I have always been passionate about my work and always been proud of what I do but when I was sitted among 22 other designers each representing their country as winners of the British council award,I admit for the first time in a loooong time I felt unsure and undeserving.I had just wittnessed presentations from members of the group and wondered " why they were here?" or was I the fish out of water? Some of these guys were doing really amazing things in their countries!!! Aneeeth from india was already selling her designs all over Europe,Dana was selling sucessfully in Japan, Henry had won multiple awards in Tokyo...... and me? well I had nothing but a dream I had been nurturing for 10 years.
It was 10pm at night and I was still wide awake! The hotel room was cosy but yet I could hear my thoughts echo back at me...."why was I selected to pitch to investors?" I was one of the six awardees selected to pitch my business to prospective investors the next day,my business would be scrutinized and assessed for viability. I called a friend of mine and painted the scenario " I dont think I can do it"I said "these guys are way ahead of me" "why on earth was I selected" Then my friend said something that has stuck with me to this very day "AyoT God can do it all by himself...you just relax"......I didnt know how to relax but I was going to try.
The next morning was cold! I had decieded to wear " joy girl" for the pitch and paired it my favourite wegdes and so now I would have to cover it up with my trench if I didnt want to freeze to death.
We all walked in to the meeting room were the projector had been set up and the investors were already seated.AJ from Indonesia went first he made "crazy good" indonesian tees and his flair for graphic arts came through,there were graphs and charts and numbers and slide after slide reflected his expertise! "wow"I thought "Tomi we cant find your presentation" Bekky the british council staff wispered to me....'WHAT!!!!!!" I thought faking a calm exterior " I offered to email it to her again but would have to make my presentation a bit later than I was scheduled to " You'll be fine "Nelly said(my new bff from Ghana). After much a do....I was called.Heart racing I began with the first slide(wondering if they could tell how nervous I was) slide 2,slide 3(5 more slides to go) then something happened to me at the end of slide 3.....I stopped presenting and just started talking about my passion,my achievements,my challenges,my life....xclamations! I realised only Ayotomi could tell them my story and powerpoint was a poor substitute.The investors asked question after question and my answers seemed not only satisfactory but educative........"Can I just say you are amazing Tomi" the Asian investor said, interupting my closing statements.It seemed everybody thought so too judging from the ovation i was given when I was done.It was indeed a testimony of what happens when you let go and let God do it "ALL BY HIMSELF" .
