According to Webster’s New Encyclopedic Dictionary, health is the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially freedom from physical disease or pain. The same dictionary also defined stress as a factor that induces bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in the causing of disease. From the two definitions above, it then means that ill health and stress can make an individual not to maximize his/her full potential. One can only attain success when the person has sound health. It may interest you to know that some of us actually are responsible for our ill health or the stress we go through. For instance, most of us hardly take into consideration what we eat, some of which eventually might not be good for our body. This may result in overweight, thereby causing stress. Mark Twain once warned that “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”
In my book, Managing Executive Stress, published by Benson and Edwards, I mentioned that there are good and bad stress. But at the end of the day, individuals are responsible for how they react to each one. For we have agreed that it is not what happens to you, but how you react to what happens to you.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” I am quite sure that most of us have plans which we have set out to accomplish this year and of course, for the rest of our lives. The question then is, if you are not in good health, do you think those goals will be accomplished?
It was Dr. Olga Worral who once said, “My research shows that everyone has some natural healing power, and five percent of us have outstanding abilities. If you are part of the five percent, you were born to heal yourself and others.” To this five percent belongs Dr. (Mrs.) Quincy Ayodele.
Her carving a niche for herself in herbal medicine was not by accident. Having stayed in the village with her paternal grandmother where she did her primary and secondary education, she was quick to acquire the basic skills in traditional medicine. It’s not as if she has any alternative, because then, her life depended on it. During that time, being a sickler, she was always sick and her grandmother would always go to the bush to fetch leaves, bark and roots from which she will make concoction for her to drink. And each time she takes these concoctions, she will be well. And so, she started going to the bush with her grandmother. And that was where she got her first training in herbal medicine. Her grandmother took time in teaching her the names of different leaves, trees’ bark, roots, etc with their functions.
Thereafter, she continued her education and on completion got a job with the then Societe Generale Bank where she rose to a senior position. But the unthinkable happened. She woke up one day and felt she no longer belonged to the banking industry. Before you could say Jack Robinson, she had tendered her resignation letter. She quit her lucrative job in the bank.
There was no reason to leave. She did not have any problem that will make her just quit. To make matters worse, there was no particular thing she had in mind of doing, as to what would’ve lead to her quitting the bank job. She just wanted to do business; any business that would bring money. That was how she ended up making puff-puff. Did you get that? She left a lucrative bank job then in 1995 to make puff-puff under the bridge on Awolowo Road in Ikeja, Lagos. Now imagine what it is like to see a very pretty, fair complexioned, smooth and fresh skinned, nicely dressed young lady amongst the petty traders under the bridge? What did you see? Keep it to yourself.
What would be your reaction if you knew her and her background? The first thing that will come to your mind is crazy. As far as you are concerned, she has lost her mind. You won’t be wrong if you thought that way. For that was exactly what her friends thought would’ve happened to her. For them, there was no reason why she should quit the bank job to be making puff-puff. They said so many things, but she turned deaf ears. Her immediate boss in the bank approached and offered her the bank job back. But her mind was made up. She was finished with the banking system. She wanted to do business.
Her parents and family were not left out. They were very much disappointed in her for quitting a fantastic bank job for puff-puff making (which parent would be happy?). But the driving force was the passion to make success out of her life. To everybody, she was mentally sick; to her, she wanted to live her own life.
You see, dear reader, in life, when you know what you want and go after it with all your heart, nature has a way of taking care of the rest. Of course, that’s where our subconscious mind comes into play. Instruct it strongly with what you want and it will naturally attract things that will make it possible for you to achieve your dream.
During the time she was making and selling puff-puff at Ikeja, whenever any of her fellow petty traders fell sick, they would come to her and she would recommend different plants and leaves for them. Afterwards they will come back to thank her. An incident happened during that time, which was to change the whole script.
A girl was knocked down while crossing the road. She saw the scene from where she was and ran to the girl. The girl was bleeding and Quincy started to apply all the reviving methods she knew. As she was doing it, the girl started foaming. Other petty traders around warned her of the implication should the police arrive at the scene. But at that moment, her concern was to save life and she didn’t care about the police. The girl went into coma and they rushed her to the hospital.
At the hospital, the girl was rushed to the theater and Quincy was with the other doctors. Everybody was trying all kinds of things to revive the girl. She later survived. That incident was all the proof she needed to convince herself that she was gifted in natural medicine. Her father, who was then in England, on hearing the girl’s story and of course that of puff-puff, arranged for her to go for training in herbal medicine abroad. And so she attended London College of Herbal Medicine for nine months.
After the training in 1996, from the savings she had made from trading, she started with N5, 000 and God. The rest as they say is now history. Quincy Ayodele Herbal Slimmers is worth millions today and has outlets, offices and clients around the world.
Quincy, who is grateful for the knowledge passed on to her by her grandmother, has decided to pass all her knowledge to the next generation. Most of her staff can prescribe whenever she is not around. Her children also are involved in what she does.
Focusing on just slimming has made it possible for Quincy to be known all over the world. Quincy who does not do any other thing apart from running the herbal outfit observed, “Starting business, especially by women takes a lot more courage, it takes humility to succeed. Also, as a woman, one should learn to stick by one’s word; do not compromise: start with what you have, just start.”
For those who are about venturing into business or those who want to but are waiting for the perfect time, she says, “Don’t wait until you have thousands or millions before you start. Take the bull by the horn.” Her love for what she does has completely consumed her that she does not create any special time to relax or unwind because she relaxes more when she consults.
She warmed her way into the hearts of many Nigerians who hitherto were skeptical about anything herbs through her commitment to providing efficient health services. This she said is based on having a good technical background. Once you have gained ground in your existing environment, you can begin thinking of conquering new grounds. That’s exactly what she did when recently she opened a health restaurant for those who are conscious of avoiding fat.
Quincy was on her own when she launched out. The industry was almost nonexistent. If you are fully convinced about what you want to do and also sure of the benefits to the general public, even if it’s a virgin concept, go ahead and launch out. That after all is the mark of a genius.
Start with what you have. As I’ve always said, there will never be a perfect time. The perfect time is now. There must be something in your hands to start with. The most important facility to start with is your brain, and everybody has got one. Be courageous to launch out. It was not as if she had all the money in the bank before she quit the bank job.
Reject every rejection that comes your way. People will not always see what you see. And if it’s a new concept, be ready to face lots of criticism. The only way to prove a point is by taking action until they buy into you. Show commitment to whatever you do. Another important lesson is to give out your services free when starting. That’s the best form of advertisement. Word of mouth still is the best form of advertisement.
Have focus. Get known for one thing before venturing into other areas. Don’t jump from one thing to the other. Concentrate on one thing, build up there, become an expert there, and the whole world will think you know how to do every other thing.
Lastly and very important, always trust God to take control. He will never leave nor forsake you. Never!
Shalom.