Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, says lessons from his days as a photocopier salesperson have continued to shape his approach to business.
Elumelu shared the reflection on Thursday in a post on X, alongside a photograph of his old business card as a sales representative.
“Stumbled upon my old business card from my early days as a photocopier salesperson,” he said.
The businessman said the period taught him the importance of resilience, negotiation and grit.
“It brought back memories of being a young, hungry sales rep, learning the fundamentals of resilience, negotiation, and grit,” Elumelu said.
He said the lessons have remained relevant throughout his career, influencing how he approaches business and engages with customers.
“Those lessons have stayed with me over the years and continue to shape how I approach business and engage with customers today,” he said.
The mogul also said the experience reminded him that future success is often determined by the foundations built early in one’s career.
“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 said.
“Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep executing.”
Reflecting on the old business card, Elumelu jokingly added that the phone number and address on the card are “long gone”. Cable
