Meet Isaac Odeniran

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

Isaac, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I learnt over the years that there is always a way out of every problem. Whether they be financial, health, legal, business or whatever the problem may be I have always seen issues come and go. One minute there is a problem the next the issue is resolved and another problem crops up, That leads me to believe that this too shall pass. I learnt that for our own sakes we need to do the right thing. Failing to do the right thing will catch up with you in the future. Do the right thing and do the best you can do. I learnt also that even when you do your best and do the right thing, things still go wrong but at least this will not be due to your failure or lack of action. I learnt that whatever a man sows that shall he also reap. This means if you take a certain pathway expect the resultant effect of that pathway. So for example as an Undergraduate I understood that if I wanted good grades I would have to study well. When I graduated from University I understood that one of the best ways to wealth creation was through property ownership so I acted accordingly. I also understood the principle of patience and delayed gratification in my decision making. These also have effect on the choices one makes which have consequences on ones future and future resilience. I also understood the importance of having a sound and strong foundation. For example when I look in hindsight from where I am now as a film producer I understand the effect that having a grasp of English grammar in my early days at secondary school has on me now in my ability to write and finalize scripts for our films.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started my career in housing and property management in 1990. I started my own housing and property company in 1992 and have run it since that time until now. I also started an entertainment, music and film production company in 1999. I manage a portfolio of properties. I also run a record label and film imprint. The record label Zoe Records UK is the Premier British Black Gospel Record label and has released about a thousand audio tracks in the last 25 years and recorded about 300 music videos. The film imprint Zoe Films UK has produced 10 feature films since 2013 and has a catalogue of about 100 stories in development. I have also published two books ‘The Commercial Sense Project’ and ‘Jordan’s Demeanours – A research into UK Black Gospel Music’. The artists that have been released on the records label include artists such as 12 time Grammy award winning Shirley Caesar, Coko formerly of Sisters with Voices, Vickie Winans, Andrea Crouch, JayEss, Coco Dupree, Beverley Moore and many others.

We run a syndicated radio show called Zoe UK Sound of Gospel radio show which airs in the United Kingdom, in Canada and in United States of America. We also run an artists showcase called Zoe Nites and a Festival – Freedom Festival.

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?

I believe hard work is necessary to succeed in life. I believe we need to work today as if there were no tomorrow. Don’t leave what needs to be done today for tomorrow. No to procrastination. Once you build a good foundation of hard work in your early days in life and in business you lay a foundation for a life of ease for the future and this may even extend to future generations after you. I find that if in your early life you worked say ten to twelve hours a day, later in life you may be able to get away with working six to seven hours a day.

I also believe as someone says ‘in consistency lies the power’, we have to be consistent to see results. We cannot succeed in life except we keep the momentum going. I find that sometimes we may want to give up just before our big break.

I also believe that a strong legal and financial background and knowledge base will help any entrepreneur. Basically, an entrepreneur needs to be well informed to make good decisions. My people perish they say for lack of knowledge, for example, I recently had to go back to University to study a Masters degree in film making to hone my skills and knowledge in the subject matter of film making.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents provided me with a good education and stressed the importance of hard work.

My parents pushed me to study and infact, my choice of first degree was based on the suggestion from my father which has benefited me until today even though this was a choice I would never have made.

My father always aggressively pushed me to do better and did not give up anytime the results I achieved were less that required. I guess because I was the first child in the family my father wanted me to be a good example to the others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zoerecords.co.uk www.zoefilms.co.uk
• Instagram: zoerecordsuk zoefilms1
• Facebook: Zoe Records UK ZoeFilms1
• Linkedin: Isaac Odeniran
• Twitter: zoerecordsuk zoefilms1
• Youtube: Zoe Records UK Zoe Film UK

Image Credits

Photography by Saikat Mridha and Ryan Haven