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  • Meet Austin Okolo, owner of BTSO Clothing

    Who is Austin Okolo? Austin Uche Okolo is a university student, studying Bio-Science, and also plays football for Rising Ballers FC - a team picking up lots of momentum within the social media world. As well as this, Austin also runs clothing line, BTSO. What is BTSO Clothing? BTSO stands for "Born To Stand Out". True to their name, the team provides clothing that helps people stand out - with one of their more popular pieces being the clothing with their reflective logo on. The company goes beyond clothing as they run a social media page that not only showcases their clothing, but also posts "Standout Sunday" videos, in which influencial figures share their advice for those wanting to be successful and also stand out. What is Austin's vision? Austin plans to empower as many people as possible through his personal efforts as well as his brands. Also, he wants to become a house hold name when it comes to sport and leisure wear - so watch out for when BTSO open up a store in the next few years ;). How can you buy clothing from BTSO? If you would like to purchase items from BTSO, you can do so by visiting their Instagram @BTSOclothing. Similarly, if you would like to follow Austin's journey, you can do so via Instagram @AustinOkoloo.

  • An Honest Review of MYLK PLUS

    My honest review of MYLK PLUS Before getting into the review, it's important to understand what MYLK PLUS is and who created it as this gives a sense of the brand's personality and goal. What is MYLK PLUS? MYLK PLUS is a brand created by Camilla Ainsworth, who was a finalist of BBC's The Apprentice 2018 - with Camilla being the youngest finalist on the show. The brand itself is a fun, energetic entity that sells dairy free, nut milk. The idea came after the founder, Camilla, found out that she was lactose intolerant but could not find an affordable, good quality lactose-free milk. Because of this, Camilla took advantage of this opportunity and has forced her way into the market with her crazy flavours and vibrant, unique branding - with the bright pink standing out in any store. Where can you buy MYLK PLUS? MYLK PLUS products can be purchased both online and is currently rolling out in most Holland & Barretts stores across the UK. My honest review I recently purchased a pack of 4 Salted Honeycomb Hazelnut bottles, which is part of MYLK PLUS's limited edition range. The 4 pack cost £11 for the pack and an extra £2 for shipping. Within the pack containing 4 330ml bottles, there's enough to last depending on how you consume the milk. If you were to have it with your cereal, 330ml is more than enough to fill your bowl, therefore I'd recommend having only half the bottle with your cereal - leaving you with more opportunities to have the rest of the milk at another opportunity. In terms of the quality of the milk, it is very thin which makes it more refreshing than traditional milk which often seems too thick. The flavour is also strong which is good for small doses, but honestly, much like anything sweet, it can be too sickly if you consume too much - depending on how sweet your tooth is, of course! The strong flavour does give any meal a huge boost though, adding this to your cereal is sure to liven up your morning! Here's a few pro's and con's of this limited edition hazelnut milk: Pro's Super tasty Supporting a good cause (MYLK PLUS's movement to satisfy those with dietary needs and those looking for alternatives to cow milk) Not thick, so goes with anything - cereal, shakes, etc Fortified with calcium and vitamin D3. Vegan friendly, no refined sugar, low carb, dairy free Natural ingredients Con's Expensive if bought online Sickly if you have too much Small shelf life once opened (2 days in fridge) Overall, the milk may be expensive if purchased online, but as I mentioned earlier, this does not seem too bad when you understand that this is the product of a very young entrepreneur with a mission - it's important that we all show support to anybody doing great things. Adding on to this, you can also purchase the milk from Holland & Barrett stores at a cheaper price. The actual milk was great and I will definitely be reordering another batch. This is just the start for MYLK PLUS and they will most definitely change the dairy free market with their innovative ideas and branding. The future is bright...well, in this case, the future is a very bright pink! Feel free to watch my review here: If Only They Knew wish Camilla and the MYLK PLUS team the best of luck in their journey. Ted - If Only They Knew

  • How to Make a Podcast for FREE

    The best way to record and distribute Podcasts for free (you may want to skip reading this & go straight to a video tutorial on this topic by clicking here) What is a Podcast Podcasts are mostly audio files that typically include conversations or interviews, more recently, Podcasts have also been complimented with video footage of the conversation. Despite the sudden rise in popularity, specifically amongst businesses, Podcasts have been around for many years now - with Google Trends showing that Podcasts initially came to light in 2003. How to record a Podcast There are multiple ways to record a Podcast, although these typically include using a microphone plugged into a computer to record audio via a software programme. Not only is this a long-winded way to record as you would have to add the multiple microphone recordings and then edit the audio, but is typically expensive as you are likely to need a good quality microphone as well as a good recording programme. However, now you can use a smartphone application called Anchor Fm which allows users to record and edit Podcasts from your phone, eliminating the need for external microphones and editing experience. How to distribute a Podcast If you are an independent Podcaster, you may struggle with this stage as you would need to find a way to upload your Podcast to multiple platforms to ensure that it is universally available - but this is not easy. An easier way to distribute your Podcast is perhaps by using Youtube if you have recorded the Podcast as it's the easiest platform to upload to. However, if you use Anchor FM, it automatically distributes it to the main Podcast platforms such as Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify - eliminating the need to upload individually. Moreover, you can download the Podcast episode in full and can also use Headliner to create Audiograms that you can then upload to social media platforms such as Instagram TV, Facebook and more. Here's an example of a well distributed Podcast Feel free to check out our Instagram (@IfOnlyTheyKnewUK) to see how I shared the Podcast as an Audiogram on both my Instagram feed and IGTV. If you have a Podcast, feel free to share it with me and I will leave a rating and a comment (if possible). Also, I'd appreciate it if you could leave a rating on my Podcast, just search 'If Only They Knew' on any Podcast platform.

  • Meet Stephanie Njoaguani

    Who is Stephanie Njoaguani? Stephanie is a Bournemouth University student as well as a Branding and Social media strategist. What is Stephanie's story? Back in 2016, Stephanie started The Creative Africa, a platform that shares resources, skills and opportunities to creative African teens. However, the young entrepreneur found this journey a bit of a struggle as her end goal was undecided at the time, similarly, Stephanie didn't know who, specifically, her audience was and what message she wanted to send to them. All Stephanie knew was that she wanted to create an effective platform to reach out to teenagers and add value to their lives. Stephanie admits that in her early stages, she really didn't know a lot. It took me a while to realize that not being clear on my audience at the time, having specific marketing strategy and goals for how I was going to reach the people I wanted to reach had really held me back. Then, the budding business woman stumbled across Wix (the popular website building platform), Stephanie loved it. The flexible nature of Wix allowed for greater creativity in the creation of content. However, despite the creative possibilities that the platform allowed for, Stephanie wasn't sure what to actually create! So in order to combat this challenge, the following questions had to be answered: 1. "What did I want to create?" 2. "Why did I want to create what I wanted to create? " 3. "Who was I creating it for?" 4. "How would they use and feel about what I was going to create?" 5. "How would I get it to them?" 6. "What was the end result when the whole process was finished? - i.e what did I want The Creative Africa to look like in people's heads at the end of this six question process?" This formed the strategic overview of The Creative Africa, allowing the brand to connect with the target audience effectively. So, what exactly is The Creative Africa? The Creative Africa is a platform that aims to educate and inform young African creatives on how to use their skills to put themselves on the map. The team are currently working on getting sponsors and mentors involved in the programme as well as producing videos in order to coach and educate their followers. Stephanie has spent the past year researching the market and solidifying her mission to ensure they reach the right people with the right resources. More recently, in 2019, The Creative Africa has emerged as finalists for the Next Generation Award UK. You can follow the awards here: https://www.enterprisenation.com/opportunities/opportunity/?id=d24a2acc-681a-e911-a96c-002248072abd Similarly, if you’re interested in Stephanie and The Creative Africa, you can follow their journey here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-africa-ltd/

  • Meet The Teenage Girls Helping To Solve Homelessness With This Crazy Invention

    A team of 12 high school students from California, have invented a product that can go a long way in helping to solve homelessness. What is the invention? The team of girls invented a a solar-powered tent that can fold into a backpack, the tent also has the following: Insulated fabric Safety locking system Sanitation system Solar panels. This product will allow the homeless to be secure and clean, perhaps meaning that they can feel more confident to apply for jobs and more opportunities. The San Fernando High School students are part of a non-profit organisation called 'DIY Girls' which aims to inspire other girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. After finalising the idea, the girls were awarded a $10,000 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant. However, even though MIT invited the team to present their invention, they couldn't afford the trip to the ceremony in Boston. Because of this, a GoFundMe campaign was set up. raising over $15,000 to allow the girls to present their genius idea. The group's coordinator wrote on their GoFundMe page: "The ingenuity that is possible when students are given the time and resources to explore their passions is remarkable" You can follow the journey of the DIY Girls on Instagram (@DIYGirls_InvenTeam) and on their website (https://www.diygirls.org/). IOTK wish the girls and their organisation the best of luck with all their projects.

  • Meet Teenage Entrepreneur, Adam West

    Who is Adam West? Adam West is a young, highly driven and ambitious 17 year old entrepreneur from Dorset, who has run multiple business from the age of 9. Adam became an entrepreneur at age 9, setting up a car washing business within his local area, which made him great pocket money at the time. The young entrepreneur then went on to set up a small food stall at his local market, selling food such as fudge, cakes, sausage rolls and much more. However, Adam faced his first fail in business as he did not do as well as he first hoped. Soldiering on, Adam went on to form "The Dorset Hamper Company" which was invested in by the Peter Jones Academy in 2016. At age 15, Adam was selling hampers full of local Dorset food nationwide. Within 6 weeks, the company was operating at nearly a 74% profit margin. After 6 months of successful operations, Adam closed the lid on the hamper company to move on to bigger and better things - especially as the hamper industry was seasonal. What is Adam doing now? Before he had even completed his A-Levels, Adam had set up a marketing company - he has since put this on the back burner in order to complete his studies from home. Currently, the young entrepreneur is operating as a freelance web designer for small companies and sole traders to generate income whilst he studies. However, he hasn't stopped there, he is also in the process of setting up another business within the drinks industry - he believes this idea will take the industry by storm! What is Adam's tips for other young entrepreneurs? Being involved in a variety of businesses from a young age, Adam is full of advice for other young business minds: - You are never too young - Say yes to every "entrepreneur" opportunity, even if you don't exactly know how to and learn how to do it later - Invest in yourself by the means of reading and self development - Act and hold yourself as if you already have made millions in the industry you are in - i believe it gains you credibility. What are Adam's goals for the future? Adam is working hard to become a multi-millionaire in his 20's, he would then love to give something back to the community. Adam understands how important it is for young people to get guidance from an early age as he was kicked out of school last year due to his poor behaviour which stemmed from his frustration of not being able to express his active, entrepreneurial mind. "I want to give back to underprivileged young entrepreneurs" If Only They Knew wish Adam West the best of luck with his studies and his future business ventures. Follow him on Instagram: @AdamLukeWest

  • The Miserable Millionaire - What Can We Learn From Him?

    I recently read an article on the NY Times, which told a story of a man who works in a hedge fund and was making $1.2 million a year. However, despite the ridiculous amount of money he was making, he was miserable. This then made me think... What can we learn from a miserable Millionaire ? Charles, the author of the article, attended a reunion with his former Harvard classmates and was shocked to find that many of them were unhappy - despite their successful careers. Some of the alumni consisted of hedge fund managers and executives (which would equate to tens of millions of dollars of net worth under one roof), this was also mixed with ex-students who were living content, not overly lavish, lifestyles. A contrast was clear between the two groups of super successful professionals and the content individuals. The higher earners expressed their consistent concerns with missed promotions, unhappy children and divorces. However, one of the stories stood out for Charles, this was the story of a man who was earning $1.2 million a year but hated going to the office. If he wasn't constantly being undermined by employees and battling for promotions, he was attempting to merely keep his job by hitting his ridiculous daily targets - having to hit specific financial goals which would carry over to the next day if they were missed. The miserable millionaire expressed his concerns to Charles, recognising that he is privileged to earn his salary but after 12 hours of work a day, it does not seem worth the trouble. “When I die, is anyone going to care that I earned an extra percentage point of return? My work feels totally meaningless.” He felt he was locked into his job as a pay cut would eliminate him from the lifestyle that he had become accustom to. Is being rich and depressed common? Charles looked into data on the attitudes of American professionals. In the 1980s, just over 60% of workers questioned were satisfied with their jobs, this has declined immensely since then - with only 43% of workers claiming that they were satisfied in 2010. These figures were collected by nonprofit research firm, the Conference Board. Similarly, CV-Library released statistics from the UK that show over a third of the nation's professionals are unhappy with their roles. So, what has the miserable millionaire taught us? I believe that the key lesson from this story has been to chase your passion rather than chasing money. If you are working in a world that is surrounded by things that you are passionate about, then at the very least, you will have little money and a lot of happiness. However, there is often a misconception that working in a field that you are passionate about cannot bring a lot of money - this is wrong. In today's world, where more and more people are chasing their dreams, aided by the rise in digital platforms such as Youtube and Instagram, we can see more people making money from their passion than ever before. For example, some of the biggest Youtubers are making up to $17 million a year by pursuing and sharing their passion to the world. “I’m jealous of everyone who had the balls to do something that made them happy" Are you happy with your job? Do you make money whilst following your passion? Let us know in the comments below and if you are an entrepreneur, feel free to reach out to us and you could feature on our site. This post was adapted from Charles Duhigg's "Wealthy, Successful and Miserable" article which can be found on the New York Times.

  • Meet The Teenage Boy Who Makes Over £15,000 A Year Selling Toys

    Who is the teenage boy that created a toy empire making over £15,000 a year? Tommy Howard is a 14 year year old schoolboy and entrepreneur from Hawkchurch in Devon, who has built an online toy shop which now turns over £15,000 annually. Tommy stocks over 1000 products which are shipped world wide. ‘If Only They Knew’ also spoke to Tommy about his top tip for young entrepreneurs, read further to find out what that tip is. Tommy got the idea 2 years ago when his younger brother asked for a £35 toy for his birthday but Tommy realised he could purchase a bundle for much less than what the toy was worth alone. Using the money he received from selling eggs at his family farm, Tommy bought his first batch of products and reinvested to keep the business going. Tommy sold over a thousand foam guns, which led him to officially launch his eBay shop called Dog In A Box (named after his pet, Oreo) which now sells a variety of toys. The 14 year old entrepreneur works highhandedly to fulfill around 70 orders per week, which allowed him to earn a profit of £6000 last year - mostly from his perfecting timing of supplying paddling pools during the heatwave. What problems has Tommy faced whilst running his business? Due to his age, Tommy has had some people not take him seriously which has impacted his supply as some sellers on eBay have made it harder for him to purchase their products by refusing to deliver, however, Tommy's Dad would then make the purchase separately in order to get the delivery. "People shouldn't think because I'm young I can be taken advantage of. I know my stuff!" Tommy fought through the challenges and went on to register has a business on eBay in March 2018 and ordered over 200 different kinds of products from wholesalers and his Dad Charlie, even converted their milking parlours at their farm into a store for his products. What can young entrepreneurs learn from Tommy? Young entrepreneurs can learn that if you want to be successful in an area of business, you must not only understand the market but also be proactive in researching it constantly and preparing for the next big thing. Tommy did this by finding out about a new product called Glove-A-Bubbles that were releasing TV campaigns which would boost their sales. Knowing this, Tommy placed an order for 72 units of the product and sold over 34 units very quickly, he then went on to place another order for 122 units to capitalise on these sales. However, suddenly his sales dropped as the manufacturer of his best-selling product ceased advertising, but this taught Tommy a valuable lesson in the business world: "There's no guarantee in business" Tommy made a comeback with his paddling pools and will continue his journey as a young entrepreneur, learning valuable lessons along the way. If Only They Knew spoke to Tommy who said the main thing he has learned since starting his business has been that: “You have always got to be ready for the unexpected as anything can happen at any stage”. Tommy also reflected on his struggles to buy new stock which made him really want to give up, however he kept pushing and made it through the dark moments of owning a business. “You have to persist through the worst days” Tommy’s tip for young entrepreneurs is “to not be afraid to start“ and for the young entrepreneurs, “you don’t have to always wait until you’re an adult”. If Only They Knew wish Tommy the best of luck with his business, ‘Dog in a Box’. Follow Tommy on Instagram: @tommy.howard.ebay and finds his website at www.doginabox.co.uk

  • Celebrity Apprentice 2019 Is Here!

    Celebrity Apprentice 2019 is being run as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. The line up is full of celebrtities jumping into the business world right into the firing line of Lord Sugar. There will be two episodes which will see the boys compete against the girls, with Lord Sugar judging their performance alongside Baroness Brady and Claude Littner. Who are the Celebrity Apprentice stars? Amanda Holden Actress and presenter, Amanda Holden, best known as a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. Ayda Williams Ayda recently became a judge on X Factor alongside her husband, Robbie Williams. Ayda has also been a panelist on Loose Women. Kelly Hoppen Kelly is a South African born, interior designer who was also a Dragon on BBC’s Dragon’s Den. Rachel Johnson Rachel is not just a journalist and presenter, but is also Boris Johnson’s sister. Tameka Empson Tameka is best known for her role as Kim Fox in EastEnders since 2009. Tameka also took part in Strictly Come Dancing 2016. Omid Djalili Omid is an actor and comedian who has starred in a plethora of blockbuster films, including Pirates of the Caribbean. Richard Arnold Richard is best known for his role as the entertainment editor for ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Rylan Clark Rylan came to the British public’s attention in 2012 when he appeared on The X Factor. Rylan then won Celebrity Big Brother 11 in 2013 and has appeared as a presenter on many TV shows. Russell Kane Russell is a comedian, presenter and a novelist. He has appeared on various TV shows, including The Apprentice: You’re Fired! Sam Allardyce Sam was a professional football player and then went on to become a football manager, managing the England team for a brief period. When is Celebrity Apprentice being aired? The Celebrity Apprentice will be aired as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day efforts. Watch the 1st episode of Celebrity Apprentice on BBC 1 from 8pm to 9pm on March 7th and the 2nd episode on March 8th 2019 in which the winners will be announced - you can also catch up on BBC iPlayer.

  • Meet Gemma Hallett, founder of miFuture

    What is miFuture? miFuture is a company which aims to solve career issues for Generation Z, using a smartphone application in which users can apply for jobs, training, courses and volunteer positions. It came about after the founder, Gemma Hallet, realised that in order to help the target market (Generation Z) then the company would have to listen to the young people and give them the control that they deserve. Their goal is to help 100,000 young people move towards employability and prosperity. Who is Gemma Hallett? Gemma Hallett was a PE teacher and an international rugby player, but she left these passions behind in order to focus on miFuture. After leaving teaching, Gemma spent 3 years looking into Generation Z and engaged with schools, employability projects, housing associations, schools, community first and PRU groups, spending concentrated time with the young people. I absorbed everything; how they engaged with their digital environments, completed online tasks, their frustrations, and the barriers they identified. By involving them, I focused on the real problems and redefined what miFuture, the solution, needed to be. After years of research, Gemma and miFuture adapted to their market with multiple changes: completely discarding some of their functions, changing to an app-only platform and ensuring the app has 1 clear and specific purpose - to help the user move toward employability. Who better to explain more about the company then Gemma herself: If Only They Knew wish Gemma and the miFuture team the best of luck in helping Gen Z find prosperity.

  • What is Tiger Bites Bao?

    Tiger Bites Bao is a restaurant serving Asian-fusion street food mostly in London, but have entered some other areas across England. Tiger Bites Bao is run by Scott De Lima (Scotty Stacks from music group The Manor) & Lacey Miles. The restaurant started off in 2017, serving their street-food in pop-up locations. Scott was going to buy a house, but instead chose to invest in a wagon for the team to sell their food out of - proving just how invested in this business he is. The team appeared on BBC's "My Million Pound Menu" hosted by Fred Sirieix on BBC 2 (12.02.19) which saw three restaurants compete for a large investment from food enthusiasts. Tiger Bites Bao were picked by the investors to be the strongest out of the three restaurants, but they still had to prove themselves to be ready for an investment. Tiger Bites travelled to Manchester and catered for a full restaurant, proving themselves to not only be an effective team but also a viable business. The investors were interested in the potential advancements of the company, including elements such as food quality and delivery logistics - but did any of them invest? Yes, Tiger Bites received an investment from one of the best investors they could've found - co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo, Will Shu! Will loved the idea of having Tiger Bites in Deliveroo's catalogue as he felt the companies could work together on the delivery side of things. Will Shu gave his thoughts on the collaboration: "I’m really pleased to give [Tiger Bites] the space to grow their business and bring great food to more people, helping them on their journey to opening a bricks and mortar restaurant." If you would like to see Tiger Bite's in action, you can watch the episode on BBC's iPlayer. Tiger Bite Bao's latest residency will be at newly opened cafe/bar 'Rotate' which is in Shoreditch (Rivington Street), you can find them there on Friday 15th February 2019 from 5pm - they are offering free buns and drinks for the 1st 100 customers, so don't miss out! Take a look at some of Tiger Bite Bao's food & keep up with their fast journey and see various items from their menu on their Instagram: @TigerBitesBao: If Only They Knew wish Tiger Bites Bao the best of luck with their journey.

  • Bugzy Malone's Top Tip For Success

    Who is Bugzy Malone? Aaron Davis is better known as Bugzy Malone, one of the UK's biggest grime stars, hailing from Manchester, England. What is Bugzy's story? Growing up in Manchester in the 90's, Bugzy was involved in various troublesome situations but used boxing as a form of escapism. Since then, the grime star has become a huge advocate for young kids to stay on the right path by getting into sports, specifically boxing. Bugzy Malone spoke to SportsBible about why he turned to boxing: "I think I needed discipline at the time because I was getting into a little bit of trouble" Why turn to music instead of boxing? Instead of following a professional career, the skilful boxer put down the boxing gloves and decided to pick up the mic as this is where his hunger lied, the King of the North told SportsBible "there are few key components in a champion boxer and one of them is hunger. I've used my hunger up in my career in music". What keeps Bugzy going? Turning to music has proved to be a successful move as Bugzy was quickly gaining respect and recognition from the UK music scene, but Bugzy's career really blew up after having musical clashes with grime artist Chip (formerly known as Chipmunk) as the UK saw Bugzy's skill. His success has allowed him to heavily invest in his training once again. "I'm up at 7 and I've at the gym for 9, then I do a 6 to 8 round circuit and maybe 4 to 6 round sparring. Then some floor work for core, maybe some sprints" What is Bugzy's tip for success? Bugzy's workout routine is crazy, beginning with his healthy breakfast or shakes and consiting of various workouts and meals until the late evening. One of his motivations for adhering to this tough routine and also his tip for success is intimidation. "I try to keep myself intimidated. I try to approach fear head on, I feel like that keeps you alert and aware. It keeps you going. Things like fear are key components in becoming a success. If you take them out of the equation then you become unmotivated and quite content, comfortable. That's a dangerous place to be if you want to be a successful person." "If you compare it to a computer game, you start on level one and level one is reasonably easy," said the Drama star. "And then you go on to level 2, it's reasonably easy. Level 3's easy-ish, level 4 you might die a few times and you find that the intensity builds up and by the time you get to level 10, you're savvy within the game." Bugzy Malone has become a household name within the UK music scene, as well as entering the clothing market with his own clothing line "B Malone" which can be found in JD Sports - one of the many reasons he supposedly holds a networth of over a million pounds. Looking through Bugzy's Instagram is like looking at images from Grand Theft Auto, he has the cars, clothes and the house, but in order to achieve this he has had to stay very dedicated to his craft and never stop hustling. Follow Bugzy on Instagram if you haven't already: @thebugzymalone If Only They Knew Bugzy Malone... This article was adapted from SportsBible, 2019

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