Oluwatosin Oguntunde- Blog
- July 19, 2025
- 33 views
No Silver Spoons, Just Grit: The Price of Building from Scratch in Today’s World.
“Many of us (myself included) are still building a rock-solid life. No inherited silver spoons. Just pure grit.” – Oluwatosin Oguntunde. In a world that appears increasingly polarized between the haves and the have-nots, this sentiment captures the inner dialogue of millions across the globe — particularly in developing economies, but not exclusively so. Building from scratch, with no legacy wealth, connections, or safety nets, has become both the struggle and badge of honor for the self-made generation. The Wealth Gap: A Starting Line for Some, a Steep Climb for Others Let’s be honest — privilege is real. According to the World Inequality Report (2022), the top 10% of earners globally take home 52% of global income, while the bottom half earn just 8.5%. More alarmingly, the richest 1% own 38% of all global wealth — a clear indicator that many were born not just with silver spoons, but with full silver dining sets. In the U.S., a study by the Brookings Institution found that 50-60% of wealth is inherited, not earned. Inherited wealth gives some a massive head start — be it in education, housing, entrepreneurship, or access to influential networks. Meanwhile, for millions — especially in countries like Nigeria, India, or Brazil — economic survival is a hustle, and upward mobility is slow and often stifled by systemic barriers. Building with Grit: The Reality of the Self-Made For the rest of us who didn’t inherit fortunes, the game looks different. This proves that for many, there is no shortcut — just sweat equity. But here’s the twist: history shows that grit can build empires. From Howard Schultz (who grew up in public housing and built Starbucks) to Elon Musk (who lived off $1/day meals while coding), stories of people who clawed their way up the socioeconomic ladder are living proof of what resilience can yield. The Cost of Laying the Groundwork Here’s where most people miss the mark: behind every visible “overnight success” lies years of invisible sacrifice. And yet, this foundation-laying season rarely gets the respect it deserves. “Yes, some people are privileged — they’ve got access, support, and steady funding. But never forget: someone paid the price, laid the groundwork, and built what others now leverage.” Exactly. Many of the platforms others stand on today were constructed through blood, sweat, and tears by visionaries, immigrants, parents, and pioneers who sacrificed comfort for the sake of legacy. Even those who inherit wealth are only beneficiaries of someone else’s relentless effort — the original builder. Respect the Process — It’s the Ultimate Currency Social media glorifies “having it all” but rarely shows the process behind the progress. In reality: That’s a whole decade of refining your skills, failing forward, showing up when no one’s watching, and investing in yourself. So, if you’re still building — still hustling to get your startup off the ground, still grinding through school, or still saving for your dream project — know this: You’re not behind.You’re laying bricks.And every brick matters. “Respect the process. Build yours.” Because one day, others will leverage what you are now sweating to create. Sources / References: Written By: Oluwatosin Oguntunde. Thought Leader | Project Manager | Founder, Opportunity Gist
- Oluwatosin Oguntunde
- Blog
- July 18, 2025
- 37 views
Sustainability Over Speed: Why the Will to Sustain Outweighs the Will to Win.
In today’s hyper-accelerated world, it’s tempting to prioritize speed, execution, and short-term wins. But as we’ve seen time and again—whether in business, startups, politics, or public policy—flashy execution without sustainability leads to fast extinction. The truth is: The will to win is not the same as the will to sustain.And in the long run, it’s those who prioritize sustainability that outlive, outlast, and out-impact. 1. Why Sustainability Must Come First Execution alone is no longer enough. A global CEO survey revealed that 45% of corporate leaders believe their companies won’t be viable in the next decade if they don’t evolve with sustainability in mind (PwC, 2024). The most commonly cited threats include climate-related risks, regulatory pressure, and digital disruption. Sustainability isn’t just about ethics anymore—it’s now the foundation of business survival. 2. Businesses That Prioritize Sustainability Thrive Economically Let’s look at the evidence: Clearly, sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s a performance multiplier. 3. Nations: Sustainable Investment Builds Long-Term Growth At the national level, sustainability is no less critical: Sustainable development isn’t just morally right—it’s economically smart. 4. Entrepreneurs: Build to Last, Not Just to Launch Many entrepreneurs fall into the “launch trap”—chasing hype and ignoring fundamentals. But without a sustainability plan, startups collapse quickly. The difference? Sustainable startups are built for resilience, not just rapid scale. 5. Economic Reality: What Lasts Is What’s Sustainable Let’s break it down across the spectrum: Sector Sustainable Strategy Short-Term Trap Individuals Build personal brands, recurring income, expertise Chase trends with no lasting value Businesses Focus on ESG, stakeholder equity, circular economies Scale fast, burn cash, lose loyalty Nations Invest in infrastructure, education, climate resilience Over-leverage for short-term GDP For example, Republic Services, one of the U.S.’s largest waste and recycling firms, has shown stable financial growth over a decade through its focus on sustainable operations. It’s consistently outperformed peers and demonstrated how “boring” sectors can quietly build enduring wealth (Republic Services, 2024). Final Thought: Sustainability Is the New Success Metric It’s easy to win once.It’s hard to stay winning. Before you launch a business, scale a project, or push a policy—ask yourself: ✅ Can this last 10 years?✅ Can it evolve and scale without collapsing?✅ Can it outlive me and still create value? Because in the end, execution is impressive, but sustainability is irreplaceable. References ✍️ Written by:Tosin OguntundeThought Leader | Project Manager | Founder, Opportunity Gist
- Oluwatosin Oguntunde
- Blog
- July 18, 2025
- 36 views
The Power of 20 and the Push for 10X: How Individuals, Businesses, and Nations Win Big by Thinking Smart and Acting Bold
In the modern world of disruption, speed, and hyper-competition, winning is no longer about working harder. It’s about working smarter, scaling faster, and doing both with surgical precision. That’s where two proven frameworks come into play: These principles are more than productivity hacks—they are economic survival tools for individuals, entrepreneurs, and even nations. Let’s explore the data and evidence. 1. Understanding the Pareto Principle Across Contexts What It Means The Pareto Principle originated from Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who in 1896 discovered that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the population (Pareto, 1896). Over time, this pattern has shown up consistently across economics, business, time management, and development. In Business In National Development For Individuals 2. The 10X Rule: Exponential Thinking and Bold Execution Coined by entrepreneur Grant Cardone, the 10X Rule challenges individuals and organizations to think far beyond incremental gains. “If your goal is $1 million, set it at $10 million and take actions that support a $10 million mindset.” – Grant Cardone, The 10X Rule Backed by Research 3. Applying Both Principles to Scale Impact Individual Level Pareto in Action: Focus 80% of your energy on your top 2–3 skills, platforms, or relationships.10X in Action: Don’t just aim to build a personal brand—build a publishing platform, a global podcast, or a coaching business that impacts thousands. Example: Instead of freelancing casually, build a scalable consulting brand. Set goals not to earn ₦1M/month, but ₦10M—and map out bold actions to make it real. Business Level Pareto in Action: Identify your most profitable customer segment or product line.10X in Action: Expand that segment, automate its delivery, and build a business model that can scale regionally or globally. Example: Zoom Video grew from a 20% niche user base to global dominance by focusing on performance + ease of use, then executing 10X marketing and integrations during the pandemic. [Forbes, 2021] Nation Level Pareto in Action: Invest in core sectors like agriculture, digital infrastructure, and education—the 20% of sectors that affect 80% of national well-being.10X in Action: Make 10X budgetary allocations in those sectors. Build broadband, power infrastructure, logistics, and payment systems at scale. Example: Estonia invested heavily in e-Government and digital ID. Today, 99% of government services are online, saving over 2% of GDP annually [OECD e-Government Report, 2022]. 4. Why This Works Final Word: Think Sharper. Act Bigger. Build Systems. Whether you’re a solo founder, a business executive, or a policymaker, combining Pareto focus and 10X execution is the roadmap to building lasting relevance, transformational influence, and market leadership. Because in today’s world, you can’t scale mediocrity. But you can 10X excellence. “To get what only 1% of people have, you must be willing to do what 99% are unwilling to do.” Open References Written by: Tosin OguntundeThought Leader | Change Driver | Founder, Opportunity Gist
