The Sunday Mail
Entrepreneurship Matters
Dr Kudzanai Vere
There is need for a more practical approach to entrepreneurship than mere studying at institutions of higher learning. It is surprising to see entrepreneurship graduates queueing for employment and yet they are the ones who are supposed to be on the forefront creating employment.
This speaks of how Africa and Africans in particular, view entrepreneurship. This is not a topic that we talk about from eight to five without going on the ground demonstrating things.
The entrepreneurship SYRINGE is an attempt to inject life into these important entrepreneurship issues. Syringe is an acronym for Start, Yearn for greatness and pursue it, Running the business, Innovation, Negotiation, Grow, Explore and Expand.
Start a business
Local and global economies are not built and sustained by entrepreneurship and business talk shows, articles, position papers and thesis. Over and above talking and thinking about entrepreneurship endeavours, businesses should be started.
The recipe for creating a robust economy is not chunking out employment-ready graduates into the marketplace but impacting practical competencies in them so that they can start businesses and help consume the unemployed and reduce their statistics. Besides, no matter the amount of sanitisation, there are no records of millionaire employees so far.
Everything else is good but starting a business is a better and noble idea and initiative. It’s understood that we cannot all start businesses and become renowned entrepreneurs, but why are you choosing that other easy side of it.
Are you any different from others? We understand that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made for great exploits.
Yearn for greatness and pursue it
Do not get into the business arena with a second-best mentality, yearn for greatness. Just be the best in your lane. Business is a jungle where the fiercest survives. You need to be of a certain disposition for you to be great in business.
There are business truths that you need to know before you choose this trajectory. In order to be great you need to do great exploits.
Greatness is a choice that one makes. Entrepreneurial success is pinned on one’s abilities to differentiate their offerings. In a marathon, only the outstanding one eventually gets the first price. Have a mental software that propels you to become the great in your business and Entrepreneurship endeavour.
Run your business
Social economic benefits are not derived from starting but running the business. Running is a process that consumes various inputs whose consumption entails business to other entities. It’s not only you the owner of the business who benefits from the operationalisation of your business. Local authorities get revenue, employment is created, people get that new product or service you’re offering.
No entrepreneur was famed for starting a business and fail the running test. The ability to successfully run a business demonstrates entrepreneurial acumen.
We have a number of business examples that were subsequently run down after a very good start. Understand how your business function and make sure that it does so in an effective and efficient manner.
Innovate
Innovation sets businesses apart. It makes your entrepreneurship relevant. The world continues to change thus requiring new and current interventions in the form of products or services.
You need to keep tracking these changes and be innovative in coining solutions to such. The one who comes up with the best and unique solution to people’s challenges get the money.
Operate at their level but never be like them. Just be yourself as a business and people will eventually know and respect you for that. Always be original in your approach.
Henry David Thoreau added his voice on the issue of originality in his statement, “It’s better to fail in originality than succeed in imitation.”
Africa University College of Agricultural sciences made news headlines in The Herald of February 17, 2021 by innovating around zumbane through the production of cough drops. If such kind of innovation is sustained and developed into a lasting business, we will then be talking of a progressive African system developing.
Negotiate
The art of negotiating is a life skill that every person need to possess. Indeed, in entrepreneurship it is a non-negotiable attribute as the domain only works better through successful negotiations. Best deals in business are a result of strong negotiation skills.
Business entails delivering the best and getting the best in return. In order to get the best, you need to sharpen your communication skills which are an essential tool used in negotiating.
Grow
What you focus on grows. Look at the attention that’s given to a newly born baby or even our children in general. We make sure that they are well looked after, well fed on a balanced diet. Such kind of focus and care is the same that your business needs for growth.
Organisations and businesses are living organisms made up of essential organs for functionality. With that understanding, growth is the only evidence of life in your business and not activity. Even a dead insect can be tossed around by wind and that’s not growth or development.
Nasdaq president and chief executive officer, Adena Friedman was clear on results, growth, “New products, new markets, new investors, and new ways of doing things are the lifeblood of growth. And while each innovation carries potential risk, businesses that don’t innovate will eventually diminish.” Real entrepreneurs are able to grow their businesses.
Explore and expand
Entrepreneurs often go off the show into the sea exploring opportunities for both growth and expansion. As they do so, they encounter a number of obstacles that calls for new and unique solutions. Such kind of processes prompts them to think solutions.
Edith Anne “Edie” Widder Smith, an American oceanographer, marine biologist, and the Co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association once said, “Exploration is the engine that drives innovation. Innovation drives economic growth. So, let’s all go exploring.”
Conclusion
Entrepreneurship makes the world go round. Graduate from being an ordinary business person and embrace the entrepreneurship SYRINGE. Start and run that business that you have harboured in your mind for years now.
Acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully run your business endeavour, for it is one thing to start and a completely different thing to run a business. Continue to explore opportunities for growth and expansion to remain relevant in the markets that you serve.
Dr Vere can be contacted on +263719 592232 or email [email protected] or [email protected]
