Yesterday at SLAY Festival (She Leads Africa Festival) was fun. I always wanted to attend Coachella but the opportunity never showed up, so when I heard she leads Africa was having a Coachella type event that was focused on business and self-development, I was ecstatic.
I pulled out my vintage shirt dress that I got from SoulOrange Vintage and my West World shorts, matched it up with my Old Testament sandals. Threw on a Tote bag and marched to the venue. The environment was not the greatest but my mind was fixated on what I could get from the event. There was a lot to learn. I met a lot of people but I will focus on my five highlights.
Highlights from SLAY Festival
Fake it till you make it:
Toke Makinwa, Arese ugwu and BolanleOlukanni at different parts of their talks stated this. The truth is, we can dream up something, but action is necessary for the birth of that dream into reality. It could be a smile, it could be a gesture, it could be a way of life but whatever you do, keep practicing for the future you want till that future becomes your present. However, don’t be extravagant nor unrealistic. Fake it with wisdom!
Collaborate:
Don’t run away from your competition. Don’t make your competition your enemy. Find ways to collaborate with people in your industry or people that complement your services. What that does is, it leverages on both your network and the other person’s network and you both benefit. Don’t hoard success. The more you grow and collaborate, the bigger you become. It is evident in the lives of musicians (our very own Wizkid), brands (Cold Stone and Dominos) etc. You name them.
Your looks matter:
Your looks are your first impression. Before you say anything, people already have a formed perception of you. Dress for your audience. Dress in the persona you want to effervesce. Look tidy, look classy, have a style, wear a smile, look confident and own your world.
Be informed:
Know something about everything and everything about something. You cannot afford not to know and if you do not know, admit ignorance and ask for knowledge. Don’t pretend to know, you can stay silent but don’t pretend to know. You will not only miss an opportunity to learn but might be caught red handed in ignorance and this can reduce your credibility.
Sell yourself:
At every point when you meet someone, you need to sell yourself or your business. I noticed that everyone that came on a panel or to teach at the masterclass kept selling themselves and their products consciously or unconsciously. When you meet people, smile say hi, talk in confidence, initiate a conversation, offer solutions to their problems if you can, play on your strengths, wield the conversation to a point where you can talk about your services and products but don’t make it all about you. But do forget to let the other person talk too and be engaged in the conversation.
Generally,
SLAY was a great event still struggling to get past the dust and environment but they made what they had work and still inspire people. If you were at slay, do share your learning points. These are mine, coined out of listening, observing and participating. I do hope it yields positive results for you like it has started yielding for me.