Compounded effort

Itai Chapunza

COMPOUNDED effort is defined as to combine so as to form a whole. It means one continues to add on the small things they do in order to make it one big thing. Bodybuilding is an intriguing way to prove the power of compounded effort.

Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop ones musculature. Bodybuilders prepare for competitions through a combination of intentional dehydration, elimination of none essential body fat, and carbohydrate loading to achieve maximum vascularity.

They may also use anabolic steroids to build muscle. But one thing to note is that muscle does not grow in one day. In fact one the first day, the body is very painful. One continues to work on a muscle even when it is painful over and over again for a long period of time. As a result the muscle builds resistance and becomes bigger and stronger. The same principle applies to building businesses. One must come to learn that it will take time for one to start to see the return on the investments.

There is no quick fix to proper business models. They take time, effort, capital, knowledge and an intense dedication to the cause. The popular saying “Rome was not built in a day” is actually a fact. It took an estimated 120 years to build just St Peter’s Basilica and cost upwards of seven billions of dollars. Again, the important thing is the time it took.

One hundred and twenty long years to build, many generations of people carrying on the work of building the place. But the final product makes it worth the time and effort put in. Compounded effort makes small efforts have a huge impact in the long run. So do not despise the money you make today, do not look down on the few bricks you have gathered to build your mansion. The little you make today when continually reinvested result in a big business. That is compounded effort.

Proverbs 13:11
11 Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.

If the Bible tell you that diligent work pays off, best believe it is a principle that works. The word of God is in motion, when it is written in his word it is true regardless of whether you believe it or not. One the conditions of the spoken word are fulfilled, the principle takes effect. So when you easily get to a million dollars from nothing, it’s highly likely you will easily become poor again. But if you build the enterprise from the ground up, when you finally make it, you will probably never be poor again if you continue to do what made you wealthy and evolve in your understanding of the business.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
10 Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, for there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed.

One’s work is really put on overdrive when you work with a knowledge and understanding that you will not be alive forever. Businesses built with the future in mind tend to impact more than just the founder and grow and put food on the table, they become an inheritance for the children’s children. This is usually so because the builder focuses on putting the right foundations from the start and those help it weather the storms that will come. It is a fact, all businesses go through storms.

Competition, cash flow management and many other aspects of everyday operations are a constant threat to its very existence.

If all of it is not carefully managed then disaster is not far off. Keep in mind that you will be gone one day, make sure that your child inherits a functional thing, a thing that can be sold in other towns, cities and even other nations. Because if the idea is obsolete outside to area, in a few years it will become obsolete in its current area because technology catches up very quickly.

So if the idea won’t sell globally, do it only as a stepping stone to build what you want to pass to your children. Instead make sure your children inherit a business that will evolve with technology. A good example of business that has evolved with technology is tm supermarket. It is the retail arm of Meikles Limited and was established in Zimbabwe in 1978. The shop accommodates technology such as mobile wallets and bar code scans for pricing at pay points.

It is a good thing that we have local examples of building generational companies, but let’s not only look inward for inspiration. Abroad high end super markets now have online shopping options, so in some countries one does not need to set foot in the supermarkets.

Self-check outs are now being developed, where no one will operate the till for you, it’s just you, your groceries and you bank card. Amazon famously known as the biggest online retailer is developing the Just Walk Out technology, where one simply walks out with the things they want and their account is charged with the cost of items. All this is simple grocery shopping, but people like you have found ways to stay competitive in the business by keeping up with technology.

The ideas are plenty. Everyone can dream. What should set you apart is the ability to put them into action. Don’t sit on ideas, don’t be afraid to step out and act on them. Have a clear knowledge that no brilliant idea is easy, so if you don’t do it because it is hard, it means you will never do it. Instead you must do it because it is hard. When it is hard very few will follow you.

Be blessed as you take on the world. When you make it, don’t forget to tell them that you are a Zimbabwean and you are very able to build a world class business.

Facebook — Itai Chapunza