The road to Entrepreneurship can be hard and lonesome, we had a talk with one of our directors and here is what she had to say:
I have been taught how to put up a front. How to act right, say the right thing, even when
the emotions and logic are worlds apart.
‘Show no fear, do not let them see the brokenness, that’s weakness. And ain’t nabady gat time for dat’.
‘Keep it all in!’
‘Keep calm!’
‘Say you are fine.’ ( Even if you just got ran over by a truck.)
‘You smile! Say you are fine!’
This is all good, a tough skin is what you get to wear and your heart tucked in the long sleeved pullover. Here’s the problem though,when it comes to business ‘I am okay’ may be the one answer that deprives you from growing or expanding.
Before you pull out the Business 404 handbook, chapter 58 where it advocates for surplus mentality, hear me out. I have come to learn that it OK not to be okay (I know cliché). It’s when you wear your business on your sleeve that you can get genuine feedback. You can create authentic relationships with peers in the business space.
I simply cannot emphasize enough the need to invest in people. Being very intentional about creating business relations that go beyond the ‘Business is good’.
In a business group I once was we were taught to be farmers instead of hunters.
See a farmer is patient! Intentional! Consistent! Resilient!
He/she might have to wait for over six months or even years before he/she harvests but each day, he/she wakes up,goes to the farm and tends to his crop. He tills the land in preparation to planting. After plating he continues tending to the land to ensure that plants are growing as they should continually weeding out the weeds till when it is time to harvest.
He has his tools which he/she sees to it that they are well kept.sharpening those which need sharpening and cleaning those than need to be cleaned. The store house where he keeps his produce as he awaits the consumer is well taken care of even before the harvest is near. The farm too is given some TLC to keep it healthy and productive. A farmer is meticulous in his trade as we should when running a business.
Investing in people is one investment one cannot go wrong.
Hunters are good. They might be vicious /strong willed /go-getters/ but think about it. If you apply his/her skill in your business won’t you be constantly thinking of where you will get your next meal (client). Won’t your focus always be on the here and now? Won’t you be shoving your business cards down every living spices known to man? Won’t you be tired / weary?
As is human nature, you’d grow weary of the chasing after clients, then what are you left with? This is why building a brand ensures longevity. Long after you are gone, your brand will still have life. Growing your brand sounds like a lot of work and effort, but it is all worth it in the end. Ask Safaricom or Equity.
TrioG Communication 