Meet Dr. Omai Kofi

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Omai Kofi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Omai , really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
I thought I was selected as the permanent poster child for lay-offs. Matter of fact, I knew it. I found myself talking to unemployment way too much for my taste, it was almost like a dependency. I was embarrassed, ashamed and started to think something was wrong with me. 5 years total on unemployment benefits, welfare was too much to bare. Knowing I came from 3 generations of welfare recipients and me taking us into the fourth wasn’t a game I was willing to continue to play. I had to get into WHAT I REALLY WAS MEANT FOR: Entrepreneurship. I have not been laid off since. My first year really acknowledging my entrepreneurial quotient was 2015, but I started businesses beginning in 1999. That’s a 16 year stint of taking something seriously (officially; finally).

Entrepreneurship was my overcome exit from being laid off and ultimately fired from anywhere, by anyone, ever. In order to ‘become’ and entrepreneur I had some self-development prerequisites:

0. Accept that I could use my mind and brain power to make me money for myself vs. others.

1. Consult with a set of unsuccessful entrepreneurs.

2. Consult with a set of successful entrepreneurs.

3. Decide.

I think deciding was the only step needed, retrospectively, I know for a fact it was. Decisions come from a powerful internal perspective where you commit to discipline. So ultimately, I overcame being laid off by becoming a DISCIPLINED entrepreneur.

Delayed gratification, non-emotional business decision-making, leaving behind everyone and anyone who was toxic or negative. A ton of grace for all the mistakes that were a part of the process. Respect for the process as all included in that discipline. Not thinking like an employee, not playing the ‘Boss’ and lastly, not doing everything on my own. “Self-Made” includes: teams, systems, processes, etc.

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?
In my naivety, I thought it was impossible to become The Founder of a nonprofit. Funny I would even think such a thing seeing how many NPO Founders I served, but couldn’t see myself doing it, until I did it. I was always close to it. Philanthropic pursuits are at the core of everything I have ever done in business. I don’t see any other purpose for wealth besides distribution (which includes endowments and inheritance). From early middle school I was always in a servant leader capacity as a Peer Leader, Mentor, Assistant Teacher or something or another. I was bred to lead. My Elder Sister Gwendolyn calls me her ‘Little Big Sister’. I’ve always been the Counselor, the Advocate since I was very young. It’s my comfort zone, although most of the time I am uncomfortable doing any form of mentoring and advising. I am an empath (although it took 40 years to admit it). This came from my natural communications gift. I was always the one who asked authority on behalf of the youth (who sent me as the fall girl). I appreciate it now, because I have absolutely no fear is advocating for those who need a voice.

As the Founder of The Board of Literacy, a financial literacy 501(c)(3) foundation, I teach the youth how to advocate for their wealth at earlier ages. We have 4 core programs which teach SCIS (savings, credit, investments, and streams of income. Each program is built on terms (definitions) and where to apply them and when. It’s easy to teach people how once they understand why. www.theboardofliteracy.org

As the Principal of our investment firm, OMAI, INC, we teach clients and partners how to advocate for their investments (and in most cases, start their investment portfolio). We start off with low increments such as $10 stocks or $100 bonds to make it easy financially so we can make it easier to understand the process. We also teach people how to use infinite banking with just about any financial product on the market. After completing my Alternative Investment www.Omai.Investments

Last but not least, I still use my media background and operate our DBA Omai Network under OMAI, INC. which handles graphics, digital business cards and proprietary events to connect entrepreneurs socially and financially to opportunities. We just launched our new opportunity and I absolutely love having our own digital business card company franchised through 10K Cards. www.DrOCards.com

We are able to make your networking networthing and offer so many specialized services to easy social currency flow. Using QR codes to share your message and opportunities is going to be the main way sooner than later. We are already QR coding everyone we encounter! It’s powerful and really exciting. Having your own app, your own social media platform and your own digital bank is very normal through our platform.

The most uplifting aspect of what I do for a living is use key-relationships and opportunities to build people’s confidence and peace in their own abilities to leave something behind for future generations. I love anything that causes force multipliers to come about. I am big on abundance programming, and I see I admonish people to grow in their knowledge and application of wealth which is everyone’s birthright and civil right. It makes no sense to have the gift of life and choose to stay in conditions or systems which keep you unhappy or limited. Whether people start their own business, work for someone else, or they are still figuring it out, there’s always a place to practice abundance, I just love investing as one of the ways in that practice.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My insight to personal growth has been the following: “I speak my mind, share my thoughts with just about anyone, but never tell my private business to anyone.”

Emotional Intelligence, Soft Skills and Self-Discipline are my personal journey trinity. These areas have had the largest impact on my personal journey. I breathe, eat and drink them daily. I never stop learning on these fab three areas. Improvements can be subtle and cause tremendous impact.

Anyone just starting out in any area I have expressed I am in, please allow grace to be your guide. Fall in love with mistakes, enjoy process before progress. Respect your failure as much as you envision your success. Do have a vision, but just know your adaptability to changes and updates or revisions will carry you further than staying stuck on the feelings behind a vision. Listen, absolutely no one rich or poor has it all figured out. There’s no amount of wealth worth staying in a state of self pity, nor disappointment because you forgot something or made a mistake or keep failing at something you know you are destined for. Being open to the end in mind is only one part of the success formula. There is a formula to success inside of you non compared to anyone else, it’s unique to you. This means you have to work harder on yourself than you do on anything in this world. Inside you is a world of support, strength and unshakable power. Enjoy you, a lot.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I laugh out loud. I stop, drop and laugh. As serious as the issue or challenge, is as hard as I laugh. I also say out loud, in a moment whether it be a long or short one, this won’t matter like this, so let me move into a better moment about it now.

I then stop laughing and start asking for help (by delegating) and when there’s no one, there’s always a calendar and a note pad to schedule things out and or write a strategy down. I have to take that moment seriously, but not serious enough not to laugh and give my joy her respect too.

I fully acknowledge ‘When is always now.’ I love the present. I appreciate the present as a present. I sit in the present as long as I can before I ever give way to any feelings of overwhelment. Overwhelming energy can also come from not being prepared. I spend a lot of time for preparation in many areas of my vision. I refuse to adapt to struggle culture for longer than I need to (which is never). Yes, there are accidents and things that come up, however preparation helps the unforeseen more often than not. It is important not to worry, yet be a critical thinker and not try to solve every problem on your own.

It’s better to build relationships than business, wealth or dreams!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Corey Reese Photography Design Place Graphics Zaccheus Miles 10K Cards OMAI GRAPHICS & DESIGN

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