About
Hi, I’m Ngozi L. Obanye-Stephen. I am a writer and an entrepreneur. I have been blessed with a fulfilled life. Not all good, I hasten to add, but I managed to muddle through the not so good stuff and make it good. I just picked myself up, dusted myself down and started again.
I worked as a Contractor in Local Government in England for many years. The money was brilliant, and I led a comfortable life with luxuries to hand; top of the range rental vehicles, living in hotels and shopping almost every lunchtime. There was a price to pay though – I worked long hours to maintain that lifestyle. (70 hours on average). I told myself that it didn’t really matter that I was physically, mentally and spiritually drained 7 days a week. It also didn’t matter that I had an almost nil social life. It didn’t matter because I was earning well. More fool me. So of course I wasn’t happy, and as well often battled with: Do I work to pay the bills or do I work to enjoy?
It was after I married and had my daughter, that my whole perspective on the work issue changed. I didn’t want to be a slave to work. I wanted enjoyment, but I still wanted to make money.
I am a self-taught internet marketer with the intention of taking it further this year, in whatever way financial freedom calls. Writing is one of my passions, and my earliest recollection started from about the age of 9, when I used to tear pictures from magazines and write imaginative stories. However, I was a closet writer for a long time. I used to write and deposit them in my pretty Ikea boxes, and just spend half my time admiring them! I can’t even remember how many creative writing courses I have been on, both here and in New York. ( shamefully it’s a lot). I guess however, I had to go through that stage to get to where I am today. Now I’m comfortable about who I am.
And I’m still aiming for the sky.
But guess what? The sky has no limit!
For now, I am enjoying and exploring opportunities that God is presenting to me.
1sthomebase.mom is a site full of interesting resources, tips and ideas to assist freelance moms with their online business activities.
Live your dream!
Ike Obanye said,
January 5, 2008 at 1:33 am
i love you, cus!
all of that and all of this, has made you exactly who you are and the good thing about it is that your life lessons and experience will be relayed onto you…so, all of your pains and suffering are not only the root cause (and bed) for your pleasures (meaning, the goodness of the life you live now) but are the un-walked footprints of you and many of us!
right now, i bet you have more assets than liabilities, than ever before in your life…and i pray that you see this!
much love,
ikes
Zainab said,
January 25, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I can feel the positive in your voice and being. The fear is not ringing through. However, remember like the donkey, when life tries to bury you under the pile of dirt, shake it off, stomp on it, and keep rising to the top.
I like your e-book piece. I am working on an idea for audio books and your article struck my interest. Thanks. I’m feeling the fear but will do it anyway.
Much love, your sister-cousin.
Pauline said,
February 11, 2008 at 7:01 am
My dear friend, you never fail to bring a breath of fresh air, joy, new hope and love into my life.
I thank God for the day we met.
Keep doing what you are doing and may God continue to bless you.
1sthomebase said,
February 26, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Thank you guys. I am truly honoured to have you all in my life. Thank you, and God bless you all. x
Ngozi
Pashon said,
May 2, 2008 at 3:20 am
It’s late and though I should probably be sleeping, preparing my mind for another grueling day of terminations and tears, I’m up — reading your blog — and very much inspiried. It’s amazing to me how inspiration appears. I, like you, make a decent living. I love my work, but I long for my writing. I long for it so much that I surround myself with my muse…I’ve got a word magnet board; I sleep with books over my head (on my shelf); they’re next to my bed — my craft is everywhere – except in a bound piece on all the shelves in every bookstore in the United States….therein lies my biggest challenge, but this to shall pass.
I want to subscribe to your blog because I think support in this business is every so important. Networking, writing groups, the whole nine yards — we need to continue to encourage one another and get our works into the marketplace.
I believe in babysteps though — so If I can just do what you did – write every day and develop the habit of doing so — then I can get that book finished. Then I’ll think about all that other stuff.
Congrats to you and I hope to hear more about your successes in the days to come.
Pashon in Columbus, OH
1sthomebase said,
May 2, 2008 at 7:30 am
Hi Pashon
Thank you for stopping by and thank you for your heartfelt and encouraging coments. Writing takes a lot of discipline, but through the practice of blogging and other methods, it makes it easier. Like yourself, I have a book that needs to be written. It’s a burning desire I’ve had for many years, and it will happen.
And yes, as writers we need to keep the network thing going. Writing may seem like an isolated craft, but you’re right, it’s about encouraging and supporting one another to reach those dreams. After all, no two writers are the same. We are all unique.