Sundaymail Editor
Entrepreneurship Conversation
Dr Kudzanai Vere
Since entrepreneurship is a higher order form of doing business, not everyone has the mental disposition and capacity to lift themselves to such heights and let alone sustain them. Those finally called entrepreneurs are the ones who have developed unique competencies in pursuing certain niches in the market and dominated their spaces. To be an entrepreneur, you should have an unquestionable trail of your unique contribution to the socio-economic cause. Then not everyone can stand this test. Most people fall short and yet they continue to call themselves entrepreneurs.
What it takes to be an
entrepreneur — ViPa MFAID
Entrepreneurs possess distinctive attributes that make them an outstanding breed and brand. They have vision clarity, passion, an entrepreneurship mindset, innovation, focus, action and undisputable dedication.
Vision clarity
Entrepreneurship is not in the name but in the process and outcome. To become an entrepreneur, you need the ability to use all your visual abilities, be able to see with your eyes, mind and senses. You need eyesight, foresight, insight and mindsight. All your visual faculties must be rid of any obscurity and clutter. Have the ability to see things in your own way clear pictures of what is and what should be.
Passion
The reason why some graduates fail to deliver on the practical arena is nothing more than lack of passion. A number of people are doing programmes at college that will get them employment in the market and not the ones they are really passionate about. They are learning to fulfil employment requirements. You even hear some talking about which program can make one quickly get a job? This mindset eventually prompt people to do things that contradict with their passion simply because they want to secure a job in the market. Passion speaks of the things that you affectionately feel like doing and really enjoy doing them.
Mindset
All entrepreneurs have their own way of thinking. This is the reason why renowned entrepreneurship experts agree on the fact that entrepreneurship is a mindset. Professor Saras Sarasvathy of Virginia Darden University clarified the thinking process behind entrepreneurs by coming up with the effectuation theory which directly contradicts the causal theory most ordinary business persons and managers use.
Effectuation is a form of reasoning and problem solving that assumes that the future is unpredictable and yet controllable through human action. Saras argued that causal thinkers start with the end in mind and work backwards trying to find the best means to archive it. While on the other end effectual thinkers utilise what’s available and come up with new and different ends.
Let’s all cast our mental eyes on our then sunshine city Harare, particularly focusing on the roof tops. What is it that comes to your mind? We can ignore Harare and move closer to where we stay, our own home towns. Just take a look at the rooftops, what is it that comes to your mind?
This question seeks to detect entrepreneurial thinking from ordinary minds. Answers can vary from sheets, painting etc. An entrepreneurial mind sees an opportunity to install solar panels on each rooftop for own consumption and exporting the excess into the main grid for others to benefit. Do we really need vast land for these panels or our roofs in every town are good enough?
Focus
“I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there, you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants”. Zig Ziglar.
Most successful entrepreneurs have laser focus. Whenever they get down on some innovation and worth endeavour, they stick to it to completion. They do not give it divided attention for they are driven by the desire to have the solution out into the market. Its true that what you focus on grows.
Our own Strive Masiyiwa, one of the Forbes ranked billionaires focused on the telecoms and never shifted his vision and ultimately, he made it. I am not saying diversifying is bad, but you need to make sure that which you have started matures and reaches a POINT OF NO RETURN before you move to the next.
Action
Action converts ideas into results. Apart from being prolific idea generators, entrepreneurs are executors. Practical entrepreneurship is not a domain for theorists. It’s a practical area that ushers practical and relevant solutions to humanity.
Entrepreneurs go beyond pen and paper (planning) into actioning and actualising their ideas and plans. You don’t become an entrepreneur by giving out a brilliant idea in your Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy thesis, even by writing articles on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are made in the field. They are known for their conversion efficiency. Converting ideas into products and services for the masses.
Innovation
Entrepreneurs do what others fear and fail to do. They bring in new ways of doing things. They usher in new products and services. Innovation and uniqueness are the foot marks of entrepreneurship. Not everyone is innovative. A greater majority find pleasure in following behind others. Process those flies into stock feeds as done by this Bindura man Josephat Nyika. Rather than selling zumbani leaves, extract its juice and bottle it if possible. Entrepreneurs are innovative beyond measure.
Dedication
Dedication is more than commitment and is a salient ingredient in the making of an entrepreneur. The entrepreneurship terrain is marred with vast distractions. Walking the journey to the end calls for dedication and determination otherwise you will be picked by the roadside.
Entrepreneurs normally fight their battles to the end. They keep in the trenches and sweat it out driven by purpose towards the mark.
Conclusion
We cannot all be entrepreneurs; some should just be best managers of other people’s businesses while others get the best sales person of the year awards while those who possess these rare traits are crowned entrepreneurs of the year and decade. Vision clarity, passion, innovation and the entrepreneurship mindset gives this lot that dominance.
The author, Master Coach Dr. Kudzanai Vere is an entrepreneur, author and transformational speaker. He is the founder and CEO of Kudfort, founder and director of programs at Transformational Mindset Institute, founder and executive president of Premium Business Network International, secretary for the Kadoma Economic Development Chamber and a lecturer at Women’s University in Africa. Dr. Vere have spoken extensively in Zimbabwe and across the borders in areas of entrepreneurship and business management. He authored four books including the best-selling entrepreneurship book, Exceed beyond the ordinary: A step by step guide on how to become a high voltage entrepreneur and a personal development toolkit, Becoming a person of impact: The six pack approach. He can be contacted on +263719 592232 or email [email protected] or [email protected]
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