Why Are You In Business? Part 2

What is business? This is one of the many questions I received from individuals that have come to me for consultation. On a daily basis I get this question and many other questions from people who are into business and it’s shocking that a person would be involved in business for a long period of time and does not know or understand what he’s really into.

Business is simply any operation that provides products or services in exchange for a proper fee. It doesn’t matter whether this transaction takes place in front of your house or in the streets, as long as there was a product provided by one party and there was payment made by the other party, the transaction was a business transaction.

When in business you must believe that something can be done through productive and creative thinking and so you must abandon your traditional ways of thinking. When it comes to human beings, there is no such thing as perfection. We can always be changed for the better. As a businessman or businesswoman, you must not let tradition bog you down but be ready to revolutionize your thoughts. When you are restrained by tradition, you will find yourself unable to change and become stagnant. This will cause your business and yourself to remain static as there will be no growth. But with new ideas and thoughts, you must be willing to make changes and this is important for you as a business success.

Also, you must always be willing to accept new ideas in your heart and mind. When someone presents a new idea to you, rather than immediately arguing about its merit and feasibility, you must first listen to the whole idea and give it some thoughts. This is surely going to help you on your way to achieving business success. You must have the courage to start something new. It is a tendency found amongst many Liberians to always do the same old thing and not take a stand to venture into doing something new. We are always satisfied or contend when what we have started is moving on gradually or rather slowly. But friend, I want you to understand this-when you step back in surrender, even without making an attempt; you cannot expect something productive.

Be positive and put on a progressive way of thinking. It is only those who develop and improve themselves with a positive and/or progressive way of thinking can stay ahead of others whether in politics, economics, education, culture or business. And so having a negative mental attitude will lead you nowhere.

The above points are very useful and it is important that you keep them in mind so that your business will grow and prosper. Never stop thinking of new ways to improve and enhance your business. Be confident that your business will grow even larger. Although it may seem quite impossible for your business to serve all be positive that there will be a way to do so if you get out of the traditional ways.

Understand that the very purpose of your being in business is to find joy and happiness. If you lose your joy and happiness you will not bear much fruit from your labor. This also applies to the very purpose of your existence. If you are not making progress and/or making a profit you will soon fail in life and in business and it is your creativity and imagination that will help you succeed and to make progress. You must continue to strive and live a creative life and must put on a positive mental attitude as long as you live and as long as you are in business.

Those who are in business for pleasure or for the sake of being in business and do not work with a creative and/or positive mental attitudes but only do so for the purpose of being able to eat three meals a day will most assuredly fail. Such people truly do not have an understanding of business and lack creativity, which keeps them from self-improvement.

But if you have found joy in your heart and have an understanding and creativity you will wisely use your time. When you establish a goal and accomplish it, you will have joy and satisfaction. Then you can establish a new goal for another work and strive for it. It is about having a plan and being determined about what you are into.

Friend, to become successful in business you must plan well, be determined and creative. I encourage you to establish your goal and remember it and when you reach it, set your eyes on a new goal. When you do so, your very own business will become your joy and happiness.

For new ideas and new directions in your business and when working with a team, you need to have brainstorming sessions. Every person’s idea is worthy to be considered. When someone has an idea no matter who it may be, rather than ignoring the idea, you must first listen carefully to see whether it can be applied to your business or organization. If you discard the idea without giving it a careful thought, it is a great mistake.

Get this straight; it is having a business plan, your understanding of business, your determination, imagination and creativity that will take you down the road to a better future for your business. Again, don’t ever say, “It can’t be done.” If you are stuck in some problems, think of new ways to free yourself. When you so readily proclaim, “impossible,” you will only block your imagination and the power of your creativity from removing the obstacle.

Don’t give up easily under any circumstances, but go forward with a progressive way of thinking. Don’t let traditions and old ways of doing things become a hindrance. You must abandon them and let new ideas and creativity become your new wings.  When you do so, you will find your business bearing abundant fruit.

Friend, look around you today and find something useful to do. Provide a useful service to that man, to that woman, or to that neighbor. Use your imagination and creativity. Put that brain to work and I can promise you that the sky will be your limit.

Know this as from today and onward, your creativity and imagination can take you to the top if you are starting a business without money. The only thing that can limit you is you. Your success in business does not depend on the color of your skin, your educational level, your family background, or your current financial status. The only thing that is required is a strong desire to develop and provide some kind of useful product or service to the public.

(Chealy Brown Dennis is a marketing and business development consultant. He is also a much sought after motivational speaker and offers training in leadership, creative sales and marketing, strategic planning and team building. He also offers on-location and train-the-trainer formats for leaders, managers, businesses and organizations. He can be contacted through email at: dennisbc2011@yahoo.com or by phone at: 0886-264-611 or 0776545394)