I sincerely apologize for the long break. It was not intentional. I just went to explore and learn some business lessons in Lagos with my team.
Today, I feel it’s a punishable offense to give out huge money to people without passing the struggle, pain, and experience that created it. That is why they can’t multiply the money rather they abuse it and treat it like a mistake.
We all know the famous adage: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This timeless wisdom is particularly true when it comes to business.
Now imagine this scenario: your generous brother, a successful entrepreneur, gifts you a lump sum to start your own business. Grateful and excited, you took the money and invested it but found yourself back to square one in no time, with the money spent and no significant progress made. Sounds familiar? If yes, then you are not alone.
Many aspiring business people think all they need to start or grow their business is financial assistance from family members, friends, or investors. While capital is undoubtedly crucial, it’s far from the only ingredient needed for success, but the most important is the ‘invisible resources.’
Behind every successful entrepreneur is a wealth of experience and expertise that money alone cannot buy. These come from years of successes, failures, trials, and errors. When you accept business money, endeavour to seek their wisdom, mentorship, and practical advice.
Every seasoned entrepreneur knows that building a business is no easy feat. It comes with its fair share of challenges and setbacks. Resilience and perseverance are invaluable assets that have propelled many to success. They are the ‘pain’ often masked by the flashiness of successful entrepreneurship.
The principles and ethics that guide an entrepreneur are as important as the business itself. They determine how the business is run, how team members are treated, and how customers are served. Integrity, honesty, hard work, and customer-centricity are a few of the principles that often make the difference between businesses that last and those that don’t.
Listen bro, business is about relationships. The networks and connections that great business people have nurtured over the years can open doors that money alone cannot. Leverage the networks of those helping you financially.
So, next time you find yourself reaching out to someone for financial help for your business, remember to ask not just for their money but also their invisible resources’. The stories behind their struggles and triumphs, their principles and pain, their experience and expertise, their relationships and networks.
Remember, these invisible resources often make the difference between businesses that thrive and those that merely survive.
I am back now, so, Let’s strive not just for the fish but, more importantly, for the skills and resilience to catch our own. Let’s aim not just to feed for a day but to nourish our entrepreneurial journey for a lifetime.