Michael Adebayo is young vibrant, smart, with great business ideas. He’s an inspiration to the young youths. He speaks to Elorasblog in this interview.

Please introduce yourself and tell us more about your background?
My name is Michael Adebayo and I am an Author, Speaker, Writer and Founder of The Renewed Life Academy (TRLA). I help young individuals and entrepreneurs achieve x15 times growth in their personal and professional life with special emphasis on their relationship, academics and personal development.

I have featured in a number of media programmes including Crux of the Matter with Elsie Godwin on Happenings Radio. In addition, I have spoken at events organized by different business, corporate and religious organizations on topics revolving around the objectives of the academy.

You’re an Entrepreneur, what does your business entails?

At The Renewed Life Academy (TRLA) academy, our objectives are to raise youths who:

1) Start, nurture and experience the relationship of their dreams.

2) Develop a passion for intentional living.

3) Are self-driven towards academic excellence.

4) Have clarity about their personality plus understands how to use this personality to their advantage in life.

What inspired you to start up your business?

Love, empathy and a desire to help people using my gifts and experiences. I was driven by a heart to serve that was I created my academy. I started my coaching journey as a Relationship Coach. Every day, I observed trends such as lack of understanding, prevailing seasonal quarrels, regular threat to quit a relationship or marriage by either party, depression and many negative realities of a relationship or marriage that do not work. I was not left out in these worrisome experiences. I had many failed relationships most of which I thought would lead to marriage but alas, they did not. Many nights, I was worried and wished all my relationship troubles and struggles could disappear overnight.

Unfortunately, nothing changed, however, I knew that if a change was going to happen, I will have to document my experiences, pick the right lessons and make the most positive interpretations of my past relationships so that I could experience the kind of relationship I desire. After successfully accomplishing this in my personal life, I began to teach same to other young people. I just wanted to see everyone around me enjoy their relationships.

However, as time went on, my vision became bigger and I began to help many people achieve their goals. I came across youths who were confused about their lives. Many ask me questions that made it obvious to me that they were yet to discover themselves and therefore unable to come to the realization of their true worth. I decided to help these kind of people. Also, because I have experience as an academic, I am able to guide students (undergraduates and postgraduates) and help them stay motivated to achieving excellence regardless of their field of study.

Upon receiving many inquiries and testimonials from both local and international clients whom I have helped to set and achieve their personal goals in these regards, I decided to expand my services. That was how The Renewed Life Academy (TRLA) was birth. That is why today I do not only offer relationship coaching but also academic and personal development coaching. The academy is an online academy at the moment and I hope to secure a workspace for the academy in the near future.

How did you get your knowledge on renewed life academy?

The idea of The Renewed Life Academy came from deep thinking. I just wanted a name that tells whoever desires to sign up for my programme or join the academy online to realize what they should expect to experience by belonging to the academy. So while thinking, the scripture “…Old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new” popped in my head. I was like “‘Wow! I think I have figured it out”. On my first attempt, I came up with ‘The Renewed Life Academy’ and I shared the name with a couple of people home and abroad and they said they fell in love with it just as they heard it. I took that for a go ahead and that’s why the name of my academy is what it is.

How were you able to raise fund to start up your business?

Hmmnn, well I will say since it is an online community, it did not require much funds to start up. It only required a mobile phone, internet access and consistent content daily. I started with a Blackberry Phone via BBM Broadcasts and then later moved to Facebook where the community is now hosted. Hence, I was able to raise just about enough money from my personal savings to get these things in place.

What major challenges have you encountered in your business?

Top on my list would be what I call the ‘Freemium Mentality’. Some people expect you to take your time listening to them for hours, and then want you to proffer solutions to their problems without wanting to pay a dime. They feel after all, you should not withhold help from anyone who seeks it from you. Whenever the issue of payment comes up, they just switch off. Secondly, it is time consuming. From having to prepare content, design your social media banners, promote content on all platforms and also engage members of the community almost all day; it is really a tedious task. Thirdly, although I would not want to call this a challenge but something I want to put more efforts on this year and that is to seek and land as many collaborations as possible. I have secured a number of them both locally and internationally but in the past year but I hope to secure many of those this New Year.

Secondly, it is time consuming. From having to prepare content, design your social media banners, promote content on all platforms and also engage members of the community almost all day; it is really a tedious task. Thirdly, although I would not want to call this a challenge but something I want to put more efforts on this year and that is to seek and land as many collaborations as possible. I have secured a number of them both locally and internationally but in the past year but I hope to secure many of those this New Year.

What platform do use to advertise your business?

I use Facebook and Instagram majorly to advertise my business. Seldom, I use LinkedIn, Twitter and Quora.

Will you say it’s been financially rewarding?

Yes but I definitely know that its current revenue is not anywhere near its potentials but I hope to hit major financial goals this year.

Where do you see your brand in 5 years?

In five years, I see The Renewed Life Academy fulfilling its objectives in the lives of at least 150,000 young individuals and entrepreneurs. I also see TRLA landing major partnerships and collaborations with both local and international governmental, non-governmental, private and corporate organizations. In five years’ time, I see The Renewed Life Academy being the most sort after Life Coaching academy for youths around the globe.