CHEAP FLIGHTS TO BUSINESS SUCCESS – PART 1

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Hello...
Hmmm... Success.... Business success....
My view of success is a goal achieved; that feeling of fulfilment you get when you reach your predetermined destination. Applying that to business, it’s like when you reach that point of profit you always dreamed of, or for some, when the business begins to finance or run itself.
Now, a lot of people shy away from business because they believe that their dreams of success are unachievable, and as such, discouragement is created in (and resides permanently in) their own minds even before they set up on the venture of their choosing.
Here are some real reasons why people don’t bother to chase their business dreams:
  • -         Lack of finance,
  • -         Lack of moral support,
  • -         Lack of love or zeal for the chosen business direction,
  • -         Disbelief in your own ability to succeed,
  • -         Not even knowing the area of business to venture into,
  • -         Not having the patience or time to create and grow a business,
  • -         Raw material availability (especially when it comes to production),
  • -         Getting it right (whether it’s a formulation or otherwise),
  • -         Sustaining it (whether it’s a product or process of production/delivery, or the business as a whole),
  • -         Selling/marketing it.

I’m sure in one way or the other that the above stated reasons apply to you. Well then... let’s look into them one by one. Nothing textbook, I promise. Let’s break them down to what they really are. You know why? It is because, a clear recognition or realization of the so-called reason why you can’t venture into business will help you overcome it better. Or better yet, help you know if you really want to, or don’t want to get into business.
Another thing you stand to achieve by breaking these hindrances down with me now is that you will better be able to draw a line down to:
  • -         What you can do,
  • -         What you really want to do,
  • -         What you can do best,
  • -         What you will succeed at, and
  • -         Where to begin it all.

I would like to use this opportunity to tell you that I’m not necessarily a certified business expert or anything, but I will speak to you from experience, tell you what I did, the lessons I learnt, and what you can do.
Ok... Let’s go..!

Lack of Finance

Now... I promised you... nothing textbook! What do I mean? By textbook, I mean telling you stuff like... approach a bank with a good business proposal... or... create a business proposal and approach wealthy friends, philanthropists, etc... or anything like that you will probably find in a “Business Funding for Dummies” textbook. However, I’ll tell you what I did, and what you could do.
Some time ago, when I wanted to start my business, I realized that I didn’t have enough capital to get it to where I wanted it to be, so I asked myself what I actually ‘needed’ to start the business, and how small I could start it.
What business, you ask?
Fashion..! To be precise, bag making.
So I brought my pride and aspirations as low as I could and decided that rather than get an automatic knitting machine, cutter, sewing machine, etc., I could start by doing everything by hand. So I got a list ready to prepare a few (very few) purses, and with the little I could spare from my saving from feeding and welfare money sent to me by my parents (which was quite little and mostly barely enough, hahaha), I got all I needed on the list and started making the bags by hand (crocheting). It took me a long while, but I could produce and sell the purses, re-invest my capital and make more purses and bigger bags (totes, etc.) and sell. Then, within a year (or so) I could get a semi-automatic knitting machine. The profits, of course, increased because I could now travel to bigger markets within my country to buy materials in larger quantity for less, and I could make more bags in a day than before. And guess how much I started with... about 2,000 naira (in 2007/2008).
The lesson...? Start small!
You don’t have to do it all at once. Just start somewhere. Narrow down your dreams to the smallest start point possible and begin from there.
Next lesson...? Save! Save! Save!
If you cannot manage the little you have, what makes you think you will be able to manage the much you could get? Saving is what began the business after narrowing down my dreams to a start point, and saving my capital and profit to re-invest helped it grow. 
Next lesson...? Patience! Persevere and you will get there.
Hard work and patience are at the foundation of every successful business. Keep in mind that business is hardly for the faint-hearted.
Other things you can do...? Get a job, no matter how simple or small, and build some capital from your income.
Or... You can talk to someone (or people) you can trust not to steal your idea(s) and give them good reason to invest in your idea(s).
Since they are friends (or family) you don’t have to go about it in a textbook way (e.g. using a formal business plan). Just be yourself, and be honest! Ok?
And that’s my take from my experiences on issues of lack of finance when it comes to starting a business, my dears. To get some insight into how to handle the next concern that you might have (lack of moral support), please move unto Part 2 of Cheap Flights to Business Success.

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Comments

  1. Unknown18 January 2018 at 06:49

    Love the pics. The writeup is educative, creative, and colourful.

    ReplyDelete

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