ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPIRIT

As the dust settles and as the whole world gets to marry the fact that America gave an African-american a second term in office, we need to reflect on a few issues in the just concluded American elections in respect to the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Obama and Mitchelle

1. The black community, who until recently prefer being called the African-american community are roughly 16% of the American population. Had Obama concentrated on campaigning to this community, it could have been detrimental to his bid. He traversed all the races with a thorough campaign strategy.

As an entrepreneur, you need to widen your networks and the scope of thinking. Several entrepreneurs have a problem with trusting people from other communities and there are instances where I have visited many public places or offices only to be shocked that employees converse with their bosses in their local dialect. There are people who reason that doing business with other people from other communities is making that community rich. There is a whole load of business opportunities that you shy away from when you refuse to step out of your tribal confines.

Mr President

2. In his acceptance/victory speech, Obama showed his immense gratitude to his campaign team. He said in part, " To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics, the best, the best ever, some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning. But all of you are family, no matter what you do or go from here you will carry the memory of the history we made together and you will have a long-life appreciation of a grateful president."

Do you take time to appreciate the cleaner who empties your dustbin? Do you thank your secretary for working the extra hour just to finish a report? One human being, however good, cannot do everything in a company by themselves. You will need others and must appreciate their sacrifice and hardwork. By motivating your team and appreciating them you stand a chance of getting the best from them. The entrepreneurship spirit appreciates even the little things. The other day, one of my mentors and business partner, reminded me that maturity does not come by beginning to talk about big things, it comes by beginning to understand the simple things...like understanding the meaning of THANK YOU.

The 1st family

3. No person of colour had ever been elected president in america!

Never be bound by statistics. There are statistics that discourage many entrepreneurs from being ambitious and creative. There are several people who will discourage you from trying an idea of starting a business but that is normal, they are the same people who will praise you when your idea works and the very same ones who will rebuke you when you start facing challenges in your business. Use statistics to your advantage, let them guide you to achieve greater goals but not to discourage you. Yes, a man of colour had never been elected president of America, but Obama was elected, not for one term, for two terms!