The first phase of the Secrets to 'Business Success' seminar has come and gone but the impact of its success still hovers around the states visited.

The tour which took a contingent from the Bank of Industry management and staff led by the Managing Director, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Rimsom Associates, the facilitators of the seminar, the Small Business Camp of New York, the trainers and a representative from the US Department of Commerce, round four state capitals in Nigeria really touched the lives of local entrepreneurs of these states. The leader of each group of entrepreneurs that was formed at each state still maintains correspondence with the trainer on their various group projects.

Andrew Morrison, the President of Small Business Camp, New York, together with his business coach, Ramon Williamson taught the participants some basic entrepreneurial development skills they require to build a successful business.

Some of the core topics discussed at the seminar includes the simple steps to achieve business success. They are as follows; taking inventory, listening for opportunity, developing a business model, building a team and creating wealth in 90 days.

Taking inventory involves taking cognizance of visible and invisible. Physical capital and assets represents the visible inventory while the intellectual wisdom and ability to think out something meaningful, forms the invisible inventory. The trainer went on to say that a good entrepreneur should always listen for opportunities. Entrepreneurs according to him should always crave for opportunities that can be capitalized to develop ideas that will build businesses. He went further to explain more on developing a business model. This according to him can be achieved through a careful examination of the revenue and cost drivers derived from various business models after an opportunity has been discovered.

Building a team involves engaging in high performance workplace. Learning on how to employ and maintain the right team members.

Creating wealth in 90 days is the high point of what the seminar was all about. According to Morrison, "Business concepts become practical by planning to reach a major milestone in 90 days". He further went to say that "launching a website, writing a book, finding a joint-venture partner or securing a major contract are all examples of projects that can be completed in 90 days."

Entrepreneurs from the four state capitals visited were also trained on the seven core entrepreneurial values. These include passion, focus, trust, team work, customer orientation communication and creativity. He advised them to always practice these values in order to achieve financial success.

Mr. Ramon Williamson, a business coach from US in his presentation, tasks the participants on the rules of engagement. Here, he encouraged the entrepreneurs to always do what they say, show up on time-punctuality, always say please and thank you and always finish what you start. Build the reputation of always keeping to promises, and avoid disappointing customers.

A senior Economist, Dr. Abdul Shaikh from the Department of Commerce, United States presented to the audience the huge opportunities that abound in Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. He explains the benefits that will accrue to entrepreneurs that decide to take advantage of tariff free export to the United States. He went on to explain the rudiments to export to the United States. According to him, you must have a strong commitment, study the market & competition, identify exporters and importers, obtain export counseling, and understand the rules standards and regulations.

The Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu had different words for each state during the training tour. In Gombe State, she berated the entrepreneurs for not taking advantage of BOI drive to empower business owners. The BOI Chief Executive lamented that although BOI recorded an unprecedented growth of about 120%, N10m facility was the total amount of loan granted to Gombe State. She encouraged the participants to come forth for BOI facility once they have a viable project.

In Bauchi, she revealed that only N100 million was approved for companies in the state out of N11.8 billion that was approved by the bank in 2006. She maintains that it was as a result of low level of participation from these states that led to the organizing of the boot camp seminar series. Ms. Oputu in Ondo State spoke of the need for the state to utilize its educated human capital to develop the state by engaging in small and medium scale enterprises.

The chief trainer for the seminar, Mr. Morrison in his closing remark maintained that Nigeria is still a virgin land with bountiful exist so many untapped human and material resources & potentials. The second Phase of the workshop is expected to take off in some selected Nigeria states in November, 2007.