My wardrobe right now?
Absolute chaos.
I was meant to go into work today, had an outfit planned (yes… yellow, who even am I? 😅), but I changed my mind. I’ve got a lot of meetings today, and I knew going in today wouldn’t actually help me achieve what I needed.
So I stayed back. Reset. Refocused.
And honestly? That decision alone is a lesson in itself, knowing when to pause so you can show up better.
Now… let’s get into the real tea ☕
The Moment Everything Shifted
If you’ve been following my journey with OZ Eats (Check here), you’ll remember I mentioned wanting to get into stores.
It was always part of the plan…
Just not something I thought would happen this quickly.
Last week, I launched my first box (Check here). Clean. Neat. Well-presented. Intentional.
I shared it in a community group, just doing what I normally do.
Then out of nowhere…
Someone reached out.
“Hi, I’d like to partner with you.”
Just like that.
From Post to Opportunity
Of course, my mind started racing:
• Is my business registered?
• Do I have my food certificate?
• Am I actually ready for this level?
But instead of overthinking, I moved.
On my break at work, I drove straight to his store. No delay. No second-guessing.
When I got there, he said something that honestly stayed with me:
“I reached out because of your presentation.”
Not your pricing.
Not your followers.
Not how long you’ve been in business.
Your presentation.
He talked about:
• How neat the meat pies looked
• How clean and intentional the packaging was
• How professional everything felt
That alone made him stop scrolling and take action.
The Opportunity
Then came the real conversation.
He told me:
• He owns an African store (local 👀)
• There’s demand for small chops
• He wants to stock my products
And not just that…
He started listing more:
“I know you can do jollof rice, fried rice, afange, efo riro…”
I was like, sir?? 😅
This wasn’t just small chops anymore.
This was expansion knocking at my door.
But Here’s the Real Lesson…
I already knew my gaps before that meeting.
Before I even stepped into that store, I knew:
• I was not registered
• I needed inspection approval
• There were systems I still needed to tighten
So when he mentioned it, I didn’t panic.
I said:
“I’ve already taken my food and hygiene course. I’m just waiting for inspection.”
That moment?
That’s what preparation looks like.
Presentation Will Open Doors You Haven’t Knocked On Yet
Let me say this clearly:
Presentation opened a door I was supposed to go and knock on myself.
I didn’t pitch him.
He came to me.
And even more powerful?
He said:
“I’m not going to meet anyone else. I’ll wait for you to get your certification.”
That right there?
That’s what happens when:
• Your work speaks
• Your brand looks ready
• Your delivery feels intentional
Stop Calling Yourself a “Small Business”
This is where I need you to shift your mindset.
Please… stop calling yourself a small business.
I used to do it too.
But let’s be honest, it shrinks how you see yourself.
You are not “just” anything.
You are:
• A Founder
• A brand
• An enterprise
• A force
OZ Eats?
It’s not a small chops business.
It’s a force.
Final Thought for This Business Wednesday
Yes, profit matters.
But beyond profit, ask yourself:
• How can I scale this?
• What gaps do I need to close?
• What level am I preparing for, even before I get there?
Because opportunities don’t always wait for you to be ready.
But when your presentation is right?
They might just wait for you.
With Love,
A Founder(Ayo)
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