26/03/2023
21 Business Lessons For Young African Business Owners.
1. Be patient enough to start small while thinking big.
2. Don’t just think big, you should do things that will make you grow big.
3. Don't take a loan to start a business. Credit facilities should be used to grow/expand your business.
4. Always be creating an offer. Before you write a single line of copy, first create an offer. This is your advantage as a small business owner.
5. Focus on the business part of your business and leave show-off for people who live for the gram. Focus on the things that move the needles.
6. Don't make verbal agreement with suppliers, vendors, partners, etc. All agreements should be written, signed and documented.
7. Your marketing budget should not be the smallest. Unless you’re not serious about thriving in business. You must invest in marketing, and invest well.
8. Ideas are not worth so much. Ex*****on is everything (speed of ex*****on gives you more advantage).
9. Cultivate the habit of building productive relationships. It would be of immense help to you and your brand.
10. Always show expertise and exhibit confidence.
11. You’ll be scared sometimes, but remember that feeding your fears will limit your growth and experiences. Just do it. Launch it. Record it. Practice it. Publish it. Get involved. Just Do it.
12. Always listen to your customers(and pay attention to their actions).
13. People lie, surveys can be wrong but numbers don't lie. You’ll do better and greater things when you work with numbers. Numbers don’t lie.
14. Focus on solutions. Isn’t this why you’re in business?
15. Don't create a product and start looking for a market. First discover a market and provide them with a solution(product/service).
16. Dont fight the government. Learn to dialogue.
17. Dont use your business handle to engage in social media bants, trolling and senseless arguments.
18. Don't quit your job to start a business you've not tested.
19. Entrepreneurship is not a walk in the park. If you're not ready to work 24/7, do not quit your 9-5 yet.
20. Business is war and struggles. Sorry to burst your bubbles. You’ll fight almost all the time. You’ll struggle to hire the best hands, you’ll struggle to keep the best talent, you’ll fight to ensure policies does not throw your business into abyss, etc.
21. Your business is not you, therefore your business money is not your personal money. Stop diverting money from your business to solve personal problems all the time. Separate your business account from your personal account.
Do not be scared, building a business may have its challenges, and I mean great challenges, but it’s fun.
Yes, building a business can be fun too.
I wish you the best in your business.
- Courage Ngele
