Mai Atafo, CEO of the renowned fashion brand ATAFO, revealed in an exclusive interview with TNC’s Esther Salami that he has never been broke before.
In the interview, he further discusses his journey, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring fashionpreneurs.
Dedication and Mindset
TNC: As someone who has worked with many celebrities and brands, what is the most important lesson you have learned throughout your entire career?
Mai Atafo: So how you dedicate yourself to work and give 110% at every point in time regarding if it’s your work or someone’s work that’s given to you, as long as you have said yes to it. It comes, a 110! Always own the job like it’s your job regardless of what the situation is. You can always pay yourself in the long run.
TNC: Which will you say is most important; mindset or skillset?
Mai Atafo: A mindset is more important than a skillset. You can always build a skillset. You can’t build a mindset.
Financial Insights
TNC: What’s the most amount of money in Revenue that Atafo has made in a single year?
Mai Atafo: I would never know the exact number because I don’t deal with numbers—my accountants…
TNC: But can we have a range?
Mai Atafo: The range will be in excess of half a billion naira.
Privilege and Perspective
TNC: So personal question for you sir. Have you ever been broke before?
Mai Atafo: I don’t think I’ve been broke before, no.
TNC: Do you consider your success today tied to a privileged background as compared to other Nigerians?
Mai Atafo: I think it depends on what you define broke to be. If you are broke because you can’t afford your basic needs, you cannot eat—but if you are broke because you can’t actually enjoy something you want to enjoy, then you’re not broke.
So it depends on your own needs, wants, and your expectations. I remember setting different expectations on— I could have gone without eating for a whole day coz I didn’t have the money but I knew I was to eat the next day—regardless I’m not broke.
Did you get what I mean? I think it’s subjective.
So right now I could have three cars, five houses but I do not have the money to eat tomorrow. Am I broke? On one hand, I could be broke I can eat but I have things.
So I think broke it’s a very—when people say they are broke it means you do not have cash money but do you have material money? Do you have money with friends and family that you can actually redeem on promise? Because that’s all things that you can always use to get by the next day.
When you start a business who do you now meet to fund your business for the first time? It’s your friends and your family. That means you have access to funds even though you do not have the funds.
Broke is kind of subjective. So I was born with a bit of that Nigerian family and I think they did everything to make me who I am today and I would not poop on my dad. My dad had worth—because he did the best he could do to provide for me.
Overcoming Challenges
TNC: At what point in your career or when you started ATAFO did you hit rock bottom and how did you come out of it?
Mai Atafo: Again that’s another thing. You have to define what rock bottom means. If you are thinking you’re not motivated to do what you’re doing again that happens as frequently as every week.
TNC: Wow, even with the reputation ATAFO has gotten.
Mai Atafo: Your reputation doesn’t definitely relate to being in peace of mind. Reputation doesn’t have to mean money in the bank.
Do you understand what I mean? You build something doesn’t mean that you are enjoying every day.
When you build a tower, sometimes you spend more money over the years maintaining the tower.
So building to be honest—it may be hard, but it’s not the hardest part. Maintaining the building is the harder part. So when you talk about being at rock bottom that happens pretty regularly.
TNC: So, how do you come out with?
Mai Atafo: I end the day and start again. As long as there is a start today, there is a start to life and there’s a start to everything. So if today is not working out for you, end it and when tomorrow starts, you face it with new vigor and renewed energy.
Marriage and Compromise
TNC: What can you say about marriage and compromise for someone of your status who has a lot riding on you?
Mai Atafo: I think marriage is a beautiful thing and compromise happens in every relationship not just marriage. As long as you are involved in something you are giving and you’re getting; and if you expect everything to go the way you want, then you’re definitely in the wrong situation.
That’s what I think about that and the more that I want from anyone in my life; most importantly my wife is support and I think that I get that a hundred and fifty percent.
Unasked Questions
TNC: What’s one question you wished you were asked in interviews and how will you answer?
Mai Atafo: That’s a very interesting question. I wished I was never asked any question in interviews so I didn’t have to answer anything.
TNC: So you mean there’s no such question that you’ve wished people have asked you more often when they have the chance to talk to you?
Mai Atafo: Not really. I think when people want to ask me questions; they want to know more about you. Then they do a little bit of research then come back and ask things that intrigued them about your life or career…
So whenever an interviewer says please can I meet you? I walk away immediately because if you didn’t know me, why are you trying to interview me, what’s the purpose of having me?
International Presence
TNC: In all the countries ATAFO operates internationally, which countries do you have the highest patronage and what do you think is responsible for this?
Mai Atafo: In Africa, it should be Ivory Coast. And what is responsible for that is that I got a very good connect to work with, who had same kind of clientele that appreciated my kind of crafts.
Out of Africa would be the United States and I really do not know the reason why they like ATAFO.
I want to just believe it’s because of the work that we do but if you’re talking about an emotional reason. I’m not aware.
Advice for Fashionpreneurs
TNC: What final advice would you want to give to Fashionpreneurs; those looking into going into the fashion industry? If you could leave them with one thing, what would you tell them, again, what do you think is one of the most underrated advice you believe young people should pay attention to?
Mai Atafo: I think anyone interested in fashion should know that fashion is a business and not a creative outlet to express themselves solely; because if you don’t make money out of what you love, then you’ll be broke and depressed.
TNC: So you’re saying business comes before the art?
Mai Atafo: Yes, I do, a hundred percent; because if I ask you a very simple question, if I tell you to express yourself how you choose to express yourself and put a value on it, you’ll have a battle with yourself, won’t you? But, if I told you I will give you a hundred million dollars if you design the best suit in the world, all of a sudden the stakes are different then your creativity will pour out but in the first place, your creativity poured and you said this is the value of what I created. In the second case, I’m saying dig deep into you and bring out something that is equivalent to this value. There are two different things but one will drive you more.
TNC: So do you think this is one underrated advice that young people, especially those in the fashion industry receive?
Mai Atafo: People have different motivations why they go into fashion. So I do not know what I would say is underrated to them or overrated to be honest.
TNC: Finally, what is the most common trait you share with other great men in the fashion industry?
Mai Atafo: I think with my peers that I’m close to, I have the same vision. It’s just the quest to succeed. It’s that simple.
TNC: Thank you so much for taking your time. Trust me. I know that this would help a lot of young people. They were my focus when I wanted to speak to you and I’m grateful you could take the time to answer my questions.
Mai Atafo: Thank you very much. You’re welcome.
TNC: Thank you, sir.
Mai Atafo: Do have a good day.
