By
Nnabugwu Chizoba
“Concentrating
energy, time and other resources, working “in” your business without working “on” the
business, is the easiest way to limit the reach of your efforts, business growth
and sustainability”…Nnabugwu Chizoba.
In
my more than 10 years of consistently providing business advice, entrepreneurship
development and investment Consultancy services, and training; to clients,
customers, mentees and apprentices, there is something very striking and
equally disturbing that I have noticed among business start-ups, growing
entrepreneurs and some established ones as well. I personally consider it a
huge minus, in their efforts as business operators, entrepreneurs and investors,
who are desirous to grow their business, create jobs, and generate wealth.
Practices,
such as sited in the quotation above, and being discussed briefly in this piece,
has significantly, limited the efforts of most business operators and equally
hampered their capacity to contribute meaningfully at reducing the spate of
unemployment, poverty, hunger and starvation, in the land.
The urgent
need to overcome such destructive tendencies is increasingly overwhelming, just
as the need for productive efficiency has become manifest. In this regard,
therefore, closing the wide gap that exists between working “in” and “on” their
business (by business operators, entrepreneurs and investors), will make their involvement
and efforts in business more engaging, rewarding and a worthwhile experience.
It will
interestingly, also, ensure that as they strive to attain their self-imposed
mandates or goals that they equally contribute profoundly towards optimizing the
policies and efforts of various governments, and making peoples’ empowerment, socio-economic
growth and sustainable development efforts a reality.
For better
understanding of the discourse, let me say that the missing link, which is also
stifling in a way, bothers heavily on the fact that most business owners and
entrepreneurs spend much time working “in” their business that they do
not work “on”
their business. (I suggest you pause a little and spare a thought
on this before proceeding with your reading).
The
above identified development, has, is, and will continue to stall business
development efforts, and as a matter of fact, impact entrepreneurship
activities negatively, if unchecked. Like most things of life involving the activities
of men, women, young, elderly, individuals, institutions, groups and
communities; the place of growth, achievement and sustainable development can
never be over emphasized. They are the currency that binds, and the substance
that gladdens the hearth. In business and entrepreneurship development activities,
the same situation holds true.
It is
on the strength of the foregoing, that a systematic, but progressive move is
necessary. This move is germane, apt and increasingly very essential and
equally rewarding. This will impact
business activities and operations positively, considering that MSMEs
development is a wind of change blowing across the country. For this reason, elevating
the structures that will make business operators to work “on” their business is critical for MSMEs development, considering
the benefits and values derivable from it.
I encourage
business operators, entrepreneurs and investors to concentrate seriously on
working “in” their business. Similarly,
I favour raising alternative structures that will assist business operators to work
“on” their business.
A structure,
has been strategically erected in Plateau state, to work “on” businesses in Plateau state and by extension for the benefit
of MSMEs. It is a collaboration between two active, MSME oriented interest outfits:
Belford Institute Consultants (operator of Belford Business Institute) and the Jos
Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, JOCCIMA.
My
Advocacy efforts as a Business developer and entrepreneurship Consultant, with
regard to creating opportunities that ensure start-ups and growing business
operators are not distracted from working “in”
their business, but that efforts are directed towards raising structures that
will work “on” their business, have
yielded positive result, with the emergence of this collaboration between
Belford and JOCIMMA, in Plateau state.
The goal
of Belford/JOCCIMA collaboration is to work towards protecting and promoting
the local business community and to help the business owners to network and
grow by helping them to further their interests through business development
services, Advocacy and effective representation.
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