The Spirit of the Entrepreneur – A Lesson Learnt From a Guava
I think I was thirteen when my elder sister planned an afternoon out with her friends to watch a movie. I was so excited and begged my sister to take me with her. However, she was adamant that she was taking her friends and not me. She stated that if I wanted to come along, I would have to pay my own way. Right there I was facing my first obstacle – money. The issue was that I had none and my sister knew it. Without money I couldn’t go to the movies. But my desire to go was so great. Quickly my mind floated to the guava orchard at the back of my father’s house. Those guava’s were large and had juicy, pink flesh. Immediately I identified a product to sell. I identified a product that I believed people wanted. So I picked a basketful and attractively placed them in a cardboard box and stood by the side of the road. I can’t remember what my sales technique was but I can clearly remember that at the end of the day my cardboard box was empty and I had cash in my pocket. The next day I went to the movies with my sister and friends. I even had money left over for snacks which my sister and her friends coveted because they didn’t have extra cash. Whenever I think of that story it reminds me that at one time in my life I was operating under the Spirit of the entrepreneur.
The Collin’s dictionary defines an Entrepreneur as a business person who attempts to make a profit by risk and initiative. In my case I made a great profit because the guava’s cost me nothing. I took initiative to sell a product in exchange for money which I needed to fulfil my purpose and burning desire to go to the movies. I risked my reputation. In my circles of that time it was seen as embarrassing to be caught selling fruit by the road side. It was just not the in thing. However, what I think was more potent in contributing to my success was my burning desire. I had a purpose. This purpose was stronger and more overwhelming than the risks that were before me. I saw myself at the movies. I saw myself having a good time. That vision alone destroyed the obstacles. That strong desire and vision made the whole universe work on my behalf to bring my desires to me. I was propelled into action with an idea – divine inspiration. Then once i had positioned myself people came, purchased my product and gave me money. This money I then used to exchange for movie tickets and snacks.
The Entrepreneur has a Spirit that believes that their desires will come to pass. They keep their vision ever before them. Their burning desire compels them into action. That burning desire says that failure is not an option. True Faith.
You have started a business. But do you have the Spirit of the Entrepreneur?
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