This is my love letter to our entrepreneurial Africa:
Hey you, yes you, fine young man with great prospects and ideas, ENTREPRENEUR, right?
Its you I want to discuss today. We are all aware that today’s Africa has transcend the rush for white colour job, everyone wants to be his or her own boss, cool right? yes, that’s the vibe, the rhythm of our entrepreneurial Africa.
To every Entrepreneurial African, in the making; a few words of wisdom from some successful African entrepreneurs will sure help to spur your business higher. So we go:
To “Mr How do I begin this journey?” Here is what Nkemdilim Begho B, Future software Resource Limited, Nigeria, has to tell you:
“Be prepared to sacrifice, and work harder than you ever thought possible. Be prepared to work around the clock, to be laughed at, called a dreamer and told several times that your ideas will not work.”
So Bro, GET PREPARED! that’s how we roll – Our entrepreneurial Africa.
Ken Njoroge, CEO Cellulant, Kenya puts his this way:
“If I worried about everything that could go wrong, I would never have started. Sometimes, you just need to take a leap of faith.”
On this note, we say NO to procrastination and “maybe its not my line”, its time for action my beautiful Africans, Action according to Charles Igwe, Nollywood Global Media Group, Nigeria, is key:
“Getting things done is better than having things perfect, Done is better than perfect, whatever you have in your hands, get doing it, just do it! Do I need to whisper or scream it? JUST DO IT!”
And the how question comes to mind, don’t worry dear, I got you covered on that, sorry not me, but African Richest man himself, Aliko Dangote has something for you:
“To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme” so dear, START SMALL.
Juliana Rotich, CEO Ushahidi, Kenya, has a question guide that will help you too:
“I’m guided each day by these three questions; ‘What are you fixing?’ ‘What are you making?’ ‘Who are you helping?’ ” answering these will help in your clarity of purpose.”
I smell a little hesitation, its fine, Chris Kirubu, Centum Investment, Kenya, concludes thus:
“Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that lead to failure. Every great success has always been achieved by fight. Every winner has scars. The men who succeed are the efficient few- They are the few who have the ambition and willpower to develop themselves. So choose to be among the few today!”.
According to Alex Fourie CEO Ifix, South Africa:
“Focus on making your product and service awesome, I see a lot of guys go into business with a ‘How can I make money?’ approach. But if you go in there saying ‘How can I make something awesome?’ the money will follow.” It most certainly will, people attach higher reward with greater value, you also should.
Caroll Boyes advises us more on criticism:
“Nineteen people may love your work but the twentieth one will hate it, and tell you so. You cannot allow that to affect you. That may sound true but there is a huge risk in letting criticism get you down.” Choose to be positive and get better.
Even Adenike Nike Ogunlesi, CEO, Ruff and Tumble, Nigeria, believes so:
“I have learnt that if you face challenges with positive energy, you are most likely to get better results” POSITIVE ENERGY is so key.
It doesn’t end there my Entrepreneural Africa, our very own Strive Masiyiwa, Econet wireless, Zimbabwe, has something more to add:
“A vision on its own is not enough, hard work and dedication is required to make that vision a reality.” Don’t just dream big, work hard to bring that dream to reality.
Another point to bear in mind from Nkemidilim Begho, goes thus:
“One thing I always tell myself and make my personal Philosophy is to admit when I need help and always find somebody to help. Its crucial to admit it when you are wrong and and never make the same mistake again”
A third point of consideration, which is crucial too, is from Wendy Ackerman, CEO Pick and pay, South Africa:
” The ‘considering all scenarios’ aspect is part of the lesson I took from one failed startup. Currently, regarding startups, I understand that its wise to consider taking calculated risk. Everything is possible. Impossible just takes a little longer.” its not just about taking risk, take CALCULATED RISKS.
Have a world view to your approach too, Hakeem Belo Osagie clearly put it this way:
“In today’s world paradoxically, it is the boldest Action that is often the safest. Remaining where you are in a world that is changing so rapidly is in fact, the most dangerous of all places to be in.” So you now know that place is dangerous, leave there.
Being an Entrepreneur doesn’t just serve you, it transcends to posterity for humanity, Ola Orekunrun puts it this way:
“True success is about a passion to create a better world- Live a life that you can look back on and be truly proud of.” A truly successful entrepreneur is one who has successors, and impactful imprints in the sand of time.
So there you have it. What’s holding you backing from beginning that your entrepreneurial idea or business? Its only you stopping you. To your business, To our entrepreneurial Africa, To a more succeeding Africa, cheers!