Imagine a bond so strong that it turns dreams into reality. That's the story of twin brothers from Kumasi, whose shared vision and symbiotic creativity have propelled them to the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship. Join me, Derrick Abaitey, as we reveal the secrets behind their transformative journey, from their early days of resilience to their recent gala at the Country Club. Listen closely, as they unwrap the philosophy that has been the bedrock of their success: true power lies in working together, in both personal and professional realms.
As we navigate through the episodes, we encounter the twins' university days where their combined force made waves in campus politics and event management. Their strategic partnerships and networking finesse not only boosted SRC presidential campaigns but also attracted high-profile artists to university events, setting the stage for their future endeavors. The leap from university to the world of photography and cinematography further amplifies the potency of their partnership, illustrating that when two minds with a shared vision come together, the sky's the limit.
Wrapping up our insightful exchange, the twins share invaluable lessons for aspiring creatives, underscoring the significance of serving without expectation and staying true to one's brand despite criticism. Their story is a powerful reminder that generosity can unlock doors and collaboration can elevate a vision far beyond its original scope. So, whether you're a creative soul or a seeker of entrepreneurial wisdom, tune in for an episode that celebrates the essence of collaboration, the beauty of networking, and the unwavering power of partnership.
Watch the video episode of this on YouTube - https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This producer told us one of the most useless things
that we've ever heard in ourlife and that really broke us.
We believe so much in ourselvesthat we're going to be great in
the future.
We didn't have any option.
We had to survive.
The concept of Twin Zone Bergshould show you the power of
collaboration and alsopartnership.
One thing that somebody can dosolo in two hours, you can do
(00:23):
that in five minutes because ofthe power of two.
Find somebody that has similarmindset and partner with them,
because you can't do it alone.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Number one business and self-development podcast.
Connected minds podcast.
How you doing, my bro?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I'm doing excellent.
Yeah, genizo.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, I'm amazing man , I'm great.
I was at one of your events therecent one you did at Country
Club and I loved it, the scenery, the place you chose to do the
exhibition the people.
I saw there and I thought, yeah, this is what people need to be
able to connect with otherpeople.
Yeah, yeah, this is what peopleneed to be able to connect with
(01:06):
other people.
Yeah, to be honest, the eventwasn't just about twins domberg
doing an exhibition.
It was given as the platform tonetwork with other people yeah
you know.
So today's conversation I wantedto delve into um building
relationship and the art ofnetworking, how you've done it
all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Well, I mean, you clearly defined what we wanted
to achieve, as in creating aplatform where everybody comes
and network, feel free to bethemselves, you know, as
comfortable as they are.
Nobody's on their guard, nobodycares about the kind of
portfolio they've built, butthey are open and they are
talking's on their guard.
(01:44):
Nobody cares about the kind ofum portfolio they've built, but
they are open and they aretalking to just everyone.
And I think, um, I don't know,but I'll call that our power, um
, something that god has blessedus with.
We have the power to be able tomake anybody, anybody, just um
be themselves.
Like, imagine, um hanging outwith president and, and
(02:08):
presidents and you know, havevery, very high profile people
and they don't care about thekind of portfolio they've built
or who they are, but then theyare relating to you on a
personal level, because anybodyum, that's a powerful
photographer, the camera can,can, can, let you do anything.
(02:28):
I remember one time, a very,very high profile person, and I
was like, can you please standand say and maybe stand here and
do this?
And I was actually commandingthem.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I was like, oh, I mean a photographer, can command
a command.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
A very, very, very high profile person that wears
that come out of his mouth canjust destroy a whole nation, and
that is the power of aphotographer, you know.
So, knowing this power, we'vewe've really tried to use it
positively and that is makingthem feel very comfortable
(03:07):
around us.
And also the camera, andthrough that we've used that to.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
You know, um help others and that is the most
important thing that we've umbeen doing since we started this
journey it's just really thestyle, right, the style of
photography that you guys choseto do, not just, you know, click
, click, click and then we aregone.
But it's bringing everybodytogether and then to say that,
(03:33):
okay, we have artworks, we wantto do an exhibition, people can
come around, have fun, get toknow each other.
There could be a buddy you'venever met before, but twins
gives you the opportunity to beable to meet them today, and to
me I think that's marvelous.
But most importantly, um,there's a young guy out there
who's thinking wow, you guyshave done amazing, from k and
(03:54):
usd all the way to here.
Yeah, you've done fantastic.
Where do they start?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
well, it started, um, right, when we were done with
senior high school in Kumasi, wewent to KNUST Senior High
School.
So we are the products of KNUST.
If you talk about somebody whohas been in KNUST, that is us.
We went to the daycare, theprimary school, the nursery, the
(04:20):
junior high school, the seniorhigh school and the university.
So we lived all that.
We were raised in Kumase and itall started when, you know, my
dad was a driver right for CSRor Forestry Research in the city
of Ghana.
He was the Kumase branch.
He was a driver and any time hehad the opportunity he used to
(04:43):
travel a lot going around I meangathering seedlings and picking
up people from the airport andtaking people all around Ghana
and all that.
And any time my dad had theopportunity he would take me and
my brother on his trips.
So we've been in Kumasi Firsttime.
I remember first time we sawthe sea.
We've been in Kumasi first time.
I remember first time we sawthe sea.
(05:04):
There's a thing that they sayKumasi.
People have never seen the sea,but first time we saw the sea
it was so marvelous.
So I think, coming to think ofhow I didn't know this was maybe
the vision or something.
But then it opened our eyes.
People were this case fromKumasi my dad would have the
(05:25):
opportunity to come to Accra.
Know this was maybe the visionor something.
But then it opened our eyes.
People were, um, these kidsfrom kumar say, my dad will have
the opportunity to come to acry.
He would take us along andanytime we are driving he'll be
showing us places.
He'll be saying, oh, this isthis place, this is that place.
So it opened up our foresightand we started thinking
differently.
You know we started seeingdifferently.
(05:47):
You know we started seeingGhana or the world, you know,
even when we were kids andthrough that it made us dream
even bigger.
So when we were done with seniorhigh school, my big sister was
working in Temma at the LandsCommission in Temma, Community 4
.
So you know, when you graduatefrom senior high school, you
have some time before you go touni.
So we went to stay with her andthat was our first time ever in
(06:09):
Tema.
So we stayed there and we knewthat we had passion for music.
So in Tema, one of my bestsisters knew a guy who owns a
studio in Saituan Maputo and wetold them we wanted to record
our music.
(06:30):
And my bassist told his friendand we went to the studio and we
met one producer and werecorded our first demo even
though we didn't know what wewere doing.
Producer, and we recorded ourfirst demo even though we didn't
know what we were doing andwhen.
When that studio that's wherewe met the likes of Sarkozy,
(06:51):
D-Crime, Yao Pono, Yao Siki.
It was a studio that, um, everyyou know, the current biggest
artists in Ghana all used tocome there to record.
I mean, that was the time thatthere was a movement in Tema,
the Tema for Life movement, andT-pop and all that.
That's when all the artistswere coming up.
(07:12):
So we recorded our first song,our first demo, we started
promoting it and that's how thename Twins Don't Break came
about, because we went to seesome producers and to help us
produce us and also, you know,because we wanted to be
real-time artists.
And this producer told us oneof the most useless things that
(07:36):
we've ever heard in our life andthat really broke us.
So that evening we went homeand we're like you know what
we're never going to beg anybodyfor any opportunity, because we
believe so much in ourselvesthat we're going to be great in
future.
And, um, I mean, we are twinsand we know the talent that god
has given to us, so why shouldwe go around begging for people
(07:59):
to help us?
And we're like we're lookingfor a unique name for us as
artists.
That was around 2008.
And we were like we're twinsand why should we beg?
And we carved that name Twins,Don't Beg.
That evening we were sitting inmy sister's kitchen one evening
sitting on the floor.
(08:19):
We were thinking of howcreative we can become and
throughout this same period, weused to go for a lot of movie
auditions.
Anytime we see any poster onthe wall saying audition,
audition, audition you get yourbags and you're going.
We weren't paying to beauditioned.
So me and my brother werechasing.
We had so much passion.
(08:40):
We're going for movierehearsals, acting rehearsals,
auditions, auditions and thatalso exposed us to the movie
industry.
So we met so many producers.
We met so many upcoming actorsthat are currently in the top of
the acting scene.
I remember one time we were on afilm set where Yvonne Nelson
(09:02):
was shooting around Spank Testand that was the first time I
saw Yvonne Nelson was shootingaround Spring Test and that was
the first time I saw YvonneNelson and that was amazing.
And John D'Amelio too was alsoaround.
That was somewhere around 2008.
So imagine how long it's been.
So, around that time we didn'tknow what we were doing.
We just had so much passion andwe just kept on going and going
(09:23):
and going and going and going.
Much passion and we just wejust kept on going and going and
going and going and going, andand um, through that we were.
We didn't know we're evennetworking because we're putting
so much effort in, we'reconnecting with people, we're
going for auditions, we're goinghere, we're still producing our
music.
Then, um, one time my dad didn'treally support our music career
(09:45):
, so we had to put a stop tothat, because he was a Pentacles
Churchill and the kids aredoing cell club music.
So we had to tame it down alittle bit and hide it, but
we're still doing it.
But then it was low-key.
But then, um one time we we westarted getting a lot of you
(10:07):
know um publicity.
And one time we had aninterview on gtv about music.
We performed live on abreakfast show and my dad's boss
saw us and called my dad thathey, I just saw your sons on tv.
And he was like, oh, mychildren also want to do this.
And my dad was like, ah, evenhis boss has called him that he
(10:31):
just saw his sons on tv and he'dwant his sons to also do what
your sons are doing.
And that actually changed hisperception about it.
So he kind of like also calmeddown a bit.
And then, around that period,um, we 2010, we went to KNUSD
(10:51):
and the moment me and my brotherstepped foot on KNUSD campus,
with all that freedom, themoment my dad dropped us on
campus, um, and we, with allthat freedom, were like this is
it?
This was the chance that wewere looking for, we, we I
remember before we even passed,uh wasi to go, we had to rise
(11:14):
north deck.
In that period, every day, meand my brother would wake up and
go to the library aroundcommunity four.
Me and my brother would wake upbecause we knew that if we
failed and we didn't go to theuniversity, we were going to
have a total path in life.
(11:34):
So me and my brother, every day, we'd wake up, go straight to
the library and consistently wedid that and we managed to pass.
I mean, mean, that was one ofthe most difficult thing that we
ever did in our life, becausewe had to forget about all our
friends, anybody that we knew.
We moved from kumase because hewasn't helping us, because we
(11:58):
knew so many people in kumase,so we moved there to tema, to
hide and, and for that period,we were just studying every day,
just any time we woke up, wewent straight to the library, we
closed.
We come back home, they did thesame thing and we wrote the
remedials and we passed and wegot admission to KNUSC.
(12:19):
So the moment we I rememberwhen the results came, we were
in kumase at my dad's housesomewhere in aprade and we
checked our results and we hadgotten admission and that was
one of the most um happiest dayin my life exciting.
Yo, like getting admission intothe university was one of the
(12:41):
most proudest things.
That achievements, I would sayum, we've ever achieved, we ever
achieved and we're so proudbecause we put so much work into
it.
Um, and he made my dad happyand my the family happy and all
that and we, the moment we gotto campus, we knew that this was
(13:03):
a chance that we were lookingfor and we didn't take it for
granted.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, no, that's amazing.
I think when we were speakingearlier, you mentioned that your
networking abilities as a twinstarted from KNUST.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Because of all the friends that you made, the
impact that you made at theuniversity.
Tell me a bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Well, so first time we got to Ken University Unity
Hall, kunti, we knew this waswhat we wanted to do and the
moment we got there we involvedourselves in every campus
activity, from politics toentertainment, to fashion, to um
(13:48):
, nightlife, to campus radio.
Um, we, we just dive straightinto it.
Because of our background inmusic and acting and our
connections to the media andentertainment it it was so easy
to blend in.
The first time the hall washaving its whole week activities
(14:09):
.
We were already closer to theentertainment chairman at that
time we were like, oh, we canbring this artist, we can bring
this artist.
Oh, and we had access to all ofthem so we could call them
directly and even broke them avery good deal.
So we could call them directlyand even broke them a very good
deal, you know.
So we also started CampusPolitics.
(14:30):
I remember the current nationalchairman of MP, pinanabu Ache,
was running for SRC presidentand we were part of his team.
So during every day we'd begoing around campaigning and
that also helped us with publicengagement and also getting to
talk to people and engage withpeople and all that.
(14:53):
That thing actually helped uswith networking.
Imagine a campus of about20,000 people and we managed to
visit every hall, door to door,knocking on every room like a
Jehovah Witness, you know,trying to preach the gospel, but
(15:13):
this time around was the gospelof politics.
You know, trying to get in atthe SRC president and it helped
us so much to, you know, engagewith people and once we were
doing all that, it also openedour eyes to strategies on how to
market.
(15:34):
You know, market anything thatyou're doing and all that and
even though Nanabi didn't winthat particular elections, it
actually really helped us.
We're doing something called weused to call it Nasuba.
It was posting posters, sowe'll go out.
We knew every notice board oncampus, from Kean University to
(15:59):
Ayodease to Kote, every night.
We'll be doing that and we'redoing that.
Sometimes you also get paid andmake some money, so we we take
those kind of contracts.
We're testing note and postersof um all weeks, or maybe
parties or so.
(16:20):
We used to do a lot of thosecontracts, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
For me, though, it's the gut, it's the confidence,
it's the I want to do itattitude.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, we didn't have any option.
We had to survive and it wasour passion.
So we were just enjoying, meand my brother.
Even at 3 am, 4 am, 5 am, wewould still be up doing all that
and wake up in the morning andgo for class.
So sometimes people used towonder are you guys really
(16:55):
students?
Are you guys really students,you know?
Are you guys like really,really you know students, that
you could be up all night andstill come to class?
Or maybe you are always allover the whole campus and this
thing that we did got us reallynoticed on campus.
(17:15):
So we're really, really famousum, not just in k university but
in a lot of universities,because we did whatever we're
doing in ucc, um in central, inlagoon, and now we had connected
with other students.
So we're doing events together,like, for example, um, we
premiered one film on campus andmade so much money.
(17:37):
Then I was connected with otherstudents.
We're doing premieres inCentral University, in UCC.
We go and rent halls, rentspeakers, rent projectors.
We go promote the film for likea whole weekend or a whole week
, do the um, the premiere, andsometimes, if you're lucky to
(18:01):
raise some money, we're able toget um, some of the actors to
come for the premiere.
You know so we did so much oncampus and um 2013, we were
awarded the most influentialpeople and students with the
purpose by the vice chancellorand through all the initiatives
that we're doing on campus, andthat was the first award we ever
(18:23):
took in life.
Wow yeah, now you've just showna taste of entrepreneurial
spirit, right yeah frompremiering movies and trying to
get it out parties doing parties, doing src weeks, even helping
other organizers organize theirsrc activities and and and bring
(18:45):
artists to campus.
Um, you know, and um, yeah, Imean we, we, we did a and also
that also exposed us to politics, right, because whatever
happens in national politics hasa direct effect on campus
(19:08):
politics, because that's why yousee a lot of politicians
fighting over which campus,which you know, because in the
university they've got a testcorn and a tin and all the other
political parties having directrepresentatives, you know, on
campus.
So you see politicianssponsoring these SRC elections,
(19:30):
because whichever party has thehighest number of votes there
has a direct effect on nationalpolitics, right, so they don't
joke with campus politics.
So we got, because of whateverwe're doing, we really got
noticed by the national politicsbecause we're doing a lot of
(19:53):
social media, we're doing a lotof marketing, we're doing a lot
of events, we're doing a lot ofsocial media, we're doing a lot
of marketing, we're doing a lotof events, we're doing a lot of
organizations, we're doing a lotof PR.
So we got really noticed and wealso made so many friends in
the national offices and allthat.
(20:14):
So, when we were done with uni,we started photography 2015,.
But then we finished uni by2014.
So that one year period we wereabout to do national service
and we got an opportunity to bepart of a film that was shot in
(20:36):
Ghana, an international filmthat was directed by a British
Ghanaian director and also theproducer was from Spain, and it
had actors like Jimmy Jean-LouisOris Herrero from Adventures of
Sinbad, and we were on film.
We were on the set for almosttwo months and that is where we
learned photography andcinematography, because we were
(20:57):
on film.
We were on the set for almosttwo months and that is where we
learned photography andcinematography, because we were
the assistants.
I was the assistant to theproducer, my brother was
assistant to the director of thefilm, and that was also one of
the most memorable moments inour journey as twins on Berg.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, that's amazing.
Um, I'll cut you there, though,because you know I wanted to
touch a bit on the partnershipbetween you and your brother.
Yeah, now I know any form ofpartnership.
It's not easy, yeah Right, eveneven blood twins.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It's just not easy.
How are you guys able tonavigate your, the ideology?
You have what he has, blendingit together to form what you
guys have today?
Speaker 1 (21:46):
well, I think we're so lucky we're twins um, but I
know some twins don't even clicklike that oh yeah, but probably
maybe the way our parentsraised us um with me and my
brother always been together.
Even when we were kids.
We used to shower together, um,sleep in the same bed, do the
(22:08):
same thing.
We still wear the same clothes.
We don't even have any.
He doesn't have his own clothesand I also have my.
We have the wear the sameclothes, the same shoes,
everything.
So we've been like this sincewe were children and our
(22:29):
partnership should telleverybody that partnership
actually really works in anyfield.
The power of two One thing thatsomebody can do solo in two
hours, you can do that in fiveminutes because of the power of
two.
So the concept of Twin ZoneBerg should show you the power
(22:51):
of collaboration and alsopartnership.
So we've never taken that forgranted.
We're able to do things thatnobody can do because we are two
and our minds come together asone and we are operating as a
single body.
We know each other's strengthand weakness and we complement
that and we are able to doeverything that we're doing
(23:14):
because we understand wherewe're going and nothing can
actually change that course andthat is what we're going to keep
on doing all the time.
So partnership is veryimportant in any business and
all that.
So whenever I meet any youngpeople who are starting anything
, I always tell them somethingfind somebody that has similar
(23:38):
mindset and partner with them,because you can't do it alone.
Nobody can do anything alone,you know.
Even that's why most successfulmen you know have the best
wives.
That always compliments them,because God even approves of
partnership.
You know, even in marriage itshows that if you marry a good
(24:00):
woman, you're definitely goingto have a successful life.
If you marry a bad woman, yourlife is fucked up, yeah, yeah,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, the opposite is also true, right?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I mean it's amazing, because sometimes we look at you
guys and from the story you'resaying, it looks like you guys
are definitely, you'redefinitely using one mind.
Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
The sync, yeah, the sync even.
Sometimes it amazes me, becausewhat I'm thinking is exactly
what my brother is thinking.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
But that shouldn't be .
That really shouldn't be,because you're different people,
right?
So I can only imagine thatthere will be times within your
so partnership that there willbe different.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, I mean we sometimes have, you know,
different, you know mindsets,don't get me wrong, um, but um,
I think this is also as a resultof we being in the same
environment all the time, soit's directly shipings the way
we we think, and it makes usunit, be able to think alive.
(25:02):
Imagine when you have, when we,let's say, twins who are
separated, and when you know atbirth when they come together
they have different mindsets butwe are.
We find ourselves in a scene,please, you see me you remember
the story of P square yeah right, they were doing amazing in the
alphabet yeahit wins, yeah, but then you know
(25:27):
these two got separated exactlyand they couldn't stand it.
Buddy, how to come?
So you guys have done fantastic, I mean whatever it is that
you've done to keep that workingup to date.
I think it's our mother'sprayers, I think it's been
amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I mean, sometimes you know you meet people right On a
business level, yeah.
However, you know you don'tlike their social lifestyle.
Where do you place yourself asan individual when you find
yourself in that situation?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Well, so this is what we do.
We just didn't end up workingwith everybody or connecting
with everybody in a period ofone day or one month, but for
some it took about five, 10years before we got on that kind
(26:18):
of level.
So whenever you meet somebody,let's say you met somebody, a
business person or maybe anexecutive or somebody that you
would want to network with, andyou met that person today and
you guys have exchanged contactsand details, that doesn't mean
anything is going to happen thatperiod.
(26:39):
It would take time and we likethings to happen naturally.
So exchange emails, just have aconversation, just talk.
Just keep it like that we're.
And with now, with social media,people are able to follow
whatever you do, even from adistance, without even having
conversations.
So just keep it that way.
(27:00):
You meet them at one event?
Hi hi, how you doing?
Oh, then, just keep it natural.
Don't force yourself on people.
Just keep it natural.
Keep on doing whatever you'redoing.
Just keep on moving.
Keep on doing it.
It's when you let always letthings you know work out
(27:20):
naturally.
Keep on doing whatever you'redoing.
Just keep on moving.
Keep on doing it when you let.
Always let things work outnaturally.
That's the best.
So don't try to force yourselfon people.
Never try to push your ideas orideologies or agendas on people
.
Let everything just follownaturally.
And when you do that, they evenreach out.
And when you do that, they evenreach out Because for me, when
you follow me, anything I poston my social media is just about
(27:42):
what I do and my dreams and mestriving and working hard to
achieve it, so you wouldn't see.
That's why I always tell peoplebe careful what you put out,
because for me I know the kindof people that have my contacts
are from regular people to veryhigh profile people, so I'm
actually really particular aboutanything I put out.
(28:03):
So be careful what you put outevery day, because it might just
now shape in how somebody seesyou.
So for me, I always keepeverything natural.
Let any relationship happen,like for us.
We've met a long time.
We met a long time ago, a longtime ago Through Besakede and
(28:26):
all other people, but we'venever done anything.
No, we've never touched base,we've never connected, we've
never done anything.
But everything has happenednaturally.
And now we're here, we're on apodcast.
Who knows what we're going todo next.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Now let's talk about that photography time, your move
into photography.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah, so 2015,.
We got our first camera and weactually didn't have enough
money to buy that camera becauseafter working on that film set,
I think we made 500 CDs.
I was paid 250 CDs or 500 CDsfrom all that time that we spent
(29:10):
on the film set and the camerawas about, I think, 200 pounds
or so.
The producer's brother wasselling the camera and that
Hollywood actor, horace Herrero.
We served him so much on thefilm set, like morning to
(29:30):
evening dawn.
Anytime he needed us, we'rethere, we were his personal
assistants.
We were getting him coffee, teaanytime, helping him with his
crepes, his costume, anything heneeded was there.
So, after the film set and wetold him about the camera that
(29:51):
we wanted to buy, and he waslike you know what?
I'm going to buy this camerafor you guys.
And that was how we came.
We got our first camera, sothat Ori Cerero bought our first
camera for us 2014, there about, and we started the journey of
photography somewhere, um, rightafter uni, almost from 2014 to
(30:14):
2015 there's a cue here.
That camera came out of serviceservice I, I believe in service
so much that you can never goanywhere without serving and
through service it's open somuch for you that you can't even
(30:35):
imagine.
I mean, every opportunity thatwe have right now is through
serving, like, for example, weserve people so much without
expecting anything in return andwe, we, we, you sometimes get
taken advantage of.
All the time we've been, we'vebeen in positions where we've
(30:57):
served so many people that wenever got anything and that was
fine because it, it served as alesson for us and we got so much
experience and so much exposurethrough service because, um,
imagine, we, we, we, we, we'veknown um besakede for a long
time and he's been a brother,but we save him, we, we, we do
(31:21):
so much um, sometimes I go toBesai and be telling him all the
ideas.
How we can, you know what we cando to.
You know, keep his brand goingand and promoting his music and
all we've been doing with Besai7.
And that has opened so manydoors for us, you know, and not
(31:43):
just him, but so many peoplethat we, we always see potential
and and not just him, but somany people that we, we always
see potential and and we just sosometimes when I see potential
in anybody, I just go to themand I'll just offer my services
for free, and that opens so muchdoor for us, it teaches us so
much and that is one way, or theeasiest way, to get to the top.
(32:03):
What?
Speaker 2 (32:04):
person must you become to be able to allow
yourself to, you know, connectwithin the team.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Well, I would say you must first find yourself right,
first know who you are and whatyou want to be, and try to work
hard to be the best version ofyourself.
And once you do that, I mean,it would put you in a position
(32:35):
where people will see that youwake up one day.
You wake up every day, tryingto be the best version of
yourself, and it also helppeople to connect with you, um,
directly or indirectly.
So you, you just have to wakeup every day and and decide that
I'm going out, I'm puttingmyself out there, I'm, I'm a
(32:58):
dreamer and I want to achievesomething I think you, you guys,
really have a greatunderstanding of business.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Um is really attached to what you're doing, yeah, but
then it leads on to my nextquestion, which is you know, we
see many creatives right in ourspace.
They have the fame, they havethe celebrity status, but then
it usually doesn't translateinto their financial yeah.
Now, what's your take on that?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Well, I think they are basically keeping it to
themselves.
They are being a bit selfishbecause they want to um chop
everything you know and for us,when you you see us, it's not
just me and my brother, it's alot of people open our doors to
(33:45):
so many people, from k?
Um to all the guys that we workwith and all the ladies that we
work with, and all that it's tobe successful.
This it's it's not just youalone.
I mean, if you take all thebrands, from louis vuitton to um
gucciior and all the other bigglobal brands, it has a whole
(34:10):
global team.
And to not just remain in yoursmall corner, you need to open
up yourself.
You need to allow so manypeople to come in your space and
contribute to whatever dreamyou have started.
So, if you check our brand andalso what we do, it had never
(34:33):
been us from the beginning.
We have so many young peoplearound us, so many older people
that we also look up to forwisdom and we always collaborate
with everybody that we we areto all those that um are doing
amazing with whatever they'redoing, but they're not really
(34:55):
moving on.
They are just very uptight andthey just want to keep, maybe to
a close circle.
I think that is a problem, butthe only solution for them is
just opening up and allowing newpeople to join them, expand
(35:15):
their vision, and sometimes youmight think you're always right,
but one little idea from oneyoung person can put you into
the next direction.
That's true.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Yeah, that's true.
You into the next direction,that's true.
Yeah, that's true, I take thatadvice.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
You know, there are those you look up to and there
are those that look up to youand there are those you need to
go to pick, to pick From.
Yeah, amazing.
I'm going to lead on to ourquestions that we usually ask on
Connected Minds, and one of thefirst is a question from our
previous guest, and the questionis what's the one thing you
would change about your life ifyou had the chance to?
Speaker 1 (35:52):
That's an interesting question.
One thing I would change aboutmy life If you had the chance to
Work harder.
Working so damn hard right now alittle bit harder yeah, a
little bit more harder, becauseI knew even the later that we do
(36:13):
see what we've been able toachieve.
So I saw one beautiful quotewhat would you do if you knew
you couldn't fail?
You know how hard would youwork if you knew you couldn't
fail.
So let's say if you knew youcouldn't fail, you know how hard
would you work if you knew youcouldn't fail.
So let's say if you saw yourfuture five years from now and
(36:33):
you knew you're going to besuccessful and it will
definitely happen, and you now,how hard would you work if you
know you wouldn't fail?
Speaker 2 (36:44):
I think for me, I would want to know the extent of
success.
The extent Like what?
Do you know what I mean?
Because I have a picture in mymind.
So if I, I would want to knowthe extent of the success I'm
seeing in that picture.
Yeah, if it's at the highestlevel I can ever imagine, I'll
probably keep to the pace I'mgoing.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Or you can still put in a lot more.
Even I feel we could have donemore.
I feel now I feel maybe wedon't even work as hard as we
used to work back then, Maybebecause now we have a bigger
team and now we've dedicated,you know, resources and
(37:31):
everything to young other peopleto also help them grow and all
that.
But then I know we can even dobetter than we're doing and that
.
So, to answer your question, Iwould really work harder Wow.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
That's great.
My next question today ismotivation or discipline
discipline okay, the, the, the.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
I mean what?
What is motivation without?
And what is motivation withoutdiscipline?
Discipline is waking up at 5 amwhen you slept at 3 am.
Right there, there's, there'sno motivation.
(38:18):
I'll help you be thatdisciplined.
You know like, for example, um,you, you, you, you, you've been
, you you've been on a tour with, with one artist or one brand
and one artist, for example, andyou went to, you went um the
(38:41):
whole day and the artistsperform till like 3 am and you
have another interview at 6 amand you get to your hotel and
you edit till 4 am Because thecontent needs to come out.
It's the discipline.
You need to be so disciplinedthat, to the extent that I mean,
(39:04):
I know I'm so disciplined thatevery day I have to do something
that will contribute to thegrowth of my brand.
So there's no day that I wakeup today and say I'm not doing
anything.
Every day I'm doing something,continue to introduce myself to
five people or do something aslittle as anything that can
(39:28):
contribute to the growth of mybrand, and all that.
So a day doesn't go without menot doing something.
We all have 24 hours, but howyou use the 24 hours is so
important.
You get me.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
What's the best advice you ever received?
Never beg Twins don't beg Rightand I'll take a question for my
next guest.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Would you change your brand name if you believe so
much in it?
Wow.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
That's a solid question.
Yeah, yeah, would you changeyour brand name if you believe
so much in it?
Wow, that's, that's that's asolid question.
Yeah, yeah, would you changeyour brand name if you believe
so much in it?
Yeah, because I guess the pointreally is that you did, you
guys didn't change it.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Yeah, and it's worked phenomenally when everybody
around you is telling you thatname is so rude, it's so um
disrespectful.
I mean, would you change yourbrand name if you believe so
much?
Speaker 2 (40:30):
wow, that's solid, and if you listen to this
conversation all the way throughto the end, I guarantee you
you've learned something.
This is connected minds, and myname is Derek Abayte, the
pharmacist and the podcast host.
Stay connected.
This producer told us one of the most useless things
that we've ever heard in ourlife and that really broke us.
We believe so much in ourselvesthat we're going to be great in
the future.
We didn't have any option.
We had to survive.
The concept of Twin Zone Bergshould show you the power of
collaboration and alsopartnership.
One thing that somebody can dosolo in two hours, you can do
(00:23):
that in five minutes because ofthe power of two.
Find somebody that has similarmindset and partner with them,
because you can't do it alone.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Number one business and self-development podcast.
Connected minds podcast.
How you doing, my bro?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I'm doing excellent.
Yeah, genizo.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, I'm amazing man , I'm great.
I was at one of your events therecent one you did at Country
Club and I loved it, the scenery, the place you chose to do the
exhibition the people.
I saw there and I thought, yeah, this is what people need to be
able to connect with otherpeople.
Yeah, yeah, this is what peopleneed to be able to connect with
(01:06):
other people.
Yeah, to be honest, the eventwasn't just about twins domberg
doing an exhibition.
It was given as the platform tonetwork with other people yeah
you know.
So today's conversation I wantedto delve into um building
relationship and the art ofnetworking, how you've done it
all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Well, I mean, you clearly defined what we wanted
to achieve, as in creating aplatform where everybody comes
and network, feel free to bethemselves, you know, as
comfortable as they are.
Nobody's on their guard, nobodycares about the kind of
portfolio they've built, butthey are open and they are
talking's on their guard.
(01:44):
Nobody cares about the kind ofum portfolio they've built, but
they are open and they aretalking to just everyone.
And I think, um, I don't know,but I'll call that our power, um
, something that god has blessedus with.
We have the power to be able tomake anybody, anybody, just um
be themselves.
Like, imagine, um hanging outwith president and, and
(02:08):
presidents and you know, havevery, very high profile people
and they don't care about thekind of portfolio they've built
or who they are, but then theyare relating to you on a
personal level, because anybodyum, that's a powerful
photographer, the camera can,can, can, let you do anything.
(02:28):
I remember one time, a very,very high profile person, and I
was like, can you please standand say and maybe stand here and
do this?
And I was actually commandingthem.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I was like, oh, I mean a photographer, can command
a command.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
A very, very, very high profile person that wears
that come out of his mouth canjust destroy a whole nation, and
that is the power of aphotographer, you know.
So, knowing this power, we'vewe've really tried to use it
positively and that is makingthem feel very comfortable
(03:07):
around us.
And also the camera, andthrough that we've used that to.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
You know, um help others and that is the most
important thing that we've umbeen doing since we started this
journey it's just really thestyle, right, the style of
photography that you guys choseto do, not just, you know, click
, click, click and then we aregone.
But it's bringing everybodytogether and then to say that,
(03:33):
okay, we have artworks, we wantto do an exhibition, people can
come around, have fun, get toknow each other.
There could be a buddy you'venever met before, but twins
gives you the opportunity to beable to meet them today, and to
me I think that's marvelous.
But most importantly, um,there's a young guy out there
who's thinking wow, you guyshave done amazing, from k and
(03:54):
usd all the way to here.
Yeah, you've done fantastic.
Where do they start?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
well, it started, um, right, when we were done with
senior high school in Kumasi, wewent to KNUST Senior High
School.
So we are the products of KNUST.
If you talk about somebody whohas been in KNUST, that is us.
We went to the daycare, theprimary school, the nursery, the
(04:20):
junior high school, the seniorhigh school and the university.
So we lived all that.
We were raised in Kumase and itall started when, you know, my
dad was a driver right for CSRor Forestry Research in the city
of Ghana.
He was the Kumase branch.
He was a driver and any time hehad the opportunity he used to
(04:43):
travel a lot going around I meangathering seedlings and picking
up people from the airport andtaking people all around Ghana
and all that.
And any time my dad had theopportunity he would take me and
my brother on his trips.
So we've been in Kumasi Firsttime.
I remember first time we sawthe sea.
We've been in Kumasi first time.
I remember first time we sawthe sea.
(05:04):
There's a thing that they sayKumasi.
People have never seen the sea,but first time we saw the sea
it was so marvelous.
So I think, coming to think ofhow I didn't know this was maybe
the vision or something.
But then it opened our eyes.
People were this case fromKumasi my dad would have the
(05:25):
opportunity to come to Accra.
Know this was maybe the visionor something.
But then it opened our eyes.
People were, um, these kidsfrom kumar say, my dad will have
the opportunity to come to acry.
He would take us along andanytime we are driving he'll be
showing us places.
He'll be saying, oh, this isthis place, this is that place.
So it opened up our foresightand we started thinking
differently.
You know we started seeingdifferently.
(05:47):
You know we started seeingGhana or the world, you know,
even when we were kids andthrough that it made us dream
even bigger.
So when we were done with seniorhigh school, my big sister was
working in Temma at the LandsCommission in Temma, Community 4
.
So you know, when you graduatefrom senior high school, you
have some time before you go touni.
So we went to stay with her andthat was our first time ever in
(06:09):
Tema.
So we stayed there and we knewthat we had passion for music.
So in Tema, one of my bestsisters knew a guy who owns a
studio in Saituan Maputo and wetold them we wanted to record
our music.
(06:30):
And my bassist told his friendand we went to the studio and we
met one producer and werecorded our first demo even
though we didn't know what wewere doing.
Producer, and we recorded ourfirst demo even though we didn't
know what we were doing andwhen.
When that studio that's wherewe met the likes of Sarkozy,
(06:51):
D-Crime, Yao Pono, Yao Siki.
It was a studio that, um, everyyou know, the current biggest
artists in Ghana all used tocome there to record.
I mean, that was the time thatthere was a movement in Tema,
the Tema for Life movement, andT-pop and all that.
That's when all the artistswere coming up.
(07:12):
So we recorded our first song,our first demo, we started
promoting it and that's how thename Twins Don't Break came
about, because we went to seesome producers and to help us
produce us and also, you know,because we wanted to be
real-time artists.
And this producer told us oneof the most useless things that
(07:36):
we've ever heard in our life andthat really broke us.
So that evening we went homeand we're like you know what
we're never going to beg anybodyfor any opportunity, because we
believe so much in ourselvesthat we're going to be great in
future.
And, um, I mean, we are twinsand we know the talent that god
has given to us, so why shouldwe go around begging for people
(07:59):
to help us?
And we're like we're lookingfor a unique name for us as
artists.
That was around 2008.
And we were like we're twinsand why should we beg?
And we carved that name Twins,Don't Beg.
That evening we were sitting inmy sister's kitchen one evening
sitting on the floor.
(08:19):
We were thinking of howcreative we can become and
throughout this same period, weused to go for a lot of movie
auditions.
Anytime we see any poster onthe wall saying audition,
audition, audition you get yourbags and you're going.
We weren't paying to beauditioned.
So me and my brother werechasing.
We had so much passion.
(08:40):
We're going for movierehearsals, acting rehearsals,
auditions, auditions and thatalso exposed us to the movie
industry.
So we met so many producers.
We met so many upcoming actorsthat are currently in the top of
the acting scene.
I remember one time we were on afilm set where Yvonne Nelson
(09:02):
was shooting around Spank Testand that was the first time I
saw Yvonne Nelson was shootingaround Spring Test and that was
the first time I saw YvonneNelson and that was amazing.
And John D'Amelio too was alsoaround.
That was somewhere around 2008.
So imagine how long it's been.
So, around that time we didn'tknow what we were doing.
We just had so much passion andwe just kept on going and going
(09:23):
and going and going and going.
Much passion and we just wejust kept on going and going and
going and going and going, andand um, through that we were.
We didn't know we're evennetworking because we're putting
so much effort in, we'reconnecting with people, we're
going for auditions, we're goinghere, we're still producing our
music.
Then, um, one time my dad didn'treally support our music career
(09:45):
, so we had to put a stop tothat, because he was a Pentacles
Churchill and the kids aredoing cell club music.
So we had to tame it down alittle bit and hide it, but
we're still doing it.
But then it was low-key.
But then, um one time we we westarted getting a lot of you
(10:07):
know um publicity.
And one time we had aninterview on gtv about music.
We performed live on abreakfast show and my dad's boss
saw us and called my dad thathey, I just saw your sons on tv.
And he was like, oh, mychildren also want to do this.
And my dad was like, ah, evenhis boss has called him that he
(10:31):
just saw his sons on tv and he'dwant his sons to also do what
your sons are doing.
And that actually changed hisperception about it.
So he kind of like also calmeddown a bit.
And then, around that period,um, we 2010, we went to KNUSD
(10:51):
and the moment me and my brotherstepped foot on KNUSD campus,
with all that freedom, themoment my dad dropped us on
campus, um, and we, with allthat freedom, were like this is
it?
This was the chance that wewere looking for, we, we I
remember before we even passed,uh wasi to go, we had to rise
(11:14):
north deck.
In that period, every day, meand my brother would wake up and
go to the library aroundcommunity four.
Me and my brother would wake upbecause we knew that if we
failed and we didn't go to theuniversity, we were going to
have a total path in life.
(11:34):
So me and my brother, every day, we'd wake up, go straight to
the library and consistently wedid that and we managed to pass.
I mean, mean, that was one ofthe most difficult thing that we
ever did in our life, becausewe had to forget about all our
friends, anybody that we knew.
We moved from kumase because hewasn't helping us, because we
(11:58):
knew so many people in kumase,so we moved there to tema, to
hide and, and for that period,we were just studying every day,
just any time we woke up, wewent straight to the library, we
closed.
We come back home, they did thesame thing and we wrote the
remedials and we passed and wegot admission to KNUSC.
(12:19):
So the moment we I rememberwhen the results came, we were
in kumase at my dad's housesomewhere in aprade and we
checked our results and we hadgotten admission and that was
one of the most um happiest dayin my life exciting.
Yo, like getting admission intothe university was one of the
(12:41):
most proudest things.
That achievements, I would sayum, we've ever achieved, we ever
achieved and we're so proudbecause we put so much work into
it.
Um, and he made my dad happyand my the family happy and all
that and we, the moment we gotto campus, we knew that this was
(13:03):
a chance that we were lookingfor and we didn't take it for
granted.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, no, that's amazing.
I think when we were speakingearlier, you mentioned that your
networking abilities as a twinstarted from KNUST.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Because of all the friends that you made, the
impact that you made at theuniversity.
Tell me a bit more about that.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Well, so first time we got to Ken University Unity
Hall, kunti, we knew this waswhat we wanted to do and the
moment we got there we involvedourselves in every campus
activity, from politics toentertainment, to fashion, to um
(13:48):
, nightlife, to campus radio.
Um, we, we just dive straightinto it.
Because of our background inmusic and acting and our
connections to the media andentertainment it it was so easy
to blend in.
The first time the hall washaving its whole week activities
(14:09):
.
We were already closer to theentertainment chairman at that
time we were like, oh, we canbring this artist, we can bring
this artist.
Oh, and we had access to all ofthem so we could call them
directly and even broke them avery good deal.
So we could call them directlyand even broke them a very good
deal, you know.
So we also started CampusPolitics.
(14:30):
I remember the current nationalchairman of MP, pinanabu Ache,
was running for SRC presidentand we were part of his team.
So during every day we'd begoing around campaigning and
that also helped us with publicengagement and also getting to
talk to people and engage withpeople and all that.
(14:53):
That thing actually helped uswith networking.
Imagine a campus of about20,000 people and we managed to
visit every hall, door to door,knocking on every room like a
Jehovah Witness, you know,trying to preach the gospel, but
(15:13):
this time around was the gospelof politics.
You know, trying to get in atthe SRC president and it helped
us so much to, you know, engagewith people and once we were
doing all that, it also openedour eyes to strategies on how to
market.
(15:34):
You know, market anything thatyou're doing and all that and
even though Nanabi didn't winthat particular elections, it
actually really helped us.
We're doing something called weused to call it Nasuba.
It was posting posters, sowe'll go out.
We knew every notice board oncampus, from Kean University to
(15:59):
Ayodease to Kote, every night.
We'll be doing that and we'redoing that.
Sometimes you also get paid andmake some money, so we we take
those kind of contracts.
We're testing note and postersof um all weeks, or maybe
parties or so.
(16:20):
We used to do a lot of thosecontracts, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
For me, though, it's the gut, it's the confidence,
it's the I want to do itattitude.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, we didn't have any option.
We had to survive and it wasour passion.
So we were just enjoying, meand my brother.
Even at 3 am, 4 am, 5 am, wewould still be up doing all that
and wake up in the morning andgo for class.
So sometimes people used towonder are you guys really
(16:55):
students?
Are you guys really students,you know?
Are you guys like really,really you know students, that
you could be up all night andstill come to class?
Or maybe you are always allover the whole campus and this
thing that we did got us reallynoticed on campus.
(17:15):
So we're really, really famousum, not just in k university but
in a lot of universities,because we did whatever we're
doing in ucc, um in central, inlagoon, and now we had connected
with other students.
So we're doing events together,like, for example, um, we
premiered one film on campus andmade so much money.
(17:37):
Then I was connected with otherstudents.
We're doing premieres inCentral University, in UCC.
We go and rent halls, rentspeakers, rent projectors.
We go promote the film for likea whole weekend or a whole week
, do the um, the premiere, andsometimes, if you're lucky to
(18:01):
raise some money, we're able toget um, some of the actors to
come for the premiere.
You know so we did so much oncampus and um 2013, we were
awarded the most influentialpeople and students with the
purpose by the vice chancellorand through all the initiatives
that we're doing on campus, andthat was the first award we ever
(18:23):
took in life.
Wow yeah, now you've just showna taste of entrepreneurial
spirit, right yeah frompremiering movies and trying to
get it out parties doing parties, doing src weeks, even helping
other organizers organize theirsrc activities and and and bring
(18:45):
artists to campus.
Um, you know, and um, yeah, Imean we, we, we did a and also
that also exposed us to politics, right, because whatever
happens in national politics hasa direct effect on campus
(19:08):
politics, because that's why yousee a lot of politicians
fighting over which campus,which you know, because in the
university they've got a testcorn and a tin and all the other
political parties having directrepresentatives, you know, on
campus.
So you see politicianssponsoring these SRC elections,
(19:30):
because whichever party has thehighest number of votes there
has a direct effect on nationalpolitics, right, so they don't
joke with campus politics.
So we got, because of whateverwe're doing, we really got
noticed by the national politicsbecause we're doing a lot of
(19:53):
social media, we're doing a lotof marketing, we're doing a lot
of events, we're doing a lot ofsocial media, we're doing a lot
of marketing, we're doing a lotof events, we're doing a lot of
organizations, we're doing a lotof PR.
So we got really noticed and wealso made so many friends in
the national offices and allthat.
(20:14):
So, when we were done with uni,we started photography 2015,.
But then we finished uni by2014.
So that one year period we wereabout to do national service
and we got an opportunity to bepart of a film that was shot in
(20:36):
Ghana, an international filmthat was directed by a British
Ghanaian director and also theproducer was from Spain, and it
had actors like Jimmy Jean-LouisOris Herrero from Adventures of
Sinbad, and we were on film.
We were on the set for almosttwo months and that is where we
learned photography andcinematography, because we were
(20:57):
on film.
We were on the set for almosttwo months and that is where we
learned photography andcinematography, because we were
the assistants.
I was the assistant to theproducer, my brother was
assistant to the director of thefilm, and that was also one of
the most memorable moments inour journey as twins on Berg.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, that's amazing.
Um, I'll cut you there, though,because you know I wanted to
touch a bit on the partnershipbetween you and your brother.
Yeah, now I know any form ofpartnership.
It's not easy, yeah Right, eveneven blood twins.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It's just not easy.
How are you guys able tonavigate your, the ideology?
You have what he has, blendingit together to form what you
guys have today?
Speaker 1 (21:46):
well, I think we're so lucky we're twins um, but I
know some twins don't even clicklike that oh yeah, but probably
maybe the way our parentsraised us um with me and my
brother always been together.
Even when we were kids.
We used to shower together, um,sleep in the same bed, do the
(22:08):
same thing.
We still wear the same clothes.
We don't even have any.
He doesn't have his own clothesand I also have my.
We have the wear the sameclothes, the same shoes,
everything.
So we've been like this sincewe were children and our
(22:29):
partnership should telleverybody that partnership
actually really works in anyfield.
The power of two One thing thatsomebody can do solo in two
hours, you can do that in fiveminutes because of the power of
two.
So the concept of Twin ZoneBerg should show you the power
(22:51):
of collaboration and alsopartnership.
So we've never taken that forgranted.
We're able to do things thatnobody can do because we are two
and our minds come together asone and we are operating as a
single body.
We know each other's strengthand weakness and we complement
that and we are able to doeverything that we're doing
(23:14):
because we understand wherewe're going and nothing can
actually change that course andthat is what we're going to keep
on doing all the time.
So partnership is veryimportant in any business and
all that.
So whenever I meet any youngpeople who are starting anything
, I always tell them somethingfind somebody that has similar
(23:38):
mindset and partner with them,because you can't do it alone.
Nobody can do anything alone,you know.
Even that's why most successfulmen you know have the best
wives.
That always compliments them,because God even approves of
partnership.
You know, even in marriage itshows that if you marry a good
(24:00):
woman, you're definitely goingto have a successful life.
If you marry a bad woman, yourlife is fucked up, yeah, yeah,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, the opposite is also true, right?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I mean it's amazing, because sometimes we look at you
guys and from the story you'resaying, it looks like you guys
are definitely, you'redefinitely using one mind.
Yeah, right.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
The sync, yeah, the sync even.
Sometimes it amazes me, becausewhat I'm thinking is exactly
what my brother is thinking.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
But that shouldn't be .
That really shouldn't be,because you're different people,
right?
So I can only imagine thatthere will be times within your
so partnership that there willbe different.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, I mean we sometimes have, you know,
different, you know mindsets,don't get me wrong, um, but um,
I think this is also as a resultof we being in the same
environment all the time, soit's directly shipings the way
we we think, and it makes usunit, be able to think alive.
(25:02):
Imagine when you have, when we,let's say, twins who are
separated, and when you know atbirth when they come together
they have different mindsets butwe are.
We find ourselves in a scene,please, you see me you remember
the story of P square yeah right, they were doing amazing in the
alphabet yeahit wins, yeah, but then you know
(25:27):
these two got separated exactlyand they couldn't stand it.
Buddy, how to come?
So you guys have done fantastic, I mean whatever it is that
you've done to keep that workingup to date.
I think it's our mother'sprayers, I think it's been
amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I mean, sometimes you know you meet people right On a
business level, yeah.
However, you know you don'tlike their social lifestyle.
Where do you place yourself asan individual when you find
yourself in that situation?
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Well, so this is what we do.
We just didn't end up workingwith everybody or connecting
with everybody in a period ofone day or one month, but for
some it took about five, 10years before we got on that kind
(26:18):
of level.
So whenever you meet somebody,let's say you met somebody, a
business person or maybe anexecutive or somebody that you
would want to network with, andyou met that person today and
you guys have exchanged contactsand details, that doesn't mean
anything is going to happen thatperiod.
(26:39):
It would take time and we likethings to happen naturally.
So exchange emails, just have aconversation, just talk.
Just keep it like that we're.
And with now, with social media,people are able to follow
whatever you do, even from adistance, without even having
conversations.
So just keep it that way.
(27:00):
You meet them at one event?
Hi hi, how you doing?
Oh, then, just keep it natural.
Don't force yourself on people.
Just keep it natural.
Keep on doing whatever you'redoing.
Just keep on moving.
Keep on doing it.
It's when you let always letthings you know work out
(27:20):
naturally.
Keep on doing whatever you'redoing.
Just keep on moving.
Keep on doing it when you let.
Always let things work outnaturally.
That's the best.
So don't try to force yourselfon people.
Never try to push your ideas orideologies or agendas on people
.
Let everything just follownaturally.
And when you do that, they evenreach out.
And when you do that, they evenreach out Because for me, when
you follow me, anything I poston my social media is just about
(27:42):
what I do and my dreams and mestriving and working hard to
achieve it, so you wouldn't see.
That's why I always tell peoplebe careful what you put out,
because for me I know the kindof people that have my contacts
are from regular people to veryhigh profile people, so I'm
actually really particular aboutanything I put out.
(28:03):
So be careful what you put outevery day, because it might just
now shape in how somebody seesyou.
So for me, I always keepeverything natural.
Let any relationship happen,like for us.
We've met a long time.
We met a long time ago, a longtime ago Through Besakede and
(28:26):
all other people, but we'venever done anything.
No, we've never touched base,we've never connected, we've
never done anything.
But everything has happenednaturally.
And now we're here, we're on apodcast.
Who knows what we're going todo next.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Now let's talk about that photography time, your move
into photography.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah, so 2015,.
We got our first camera and weactually didn't have enough
money to buy that camera becauseafter working on that film set,
I think we made 500 CDs.
I was paid 250 CDs or 500 CDsfrom all that time that we spent
(29:10):
on the film set and the camerawas about, I think, 200 pounds
or so.
The producer's brother wasselling the camera and that
Hollywood actor, horace Herrero.
We served him so much on thefilm set, like morning to
(29:30):
evening dawn.
Anytime he needed us, we'rethere, we were his personal
assistants.
We were getting him coffee, teaanytime, helping him with his
crepes, his costume, anything heneeded was there.
So, after the film set and wetold him about the camera that
(29:51):
we wanted to buy, and he waslike you know what?
I'm going to buy this camerafor you guys.
And that was how we came.
We got our first camera, sothat Ori Cerero bought our first
camera for us 2014, there about, and we started the journey of
photography somewhere, um, rightafter uni, almost from 2014 to
(30:14):
2015 there's a cue here.
That camera came out of serviceservice I, I believe in service
so much that you can never goanywhere without serving and
through service it's open somuch for you that you can't even
(30:35):
imagine.
I mean, every opportunity thatwe have right now is through
serving, like, for example, weserve people so much without
expecting anything in return andwe, we, we, you sometimes get
taken advantage of.
All the time we've been, we'vebeen in positions where we've
(30:57):
served so many people that wenever got anything and that was
fine because it, it served as alesson for us and we got so much
experience and so much exposurethrough service because, um,
imagine, we, we, we, we, we'veknown um besakede for a long
time and he's been a brother,but we save him, we, we, we do
(31:21):
so much um, sometimes I go toBesai and be telling him all the
ideas.
How we can, you know what we cando to.
You know, keep his brand goingand and promoting his music and
all we've been doing with Besai7.
And that has opened so manydoors for us, you know, and not
(31:43):
just him, but so many peoplethat we, we always see potential
and and not just him, but somany people that we, we always
see potential and and we just sosometimes when I see potential
in anybody, I just go to themand I'll just offer my services
for free, and that opens so muchdoor for us, it teaches us so
much and that is one way, or theeasiest way, to get to the top.
(32:03):
What?
Speaker 2 (32:04):
person must you become to be able to allow
yourself to, you know, connectwithin the team.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Well, I would say you must first find yourself right,
first know who you are and whatyou want to be, and try to work
hard to be the best version ofyourself.
And once you do that, I mean,it would put you in a position
(32:35):
where people will see that youwake up one day.
You wake up every day, tryingto be the best version of
yourself, and it also helppeople to connect with you, um,
directly or indirectly.
So you, you just have to wakeup every day and and decide that
I'm going out, I'm puttingmyself out there, I'm, I'm a
(32:58):
dreamer and I want to achievesomething I think you, you guys,
really have a greatunderstanding of business.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Um is really attached to what you're doing, yeah, but
then it leads on to my nextquestion, which is you know, we
see many creatives right in ourspace.
They have the fame, they havethe celebrity status, but then
it usually doesn't translateinto their financial yeah.
Now, what's your take on that?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Well, I think they are basically keeping it to
themselves.
They are being a bit selfishbecause they want to um chop
everything you know and for us,when you you see us, it's not
just me and my brother, it's alot of people open our doors to
(33:45):
so many people, from k?
Um to all the guys that we workwith and all the ladies that we
work with, and all that it's tobe successful.
This it's it's not just youalone.
I mean, if you take all thebrands, from louis vuitton to um
gucciior and all the other bigglobal brands, it has a whole
(34:10):
global team.
And to not just remain in yoursmall corner, you need to open
up yourself.
You need to allow so manypeople to come in your space and
contribute to whatever dreamyou have started.
So, if you check our brand andalso what we do, it had never
(34:33):
been us from the beginning.
We have so many young peoplearound us, so many older people
that we also look up to forwisdom and we always collaborate
with everybody that we we areto all those that um are doing
amazing with whatever they'redoing, but they're not really
(34:55):
moving on.
They are just very uptight andthey just want to keep, maybe to
a close circle.
I think that is a problem, butthe only solution for them is
just opening up and allowing newpeople to join them, expand
(35:15):
their vision, and sometimes youmight think you're always right,
but one little idea from oneyoung person can put you into
the next direction.
That's true.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Yeah, that's true.
You into the next direction,that's true.
Yeah, that's true, I take thatadvice.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
You know, there are those you look up to and there
are those that look up to youand there are those you need to
go to pick, to pick From.
Yeah, amazing.
I'm going to lead on to ourquestions that we usually ask on
Connected Minds, and one of thefirst is a question from our
previous guest, and the questionis what's the one thing you
would change about your life ifyou had the chance to?
Speaker 1 (35:52):
That's an interesting question.
One thing I would change aboutmy life If you had the chance to
Work harder.
Working so damn hard right now alittle bit harder yeah, a
little bit more harder, becauseI knew even the later that we do
(36:13):
see what we've been able toachieve.
So I saw one beautiful quotewhat would you do if you knew
you couldn't fail?
You know how hard would youwork if you knew you couldn't
fail.
So let's say if you knew youcouldn't fail, you know how hard
would you work if you knew youcouldn't fail.
So let's say if you saw yourfuture five years from now and
(36:33):
you knew you're going to besuccessful and it will
definitely happen, and you now,how hard would you work if you
know you wouldn't fail?
Speaker 2 (36:44):
I think for me, I would want to know the extent of
success.
The extent Like what?
Do you know what I mean?
Because I have a picture in mymind.
So if I, I would want to knowthe extent of the success I'm
seeing in that picture.
Yeah, if it's at the highestlevel I can ever imagine, I'll
probably keep to the pace I'mgoing.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Or you can still put in a lot more.
Even I feel we could have donemore.
I feel now I feel maybe wedon't even work as hard as we
used to work back then, Maybebecause now we have a bigger
team and now we've dedicated,you know, resources and
(37:31):
everything to young other peopleto also help them grow and all
that.
But then I know we can even dobetter than we're doing and that
.
So, to answer your question, Iwould really work harder Wow.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
That's great.
My next question today ismotivation or discipline
discipline okay, the, the, the.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
I mean what?
What is motivation without?
And what is motivation withoutdiscipline?
Discipline is waking up at 5 amwhen you slept at 3 am.
Right there, there's, there'sno motivation.
(38:18):
I'll help you be thatdisciplined.
You know like, for example, um,you, you, you, you, you've been
, you you've been on a tour with, with one artist or one brand
and one artist, for example, andyou went to, you went um the
(38:41):
whole day and the artistsperform till like 3 am and you
have another interview at 6 amand you get to your hotel and
you edit till 4 am Because thecontent needs to come out.
It's the discipline.
You need to be so disciplinedthat, to the extent that I mean,
(39:04):
I know I'm so disciplined thatevery day I have to do something
that will contribute to thegrowth of my brand.
So there's no day that I wakeup today and say I'm not doing
anything.
Every day I'm doing something,continue to introduce myself to
five people or do something aslittle as anything that can
(39:28):
contribute to the growth of mybrand, and all that.
So a day doesn't go without menot doing something.
We all have 24 hours, but howyou use the 24 hours is so
important.
You get me.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
What's the best advice you ever received?
Never beg Twins don't beg Rightand I'll take a question for my
next guest.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Would you change your brand name if you believe so
much in it?
Wow.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
That's a solid question.
Yeah, yeah, would you changeyour brand name if you believe
so much in it?
Wow, that's, that's that's asolid question.
Yeah, yeah, would you changeyour brand name if you believe
so much in it?
Yeah, because I guess the pointreally is that you did, you
guys didn't change it.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Yeah, and it's worked phenomenally when everybody
around you is telling you thatname is so rude, it's so um
disrespectful.
I mean, would you change yourbrand name if you believe so
much?
Speaker 2 (40:30):
wow, that's solid, and if you listen to this
conversation all the way throughto the end, I guarantee you
you've learned something.
This is connected minds, and myname is Derek Abayte, the
pharmacist and the podcast host.
Stay connected.
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