sake of the end user . It is also prudent to ring-fence proprietary copyright , patents , production secrets and intellectual property for the businesses we run . Have legal backing to counter frivolous claims and mud-slinging . Derailers will always exist and we should beware of their antics and be swift in thwarting their advances as soon as they occur .
The bible story in Nehemiah is both dramatic and comical , imagine working on building repairs balancing tools but still strapped with weapons in case detractors invade you . They worked but were vigilant to defend themselves if their enemies attacked . With two teams in place , those that stood guard and workers who were ready to work , their chance of completing their God temple ’ s rehabilitation was safeguarded . It is advisable to have defence frameworks across your business . Some of these include cctv , physical security , retained advocate services , biometricaccess , manned sentry at entry / exits , cyber monitoring and defence systems among others .
From that 2014 FIFA world cup semi-final we learn five things that could help all of us in our daily lives and businesses in creating resilience .
Do your thing
German kind of play was considered colourless to the nice set-pieces and flair of the Brazilian boys . Whose plays were like dance . Paulinho and others had suave moves and unbridled rhythm in their dribbles and passes . The Ozil , Muller and team had one thing on their mind . Keep possession and direct all their simplicity in dribbling to get the ball past Caesar the legend Brazilian goalie . Their basic moves became their strong point . In the dance play Brazil lost passes which were maximised by their opponents .
Refine your processes
After the win , it came out that the German team had been refining their ‘ boring ” technique over a very long time . They had assessed their players using technology and did precision call ups to the national team . They combined technology with talent and refined that in unprecedented practise . Their practise sessions were monitored , they had a diet for each player that had been carefully selected by top nutritionists . They worked on what was not so obvious though it was not appealing to fans but got the job done .
Do not bank on accolades or awards
The call up for the Brazilian team was laced with emotions and backed by the accolades , awards and fans ’ driven approach . There was no science to it . Pundits remarked brutally that they had no strategy other than “ pass it to Neymar ”. Neymar is a top athlete and star soccer player in his own right but if it is true they over-relied on him then it explains their loss . Neymar stayed out the semi-final game as he had suffered an injury . The rich history of the samba boys counted for nothing in that 8th July 2014 highly televised game .
Keep it simple
Many times , we are obsessed with sophistication and complex approaches in scoring and winning . The straight simple solutions are laughed at and shunned . I believe grit and basic process discipline gets the job done . Evaluate your sales and marketing strategy and add your delivery packaging to that . Many top brands , keep it lean and simple . Starting with their logos , invoices , procedures , customer journeys and packaging .
Locally we have a milking petroleum jelly brand that is a house hold name which surprisingly serves beyond their niche . “ Arimi ’ s ” have kept it simple , their adverts are basic and everything about them is simple .
Get it done
Sell your product at the earliest opportunity .
Is it possible to have a re-order form and list for your business ? Could you have a limited-edition product for niche clientele ? Could you sell the walk-in experience at your production site ? Coca-Cola are good at this . When they allow kids and the public to tour their factories as they sample their products they create and sustain new demand . The visitors are normally sold on their consistent branding , factory efficiency , cleanliness and ambience . The product becomes a by-product in one genius move . Where many will buy based on the standards they witnessed , believing hygiene , safety and the jobs created have to be sustained .
Get it done at your earliest opportunity in your life and business . Go for that big break - go for the sale . The elevator pitch is based on this principle . Score at the earliest and then sustain the winning . Sometimes we get soaked by our own dramas that we forget to get the sales in at the earliest . If you can cash out at the order stage kindly get it done . Let the fun be made in the celebrations after the sale is secured by payment . There are brands that give out samples before the sale and yet there are others that give a discount to try their new products even others will only give samples to their loyal paying customers . The choice is yours .
Lunani Joseph is a Technology & Governance Professional , currently serving as the County Executive Member for Transport & Infrastructure for Vihiga County . You can commune with him via email at : JLunani @ insynqueafrica . com , Instagram : @ lunanijoseph , Twitter : @ joseph _ lunani , or LinkedIn : @ joseph-lunani .