There’s nothing sadder than a blind optimist
by Fred Roed on 25/02/08 at 12:45 pm
4 comments
Shaun, programming whiz at World Wide Creative, told me this the other day: ‘Teach a man to light a fire and you’ll keep him warm for a day. Set him on fire and you keep him warm for the rest of his life.’
Starting a small business can sometimes be a bit like setting yourself on fire. The stresses and challenges of cashflow, sales, marketing, admin and red tape never seem to end. This country doesn’t make it any easier either, compared to what other developing nations around the globe are doing. Mauritius, for example, promises to have all the paperwork for your new business sorted in three days. Talk about an incentive for getting started – think: you can do work while sipping on a margharita, sinking your toes into soft white sand. Mmmm.
The thing is, I sincerely believe we have more opportunity here. Despite crime, fraud, grid meltdowns and Steve Hofmeyer, there is a blank (if maybe a bit rough) canvass to paint on. Trust me on this, you will find less competition here for your killer business idea than you will in Canada, NZ or Oz. In addition to this, you’re going to start at a low base, so the rise can be steep.
Once again, I refer to the Stockdale Paradox, from Jim Collins’ book Good to Great, where he talks about the balance of dreams and reality. There’s nothing sadder than a blind optimist. We can harp on pathetically about our rainbow nation, but I believe now is the time for harsh facts. It’s tough here in Africa. No question about it – BUT, that doesn’t preclude opportunity.
As my esteemed colleague Andrew says: ‘Where there are problems, there is opportunity’. Read a summary of The Stockdale Paradox here, and base your business thinking on it.
Have faith – but don’t be stupid. After all, this is the Dark Continent.
Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. Fred is the CEO of web marketing company World Wide Creative and the co-founder of online learning portal Heavy Chef. Fred loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. Follow Fred on Twitter here. View more articles by Fred Roed.
Rouvanne
Feb 25th, 2008
Yes, it can be tough running your own business (unless your name is Mark Shuttleworth – but then he too started out from his garage!) but I have always worked for myself and can truly say that the highs outweigh the lows. We had a start-up capital of R7000, and have been running happily, and with growth, for 13 years (though I’m not going to the moon this weekend). So what you say about the opportunities here being very viable is true, but I will always be optimistic as it’s much healthier than being pessimistic. Yes we have lots of shit to wade through, but I assure you that there are oodles of it wherever you go.
Shaun
Feb 26th, 2008
You’ve miss quoted me, or rather Terry Pratchett. I believe it goes “Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Wade Balsdon
Feb 26th, 2008
South Africa does very little to promote entrepreneurship. Jobs are scarce and SME’s get very little support. Then we wonder why people have to resort to crime.
nomad-one
Mar 7th, 2008
Could you make enough money starting small businesses for others? Maybe a small business starting business is a good small business idea?