Mar 2006 - Entrepreneur Abuse™(2) - Who Is An Entrepreneur? After being out in the “jungle” that is the world of entrepreneuring here in Nigeria for over four years now(since 2002), I have come to the conclusion that the definition of a Nigerian entrepreneur will not differ much from that of those in other parts of the world – especially America.
That definition would be something along the lines I have enumerated below: "A strong-willed, independent minded person who ultimately achieves financial success and social recognition for providing a new product/service or way of doing things, that make a positive difference in people lives. A true entrepreneur, very often, will have started with nothing more than his/her idea and the desire to bring it to reality. Hence the saying that they create something new out of nothing, taking risks that threaten their very survival, but overcoming all odds via persistence, to do what most would have considered previously impossible." However, a number of additional, unfavourable circumstances present themselves to Nigerian entrepreneurs, in my experience, that NONE of the books written by foreigners - about entrepreneuring - have really treated in any depth. Some of these circumstances include the absence of social welfare/security systems that entitles you to some base income/unemployment benefit as obtains for an American for instance. In certain ways, this “support” system provides a cushion effect that is not available to us here in Nigeria. Another is the prevalence of “malicious detractors” who will go out of their way to make you fail. Some will do this for reasons as petty as ensuring you do not invalidate their alibis for failing to start their own businesses, by succeeding in your chosen endeavour. Others are actually people who have been in business before you – who may want you to pay them homage, and when you don’t they take offence. I do not exaggerate here. I had this experience many times when I was starting up(before I learnt how to protect myself)- specifically on three separate occasions within that time. That I am still here today, I believe, is due to my resilience, no little luck, and the fact that I had other alternative arrangements put in place that kept me going despite the efforts made by certain persons to sabotage me. One quick example – I once had someone phone me up, requesting that I come all the way down to Falomo on Victoria Island(more than 30 minute drive on a good day) saying they needed my services in a particular area. I got there to find that I was only being mocked! The person was nowhere to be found after two hours, and her husband kept sending me around in circles, smiling impishly all the while! She did this twice before I caught on to it, and stopped responding. This same woman called me up many times afterwards to mock me on phone asking questions like “How is business now?” while intermittently erupting into loud laughter. And there were others like that – even worse! I am not being alarmist. This is the truth. Some people shy away from writing things like this because they do not want to raise “dust” or rub readers the wrong way. I believe that by forewarning persons who plan to do what I am doing, I can give them a better chance of surviving the rough terrain they have to travel to entrepreneurial success in Nigeria. There are certain people who are unwilling to do what it takes to achieve entrepreneurial success/ significance, and yet will not let others who are ready do so!! In summary, a True Entrepreneur in
Nigeria will therefore also be someone who (apart from doing all
that I mentioned in the definition at the top of this page) will
have developed a gut-level instinct for self-preservation, that
will enable him successfully evade the many attempts that will be
made to frustrate him/her - via the Nigerian
Factor.
|
| Click here to read the first write-up in the Entrepreneur Abuse™ series |
|
Avoid Being A Victim Of Entrepreneur
Abuse™!
|
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
 |
||||||
6 gallon size wooden framed Aquarium Tank Capacity = 6 gallons. Glass Tank Dimensions: 9 x 10 x 19 inches(W x L x H) |
||||||
 |
||||||
| 12 gallon size wooden framed Aquarium Glass Tank Dimensions: 8 x 24 x 16 inches(W x L x H). Tank Capacity(Volume) = 12 gallons |
