Oliver-Nshom

One of the greatest mistakes parents can make is solving every problem for their children.

Because one day…
life will stop asking us for permission before testing them.

This evening while I was preparing my keynote, one of my daughters, Favour, sent me a message:

“Daddy, our recorder is bad.”

For a moment, I almost replied:
“Okay, I’ll handle it.”

But instead, I paused.

And I asked her:
“What do you think can be done now?”

She replied:
“Fix it.”

I smiled.

Then I asked:
“What are the questions we should ask in order to fix it?”

There was silence for a few seconds…

Then she answered:
“Identify what we can do for the problem to be solved.”

I told her:
“You’re getting close.”

Then I said:
“What if we ask ourselves:
Who can fix it?
And how much will it cost?”

She replied:
“That sounds good, Daddy.”

Then I took it a little further.

I asked:
“What could be the alternative to fixing it?”

She paused again.

“Hmmm…
hmmm…”

Then I said:
“What about buying a new one if fixing it becomes more expensive or takes too long?”

Immediately she responded:
“Ohhh… I see.”

Then I asked:
“So which option are we choosing for now?”

Confidently, she answered:
“Fix it.”

I smiled again and asked:
“So what is the first thing to do now?”

And this time, without hesitation, she said:

“Let us call the technician to come and check it and tell us how much.”

At that moment, I quietly celebrated inside my heart.

Because sometimes the greatest gift we can give our children is not money…
not comfort…
not protection…

But the ability to think.

Many children today know how to use phones…
but panic when life asks them to solve problems.

One area we may unknowingly fail our children as parents is doing everything for them.

Most things in my own life were never simply done for me.
I had to learn how to figure things out.

And honestly, one of the best ways to prepare children for this economy and this unpredictable world is not to always give them answers when they come with problems…

But to guide them into discovering answers for themselves.

Because children who learn how to think become adults who know how to survive.

Drop a ❤️ for Favour.

Some of the greatest tragedies in life are not caused by witches, enemies, or bad luck.

They are caused by one careless decision made in youth.

Dear 25 Year Old Me,

At 25, you feel unstoppable.

You think life is still long.
You think there will always be another opportunity.
Another relationship.
Another job.
Another second chance.

But what you do not yet understand is this:

Some mistakes do not just create pain.
They create consequences that can follow a person for decades.

I need you to listen carefully.

Because I almost destroyed my own future simply because I refused to listen to wisdom when it was speaking quietly to me.

Be careful who you call your friends.

Not everybody laughing with you is building with you.

Some people enter your life carrying distraction disguised as fun.
They introduce you to habits that slowly disconnect you from your purpose, your peace, your discipline, and eventually your destiny.

I have seen brilliant young men destroy their future chasing temporary pleasure.

I have seen gifted young women lose themselves trying to impress people who were never meant to stay in their lives.

I have seen one night of uncontrolled desire become twenty years of regret.

Be careful with addiction.

What begins as entertainment can slowly become a prison.

Drugs.
Gambling.
Po*******hy.
Alcohol.
Sexual immorality.

Many people never plan to destroy their lives.

They simply repeat small careless decisions until those decisions begin to control them.

And by the time they realize they are drowning, some bridges are already burned.

Please listen to your parents while you still can.

Growing up, my mother would warn me constantly.

“Oliver, be careful.”

Sometimes I ignored her because I thought I knew better.
Sometimes I felt she worried too much.
Sometimes I wanted freedom more than wisdom.

But many of the troubles I later faced were not because life hated me.

They were because I ignored counsel.

Life has a painful way of teaching lessons we refuse to learn through wisdom.

And the dangerous thing about youth is this:
you often do not realize you are destroying your future until the damage has already started showing up in your health, your finances, your reputation, your peace, your relationships, and your opportunities.

At 25, many people believe they are building freedom.

What they do not realize is that they may actually be building regret.

One lie can destroy trust that took years to build.

One addiction can bury potential.

One wrong relationship can emotionally damage you for years.

One criminal decision can close doors forever.

One careless post online can follow you into rooms you have not even entered yet.

Life is hard.

And contrary to what many young people believe, your parents will not always be there to rescue you.

One day you will face battles alone.

One day you will make decisions whose consequences only you will carry.

That is why wisdom matters.

Choose your environment carefully.

Choose your relationships carefully.

Choose your habits carefully.

Choose what you feed your mind carefully.

Because your future is quietly being built by the decisions nobody sees you making today.

Some young people are not suffering because life failed them.

They are suffering because they ignored wisdom when it whispered.

Today, when I look back at some of the foolish mistakes I made that almost ruined my destiny, I can only thank God for mercy.

There were moments I could have lost everything.

Moments that could have permanently altered the direction of my life.

But grace rescued me.

And not everyone recovers from certain mistakes.

Some people spend the rest of their lives wishing they had listened earlier.

Please…

Do not wait until pain becomes your teacher before you learn wisdom.

Your life is too precious to destroy over temporary excitement.

Your future family is depending on the discipline you build today.

Your destiny is too important to exchange for momentary pleasure.

And the world may never recover from the greatness buried inside you if you destroy yourself too early.

At 25, you are not just building memories.

You are building consequences.

You are building patterns.

You are building character.

You are building the life you will eventually live.

Protect your destiny.

Temporary pleasure is expensive when it costs your future.

And one wise decision today can save you from ten years of regret tomorrow.

With love,

Oliver Nshom
Transformational speaker | Coach

Yesterday, a 67 year old man at church made me realize something I had never fully understood about leadership.

I arrived a little late for service because of some studies I am currently doing.

Instead of walking to my usual seat, I quietly sat somewhere at the back.

After the service, Rubby, one of the elderly men in our church community, slowly walked up to me and said:

“Oliver, I didn’t see you at your usual spot worshipping today. What happened?”

I smiled and explained that I came late and decided to sit behind.
(You know that once in a month or quarter kind of late coming because you were trying to finish reading a book or complete a study you're undertaking due to a tied deadline, that's exactly it).

But honestly…

His question stayed with me long after the service ended.

Because in that moment, I realized something powerful:

People are watching us more than we think.

Not to criticize us.
Not to judge us.

But sometimes…
to find hope.

I never realized that my simple acts of worship, singing, clapping, dancing, and consistently showing up every Sunday could silently encourage someone else.

And it made me reflect deeply on leadership and human connection.

Many times, we think impact only happens on big stages through microphones, titles, money, fame, or social media influence.

But sometimes, your greatest impact is simply your presence.

Sometimes people draw strength from seeing you continue.
From seeing you smile despite life.
From seeing you remain faithful during difficult seasons.

Sometimes your consistency becomes someone else’s proof that life is still worth fighting for.

And the dangerous thing about influence is this:

You may never fully know who is drawing strength from your existence… until one day you are absent.

That is why character matters.
That is why consistency matters.
That is why showing up matters.

Because somewhere around you, someone may still believe in tomorrow because your life quietly reminded them not to give up today.

And honestly, I genuinely want to ask you today:

Has my consistency, content, faith journey, leadership, or presence here ever encouraged, inspired, challenged, or helped you through a difficult moment?

I would truly love to know.

Because sometimes we carry hope for others without even realizing it.

Happy New Week

I coach people to communicate at their best, and speak in leadership conferences.

If you want to know more about my work, visit
www.olivernshom.com

In a third world country, your biggest limitation is no longer your location.

It is invisibility.

We are entering a dangerous era where people with degrees but no proof of value may remain unemployed for years… while young people with smartphones, AI tools, creativity, and courage quietly build global careers from their bedrooms.

Today, I want to challenge young people in Africa, especially Cameroon.

If you want the job of your dreams within the next 90 days, stop only asking to be hired.

Start showing what you can do.

Here are 3 things you can begin doing immediately:

1. Create before you are chosen.

Do not wait for companies to employ you before showing your skills.

Want to become a graphic designer?
Redesign posters for brands you admire.

Want to become a video editor?
Create short clips for speakers, pastors, celebrities, or businesses and tag them online.

Want to become a social media manager?
Start growing someone’s page publicly without them even paying you yet.

Visibility creates opportunities.

2. Become impossible to ignore.

Most people send CVs.
Very few send RESULTS.

Imagine sending a company:
“Here are 3 videos I created to help your brand grow. If you hire me, this is the kind of value I can bring.”

That alone separates you from 95% of job seekers.

The future belongs to people who solve problems before they are hired.

3. Use AI and social media as your free university.

You may not have money.
But you have access.

One viral video…
One brilliant design…
One smart comment…
One powerful idea…
can connect you to opportunities from America, Europe, Dubai, or anywhere in the world.

A young man from Cameroon recently caught my attention.

Every time I make a Facebook post, he creates an AI version of it almost immediately.

He never complained.
He never begged.

He simply kept demonstrating his skill consistently.

And honestly?

He is standing out.

In this generation, consistency is louder than certificates.

Young people must understand this:

Your next employer may never ask for your degree first.

They may ask:
“Show us what you can do.”

The world is no longer only hiring qualifications.

The world is hiring VALUE.

Happy Sunday

Oliver Nshom

PS:

Need a coach or speaker who can make you or your audience to dare more? Visit www.olivernshom.com and book a one-on-one session today.

Every year, millions of students graduate from universities across Africa…

Yet many of them quietly disappear into uncertainty almost immediately after graduation.”

That reality has been bothering me deeply for years.

How can someone spend 3 to 5 years studying…
and still struggle to become visible, employable, confident, or economically relevant afterward?

The truth is painful.

Many students were trained to pass exams…
but were never trained to position themselves in a changing world.

Nobody taught them:
• how to communicate value
• how to build visibility
• how to network strategically
• how to solve real problems
• how to sell ideas confidently
• how to adapt quickly
• how to build influence in the digital economy

So they graduate with certificates…
but remain invisible.

I began understanding this more deeply after arriving in the United States.

Some of the most influential people in the room were not necessarily the people with the highest degrees.

They were the people who could:
communicate,
lead,
adapt,
innovate,
and create value consistently.

As once said:

“Your value is not determined by what you know alone, but by what you are able to reproduce, communicate, and contribute.” Anonymous

That quote changed my thinking.

Because in today’s economy, silence is expensive.

Brilliance without visibility is often ignored.

And many young Africans are carrying ideas, talents, and solutions the world may never see because nobody taught them how to become visible and relevant.

University education is important.
Very important.

But in this generation, degrees alone are no longer enough.

Africa does not only need educated young people.

Africa needs visible problem solvers.

That is one of the reasons I will be hosting a FREE live webinar session today to help students, graduates, young professionals, and aspiring speakers understand how to position themselves for visibility, opportunities, communication, and relevance in today’s changing economy.

If you feel stuck, invisible, uncertain, or ready for your next level, I encourage you to join us live.

Register here: https://www.olivernshom.com/webinar.html

The future belongs to people who can adapt, communicate, innovate, and create value in changing times.

From 1992 to 2004, I was almost always the last student in class.

I failed the First School Leaving Certificate.
I failed the Common Entrance Exams.(Elementary school final exam)

When others were moving forward, I felt left behind by life itself.

I dropped out of high school and only returned to write my Advanced Level( High school certificate) in 2016… at a time when many of my classmates had already graduated from the university.

Some laughed at me.
Some avoided me.
Some looked at me like I had become a failure.

But they never saw the silent battles I was fighting in my family, my health, and within myself.

What looked like delay to people was actually God preparing me in private.

Today, by the grace of God, I have spoken in multiple countries, coached and mentored speakers across Africa and the United States, and founded schools and organizations that have trained thousands in public speaking.

Not because I was the smartest.
Not because I was the fastest.

But because God does not look at your background.
He looks at your heart, your obedience, your hard work, and your determination.

So to the person who is about to give up…

Your story is not over.
Your delay is not your death sentence.
Heaven can still rewrite your ending.

Next month, I'll be speaking at AI Summit in Rochester United States, an event by the World's Best Hospital, Mayo Clinic to be attended by hundreds of Health experts all over the world.

God is still doing miracles…
and you will not be left out.

Happy Ascension to my fellow Christians in this blue application.



PS: Visit www.olivernshom.com to book a one-on-one coaching/mentorship or see where I am speaking next around the world.

Why do some incredible visions fall apart before they reach their potential?

Often, it’s not the idea, but the leader’s readiness. No matter how brilliant the plan, if the leader hasn’t strengthened themselves, the foundation cracks.

Three pillars keep a vision alive:

1) Personal growth, 70% of your effort should be developing you. Leaders who invest in their own learning, spirituality, and transformation can handle storms.

2) Financial stability, A leader who secures steady income streams isn’t easily shaken. Financial empowerment allows you to sustain your mission.

3) Resilience, Build systems so that when challenges come, you’re equipped to clear them without losing your focus.

Every visionary must ask: Am I building me as much as I’m building the dream?

Your vision can stand tall, but only if you do.

PUBLIC DISCLAIMER

Someone is currently impersonating me, Oliver Nshom, using fake conversations and false financial stories to scam innocent people.

Please note:

• I do not ask people for emergency money transfers through random chats.
• I do not authorize anyone to collect money on my behalf without direct confirmation from me.
• Any suspicious message requesting money, assistance, or urgent transactions in my name should be ignored and reported immediately.

To everyone in my network, please verify properly before sending money to anyone claiming to represent me.

To the individual behind this impersonation:
You have intelligence and potential. Use your skills for meaningful and legitimate work instead of deception. Fraud may bring temporary gain, but it eventually destroys lives and futures.

Please stop.
Repent.
Change your path while you still can.

Thank you everyone for your vigilance and support.

Oliver Nshom

Every Monday from 6pm to 8pm, a few of us young men gather in one of our friend’s homes.

No cameras.
No stages.
No titles.

Just brothers sitting together like the early Church in the book of Acts.

We read the Bible.
We share our struggles.
We celebrate our wins.
We pray for one another.
And we sharpen each other for life here in the State of Minnesota (MN).

Tonight, after our sharing session, one of our group leaders, Zack, looked at me and said:

“Oliver Nshom, you seem to have traveled and spoken in more states across the United States than myself who was born and raised here.”

I smiled and laughed quietly.

But deep within me, I reflected on something powerful.

What brought me to the United States was not a 9-5 job, complains about the political landscape of the country or how difficult or easy things are.

It was to get the job done, and the job here was speaking.

A voice.

A message.

A calling bigger than myself.

And while I am still in this country, before I eventually complete my mission and return to Africa, one thing burns deeply in my heart:

To help as many people as possible discover and refine their voice.

Because I have seen firsthand what happens when a human being truly finds their voice.

Confidence changes.
Purpose becomes clearer.
Leadership awakens.
Opportunities begin to appear.
Lives begin to transform.

Every passing day in America, I continue to meet brilliant people with gifts, ideas, experiences, and wisdom trapped inside them simply because they have not yet mastered the art of expressing it boldly and clearly.

That is why public speaking is not just communication to me.

It is voice reformation.
It is identity awakening.
It is leadership development.
It is the bridge between potential and impact.

I thank God for the journey.

From Oku, Cameroon…
to stages across different countries…
to conversations in living rooms with ordinary men seeking growth and purpose.

This mission keeps reminding me that your voice can take you where your background never could.

And perhaps the greatest tragedy in life is not failure.

It is dying with a message the world never heard.

O.N

International Speaker | Public Speaking Coach | Founder of Tolkz Global
Helping leaders, professionals, and emerging speakers turn their voice into influence, impact, and opportunities globally.

Some conversations do more than inspire you.
They awaken something inside you.

This Monday at 2PM CST / 8PM WAT on The Global Speaker’s Advantage Podcast, I sit down with the former CBCYD Director and Founder of Seed of Hope Organization, Rev Pas Cosmas for a powerful 1-hour conversation on leadership, purpose, hope, and impact.

For the first time, he will be sharing his journey from serving at the CBC Youth and Students Department, to the difficult decision of resignation, and the deeper calling that led him to found Seed of Hope Organization.

Behind every transition is a story people never see.
Behind every new beginning is a season that tested everything.

This is not just another interview.
It is a real conversation about vision, sacrifice, faith, and the courage to start again.

Mark your calendar.
Set your reminder.
Invite someone you care about.

Monday, May 11th
2PM CST | 8PM WAT

You do not want to miss this conversation.

A few weeks ago, one of my coaching clients asked me a question that made me pause and smile.

She said:

“Oliver Nshom, are you the one who founded public speaking in Cameroon?”

I laughed and gently replied:

“No. Public speaking goes much further back. Aristotle helped shape the foundations of public speaking and rhetoric.”

But her question stayed with me.

Because what she was really talking about was not the origin of public speaking.

She was talking about impact.

Yes, I founded the Cameroon National Speakers Association.

But I did not found public speaking.

What I have been privileged to do with our team in CANASA, TIPS and AIIPS is help organize, professionalize, and expand the public speaking movement in Cameroon. Shoutout to some great leaders in this family, Godlove Njisong Lornarica Nguetussi Randy King Britney Fonki Pro Mil Ndansi Gwansonduna Raymond Shei Larisa Ntam Larissa Kuoh Kuokuo Magdalen Yokwei Promise

I have watched young people, professionals, leaders, and hidden voices rise from fear to confidence.

I have seen stages become classrooms.

I have seen voices become bridges.

I have seen ordinary people discover that their story can carry influence.

So when people say, “Your name keeps coming up whenever public speaking is mentioned in Cameroon,” I receive it with humility.

Not as pride.

As responsibility.

Because influence is not about being the first person to speak.

It is about helping others find the courage to speak after you.

Aristotle may have helped shape the ancient foundations of public speaking.

But in my own generation, I am committed to helping shape its future in Cameroon.

And we are only just getting started.