16/02/2022
"Olowo lo lowo"
Businesses are for the rich.
Some of these Yoruba adages have a way of influencing who we are, how we perceive the world, and a lot of ideologies that could make us or mar us.
This one is one adage that I have been using to console myself when I see the likes of Dangote and Otedola opening more business and doing wonderfully well.
I foolishly say to myself Yinka he is not more intelligent than you, he doesn't have better business sense, it is just opportunity and money.
If someone should give me now habba, in a few years I will also be Dangote! Lies upon lies(iro lasan in shaikh's voice)
A lot of us give this same reason to ourselves that the reason we are not doing business is because of Capital.
I am sorry for you if you are still thinking this way.
Why do you think banks don't support start-up businesses?
Do you think it's because your business proposal or plan is not captivating?
Some time ago we are having a discussion in my office and a colleague asked which will I choose or Green card Abi na white paper he called it then? something like giving you a Visa to the US with permanent stay and working permits.
I was like why will I choose anything other than , I was looking at him like he is mad and he was also looking at me like you don't know what the US means!
Considering all I knew then, that will most likely remain zero today.
Take a look around you how many are the people that you knew 5years ago and you rated them very high in terms of big capital and business sense are worth today?
Most of these people are worth less than , some are only using old glory, and these examples are just on a general note.
I have done quite a number of businesses and in my experience having a huge sum to expand your business might not be what you need.
If truly your business needs expansion then the business itself should be able to fund the expansion.
Some business owners are quick to accept money from investors without a proper understanding of the challenges that are associated with expansion.
My major concern is about people with zero or little experience in business who believe the only reason they are not starting a business is capital.
I have seen several people who gather money to help family member or friends to start up a business but in a few years, they see him back in a bad state.
It is only a Yoruba man that will be shouting that they need capital to start a business,
A Hausa man will start from Almajiri to Mai ruwa, to selling dates, to selling little provision, to having kiosks, to having a superstore.
An Igbo will start as a sales boy, learn and serve his master and later become a shop owner.
A typical Yoruba man, because he can speak English believes he is too big to stoop so low to learn. He believes he can read and learn and with money, he will just start from the top.
After a few months, he will start visiting Babalawo saying village people dey follow am.
His step mum is not allowing his business to grow.
If you are eyeing a particular business and you think once you have capital you will start it.
Please, I beg you, (I lindown beg you) go and start by helping someone who is already in it, go and offer free service, if you see sales boy advert apply.
Tell the person you go to the office 8am to 4pm, tell him you will resume 4:30pm every working days and 9:00am weekends,
He can just pay for your transports or not.
You just like to do community service.
No be only money them they take do business ooo.
We sew.........
We lend........
We sell..........
Business cap to match.........
©Yinka Quadry
2022