They say birds of a feather flock together. This is as true about business as it is about friendships. Like-minded staff, partners and clients will be attracted to working together more than those of a different mindset. employing a person of a different mind leads to their frustration. Teams learn and get to do things a certain way. I think the culture at the Elan group reflects a lot of my own values hopes and dreams. I like perfection, and hate getting involved in things I am lousy at. I am clear about what I am good at and though people around me are good at things I am not, they still share the same values. Hey, your whole world can’t be exactly like you are, that would be boring. However there are certain things they better be sharing and when I look at my team I can define that as in one word – excellence. The earnest poise, energy and innovation that go into each project are unquestionable...except those two women who Al referred.
Now, that was a nice thought but she felt so helpless around them. She was absolutely happy to have them but was so terrified of anything going wrong. They couldn’t talk, all they could do is cry and she wasn’t sure she would be able to interpret their mode of communication. She was no expert in 'Baby'. You don’t become an expert mum or dad just because you had babies. Just like you not an entrepreneur by starting one business. Now a curious thought came to her mind. Was that why Al was suddenly interested in the office more than usual?
The doctor interrupts her thoughts, ‘The babies are fine, perfect. You are fine - generally, but you need to rest for about a week. No lifting, moving around or carrying babies.’
Now, what the heck was that? Elan, ‘What?!’
‘Yes Elan,’ says the Doctor, ‘Look you are tired not only from having the babies and the stress that comes with it, but you have been working hard for years before this period. You have had your children at a late age and you need to restore your health to move on and you being super excited about them even though you are not jumping up and down, it shows in your blood pressure whenever you spend time with them you are anxious’
Elan, ‘But how can I not carry them? Won’t they be upset?’. The doctor laughs, more about his earlier concern than at her statement.
‘You definitely are not having postnatal depression and, it is only for a week.’
After firming up the deal with nurse Kate coming to work for her, Elan feels more relaxed. At least there would be a baby expert around. She had observed her with Tunu and Mich the past couple of hours. She was meticulous in her work and very careful, unlike the other nurse who had brought the babies to them first. Nurse Kate though not smiley, was pleasant and very calm. Elan liked calm, she needed calm around her. Not someone who was overtly excited and may get as worried as she would if anything went wrong. Calm was a fruit of two things, either utter ignorance or expert knowledge. For Kates case it was expert knowledge. Though just finishing her internship she had worked with infants and in a hospital nursery for over 10 years. She had saved for several years to get formal training and the right certifications. This alone made Elan like her more. Patience and consistency is a virtue for any one who intends to have positive impact.
There was a time Elan was not so apprehensive with babies. Or maybe she was now more apprehensive because they were hers? The feeling was like the excitement and confusion when she started the first Elan business. She had known the theory of what she needed to do and had helped many entrepreneurs succeed, but starting her own business got her hands moist with sweat. Dela, who knew and understood the market in Lagos gave her that calm assurance at the time. That gave her the confidence to keep going. Here was the feeling again only this time it was worse, much worse. This was human lives we were talking about, little tiny humans.
By the time Al joined them, Elan group was already having 3 businesses. He came in to start the Talent Management wing of the company. Having been a footballer, he had the interest and loved that aspect of the business. He did not need the money, was tired of travelling and was in trouble with his dad for not wanting to work for him.
Elan was his only interest at the time, but she could not find time for him, at least not the amount of time he wanted which was morning to evening every day, every hour. She was not going to stop working even though they both had enough to live and travel on. To Elan's and his father's surprise, he felt working at his girlfriend's was a far better alternative than his dads. He could keep tags on her. The opportunity for operations director at Elan Marketing and talent management was right up his ally. Though not violent, he was the jealous type and it took a lot of convincing for Elan to accept him on board.
The loss of his football career and fame had adversely affected his ego but with the help of Elan, he became more confident once again. Elan provided the bedrock he needed. Someone whose support he could count on. Even before they dated, she had come out as reliable and trustworthy. All great except that she was unavailable. Luckily her level of success kept a lot of the competition away. meaning he was able to take advantage of every single moment she was free and woo her into a relationship. From the moment he met her he knew he was not going to let her go, not even after he met her with his cousin Leila and learnt she had been in a relationship with Zan. If anything it made him more determined to keep her. He proposed a month later.
His father was mad but his brother who had met Elan numerous times was happy for him. He convinced their parents that she was worth it. Winning an entrepreneurship award and featuring in a couple of business magazines that month also helped soften Chief. His talk of Igbo culture not allowing this or that ended after watching his prospective daughter in law talk at the world economic form that year. His friends congratulated him. But Chief still had to put conditions. In Sam's words bully them to accepting that he still had the final say. So everyone agreed to his prenup proposal to stroke his ego.
Most of these personal traits are what made her so successful in business and probably the reason the Elan team was so dedicated. Her beliefs translated to the general office values.
For Elan, having Al around was great. He knew his stuff when working with talent. He could get anyone to deliver. Being good looking and a charmer did not hurt their business at all. The numerous networks behind each talent varied from industry to industry. Performers needed different linkages from footballers, writers from models. Yet all were important in creating credibility in the wide range of Agency services they offered. Being able to do this big enough under one roof required an exceptional understanding of the different processes. Al had this locked. Being a famous footballer and father's son and having gone to school in Switzerland, UK and France meant he had the right networks at home and abroad. With a few other talent managers they covered 20 key talent areas. Their clients got the best contracts and as Elan's profile in business circles got bigger each expert benefitted from this exposure individually.
He not only understood the networks and processes, but he also he juggled Elan operations with great efficiency, occasionally almost becoming a bully, but he always delivered. He matched her great energy and style with fun and innovative projects. And so, while he did what he had to do to be with her, they drew closer and eventually got married. Just what he wanted.
SEE YOU TOMORROW
