Groove Magazine Zimbabwe Issue 2 | Page 71

“Business is about having money in your hands that to get ahead you need connections and networks. “ businessman was willing to listen to us and furthermore he was willing to lead us to very powerful people with money. As with the case with any shark there was the underlying request for a little ‘incentive’. He was making very subtle requests for a significant stake in the business in payment for his information and network capital. Weeks went by and he kept saying he was playing his cards to his chest. What was he waiting for? Well simply put for us young and naïve entrepreneurs to bleed just a bit so he could feed. We had fallen nicely into the trap of being naïve that anybody interested in our idea is really interested in our idea. Something learned from this little protracted transaction was the importance of being secure in what you have and knowing when someone is really interested in your idea. In the case point above it was clear that this big shark was an opportunist just looking to bite off a chunk of our business for nothing. This brings me to one of the first of 13 principles for the entrepreneur (Japanese fisherman) who will successfully (profitably) navigate the shark infested waters of opportunity. Security Security is principal in any assault on a shark. An entrepreneur needs to operate from a secure position which can also be considered a place of confidence. As an entrepreneur you must be operating from a position of confidence and security in a number of things, Your business acumen and competence, Your business idea and its potential, Your network of advisors. These 3 things will serve to ensure that you know what you have, what you’re looking for and what you really need to get you business idea off the ground. Your business acumen and competence (your knowledge) In business as with any other sector or area of an economy there is a need for a sizeable quantity of relevant knowledge. This is because, -Your individual actions as the owner will ultimately affect how your business idea will perform, -The right behaviour (application of knowledge will lead to success). So what you know and being secure in what you know will always play a significant role in how you present yourself to a potential investor who could be a shark. Your business idea and its potential As much as knowledge and competence are important the gaps in your skill and competence will also be supported by research and details relating to you business idea and its ability to translate to market share. Your network of advisors Your ability to assimilate all aspects of a business and to know everything about it are close t o impossible and so there’s always need for more brains to shape and focus your business idea as it grows. Advisors, play the significant role of providing plugs for gaps in aspects like experience, knowledge and leverage. A secure position means one thing that an entrepreneur enters the open waters of opportunity certain of one thing; survival is necessary but it isn’t sufficient when faced with the shark. Get your copy of “The Shark and the Japanese fisherman” at shop.mazwi.co Groove Magazine Zimbabwe 67