Elumelu recalls humble start as sales rep, how it shaped him

Nigerian businessman and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has shared an old business card from his early career, recalling the lessons he learnt while working as a photocopier salesperson.

Elumelu shared a photograph of the business card in a post on X on Thursday, saying it brought back memories of his days as a young and ambitious sales representative.

He said his early experience taught him the importance of resilience, negotiation and grit, adding that the lessons continued to influence how he approached business and interacted with customers.

“Stumbled upon my old business card from my early days as a photocopier salesperson

It brought back memories of being a young, hungry sales rep, learning the fundamentals of resilience, negotiation, and grit. Those lessons have stayed with me over the years and continue to shape how I approach business and engage with customers today,” he wrote.

The businessman said the card also reminded him that people’s future selves are often shaped by the foundation they lay in their early years.

It’s also a reminder that who you become tomorrow is often shaped by the foundation you lay today; the discipline, hard work, and consistency you put in when no one is watching,” he added.

Elumelu encouraged his followers to remain committed to learning and execution.

“Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep executing,” he said.

The business card pictured in the post identifies Elumelu as a “Sales Executive” at Precissa Sales Limited, with an address on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos, and a telephone number.

However, joking about the details on the old card, Elumelu noted that the phone number and address were no longer relevant.

“As for the phone number and address on the card? Long gone,” he wrote, followed by a laughing emoji.