Elumelu recalls humble start as sales rep, how it shaped him

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Nigerian businessman and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has shared an old business card from his early career, recalling the lessons he learnt while working as a photocopier salesperson.

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Elumelu shared a photograph of the business card in a post on X on Thursday, saying it brought back memories of his days as a young and ambitious sales representative.

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He said his early experience taught him the importance of resilience, negotiation and grit, adding that the lessons continued to influence how he approached business and interacted with customers.

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“Stumbled upon my old business card from my early days as a photocopier salesperson.

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“It brought back memories of being a young, hungry sales rep, learning the fundamentals of resilience, negotiation, and grit. Those lessons have stayed with me over the years and continue to shape how I approach business and engage with customers today,” he wrote.

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The businessman said the card also reminded him that people’s future selves are often shaped by the foundation they lay in their early years.

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“It’s also a reminder that who you become tomorrow is often shaped by the foundation you lay today; the discipline, hard work, and consistency you put in when no one is watching,” he added.

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Elumelu encouraged his followers to remain committed to learning and execution.

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“Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep executing,” he said.

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The business card pictured in the post identifies Elumelu as a “Sales Executive” at Precissa Sales Limited, with an address on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos, and a telephone number.

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However, joking about the details on the old card, Elumelu noted that the phone number and address were no longer relevant.

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“As for the phone number and address on the card? Long gone,” he wrote, followed by a laughing emoji.

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