Episode Details

Have you ever sat staring at your phone on a Monday morning, wondering if it’s too early to dial a potential client? Many Nigerian business owners and newbies struggle with this exact anxiety, worrying if a 7:30 a.m. call is intrusive or if waiting until 3:30 p.m. means they've missed the boat.

In this episode, I’m clearing the air: in Nigeria, anytime after 9:00 a.m. is a perfectly appropriate time for a business call. While I personally am comfortable making calls as early as 8:30 a.m., I recommend you wait until 9:00 a.m. sharp when people are settled at their desks and ready to be diligent.

But if you want to eliminate the guessing game entirely, you need to learn how to secure advancements. An advancement is simply a mutually agreed-upon next step. 

Instead of accepting a vague "call me at the end of the week," narrow it down like I would with "Uncle Tony" (Tony Elumelu - not my real uncle - also not really my friend - in fact I don't know him personally). Ask for a specific day and time—like Saturday at 2:00 p.m.—so that when you call, you know you aren't a bother because they gave you that slot.

We also discuss why you should throw the 9:00 a.m. rule out the window for specific industries:

Construction: Site workers are often unreachable during the day for safety reasons; try calling after 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.

Medical Professionals: Doctors are busy with rounds and surgeries during standard hours; you'll have better luck catching them after their shift or by shadowing them if you've built that trust.

Education: Teachers are occupied with students from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; aim for their lunch break or after school hours.

To ensure your call is always valuable and not a "pest," follow my five-step conversation outline: Greeting, Intention, Question, Proposal, and Close.