A Love Affair with Failure: When Hitting Bottom Becomes a Launchpad to Success

Failing Opens the Door to Succeeding

Too many efforts with potential game-changing outcomes are short circuited by the fear of failing; people with huge ideas become paralyzed by “what ifs,” unable to see past the challenges of today. Dr. Akintoye Akindele and Olakunle Soriyan see "failure" and "failing" as two different realities and mindsets. Failure is a destination, a windowless prison that does not exist unless you accept that it does. However, failing is a journey, a launchpad into new knowledge and new beginnings and the key to successful innovation and entrepreneurship.

In A Love Affair with Failure, the authors aim to help emerging entrepreneurs be prepared for the inevitable challenges ahead and urge them to be resilient in pursuing their dreams, embracing the idea of failing not only as a prerequisite for achieving success, but also a victory in itself because it signifies having had the courage to take action.

Drawing lessons from their own personal journey and from other sources ranging from Ancient Greece to today's best-known businesses and leaders while also revealing the incredible potential of Africa as a catalyst for entrepreneurial support and achievement, A Love Affair with Failure paints a compelling picture of a region uniquely positioned to become a global powerhouse in entrepreneurship.

DR. AKINTOYE AKINDELE is a hope merchant, a stargazer, a grace servant and a permanent student of life. He is the Chairman/CEO of Platform Capital Group, a growth markets focused sector agnostic investment firm deploying patient, value accretive capital alongside international and local value investors to create and champion businesses with the potential for regional or global scale.

Dr. Akindele is an investor, best-selling author, and philanthropist committed to enhancing Africa’s role in the global economy. His pressing focus is to directly empower one million entrepreneurs across the African continent by 2030. He believes entrepreneurs are the hope and promise of the socioeconomic transformation the continent deserves; and that only as everyday problems of contemporary life are confronted by innovation will Africa unleash its full potential to birth a Cockaigne that will be the pride of the entire human race. He is therefore single-mindedly focused on ideas that can not only scale globally, but those that can also unlock possibilities and development in cities on the continent, and those authored in digital and technological formats especially.

Akintoye Akindele is also the CEO of Duport Midstream Company Limited; Chairman/CEO of Atlantic International Refineries & Petrochemicals Limited; Co-Chairman of Liquidity Club; and Director of Koniku Inc, USA, amongst others. He is also a Lecturer and Faculty member of the University of Lagos Business School; and Founder of Synergy Capital Managers. He is a CFA Charterholder and earned a doctorate in Business Administration (Finance) from the International School of Management in Paris.

Dr. Akindele lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

OLAKUNLE SORIYAN is a mentor and executive coach for leaders across the globe. As Chief Knowledge Officer of Kenneth Soriyan Research and Ideas LLC, his work reinvigorates leaders to embrace what sets them apart in order to maintain personal and professional relevance. He is also the CEO of AFRICA HOUSE, an organization linking investors to entrepreneurs and innovators of African descent. Beyond his work with governments, individuals, and Fortune 500 companies, Soriyan is the founder of Eshirya Africa, a 501(c)(3) Exempt Non-Profit, mobilizing and empowering 1% of the African population (who live in Africa) as well as people of African descent everywhere to function as a movement unlimited in thought and action. Soriyan and his family are based in Texas.

BISHOP T.D. JAKES is one of America's most well-known pastors. His church, The Potter's House, located in Dallas, Texas-includes over 30,000 members with 50 diverse ministries. Aside from his work as a pastor, his sphere of influence reaches beyond the pulpit. He has counseled three US presidents, including former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

Bishop Jakes has a lasting track record of business acumen. His first best-selling book, Woman Thou Art Loosed, was based on a series of sermons, self-funded, and ultimately adapted into an award-winning film. His current plans to build mixed-income living communities by his company T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, LLC, adds to his legacy of entrepreneurship and service to the Black community.