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In continuation of my earlier post “So you want to be an entrepreneur“? Here’s the concluding section.Enjoy
The Entrepreneur
4. Keep Educating Yourself
Plato is popularly known for his saying that “Education is the best provision for old age. To know more, read more, and to read more and know more depends on how well you develop your interests in wanting to know more about your chosen line of business. The most powerful word in the English language is “Why.” There is nothing so powerful as an open, inquiring mind. Whatever field you choose for starting a business – be a lifelong student. The world is full of people who have stopped learning and who think they’ve got it all figured out. You’ve no doubt met some of them already – and you’ll meet plenty more. Their favorite word is “No.” They will give you a million reasons why something can’t be done or shouldn’t be done. Don’t listen to them, don’t be deterred by them, and don’t become one of them. if you want to fulfill your potential to the fullest, – and not if you want to change the world for the better than the way you met it. Educate yourself, attend seminars, get a paid tutor is need be, attend trainings, get an additional skill. Knowledge creates more avenues for wealth to be created.
5. Start Out Small
The Bible has this to say about small beginnings, Despise ye not, the days of little beginnings. In reading about some of the world’s biggest and most successful brands, One thing that almost serves as a common denominator is the simple and honest beginnings of each enterprise, Bill Gates Microsoft, Steve Jobs Apple, Tuface Idibia, GT Bank, Linda Ikeji, all started out small. The first step is to recognize a source of income, locate your target market and build upon it. The current aide of having a table, a sit and computer and an air conditioned office has left many who started out on the entrepreneurship journey stranded.
Starting out small doesn’t always have to be in a ram shack, location, it means being able to tailor your expenses in line your profit.
6. Give back.
You are ultimately responsible for your success and failure, but you only succeed if you share the reward with others. At the end of the day, ask yourself: “Am I making a difference in the lives of others?”Remember? This was one of the motivating factors why you started out. They come with the same spirit. You don’t have to be wealthy to give back. You can give back by getting involved and giving your time and talents. You just have to be committed to opening doors for others.
7. Attend To Numbers
If there’s something most consultants won’t lay emphasis on, it’s the issue of numbers! As an entrepreneur, paying attention to numbers is the first step towards making the right direction. You have to be street smart, leaving your comfort zone, your little office, get into the streets, develop a questionnaire, if you can’ t, get a professional in market analysis to help you design one, know the facts, know the numbers, statistics is the lifeline of every business. That’s why foreign brands would want to risk investing in Nigeria why? Because we have the ready population of say 200 Million people!
So? As an entrepreneur, here’s what should motivate you:
The urge/desire to change things for the better, taking risks and pursuing seemingly impossible ideas,
