We recently connected with Joshua Okpara and have shared our conversation below.

Joshua , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?

When I started it was just me and my wife who played the role of administrative assistant. I was a project manager earning money, but unhappy. I wanted to communicate and help people, but all I had was a desk and a computer and tasks to do on excel. Then one day, I walked up to my director, told her that I wanted to follow my dreams/goals, and tackle it head on. It seemed like. joke to her at first until I left and told them I couldn’t come back. it was that day I started my company. honestly, I was miserable. I remember telling my wife that I had quit, and remember the look she gave me as i tried to reassure her that we’ll be making more than my salary with my business soon. I lied. Our life spiral down to be trying to work on a business, with no working business model and doing uber and lyft while re-applying for other jobs. I couldn’t hire anyone simply because I had no money to hire them; so I hired myself; and treated my company like my last Job; putting in my 40+ hours and dedication into it.

when I put the effort into my company, it was easier for others to come support my vision. leading to my first client, and first worker. My interview process was very unique. i did more observations than questions. I wanted to ensure that I had someone that fit into the vision of what I was trying to do. we met virtually and in person and my main focus was casting the vision of my company to them and finding where they fit. I wanted to make sure that within my vision was a vision for what they wanted to do in their life; that way I wouldn’t have to micro-manage and they’d work harder.

If I could do anything different today, i’d get the proper training and mentorship before launching on my own. i’d also ensure that I was more prepared financially before embarking on the journey.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Joshua Okpara. I am an 8x published author, songwriter, purpose and strategy coach. I got into my business from being in corporate America and seeing many people living a purposeless life. They had great jobs, and a good salary, but were broken inside; and that was just the icing on the cake. My passion for purpose was birth on July 2004 when my mom died at age 38.

she had many dreams, visions and aspirations she desired to accomplish but her life was cut short. I vowed on that day that I will live a life full of purpose no matter the cost, in an effort to live the life my mother wanted to live. From this vow came the passion to discover “Purpose”; the word and it’s true meaning and effect on us. I found out that it was “the reason why something is done or created”. So I embarked on this journey to discover WHY I was created.

The road was difficult. I encountered depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide and even suicidal attempt on the way there; but I finally got to my destination; finding my purpose. This purpose led to me publishing 8x best-selling books, launching various initiative’s and programs for my community near and far, and even starting an international ministry geared towards helping others find their purpose.

This passion is what fuels my consulting business; Purpose Core Consulting. Where I help clients find their purpose and thrive in it. Whether it’s the purpose of their life, business, relationship or ministry. I specialize in helping you discover your WHY, and creating strategies that produce results for the goals you are trying to achieve.

What sets me apart from others is my solution is full proof. Everyone needs it; whether you’re the person who wants a business but don’t know where to start, or someone who desire to launch an organization, write a book, or advance your company. we all desire to produce results; and the producing of results is rooted in finding purpose and discovering your why. many people cannot scale their business because they don’t understand the purpose of it.

With my company, we launched a 6-month coaching business that helps you:
1. Strategize your Purpose/idea/business
2. Be held. accountable to the plan set in motion.
3. Create SOLUTIONS and more..

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the viewpoint that I needed to hire people like me, with my passion, vision, and goal; and learn to work with different people and create opportunities for them to work in their vision/goal while working on my vision and goal.

when I started my company; I had the mindset that if you don’t have the same passion as me; we could not work together, but I was wrong. I realized early on that no one would have the same passion, grit and drive as me in accomplishing the goals that I have, but everyone has a passion, grit and drive for something that is particular to them.

Learning to create opportunities for others to work in their passion within my passion helped me accomplish my goal faster.

For example, I hired a lady who was not passionate about the subject of purpose; but she loved communicating with people; so it was easier to hire her to work my email, and be my admin. She helped me email clients, follow-up with clients and ensure they were doing okay; which ultimately helped me retain my clients as I helped them continue their journey towards their purpose.

You see, although we had two different drives, her passion fell under my passion. I had a passion to help people find purpose; while she had a passion to speak to people. Normally, I would’ve not hired her because it seems like our passions are not aligned; but in reality; they were. she had a passion that fell under my passion; which gave her the ability to exercise her gifts within her passion; which ultimately helped me reached my goal.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Absolutely, I highly recommend these books:

Think and Grow rich
The 10X Rule
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Getting To Yes
31 days To A Better You

Contact Info:

• Website: joshuaokpara.com
• Instagram: @joshua_o_okpara
• Facebook: @joshuaookpara
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/joshuaokpara
• Twitter: @joshua_o_okpara

Image Credits
Photos taken by @nwokocha__ (Eric Nwokocha Photography)