Skip to main content

Don't dream of winning, train for it




__The things practical people do!

The Richest Man in Babylon advised his mentees to “increase your earning capacity”. This is like me always encouraging you to #SkillUp!

Now here is a mistake made by many people who work in companies: they expect the company to train them. A good company will always train you to do the job for which they hired you. They don’t necessarily train you for everything you need to make you a great success.

If you want to develop your skills fully, YOU must take charge yourself, otherwise you will not realize your full potential, whether as an employee or an entrepreneur.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who worked for a big company where he was CEO, and very happy in his job.

One day I bumped into him on the street with a pile of books under his arm. “I’m on leave,” he said before adding, “I use my leave days every year as a STUDY LEAVE to focus on a knowledge area where I’m deficient”.

I was totally taken aback, and my respect for him went through the roof.

These are some of the secrets of highly successful people that you may not get to know!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a whole degree studying full-time. Do the groundwork you need to do with what is possible... “right in your hands” [which is a LOT!]  Don’t delay.

A few years ago, I was in Nairobi speaking at a townhall when a young Kenyan guy told me this story: He had read an article about the avocado industry in Latin America. Immediately, he thought it was something he wanted to do.

For the next few years, he followed everything, reading every day. Soon he had built friends in the industry. Before long, he had found a way to import a particular type of plant which is highly productive. It required months of applications to the government authorities.

He has now begun to grow and expand this business.

This young entrepreneur identified the opportunity, did his homework, educated himself, took the initiative to develop a professional network in his new industry, and went through the #Processes required to start his business.

He was not looking for any investment; he just wanted to share his story.

What is your own #Entrepreneurial Story?  What about your own #SkillUp story?

Let's talk.

Image credit: Joe Pompliano/#TheFemaleInfluencer. This is Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in Olympic track, who has won 11 medals [since 2004 when she was only 18]. And this is her little two year old daughter born in 2018, who inspired her entrepreneurial journey. This photo was taken a few months before the 2020 Olympics when all these athletes had to keep their eyes on the prize not knowing if they'd get to compete at all. click here

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Take care of yourself__"The first wealth is health".

By Strive Masiyiwa  A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London.  After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...

WHERE TO BUY THINGS AT A BARGAIN IN NAIROBI

 1.Cereals – Get them in Nyamakima in that kichochoro for Molo matatus. Groundnuts from the market cost Sh190 per kilo, but at Nyamakima they are Sh110. You can also get apples and other fruits at a good price. 2.  Diapers and bar soap – OTC. The kichochoro between Tuskys and Equity.  3. Chemicals for homemade detergent, bleach, fabric softener, disinfectant – OTC, the building with Tuskys, go upstairs, first floor. They will even explain how to mix them.  4. Bulk shopping – If you can manage to go to Kawangware or Eastleigh, you will save a lot. In Kawangware, go to Samrose in the market. Alight at Mlango Soko, then at Cooperative Bank, go down and turn at the first right turn, walk about 20 metres and you will find SamRose. Go with a list, they will give you the prices. If you are buying things for a shop, they deliver. Alternatively, you can turn left and walk a bit for like 100 metres where you will find many wholesale shops including FairPrice. Also look out for Israel. In Eastlei...