Crossing the ₦1 billion mark in alternative investment sales wasn’t just a milestone, it was a mirror.

A mirror that reflected back the long days, relentless follow-ups, failed pitches, small wins, and big breakthroughs that led to that moment. People often ask me, “What changed after your first billion?” The truth? The numbers changed, but the mindset stayed the same, focused, hungry, and grounded.

Here are a few key lessons I’ve learned on the road to a billion:

• Relationships matter more than transactions. People invest in people. Trust, transparency, and consistency are more valuable than any pitch deck.
• Speed is good. But patience is power. Some of the best deals took the longest time. Learning when to wait is a skill that can’t be rushed.
• Never stop learning. Every market shift, every investor conversation, every mistake, all of it has been a classroom.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen every day, when you show up, stay sharp, and stay true.

The first billion taught me that the journey is never really about the money. It’s about the impact you leave and the confidence you give others to do the same.