5 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Lagos

In late November, last year I visited Lagos, Nigeria for the first time in several years. Although I went for a break to visit family and friends, the city taught me so much about hustling and entrepreneurship that I felt I had to share.

I had a truly fantastic time. Like London, Lagos is fast-paced and fun but has a hustling energy that is truly indescribable. Here are 5 entrepreneurial lessons and accompanying thoughts the city taught me.

The early bird gets the worm

Talk to any Lagosian and it is not uncommon to hear that people wake up as early as 4 or 5 am to get to work. If you try and risk it and leave any later you will surely at least double your travel time. The city’s traffic is something I experienced first-hand during my recent trip but that doesn’t stop people venturing from the mainland to the island to get to work or make a living somehow. 1 hour in traffic starts to feel normal and there is even a small informal economy of vendors who make money serving hungry and thirsty commuters.

Entrepreneurial thoughts: How are you doing whatever it takes to be productive and maximise the use of your time despite obstacles?