40 ways to last longer in Business, Entrepreneurship and Destiny ‘BED’
In my nearly four decades of existence, I have witnessed dramatic events in the lives of people around me – from family disintegration to business dissolution and from hero to zero. I have also seen people who are great in ‘BED’, successful and have become great role models.
Destiny is the sum total of daily events in our lives. Decisions decide destiny. Destiny is business and business is destiny. Destiny cannot be fulfilled in a day, but it must be fulfilled on a daily basis. Destiny is about decisions; a bout of decisions can either make or mar ‘BED’ – Business, Entrepreneurship and Destiny.
Entrepreneurs are the most destiny-conscious individuals. By reason of their lofty dreams and goals, they are generally ambitious and naturally disciplined. Once they discover purpose, they begin to conscientiously deploy resources – Time, Energy, Action and Money (TEAM) towards actualizing their dreams, that is, turning a creative idea into a business opportunity (taking an idea from indoors into industry). This undertaking is not without risk-taking which is common among all entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Entrepreneurs are amazing in so many ways; they fall and rise, they are poor today and tomorrow, they are legitimately living in affluence. Failure, however, is not in the dictionary of an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur sees failure as an opportunity to start again – learning from his/her mistakes and leveraging the lessons to achieve better outcomes.
Start with God – This assertion may sound controversial due to the impression that most successful entrepreneurs do not attribute their success to God, so we tend to believe that there is nothing special in involving the invisible hand of God in our lives. The truth is, everyone has a “secret place” where destiny is being controlled and shaped. The fact is, the spiritual controls the physical. “Those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” Those who are ignorant of this sacred and secret place are usually weak in ‘BED’, and are often exploited.
Believe in yourself – It is very important to know your worth. There will always be someone who can’t see your worth. Don’t let it be you. When you depend on people to build you up, they’ll have the same power to break you down. You don’t need their validation to know your worth. Your confidence is your defense, use it to make a difference.
Have a plan – While it is good to depend on God for direction, it is important to plan your life as if everything depends on you. Don’t live life casually, think, plan and act.
Set smart and accomplishable goals – Entrepreneurship is not just about having a plan; it is about ‘behaving’ the plan. Destiny is about Decision, Action, Transformation and Experience (DATE). So, keep a date with destiny.
Avoid distractions – While I believe that entrepreneurs are naturally focused individuals, they may also get distracted sometimes, especially when they start living to impress others, instead of focusing on their calling and fulfilling it. Entrepreneurial leaders are not reactionary, they are visionary. Distinction is the hallmark of a destiny-conscious entrepreneur. Distraction is the enemy of distinction. Stop getting distracted by reacting to people’s perception of you, just believe in yourself. Take constructive criticism and feedback and use them to make your ‘BED’ and brand more excellent.
Don’t be slothful – Judges 18:9 (KJV) – “And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.” Romans 12:11 (KJV) – “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
Stay humble – “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. We are teachable when we are truly humble. If we must last longer in ‘BED’, then, we must strive to learn, unlearn and relearn.
Seek counsel – Proverbs 11:14 (KJV) – “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Read ‘BED’ related books – “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
Learn from mistakes.
Live within your means – “I make myself rich by making my wants few.” – Henry David Thoreau
Compete with the competent and with a standard of excellence.
Nurture strategic relationships. Your friends are the ‘funds’ you need to last longer in ‘BED’. Your network is your net worth. It is therefore wise to practice ‘OQP’, that is, Only Quality People.
Invest in people – We rise by lifting others.
Try new things – Don’t be afraid to explore. Think the impossible and do the unthinkable. To leave an indelible mark, do incredible things.
Train others – Before you retain, retrain but do not restrain (micromanage). Model, Mentor, Monitor, Motivate and Multiply.
Volunteer always.
Hope for the best.
Prepare for the worst.
Reward your workers.
Pay your dues – taxes, tithes, etc.
Save for rainy days – Cash reserves is not only necessary for business growth, it is a buffer when businesses crash.
Take care of yourself – Invest in your health and happiness.
ASK – Ask, Seek and Knock. Entrepreneurs don’t beg, they ask. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build an iron door.
Learn to say no – Not every opportunity or offer is to be taken.
Know your onions.
Don’t depend on one income source.
Don’t disrespect anyone.
Stay positive.
Stay away from negative people.
Keep showing up.
Learn to prioritize – Priority leads to productivity.
Avoid debts – No bank will give you a loan and leave you alone. If it’s not a high-margin business, avoid taking loans like a plague. Debts are burdens to the ‘BED’.
Avoid ‘SIN’ – Sin, Indiscipline and Negligence. Diligence runs things but negligence ruins them.
Say no to substance abuse, pre-marital sex and sexual perversion.
Delay gratification.
Be frugal – If you don’t go into fashion, you can’t go out of fashion. Reuse, reduce and recycle.
Be creative – If you are not able to think creatively, then forget about creating notable things. Creativity is thinking outside of the prescribed formulas. Creativity helps entrepreneurs navigate potential blockades, utilize resources effectively and innovate. Innovation is the central issue in ‘BED’. Innovation is short-lived if creativity is short-sleeved.
Hustle hard – “No one is rich enough to buy yesterday, but if you HUSTLE HARD, tomorrow could be yours.” – Professor Wole Soyinka.
Never lose integrity – Late last year, my wife saw a car parked by the roadside and she assumed the owner is a car dealer, so we decided to talk to him about our interest in getting the car, a Toyota Camry. It’s over a million naira, the man said. We didn’t have more than fifty thousand naira, so I told the man to kindly have the fifty thousand naira as upfront payment (not for a bicycle ooo). He looked at me somehow and I assured him that we will meet up with the balance in no time. To cut it short, we were paying him fifty thousand naira monthly, even though clients who had enough money to buy the car at once also approached him. Furthermore, the dealer had thought we were coming back with a lump sum.
That same period, I had remitted over 13 million naira to the man who supplied me solar systems. I was never tempted to use his money to tie down any property, even though he advised us to get something tangible for ourselves from the business. The business collapsed due to accumulated debt and debtors’ inability to pay. Salary was mortgaged to get out of debt and redeem my image with the supplier. The car dealer asked us to go with the car this year January when he got to see my profile and said “my money is safe, I will wait until you have the balance”.
The business also resurrected because of the loan evidence I showed my supplier as a means to pay him back. He asked me “Are you still in business, taking a loan to pay debt”? I couldn’t utter a word.
Integrity gets us favour.
Integrity keeps us in business.
Integrity is godly favour.
Integrity is a serious business.
