Our guest, a beacon of empowerment, especially for young women, shares her transformative journey from the loss of her father to a life of introspection in Ghana. Her narrative isn't just about success; it's a profound exploration of authenticity, emotional wealth, and the undeniable truth that real fulfillment springs from within.
Brace yourself for a deep dive into the essence of confidence and resilience. Together with our esteemed guest, we confront life's curveballs head-on, championing the idea that rejection is merely redirection towards greater horizons. The conversation spans cultural perceptions of boldness, the impact of maintaining a positive mindset, and the art of turning 'no' into the fuel that propels us forward. It's an exhilarating look at the resilience born from adversity and how it shapes our connection with others.
As we wrap up, we're left with pearls of wisdom on personal growth and the unique greatness we all possess. Our guest's empowering guidance is a clarion call to embrace our individuality and strive for excellence in our chosen fields. Remember, the journey to self-discovery and confidence is a marathon, not a sprint, but each step is a testament to the power of our singular narratives.
Watch the video episode of this on YouTube - https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds
Our guest, a beacon of empowerment, especially for young women, shares her transformative journey from the loss of her father to a life of introspection in Ghana. Her narrative isn't just about success; it's a profound exploration of authenticity, emotional wealth, and the undeniable truth that real fulfillment springs from within.
Brace yourself for a deep dive into the essence of confidence and resilience. Together with our esteemed guest, we confront life's curveballs head-on, championing the idea that rejection is merely redirection towards greater horizons. The conversation spans cultural perceptions of boldness, the impact of maintaining a positive mindset, and the art of turning 'no' into the fuel that propels us forward. It's an exhilarating look at the resilience born from adversity and how it shapes our connection with others.
As we wrap up, we're left with pearls of wisdom on personal growth and the unique greatness we all possess. Our guest's empowering guidance is a clarion call to embrace our individuality and strive for excellence in our chosen fields. Remember, the journey to self-discovery and confidence is a marathon, not a sprint, but each step is a testament to the power of our singular narratives.
Watch the video episode of this on YouTube - https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds
I can boldly say there isn't anybody who has given me anything to get to where I am today. But not anybody can boldly go out there to say it. So when I'm saying that and I'm inspiring the young ladies and letting them know that it can be done, it's possible. But some people say I'd rather cry in a Ferrari, I wouldn't. You can follow the crowd, but it might cost you as the individual more when everybody's gone and it's just you by yourself. Number one business and self-development podcast Connected Minds podcast.
Speaker 2:So how I discovered you was one of the messages you posted on your Facebook. You sent this to another company about yourself.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, you have done serious research.
Speaker 2:I can't believe it.
Speaker 1:another company about yourself. Oh, but this was you have done serious research.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can do what everyone is doing, but it may cost you more that is a word that touches my soul every single time I hear it, because it's the realist it is. It is the realist I can't is. That's engraved in my blood. If I could tattoo a sentence on my heart, that would be one of them, because for real, it could cost you more. I can do what. Look at me. I can do whatever I want. I can be the biggest slay queen on there. I can. I can get the biggest houses. I can get the. We live in ghana at this present moment and we know how things are happening. I am a I'm not ugly, I'm a beautiful lady. I can use my beauty to get whatever I want.
Speaker 1:No, please. I already know I'm joking, but really and truly I can use my looks to gain as much as I want, but how is that going to make me feel when I'm going to sleep at night by myself? Would I feel confident? Right now, I can boldly say that there isn't anybody who has given me anything to get to where I am today, like paid me, or I've had to do anything to get to where I am today, but not anybody can boldly go out there to say it. So when I'm saying that and I'm inspiring the young ladies and letting them know that it can be done, it's, it's possible, but there are some people that actually can't, and that is what would cost me. It would burn me to stand on stage and lie and say, oh yeah, you know, I didn't do this and this. When, deep down, when I go to sleep at night, it's only your pillow that knows your deepest, darkest secrets and catches your tears that's actually very deep.
Speaker 2:The sentence, the quote itself was deep, but after you've explained it is even deeper. Do you want to go deeper?
Speaker 1:I don't want us to drown, but no, for real it is. It can cost you more. So it's more of how do you feel about yourself? You you can get a guy can be, have amazing five, that he could be handsome, get 5 000 girls be like, yeah, all the girls like me. But when he's by himself and he actually doesn't have one person that actually shows him real love and they love you just for what you have. That's like having a mansion and being alone in the mansion. What's the point like? What is the point? You have nobody to share it with. So now you're lonely in this 15 bedroom house then, being all your family friends around you. Maybe you're just living within your means or you know you're just sharing your money experiences with others around you in a five bedroom house. But some people say I'd rather cry in a Ferrari. I wouldn't.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't either exactly you've got to love yourself enough to allow yourself to let certain things go so that's it.
Speaker 1:You can follow the crowd, but it might cost you as the individual more when everybody's gone and it's just you by yourself.
Speaker 2:I love to speak to people like you on Connected Minds, because that's what I'm about, you know changing people's mindset, changing the perspective yeah, Changing your perspective.
Speaker 1:Removing the lenses? Yeah, Take them off. Let's wipe them a bit so you can see things from somebody else's point of view.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that you moved to Ghana. I did, for someone who was born in the uk decided to move to ghana. Um, what was happening?
Speaker 1:memories. So, yeah, I was working on radio tv I don't work with itv in the uk, I, um was working with the nhs. I was a medical secretary. I was getting a lot of money weekly and then life happened. So my best friend in the whole entire world, my dad, passed away. I'm a daddy's girl, okay, he passed away, and in that time I think I was going through a lot of escapism where you don't like dealing with your problem, you just want to run away. So I would book holidays. I love traveling, so I'd go to different countries. I've.
Speaker 1:As soon as he passed away, the next month I was in Spain. The next month I was in Dubai. The next month I was in Greece. I was out.
Speaker 1:And then, while you're going out, you're spending a lot of money as well, yeah, and so I just felt I really and truly just need just to put pause on life right now, to deal with this, to think about what's just happened, to process what's just happened. I need to just be away from everybody. I just wanted to be away, and so I was like, well, if I'm gonna be honest, the only place I know I don't have to pay for accommodation is Ghana, because we have a family house here and I have some like family here. So I came to Ghana. I booked a ticket only five months. I wasn't expecting to be here forever. I just told work I'm taking a sabbatical and I'll be back.
Speaker 1:And literally after two months of that, I I got bored, you get bored, I get bored easily, if you can tell from my personality. I can't just be still, and sometimes that is because you don't want to go deep into what the actual issue is, because it's painful having to relive that. So the escapism just came in a completely different way. I don't want to sit down and think about what's happened, I just want to live life, and that's how I ended up on TV, radio billboards in Ghana with speed. But the actual dealing with the main reason why I came didn't happen until, let's say, three years afterwards of being in Ghana. So so off topic, but dealing with grief is something that you can't rush. The process isn't the same for everybody. It might look like one year for one and 17 years for somebody else, and so, yeah, the whole reason of Drew come to Ghana isn't a beautiful oh, my god. Yeah, I just woke up. It was more of I was running away from my issues in the UK.
Speaker 2:Wasn't an issue, but yeah, so you had no plan whatsoever, you just did it to come to Ghana?
Speaker 1:no plan. And I tell everybody who, it's true, I want to move to Ghana. Like you have a plan, because me I didn't have a plan. Mine was, oh, I just need a break. I literally come, come into Ghana because I need a break. That's why I came to Ghana. I needed a break. And you know, the Lord just does amazing things where he turns everything around and he actually was the master plan. He kind of I wouldn't say tricked me into coming here, but he knew that this is where he wanted me to be.
Speaker 2:It was all part of the master plan.
Speaker 1:It was all part of his master plan, but not in the way that I imagined it at all, but then how is it going to be like, though, moving to Ghana with no financial planning?
Speaker 2:You just left the job. You don't have a business here. You're probably gonna take a job. I mean how that must have been tough.
Speaker 1:It was crazy because I wasn't even thinking about that at that present moment. It was. This is about me and my mental health and my sanity. At this present moment I need silence. I just wanted to be away from all my closest friends, family, everybody, my immediate family they're all in the UK, everybody and it was. I just need silence. I'm the first born, so I began this like I just want silence. That was it. And so I came to Ghana. I had my savings, I'd saved up a bit and then that's when I was just like, well, okay, after a while, after the two months, okay, drew, we can't be doing up Dirty December because the money is going. Five CDs is now five CDs front. Can I have the one CD change? Before it was like oh, you can have it.
Speaker 1:And so that's when I ended up okay, what is it that I love doing? What is it that I'm good at? What do I enjoy? Anything? Talking is me in the UK. I was doing TV and radio, and that always had to be my plan B. When you know, I would love that to be my plan A. That's what I wanted to do. But when you're in the UK, you have to work to make money to fund the dream. And now it's like well, I'm in Ghana right now. Let me just focus on the dream and see what I can do.
Speaker 1:And that's how I ended up walking into a tv station and being like hey, my name is Drew. Um, I do TV and radio in the UK. And basically, yeah, I seen you guys on on Google as one of the top three tv stations in Ghana, so I just want to be an intern. And they're like eh, I was like yeah, so I'm going to come in on Monday. And they're like what? So yeah, I'm going to come and be an intern on Monday, so I'll see you on Monday. They didn't believe me. Monday came and I'm like hey, so what do we do? And they're like huh, I think for me. I'm just like this is normal, this is what we do in the UK, right? So we just roll up in there, want to see the manager. They're like hey, madam, there's no. I'm like well, I'm here now. I told you that I was coming. Now I'm here. Are you gonna waste my, my petrol money and all that stuff that I paid? Let's go. So I think, out of being in shock, they just allowed me to continue. So I was doing my thing.
Speaker 1:Then one day the main presenter didn't come. I told them oh, I can do. It went on there. From then, my own tv show, radio show, next minute brands are asking me to be their brand ambassador. I'm'm on billboards. And this is in my four months of being in Ghana. So now fifth month is coming up. Oh, thanks, guys. It's amazing.
Speaker 1:I'm going back to London. They're like madam, you are going away. I'm like what do you mean? Like this was just an intern, like I was only coming here for. And then I had to think like what am I really going back to London to do? To go back? Right now I'm living the dream. I'm doing my plan A. Am I going back to the UK to go back to hustle again, when right now I'm doing what I want to do. And so when I made that decision, I was like you know, yeah, you're right, I'm out bye London. So I went back in the five months to pack up everything and be like, yeah, let's see how it goes. And so Ghana hasn't been the the, the dream, but it's been. A beautiful roller coaster everywhere has its ups and downs, yeah for me is the bravery the boldness, yeah, the audacity, yeah, courage that I'm just like.
Speaker 1:I think for me I'm very much. It's been instilled in me from birth to know who I am I. I know who I am, I know what I'm capable of, if anything, it's more of. You're gonna tell me no, and that's. And for me, if you tell me no, well, that's your loss, that's okay, because I know that I know who God has created me to be, I. I know what my dad used to tell me, that I can do all things. I know my personality. So it's all about if you know yourself. That's where that boldness and confidence comes from. So if they said no to me, I would have been like, okay, that's not a problem. But I know they would have seen me on another station and been upset that they didn't say yes. And then that's a you problem, not me.
Speaker 2:Right, you wrote say yes and then that's, that's a you problem, not me, right? You wrote this message about yourself, um, and I think you sent it to one of the online profile companies, and this is what you said I haven't reached the end and the road really hasn't been easy, but because it's what I love, I never really get tired of doing it. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, but like, yeah, I will second them 55 times that. Yeah, because for real, I know what I want to be and where I want to be and where I've seen myself. And this Drew that you see, now she's not even 10%. She's not even 10%. Nations are supposed to know my name, nations are supposed to be calling me to get to where I want to be. Like, nations will be like Mr, we want you and yeah, I've got some countries are and some, you know, companies are, but it's international because I have a story that the world needs to hear.
Speaker 1:So, even though, you know, maybe I might not be making the millions that I wish I was this, the job and roles that I do in Ghana, if I was doing that in the UK, oh, my goodness, I've had a house in Chelsea, kensington. I'll be living my best life, but I chose Ghana and this is where I'm starting my journey and it doesn't look how I thought it was going to look, but, but I know that this is not the end. So we just keep going. When you get knocked down, get up, dust yourself off and we go even harder. Tomorrow's a new day. We don't let the issues of yesterday flow into our new day, no way.
Speaker 2:Do you? Know, how many young people born in Ghana, raised in Ghana, who would wish to be as bold, as confident as you are, to be able to just walk to TV3 or GTV or even forget it just a local radio station to say that I want to just DJ for you, because deep down, everybody is so concerned about other people's opinions and what people are going to say we are so concerned of oh, how would I look?
Speaker 1:Or what would they say about me? Would they be talking about me when? If you know who you are, who God has created you to be, or even just do you know what? I know that I am beautiful in God's eyes, or I just know that this gift that I have of singing maybe you might not like it, but there's somebody in this world that likes it. My story might not be for everybody, but there is a certain caliber of people that it's for Like what. You probably have your favorite Wache seller. In Ghana. There are over 100 ladies that sell Wache, but you go to this particular lady in maybe East they gone in this corner and there's always a line, but that doesn't mean the lady across the road isn't getting a line either. So what I have is for a specific type of people, and just because one person doesn't like it doesn't mean another 20 people might not like it.
Speaker 2:that's how I live my life it's a beautiful way to live your life. No, it's a beautiful way. Uh, because you don't hear no, and no doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 1:No, doesn't stop me. What do you mean? No, what, no and no. But there must be a follow-on, and if you're not giving me a follow-on, then you're not the one that what? What you mean? Like I'm even confused. What you mean? Like I'm even confused, what do you mean? No, that's OK, because what I know is that later you'll come and ask me and that means yesterday's price is not today's price when I was ready to give you my services for free. Now, when you want me, I can now give you the price and you will have to pay it your Twitter page is full of quotes.
Speaker 2:I went through them and then some of them you read and you're like, okay, you know, most of the time when I started writing quotes and motivational messages, it was for me myself.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Sometimes you know you wake up in the morning and you're not feeling great, and then some words come in that gets you up, yeah, and you're like, oh, let me share this, maybe somebody else needs it. How did it start for you?
Speaker 1:so I literally was writing I used to be the snapchat queen, like back in the day. When snapchat came, every morning I'd be like good morning guys. I'll give you guys a quote of the day. I'll do a little, you know, I'll do a little random melody of good morning, good morning, and then I would literally document my whole day. So it would be like a YouTube show on the day of the life of Drew. Literally it was the day of the life of Drew, and so days where I won't post people like Drew, are you all right? Like what's happening? Like are you? We haven't seen a post today. I'm just like guys, relax, like relax.
Speaker 1:And so it's really interesting because I used to be on radio and my dad used to be, I wouldn't say my ghost writer, because he would send me quotes to start my day because he was like oh, drew, you know all this music that will any, it's like proper, like London will be doing grime after Afrobeats, all different types of music in the morning. He's like at least start the day with a motivational something to kickstart people in their day. I was like you know what? That is so right. So he used to send me some and I would post them on my Instagram afterwards, and then you know, it just became a thing when he wasn't even giving them to me words that I wish somebody had told me, or something that helped me for today. I'm not selfish, I'm not a gatekeeper. I share, I don't, I love sharing certain things, but so I would put up maybe a quote that helped me today, or a quote that I think everybody needs to hear, or something that has uplifted me. And it's so funny because I was doing it.
Speaker 1:I brought it up again when I was in Ghana. I was doing quotes of the day, and then I just stopped and some random girl from Gambia sent me a message like hi, ms Drew, you don't know me, but I look forward to seeing your quotes every single day. And I had stopped posting them for like at least three, six months. So I've been from gambia like are you bringing back drew's gentle reminders? That's what they're called drew's gentle reminders. Are you bringing back?
Speaker 1:I was like what gambia and that's when I was like nations I haven't even been to are going to be calling me because hey, me, I'm sitting, I haven't even traveled there yet, and gambia wants to know what is drew's gentle reminder for today and a gentle reminder, something that you should already know. I'm just reminding you gently you can do it that nobody can do you like you, all the random things, and it's just a reminder that during your day do you know what? I just saw this and I was like, yeah, no one can do me like me, no one can talk the way I talk. You can try and copy, but you're not gonna be me. And so that's when I was like, yeah, drew, you need to keep this up like, and not just for others, for me. So a lot of my motivational quotes are things that have kicked me up out of bed or things that have reminded me that you are who you are, and things. They're all for me, and I'm just sharing things that have helped me really and truly.
Speaker 1:Most of the time it start like that yeah, yeah, but you know, in ghana they blast motivational speaking a lot that's onto them you know, they blast them a lot and then you have to think why are you so negative that just because I'm giving you motivation is irritating your soul? What's your problem? That's what I'm saying. It's a you problem. I'm targeting something that is maybe you're getting triggered and that's why you're upset.
Speaker 1:When people get upset, I don't even. I'm not even upset. I'm like I feel sorry for you, like there must be something deep rooted in you that is causing you to feel this way when people are rude or angry. I'm just like I'm going to have to pray for you because something is happening deep-rooted that just my happiness is triggering you. I'm sad, and this is me not even being sarcastic. I'm genuinely like what is so, what has happened that has made you now see life through these tainted windows? So people that are upset with motivational speakers is because you can see that the motivation is helping me and you don't have that vim. You are not confident in yourself, so the most you could do is try and tear it down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah yeah, I see that. Yeah, I see that. I'm just thinking through, right, I'm just thinking through right. Maybe there's a there's a listener out there or someone that's watching us who's really thinking that. Ooh, I like the way this girl is speaking Now. How did she find her voice? How did she carry all that about herself In fact, take it all the way back to the UK the first time you ever, even you know, had the guts to. You know, record yourself a message or do a radio show or a TV program, or presented something. How did you put it all together?
Speaker 1:It's interesting because my voice now is completely different to the voice back then. Now, I would say the voice that I have, as in the things that I say, the things that come out my mouth, the way that I speak, is how life has curated this and shaped this Drew. Life has come with so many different red, pink, orange, green and it's created this beautiful canvas of Drew that you guys are seeing now. Back then, this beautiful canvas of Drew that you guys are seeing now, back then, it was what was instilled in me from birth, like from. I remember my mom when we used to come to Ghana every single year, like when we were, or every other year when we were young, and I remember my dad had a camcorder and in our house we have chickens and cows and all that stuff, and I used to be like, hi guys, today I'm in Ghana with the chickens. So I was always like in front of the camera. I used to say being in front of the camera is my favorite position and my mum took that videotape and played it to my friends in nursery. So from young it was, they encouraged me to, okay, talk to the camera. So that's when I realized that, okay, maybe presenting is something that I'm into. I was always, you know, reading. When it's Christmas, I'll read a scripture for the whole church, or I was singing in front of the choir.
Speaker 1:I've always been confident in front of people, but that's because my parents pushed me. They didn't be like, oh, you're talking too much, or whatever. If you want to do it, do it. If you think you can do it, go if you try. And what my dad used to say, which is my favorite quote in the world probably skipping ahead but it's more of if it's meant to be, it will be. If it's meant to be for you, drew, it will happen, it will happen. And if not now, maybe three months, six months, two years, but if it's supposed to be for you or come to pass, so when things don't go my way, I'm very much like that's okay, then it just wasn't meant to be but then how do you deal with the fear of judgment?
Speaker 2:in fact, how have you done it in the past? Because you know, sometimes you record yourself right and you're like no, I don't want to hear it. Or you record a video and you're like, no, I don't want to watch myself, you don't like hearing your voice I don't think I don't like hearing my voice.
Speaker 1:I think when I watch back myself, I laugh at the comedian that I am like girl right, like you did.
Speaker 1:You really just say that like. Those are the things for me. Like I said, everybody's gonna have an opinion, everybody is gonna have an opinion and if I start living for other people's opinions, I can't please everybody. You might think Bangku is nice and your auntie might think Bangku is nasty and somebody else might think Kinke is better.
Speaker 1:Now, if me Drew is trying to please all three of you, I'm going to be stressed, so I have to focus on what makes me happy. Right now, I want to just eat bangku. If you don't like it, that's okay. It doesn't mean it's nasty. So, drew, if you say this or this is how you want to dress today, like we were talking earlier, this is the first time, guys, I have ever put on a. I don't even know what vibe this is. I just felt like I'm not bothered to do my hair, so let's just do, and I was like, yeah, I don't mind this the first time anybody online is going to even see me like this. But today I'm really happy with how I look and that's all that matters, because somebody might think it's not okay, someone might think it's appropriate, but I can't please everybody. So the one person I know I can please is myself, and that's who I'm going to focus on.
Speaker 2:You know, when you were at a certain age, right, let's say from teenage age to around the twenties, this sort of thought doesn't come in as much. It wasn't there At that point, though, what usually happens there.
Speaker 1:Peer pressure, and I think peer pressure showed me pepper. So I went through my teenage lives, life that really. That was when what people were saying, what people were doing, and again I was I'm and please guys, I'm not becaded or whatever, but in my year I was the buffest black girl in the year that's what they used to say like the most prettiest, and so I had friends that were around me, but I didn't know it was only because, oh yeah, all the guys are around you or all the girls like you that were going to come around. So I was just thinking, oh, everybody wants to be my friend. Until life happened and realized that no, these people are just trying to be around you to subtract from you but not add to your life. And so from then, when certain things started happening in my life, I saw the common denominator was you are just trying to please everybody and you pleasing everybody is making you go on a downward spiral.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you want to be nice to everyone, but you're not being nice to yourself. Does that now make you a nice person? When you're not being nice to you, the one that matters. You can't pour from an empty cup, because then soon the things you start pouring Is going to be poison. So I need to refuel who I am and when I am refueled and when I set boundaries To. Okay, sorry, I have to go to bed at 10 o'clock. Nobody can call me after 10 because if I go to sleep at 12 in the morning I'm going to be grumpy, which means I'm not going to be able to be the best person for you. So allow me to be nice to me so that I can be the better, nicer person for you guys. But in that age, when I was going through school and just before uni, these things weren't there. But I had to go through the tearing down to then build me up to be like nah. So that's why I say my voice now is been shaped by the mishaps of life that I went through.
Speaker 2:But you know, I kind of agree with what you were saying. You know, but because now you know, it's almost like when you grow up in the thirties or late twenties certain things happen and then you basically don't care about what people say.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cause you realize that life is short. Yeah, yeah, you realize that life, life is really too short. Please, today is today, we're going to live for today and we'll plan for tomorrow, but I can't even think about next year. Well, of course, it's good to plan, but focusing so much on next year and all that stuff, what if God says, hi, you've completed your assignment, and taking you out now, then what would you have enjoyed today? Or would your life be so focused on what everybody thinks?
Speaker 1:I remember when I first came to Ghana and I told and I told someone oh, you know, I don't care what people think. Someone said you have to, you have to, you have to care what people think. And I'm like, huh, I was. I was like why? Why do I have to care what somebody says or what somebody feels? How is that going to make me feel so? I'm constantly putting my life on the line for others to be okay and me inside I'm not. What does that mean? How does that even make sense? But really and truly, if I'm going to be real, when I was going through the motion, I wasn't thinking like that, but this is why I do what I do. I inspire young girls. So I'm trying to change your way of thinking from then. Yes, like I'm trying to change your way of thinking from then.
Speaker 1:Yes, Like I am the big sister I wish I had. This is my life mantra Drew is the big sister I wish I had. So I train girls and I speak to girls. I motivate girls. This is the information I wish I had when I was your age. Unfortunately, I lived through it and I made the mistake, so now I can relate to how you are feeling and thinking right now I can. I have been there, probably done it 10 times worse, probably even did it better and worse than you, and let me show you the outside goal is not as pretty as it should. I got these stripes and I remember where I got these scars from, but the pain isn't really there anymore.
Speaker 2:But let me help you avoid even getting there I said that I want to be a different father and for that reason I will spend as much time with my kids as possible. But for me to be able to do that, I need to make enough money so that it will allow me the time, and that's why I keep going and I keep doing so much. It's just to be able to have the luxury of Delegating the things that I have to do To other people in the company To do that while I spend time with my family. That's it, and it's been the greatest reward that I've had, and your children will thank you for that.
Speaker 2:I hope they do.
Speaker 1:It's memories that they're holding. That's time is something money can't buy like. Honestly speaking, guys, once time is gone, time is the one of the only things in this world you cannot get back. I'm gonna spend 30 minutes here. I will never get this 30 minutes of my life back again. Same with you, just spending 10 minutes with your child or 10 minutes with the one that you love, creating a memory.
Speaker 1:They know that you have to work, but it's balance. Life is about balance and that's what living your best life is. Maybe I'm not getting as much money as I would in London, but I have the peace that I cannot get in Ghana. I cannot get that peace that I have here if I was in London. So I will choose the peace which is me living my best life, instead of getting the double, quadruple figures that I was getting. Peace means more to me than money. Money comes, money goes, and I'm not saying we shouldn't work hard or we shouldn't plan no balance, guys, because would you rather live in a mansion and have no friends, or have a ferrari and no, nobody to even ride with you? Then what's the point then doing solo trips in a car for yourself, for who like? Why?
Speaker 2:let's, let's bring it down how you've been able to navigate the cultural differences with the people. My god, in regards, my god.
Speaker 1:That's that, I would say, has been one of when people say oh, what's your, what's your biggest struggle being a guy? It is, it is the cultural difference. Because, yes, I'm Ghanaian and Jamaican, but I was not born and raised in Ghana. I don't even speak the tree, the gar, the fanti, the ewe, the dambuge. I don't speak it. In our house, my mum and dad spoke my mum's fanti. My dad is half Ghana, so they spoke different languages. So in the house we're all speaking English. So it's not my fault. People tell me oh, it's bad that you don't understand. It's actually not my fault. We weren't speaking it in there. And now when I come to Ghana, the streets are speaking tree. They're not even speaking Fanti or what. The streets are speaking tree.
Speaker 1:So the culture difference was trying to take my mind out of how things are done in London. I was very fixed on what do you mean? You told me six o'clock. At six o'clock you told me five o'clock, five o'clock. You're supposed to be here. Why are you not here? Why haven't you even sent me a message? I'm on my way or I'm outside, because you go to the hospital in London. They give you an appointment 2 pm. You get there 2.15, somebody else, ghana, oh, I'm coming. You have just jumped in the shower.
Speaker 1:So I was getting stressed, my blood pressure was going too high and I was like you know what, drew? Just to, even for your own sanity, relax, bring it down. When they say, in Rome, you do as the Romans, but you do as the Romans and make it in your favor. So now, okay, madam, you've told me 10 minutes. Okay, in 10 minutes. If you're not here, even if you're five minutes away, and the 10 minutes you're not here, I'm going to leave Because you said 10 minutes. So, whatever your word is, I'm going to use your word against you. Simple things like that is the only way I have to make it work. I also need it to be like listen, ghana is Ghana. If this is how they do it, you do it and make it in a way that works better for you. Don't try and bring London into Ghana. The same way, a Ghanaian cannot wake up outside Tesco's and start selling yam. You can't do that over there.
Speaker 1:Understanding the way things work in this country, I had to humble myself. Patience, that's what everybody would tell you, but me. I didn't think I was an impatient person until I came here, the way things are done here. You need to take time, slow, slow it down. And that's when I realized, actually, what are we in a rush for? Sometimes, because in London it's oh yeah, let's meet you, I'll put you in my calendar, I'll put you in a schedule. Oh yeah, even now in London, when you go to London, tables only give you an hour and a half for a table. What do you mean? Like what's the Somebody? What is the rush? Slow it down, but make sure you're productive. That's it and that's how I've had to train my mind. You make it work for you.
Speaker 1:If they're going to waste your time, you make sure you waste their time too. You let them know, please. My time is precious to me. You set boundaries. You set boundaries. Let people know what you do and what you do not tolerate, because they will also fix up when they know that you're the one that's paying them and you don't tolerate being late. Oh, any, to any 10 minutes you're late, I will deduct 50 cds from your pay. Just say it. If you're late every 10 minutes, I would. The first time they'll think you're lying. The second time you think you're lying, when they see it, then you'll see, they'll be there before you I don't really think that these um local ghanians enjoy working with the aspirants, of course not because they know that we are not lazy and we value our time and when we make our money, money doesn't come on trees.
Speaker 1:We, because of how hard we work for the money out there over here, you know a small, whatever you can be, you can go to your, your shop and see your, the teller, sleeping. It's asleep, yeah, and now you're irritated because I've woken you up when this is your. You're supposed to be protecting people from stealing and you are sleeping. It's like it's actually normal. Coming to god, I've seen this. It's normal for people to be asleep on job at work. Yeah, shocking. But why have we allowed that? Sorry, why have we allowed that is society, so this type of culture? I had the culture. Shock, okay, shock.
Speaker 2:And you know, fast forward boom YouTube account.
Speaker 1:Doing amazing. Wow, that was another accident that wasn't even planned. Youtube came about in COVID. Covid in Ghana was a blessing and a curse. Blessing because, in a way, we only had like three weeks of serious lockdown. Then everyone was still outside again. But it's just. The borders were closed. Now, as I've expressed COVID, I was ready to pack up and be like I'm done with God, I'm leaving. I was ready to go. I was packing up my suitcases, I'm leaving this country, I'm going back to London. That was two years of me being here. Then our dear president closed the borders and I was stuck.
Speaker 2:God used him.
Speaker 1:God used him again to to block the borders and I'm like what? What you mean? I just want to go. I can't go. So now I'm forced to because I like traveling. My escapism again. I needed to be out of my four walls of Temma, so I started going to different regions and checking out different resorts and I'll be putting it on Instagram, snapchat. People oh my god, where you, at what country? Not what country. No, no, my borders are closed. I'm still in Ghana. So I'm sad that I'm still in Ghana. They're like what, where is this? So I started filming it. I'm putting it on YouTube like hi guys, this I'm here at this resort, whatever, just for my friends to see that I'm at this nice resort.
Speaker 1:But I didn't get to fly. But at least I'm not. It was me being cheeky, at least I'm not stuck indoors, right. And then people start following. People's like what? We have this in ghana, we have this in ghana. And I was like even the ghaneans like what you mean you have? Why haven't you guys traveled to see the western region? That looks like Bahamas? Why haven't you seen Kweru with all of these trees? Why haven't you seen these things in your own Ghana? So it was just me showcasing my beautiful homeland, ghana, which ended up getting people from the diaspora wanting to fly to see all these places that Drew has shown. But it was not planned at that one.
Speaker 1:I was filming on my iPhone, filming on my iPhone, editing out of boredom and just because I had to quit my job, I don't want to be on TV. No more, I'm not. I'm not going there, I'm going back to London. Again out of boredom is when I was like oh London, has you go to Tesco and you see five versions of the same ready salted crisps, you see 10 versions of the same brown bread, and why can't I just see plantain chips? I'm addicted to plantain. Listen, nobody can Plantain. If I was stuck on an island, I'll eat only plantain. I can make it into ice cream, I make it into smoothies, I make my own plantain bread, plantain burgers, plantain anything. So I said there's no plantain chips and I don't want these ones on the roadside. I want proper plantain chips. So I made my own and that's how I started my own plantain chips In COVID.
Speaker 1:When you're like, who's going to tell me no Like? Who is going to tell me you don't like mine, that's not for you. That's not a problem, it's not for you. People will tell you oh, drew, but I can get two CDs planned in on the road. Okay, you can have it. I'm not stopping you from buying it, but mine. We've packaged it because it represents who I am and that's why my packaging's just not for you. Ayako, well done. And that's what it really was. Ayako means well done, drew, for sticking it out Because I was ready to tap in and throw it in the towel, but well done for surviving two years in Ghana. That's the whole reason. So when you're eating it, it's like, yeah, I deserve this, I deserve it. Well done to me. That's what Aiko is about.
Speaker 2:If you had to do it all again without you being pushed to do it or, you know, if you had to do it again according to your own plans, what would you have changed?
Speaker 1:That's such an interesting question because there was a lot of things I wish didn't happen in my life. There are a lot of things I wish I knew differently, I wish I did differently, but they wouldn't make me the Drew I am today. I wouldn't be this Drew that I am today. And so everything that happened was needed. Every downfall, pit, sadness, everything was needed because we have painted this canvas of Ms Drew today and it's not even over. The painting isn't even finished. So I can't say I would do something all over again. I can't even say I would plan coming to Ghana again and have a proper plan. I encourage everybody to have a plan. It's necessary if you want to make that move. But for me I wouldn't be me, I wouldn't be Drew. So I can't even say that there is anything I wish didn't happen. It's difficult for me to answer that question.
Speaker 2:No, I like the way you've answered it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, because I feel like whatever it is that we go through in life, it's all part of the plan.
Speaker 1:It's part of my story, you know. That's why I can now influence and relate. I can relate with young girls that are going through it because I was also there through it, because I was also there. So it makes my story more relatable than me being a oh, you should do this and you should. But when I'm like girl, I know what it feels. I know what it feels like to be depressed. I know what it feels like to be like I'm done with this life. Let me tell you my story and you'll see that mine was probably even worse than yours, but now, when you see that Drew's actually gone through and look at who she is now it gives you more hope than me standing from a pulpit who's never been in it before, and I'm telling you this is what to do, because you'll just be like, oh, whatever, but I'm showing you my scars. This is it. I've been there and I pushed myself to come out and it will be okay if let me start again.
Speaker 2:This question is from my previous guest, okay, and the question is if you have the opportunity to set up one billboard in your hometown, what would you put on it and why?
Speaker 1:I think I would put a. It would definitely be a motivational quote. I knew it, I knew it. It would definitely be a motivational quote. Yes, Probably. Like you know, nobody can do you like you Like nobody can do what you are doing the way you are doing.
Speaker 2:So don't give up, thank you, I'm not going to give up.
Speaker 1:Don't, don't.
Speaker 2:And then this question is from me. The few other questions coming up are from me from. Connected Minds, all right, and there's motivation or discipline 100% motivation.
Speaker 1:Discipline can be a deterrent. Discipline can make me resent you because of the way you're disciplining me. But if you motivate me, let me know in a with your tone it can be done. This is in you. You give me more power. You give me more power than telling me what I can't do. You telling me more power. You give me more power than telling me what I can't do. You telling me what I can't do will force me to do it more, just to prove you wrong. But motivating me and reminding me or seeing, knowing that you can see something that I can't see in me gives me more hope and more encouragement to keep going.
Speaker 2:That's a great answer. So you see the way you looked at it. Right. It's a very different perspective, of course, and which is amazing. See, for me, I've always heard you can't do, you can't do, you can't do. And that's the reason why I do so well, because, like you said, it's just a proof to the people who told me that I can do it, that I can do it Exactly, but I'm happy.
Speaker 1:I heard it like that way.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know, yes, you know. Yeah, but I like the way you took it. What's the best advice you've ever received? I think you already said it. I said it, but for the purpose of these questions, please go over it if it is meant to be, it will be.
Speaker 1:I remember he said it to me. He just sent it via text and I was on my way to a big interview of ITV and he sent it to me via text TV and he sent it to me by text If it's meant to be, it will be. And I was like oh, and honestly stuck in my head for life.
Speaker 2:Have you got a question for my next guest?
Speaker 1:Wow, I don't even know how your next guest will answer this, but what is your life script?
Speaker 2:That's a whole podcast, yeah, yeah, that's a whole episode. That, yeah, what do you think, guys? I think it's a whole episode, that's it?
Speaker 1:that's a deep, deep question to unpack. What is your life script? What is that one thing that maybe happened to you, or that you were trained or you taught that has made you become the person you are today?
Speaker 2:I feel like I should have asked you that question and while I'm asking you, we'll discuss that later. Um and then, is there anything you want to tell my audience on connected minds?
Speaker 1:well, firstly, I want to say thank you for having me like. This is amazing, even the way it all happened. Abba, you, you're amazing. But thank you again. But what would I want to tell you guys? Everything that I've said literally. Please just don't let anybody tell you no Like why we need to release that inner greatness from within ourselves. Nobody can cook the way you cook, can clean the way you cook, can play football the way you play football, can sew the way you sew. So, yeah, there might be everybody doing it, you might have 15 other ladies sewing or 25 other footballers, but no one kicks the ball the way you do it. That's why you have that special handprint. So if you feel that this is what you want to do, then do it, and do it to the best of your ability.
Speaker 2:We've just been speaking to Ms Drew and I tell you what I'm so empowered Now. This is the reason why you need to stay connected.