Category: Women

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BGM || Interview with Naomi Destiny on the Power of Networking.

Ever heard of the saying “Your network is your net worth”?

Yes, a man is only as wealthy as his association.
Networking involves rubbing minds with people of the same passion and assignment as you. Getting to learn and grow in your area of specialty.

You’re as good as the association you keep.

Stay with me as I go into the crux of networking with Naomi Destiny.

Welcome to Dupe’s Blog ma’am. Let’s meet you.

Thank you for having me.

I’m Naomi Destiny, a purpose-driven lady passionate about inspiring young ones unto living a well meaningful and productive life. I write and own an inspirational blog naomidestiny.com focusing on career, lifestyle, productivity, and personal development. I’m a faith influencer, a certified Accountant by profession, an entrepreneur at Sensationals (a gift brand and consultation company), the curator of Inspiration Diaries and the 21st Century Woman (a faith-for-purpose platform that celebrates inspiring people making impact). I am obsessed with personal growth and development, as I help others develop themselves and inspire them unto living the life God wants them to live.
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What do you love about being a black girl?

I love being a black girl because I am a proud black African woman.

Black girls are determined, strong, fearless, bold and courageous. We have so much resilience within us and we are confident in who God made us to be.

I love that I am unique in my own way and accepting who I am inspires others to do the same.

What do you think about Dupe’s Blog?

I think it’s an ever blooming blog. Lifestylebymo.com is your online destination for all helpful tips relating to faith, lifestyle, and women. You are doing a great work here and I pray God multiplies you. Keep shining the light!

What is your definition of networking?


Networking is all about building quality relationships and genuine connections with real people. It’s not just about forming cliques or some association of cool girls or fine boys, it’s about establishing valuable connections with people who you are genuinely interested in and are also interested in you.

Who needs networking?

Everyone needs networking. These days, without the right kind of connection, it’s a bit difficult getting a sit at the top. It’s not just about who you know, it’s also about who knows you. The right relationship can give you what money cannot buy. It can give you access to information, opportunities, and places you may not be able to afford. And that’s why it is important we value the people we meet daily because we never can tell where we will meet them in the future.

Of what importance is networking to the black girl?

Networking is one of the most powerful thing a black girl can leverage on to attain success in life. We all need people on our journey to success, people who are able to laugh with us, cheer us up, support us, and recommend our great works to others. If you check your life and you cannot boast about having 3-5 valuable relationships right now, then you must be joking. Robert Kiyosaki said, “The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work”. You don’t have to wait for people to come to you, make the first move. Reach out to people doing great things you admire or hope to do someday, tell them how encouraged you are by what they are doing and if you are able to communicate value, they will connect with you too.

Have you networked before and how has it benefited you?

Most of the significant people I have met in life and places I have worked, came as a result of me being able to network with someone who knows someone that knows someone that recommended me. I believe so much in the power of divine connections through networking because I have benefited a lot from it. I have gained useful insights from the people I meet daily in life, learnt from their mistakes and experience, followed their meaningful advice and shared wisdom, gained worldwide exposure, etc. And you know, it’s always encouraging having a strong support system, including people who are able to walk you through some really difficult aspects of life other than just doing it alone. That’s what networking has been able to do for me.

What’s the first step into networking?

Be interested in others – Serving others is one of the first step into networking. If you are not interested in other people, what makes you think other people will be interested in you?

Smile – People’s perception of you has a way of influencing them to network with you. Smiling at others increases your likeability factor.

Offer value – After meeting people or getting to know about them, try to offer them something valuable. It gives a good impression about you and makes it hard to forget you.

Don’t try to be what you are not – My spiritual Father, Apostle Joshua Selman will always say; Genuine people are scarce. And that’s so true because in a world where we have people faking it until they make it, it’s rare to find people who are sincere and true. Don’t add to the number, be who you are and don’t try to be someone you are not.
Network with a goal in mind – Don’t just connect with people anyhow, be mindful and strategic about it. We all hope to meet great people on our path to success but how many of us are actually prepared for it? Do you just want to meet Mark Zuckerberg because you want to take a selfie or because you have a goal in mind?

Say hello – First impression is also very important in networking. Don’t wait for introductions before saying a word to people, you can start by saying “hello, your dress is stunning”.

What are the benefits of networking?

As it is commonly said, your network is your net worth. The kind of people you associate yourself with determines the quality of your life. Networking expands your network, it gives you the right access to people, advices, places, and opportunities. Networking can also help you generate referrals for your business, increase your level of confidence, and improve your online visibility.

Who can network?

Networking is for everyone who is serious about building the right kind of relationships. We were not created to do life all by ourselves and that’s why God often make us cross paths with certain people. No matter what you want to achieve in life, there is someone that has made an attempt of it. Reach out to those people, don’t die in isolation.

You can find Naomi Destiny on her blog at www.naomidestiny.com or follow her on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Facebook: Naomi Destiny David
Twitter: Naomidestiny
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BLACK GIRL MAGIC || WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

My name is Sarah Modupe Olomola and I’m an African woman from Nigeria and Yoruba by tribe.
I’ve always loved being a black woman, always been proud of being African.

Africa is a beautiful continent and though we’re called “people of color” with the aim of making us feel and look less, our color is a major part of our strength and beauty.

Black first judges you before it gives you a seat on the table, black first seizes you up before you even have a chance to present your case but then I think the irony here is black always has an element of surprise in it especially when it wants to “clear your doubts. ” – Ene Elizabeth Adeka

An entity that has always surprised and awed me is the African Woman.

What then is Black Girl Magic?

Black Girl Magic is actually a concept and movement that was popularized by CaShawn Thompson in 2013. The concept was born as a way to “celebrate the beauty, power and resilience of black women”, as described by Julee Wilson from HuffPost, and to congratulate black women on their accomplishments. Referring to a speech made by Michelle Obama at the Black Girls Rock Awards, Thompson explains that black women around the world persevering despite adversity inspired her to spread the concept of Black Girl Magic. With these women in mind, Thompson created the social media hashtag, clothing campaign, and rallying cry “Black Girl Magic”, in the hopes of counteracting negativity society places on black women. – Wikipedia.

The aim of Black Girl Magic Category on Dupe’s blog is in line with this.
Dupe’s Blog Black Girl Magic attempts to celebrate the beauty, attractive features and strength of the black Woman. It also seeks to celebrate her ability to thrive against all odds but that’s not all.
We attempt to push the black woman to reach for more.

Women (especially African) are usually reduced to very little, thereby making them feel relaxed, satisfied with mediocrity and unmotivated to do anything out of the ordinary.

The black woman is a concept that is underemphasized because the opportunities, treasures and limitless abilities that lie beneath her skin remains untapped most of her life. She’s almost like a seed planted in the earth, until she is cultivated by the right hand and just the right amount of water and sunshine, she remains what she is: a seed. You know what they say about a seed, until it buds and bring forth, nobody benefits from it. – Ene Elizabeth Adeka

We can do more! We can be much more! Starting from the little things we do to the really “big” things, we can attain excellence. We have the power to shake the universe from our little part or world.

Every Black Girl Magic interview on this blog is aimed at sharpening and perfecting a particular area of the Black Girl’s life.

Related post: The Black Jewel

Remarkable women have come on here to share powerful knowledge on how to be a better woman through practical ways we all can relate to.

So far, I have interviewed women on areas of the Black girl’s life like relationship, money, love, hate, fashion, friends etc. Some have even shared their touching life stories.

History has shown how much a black woman can do when allowed to fully explore and utilize her potentials.

Women like Folorunsho Alakija, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Joyce Banda, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ava Duvernay, Ayanna Howard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Hadiyah-nicole Green, Marley Dias, Serena Williams, Yara Shahidi, Zim Ugochukwu, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and the list is endless have shown us that we (black women) are beyond just plain or ordinary hence the tag đź”– “BLACK GIRL MAGIC”.

Not “Magic” as in the use of rituals, sorcery or witchcraft but Magic as in being wonderful, amazing and of great value, capable of going beyond expectations and wildest imaginations.

My desire is that every Black girl magic interview you read here makes you a better woman.

Black Girl Magic on this blog was inspired by Nigerian women, dedicated to every Black woman and made for EVERY woman on earth.

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Relationship || Is Honeymoon Compulsory? – Lessons from Mrs Tolulope Adejumo

Lately, I’ve been on YouTube very often and it’s been amazing. There’s so much to learn out there. I’ve been seeing videos both for school work and on other areas of life.
One of the channels I recently discovered is Tolulope Solutions run by Mrs Tolulope Adejumo.
Mrs Tolulope Adejumo is the wife of Gbemiga Adejumo and she is a Marriage, Faith and Lifestyle Vlogger and just in case you were wondering, yes, she’s the daughter inlaw to Mummy Funke Felix Adejumo.

Mrs Tolulope’s vlog has blessed me in divers ways particularly in matters relating to relationship and marriage so I’m going to be making lots of posts talking about her videos but for today, I’ll be talking about honeymoon.

Few days back, I saw a video on her channel which caught my attention.

In this video, she spoke about financial challenges in relationships. She said something that really shocked me which was that she and her husband had had plans of going to Dubai for their honeymoon and they had already gotten the visa but then they realized they didn’t have enough money for that and they didn’t want to borrow to get married, they also thought of everything they’d need to start a new family and decided to put the honeymoon plan on hold.

Brethren, they didn’t go on honeymoon until 6 months after their wedding!

DELAYED GRATIFICATION

Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Becoming an award winning wife most times, doesn’t depend on how well you can dress and cook but on how wise and prudent you are and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to ensure that your family is in a good shape.

Proverbs 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

The Adejumos chose to postpone traveling for honeymoon until it was convenient for them and for their future home after all, the honeymoon itself is a mentality.

You can choose to go to a nice place in the country or even stay in your new house and give each other treats, if that is what it’ll take to have a comfortable home free of debt

Please take note that the Sir Gbemiga Adejumo is from a wealthy background and so is his wife so it was easy for them to get money from their parents if they were desperate about going out of the country on honeymoon.

This post is for everyone but particularly for any bride to be, reading.

You can’t have it all together before your wedding, therefore there’s a need to make a scale of preference. Luxuries that do not mean much to your marriage are NOT compulsory if you can not afford them at the moment.

Delayed gratification involves postponing temporary enjoyment for better, bigger and more important things. We’re working and moving to greatness but before we get there, how willing are we to endure and sacrifice?

It is often said that don’t own a bag of #1000000 that contains just #10, instead own a #10 bag with #1000000 in it.

Cultivate the habit of keeping or postponing unnecessary luxury until you can comfortably afford it. This is not to encourage misery or stinginess, it is to encourage you to set your priorities right.
It is good to live a good life but not at the expense of your future.
I’ve seen my parents opt for items that were not too expensive when they had the option of picking the more expensive one which they could afford and I would wonder why. I later came to realize that they had aims and goals hence the scale of preference and when their plans began to play out, I loved it better than I would have loved the former so I trust their judgement till today. If they had desperately wanted instant gratification or cared about what they’d look like to people, they would have made many unwise and irrational decisions.

Most people don’t look like their bank accounts, they choose to work and invest privately while looking like they have nothing so they can afford the lives they want to live in future.

Avoid instant gratification if it’s too costly for your future.

What’s your take on delaying honeymoon? Let me know in the comment section.