A Value Exchange Story
The value exchange system has an underlying effect that most people pay little attention to; or harness.
I want to share a story of how sowing seeds of kindness (and value) can be of great benefit in subsequent times. Sometimes, actions from our inherent nature don’t have immediate consequences so we are lost in the vain attempt to track its metrics.
About 3 years ago, I co-founded a Bootcamp model coding session with my friend Tobi Olagoke. We were able to use our network of friends to build and train other youngsters in Coding and Design. In the entirety of this program, we trained about 60+ talents in Frontend, Backend, Digital Design and Python Programming.
The Bootcamp (PeeredCamp) was supposed to be a paid program, but because we ran it in a student environment, we took it as a community project and only charged what we believed to be reasonable.
Unfortunately, some individuals were unable to afford the subsidized fees. Eager to see their attitude to learning, we let many attend the boot camp without the fees.
Agbeja Tobi was part of the people that attended the boot camp on credit. He had earlier attended our frontend track in our 2nd cohort but couldn’t finish because he had difficulty understanding JavaScript, after learning HTML and CSS,
Tobi came back in the 3rd cohort to learn Design and it clicked. He maintained a close relationship with his two mentors Ogo and Tunmise and was able to master CorelDraw and Photoshop (to create banner and identity designs). Six months after the Bootcamp, Tobi went on to learn and master all the Adobe Design suites including Indesign and Illustrator.
Fast-forward February 2020, Tobi has launched his creative agency dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses tell better stories with design. Eight (8) people currently work for his brand agency — Dofti. In less than two years of his career in design, Tobi has done significant works and collaboration for over fifty brands and campaigns.
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with him about an idea for a side project and he told us to talk about it later. He wanted us to have a zoom call, but I had no idea we were going to be having a full-on brand strategy session.
We discussed at length, using different case scenarios of several brands he had worked with to help develop my idea. I don’t even have a name for my brand yet, but now I have a full scope of what I want to do. I wish I had the opportunity to have amazing sessions like that, for all of the incredible ideas I have ever had.
His agency also currently works on the brand identity design, brand strategy and brand guide. All of this would have cost me around two hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦250,000) if I were to hire an agency.
Presently, I can’t remember the exact amount we charged for the Design Bootcamp we did years back, but being flexible and encouraging someone to learn and build a career path is of benefit to me today.
What the Exchange of Value teaches us in this story is that you get something when you give out something. We all have various ways of accessing value, even to varying complexities, sure; but It’s an underlying principle that never changes.
If I had never offered value, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought to reach out to Tobi?
Something as minute as a combination of information, even to the production of services, is perceived as enough by one and all.
So I ask today, are you providing value?
