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Entrepreneurship Matters
Dr Kudzanai Vere
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.” — Robin Sharma
Your business is a reflection of who you are at a personal level. Continuous upgrade of your mental software makes your business safer. If ever you fool yourself by thinking that learning is expensive, no worries, you will pay through the nose.
Thriving businesses are being steered forward by leaders who take learning seriously, not by themselves alone but even their entire workforce. The results you get in your business determine how far you know the area. Having a company-wide learning culture is key to business performance. Learning starts from accepting your deficiencies in the areas you want to improve on. Those you associate with can also be enhancers or detractors of your business destiny.
Accept that you do not
know everything
I have friends who resisted learning practical ways of managing their businesses through programmes such as the esteemed Certified Practical Business Manager. They are now en route to winding up operations.
King Solomon, in Proverbs 16:18, is clear that pride goes before a fall (destruction). Learning is a process that we must always affiliate to.
The enemy of learning is pride and arrogance. In business, you cannot afford not to learn as you will be directly choosing your demise than dominance and destiny. We know but in part and there is every room for improvement. Accept that you do not know everything. The world and its ways continue to change. The moment you blink, you will be overtaken. You just have to keep pace with the current trends and tools to remain relevant in your business.
Associate with people who
know what you do not know
Your performance in business depends on what you choose to put in your mind. We are related in behaviour to those that we choose to spend most of our time with.
Spending more time with people of your level makes you an average person.
If you really want to learn new things, associate with people who are head and a shoulder above you.
Every business has forerunners – people who are coming from where you are going. These can become your best teachers in that area. Learn from others.
Enrol for courses that are in
line with your business
Every area of business keeps evolving as the customer needs change by the day. As such, the growth and success of your business depends on your mental input. So, if your mental software is outdated, you are working on an old version in a new business. Your business will also be backward and less competitive as a result. Keep upgrading yourself. Attend that business seminar. Enrol for that business programme. Read that entrepreneurship and business article.
It pays to be current
The informed save time in executing tasks. Brian Tracy once said: “Personal development is a major time saver. The better you become, the less time it takes you to achieve your goals.” Personal development is the only sure way to the impact zone.
Learning is a commitment that consumes your time and resources. Those who persevere are seen by their results. Investing in upgrading self is a worthy goal. It pays off. The rewards are numerous.
You will not only be a better person but your presence will make things change at business and even community level.
Learn to learn. Do not be arrogant. Accept that you do not know everything, even in your line of business.
There are business leaders out there who can assist you light your business torch better. Every thriving business has a learning someone behind.
Demand for better services and products is pushing companies to adapt and adopt new ways of doing business, which can only be achieved through having a learning culture.
Tastes and preferences have changed and continue to do so.
If you fail to upgrade your mind, you will act the past in the present and surprise people.
The writer, Dr Kudzanai Vere, is an entrepreneur, serial award winning transformational speaker in the areas of entrepreneurship, business development, leadership development and organisation development. He is the CEO of the Institute of Entrepreneurs Zimbabwe. He can be contacted on +263719592232, email [email protected]
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