Quote-of-the-day

Successful people make money. It's not that people who make money become successful, but that successful people attract money. They bring success to what they do.

One-on-One with Ousman Touray, The CEO of everything!!!!!!!!

Ousman CEO Touray the Civil Engineer, entrepreneur, music promoter and deejay

Ousman Touray also know as CEO is a young Gambian based in England and also very active in the entertainment industry.Lets find out who the real Ousman is......
Lillian: I want you to tell me a little bit about yourself, who is Ousman Touray??
Ousman Touray:  Ousman Touray is a civil engineer/project manager/entrepreneur/event planner/music promoter/youth worker/deejay (i'll stop here lol)

As you can see i do a lot of different things. I guess i like being busy and productive.
Being born in the UK and then moving to The Gambia when I was 10 has given me a taste of both lifestyles and cultures and I get to understand the actions and believes of people even more. Breaking into the barriers of Africa learning local languages and religion has made me tolerant and versatile. A variety of cultures is something that I see as an essential part of everyday life. I am a very social person who likes to communicate with different people. Learning new languages is one of my main interests. I am convinced that I fit into any working environment and society because of my broad background.
I'm based in London - my favorite city persuing a career in the construction industry and building up my business ideas/plans.
The Gambia is always on my mind and i would love to do a lot there. A LOT
Lillian: A lot of  people  call you CEO, where did that name cam from, is it because you are into everything??
Ousman Touray :  Hmmm i knew that question would come. That's partly my fault. When i started using facebook my facebook name was Ousman Touray and then i changed it to Ous Touray, but there came a time when i realised that it was hard for people to find me on Facebook because there are thousands of Ousman Tourays and Ous Tourays on facebook. So i thought it would be wise to make myself stand out. Considering the fact that i was planning to get into entertainment, business and promotion, the three letters C E & O came to mind and i put them between the Ous Touray = Ous Ceo Touray.
A CEO Sets strategies and visions. A CEO ultimately sets the direction for a company/establishment, sets budgets, forms partnerships, and hires a team to steer the business accordingly. That's exactly my target and that's what i am working on.
Most of the people i met along the way, knew me when i was in this stage of my life so the CEO just sticked. And my plan worked cos it made me stand out.

Lillian:  You said you are an engineer and if i can clearly remember you had your masters last year but you are so much involved in the entertainment industry why??

Ousman Touray:  Its because i have a passion for business & entertainment. People have their careers/jobs/professions and they have hobbies/passions.

I guess my passions and hobbies turned out to be work related too.
One of my main goals is to become a successful Engineer in the construction industry and i am working towards it. Parallel to that, I'll be that entertainer and entrepreneur It doesn't really take much of you time if you know what you are doing and you are good at multitasking/juggling.
Lillian: Hence you are in the entertainment industry, what can you say about Gambian music?? Has it improved and what do you think needs to be done??
Ousman Touray: Oh yes it have improved. There have been a lot of developments in all aspects of the music industry . From producing to video making to the quality of music to event turnouts etc etc.
However there is a lot of room for improvement. Record sales, royalties for musicians, copyright laws, more support from the Gambians abroad etc.
At least i can say we are moving forward and not backwards or standing still so its all good.
Lillian:  So CEO tell me do you believe in marriage??
Ousman Touray: Yes i do. I think its very important, not only because religion asks us to do it.

Marriage provides some sort of security (especially for women), having someone who loves and chooses to support you in every way. Marriage gives you someone to love/who loves you unconditionally until death parts you. A companion that you can grow old with and share stories/good experiences/bad experiences with. Marriage helps you to be tolerant, unselfish and caring. Marriage helps you to be disciplined in your finances, time and your sexual libido is reserved for one person and one person alone. You don't have to worry about the dating game any more. You have someone to share life's challenges, rewards and sorrows with, a person who actually knows what you are going through and feels the same way too.
YES i believe in marriage.
Lillian:  What are the qualities you look for in a woman? What makes you take a second look at a lady?
Ousman Touray :  I could see a nice/pretty beautiful lady and in my mind i'd say "wow she looks fine". But a woman's personality matters more to me. So that fine chick would attract me if she turns out to be someone with a great personality. A lady, focused, cool, understanding, confident in herself, humble, simple (this one is very important) and understands me. The looks and everything else would be a bonus. Nobody is perfect, but i guess we adjust to be close to perfect.
Lillian:  Any lucky lady in your life?
Ousman Touray:  Nope
Lillian:  So are you saying CEO is single?? Is it a choice or you just can't find the right one??
Ousman Touray:  Yes i am single. Maybe I 'have been too busy working so its partly my choice.
Lillian: Do you have a role model??
Ousman Touray:  I look up to a lot of people. Each of them have a special quality or did something that moved me. Nobody is perfect so i dont expect them to be saints. I just deal with the good side.
My mum, Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, Will Smith, to name a few.
Lillian:  Did you say Will Smith? why him??
Ousman Touray:  I just like him. His roles in movies, his sense of humor and the way he handles his business, marriage etc.
Lillian:  Will is a private man so I'm guessing you like him because he knows how to handle both his career and personal life??
Ousman Touray:  Exactly..... Similar to how Jay-z handles his business and private life too.
Lillian: Has the idea of moving back home in the near future ever crossed your mind? 
Ousman Touray:  Oh yes it has. That's why i try and stay linked to home as much as i can. So that i can slowly blend back into the system.
Lillian:  smart way of doing it lol....you know a lot of young people look up to you as a role model, what do you have to say to those kids?
Ousman Touray:  Lets keep working hard. I think one major problem we have is worrying too much about what people think instead of focusing on what we are doing. If you believe in something and you have the blessings of your loved ones and people you seek advise from, go for it and don't worry about what other people have to say. Those who care about you will always give you the best guidance and advice you need.
I believe that its always good to have critics because they help us develop and adjust for the better. In reverse , its always good to criticise constructively. If you see a fault, tell the person about the fault and how he/she could fix that fault. So its our collective responsibility to help each other grow.
Accept advice and give it out in a decent manner. That's how we support each other.
Lillian:  Is there anything you will change if you were given a second chance?
Ousman Touray:  I am not perfect and I'm bound to make mistakes. We all are. I once took a problem into my own hands without opening up to someone who would have been there to tackle it with me. At that time i thought it was the best thing to do but i was wrong. hat wont happen again.
Lillian:  What do you have to say about young people who travel and get mixed up in selling drugs?
Ousman Touray: I am very open minded and this is what i think about that. We all come from different backgrounds and not all of us are fortunate enough to have it all laid on the table for us (free education, a start up package for a business venture etc etc). So if one travels abroad , leaving a family behind that depend on him/her, with no one to help them go to school or get a job, i guess the only thing they could do at that point in time would be to sell drugs. However, most of them tend to get carried away with all the money that comes to them. They forget about the family they left behind and that's an issue. The wise one would get in, sort out all their problems and then dive out n live a normal life. Make good use of the money and establish legal businesses. That's how i see it.
Lillian:  Well Mr Touray is was nice talking to you, any last words, message or advice for the youths?
Ousman Touray:  Its been a pleasure. My last words are, United we stand, divided we fall. Lets be the change we want to see in this world.

Female Rivarly, is it worth it???

The beauty of Sisterhood

In all honesty, every woman knows that there will always be another woman who is prettier, sexier, more intelligent, more successful and basically has what you perceive to be a better life than yours. Will tearing them down make them less pretty, less sexy, less intelligent or less successful? Absolutely not. Will tearing them down change things for you?? It could give you the false confidence boost that momentarily masks your insecurities, however in the long run you'll just end up ignoring a nasty deteriorating disease. I learnt that many insecurities i had, needed to be worked on and put an end to by me, anything else was only a temporary distraction.
I am not suggesting that all of us should like each other but we can be a bit more respectful to each other. Being a woman in a man's world is already tough, but being turn apart by someone that's probably facing the same challenges you are can harsh situation even more.
So ladies next time you see another woman and your hackles begin  to rise slightly because you perceive her as a threat or she intimidates you, take a moment out give her props and know that you are wonderful and uniquely you. Something that only you can be. If you can't complement someone then don't say inappropriate things just save yourself the stress and don't say nothing at all. We are sisters so we should be have each others backs, it's call Sisterhood
Advice - Don't tear someone down just because you know they are what you aspire to be.