Greetings, I’m Dr. Charles Apoki. First, let me thank you all for your continuous support, for watching, sharing, and subscribing to my YouTube channel. I’m thrilled to hear about people around the globe tuning in—some even connecting the channel to their TVs! My goal remains to raise a million African entrepreneurs while sharing how God has helped me.
In this post, I’ll recount my journey into publishing and how it blossomed into a multimillionaire business from humble beginnings. My story is not just about books but also about faith, perseverance, and maximizing what you have.
Starting with Small Beginnings
When I first started, I had no substantial resources. My first book, Covenant Keeping God, was published in the year 2000 with ₦9,000 borrowed from my mother-in-law. I waited hours in the bank to withdraw the money, printed the books, and sold them. The unattractive book cover did not deter me; I persevered, paid back the money, and reinvested the profit into the business.
I expanded with more books like Hold on to Your Vision, initially a family devotional. My wife encouraged me to turn my teachings into a book, and I published it with ₦35,000 earned from medical services. The success of that book opened the doors for many others, including Oil of Marriage and Money is an Idiot.
Lessons from the Journey
1. Don’t Despise Small Beginnings
God uses your struggles and experiences to help you encourage others. My story shows that you don’t have to be extraordinary to make an impact. The key is to start with what you have and where you are.
2. Be Creative and Adaptive
I learned to repurpose and rebrand my materials. For instance, when church members hesitated to buy Common Problems in Marriage, I restructured it into two books: Oil of Marriage and Marriageable or Manageable. By doing so, sales skyrocketed.
3. Overcome Inadequacies with Grace
I don’t have a great memory or perfect grammar, but I focus on communication. Whatever your weaknesses, the grace of God can turn them into strengths.
4. Embrace Faith in the Process
It takes significant faith to start small. If you can manage the little you have with faith, you’ll also handle abundance with wisdom.
Rebuilding and Sustaining the Business
There were moments of struggle when publishing required bulk money while returns came in trickles. At one point, I wanted to sell a property to raise funds, but God had other plans. Instead, I sold a bunch of plantains, some scrap, and borrowed from a friend. With just ₦5,000, I printed new materials and relaunched the business.
Today, I have dozens of books in print, with many more waiting to be reprinted. These books provide a steady income, and the lessons I’ve learned ensure the sustainability of the business for generations.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Start Small: Use whatever resources you have, no matter how modest.
- Reinvest: Don’t consume all your profit—reinvest it into growing your business.
- Be Bold: Dump your ego to market your product effectively.
- Never Stop Improving: Adopt the principle of continuous improvement (Kaizen).
A Covenant-Keeping God
This entire journey has been guided by God’s faithfulness. He asked me to encourage others through my experiences, and I made a covenant to teach others if He made me successful. Today, I can confidently say, “This is my story, this is my song.”
If my journey resonates with you, remember: you are uniquely equipped to succeed. Start now, no matter how small, and let your faith and creativity guide you.
Finally, don’t forget our upcoming webinar on December 6th and 7th. To register, send a message to +234 802 121 2192. Let’s finish the year strong together!
Your friend,
Dr. Charles Apoki
