There's Joy In Working Hard And Building Your Own Business - Umar Farouk Mustapha

Umar Faruk Mustapha is the CEO Faginger, Founder, arewatalent_preneurs and Co-founder arewamarkethub, Kaduna & Abuja. He spoke with TMG about his business.

TMG> Tell us about yourself and what you do.

Umar Farouk> I'm from Kaduna state. I graduated with Bsc Economics from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

TMG> What is important about business development role for entrepreneurs?

Umar Faruk> There is joy working hard and building your own business, which also creates jobs and improves the standard of living for the society.

TMG> What motivates you most about your work?

Umar Faruk> I enjoy working in a team- doing a good job and achieving desired results with your team is encouraging and very rewarding.

TMG> What is your ideal working environment?

UmarFaruk> My ideal working environment is centered around working with others, which allows every member to contribute his/her talent.

TMG> How would you identify a new market for entrepreneurs?

Umar Faruk> One will have to find a strategic market place and try to understand the trend of the necessary information that other people don't notice.

TMG> What do you think makes a good sales person?

Umar Faruk> The ability to identify with your customers, understand their feelings makes them feel respected.

TMG> Why do you enjoy working with people so much?

Umar Faruk> I enjoy working with people who have different ideas; I always like the feeling I get when I hear how I have contributed positively to someone, because coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.

TMG> Define relationship selling and how you implement it in your job

Umar Faruk> Relationship selling is a sales technique which shows the relationship between the buyer and the sales person. Our customers are our priorities, our customers should have a positive feeling after a transaction.

TMG> How do you go about selling an unpopular idea to people? And does it work?

Umar Faruk> Ideas might be unpopular but the outcome will determine the understanding by the people. I need to focus on the positive aspect of the idea, explaining the benefit of it to everyone.

TMG> What is more important to you; maintaining a client or growing the business?

Umar Faruk> In business it's very important to always have a positive relationship with your existing customers/clients, because through them, you can reach out to many customers with their positive response.

TMG> Besides cost reduction, how will you go about raising profit for your clients?

Umar Faruk> We can achieve this by raising profit for clients through sales, increasing production, finding new customers and new market.

TMG> Have you ever lost a client and why?

Umar Faruk> It's disappointing when a client is not satisfied with the outcome they expect from you.

TMG> What is your strategy for converting a no to a yes?

Umar Faruk> Decision making is an emotional process, so you will have to be positive, try to explain and also be more patient to understand their views.

TMG> What does your ideal customer look like?

Umar Faruk> Someone who looks forward to my new ideas and is willing to work with me by introducing others.

TMG> How many employees report to you and how efficient are they? If you're alone how do you manage?

Umar Faruk> In order to make my business successful, I develop a clear business plan and try to identify my customers, considering time and also looking at my finances.

TMG> In case of problems how do you manage ? Do you seek for help from another professional.

Umar Faruk> To be great as a manager, I am always determined to manage the unexpected and also try to blame no one, but instead seek help from my team's opinions.

TMG> What do you do to stay educated about new trends?

Umar Faruk> Keeping updated with the internet services, magazines, adopting new techniques and methods, also working close with the team members and others.

TMG> What are your challenges and how do you handle them?

Umar Faruk> In business things will always go wrong no matter how well you prepare but taking my responsibility seriously matters.

TMG> Tell us about an accomplishment that you're most proud of in your career? 

Umar Faruk> It was our first event in January 2016. We started the preparation in 2015, the recession came and we struggled so hard. It was tough but thank God we made a success out of it.

TMG> Tell us about your management style and how you handle your clients.

Umar Faruk> Having free interaction with my team members helps. I try to adjust where necessary to meet the needs of the management.

TMG> Tell us 3 things that you consider to be your strengths?

Umar Faruk> Being transparent in my communication, looking out for the best of others, being consistent in delivering for a better result.

TMG> Tell us something you would like to learn or improve upon?

Umar Faruk> I would want to improve my self discipline.

TMG> How would you encourage youths like yourself to be self dependent?

Umar Farouk> I have created a platform "arewatalent_preneurs" we are preparing a seminar for our youth on the opportunities available for them, and also for them to learn how to own their business.

TMG> Do you socialise and how?

Umar Faruk> Socialising is a measure of our self worth. Socialising is important to our mental health, it gives you a feeling of being part of others. So, yes, I do socialise.