When I first started Pamtech, I made a promise to myself: I will not run this business with fear. You see, I’ve never seen fear build anything great before.
I had fears, like anyone else. The fear that my team might steal from me. The fear of training people only for them to leave after I’ve invested so much in them. The fear of competitors overtaking me. The fear of expanding beyond my comfort zone and challenging bigger industries. The fear of losing money. The fear of government taxes. The fear of insecurity.
But you know what? If I had let these fears control me, Pamtech would not be what it is today. And I’m grateful to God that I never held onto fear.
Fear Has Never Built Anything Great
Take a moment and look closely around you. You’ll notice that fear has never built any business with great impact. If you know of one, feel free to share it with me. But, from where I stand, fear doesn’t create greatness—it stunts growth and keeps you stuck in survival mode.
The biggest companies in the world, and even here in Nigeria, are built on trust, not fear. Trust in the process. Trust in people. Trust in the vision.
Trust: The Secret Ingredient
I trust my team. That’s why I empower them instead of micromanaging them. I don’t treat them like thieves, so they don’t act like it, even though, yes, we will always have a Judas here and there. But when people feel trusted, they take ownership and drive growth within your business.
I trust my customers too. When we started, we offered a “buy now, pay later” option in the oil and gas industry—an industry known for its deep pockets and high risks. And while fear could have stopped me, I chose to trust our customers. Guess what? Most of them didn’t scam us because when you trust people, they rise to the occasion.
But here’s where many business owners get stuck. They don’t trust the process. We get caught up in the issues, and instead of embracing uncertainty and trusting the journey, we allow fear to take over.
The Paradox of Fear
Fear makes you think small. It pushes you to take small risks and stay in survival mode instead of growth mode. The more you try to control everything, the more your business struggles. And that’s the irony of it all: The tighter you grip, the harder it becomes to move forward.
I experienced this last year. My team had an idea: Let’s produce a movie. When I saw the budget and started considering the risks, I felt the fear creeping in. What if it fails? What if the costs are too high? What if we don’t get the results we expect?
But here’s the thing—I trust my team, and I had built a process around them. So, despite my fears, I gave them the green light to take the risk and test these new waters. If I had let fear control me, they would never have produced the movie 14 Days of Forever, which premiered on YouTube today.
If I had stayed fearful, they would never have had that experience. But because I trusted them—despite my fear of failure—today, I’m a proud Executive Producer.
The Future is Unlimited
Now, looking forward, I can’t help but wonder: What will the next five years look like for us in the movie industry? You can imagine the possibilities for us—because the future is full of potential, and fear won’t stand in our way.
The Takeaway
My brother, fear will only hold you back. The real secret to building something truly great is trust. Trust in your team, trust in the process, and trust in your vision. Remove fear, and you’ll see your business transform into something extraordinary.
I am The Billionaire Mechanic, and today, I’m proud to call myself an Executive Producer.