Here is a great investment opportunity for you dear readers of this column. I am constantly in search of any opportunity that will add value to every reader, hence this. An American estate development company has just appointed yours truly as their representative in Nigeria.

They are interested in real estate development on a large scale, especially in the metropolis with a delivery target of about 1,000 housing units per annum! If you know anyone that has large expanse of land in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or any other major city but does not have capital to develop it, get in touch by email.

The land must have all the deeds necessary and without encumbrances or 'omo onile' issue. The owner must be willing to contribute the land as equity as the developers are not interested in buying the land. Integrity is the watchword here, so only very serious enquiries will be entertained.

For about five years, I had drummed into my children's ears the need to be selling-conscious and indeed to sell something. I even went to the extent of importing some goods for them to practice with. I wish I could say that they absorbed that gospel wholeheartedly.

True what Jesus said that a prophet has no honour in his own country. The goods lie in my office as we speak. But my resolve is not dampened. I will still empower others with them.

About two months ago, I had an extensive conversation with my son who finished youth service two years ago but had, until recently been jobless. I was getting to the point where I was going to withdraw every form of financial support for him if he did not get the message.

I asked him to show me anyone he knew who had succeeded without selling something. He couldn't. As far as my son was concerned, he had no flair for selling and he did not think he would work in a position that required him to sell anything (as if he had a say in the matter), so whatever his "old school" dad was saying was not really for him. When God would vindicate my position, he got a job with the Lagos State government that would have required him to meet a revenue target.

While he was still attending the orientation programme, he got another job with a multinational company. Within a week of the orientation in the company, he was assigned a sales route and given a daily sales target. Each day he returned from work, usually very late, and narrated how challenging it is, I chuckled. If he had taken advantage of my previous 'preachifying' on the subject, he would not be the rookie that he is now on the job and it would, no doubt, be less stressful. Somehow, I love the feeling of hearing, "Daddy said so".

Take it or leave it, you have no say in the matter. Life is a marketplace and everyone is in the business of selling something! Even if you refuse to sell, you are being sold to. It is, therefore, in your own interest to get involved in the business and start doing something deliberate about it.

One thing my children and many other people usually bandy as a copout here is that they are not qualified and have no natural flair for selling. I disagree.

You do not need a Harvard degree to do this. Everyone was born with the flair to sell. The real problem is in what and how you are selling! Consciously or not, you are selling something every time you get involved in a transaction that involves you taking a position or volunteering an opinion on any issue.

The best definition of selling that I have come across in recent times is by Zig Ziglar. According to him, sales is the transfer of enthusiasm from one person to another. Simple, but profound and all-encompassing. It is applicable to every sphere of human endeavour. Find at least one thing you are passionate about and make your enthusiasm infectious. Whoever catches the bug is your potential ATM machine! Just make sure you know and supply the right PIN, that is, the required value!

It is by far easier to spend money than to make it. To spend money, all you need is someone to give it to you. What you get, however, depends on the mood of the giver. When he no longer has a reason to give it, you are sunk!

To make money however, you still need people to give it to you but the difference is that they are compelled to part with the money whether or not they are generous or willing. Why? They are better off with the value you are offering than they are with the money in their pocket!

For as long as you can replicate the model, you will always be earning money from people who, like the ATM machine, don't have to like your face before they give you the money! If you know and apply the principles, you will never lack supply as long as you live!... continued.
Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!