Effective Ways To Build and Grow Your Business By Francis Odukoya
“It’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” -Neil Armstrong
Goals:
- Not getting stock in a position
- Growth is a must -How?
- Building growth capacity
- Importance a mentorship
- Playing to your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses.
Take A Different Path:
“Everyone will tell you of the risk, but the entrepreneur will see the reward”.
The world is rapidly changing in ways we find hard to comprehend. Conventional ways of dealing with problems have become outmoded. Change has become constant, we cannot afford to be passive. Think outside the box, away from that comfort zone.
To be successful, we can’t just be good, we MUST be a creator, a maker, a doer -that is called CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE CQ”
Start A Business:
“The size of your business is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream and how you handle disappointment along the way”
A real life experience – whether business on the side or full time, you get the opportunity to solve real problems and learn real life lessons.
And develop the skill set of the now and live a life.
Stick With Challenges:
“In the real world, the smartest people are people who make mistakes and learn”.
Bring innovations to the table as a powerful method for devising solutions and antidote to uncertainty and complexity of our current world.
Uncertainty is now part and parcel of the plan, take it up.
Manage Your Own Finances:
“Academic qualification is important, so is financial education, they are both important, but schools are forgetting one of them”.
Resources: understand basic finance essentials in running your business (cash flow, assets, P & L) etc.
Finance management is an important aspect to take time and understand the different mix of strategies to adopt from raising funds, investing and operational cost structure to adopt for growth.
Learn From A Mentor:
“You want to get somewhere? It is best to find and ask someone who has been there.”
The value of a mentor is priceless in building your entrepreneurial skills.
Why make your own mistakes, when you can learn from someone who has already made them! Mentors are great shoulder boards for ideas.
Be A Salesman:
“It is important to grow your income rather than cut your expenses. More important to grow your spirit than cut your dreams”.
Everyone is in sales, it is vital for survival, sustainability and success of a business. Have the best product, if you don’t know how to sell it, it’s useless.
Never give in to excuses, it is difficult to sell, I am not an extrovert, am shy etc.!
You may ask, what are the different opportunities/platforms available to sell these days?
Answer; Get involved with other entrepreneurs:
Build relationships – join related groups/industry, social/religious groups, LinkedIn, attend virtual events and meet like minds to learn from.
Smart Up And Grow Up!
“You have to be smart, the easy days are over”
CQ enhances our creative capacity and inspires us to connect. It is the source of economic value. Keep developing, improving, revolving and sensitive. Nothing comes easy these days, you have to go for it.
Build Relationships:
“The moment you make passive income and portfolio income part of your life, your life will change. Those words will become flesh”.
Entrepreneurs drive growth and social networks are the building blocks of the industry.
Elder Francis Odukoya is the Managing Director/CEO., Professional Shipping & Logistic (PSL) Ltd., Lagos.
