Starting Business from 'the start' - The Best Deal!

Too many people know they are natural business men and women, many also know their life purpose is tied to managing and growing a business of their own. But year after year, procrastination has been their bane, they can't just get the ambition off the ground. Today, let's share on the mind-set that starts.

Many people today are sceptical about transiting from paid-employment to self-employment. Despite their competence, years of experience, exposure and capacity, they still want to remain in paid employment perhaps due to fear and the uncertainties of what self-employment portend.

These guys over the years have worked very hard, learnt so much, they have made millions for their employers, and have effectively led teams and deliver on complex projects, yet, they are not eager to become owners and managers of their own businesses and enterprise.

Many who are not even in employment today but are gifted or have commercially viable skills don't want to start a business simply because of their mind set.

Some people lost their jobs many years ago, some have never worked after several years of graduating, yet they still don't consider owning their own businesses because of a mind-set and a thinking that is not right.

The mind-set problem is, many don't see business as a venture that grows; they see it purely as an establishment, let me explain this.

When most people think of owning a business the first set of images that flood their minds is a comfortable office space or sales outlet, office equipment and/or furniture, different employees carrying out different responsibilities from a cleaner, a driver to various executives and a GM and of course, a sophisticated working process. All these and their maintenance day after day cost money. When people put a price to this arrangement, consider how much it'll cost to put together and maintain, and being not sure they would generate enough revenue month after month to pay all the bills and sustain the structure, they get scared and they change their minds.

Ladies and gentlemen, every great business in the world today started as a thought, an imagination in someone's mind. And that individual began to grow it gradually from the tiniest detail. Every business is born, every business starts from the world of the unseen to the seen. Every business starts as a seed, businesses don't just appear, they are grown.

A priority consideration in starting a business is “who will buy?”

Once you're able to identify your potential buyers and from research you're convinced they would buy your product or service at the quality you're offering and the price you're willing to sell for, dear friend, you're in business.

A 21st century business need not start with an office space, thanks to the internet and information technology. Your client can actually see and know everything about your business through a very powerful and beautiful website. All correspondence can occur through mails, texts, chats and even social media.

Texts, pictures and videos can be uploaded and downloaded. If online stores are making millions from customers without physical visits to their sales premises, dear friend, business style has obviously changed.

You can start your business from your living room, from your dining table with a good laptop and a reliable internet service. 

The only thing you need to start a business today is a ready buyer. Even If you're into product sales, you don't need to start with a sales outlet, home delivery is a smart way to start.

You need not spend much on advertising and publicity, that's the advantage of your Facebook, twitter and Instagram accounts! You can practically grow a business generating millions monthly on your phone using effectively, your blackberry channel, WhatsApp and other chatrooms.

It is inappropriate as an adult especially if you're educated to keep earning no income and waiting for an employment when you're very active on social media.

If you keep visualising your business from the perspective of office space, official vehicles, office furniture, sales outlet,

many employees, office equipment and mega machines, you'll hardly ever start.

Every business that would eventually be great starts from a step. The best place to start your business is from the very beginning. Start with competence and ability first; then business registration, certifications and a laptop. You can start from your home, your dining area; your boy's quarters. You can be the MD and the office assistant at the initial stage and then grow gradually into something phenomenal.

A business should be visualised as a journey, not a property. You don't have to start with a driver, a secretary, a cleaner and team members, all you need is your brain, competence and ability, your energy, visibility and good customers. Having these and managing them well, you can become all you want and desire in business.

Don't be afraid to start small, don't be afraid to start from the start. It's the best place to start.

I assure you employers cannot employ everybody, if we really want to transform our socio economic life as a nation we must take responsibility and become productive through business ownership. Our population will keep being a disadvantage to us unless the majority of us transform from being just human citizens to human capital. Human citizens depend on the government and other institutions for livelihood, human capital take responsibility for themselves and their nation.

Ladies and gentlemen poverty is not in our land, poverty is actually in our minds. If we possess rich mind-sets, it will naturally and eventually create a rich nation with rich citizens.

Dear friend reset your mind-set. Start your business today and grow it into a multibillion naira establishment. Start from the start.!  -(Credit: Muyiwa Afolabi)