BUSINESS & LIFE MISTAKES TO AVOID (3)

SEE my previous posts at

https://www.nairaland.com/832707/salary-slavery-series-business-life

TALK IS CHEAP!

Rather than going about mouthing what you would do, keep your mouth shut and get the job done. Actions speaks louder than words they say. Read more on this vital tips for life and two other mistakes you must avoid...

Mistake 6: Talking too much about your vision rather than sitting down and working at it and allowing it to speak instead. On about four occasions during my visits to him, my first financial mentor had always asked about a particular idea I shared with him. He gave me his opinion on how to implement it. Every time he asked, I would always explain that I was still reflecting on it before actual implementation. During one of my visits to him, he led me straight into his “wisdom room”, and without much talk he handed over to me his giant size Bible and asked that I open to chapter one of the book of James . I did and he asked me to read aloud verses 22-24. I did: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in mirror. For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he is”.

“Does that speak to you?” my mentor asked, but I did not say anything. He then continued: “My friend, I am not pleased with you at all. You have continued to give excuses for not doing what you know you should do. A great future is not built by explanations and excuses. You are making my role in your life difficult and if this continues then I may have no choice than to terminate the relationship. You know quite well that I am a busy person. I only allowed you into my circle of influence because I was persuaded you have a great assignment on your hands. But how would you feel if I were your student and you gave me an assignment and I kept giving excuses for not getting it done? I don’t know why on earth you would allow a great idea to slip out of your hands by your unwillingness to sit down and get it started. I care less about whatever you say want to do. Just let me see the result. It is immaterial how many ideas you have in your head; it is the one that is out on the street that can bring in breakthrough. You are making a big mistake to think that you have to get your idea 100 per cent right before you start it off. That is the mistake many people make. It is when your idea is out of your head and in the market place that people can help you to refine it. People cannot add value to what they cannot see! You have asked for my opinion and I have given it out lavishly. So what are you waiting for? If you don’t agree with my point of view say it and let us look at it again. But there is one thing I am certain about, I won’t entertain any issue from you until I see that you are already acting on the idea we have already discussed.” My mentor stopped talking and waited for my response but I did not say anything. I just thanked him and promised to make amends. There is a whole lot of sense in his piece of advice which I believe you should also consider.
Mistake 7: Failing to make use of your mentors and circle of advisers. After a one week coaching session I had with my coach, I requested to have a session with him. We held the meeting in his office which also serves as his study. The one week coaching I had with him was an eye opener. What I gained in those five days was more than what I had learnt in the past five years. I just wanted to express my appreciation to him even though I paid for the training. His reply even surprised me: “I want to believe that you are just getting it right. The point you are at right now, was where I was more than fifteen years ago. I had thought that you would see wisdom in everything I share with you. Most of the mistakes you made were avoidable. But thank God, you are now ready to forge ahead.” As we were still talking, he asked me to look through some of the books and manuals on his table. He had just ordered them directly from the authors and he asked me to mark the ones I liked and would want to order. I put aside five of the materials. I had never seen them in any bookshop before. My coach continued: “I believe that most of the things you would ever need in your line of business are all yours if only you would let me just know them. Has it ever occurred to you that by virtue of the fact that you have access to me, you also have access to my circle of mentors and advisers? Think about that!” We ended our discussion shortly after that. That meeting forced me to make some drastic adjustments in certain areas and I believe you would also do well to find a way to get the best from your mentors and your own circle of advisers.

Mistake 8: Filling up your business with friends and those you really don’t need: In one of my discussions with my financial mentor, I asked him a question: “What would you do differently if you were to start your business all over again?” One of the tips he gave was that he would not employ friends and family members into his business at the initial stage. His words: “One of the greatest mistakes I made, which many young, small business owners still make, was to fill up my business with friends and family members. When I started, I employed a couple of friends and family members. Two of the individuals were my classmates in the secondary school and three family members. I got to know the hole I put myself in after a year in the business. Virtually all those people became liabilities. They were just not fit for the jobs they were doing but I could not summon the courage to fire them. When I attempted to fire one of my relatives working with me, she simply reported me to her dad who in turn informed my mum. I was in a dilemma for about two more years before I summoned the courage and fired all of them at once, damming the consequences. One of the rules I had to make was never to bring in people I cannot fire when I have to. That has helped me a great deal. Don’t just employ people because you have to fill a space. You cannot afford that luxury as a small business owner. That should not be construed to mean that you should not employ friends if they are good. But you should articulate the job description for every vacancy in your company and recruit properly to fill in those positions. If your friends and family members fit in, why not? But get them properly recruited and get them to sign all the necessary conditions attached to the employment including the fact that they can be sacked if they no longer measure up to expectation.” Some food for thought? I bet! We shall share more tips next week.

Prosperously yours.

thanks for this article

Pls start writing these articles again

joyceok: Pls start writing these articles again

see https://www.nairaland.com/1571612/salary-slavery-series-business-life#20513667

bestads:

see https://www.nairaland.com/1571612/salary-slavery-series-business-life#20513667

Thanks

Thanks for dis piece. to be good leader and entreprenuer is not for d li'l liver.

thanks

Goodness Gracious!
Since 2012 you put this up and only about 4 people saw the wisdom leaded in this! Mmmh...

OP! You have made my morning. Thanks for sharing these wisdom nuggets though it spoke to me differently not business wise, I sure will apply it.

Can you share a book with me bestads? *smiles
I'll appreciate it.

very nice one OP.


Am inspired....how can I get in touch with u?

this piece is just too nice, keep the good work flowing, God will reward you more via ur business, who knows how many applicant you have save from the wrath of unemployment and how many business men or women who have save from making the same mistake. thanks ops.

amicable09:
Goodness Gracious!
Since 2012 you put this up and only about 4 people saw the wisdom leaded in this! Mmmh...

OP! You have made my morning. Thanks for sharing these wisdom nuggets though it spoke to me differently not business wise, I sure will apply it.

Can you share a book with me bestads? *smiles
I'll appreciate it.

This is because only thrash and articles with banality get to the front page of nairaland

More of this articles are coming

bestads:


This is because only thrash and articles with banality get to the front page of nairaland

More of this articles are coming

Sadly true.

Hopefully, you will help bring great stuff here to enlighten folks who are interested in developing themselves.

Keep it coming. I still look forward to receiving a book from you maybe through a courier service. Thanks

Kul

Wonderful

Wao!,this is awesome...op pls, give me your mail,here is mine email: japjondo13@gmail.com. We get talk ooo

I must confess that this write up is all about me.well I have taken the decision to quit government work and start my own business. Thanks ops.

Meanwhile for your helping hands international briefing, mentoring and registration, you can call this number 08060118172. Network with ease.