If you want to attract investors, start with your own character and personal financial habits. When I started Pamtech Oil and Gas, I knew I needed something bigger than just a good idea to attract real investment.

I needed people to believe in me, not just in my business, but in ME. So instead of chasing big-name investors, I turned to the people who already knew me and these were my friends, my family, my community. I had a group of close friends that I called my Powerbase. These were people I respected, who knew me well and saw me live out my beliefs every day. 

With them, I shared everything, the wins, the late nights, the challenges and the lessons. I didn’t just tell them what I wanted to achieve; I let them hold me accountable for my actions and my finances. I wasn’t just talking; I was proving my values daily, showing the RACTER in my character: Responsibility, Accountability, Creativity, Tenacity, Excellence, and Respect. My life became a living report card.

You know, this was my character receipt. I wanted them to see, not just hear, that I was the kind of person they could invest in. So, when an interesting business opportunity came up in Pamtech Oil and Gas, I didn’t go to my powerbase begging for money.

Instead, I presented an opportunity, i.e an investment that would grow their funds. I offered my friend a chance to invest in the vision, no hard sell, no desperation and he took that bold step with me, investing 10 million naira in 2017. But his investment didn’t stop at money, he invested his time, energy, and paid close attention to everything we were doing at Pamtech..

And I made sure his trust was respected. Every interest payment was made on time, proving that we valued not just his money but his faith in us.

Now the result? The next year, he doubled his investment. And that became another character receipt, a record that friends and family could look at and say, "This is someone who keeps his word.” Few other friends on my powerbase saw our credibility and joined in, investing in Pamtech. And despite the challenges of COVID and Nigeria’s economic ups and downs, we have never defaulted in fulfilling our promises. We have kept our commitments because we were not just protecting their money;  we were protecting the reputation that made them believe in us. Now here is my advice to anyone wanting to attract real investment: start with your own report card. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, “If I had the money, would I invest in myself? Please be sincere. 

Your character is the first receipt any potential investor sees. Can they see Confidence? Humility? Agape? Responsibility? Accountability? Tenacity? Respect? Can these character boxes be checked? Don’t just talk about these values, live them. Let people see your discipline in handling your own finances, your dedication to the work, and your commitment to those who believe in you.

When people see you honoring these values, they are far more likely to invest in your vision, not just with money but with time, energy, and attention. You know what? Money isn’t the only currency your business needs to spend. Time, energy, and attention are priceless unconventional currencies that are spent too, and they are the foundation of a strong, sustainable business. Like I said in my earlier post, investors are not just people in suits with big cheque books, most times they are the people closest to you, I mean those who know your story and see your potential up close.

Give them something to believe in. Build that “character receipt,” and the support you need will follow. When people believe in you, they will be more than willing to invest in your dream. Let me know if you want me to be sharing such stories by your engagement and shares. I am the Billionaire Mechanic, I believe that your character is your long term investment and your greatest asset. Nurture it, and the right support will follow.