How Betty Irabor Founded Genevieve Magazine At Age 46 In Year 2003, Lost Over N3M To Agent/Vendor In The First 6 Months Of Business

Author, speaker and Publisher of Genevieve magazine Betty Irabor recounts the high and low moments in her life, shares motivations as she’s about to turn 65.

Read her post on LinkedIn below:

Ok, this is just some unscripted random musings…

I got admission into Secondary school at 11,

I was on the second list.. not even the first..

I was one of the oldest in class.. youngest was about 9.

I had many insecurities…

I didn’t make it to Senior class with my class mates because I dropped a class. Had to repeat…

My grades were average.. I was an average student.

Got into University and studied English and Philosophy because that was what my HSC (A levels results)fetched me.

All I wanted was a degree…

Graduated with 2nd Class honours (lower) (Better grade than I expected)

Nursed no ambition. I just wanted a job.

Had no idea what my calling or purpose was.. didn’t care that much.

Became an accidental journalist at The National Concord founded by Late MKO Abiola.

Got married at 27.
First child came early..
Second child came 6 years later. (secondary infertility)

Left journalism to go Corporate…

Nice job but it involved a lot of public speaking engagements which I had a phobia for (phobia of over 30 years)

80/90s..Self employed/corporate promotions for major clients; MTN, GTB, Habib bank, UBA, Nigerian Breweries .. I produced its 50th anniversary clock (my first big money break ….)

2003 Founded Genevieve at 46. (bad decision or good decision ? Still trying to figure it out..

I called it following my dreams and passion…
Passion alone wont pay the bills… ….

HELLOOOO! you can’t survive on passion alone.

Lost over N3m to agent/vendor in the first 6 months of business… we survived it (at a cost )

Be careful what you wish for..I wanted success and fame … Genevieve Magazine gave me those.

It gave me a voice, it gave me an identity a platform and a nice “package”. I finally created something. I wasnt just an average girl, after all… What a feeling!!!
I gave it my all…

Then came the great depression…oh i fought. It was a tough battle.

I won.

But you already know the story…

And then the REBIRTH…

The Reawakening..

A (NEW) DAWN

A new beginning

An unstoppable woman

Unbreakable

Stronger

Purposed

Defiant

Fearless

Refined and purified by process

Unapologetic…

Authentic…

And she is turning 65 in days…

So you think Life hasn’t been fair on you and you want to give up? Then think again….Today is a good day to take charge and design the life you deserve…. See you at the finishing line.👍

Source:Betty Irabor

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com