People enter into paid employment for two reasons.
1. They seek out paid employment to render service
2. They seek paid employment because they want to make money.
For those who want to render service they will work towards been better at rendering their service and improving themselves.
For those who want to make money, they will in turn work towards making money even if it at the expense if the company they work for. Employers must be very mindful of thus two facts when recruiting staff for certain positions.
Both categories of staff have a potential to be of good use but one’s value out weighs the other. It is a true fact that money is important but when the major focus and foundation for doing anything is money then the story becomes faulty.
One thing is for certain, the reason behind seeking employment will by all means determine the outcome and quality of work output.
Many of the people who seek out paid employment today do so for one reason alone, because they want to make money. Therefore the whole focus of the staff after he/she is employed is ways for which to achieve the goal for been employed. This brings about a divergent of goals as that of the employer is to make profit and grow and that of the staff is to make money (in most cases) at the expense of the company
A case in point is a client of mine who trusted his staff so much they bleed him dry.
How do you put a check on a staff with a focus at making money? Staff management and control!
Learn how to properly manage your staff, Put checks and balances in place to make each and everyone of them accountable, keep books and update them daily, have staff meetings and make sure everyone has their say, let your staff know that you know!
Yes sometimes staffs think their employer is dumb and has no clue of what is going on and even though the employer knows at times he ends up overlooking things, that’s the first mistake. NEVER OVERLOOK A FAULT. Make the staff at fault accountable every time.
Nigerians have issues with planning mainly because of how we see it. The Nigerian business man or entrepreneur sees the business plan as just words on paper. A form of document that is used once and discarded, suitable only for getting a loan or investment. During my years as a business plan developer and consultant I have come to realize that the average Nigerian business owner or entrepreneur will not write a business plan unless he/she wants a loan or investment facility. Even for those who write a business plan for other laudable reasons such as wanting a guide will dump the plan somewhere and later on tell you it was useless venture.
Every entrepreneur has an idea and a destination that they want that idea to take them to. That is the main essence of a business pan, or the reason why you write one. If you have a destination in mind you would need to have a map and find out the best route to take, how long it will take for you to get there and all other factors such as fuel and listening to traffic report. However this is not so with the Nigerian entrepreneur he would look at the map once and dump it, for those who look at the map; while other won’t even bother. When you plot your route using the map you might have to change it after you set out and the change will come to play only if you have another review of the map with a focus at your destination.
It is quite sad that we do not see the business plan as what it is but as a document that needs to be written to please the banker or loan officer so they can give us money.
One other reason why business plans fail is because the Nigerian businessman / businesswoman have dreams that are not achievable. The dreams themselves are too big for the dreamer, sorry to say. A lot of entrepreneurs write business pans they can’t work with. Their plans either have a taste way beyond their own taste buds or it’s out of their reach completely. The more realistic your plan is the more chances that you will go back to it at a later date and not dump it in the trash can.
A friend of mine told me at one time that writing a business plan is like going to war and to this I agreed. That is because it is true. The entrepreneur is the general in charge of the fighters who will be at the war front. In all honesty before a battle begin you have to draw up your strategy for winning the war and doing that with the least lives lost. What the general does and the Nigerian entrepreneur does not do are as follows;
- The general will always go back to the plan
- The general is always ready to adjust the plan and make changes
- The general will carry all the fighters along and make them aware of the plan
- The general ensures that he weighs every change against the lives of the fighters
- The general will never discard planning or the value of it to winning the war
It is time for Nigerians to see planning as what it is. It is not a waste of time or paper and therefore should not be treated as such. When you draw up a plan or map for your business don’t allow it to gather dust remember that “a rolling stone gathers no moss”.
The entrepreneur’s business plan must always be handy and at easy reach where it can be looked at and compared with actual running of the business, it should be reviewed and adjusted. It’s like a conscientious saver or accountant, he would always look at his books to make sure they are in order, if they are not he searches out why and makes amends or corrections where necessary.
If you see planning as what it is and not a gateway to instant access to fund then you will get the value of it. It is said that “He who does not plan, plans to fail” but he who makes a shoddy plan will get a business that collapses along the way. A shoddy plan is worse than not planning at all. His case will be like that of the traveler who failed to get to his destination and could not find his way back to the start point. Nigerian entrepreneurs beware!!!
In the 70′s and 80′s we were used to going to the cinemas to watch films. Then we had a lot of cinemas and cinema lovers. Festive occasions were known for cinemas and even dates. That was the only way for us to watch Nigerian movies aside from the television and then it was all grime and brimstone. Stories of horror and fear by the likes of the late legend Sir Hubert Ogunde and co.
But today we have become used to home videos and cinemas thanks to our brothers and sisters in the east who have devised a was to make extra cash while the sell their tapes and now discs which was the main focus of movie making initially.
A lot of us watch Nigerian home grown movies but very few of us actually know the genesis of the film and movie industry in Nigeria.
During this week while I was researching for a business plan I got to know the story myself. Kenneth Nnebue was an electrical equipment salesman in Lagos who in his search for a way to dispose of thousands of blank VHS tapes he had in his store. He realized there was no way to sell everything and make his money so he gathered friends and families together and shot the fist Nigerian home video in 1992. It was titled “Living in Bondage”. Did you watch that film? Then you were among the lucky few who watched the first Nigerian home video. Nigeria has moved from not making a movie in 1992 to making over 2,000 movies a year as of 2012. Now we are having our producers stepping up and making box office movies that shows at the cinemas.
Today Nigeria’s Nollywood is the second largest movie industry in the world. We might not have gotten there as regards quality and distribution but what do you know? Rome was not built in a day and if in 20years we are were we are today we have done well.
Today I give kudos to the man who started the Nigerian home video industry and wherever he is now I hope he looks back and sees the good work that has come to stay through his search for “how to sell” his tapes!!!
Happy 20 years anniversary to the Nigerian Home video industry!!!
A business model is nothing else than a representation of how an organization makes or intends to make money. Business models convert new technology to economic value and economic value to new technology.
For some start-ups, an old existing business model might not work, so a new model must be devised. Not only is the business model important, in most times the innovation developed in a business rests not in the company’s product or service but in the business model the company employs.
Therefore there is more to choosing and deciding on the right business other than settling on the actual product or service you will be producing. Below are a few of the other factors that you may consider when trying to decide the right business model for your company. You need to decide whether you want to:
- Buy a Franchise vs. Join a Direct Marketing Business vs. Start From Scratch
- Home-based vs. Office-based
- Invent Something New vs. Produce a Product vs. Offer a Service vs. Consult as an Independent Contractor
- Long Term Commitment vs. Build a Business to Sell
- Not-for-profit vs. Profit-based
- Online vs. Physical Business (or Both)
- Sell Your Product or Service in a Physical Location vs. Contracting Your Goods or Services Out to the Federal or State Government
Creating a business model that works
Some business models are as old as the marketplace itself; while we have others that are new or an adaptation from the old. Some have been tested over time and proven viable while others are at the experimental stage.
The simplest model involves creating a product and selling it directly to customers. Other models involve
- selling wholesale to retailers,
- selling through distributors,
- licensing products to other companies,
- selling online,
- selling through auctions,
There are a lot of other alternatives to the type of business model you would be using for your business. There is no perfect model and most companies use some combination of business models to arrive at a unique model. Whatever business model you develop must be flexible, dynamic and SMART.
An entrepreneur is that person who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it! They do not bulk at the volume of work and will not shy away from responsibility. They are accountable and see opportunities in problem at every turn.
WHO IS AN ENTREPRENEUR
- A developer and owner
- A risk lover and taker
- One with strong character and can be held accountable for his decision
- An innovator
- One who is independent but can also be inter-dependent
- Someone persistent at doing things better and achieving results
- An entrepreneur is never happy with routine activities, always looking out for the change
- He a leader that sets the pace
- An entrepreneur is very competitive and lives to win
- An entrepreneur sees the future and is goal oriented
- An entrepreneur does not run from challenges but will persist in the face of adversity
- He continually sees opportunities instead of problems
What will characterize you as an entrepreneur?
- Your constant need for achievement and success in proffering solutions
- Independence going against the norm of a community
- High need to be at the top of your game
- Propensity to take risk and face it head on
- Ability to lead and do so with a conscience
- Your growth and success in a business enterprise or business enterprises
This is an article in the featured in one of the newspapers on Monday 3rd of September. A lot of us constantly come across things to do during job interviews equally important are the errors you must avoid in the course of attending a job interview. Here is a list of the top priority ones:
Don’t prepare
Not being able to answer the question “What do you know about this company?” might just end your quest for employment, at least with this employer. Background information including company history, locations, divisions, and a mission statement are available in an “About Us” section on most company websites. Review it ahead of time, then print it out and read it over just before your interview to refresh your memory. Also check the company’s LinkedIn page and Facebook page, if they have one.
Dress inappropriately
Dressing inappropriately can work both ways. You will certainly want to wear a suit if you are being interviewed for a professional position. When interviewing for a summer job at your local theme park or as a lifeguard, for example, dress accordingly in a neat and casual attire. If you aren’t sure what to wear, visit the organisation and watch employees coming in and out of the office to see what they are wearing.
Poor communication skills
It’s important to communicate well with everyone you meet in your search for employment. It is, however, most important to positively connect with the person who might hire you. Shake hands, make eye contact, exude confidence, engage the person you are speaking with, and you will let the interviewer know that you are an excellent candidate for this position – before you even answer an interview question.
Too much communication
Believe it or not, a recent candidate for employment, who, by the way, didn’t get the job, didn’t hesitate to answer his cell phone when it rang during an interview. Leave the phone behind or at least turn it off before you enter the building. Same goes for coffee, food and anything else other than you, your resume, your job application, and your list of references. They don’t belong at an interview.
Talk too much
There is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on and on… The interviewer really doesn’t need to know your whole life story. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point and focused and don’t ramble – simply answer the question.
Don’t talk enough
It’s really hard to communicate with someone who answers a question with a word or two. I remember a couple of interviews where I felt like I was pulling teeth to get any answers from the candidate. It wasn’t pleasant. So, even though you shouldn’t talk too much, you do want to be responsive and fully answer the question as best you can.
Fuzzy facts
Even if you have submitted a resume when you applied for the job, you may also be asked to fill out a job application. Make sure you know the information you will need to complete an application including dates of prior employment, graduation dates, and employer contact information.
Give the wrong answer
Make sure you listen to the question and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you respond. Like the following candidate, you’ll knock yourself out of contention if you give the wrong answer.
The interviewer had completely described a sales and marketing position to the candidate. She emphasized that cold calling and prospecting were the most important skills and experiences needed for the position. The candidate responded to the question about what she did or didn’t like to do in sales, with these words: “I hate to do cold calling and prospecting, and I’m not good at it.” That response ensured that she wouldn’t get the job!
Badmouthing past employers
Your last boss was an idiot? Everyone in the company was a jerk? You hated your job and couldn’t wait to leave? Even if it’s true don’t say so. I cringed when I heard someone ranting and raving about the last company she worked for. That company happened to be our largest customer and, of course, I wasn’t going to hire someone who felt that way about the company and everyone who worked there.
It’s sometimes a smaller world than you think and you don’t know who your interviewer might know, including that boss who is an idiot… You also don’t want the interviewer to think that you might speak that way about his or her company if you leave on terms that aren’t the best.
Forget to follow up
Afraid you didn’t make the best impression? Are you sure that you aced the interview? Either way, be sure to follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position and the company.
Finally, even if you do flub the interview, don’t take it to heart. I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t blown an interview or two. If it happens, look at it like it just wasn’t meant to be, and more importantly, learn from your mistakes and move on to the next opportunity.
To a Carpenter; a business plan is the hammer that drives in the nail that joins the woods together to give us a table
To the tailor, a business plan is the thread and needle that sews together the pieces of cloths to give the beauty we appreciate
To a writer; a business plan is the pen and puts to words the ideas and pictures he sees in his mind
To a farmer; a business plan is fertilizer that helps the seed grow to give a good harvest
To the builder, a business plan is the design that shows what the building would be like
To a traveller, a business plan is the map that tells which road to take and how to get to the final destination
To the ship Captain; a business plan is the compass that shows the direction the ship should follow
To the doctor; a business plan is the preventive medicine that helps prevent sickness and future pain
To the surgeon; a business plan is the scalpel that cuts open for easy access and the needle that sews together afterwards
To the runner; a business plan is the preparation that enables him to excel
To the photographer; a business plan is the lens that brings every image into focus for better viewing and quality shot
To the driver; a business plan is the fuel that keeps the car running a lack of which means the car will not be able to move from one destination to the next
To the soldier; a business plan is the strategy for winning the war
To the Parent; a business plan is how the home is managed to give a good and healthy life to the individual members and ensuring everyone carries their weight
To a state; a business plan means knowing what the people want and ensuring the safety of its people
To a pastor; a business plan is the knowing of the word, implementing it and leading with integrity
To the bread maker; a business plan is the yeast that is added to the bread to make it rise
To the cook; a business plan is that special ingredient added to every meal to make it a delight to eat
To the flight engineer; a business plan is making sure all the parts of the plane are in working order and that the plane would run safely from one point to the next
To the Police; a business plan means safety, security, law and order
To the electrician; the business plan is tester that show whether power is stored in a particular unit or socket
To the power company; the business plan is the meter that shows the quantity of electricity that has been used.
In all a business plan means different things to different people. What does a business plan mean to you?
If you ask a business owner or an employee if they have heard of the words “business plan”, most often than not you get the answer yes. Ask for the meaning of what a business plan is and you get a variety of definitions. It is never the same because to different people business plan actually means different things. Over the years I have come to understand that in truth business plan could be defined differently depending on which angle you looking at it from.
If you looking at the business plan of making a journey and reaching a destination, your business plan can then be defined as “A map that shows the actual destination of where you are going and highlighting the route to take for optimal effectiveness and time management.” Now if you look at a business plan from the point of defining the operation of your business then your business plan would be defined as “An operation manual that details the ‘how-to’ and ‘when-to’ of your business; the business becomes your user manual and user guide book that ensures that you are conversant with the everyday running and functionality of the business.” But then you might be looking at a business plan as a means to getting additional funding for your business, either for expansion or start-up funding you would likely define your business plan as “A document that defines the business model and that captures the future financial outlook and growth of the business to investors and opens a window of funding for the growth of your business.” For anyone who is looking at having an idea of what the business will be like and what the overall running and ROI of the business will be then a business may be defined as “A business building design or structural plan that highlights the context of the business from different angles to ensure its longetivity and succession of the creator of the business.”
In all honesty a lot of definitions abound over what a business plan is. Whatsoever definition that you have for what a business plan is, let it be known that a business plan is a tool that is needed by all businesses and their owner(s). It is as important a map is to someone who embarks on a journey and knows the name of the city he is going to but does not know how to get there or how long it will take to get there. As a building design that is drawn to know what goes where and what is needed to make the business structurally sound to last a life time and to succeed the creator. As a business owner seeking funding your business plan must serve as a chart to show the growth of the business and how to achieve that growth in the most cost effective way. The importance of a business plan cannot be over emphasised as it is vital to the mapping, designing, structuring, restructuring, capacity building, financing, management, marketing, implementation, growth, expansion, and the overall communal social responsibility of the business.
The way we view a business plan determines how important it will be to us and our business and how we would implement it. But one thing I have found out is that most would develop and write a business plan; either by themselves or they would contract it out to a consultant to get it done and just dump it somewhere never to be looked at or reviewed again. This should not be so! A business plan is actually needed in the continuous day to day growth and running of any business. The business plan once it has been developed has to be implemented and reviewed at least every 6months to ensure that you are moving in the right direction and meeting the projected forecast, getting the maximum return on any investment put into the start and continuity of the business.
Without implementation of the business plan and its review then the actual writing and development of the business plan has been nullified. In actual truth a business plan should be written not just for one reason (funding, planning, operation, strategy, and marketing) alone but for a combination of so many reasons and a focus at meeting the company vision and objectives as mapped by the management or owner of the business. It must not be left in the drawer to rot or be eaten by rats. It is the daily devotional of every team member in the running of the business.
Therefore, do more for your business by implementing the business plan; to do this you have to ensure that the business plan is easy to understand and implement. There is no need for words that you cannot understand or a goal or objective that cannot be met. Whatsoever is in the business plan must be everything the business needs and the team can implement with ease.
“It’s time, we’re waiting for you. We’re tired of your excuses, your complaining, your everything else. We need you now more than we have ever needed you before, so it’s time for you to use your boredom wisely. Yes there will be time for you to have fun, and life is indeed meant to be fun, but if you fill every waking moment with something to amuse you, then you will never accomplish anything worthwhile – which makes me concerned for you, because after all, if you were not meant for something worthwhile, then why exactly are you here?” ― Osayi Osar-Emokpae, Impossible Is Stupid
“Except in a very few matches, usually with world-class performers, there is a point in every match (and in some cases it’s right at the beginning) when the loser decides he’s going to lose. And after that, everything he does will be aimed at providing an explanation of why he will have lost. He may throw himself at the ball (so he will be able to say he’s done his best against a superior opponent). He may dispute calls (so he will be able to say he’s been robbed). He may swear at himself and throw his racket (so he can say it was apparent all along he wasn’t in top form). His energies go not into winning but into producing an explanation, an excuse, a justification for losing.” ― C. Terry Warner, Bonds That Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves
Excuses are just that a reason to not be responsible for the life we live and how we live it. It is a way to shift the blame for not making use of our gift, talents and strengths to the best of our capabilities. There is a particular film I love to watch on TV, it’s called “DodgeBall” and the particular part I love most is the part where the leader of the dodgeball team is is at the airport and his asked why he is not with his team.
His response was that he quit and the guy who asked the question said he understood, there was a time he almost quit his game when he was diagnosed with a lot of diseases but with the help of his family he went on to win the title three times in a row. Then he goes on to say he is sure the quitter would not regret his decision years from then. The team leader had to put aside his excuse of thinking they could not win and he later put a wager on his team winning with all the money he had, after the match his team won the game and he won the wager.
When you give excuse you just telling others that you have lost and given up the hope of been able to rise above your situation or the level that you are. Every excuse is a nail on the coffin of your success. A nail today another one tomorrow and gradually but assuredly you are paving the way for the man you are to disappear completely giving way to the man you should never be. If we take time to think about it carefully we will find out that there is no reason at all why we cannot be who we are meant to be except the fear in us that continually pushes us to justify why we can’t succeed at whatever idea that we have in us.
The fact that the community you live in or the people you live with do not agree with you does not mean that you can’t make a success out of your ideas; the fact is how far are you willing to go to ensure that your dreams do not get trampled upon and pushed into a corner.
An excuse is another way of blaming someone else for that very thing that you alone have the solution to. It’s a simple way of saying you are irresponsible and should not been seen as a human being.
“Why should we change?” Hem asked. “We’re Little people. We’re special. This sort of thing should not happen to us. Or if it does, we should at least get some benefits.” “Why should we get benefits?” Haw asked. “Because we’re entitled,” Hem claimed. “Entitled to what?” Haw wanted to know. “We’re entitled to our Cheese.” “Why?” Haw asked. “Because, we didn’t cause this problem,” Hem said. “Somebody else did this and we should get something out of it.” Haw suggested, “Maybe we should simply stop analyzing the situation so much and go find some New Cheese?” “Oh no,” Hem argued. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.” While Hem and Haw were still trying to decide what to do. Sniff and Scurry were already well on their way. They went farther into the Maze, up and down corridors, looking for cheese in every Cheese Station they could find. They didn’t think of anything else but finding New Cheese. They didn’t find any for some time until they finally went into an area of the Maze where they had never been before: Cheese Station N. Excerpt from “Who Moved my Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson
Excuses are a way to resist change. Who moved my cheese paints a very candid picture of the way we think and the way we see change. Some people are prepared and move with the change, some are not prepared and find it difficult to accept the change so their move is slow and takes time to come, while others won’t even accept the change at all.
It’s a painting of life and how we as individuals react to the changes in our lives. Whether we like it or not there will be change but what we do about it is left to us and us alone.
Sniff and scurry had been noticing the change because they had been prepared for it. They noticed that the cheese was gradually reducing and knew that a day would come when they would not find the cheese where it was so when that day came they just moved on to find a fresh cheese and that is life. We must move on and live.
Haw got the picture at last but would have moved on faster if fear had not held him down and I am glad that he eventually took the initiative to move on! It’s unfortunate that a lot are like Hem who blames everyone for his situation and gives excuses why change should not take place. If it were left to him he would prefer that things should continue to remain the way it is. But that cannot be so. Don’t be left behind like Hem was; learn to move when life changes require it or you would be left to your excuses and past glory.
Starting July 2012 Intercamp Consulting will be featuring a new small business in your area all around Lagos.
The first on the list is be Cuddles and Cradles a new Creche that just opened in Oregun in the month July. Located within the premises of RCCG House of David at 1 Oregun Road, Alausa Ikeja; beside Zenith bank.
Are you working around oregun or living in the Ikeja/Oregun axis; then give your child the best care. Let them enjoy the serene and godly environment that Cuddles and Cradles Creche and Daycare provides.
The creche offers you full-day care, after school daycare, after school coaching for homeworks. The creche is available for children from the ages of 2years to 6years.
Creche is open from 6.30am – 6.30pm every day from Monday to Friday excpet on federal and state government approved public Holiday.
Why is Cuddles and Cradles Different?
It is within a church
It provided godly moral training while caring for your child
Managed by mothers who place children above all else
Offers the best and proper hygiene for your child
The staff are first-aid trained and professional educationist and care givers.
Your child has access to;
The sleeping area
Play pen
Reading area
Videos that aid talking and leadership skills
All with moral and godly foundation
Why wait? Remember that this is the time to give your child the right foundation he/she needs. At this stage of their live the subconscious begins to form and develop. According to data at the age of 2-6years the mind of the child begins to form what he or she will be in future.
Get that “wholesome Childcare” for your child!
Call Ms Akintayo Olubusola on 08038104652
or
Visit the location of the creche itself at
RCCG House of David
1 Oregun Road
Alausa Ikeja
Beside Zenith Bank!
