[Approach on opportunity attraction]

It takes years of hard work for others to be wishing and dreaming of you as an ally, associate or partner. For people to be like that around you, takes a serious achievement. What every person gets attracted to is who you are, whom you associate with, what you are, where you make your living, your mobility mode, and other statement making things of status. But what they all forget is that those things they’re attracted to are yours and in no way will they be theirs unless through joint arrangement like marriage, partnership or co-ownership, and such aren’t easy and not applicable for just about anyone.

Being cool by association can be equated to entitlement and faking it till you make it. Being close to someone who’s made it doesn’t tend to benefit you in most cases as the one may be keeping you near them for something you do for them that’s profitable to them, or for recreational purpose, or for security purpose, but whatever it may be, it is against what you’re after. It’s sad to be telling someone about a business idea you have and have them tell you to stop joking, it says explicitly that they don’t take you serious and have none other than yourself to blame. How you approach a person of interest or of value to you, should be direct and not be any other way. You find someone go to an opportunity bringer while they reek of narcotics or alcohol and expect to be taken serious and listened to, or be that you have too long around such a person and after they read your weaknesses be then thinking about talking business with them, no, that won’t work at all.

What opportunity seekers should learn is that the best time to talk business is when nothing about you is known and have the opportunity bringer be after your profile, not any other way. Be interesting, not too much. Don’t take an opportunity bringer to your floozies and be star struck and expect to be saying anything worth listening to after. Be organized, presentable and if be in what you’re working with the better as it shows you mean business. Why should you go meet an opportunity bringer with ties because you’re ashamed of the overalls you don when you’re on the tractor with or working that gearbox with? Proposing business is about more what you are before whom you are, so let it come forth first.

Sad seeing some spending more than they could afford so as to be seen as all that for impression, or spending so they could court their target, and but that not working all the time in that what you’ll be saying shouldn’t present a mismatch from your act. Appearing cool needs to be sustained and that’s costly. When you are in seek of assistance, just be frank and unapologetically go after it. Being cool by association won’t help as you may mention some names and piss your opportunity bringer with people who won’t even do anything for you. State your case and be judged upon that.

In conclusion: if go in first time as a funny man you’ll be making an impression that you’re that stress reliever and forget about any money to you about anything serious beyond that, and that’s the nature of business. Be careful of how your presentation is to people all the time. It looks good being in the company of achievers but your behaviour is key in how they see you because they’ll only want to do something with you only if you prove to be worth their risk. Also, lying with unsustainable truths not worth the impression put on. Being with them doesn’t automatically say they’ll assist you, and you telling them to do for you and throwing tantrums after their failure an own goal too. Stick with your first presentation and die with it else you’ll be viewed in a bad light and that’s worse than keeping quiet with your aspirations...dp  

[Ordinary citizenry]

Words like “ordinary man on the street” and “ordinary citizens” bore me to perishable state. I don’t know about you, but as for me, anyone using them and still be calling themselves a leader is a worry to note. Thing is, ordinary refers to deficient quality, inferior, average, and all other uninteresting meanings that actually demean and belittle those they address.

What this translates to, is that the one calling others ordinary is extraordinary and important, hence they be driven in escorted blue lights and guarded in almost all spaces they occupy to show us they aren’t like others. In case you’re wondering, on this one I’m addressing politicians. Something they should underline in bold is that those in business aren’t ordinary, and that they’re even more important than them who sustain their lifestyles through worn out rhetoric and empty promises. Newsflash is: “below ordinary is where you’re slotted.”

The sad reality is that the very citizens you belittle are finding themselves in positions they are because of your below average thinking and reasoning capacities. It breaks my heart witnessing how you fail yet haemorrhage taxpayers’ money with poor decisions taken. Thing is, with politics there’s no calculated moves because accountability is a foreign misconstrued conception by the ordinaries ruled over. It’s a very sad and sorry episode to be in and having no power because some of the ordinary elements fight from dawn to dusk for their allegiance to them. 

Ordinary isn’t a usual in the world of business because the cost of a miscalculation is accounted for and punishable unlike with the below average bleeders of governance in lead. Anyone who accepts they’re ordinary should take another look at themselves and think again. Saying you’re ordinary is a mockery to your bearer and creator. Think of your fingerprint, everyone’s is unique to show you that you’re not ordinary. If we were ordinary, then we would’ve seen by intellect, your thoughts should be poorer to the myriad of hoarded political leaders shelved in many parliaments of this world.

In conclusion: don’t conform to preconceived standards that you’re shoved with via media, you’re an exceptional being that is manipulated to see and think of self as below great that you are, never allow that. Judge yourself by your ideas and skills, and you’ll realize how unmatched by them you are. Put your head up for you’re better in an extraordinary way, as an exceptional being doing extraordinary things ordinarily...dp  

[To be teachable is a blessing]

Being self-conscious of your knowledge limit is one of the brightest measures to gauge oneself with honesty by, to avoid embarrassment and self-hurt. It’s not to say that you need to lower your esteem or develop inferiority complex attitude towards self, no, but simply being reasonable with self for your level of knowledge. To not know and declare it is much wiser than to not know but hide it in that there’s danger alone in doing so.

What people should realize is that if one doesn’t know it doesn’t say they are foolish or stupid, or worthless. What non-knowledge of something should be seen as is an opportunity to learn and as nothing below that. Anything that’s new to you presents a chance for something new to know. If only we looked at things like that in a different light then we would’ve been far off as a nation, and also wouldn’t be looking at someone who’s non-knowing differently.

Our attitudes are clouted by unnecessary thoughts to life and its things. What others say about life and its things also influence the thinking machinery in us. If we take life as it is and be still in it then we wouldn’t treat one another same way we do like it is always. We need to remember that our understanding of things and people won’t be same and so is our education levels, and should respect that. Some of us lack that very basic education of understanding the outer workings of education in its uniqueness that makes us interesting beings we are and you a unique subject of interest.

In conclusion: to be available for a learning process is a big favour unto self and an extended benefit for the nation as a whole. What you learn is a positive thing for not only you and your akins, but for the industry you’re in too. The gains of education are huge if your soul and spirit are wholly invested in it, should you allow for self to be teachable. Know that to be teachable is a blessing in that you attract good things to self that in the end gives you growth that morphs your importance as a person you are. Be teachable, and you’ll see what a blessing it is...dp

[More personal in person]

Ever asked yourself what goes into the wild energy that drives an argument from a mild spirited debate to an uncontrollable rage that so much cry in beg for a filter those involved deny it? When thoughts you know as facts gets challenged with mockery it does that to one. Anything that’s close to heart easily catches a choky melancholia whenever it meets a vile dip into ashes of corrupt verbal diarrhoea, as it riles the soul in a bad way the inner can’t handle better indifferently, with but just squares of scores to settle. It leaves no innocent ground to step on except near the good gates of cemetery. 

But then, being personal in business is unavoidable in that your soul is poured into everything that goes into building it. Whatever you’re doing as a part of that movement takes a bit of you and when it gets attacked you’ll defend it with your all because it’s personal to you. The harshest toll of truth you needn’t be afraid of telling is that nothing is as more personal as your own creation, and with business, it’s worse, as it has an array of elements in it.

In pursuit of one’s dream, the path to success has sweats stacked up with alienated window shopping aspirations that rhymes to no appoggiatura from any system that offers expiation. The loneliness that comes with the shine search narrows supply of friendly faces to crack smoked ice with. Sad thing is, your future asks for spectacles and no frame allows for squeeze of your size, thus leaving you with bitterness tattooed to your apposed memories.

In essence, attempts boosts never the underpaid in the process. Life of a businessperson a usual fixture in the slaughterhouse of hopes and dreams, and up to one to shield theirs with cred. Fails build a person only if are playing the hand of courage but in business reversing you into an arena of its own kind with thorny walkways. It’s hard cladding self with glory and get away sans and discard in there. The energy that roams the world of business touts strong soles with tenacity else you’ll die of complaints from bloated bureaucracy, nothing is more personal than that villipend feeling; it’ll make you appreciate your person more and also value your success during your season of economic harvesting. Go in with lowered expectations.

In conclusion: with all those bad registrations of horrid experiences there’s no way you’ll have anything good to say about your journey. But, as they say, make a lemonade of the lemons they give you and with stones thrown at you build a strong staircase to your way up in. Assign yourself to that  yang of self-ability. Be there in person for self and more personal. We all know that negativities that cluster the business world can demoralise you but armoured with your vision nothing can come to vanquish thy passion embellished within. One good thing about starting self is the pragmatic lessons roaming abound to imbibe to your growth. Be there to witness yourself...dp

[Circumstantial liars]

Business will make you a liar, underline that and accept to live as one. Operating a business a painful experience in your early days. Most of the times things don’t go as expected and mess up with your promises to your given word. Truth is, service providers don’t respect and treat a startup same as an established brand. Also, not to be quoted as being racist, but in some occasions the skin colour adds to the type of service you’re to receive after the size of your business. Believe you me, the world of business is a tough street to walk if aren’t with the right pair of shoes on your feet.

When they say that you have to think on your feet they really mean it. The thick politicized veil of the corporate world is not a sweet chariot that’ll take you home anytime soon, if you catch me. The startup operator has the hot iron with no handle in their hand all the time and expected to still come out of the house with ironed clothes. The playing fields are different and stages of competition aren’t similar. What I’m still not sure of is who’s outside the stadium and how do they see the game as they have the chance to peep in both stadia; their conclusion is of much importance to the game partakers, especially if they’re strict about voting with their pocket power.

Running a small business you get to learn that when they say the service provider close doors at 15:30 to make sure that you’re there by 15:10, otherwise you may find them for you closed at 15:25, and none to stand up for you to be opened for. Such instances makes the list in the lies you’re ever accused of. What’s sad is, in almost all of the lies you tell to your consumers, they aren’t of your doing but by others failing you purposely at times. In business there’re no true friends, put that in your head if you don’t want to learn the hard way. The people you engage with are simply civil rivals who opt to keep you near but not close to them.

Strategies and plans deployed in the small business level vary with those in the larger entities because the struggle is different. With a small business it’s a fight for gradual infiltration while in the case of the latter being maintaining position and expanding the brand’s offerings while fighting for consumer retention. What the game stands as is, the smaller player lie for covering disappointments resulting from the big player’s sabotage while the bigger player lies to sell their offers and their brand with the one brand one product message rhetoric.

In conclusion: rest assured, everyone in business is no different to you, what differentiate you from them is the size of their entity in market share and asset base. Apart from those, both you and them are liars, and that’s the nature of the business world. What separates the market is the sweeter lie to the other. Then, let’s agree that all in business tell lies because of circumstances and, despite all the sad stories there’s no other place we’ll be other than in here making runs in-betwixt the thrills that makes it interesting to be in this tough and mysterious world...dp    

[Consistency in persistence and perseverance]

‘If you want the day dirty you’ll play in dust, and if you want the sun dirty you’ll throw mud at it’ [1]. This’s the time of trials and tribulations. The pandemic has hurt and shaped the norm into a different figure that’s so unyesterday yet today for the better of a bad tomorrow. The new terrain is a non-negotiator and an aggressive bully that knows exactly how to wipe out a whistle-blower that’s loudest in the loud hailing choir. And to survive its muster guillotine, do you mask the truth or give pressure a make-up? Show up for your success, your calling dream is relying on that to wake your sleepy vision.

From anyone who has a hit of achievement to their name there’s a wound of reminder. Obstacles in their journeys to their success were thrown their way time and again but chose to trek on despite and as such should be the same with us today. To be honest, what is sounding and valid as reason to your failure can be an excuse to another, so the message is simple: “just push harder” and it shall be.

The open secret to success in business and life is consistency, without that in your recipe you are heading for a futile undertaking route. Success is like a child, it starts somewhere and gradually grows, and to strut your character by its culture. Success is a story that lives on storyline and that is dependent on you the starter of that. You can’t start without a dream and passion else there’ll be no point of it all. In business you pursue a dream.

In conclusion: a language with many tongues to its coding it is, business rewards those with resilience and focus. How deep you are into your self-belief, vision and product will be shown in how you’re not prepared but by how much you put in the fight for your success. Business is for the success driven through results seeking and goals setting. What you want to achieve out of yourself will determine the quantified quality you’ll extract out of opportunity you set your sights on. Make no mistake of assuming that success in business is only based on numbers, no, it’s based on a number of factors that are in control by others not you, and that’s the sad reality of the phenomenon called “the market”. But, of all things to consider, you should be consistent on peddling your persistence and persevere regardless of what the market and its gate keepers bar for entry. Just know that if it’s for you it’ll at the end be yours if keep at pushing for it...dp 

[1] by KgeleLeso

[Punishing the wrong player]

How many times we get it wrong is just but puzzling. I shake my head looking at the signages of small businesses every sight I throw my eyes at. Job creation at its very ground roots level, but then, why do we keep standing in their way of growth? 

Legislation a heartbreaker

I say this based on the way in which our own governments are killing hopes, dreams and aspirations of those trying to do something about high unemployment gaping at the global population. I still see none in my corner nodding in support. Okay, then, devil is in the detail as they say and maybe you’ll say ‘amen’ to my sermon ending. 

The ministries of labour the world over are busy year after year trying to make their employment legislation work but unfortunately they arrive always at the opposite end of their desired result. Amendment after the other and yet no employer seem to be happy. This is because our governments fail at consulting the employer properly before sealing their drafts which are at most in favour of the employee. Not that it’s wrong, but bad if look at it from the employer’s perspective. However you define it, it still is demoralising to say the least.

How about this scenario?

Think of a law abiding citizen who starts a small establishment to survive. He starts off by hiring an unqualified assistant to help out and hold the fort for him when he goes out to stock or run some errants just as others similar in his position will do. He sits his assistant down and arrives at an agreement that he can afford to pay him so and so much, of which the assistant gladly accepts. Then as days go by someone with good though bad to the employer intentions, advise the assistant that the employer should up his offer on wages as that is by law not on par with regard to the minimum wage scales. The assistant goes to the relevant officials to report that and is told the offer is below scale and should be paid accordingly. The employer due to reasons cited from the beginning, can’t afford the revised offer and lets the assistant go with the little he could afford with a bronze handshake seeing that it doesn’t measure up to the golden handshake witnessed in many a high-profile incumbent’s case.

At home the family of the assistant won’t be able to receive the little he could be collecting monthly anymore, and starts blaming the employer for failing to meet the basic income set out in the legislation and for having terminated their arrangement. The employer is still starting out and however small the amount may be is but still steep for him to can offer the assistant. As things stand, who do we point the finger at for failing the family of the assistant? Whatever your answer, ask yourself why.

Statutory regulations a sift trick

Some in the know may pose sad questions atop the already sad reality of the small time self-employed person. Did he register the business first before hiring the assistant? Does the business have a tax clearance, a bank account and any employment benefit if be? But the truth is that not everyone will afford satisfying those requirements before trying their luck first at whatever they want to start. Then again, how will you advise a person in that state? Further again, how right are you going to be in advising him that way? Why can’t something as simple as an affidavit be valid as a business relationship instrument beats me. A round table unfortunately a must for all relevant stakeholders to come up with creative yet accommodative alternate entry solutions to enable even the hand-to-mouth operator a chance at going formal. Let’s shake the ground; break the mould and all may reap the compromise fruits.                               

In conclusion: to some I may sound a bit pushing the good brought by legislation aside, but rather pleading for a balance. Getting penalized for one’s efforts at alleviating the other’s poverty is painful. To some degree it is right but then on other hand to some extent I believe they should check first into one’s coffers to verify if whether they can afford to comply or not, and also how best to allow the beginners a chance at employing others for a certain period before complying. Or best, break threshold compliance into tiers and maybe full compliance will be a small step from eventuality.

If only our lawmakers could hold their horses and collaborate with all affected parties maybe they’ll adopt the models used in neighbouring states by their counterparts on how to empower small businesses. We should not shy away from praising them on how they demystify the red tape small business operators are so used to in many teritorries. The easier it is to run a business the rapid growth the economy will see. High unemployment rate is a result of unwilling leaders to work with willing solutions providers to reduce the numbers. What they ought to remember is that it is employers who take chances at creating jobs and not the other way round, lest they opt to flying out to those economies that will welcome them with open arms and be doing what they should be doing in their home economies elsewhere.

All things start with by-laws. In developing sound regulatory laws at municipality level, there'll be a conducive space that enables startups to thrive, a breathing space for small players. We need to lament this vacuum for lack of support towards local economy stimulation. What I say is in simpler terms that our governments should allow for startups a grace period in order to find their feet first before they come hard on them with regulatory requirements that sees them being treated like criminals and low life self-centred scums. Entrepreneurs should be seen as our now day heroes and not be labelled otherwise for their efforts, especially in these trying times. Let's stop punishing the wrong player for the effort put in...dp