The Sunday Mail
Entrepreneurship Matters
Dr Kudzanai Vere
In life and business in particular, not everyone you meet, see and talk to is well meant. Some are like dogs which you can easily mistake for smiling and yet they want to bite you.
There are those who genuinely want to be part of your efforts and support your business to the end but this is a rare type. So in business, there are basically three types of people that you need to be cognisant of and understand their characters and characteristics.
These are the zeros, ones and twos.
The chick that comes out first from the egg shell is always wiser than those which follows afterwards. It quickly develops the skill to pick up food and connect to the environment.
At first I thought the same applies to the business environment that those who came first naturally dominates the market but that is not always the case. There are a century old players in the business fraternity who are failing to grow beyond their four walls. Chief among the causes of such stagnancy is failing to connect and effectively network.
Business is coming up with a sustainable solution to challenges bewildering mankind. You’ll see to it that, for you to benefit from whatever that you come up with as business, you need what we call the people factor. As a business, you need to have your people factor right. This is where you make known to the masses what you do. This is where most people lose it. If you’re in business and fail the connection or networking test, then you’re doomed from the start.
You don’t start your business for your wife and kids. That is not sustainable. It’s for the benefit of the masses whose masses must be deliberately and systematically informed. Your ability to inform the market of the products and services that you offer determines how far you will go in that market. But as you do so, be mindful of the three classes I have mentioned and treat them in a way that leaves you better off.
I am one person who used to think that all those that I know, met and converse with will definitely support whatever business venture I start. With the number of connections I had, I was so confident that I will start big in terms of customer base. Guess what? I received a shock of my life and also learnt a powerful life lesson.
The most important lesson I learnt from that experience is, there are basically three types of people in life that you need to know and understand, the zero, one and two types.
The Zeros (0)
The zero type are those that are just there to be with you and in most cases, they look upon you for everything. They have a tendency of leaving you drained and drenched. Just like the number zero, if you multiply it with whatever number no matter it’s size, it will be reduced to zero. If you add zero to any number whatever its size, it will remain the same.
Let me get into the number demonstration before I go deeper into the zero type of friends. Say for instance, we have 1 000, if we multiply it by zero, we get zero. If we multiply five by zero, we also get zero . If we add the same 1 000 to zero, we get the same number 1 000. It doesn’t change. The same happens with five and any other number, it will remain the same.
The biggest challenges that people face is failure to identify such type of people or friends before they affect you. If you encounter zeros, never allow any multiplication to happen with you as they will reduce you to their size. You will remain with virtually nothing. These are people you wish you didn’t meet in the first place. They will leave you worse off.
Most of those who come wanting to borrow or get services or products on credit from your newly opened shop do not like you. Often times they disappear for good and start hiding or changing lanes when they see you coming. These are the same people who laugh and back bite you when you’re wound down and broke. They rob you of all or the little that you have by either hook or crook. Such kind of friends are never supportive. These are the zeros you need to be careful about and avoid.
We have this other type of zeros which just need to be close to you to add the number and not your value. They are physically there but they do not add any value to your life and business. Try to add them to whatever you’re doing be it a business project or an innovative initiative, nothing happens. You just remain where you are. No movement at all. It’s just adding a zero to your 1 000. Nothing changes. It’s almost wasted effort.
There are people who are just as flat. It doesn’t mean they don’t talk or say out things to you as suggestions, they do but it’s a zero sum game. Whatever they say doesn’t yield to anything. They are full of empty words.
They are not informed. You know there are people who seems and claim to be full of wisdom but the wisdom is either irrelevant or obsolete. This is a type to avoid. You would rather remain alone than have such people around you.
The Ones (1)
The major aim of having a circle of friends around you is for a symbiotic relationship.
They should see and feel assisted when they are in need and the same should happen to you.
A good and real friend should be able to support your business while you support theirs.
If you consider them in whatever you’re doing, you see some change happening. Add 1 to 1 000 you get 1 001. This makes some sense. At least you’re going somewhere as a person and business.
There are friends you can comfortably call so and even accept that they are indeed your friends.
They buy your products and services, the ideas that they give you really works. You can actually trust, test and implement them.
In the same group of 1’s, we have this type which when you change the way you treat them, you get an unfavourable outcome.
The reason we get into business is making a profit while at the same time growing the enterprise. Multiply 1 with a thousand 1 000, you’ll still get your same 1 000. Nothing changes. So you would want to connect with people who at least leaves you better and not bitter.
This is a kind that’s exactly the same as the other zero which when added to any number, nothing happens. It remains the same.
Such kind of people simply helps you maintain the status quo and yet it’s not always ideal to keep a low profile as a person and business.
Like I said, the ultimate aim of business is positive contribution in the form of products and services and make a profit in the process. Your net worth should increase at the end of the day due to the profits that you make.
The twos (2)
This last class of people called 2’s are always in season. Whichever way you interact with them, there is always positive outcome. Multiply 2 with 1 000, you get 2 000. Add 2 to 1 000 you get 1 002.
This is a type that I can call your all weather friend. A friend no matter whatever they do to and for you is always beneficial.
These are a type that you would not want to lose in life.
People who don’t only support your business idea but at times criticise it if it’s not a good one.
Their main aim is to get you up and raising in whatever you do.
In life these are people who have either gone the direction you’re taking and have first hand experience of the journey that you’re trying to go or they have some expertise you may capitalise on as you embark on your business venture or even life in general.
This is what you need to know in business.
As you make some effort to expose your business to people, you will encounter zeros, ones and twos. You need to develop the wisdom to select those that positively influences your business.
Determined to engage, inspire and transform generations.
Dr Kudzanai Vere, the founder of Kudfort, Tengesa Online, Premium Business Network International and the Institute of Entrepreneurs Zimbabwe is an entrepreneur, author and transformational speaker in the areas of entrepreneurship and personal development. You can contact him on +263719592232 or email [email protected]
