Star Spotlight: Adetoun Jegede, Author, Pregnancy Affirmations

In this in-depth conversation with Ifeoluwa Odunuga about her new in-demand book, Pregnancy Affirmations, the Founder of Fabulous Bump, Adetoun Jegede opens up about the beauty of “wearing many hats”, being consistent yet living purposefully. “Asides God? It’s still God!” Mrs. Jegede says. Enjoy..!

Tell us about starting out and attaining where you are today?

My corporate career started as a Reinsurance Broker for 6years, 2012 – 2018. While on the job, I took a course in Entrepreneurship at the EDC, Lagos Business School. After a lot of thought and prayers, I resigned in 2018 to start my own business. And here we are!!!!  One thing I can say for sure is that I didn’t have it all figured out when I started, but I just keep going because I know the road gets clearer with each step.

What time do wake up, and what time do you like to be at your desk?

I wake up at 5 am to pray. Oftentimes, my work desk is my phone and with two kids under 6 years old my timing tends to be very flexible.

How do you keep track of what you have to do, can you give us a brief rundown of your daily routine?

Even though I’m not much of a routine follower, I usually write down and make a mental note of the things I want to achieve in a day. My work begins at about 9 am after the kids have left for school till sometime in the late afternoon when they get back. My most productive time is at night when everyone is in bed. So yeah!  Waking up, praying, getting the kids ready for school, exercising, showing up on my business page, doing some work, and planning on my phone/laptop till its pickup time would be my daily routine, especially for days that I don’t have to go out for meetings.

Congrats on the launch of your new book. What inspired you to write this all-powerful Pregnancy Affirmations Journal?

I know this sounds cliché but the answer is simple. God inspired me to write the journal. He helped me to see the need for it through my personal experience, and I realized that I was not alone. There were a lot of women out there who like me had to face fear in their pregnancies for different reasons. Pregnancy is a very delicate and sensitive season in a woman’s life and a pregnant woman can really make do with all the positivity and optimism that comes from words of affirmations, encouragement, and expectations as she documents her whole experience.

Have you always been a writer? What did you learn while writing the Pregnancy Affirmations Journal?

Nope, I haven’t always been a writer even though I’m now taking a course on Writing. I’d say that writing the Pregnancy Affirmations Journal further emphasized the fact that when God gives you a vision, he sends you all the required resources and connects you to the right people you need to achieve the desired result. All you have to do is just start, really.

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing this awesome book?

Well, I won’t exactly say that I found it surprising because I’m a person of faith, but it was the manner in which the affirmations flowed through my head and down to my notes. Every time I prayed and sat down to write; it was like magic! And I was always in awe!

What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?

I can’t think of any right now, I would have said finding time to write as a mum of two toddlers and all, but I did most of the work at midnight when everyone was asleep.  The challenges were in my head. It was more of a mindset thing and once I was able to break off those limitations in my head by the grace of God, I was good to go. I also got all the support I needed too, all thanks to God.

Have you considered converting the book into an audio version? If so, when should we expect this?

Oh, we have the audio file and it has been distributed to platforms like Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, iTunes, BOOM, and so many others. All you have to do is to search “Pregnancy Affirmations by Fabulous Bump” and you are able to listen.

Where can readers learn more or purchase the book?

They can contact @fabulousbumpng on Instagram or purchase a copy via THIS LINK. They can also send a mail to [email protected] for more details.

What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?

Based on the knowledge I’m currently acquiring in my writing course, I’d say just keep writing. Whatever thoughts/ideas come to mind, write them down, and yes, by all means, get yourself a writing coach as that is going to help you a great deal.

What is the best business or career advice you’ve ever received?

Keep going! The road gets clearer as you keep going, even though you might not see the full picture from the very beginning.

What conventional life or business advice do you disagree with?

“Never give up” for me, I would say instead of never giving up, know when to give up and re-strategize, it does not mean you are a failure.

If you had to start all over again, what would you do differently?

I would be interested in mathematics, love my math teachers and try to love mathematics lol!

Tell us about your current role and key traits required to succeed in this role.

I’m a wife, mum, founder of @fabulousbumng where I act as an all-rounder for now. The key traits for me will be to keep showing up daily as I wear these different hats, regardless of how I feel. Being consistent.

Tell us about a task do you dislike but still do and a problem you’re still trying to solve?

I am an 11th-hour person. Now, that’s one thing I’m trying to solve. I get things done eventually and smoothly but why do I have to wait till it’s almost the deadline before I deliver? Lol!

Who has had the greatest impact on your career, and why?

That would be my husband, because of the level of support he shows me in every possible way.

What business achievement are you most proud of?

We are still very much a work in progress, but I’ll say our innovation. How, despite being a maternity fashion brand, we were able to think outside the box and create the Pregnancy Affirmations Journal, which stands out as another great value to our target market (The pregnant woman). Now, we do not only focus on their outward appearance but their mental and total wellbeing.

Name two untapped lucrative business opportunities in Nigeria, right now.

I really can’t think of any right now, people are not joking at all, lol! They are tapping everything “tappable.”

Aside from God, what do you consider your greatest success secret?

Asides God? It’s still God!

What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m currently reading a book titled SHOW UP by Tolu Micheals. I watch anything that edifies my mind like sermons and I also do lots of audiobooks.

What tools, gadgets, or apps can’t you do without?

My Phone, but when it all comes down to it, it’s not like I cannot do without it and everything in it.

What’s your favourite social media handle, and why?

I don’t even know as they are so many. But to mention a few, I love @Idahosalaurie and @mummymary_ because I admire them and they inspire me.

When you are not writing, what do you love to do? How do you unwind?

So many things! I’m an extrovert so I love to hang out and spend time with friends and loved ones and I love to have fun.

What you want to be remembered for?

I’d like to be remembered for living a life of impact, (Even if it’s just once in a lifetime someone meets me, they should be able to tell a story of how I positively impacted their life) and connecting people’s hearts to God.