Voice of Truth I: To Write or Not?

It took me quite some time to decide on starting this blog. Who am I to write on entrepreneurship? The dissenting voice told me to wait until my business has grown into a multi billion empire, then I could have what it takes to write about business.

"You should wait until that time when you have a multi billion business. Or you could wait until your brand is a household name in Africa; or until that time when you have become a global brand."

But there was another voice. Maybe the voice of truth. This voice said that success is not a destination;it is the journey I'm on. It reminded me of this powerful prose by Marianne Wilson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves,

'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you... We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us... and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Frank Gaertner/shutterstock.com

With that, I was encouraged to start writing. To share my entrepreneurial journey as I walk it, and not wait until a certain perceived destination before I start sharing. It is my hope that as my light starts to shine, it will inspire many others to let theirs shine as well. For the One who lights a candle does not put it under a bushel, but on the candlestick, that it might give light to all! 

Business Idea

More than once, I have come across aspiring entrepreneurs who pose this question:

"Jeremy, help me with business ideas. What business idea can I invest in with say, 500k to a million shillings."

image from under30ceo.com

Well, my answer has been the same: 

"It doesn't start with the money. It starts with an idea. Money follows ideas. Not the other way round." 

I know this because when I started what is today our business consulting firm, I started with nothing. Absolutely no money. Hence today, I wouldn't quite find myself in a quagmire wondering what to do with any amount of money. I would expand or diversify as may be appropriate.

The other reason why I believe it's more accurate to start with an idea other than with money is this: you will almost certainly lose money! Every entrepreneur I have come across recounts a venture in which they lost money. I'm yet to come across an entrepreneur who didn't lose money along the way. This is just part of being entrepreneurial - it comes with bearing a certain amount of risk. In fact, entrepreneurship may be all about finding a good balance between risk and return. The interactions I've had with various businessmen would tend to prove what Robert Burns said to the Mouse - the best laid schemes of mice and men, go often askew.

If all I had was money, I would want to lay the best plan not to lose it. This would greatly reduce my risk appetite and consequently reduce my potential for realizing worthwhile returns.... and yet, with such limitation, the best laid plans could still go awry. If however, I start with an idea, it could succeed or not, but if it should fail, there are more where that one came from.

This then is my two cents on it: it doesn't start with the money. It starts with an idea. Money follows ideas.