Follow Us on Google
By Christy Anyanwu
Dr. Tewa Onasanya recently unveiled two books to galvanise the world into action and bring about positive change through the transformation of the mind.
Onasanya, writer, publisher, businesswoman and leadership coach, at the official launch of the books in Lagos, said: “I actually wrote Rule Your Mind in 2018. I did a soft launch online in 2018, and Convince Yourself First in 2023. And you might be wondering why I’m doing a formal launch now.
“Well, life happens. Yeah, life happens. I initially released Rule Your Mind to commemorate my 40th birthday eight years ago, but interestingly enough, that same year personally became one of the most testing seasons of my life. It was a year that changed me, that challenged my confidence and made me question myself, believe it or not, though I had written the masterpiece about mastering the mind and making business for years.
“In fact, when we started editing the book in 2018, I remember asking my editor there, “Go back to what you just read. Is that in the book? Did I write that?” And he said, ‘Yeah, you wrote it.’ It almost felt like the words were coming from another version of me.
“Imagine me going through something and then reading or hearing that it could be read. But the truth is, it was me. A wiser, more grounded version of me that can do anything.
“And the funnest thing is, an older friend of mine said something that changed everything. She said, ‘Tewa, you are meant to be the first recipient of the blessing of your book.’ And she’s here today.
“Thank you, Atiyah Maka. Please, stand up for her. I couldn’t believe we’ve known each other for that long..
“Because Rule Your Mind, even though written by me, has blessed me in unimaginable ways. Rule Your Mind helps me navigate some of the most difficult emotional and mental seasons of my life. It reminded me that, before you can rule anything in your life, your business, your relationships, your impact, you must first rule your mind.”
She said the journey took “eight years, though I’ve been in business for over 20 years, in fact, 23 years this year, and I’ve been ruling my mind since 2012 and turning it into a business. You won’t believe that I still had doubts. We all have doubts, no matter who we are, because we’re human. So, it’s taken me this long to do a formal launch, because everything else that I do, Exquisite Magazine, the Eloise, they are focused on other people.”
“They are focused on other things. And the launch is supposed to be focused on me. And I’m like, why should anyone want to focus on me? I have asked myself that question for so many years, while ruling my mind, to build the courage to be able to do that.
“And now I trust myself more. Now I’m more confident. Now I don’t care what people say, to be honest, because whatever you think of me is your opinion and not mine.
“That’s part of ruling your mind. And that renewed mindset changed something powerful, required something powerful. It required convincing myself first.
“It required convincing myself that I was ready. It required convincing myself that my voice matters. It required convincing myself that my experience was not an accident, my pain, my journey was not an accident, but in fact preparation.
“And that conviction gave birth to my sixth book, which is Convince Yourself First, which was released three years ago. Because the truth is, before the world believes you, before investors believe you, before opportunities show up, you must first convince yourself. Over the years, something became very clear to me.”
The author noted that she observed the pattern where many brilliant people, leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals are not struggling because they lack talent but because their mindset is under pressure and they’re overwhelmed from carrying responsibilities, navigating uncertainty and doing it silently.
“In 2009, I passed out carrying everybody’s responsibility in my head. In my over two decades of entrepreneurship and leadership, I have seen something again and again. The biggest battles leaders fight are not external, they’re internal.
“They battle doubt. They battle pressure. That person walking on stage, you don’t know how much ginger she had to ginger herself for her to get on stage.
“That person doing X-Y-Z, writing that book, you don’t know how much she had to convince herself to write that book or put herself out there for scrutiny and for people to have a look at.
The biggest battles are the battles of pressure, the battle of disability, the battle of making decisions when everyone is looking to you for answers. And that realization gave birth to something bigger than a book. “It gave birth to a movement. So, tonight, I am proud to unveil with my chairman and our distinguished guests, the Minds and Leadership Initiative. This initiative is built on a simple but powerful belief.
“If we strengthen the minds of leaders, we will strengthen families, businesses, communities and nations. The Minds and Leadership Initiative is designed to equip leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals with the mental clarity, emotional resilience and the inner-conscious solutions in today’s world. It’s a complex world that I’m talking about.
“At the heart of this initiative is a six-week leadership programme that I have carefully designed. They’re going to share the information about the programme soon. I have carefully designed it from my personal journey, from my entrepreneurial experience of over 23 years, and my work as a mindset stylist.
“So it’s not that I have read and talked about this and I say this is what drives them. I have lived it. I’m speaking from experience. Because leadership today is not just about strategy. It’s about mental health, emotional intelligence and the ability to remain grounded while carrying that great responsibility.
“And this is why tonight is not just about launching books. Tonight is about launching possibilities. The books you see here today, Rule Your Mind and Convince Yourself First, are not just books, they are tools for transformation.
“They are reminders that the most powerful shift any human being can make is the shift within their mind. And this is where you come in. For this initiative to grow and reach thousands of leaders and interpreters across Nigeria and beyond, we are inviting visionary individuals and organizations to become founding pillars of the Mindset Leadership Initiative.
“Founding pillars will help us expand access to mindset creation, leadership development and mental resilience training for emerging and established leaders. We are raising funds of over N103 million because mindset is the foundation of everything, yet it is the most neglected part of personal and societal development. We are inviting people to become part of the movement that transforms how we think, because how we think becomes how we live our lived experiences. When you support this initiative, you’re not just making a donation. You’re investing in the mental strength of future leaders.
“You’re helping someone somewhere find the clarity they need to move forward. You’re helping someone silence the doubts, the limiting beliefs that are holding them back from being whoever they want to be. And you’re helping to build a generation of leaders who lead not from fear or burnout but from conviction.
“Because the right idea at the right time can change someone’s trajectory. So, tonight, I want you to remember one thing, every transformation begins with a decision.
“The difference between the life we desire and the life we experience is often the story we keep telling ourselves. Because we talk to ourselves more than anyone talks to us. So, what are you saying to yourself over and over again? If these books, Rule Your Mind and Convince Yourself First, if these words could help me navigate some of the most challenging seasons of my life, I truly believe they can help someone else find clarity, courage and direction. So, tonight, I invite you not to buy just a book, but to share a mindset. Buy one for yourself.
“Buy for a friend. Buy one for young entrepreneurs. Buy one for someone who might be silently battling doubt.”
