbacks. Have you ever seen a football match without a goal post? The match will end in frustration, as no winner can emerge. The same way, if you start any day without a set target, that day is likely to be wasted, because you are going to lose time and end up frustrated. That is why any successful executive plans his day before he moves out.” Without a plan you will never succeed in life. Goal setting is the all mark of every successful individual. Your goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot. Are you thinking of setting goals? If yes, that’s good. But you can do better by not just setting goals but setting SMART GOALS. Almost every one set goals, but successful people set S.M.A.R.T. goals.
Business Lessons Nigerian entrepreneurs can learn from Bishop David Oyedepo
- Don’t be afraid to start small
The past humble beginning and the current status of Bishop David Oyedepo alludes to the fact that starting small in life is not a crime, neither does it have to define your whole life. Many people have allowed their background to keep their backs on the ground. As a business person who has gigantic visions of many things to be done and achieved, this singular principle must be ingrained into your subconsciousness. Starting small is a working principle that is very much supported by the bible and the fact that God started the whole universe and the entire human race from just two people – Adam and Eve – is largely instructive for every entrepreneur who seem to be starting on a low key today. This principle is what we have seen played out in the life of Bishop Oyedepo over the years.
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- Planning is everything
Bishop Oyedepo was once quoted to have said this: “At first I was really against planning. I thought anyone who has a plan has no faith. I wasn’t taught that. I just assumed it to be so. But that’s not the truth”.
As a business person or entrepreneur, planning should be the major part of your plan. You have to grow to become the kind of person who will achieve the goal that you set. No other plan will work except you first work on yourself to become the person who will achieve the goal. God planned everything. He has a goal and has a plan to achieve that goal. One thing you need to understand is that there is no way you are going to achieve a goal except you first of all become that goal. This is the reason why it took Bishop Oyedepo 16 years to achieve the goal of building an auditorium that seats 50,000 people. There is no way he could have achieved that goal without first growing himself.
- Clarity of Purpose and Direction
Bishop David Oyedepo is a strong believer in the fact that not all that glitters is gold. He believes that a man’s worth is in following a path ordained by God. Bishop was often quoted to have said, “One wrong step is enough to crash a destiny. God has an already made plan for you. If you miss it, you’ll pay dearly for it.” In his book, Understanding Divine Direction, he tells several personal life encounters that show the importance of being clear about one’s purpose in life, in business and career, as well as following the plan of God for your life. Bishop David Oyedepo believes and teaches that you don’t need to be a pastor to be successful and make a great impact in life. All you need is to do whatever it takes and find the plan of God for your life and then give it your 110% effort. As a business person, you can invest in whatever helps you to know the area God really wants you to operate. Story had it of a woman who prayed to God to show her the secret of peanuts – and as an answer to her prayers, God showed her about 100 (I am not sure about the exact figure) things she could do with peanut. The conclusion of that story has it that the woman is a billionaire today, from producing several lovable products – all from peanuts.
- Understand the power of focus
In his book UNDERSTANDING VISION, Bishop David Oyedepo gives a clear step-by-step-guide on how to discover your purpose and how to focus on it. Don’t think you are designed for everything. DOING one thing right is better than TRYING many things.
Business Lessons Nigerian entrepreneurs can learn from Bishop David Oyedepo
The ability for greatness and the capability for work has it root in your focus. Focus Keeps life on the track and attract unlimited success. Focus is the supernatural secret that makes everything available and good life accessible. Focus says if what you are seeing is not what is happen, then what is happening is temporary. If you can stay for a while, your focus will birth peace, produce greatness and register you among the word changers. If you focus on your focus, you will become the focus of your world. Focus connotes facing one course until successful. Focus is a key requirement in running a successful business venture, and it is a skill that every entrepreneur must seek to learn and possess, no matter what it costs.
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