Tuesday, January 23, 2007

F1 and Forums: the case for smecircle.org
From the earliest days of my business of designing and supporting websites, I have had manifold kinds of problems. Incidentally the websites from which the CMS solutions or other application software have not as been helpful to me as forums. Thus, when I face a challenge and google my request, I would head first for the forums. Usually, someone has had the same challenge before (there is nothing new under heaven). Such a person, sharing from personal experience provides a most pragmatic answer. Other people usually provide opinions on the same matter to buttress what has been said or proffer an easier or better way. Together, everyone indeed, achieves more.

I asked myself, could this be brought to the business circles? There have been several times when I have been stuck in search of a technical or management solution in which folks that can be reached immediately in my vicinity do not have solution. Judgment is made based on the limited resource and often times it produces limited gains. Nevertheless, I am confident of two things: someone else has been in the same predicament before and someone next door has a solution that works better. Can we share our solutions and grow faster?

IF you have my experience and I have yours, I won’t repeat your mistakes and you won’t repeat mine. Together, we’ll move one step further than where would have been if we walked alone. This is why the smecircle is created. When you join by posting a question or answering one, the circle grows bigger, and we’ll cover more areas. Join the circle, expand your scope, and move on to higher grounds, the sky is not your limit!
So you want to be an entrepreneur?
It is a good thing to desire to be one but not all of us are called to be entrepreneurs (point men) but it's required of all to be enterprising. We are all required to create wealth by adding value to people specifically and the community in general.

(give an example of yourself who is not an 'entrepreneur' but understands in stocks)


Now for those who are called, there are five things one should be aware of.

1. Technical Knowledge is not sufficient. The understanding of the business and other financial skills is important if not more.

For example, the primary function of a secondary school to teach. Thus, if one wants the activities of a principal/proprietor in a typical week.

Hiring /firing teachers
Discipline student & sometimes teachers, PTA meetings, board meetings , Staff Issues, events & project mgt e.g inter house sports, class building,
Financial accounting, managing the school for profitability marketing the school staff/ student welfare staff/student recognition team building among staff, mentoring/coaching. What percentage is teaching or is a BSc in Education required?

Do u now understand why you don't see your VC so often?

In a small biz you will need more than just technical skills (ability to sew, cook, repair a car, farm etc) to be a leader in the sector. You will need business skills of people/client mgt, an understanding of the basics of accounting, budgeting, goal setting, the importance of advertising, the fundamentals of selling, HR. People Relations etc.

The most fundamental attitude to be positioned for success as an entrepreneur is a commitment to increasing your knowledge base. That’s the only way to stay on the Cutting edge of life & biz.

2. Be An Apprentice
Do some form of Internship. Go there not only for the technical skills but to understand how the biz runs ,what kind problems your boss faces & how does he handles it. Always consider too how will I handle this if it were you. This is the key edge of the Ibo people in Nigeria. The learn how to sell TV, videos, etc. One would think that buying and selling should not be so much of a challenge. But in the intership, they learn where things are cheap, where to buy, when and to whom they should sell. They learn the business.

3. Manage your boss' biz. In your internship manage your boss’ business as if it were yours. Do your best with it. Consider evey cash spent as if it were deducted from your salary asking if it is really a wise investment. Now if you do it well God will give you yours Luke 16:12


4. Don’t let go of your dreams
There is always the tendency after receiving a salary at a bank or in an Oil company for two months to forget where you always wanted to go. Don’t be distracted in the internship. Don’t forget your dreams.

5. God is the author of true success in any Endeavour. You won’t go far without him. You may go as far in this world if you adhere to the principles laid in his word but you won’t go far in the world to come.