Meet Abisola Roland

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abisola Roland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abisola below.

Abisola, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?

My self-discipline comes from a mix of my upbringing, education, and personal drive and divine encounter.

Growing up, my dad, who was a military man, instilled in me the qualities of being responsible, independent, disciplined, and well-organized. And being the oldest of four children, I learned these values at a young age.

I attended a military boarding high school and this was where these values were reinforced. I learnt discipline in the highest possible dimension, time management skills, and responsibility. I was lucky to learn these important life skills at a young age.

Likewise, starting a small business at 12 also helped me develop self-discipline. I sold roasted corn during holidays and saved my earnings to buy school supplies. This taught me how to make money, manage money, save money for a specific goal as well as how to run a business.

I would also add that I have always loved to read, I started reading at age 6. Reading broadened my horizons and enhanced my reasoning ability, even further strengthening my level of discipline, even at a very young age.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to be successful, and this desire to succeed and make a better life for myself keeps me dedicated and focused. I however understood early that if I wanted to be successful, I had to study successful people, and if I could do what they did, I could achieve what they achieved, so I studied successful people, one of those personalities that stood out for me, was Bishop David Oyedepo, he is an embodiment of discipline, and I did not only admire his level of discipline, I prayed it into my life, and I indeed got imparted.

So I would say that my self-discipline is indeed a combination of my upbringing, education, experiences, personal drive and divine encounter.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the Founder and CEO of Routely, a game-changing platform that’s revolutionizing global shipping solutions for e-commerce merchants and individuals alike. What gets me most excited is the impact we’re making in simplifying access to reliable, affordable shipping options.

My journey began as the Creative Director at POSH BY ASABI, where I faced firsthand, the frustrations of shipping challenges as an e-commerce merchant. I realized that many others shared these pain points, particularly with international shipping.

Routely is more than just a platform – it’s a movement to bridge the gap in shipping and logistics across Africa and we are sure excited about what the future holds. Routely offers the smoothest shipping experience in this space, our all-in-one solution simplifies the entire shipping process, making it easy, hassle-free, and affordable for anyone to ship anywhere.

We’re passionate about empowering businesses to reach a global audience without the burden of complicated logistics. Stay tuned for exciting developments, as we continue to expand, innovate, and shape the future of shipping and logistics in Africa!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Here’s a possible response:

“Looking back on my journey, I believe the three qualities that had the most significant impact were discipline, resilience, and courage.

Discipline helped me stay focused and committed to my goals, even when faced with challenges and setbacks. Resilience allowed me to bounce back from failures and adapt to changing circumstances. Courage gave me the confidence to take risks and pursue my vision, even when it meant stepping outside my comfort zone.

For those early in their journey, I would advise the same:

– Be disciplined: If you are new to it, simply start small and build disciplined habits gradually. Create a routine and stick to it. Eliminate distractions and minimize procrastination.
– Resilience: Develop a growth mindset. Learn from failures and setbacks instead of avoiding or running away when they occur. Cultivate the habit of encouraging yourself. If possible create a support system and practice stress management and self-care. It helps.
– Courage: Identify and challenge your fears. Develop a sense of purpose and conviction. Take calculated risks and step out of your comfort zone. Stretch and be stretched, that is the only way to grow.

I would add that you treat these qualities like muscles that need to be exercised regularly to grow stronger. With consistent effort and practice, you’ll develop the discipline, resilience, and courage needed to achieve your own goals and make a meaningful impact.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was instilling discipline and a sense of honour in my life. They taught me the importance of hard work, responsibility, and integrity, which has been the foundation of my life and success. Additionally, they believed in me and my abilities, giving me the confidence to pursue my dreams. They encouraged me to take risks and explore my passions, even when it meant venturing into a different territory entirely, different from what they would have wanted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.routely.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/routely.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/routely.co
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/routelyco
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/routelyco