Sylvester Kay-Adade

Sylvester Kay-Adade is a force to be reckoned with and should be an inspiration to every young Nigerian. He started small, got discouraged by many, but he didn’t allow them get to him. Today he speaks with the likes of the CEO of FIFA’s branding Company on a one on one basis, he won a contract with Beijing Olympics, he’s been on the cover of the number one newspaper in Canada, The Hamilton Spectator, he is the CEO of ‘The SKA group’, and did I mention he is just 22.We at GidiNoize were privileged to have a word with the the man in charge,Sylvester II Olusola Kay-Adade.

GidiNoize Interviews Sylvester Kay-Adade

1.WHO IS MR. BUTTONS?
Mr. Buttons is Sylvester II Olusola Kay-Adade. He runs Pearl Creations, a Company whose primary product is Button-Badges hence the name lol.
He’s a shrewd businessman, very dedicated, entrepreneurial, hard-working and positive.

2.CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND (EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY)?
I was born May 29th, 1987 to Mr. Sylvester I and Mrs. Fehintola Adade in Lagos, Nigeria.
My dad was of mixed heritage (Brazilian-Nigerian), but raised in Ibadan, Nigeria.
My mum is Yoruba (from Kwara), but born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria.
I’m the first of two (2). I have a younger sister, Veronica; and three (3) half sisters- Ronke, Anthonia and Rita. According to age, I’m in the Middle, Ronke and Anthonia are older than me and I’m older than Rita and Veronica. All of us apart from Ronke were born into Catholicism, that’s why we have English first names.
I’m a family guy. I love my sisters and mum very dearly; and it is more than reciprocated. I’m also the only brother so I’m guarded quite jealously lol.
My educational life was quite simple till it got a little complicated. I wanted to become a Medical Doctor then Chemical Engineer then Medical Doctor again.
I attended St. Mary’s Private School, Agele, Lagos. Then I got into Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos. A lot of people are shocked when I mention my High School. I apparently behave nothing like the stereotypical “IJ” guy.
Next, I attended Covenant University for a year studying Computer Science/Software Engineering.
I was offered admission into the Medical School at Houdegbe North American University, Republique du Benin (HNAUB) after my first year at Covenant University, and accepted it. It was there I learnt to speak French, but it’s really rusty now. I spent two (2) years there before I transferred to Canada to continue. I came to Canada in August 2006 and attended Southern Ontario College for about nine (9) months so I could get admission to any University of my choice. I got admission into University of Toronto, University of Ottawa and McMaster University. My dad’s best friend attended McMaster University and talked so much about it, so I decided to go there…plus it has a renowned Medical School.
I’m in my third (3rd) year of Health Studies after which I plan to do a Masters in Public Health. Medicine is no more basically because I want to spend less time away from my Mum now that her husband’s late.

3.WHEN AND HOW DID YOU REALIZE MAKING BUTTONS WAS YOUR THING?

6.HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR STUDIES & YOUR BUSINESS TOGETHER?
When you start making your own money, there’s this rush and drive you get from it especially when business is booming. I was getting orders from within Hamilton, the US, Mexico, England, Morocco etc. It was crazy, but exciting. I started skipping classes and losing sleep in order to meet the demands and my customary ten (10) days deadline.
My grades began to suffer of course, so I decided to have a work & study time frame.
From 8am to 8pm, I would take orders, attend my classes and do my assignments in the Library. After 8pm, take a nap and then study overnight (which is when I assimilate best).
Fridays and Saturdays, I would design and make the buttons (which takes hours). In times of rigorous tests and exams, I type up all the orders with the specifications (which also takes hours) and send them via email to Alice. On Sundays, after Church services, I go back home to relax; watch my favourite TV series, movies and basically just chill on.
When I have large orders, I contact another business partner, Levi. He’s Canadian and also runs his own company. He has a bigger press and more workers than I do.
I’ve learnt to separate my education from business very effectively now. None overlaps the other and both are doing very well.
About two (2) months ago, I got a BlackBerry which streams my emails and facebook messages to my phone and makes life and business a lot easier for me.

7.BEING A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR COMES WITH A LOT OF CRITICISM AND DISAPPROVAL ESPECIALLY FROM PARENTS, HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THAT?
When I started, I didn’t tell my parents because I didn’t know how they would react. I’m that quiet and content child that doesn’t ask for anything except I need it so when I do ask, they never hesitate. My pocket money was sufficient such that I didn’t need a dramatic increase to start that would raise questions. I had also been saving at least $200CAD every month since the conception of starting Pearl Creations and its variety of buttons.
I did have a lot of setbacks from some colleagues (I use friend very cautiously) who didn’t understand what I could make from $2.00CAD. They would say things like,” if I know 100 people and each of them buys a button, all I would have is $200CAD or $250CAD. What next after that?
I got discouraged a couple of times especially when I wrote countless letters to Comic Stores, Film Companies, Theatres, Cinemas to purchase make buttons especially for movies like Watchmen, Spiderman etc or for their Online Stores. I wrote to Banks, Companies, Conglomerates suggesting buttons as new marketing strategies or as gifts to kids & customers for Christmas, during promos. I either got rejection replies or no replies at all.
I still encouraged myself and decided to be aggressive and more passionate about my business. I decided to make Pearl Creations more legit and international, not just a facebook group. I took an online tutorial on website designing and spent days making on. The initial one is nothing compared to what it is now (http://www.pearlcreations.org). I’ve redone and edited the website more than 50 times; I figured it would make me appear to be more driven.

11.APART FROM MAKING/DESIGNING BUTTONS DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST?
I play a lot of PlayStation adventure and mission video games.
I love to play lawn tennis and work out.
I watch basketball and soccer whenever they’re on TV, though I’m not much of a soccer fan.
I love board games especially chess, drafts and ludo.
Did I mention I’m a movie buff? lol.

12.DO YOU INTEND ON GOING INTO BUTTON MAKING FULL TIME?
Yes I do. I’m already into buttons full-time…sort of.
We do buttons for the Olympics, winter Olympics and lots of movies…which is a job already. We did for Watchmen, Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, Star Wars Clones, Looney Toons, AstroBoy, XMen Origin, and just concluded the Edward & Jacob Buttons Sale for the New Moon movie.

13.WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?
As I mentioned earlier, the buttons and Pearl Creations is just the beginning.
I’m just done registering ‘The SKA Group’ (more info on that on my blog: http://www.pearl-creations.blogspot.com), which is the Umbrella Company for Pearl Creations and a train of Companies I want to develop and have at least a branch operational before I turn 32 (I’m 22 presently).
I think it’s healthy to dream. I think it gives you a purpose and something to live for.
I want to have a legacy and impact the world so when I’m gone, I’ll be missed.
I have big dreams…and I believe there’s no such thing as impossible.

14.WHERE CAN YOUR BUTTONS BE PURCHASED?
They can be ordered on:
1. Facebook: Write your order on the wall of any of the groups depending on what you want. There’s The All-Me Buttons, The National Buttons, and Pearl Creations. Or on the wall of the Mr. Buttons FanPage.
2. Email: send your order to mr.buttons@live.ca
3. Website: send your order via the messenger on the website. The link is: http://www.pearlcreations.org/messenger.html
4. Phone: +1-289-396-8864.

15.WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER UPCOMING ENTREPRENEURS?
The key is to never give up and keep your dream alive. When I mentioned I didn’t get replies, I thought it was because I mentioned I was Nigerian (everyone knows what the word is about Nigerians and Scams) in my letters so I left it out of my letters, but things still didn’t look up.
I think it’s important never give up. To make sacrifices and take every opportunity you get to showcase yourself.
Everything happens for a reason. I’ll use myself as an example. I sold buttons at any event that would have me. Once, I sold buttons at a Festival in Hamilton called the Tiara Festival. It cost me $70.00CAD to get a table there, but I paid it.
It went from 9:00am to about 7:00pm and I sold only about 10- 15 buttons so I didn’t make anything close to the $70.00CAD back. Around 5:30pm when I was about giving up and packing up like a lot of the other merchants, a lady walked up to my table and asked about the buttons. So I told her and talked with a lot of enthusiasm, she smiled, gave me her notepad and told me to write my name, email, telephone number and about my buttons.
She explained that she is a reporter & columnist for The Hamilton Spectator (the biggest and most widely read newspaper in the city) and that she would like to do an exclusive on me, I thought I was dreaming. She called me to come for a photo shoot and interview later on. In a week, I was a full page story in the Hamilton Spectator! “Mr. Buttons…He’s Right on the Button http://www.thespec.com/BreakingNews/article/369538)
That’s how I got more people, popularity and fans. I went with my signature bag for the shoot so when people saw me after then, they would ask,” Are you Mr. Buttons?” Even at the bank one day, a teller asked if I was Mr Buttons and ordered for two (2) Denmark National Buttons.
What I’m trying to say is even though I thought I had wasted $70.00CAD, I ended up making more than that eventually. It was the grace of God, that same article and the fact that I’m a Student that got me a contract for the Beijing Olympics cuz I started adding the link in my emails and letters to proof of my Company’s authenticity.
Secondly, be cautious and don’t underestimate yourself. I dared to write the Olympic Committee, and I got a contract. I have talked to CEO’s, some “BIG” Men & Women; I have the cell phone number and have talked to the CEO of FIFA’s branding Company. I met all these people because I went the extra mile. I wrote Warner Bros because I wanted to make Watchmen buttons, but didn’t want to get sued doing the buttons (being cautious). They didn’t say I couldn’t make and sell them in their reply to me, but they said they wouldn’t be able to buy them from me.
Thirdly, take constructive criticism & always ask for feedback from customers so you can improve and continue to impress. Apart from people writing the wall of the groups, there is a feedback section on the website where people put their views and comments. Complaints led me to expand and introduce the bigger sizes of 1.25-inches and 1.5-inches as opposed to just the default 1.0-inch buttons.
Keep coming up with fresh ideas & innovations. Learn to develop the Entrepreneurial Eye that sees opportunities everywhere and in everything. You can read more about the ‘Entrepreneurial Eye’, my experiences and advice on my blog: pearl-creations.blogspot.com
Last, but not the least, please, please and please have faith and put your trust in God.

16.ANY LAST WORDS FOR YOUR FANS?
I’ll  like to thank everyone who is reading this, who has ordered and my faithful fans that order scores of buttons from me regularly, I won’t have made it this far if not for all of you. Thanks for supporting me, helping out, believing in me and encouraging me.
God bless you very much .Pearl Creations will always strive to give you the best quality button-badges and labels ever! We aim to please.

Ramzi was one of five other athletes from the games who was later caught with positive results for the drug, leading to a wide variety of surprise, opinion and critique.

The chairman of the London 2012 Organizing Committee, Sebastian Coe (who is also IAAF vice president and a double Olympic 1500 metre champion) was quoted in the Telegraph as saying, “That was the right decision. Cheats cannot prosper in our sport and people will realize that sooner or later.”

From the reactions that I’ve heard this week, I’ve been thinking about what Coe said, and in this case, it would appear to be true. But the actions of athletic cheaters, like their white-collared counterparts, don’t just affect their own standing or accomplishments. Asbel Kiprop of Kenya and Nicholas Willis of New Zealand (pictured below on either side of Ramzi) came in second and third place respectively, and have been robbed of their experience of winning gold and silver, instead of the silver and bronze they received. Through Ramzi’s actions, they will never get that experience back.

Many (or realistically, 99.9 per cent) of us will never know what it is like to run in the Olympics or even to complete at an elite level. Watching the immense talent of these world-class athletes inspires and motivates us, showing us what heights the sport can be taken to given the right mix of training, determination and genetics.

We invest a little of ourselves in watching the elite runners, recognizing the shared passion and struggle, the investment and emotion inherent in what we do. So when one of the immortal elite fall, they fall far and they fall hard.

Coe is right when he says they won’t prosper (providing they’re caught). In truth, Ramzi will likely never regain the trust or credibility he has lost. In effect, his promising career is now over. And here is where I begin to find a sense of compassion for him on a human level. All the years, hours and countless miles he willingly sacrificed to the sport; all the effort and toil he went through has now been for nothing. I wonder what the moments leading up to him deciding to take the CERA were like; what situations, actions or words pushed him over the line of elite performance and into the realm of doping? It leaves one to ask the unanswerable question of, “why?”

Here’s Gee Dubya making an arse of himself…..

The words leftover and condoms are not typically combined to start a sales stampede, but one Chinese collector of Olympic memorabilia is hoping he will be able to unload his 5,000 condoms from the 2008 Olympics at an auction.

Source:
http://www.sportsrubbish.com/2009/11/05/other-sports/olympics/want-to-buy-5000-leftover-2008-beijing-olympics-condoms-look-no-further/

The Beijing Olympics were legendary for the amount of sex the athletes were having, the organizers distributed over 100,000 condoms to the athletes, very few of which remained. Those unlucky few that did, about 5,000, were bought up by a collector who is now going to sell them off at the equivalent of about $.13 apiece.

Each condom wrapper includes the motto of the Beijing Games, “Faster, Higher, Stronger” in English and Chinese

Unfortunately, you have to buy the entire lot, you can’t purchase the condoms individually at the Exceptional Auction of China Sport Collection to be held on the 29th of November.

[BBC]

A lot was made during the Beijing Olympics about the diet of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who said about 8,000-10,000 calories per day helped him fuel eight gold-medal victories.

Although WebMD reports that 10,000 calories per day would be nearly impossible, his diet of cooked and processed foods is certainly of sizeable proportions. One breakfast, for example, included three fried-egg sandwiches, an omelet, grits, three slices of French toast and three chocolate-chip pancakes.

Now, even if Phelps’ metabolism is through the roof and he truly burns all of those calories in competition, his diet could likely be the cause of a little indigestion or bloating.

Given that many of the foods he eats are cooked, it’s likely his meals have little, if any, natural enzyme content. Food enzymes, which are found in uncooked fruits, vegetables and meats, help the body naturally break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

When food enzymes are not present, the body relies on enzymes produced by the pancreas to take care of digestion and assimilation of nutrients. This process can rob energy from the body, as well as decrease energy for tissue repair and immune function.

For any diet, whether you’re an Olympian or you stick with 2,000 calories per day, broad-spectrum digestive enzyme supplements can help the body break down food to combat symptoms of indigestion, bloating and other digestive problems. Better digestion improves nutrient absorption and contributes to tissue maintenance and immune health.

Arthur: unknown
From China Daily 05/16/2007 page10

Years back, when Beijing’s municipal authorities pledged to respect the city’s architectural legacies in urban renovation, we celebrated that precious, though belated, wisdom.

As the Beijing Olympics organizers challenge themselves to present the city’s and the country’s cultural splendor, we shared the innocent hope that more of the increasingly scarce hutong traditional alleys and siheyuan traditional quadruple residential courtyards would survive the city’s urge to put on a new face for 2008.

But such hopes were smashed yesterday as workers began to pull down buildings at 9 Dongsi Batiao, a government-designated area for protection.

Local residents tried to stop the demolition, but in vain. Nor did conservation advocates’ and cultural relics protection departments’ passionate objections work.

A notice posted by the developer says buildings in 26 old courtyards on Dongsi Batiao will be demolished by May 26.

We disagree with extreme conservationists who want everything old to be preserved. But the municipal authorities must not play the indifferent onlooker when the city’s cultural identity is being squandered.

The Dongsi Batiao area, an important part of old Beijing, is among the first 25 areas of cultural and historical significance the city has promised to preserve.

But now, 26 courtyards will be gone in less than two weeks. And there is no sign that any powerful office of the municipal government will step to halt the demolition.

The local bureau for the protection of cultural relics did express disapproval. But it is not in a position to stop the demolition.

While the public questions the city’s messy chain of command – with different parties quoting divergent authorizations – we are more concerned about the immediate fate of the endangered courtyards. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

Of course developers can build replicas. They are quite addicted to that. (当然那些开发商可以建造很多复制品，他们就热衷于此)

The city government has just inaugurated an expensive project to renovate the historical Qianmen area. The idea is to recreate the architectural look of the late Qing Dynasty (1611-1911) and early Republican years (1911-1949).

But it will be a shame if the genuine heritage is destroyed.

Rule 1 of leadership from Jack Welch’s “Winning” states

Leaders relentlessly upgrade their team, using every encounter as an opportunity to evaluate, coach, and build self-confidence.

It is often said that the team with the best players wins, but we know that wasn’t the case for USA basketball.

In 1992 USA started fielding what would be called the Dream Team. The teams dominated in 1992 and in 1996. Then they barely won gold in 2000 and finished 6th at the World Championship in 2002. In 2004 USA got bronze.

If the team with best players always win then USA basketball would win every year they fielded top NBA players. It’s not that there are no great non-American players, but everyone knows that more American players top the list of great basketball players than any other.

So, what made the difference this time? Leadership.

Let’s look at the details under Rule 1:

Evaluate – making sure the right people are in the right jobs, supporting and advancing those who are, and moving those who are not

Coach – guiding, critiquing, and helping people to improve their performance in every way

Build self-confidence – pouring out encouragement, caring, and recognition. Self-confidence energizes, and gives your people the courage to stretch, take risks, and achieve beyond their dreams. It fuels winning teams.

When USA basketball built the new team they wanted to make a good team. They learned from past mistakes that they could not just put the best players together on the court and expect magic to happen.

As much as I hate Duke (I refuse to link), Mike Krzyzewski and the rest of the coaching staff did a great job making a winning basketball team.

Let’s not fall into the trap of old USA basketball. In order to succeed you must have a great team, not just a collection of great people.

This was brought to my attention from a friend back home.  Pretty scary stuff…

“Right now, the Chinese government is in the midst of a massive security overhaul,” writes Greg Guenthner, with a unique opportunity. “When the dust clears, the sprawling city of Shenzhen will contain more than 2 million closed-circuit television cameras. That’s double the number of cameras lining the streets and shops of London.

“Make no mistake about it — Big Brother is watching the Chinese every moment of every day.

“This industrial hub of Shenzhen is not only home to millions of residents — it’s also teeming with high-tech surveillance equipment. As part of a project that began a couple of years before the Beijing Olympic Games, the government installed about 200,000 surveillance cameras throughout the city, according to journalist Naomi Klein.

“‘China today, epitomized by Shenzhen’s transition from mud to megacity in 30 years, represents a new way to organize society,’ Klein writes. ‘Sometimes called “market Stalinism,” it is a potent hybrid of the most powerful political tools of authoritarian communism — central planning, merciless repression, constant surveillance — harnessed to advance the goals of global capitalism.’

“The surveillance industry in China is booming,” Greg continues. “It will be a $43 billion industry by next year, growing 20% annually for the next two years, according to the Chinese Security and Protection Agency. This robust growth won’t happen by itself. China’s ruling political party and big business will be supplying the cash to expand surveillance and security measures in every city and town in the country.

“Whatever bumps or growing pains the Chinese economy will face over the next several years, it is all but certain that the current expansion of the security state will continue unabated.

I should have posted this a day or 2 earlier but since I get my newspaper (Times of India) a day late (sometimes even 2) hence this delay.

There was an article in the Bombay Times (Times of India magazine) dated 11th October 2009 on the sport person from disciplines other then cricket (the title read something like new kids on the block) and one of the sportspersons covered was Sushil Kumar. To set the contest for those who do not know who Sushil Kumar is, Sushil Kumar is the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men’s 66 kg freestyle wrestling bronze medallist. Sushil Kumar has been mentioned as a boxer in the article and too twice in the same article.

Now not sure how can such an article be published, there has to be some research and some verification before printing anything meant for public consumption. On reading the article I had to google on Sushil Kumar to be sure that that they had got it incorrect as couldn’t believe that a national newspaper could get something so basic wrong. This shows the seriousness of the writer to actually investigate and report whether alternate sports are getting their due in India, just because she / he had to write an article here it comes naming some sportspersons and that too incorrectly. Pity the sportsperson and pity the few good reporters.

This is not a one of instance – I have come across many incidents in the recent past when the reporters both print and TV have reported incorrectly.

God save us from this irresponsible reporting……..

She: “What’cha working on?”

He: “Sea lettuce.”

She: “Where? And what are you doing eating at your desk anyway? Don’t I feed you enough?”

He: “No, love, not ’see lettuce, bring your glasses’. ‘Sea lettuce, bring your bathing suit.’ It’s a kind of seaweed.”

“A nickel bag, dude? For us? Gnarl…“

“Dude! Shut up!!“

You jokers never learn, do you?

She: “Who are you talking to?!?”

He: “Me, myself, and I. If you’d been working on this sea lettuce report as long as I have, you’d probably be talking to yourself too.”

She: “No, there’s only one of me. If I desire conversation, I go looking for real people.”

He: “Oh, so you’d like to go fishing. Why didn’t you just say so?”

She: “Don’t make me regret reeling you in. You and your imaginary friends.”

He: “What imaginary friends?!?”

She: “The ones that pop up when you stay up all night writing reports and don’t get any sleep. What’s this all about?”

He: “You remember the Olympics in Beijing last year?”

She: “Wasn’t that when Michael Phelps was winning all those gold medals, swimming?”

“And smokin’ too, dude.”

That was later.

She: “What was later?”

He: “The cleanup. Actually, it was earlier, before the Olympics. Just hope Phelps knew how lucky he was, not having to swim outdoors.”

She: “Because why?”

He: “Because of the sea lettuce.”

She: “I sure hope he didn’t do any more than look at it. Everyone knows you’re not supposed to go into the water until at least half an hour after you eat!”

He: “Trust me, neither he nor anyone else wanted to see it, never mind eat it. All they wanted to do was get rid of it.”

She: “Ewww …”

“Ewww …”

“Ewww …”

She: “Echoes?”

He: “Yeah. ‘Cause it all happened again this summer. In France and in Seattle. Stuff piles up on the beaches and really makes a wrack of things.”

“Party down, dude! Hit the beach and get wracked!“

“Stop yelling, dude! You’ll make yourself hoarse.”

Yeah. A dead horse.

She: “Is it my turn yet?”

He: “They don’t eat sea lettuce.”

She: “Who don’t?”

He: “The terns, of course.”

She: “Well, I won’t be eating any, that’s for sure.”

He: “Why not?”

She: “You think I want a toxic waist? Leave that report and come to bed. If those imaginary friends of yours have any consideration, they’ll finish it for you while you’re asleep.”

“Finish the report, she says. How the hell’re we supposed to do that, dude?”

“I dunno, dude. Furniture polish?”

  - O Ceallaigh
Copyright © 2009 Felloffatruck Publications. All wrongs deplored.
All opinions are mine as a private citizen.

Video by: BlackberryX01@youtube

Matthew Mitcham and his partner Lachlan Fletcher enjoy the time they have together between busy schedules.

The hits on here indicate that a lot of people are still very into Matthew Mitcham, the Olympic gold-medal diver from Australia.  It seems like he’s been a very busy guy since winning the diving championship last year in Beijing.

According to an interview done by afterelton.com: “A year after shooting to worldwide fame, Mitcham isn’t just training for his next diving competition, but is also studying science at Sydney University.”  If you haven’t done so yet, you can read more of the article “Catching Up With Mathew Mitcham” here.

Squidwho also has many photos and links for Matthew Mitcham fans.

If you thought Beijing’s 2008 Olympics was impressive, get ready for October 1.  In less than three weeks, China will be celebrating its National Day, marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of communist China.  Since May, thousands of performers have practiced eight hours a day, marching through rain or shine, to perfect each crisply synchronized step.

Officials have actually quartered off their A-list performers at a rural outskirt of Beijing so that they can properly focus on their daily drills, and the troops have not been let off the base once!  Talk about dedication.

As Senior Colonel Guo Zhigang, deputy head of the training camp, said, “No matter from which angle you look, there should always be uniformity, so that the formation looks like a steel panel.”

Steel panel indeed.

Suzie

P.S. Thanks to my brother (and Beijing connection) for this link!