On Sunday December 18, 2022 I was invited to speak at TEDxAwaji 2022. The theme was “Ikigai,” a Japanese word meaning “purpose in life” or “raison d’être.”

My talk “The Power of Asking the Right Questions” covers my 8.5-year journey from early 2014 to late 2022 (age 22 to 30), from my first job to going solo and uncovering my calling. I tell stories to connect my life experiences and give you many useful life lessons.

I won’t spoil it for you. I think it’s worth your time. I condensed 10 years of ups and downs, various personal transformations and lessons I still benefit from today into a 17.5 minute rollercoaster ride.

But as a teaser I talk about:

• How I dealt with the toughest situation in my life
• Why I moved to the other side of the world
• How I improved my relationships
• The various ways I learnt to manage, control and change my emotions… at will
• How I went from culturally oblivious to being well-liked
• All the ways in which I failed to find my “ikigai” (aka “purpose in life)…and the way with which I found it
• How I went from being a productive “robot”… to a procrastinator… to a productive “human”
• The ways I’ve found to continuously increase my happiness, fulfilment and effectiveness… week after week
• The 1 question that has changed my perspective on life, love and success

If any of this resonates, it’s worth a listen. Even if it doesn’t resonate, I think it’s worth a listen.

Full transcript (English and Japanese): https://jimbouman.com/tedxawaji-the-power-of-asking-the-right-questions/

My daily newsletter: https://letters.jimbouman.com/

Website: https://jimbouman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbouman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjpbouman

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me how and where to find office space in West Africa, whether he recommends foreign companies to buy or rent an office space and what the general acquisition process of office space in West Africa looks like.

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:25) How and where to find office space in West Africa

(02:23) Buying vs renting office space in West Africa

(03:45) Average length of a rental agreement in West Africa

(05:29) Property insurance in West Africa

(05:50) Property managers in West Africa

(06:40) Best location to rent an office for foreign companies

(08:02) Summary

(09:10) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me the state of internet access and cellular coverage in Benin and other parts of West Africa. We also discuss the WiFi options for companies, different providers and how people generally communicate with each other on their phones these days.

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:25) Which is more common in West Africa: computer or smartphone

(01:05) Do companies provide a phone

(01:52) Smartphones or old-school flip phones

(02:28) Prepaid vs subscription

(03:32) Data vs calls vs SMS

(04:32) Communication via data vs communication via phone network

(05:21) How available is free WiFi in West Africa

(05:47) Availability of 4G in Benin

(06:37) Internet access in Benin

(07:32) Internet providers in Benin

(10:59) Stability of internet and electricity in Benin

(13:19) Summary

(14:03) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me how to most effectively find a partner to work with, how the negotiation process works and what the customs are like before, during and after meetings.

Some bonus tips for foreigners looking to do business in West Africa are mentioned towards the end of the video.

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:22) How to approach a potential partner company in West Africa

(02:59) Benefits of being the person connecting two companies in West Africa

(05:47) What does a second meeting with a partner company look like

(07:24) How many meetings are needed to get to an agreement with a partner company in West Africa

(08:30) Verbal agreement or signed contract

(08:59) Payment structure with a partner company

(10:13) Business meeting customs in West Africa

(12:20) Advice for foreigners trying to do business in Benin and West Africa

(15:42) Summary

(16:10) Bonus tip

(18:10) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me how people in Benin and other parts of West Africa view time and punctuality. We also touch on the importance of one’s job and how West Africans view work-life balance.

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:18) Punctuality in Benin

(02:20) What to do if you’re going to be late in Benin

(03:40) Work comes first

(04:32) Working hours and respecting time in Benin

(08:40) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me what a normal employment process looks like, which management style people are used to and what type of employment contracts and benefits are common in West Africa.

Book mentioned:

The One Minute Manager: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B00MMG19OG/

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:30) How do you manage an employee in West Africa

(01:38) What to do on day 1 with a new employee in West Africa

(03:11) Common management styles in West Africa

(04:21) How often do managers talk with and give feedback to their employees in West Africa

(06:50) Top-down or bottom-up approach in West Africa

(08:24) Evaluating employees in Benin

(10:45) How to give negative feedback in Benin

(13:01) What does an employment contract in Benin look like

(15:49) Common compensation structure in Benin

(17:00) Paid leave and public holidays in Benin

(17:27) Secondary benefits for employees in Benin

(18:55) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan

Want to be more effective?

Efficient?

Productive?

And.

Look back on the progress you’ve made this past month.

With a smile?

In this episode I share my latest habits and work process.

Made easy for you to understand.

And made easy to implement.

Looking forward to positive messages a month from now.

_______________________________

(00:00) Staying focused with a vision board

(00:30) Becoming more efficient by batching similar tasks

(00:55) New work style to improve productivity and effectiveness

(03:30) Results after 1 month

_______________________________

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference for the show. Consider including your Twitter or LinkedIn handle so we can thank you personally!

Want to get in touch with Jim?

Contact/Follow him: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Want to do business in West Africa but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this series that dives into the ins and outs of doing business in West Africa.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs of large conglomerates: we’ve got something for all of you.

In today’s episode of Business in West Africa, David Kpondehou, CEO of Africa Samurai Consulting, explains to me how companies can find people with the right skills and interests in West-Africa. He also goes into detail on how students and fresh graduates in West Africa can find their first job or internship.

And for the entrepreneurs among us: during the second half of the video we share some interesting business ideas in the HR / Recruiting sector that you can pursue in West Africa.

Job platforms in Benin mentioned:

EmploiBenin: https://www.emploibenin.com/

Government Initiative: https://psie.bj/

_______________

(00:00) Introduction and recap of previous episode

(00:31) How to find the right people for your business in West Africa

(03:07) Online job boards and recruitment agencies in Benin

(04:39) How to find IT professionals in West Africa

(06:23) How to find an Accountant or Finance professional in West Africa

(06:40) How to find the right people for manufacturing or agricultural jobs in West Africa

(08:37) Recruiting online in West Africa

(10:27) How to find your first job in West Africa

(12:22) Do universities in West Africa support students to find a job or internship

(15:22) What does a standard recruitment process look like in West Africa

(17:08) Summary

(18:28) Business opportunity in Africa

(18:57) Wrap-up

_______________

Get in touch

Jim Bouman

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

David Kpondehou / CEO at Africa Samurai Consulting

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Africa Diaspora Network Japan