The Day I Stepped Beyond My Own Limits

When I first heard my dad tell me to go visit one of his friends in Shomolu (Nigeria's Largest Printing Hub) to “learn about printing,” I was genuinely speechless. I mean, seriously? Me? The guy who had spent over 3 years running a successful printing business on campus, scaling up from a small inkjet to more advanced printers? After all that, he was telling me to go “learn” about printing? Surely, my dad had no idea how much I already knew. Or so I thought.

It all began back in university when I started printing greeting cards on my humble inkjet printer. I’d been running a small greeting card business, and it just made sense, I already had the printer, and creating my own designs meant I could produce them exactly the way I wanted. I remember the pride I felt showing my dad the cards, expecting a full round of applause. He was proud, of course, but instead of the full-on praise I’d hoped for, he also suggested I go meet his friend in Shomolu who ran a printing business. Thank God I listened and I didn’t let pride get in the way.

My dad’s friend took me around, explaining the differences between offset and digital printing. As he showed me a whole new world opened up before me, one I had been completely blind to. I realized how much I’d limited myself by only focusing on what I already knew. I had been living in a bubble, satisfied with my small inkjet and digital knowledge when there was an entire industry outside my comfort zone that eventually expanded my business in ways I hadn’t imagined.

When Flevor started, I wasn’t just printing cards; I was managing logistics, handling marketing, and overseeing every tiny detail. During a business incubator program, I explained my whole business process to the mentor, he suggested outsourcing my production, a concept that, embarrassingly, had never even crossed my mind. Outsource? To people who might not care as much as I did about the product’s quality? At first, I was skeptical.

But then, I remembered that day in Shomolu, the moment when I realized there was a bigger world of possibilities outside my narrow view. I had to ask myself a hard question: Was I holding myself back because I was afraid to let go? Was I letting my comfort zone keep me small?

I thought about it long and hard and I eventually decided to give outsourcing a chance. Over time, I had more time to focus on marketing and growing the business, and our output expanded. I had finally figured out a way to scale that wouldn’t have been possible if I kept everything under my control. I learned that even massive brands like Nike outsource large portions of their production, choosing to focus on their brand, their message, and their vision rather than trying to control every single detail.

Sometimes, to grow, we have to let go of the idea that we know it all or that our way is the only way. When you feel stuck or that your progress has slowed, it might just be a sign that it’s time to look outside what you’re familiar with. Pride, comfort zones, and the “I know best” mindset can hold us back more than we realize.

As you can bow see the path to success often involves opening ourselves to what we don’t know yet, to learning from others who see things differently. Don’t be afraid to explore new ideas or step out of your familiar routines. The growth you’re looking for might just be waiting outside the walls you’ve built around yourself. And when you finally dare to open your mind, you’ll be amazed at just how far you can go.