#business hack

The year was 2018. 

I decided to step out of my role as the CEO/chief strategist at Extrafemi and do something different...get hired elsewhere i.e get a job. Why did I do this? There are a lot of reasons, some of which cannot be disclosed for now. However, it is safe to say I wanted access.

As a creative digital agency, sometimes size plays a role. There are certain projects you do not have access to not because you dont qualify and/or have the required skills to deliver on them but you dont have access either because you are not known within certain networks or your current resource capacity cannot suffice for excellent execution. You need funds from the project to expand your team but you cannot expand your team without funds from more projects- A classic chicken and egg situation. Asides this, I wanted a different experience outside my own company and learn new team cultures. So I downplayed my history, my role, experience et al, pretended to be a newbie and some months, emails and phone calls later in September 2018, I was appointed a senior digital strategist at a creative agency in Lagos. 

“Stay hungry, stay foolish” is a quote by Steve Jobs to highlight how founders need to stay hungry in order to stay in business. I wasn't just hungry, I was starving. This was initially a 90-day “experiment” but then “I blinked” and it turned out to be a 10-month ride. Time flies when you are driven, enjoy your role and hungry. This article is a summary of some of the problems I was able to solve alongside some takeaways:

1. My role came with its own challenges: one of which was drafting, designing and submitting reports every week. What started out as a no-report role moved to a one-four-page-report per month and eventually spiraled into a sometimes 200-pages and total of 13-reports per month. This number spiked to 15 or 20 reports per month sometimes depending on events/ circumstances. All that data helped our clients make better informed decisions across social and digital as a result. 

2. One of my favorite things to do is to draft a social media strategy. My role allowed me to do this across more industries and sectors and for projects quite larger in scale, budgets and size beyond what I had already done at Extrafemi. This was also in line with one of my objectives for the role in the first place. Two major projects I was a part of out of the several we delivered while on this role were the 2019 reports and strategy for our biggest client and one that allowed a client to acquire a million customers in a few months.

3. What is a role without learnings? Because my role was senior, it allowed me to interface with a lot of other roles from copy-writing, design, emailers and so on. Not that I didnt know how to create these things already but there is always something new to learn. Creating newsletters using dream weaver was something I had seen done during my days at a student on scholarship at NIIT but hadn't really learned how it worked until this role. I was also able to polish my design skills even further. Add a truckload of curiosity to my role and you have a situation where I was nearly always busy. Learning/adjusting/volunteering for something/ some project every now and then while improving on existing process.

4. You never really know how you stack up in a different team especially when you are coming in with a lot of drive et al until you are actually in that position. Acquiring a new team culture was also part of my objectives to be fulfilled when taking on the role and I didnt skimp on that as well. 

5. Then I took over the company social media pages, not only scheduling posts for our clients but cranking out content for the agency’s pages everyday. This pushed my copy and content skills to another level. I must admit that this was initially tough but I powered through. 

6. Events.....the sometimes fun part but mostly embarrassing aspect of my role. Embarrassing because sometimes the client team well sometimes weren't always nice. Notwithstanding, it was a great experience at all the events I moderated and covered.

All in all, this was initially a 90-day “experiment” but then “I blinked” and it turned out to be a 10-month ride. By the 10th month, I packed up and said my goodbyes to the team. 

2026 is the year CEOs stop asking “Should we build virtual teams?” and start asking “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”

The shift to remote and hybrid work has been building for years, but 2026 is shaping up to be the year CEOs stop merely “experimenting” with virtual teams—and start fully embracing them as a core business strategy.

Here’s why:

1. Talent Shortages Are Forcing Leaders to Think Borderless

Great talent is harder than ever to find locally. CEOs are realising that limiting hiring to a single city—or even a single country—no longer makes sense. Virtual teams open the door to a global talent pool, allowing businesses to access skilled professionals at speed, often with more specialised expertise than what’s available locally.

2. Cost Efficiency Has Become a Competitive Edge

With rising operational costs, leaders are looking for smart ways to streamline budgets without cutting quality. Virtual teams reduce expenses related to office space, utilities, and overhead while still delivering high‑performance output. It’s simply good business sense.

3. Virtual Operations Scale Faster—A CEO’s Dream

Whether launching new products, expanding into new markets, or supporting seasonal demand, virtual teams offer unmatched scalability. Businesses can expand or contract their workforce quickly, ensuring agility in a fast‑moving market.

4. Productivity Tools Have Finally Caught Up

The tech has matured. Project management platforms, AI copilots, time‑tracking tools, and cloud collaboration systems have made virtual workflows smoother and more transparent than ever. For CEOs, this means greater confidence, clearer oversight, and a more predictable workflow.

Where CEOs Are Finding the Talent

As more leaders commit to building virtual teams in 2026, many are turning to platforms that offer reliable, long‑term talent—not just freelancers. OnlineJobs.ph (as shown in this testimonial) is one of the most trusted places to hire full‑time or part‑time virtual assistants, marketers, accountants, creatives, customer support specialists, and more. It’s a favourite for CEOs who want dedicated team members—not project‑by‑project contractors.

The Bottom Line

Running a home business selling appliances can be rather complicated. You have to deal with chunky items, and you have to find a way to satisfy the pickiest of buyers. Not only that, but you also have to overcome the logistics challenges.

However, it doesn’t have to be so hard. Implementing the right systems and tools into your workflow will significantly simplify the process for you. Suitable systems, tools, and the right mindset will together make your business a profitable operation.

No matter if you’re flipping already used appliances or drop shipping new ones, these tips will help you elevate your business to a whole new level.

Know What You Are Selling

The first and most important thing to do is pick the type of appliance you want to sell. Picking the right niche is one of the most significant decisions to make, especially if you’re just starting to make your business plan.

Selling every possible appliance-related thing might seem like a good idea now. However, it’ll soon prove to be a pretty overwhelming experience.

Instead, try to niche down some compact appliances, for instance – microwaves or air fryers. High demand essentials such as washers or refrigerators are always a good idea. If you want something more unique, smart appliances or scratch-and-dent units.

Put the Right Price Tag

Pricing is a story of its own. There is a thin line between underpricing and overpricing an item. You don’t want to lose profit, but you also don’t want to discourage potential buyers with prices up through the roof.

Although underpricing might seem like a good way to stay competitive on the market, it can actually just lead to you working more for a smaller income.

When pricing your products, you should consider the cost of the appliance itself. The cost of delivery or shipping, different platform fees, and even your time. Considering all these factors and still managing to stay affordable will be the key to successful business.

Source Carefully

Another thing to keep in mind is sourcing. To stay on top of your game, try avoiding random suppliers or inconsistent inventory. Working with irresponsible suppliers can only make your day and year more stressful than it already is.

For that reason, look for local appliance wholesalers or scratch-and-dent suppliers. Manufacturer clearance sales or outlet programs are also low-stress options, as they offer consistent stock. Once you get the product, make sure they are in flawless condition before putting them out.

For instance, you can always rely on washing machine repair in Sydney to ensure better product performance and higher customer satisfaction. Professional and reliable suppliers will always save you important resources such as time and money, and they will most definitely reduce stress in your everyday business life.

Choose Selling Platforms Wisely

Another area where you need to be careful is platform picking. Selling everywhere might be a bit problematic, as it requires a lot of time and engagement. This way, you risk not dedicating yourself enough to any of them.

On the other hand, a secure way to increase your sales is to choose the most suitable platform for your business type. For instance, using local marketplaces might minimize your shipping concerns.

When you simplify your platform usage as much as possible, you no longer need to deal with logistics management.  Instead, you can focus more on closing sales and acquiring more goods to advertise.

Communicate Clearly

A big part of any successful business is transparency. As a business owner, it is your job to be honest and transparent with your customers. Do your best to clearly state product specifications, dimensions, conditions, or possible delivery options.

Return or warranty policies should also always be clearly stated on your website or platform you’re using. Failing to properly state such important information can only lead to misunderstandings and frustration on both sides of the trade.

It is perfectly normal for a customer to have questions or doubts regarding your product. In such cases, make sure to provide useful and timely answers to help their decision making and speed up the entire process.

Offer Guarantees

Finally, people want to know that they aren’t wasting money. That is why they need to have some kind of security when buying for you.

With simple and clear guarantees, you can easily build trust among your customers. Warranty terms are there to protect both you and your buyer, which will help them feel much more confident in their purchase.

Conclusion

Although starting a new business is intimidating, there are ways to have a less stressful professional journey. With these simple tips, you’ll soon be selling appliances, increasing profit, and maybe even expanding your small business.

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