Confessions of an Outsider: The Truth About Life and Business (And Why You Shouldn’t Play by the Rules)

Hey there, Fellow Outsider,

Welcome to the very first chronicle of the Outsider Entrepreneur Newsletter. If you’re here, chances are you’ve got a bit of a rebel streak in you—a desire to do things your own way, even when the world tells you to follow the rules. I get it because I’ve been there, too.

Let me tell you a little secret: The path of an entrepreneur is never a straight line. It’s more like a winding road, full of unexpected detours, potholes, and the occasional cliff you didn’t see coming. I’ve stumbled, I’ve fallen, and I’ve had moments where I questioned everything. But I’ve also learned that those moments, the ones where you feel like the biggest outsider, are the ones that shape you the most.

Nugget #1: Embrace the Mess Life and business aren’t always neat, and that’s okay. When I was in university, I started my first business—a home-based pizza delivery service. It took off quickly, but my grades took a nosedive. My parents urged (didn't feel gentle) me to quit and focus on school, so I did, temporarily. I changed departments, and six months later, I was back in business, but with a better balance. Surprisingly, my grades improved once I embraced the chaos and found my rhythm. The lesson?

Success often comes from navigating through life’s messes, not avoiding them. So, lean into the mess—there’s magic in there.

Nugget #2: Don’t Wait for Permission If you have a dream, don’t wait for someone to give you the green light—just start. That’s the philosophy behind many of my ventures, including this newsletter and, most recently, The Hive Incubator.

Two months ago, I launched the Hive Incubator, a daring dream to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Akure. The idea was ambitious, and some might have thought it too bold for a place like this. But I didn’t wait for approval; I took the leap. Today, it’s already becoming a hub for innovation and collaboration. The lesson?

If you’ve got an idea, don’t sit on it. Start now, make your own rules, and let the world catch up to you.

Nugget #3: The Outsider Advantage Being an outsider isn’t a disadvantage—it’s your superpower. You see the world differently, and that’s what gives you an edge. The greatest innovations come from people who weren’t afraid to think differently, to push against the grain.

Whether it was starting that pizza business in university, launching the Hive Incubator, or even creating this newsletter, every venture has been fueled by an outsider’s perspective.

Embrace your outsider status, and let it drive you to think bigger, push boundaries, and carve your own path.

This newsletter is going to be our space to talk about life, business, and everything in between. I’ll share the ups, the downs, the moments I’ve learned from, and the ones I’m still trying to figure out. My goal is to give you something real, something you can chew on, and maybe even something that makes you smile when you need it most.

So here’s to the outsiders—the ones who aren’t afraid to break the rules, make their own path, and live life on their terms. The journey isn’t always easy, but I promise it’s worth every step.

Until next time,

Folajomi,

The Outsider

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Next Edition.

Fail Fast, Learn Faster: The Day Everything Fell Apart (And Why I'm Grateful It Did)

There was a day when everything I’d worked for seemed to fall apart. The business I had poured my heart into was crumbling, and I was left wondering if all my efforts had been for nothing. But looking back, I realize that this was one of the most important moments in my entrepreneurial journey. In this edition, I want to share that story with you—what went wrong, what I learned, and why I’m actually grateful it happened.