45 Minutes On A Plane With Aliko Dangote: What To Do If You Had Such Privilege (Part 2)
45 Minutes On A Plane With Aliko Dangote: What To Do If You Had Such Privilege (Part 2)
In relating with a millionaire, if you saw him as a human just like you, it would be easier to relate with him better. As much as you don’t get this kind of opportunity often, it is expedient that you make the most out of it when you do get one. Getting to know and relate with millionaire isn’t as hard as people take it to be.
As said in the first part, you shouldn’t talk about money on your first meeting with Aliko Dangote, neither should you pitch your business ideas to him. The question now boils down to, “what then should I talk about when meeting him for the first time?” Below are some things you can do and talk about when you have a privilege of having a conversation with Aliko Dangote, or any other person in that class.
- Talk about his passion
Every successful person has a passion, and Dangote isn’t an exception. You probably have read so much about him online that you have an idea of what he does and his progress or time. Bring up one of his business investments, and you’ll be surprised at how much attention he’ll give you. If you can engage him in a productive conversation about his passion, he sees you as a serious person and might want to extend the relationship than just the 45 minutes meeting.
Billionaires like to talk about their passion, especially with people that show interest. He feels comfortable knowing that you actually took the time to study him to know what interests him. Instead of portraying yourself as one looking for a favor, you should rather see yourself as a biographer.
- Talk about his challenges
Aliko Dangote didn’t succeed overnight, so there will be challenges he has faced and overcome on the road to success. Real billionaires like to talk about how they overcame challenges that came their way before they succeeded. Such stories leave you encouraged that no matter what you might be going through, it is just a process. Ask him about the road he has walked, and how he came out successful.
By this, he sees you as someone who wants to succeed, and he will be more than willing to guide you on the road to success. He would have encountered a lot of people who only want to get his kind of success, but won’t want to walk the road that leads to it. So, you asking about his challenges means you want to truly know what to expect along the way. You don’t necessarily need his money, but once you know the road he walked, the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them, you’re on your way to becoming a millionaire too!
45 Minutes On A Plane With Aliko Dangote: What To Do If You Had Such Privilege (Part 2)
- Ask him about his winning
Every billionaire wants you to realize that isn’t just about the money. They see money as a scorecard, not just for the sake of spending. Wealthy people make money beyond what their ‘stomach’ needs, everything has a score with them. Though they have a lot of money, they know better not to spend it lavishly, as people expect them to. That is why the popular saying that, “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer”, isn’t just a cliché but the truth.
Spending money is not a problem for people like Dangote, but every kobo spent is sent on an errand and must achieve something. Whenever they part with their money, there has to be a tangible reason for doing so. Bring up this side of his life and hear him say things you never have heard.
- Ask for advice
Ask something simple that he can answer in a short span. Something like, ” you’re a CEO, one of the wealthiest men, but everyone likes you, how do you remain popular?” It doesn’t have to be plain and boring like, “advise me on how to make it”. Both questions are the same thing, asking how he does it and how you can too. But making it more interesting keeps the conversation going, and gives him more room to connect with you better.
The saying, “to be wise, you don’t have to be wise, you just have to do what a wise man does”, comes into play here. His words of advice will go a long way in helping you, if you take them seriously. However, asking him for advice would mean nothing if you fail to utilize them afterwards.
Read Also: 10 Important Tips to Raise Money for Your Business
- Ask about his deals
Ask about any new deal he’s working on, and lean back to hear from the horse’s mouth. It is not unlikely that you might have seen a tip of what he working on, on the internet, but it would be quite interesting to hear about such things directly from him. You know how excited a billionaire gets about his game? That is exactly how he will be if you ask him.
Give him your full attention and watch him pour out to you. He might not give you the full details, especially if it is a project that hasn’t been implemented. Do not act too jumpy and pester him to tell you everything about it, he’ll feel uncomfortable thinking you want to steal his ideas. All you have to do is listen, and ask questions if you have any.
- Talk about his learning
Most billionaires treat their social calendars with utmost regard, so they are always happy to tell you how they hang around people who they can learn from. Dangote has a parade of other CEOs, investors, and other billionaires that he hangs around with. You wouldn’t expect him to only hang around people who take from him, and not replenish himself from people he can learn from.
He might also talk about the authors he reads from. They should be your focus after the meeting, if you want to go his way too. So, you should endeavor to pen some things down while he’s talking. The euphoria of meeting a billionaire wouldn’t allow you remember everything you need to after your meeting with him. He will also see you as a good student this way.
45 Minutes On A Plane With Aliko Dangote: What To Do If You Had Such Privilege (Part 2)
- Ask for an interview
This is coming up last, because your 45 minutes has probably ended after all these talks. Interviewing a billionaire is a great way of connecting with him and knowing him better. Your meeting with Dangote on the plane doesn’t have to be a one-time thing. Ask him for an interview, even after the meeting, he’ll be glad to grant you one. However, you must understand that he is a busy man, so asking him to share just about 10 to 15 minutes of his time will position you to get an affirmative answer. The interview will be at his own convenience, and location, of course.
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