Kehinde Ajose: What an Empty Seat Taught Me About Creating Value

Kehinde Ajose, a Nigerian entrepreneur and leader, sat in a church service earlier this year, unaware that an ordinary instruction would become a profound lesson about creating value. The usher's simple yet powerful words, "Please, fill the seat", have since become a guiding principle for Ajose, known as The Seat Principle. This framework is built around four stages of creating value, each a stepping stone towards making a meaningful contribution.

Ajose's experience in the church service was a turning point in his understanding of value and purpose. It made him reflect on the times when he saw opportunities waiting to be seized, but often overlooked. He realized that the people who create lasting impact are those who pay attention, notice frustrations others have accepted, and recognize needs before they become obvious opportunities. This observation is rooted in the ability to discover and understand the gaps that exist in our society. In the context of Nigerian entrepreneurship, companies like OPay and Moniepoint have thrived by identifying and addressing the need for easier financial services for millions of Nigerians and small businesses. By asking better questions, such as "Where are people struggling?" and "What problem exists that nobody has taken ownership of?", entrepreneurs can uncover opportunities that often go unnoticed.

Ajose's Seat Principle emphasizes the importance of observation in creating value. He stresses that one cannot fill a seat they have not first discovered. This requires a willingness to see what others overlook and to pay attention to the needs of others. By doing so, individuals can uncover solutions to problems that have been accepted as the norm. This principle is not limited to entrepreneurship; it can be applied to any area of life where individuals can make a meaningful contribution. Whether in a community, an organization, or a family, recognizing the gaps that exist and taking responsibility for addressing them can lead to significant positive change.

Ajose's framework is built around four stages: Find the Seat, Feel the Seat, Fill the Seat, and Free the Seat. Each stage represents a critical step in creating value. Finding the seat requires observation and the ability to see what others overlook. Feeling the seat involves recognizing the need and taking ownership of the problem. Filling the seat means creating a solution that addresses the need, and freeing the seat involves empowering others to take ownership of the problem and continue the work. By following this framework, individuals can make a meaningful contribution and create lasting impact.

The Seat Principle reminds us that every individual has a seat to fill, a problem to solve, and a contribution to make. An empty seat represents a need waiting to be met, an opportunity waiting to be discovered, and a chance for someone to make an impact. By recognizing the gaps that exist and taking responsibility for addressing them, we can create a ripple effect of positive change. This is a lesson that Kehinde Ajose has learned from his experience in the church service, and one that he hopes others will adopt.

• Key Facts:

• Kehinde Ajose, a Nigerian entrepreneur and leader, sat in a church service where an usher asked him to "fill the seat."
• This experience led Ajose to develop The Seat Principle, a framework for creating value.
• The four stages of The Seat Principle are: Find the Seat, Feel the Seat, Fill the Seat, and Free the Seat.
• Ajose emphasizes the importance of observation in creating value and recognizing the gaps that exist in our society.

As a writer, I am struck by the power of a simple instruction to spark a profound lesson. Kehinde Ajose's experience in the church service reminds us that even in the most ordinary situations, we can find the seeds of innovation and growth. By paying attention to the needs of others and taking responsibility for addressing them, we can create a positive impact. This is a lesson that resonates beyond the context of entrepreneurship and leadership; it is a reminder that every individual has the power to make a difference in their community, organization, or family.