SIXTHSENSE INTERIOR BOSS, TEMITOPE OLAGBEGI Reflects On Life @ 40

Tope Olagbegi is a popular Lagos interior designer behind the big brand called Sixth Sense. She is also a Jewellery wholesaler, a motivational Speaker. She turned 40 a few days back and City People Publisher SEYE KEHINDE  spoke to her last week on her new age. Below are excerpts of the interview.

As you turn 40 what sort of thoughts are you thinking about?

It is said that a fool at 40 is a fool forever. I did not want to be a fool, and as such my thoughts and focus changed from being “me” centred. My journey to 40 has taken me to dark places as I had to confront issues I had somehow run away from in the past.

As I approached 40 , I knew I had to face them, it was whether I had the capacity to confront them and then defeat them . As I have geared up to 40 , my saving grace is the realisation that for lasting change to happen , it takes effect from our thoughts and it is that daily renewal of ones mind that triggers the change .

I know you have been counting down to your birthday. Why?On the first of January 2019, my husband Dipo gives me a 40th birthday card and a gift . For 1 split second I was scared he forgot my birth date then he said , he was giving me a card and gift daily for the next 40 days to mark each year. I was so touched by the depth of thoughtfulness , I decided that I would celebrate my birthday by giving back which was by telling my story.

I have had an evenftful 40 years and I knew my story could relate to peoples’ struggles and that’s how I have begun to tell the story each day, I used my social media platform to reach the discouraged, disillusioned as well as share on the ups and downs of my business, the level of investments it takes to raise a family and how to see God whatever comes our way.

What does turning 40 mean to you?

Turning 40 for me has signified giving up my will entirely . It is a satisfying feeling to get to a place where one feels secure enough to allow God to lead .

Turning 40 marks the entering into my rest . A season of entering and owning my own and playing by the rules only I have set. Over the years I believe I have paid my dues .The dues of experiencing growing pains , playing by rules we all thought had been preset for us .

So 40 for me marks LIBERATION ! I see Temitope as a vibrant and energetic lady who is full of life. Is that a correct reading of who you are ?Hmmm, energetic, yes ! I am choleric by nature so I am deeply passionate and driven when I believe in a goal and would pursue it energetically. So a lot of people think I am an extrovert as a result of the things I engage in however ,I am more introverted than people know.

I am not drawn to social engagements. My personal preference is spending time with myself or a closed group of people.

Do you feel fulfilled? Any regrets?

Regrets ? not one and I say this because there is nothing about my life I would not do again if asked to. Every mistake I ever made and every lesson learnt are the things that have brought me to where I am today.So No regrets! Do I feel fulfilled . Some days yes , other days not so sure.

Do I feel blessed, however? I will say Absolutely! I feel very undeserving of where I am and can only attribute this to experiencing the love and mercies of a living God . 

How did you build your brand to become what it is today?

My brand is authentic and I suppose that has been a contributing factor to how the brand has evolved through the years .I see that globally the brands that have enjoyed longevity in every sector , have stayed authentic to their core.

Sixth Sense an interior design brand has never lost its core. It has continuously embodied the spirit of beauty and dynamism with which it started with.

I know you have diversified your business tell us about it.

This makes me smile and is one of the reasons my turning 40 has me feeling good. As a young girl, I wanted to be everything a Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Engineer, you name it.

So long as it was honorable I wanted to be it. I wondered at my young age, why people needed to choose. I started a business at age 16, and had done all manner of businesses and the more I did, the more I wanted to do. The core of me, is being an entrepreneur and so the expressions of these is what most term as diversification .

I say the different parts of me are finally finding expression. When I am sad, happy, thoughtful, angry, I would decorate instinctively. I do not realise when I am doing this , but I would start to move my furniture around etc .. it’s my Sixth Sense! I love jewelry and would design pieces in my head now I import and wholesale my pieces nationwide.

I write , always wanting to put my thoughts to paper , and as such the name writer / author is being conferred on me. I love to teach, showing people better ways of getting things done now, some call me motivator, mentor. All I know, is that all these parts of me always existed they are simply now finding expression .