Friday 11 January 2013

Breaking The Unemployment Jinx: Begin With The End In Mind–By Fortune Odjugo


Begin with the end in mind” – Habit 2 (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey)
The economy of the United States is the world’s largest national economy and should be a model economy for any ambitious society. But for a nation like Nigeria, where nothing seems to work, a personal understanding of the US economy may actually inspire you to become a different breed.
“There are approximately 154.4 million employed individuals in the US. Small businesses are the largest employers in the country representing 53% of US workers. The second largest share of employment belongs to large businesses that employ 38% of the US workforce. The private sector employs 91% of Americans.”
We all look up to America, as the world power, but it is also worthy to note that the American economy is built by Small Businesses– businesses started by ordinary men and women– like you and I. Entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as “one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods” The most obvious form of entrepreneurship is that of starting new businesses”
Recently, a few Nigerian Universities have realized the importance of Entrepreneurship in our society. While I was at the University of Benin, BUS309 – Entrepreneurship was introduced into the school’s curriculum, for all students, without which you would not graduate. Although I grumbled like every other student, it was until about a few years later, that we realised the true value of what they tried to teach us.
Bottomline is you have to break out of the ordinary orientation which we have been fed with from birth, that we should become educated and become employees. Look around us, the multi- millionaires we admire (not taking into consideration government thieves and fraudulent individuals) are astute businessmen. They did not stumble upon wealth; they worked their way to the top from humble beginnings. They started businesses and endured painstakingly until they got to where they are today.
Everybody is talking about Dangote, one of the richest men in Africa. We are all aware he is a businessman and he did not become richovernight.
Dangote had an early interest in business: “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets [sugar boxes] and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time,” he said during an interview. He later worked with his uncle, Sanusi Abdulkadir Dantata who eventually gave him a business loan of =N=500,000 (Naira) when he was just 21 years old.
I will like to highlight here that a job is very important, especially as a fresh graduate. The work experience you gain during the first few years will give you the platform you require to venture on your own eventually. Irrespective of the pay, status and level, a background working as an employee will make you resilient, disciplined and give you the required training.
There was a guy I met in the University while studying for BUS 309 (which we were all “forced” to pass in order to graduate). He bought all the textbooks and handouts and studied them like it was the bible. When we asked him why all the commitment to the course, he said “I do not intend to work for anybody for long. I want to be an Entrepreneur and these books will give me the insight I need”. That young man worked for a few years with the “worst boss ever” before venturing out on his own.
Today, he applies the experience he gained while working with this boss in his own business. He now understands why his boss was the way he was, the attitude of employees and the benefits of capitalism in business. He had it very rough at the beginning, but he has stabilized through endurance and discipline. He learnt while working under pressure with that boss.
Treat that job, the same way you would treat your own business. Open your mind during this period, absorb any information and training you are given. Do not join the disgruntled bandwagon, who complain about every step their employers make.
Network with the right people, begin the job with the end in mind and above all, have a plan. A long term plan or a short term plan. It all depends on you.
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