Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people, whether they are born or made. They are driven as much by the desire to make a living as to make a life; probably more by the later desire to make a life – to add purpose to living for themselves and society, and if possible to leave a legacy. Every successful entrepreneur began as a one-man business, often in the bedroom or garage. Some started in a lounge, as many did or in disused cars on the street corners. It doesn’t matter much. Just be sure to have clearly visualized the end from the beginning. Again, be sure you have a man or woman with a yearning for a sense of purpose in life. There is no need to worry about how or where the story begins for you. Just go ahead with your dream. This might look like a difficult time to dream dreams in Nigeria but those born with the entrepreneurial spirit do not listen to much of the noise around them.
The quest for adding purpose to life is mostly behind some of the seemingly bizarre decisions that people make, which others find very hard to understand. It is an important element of entrepreneurship to be courageous and strong. One of such bizarre acts is Dangote’s massive investments in Nigeria, at a time it is fighting a losing war against domestic and foreign terrorism. Many would think he is too optimistic. Others have other explanations for his action at a time the country is most divided, most unstable and most dangerous to live in. Those who visited the Dangote complex last week were dumbfounded. Those in government must have wondered how unproductive they have been to those they claim to represent, seeing what an individual was doing with private funds. Entrepreneurs have courage and foresight. Perhaps, there is something Dangote knows and sees which many of us do not see. Mere mortals who went to the refinery were literally frozen. Entrepreneurs are often crazy to the ordinary man.
Pessimists look too much at the weather and often fail to plant. Dangote continues to plant, even during drought. His faith in the country dwarfs those of the rest of us, including probably our government
How, for instance, would 5000 sane people apply to join Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson in December 1902, on an expedition called Endurance, to the South Pole, with a doubtful chance of survival. The South Pole is the southernmost point on the surface of the earth. It lies on freezing Antarctica; on the opposite side of this planet, from the North Pole. Whatever their reason, that same line of thought must have been behind the decision of the over 200,000 people who applied to join a Dutch company, Mars One, on its planned trip to Mars where it hopes to create a human settlement by 2023. Two men and two women were to be sent first and four more every two years.
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Adventurers and entrepreneurs are kindred spirits. The same motivation drives all these enthusiasts to embark on these adventures – the quest for a purpose in life and the good of humanity. Was it possible for any of the enthusiasts that applied to partake in these adventures to determine whether they will survive? There is no formula for success. So it is also impossible to say who would succeed or fail as an entrepreneur. At best we can look back at some of the key qualities of successful entrepreneurs. They are all people of big dreams and their dreams are not hazy. These people are driven by a clear vision of where they want to go. They think of success all the time, which presupposes that they are positive thinkers. Pessimists have little room in this place. Pessimists look too much at the weather and often fail to plant. Dangote continues to plant, even during drought. His faith in the country dwarfs those of the rest of us, including probably our government.
Successful entrepreneurs are men and women of faith. The solution to things that appear to have no solution is faith in the almighty. To invest in Nigeria today requires faith; not of the clergy; not even of the Pope, but the faith of our father Abraham. Those who have no faith in the supernatural end their search for answers at the feet of canal men and matter. People of faith leave room for more – they go to the one that made heaven and earth. Faith according to Vusi Thembekwayo, is the ability to see the invisible; believe in the impossible and trust in the unknown. The Dangote complex in Ibeju Lekki is a demonstration of faith beyond faith. In Christian theology, faith is even more powerfully defined as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Actually, it is often the case that those who visualize themselves signing autographs for a crowd are the ones that actually get to do so.
Seeing what is happening at Ibeju Lekki, at a time of serious, but downplayed civil war in Nigeria; where one man is threatening to become the only hope of the nation in the provision of everything, including the only product which the country produces, petroleum, then one begins to think that faith may be the most important element in successful entrepreneurship.
