eBusiness Weekly
Arthur Marara
This past week we started a conversation on business growth. I promised to take you through the seven laws that govern business growth. My focus in dealing with the seven principles is on the “how”.
How do you actually grow your business? There is no business that grows itself, businesses are grown by people who run the business. This is why the human capital component is very important for your business growth. You cannot grow when you are surrounded by the wrong people.
There is also something that is connected to human capital, the mindset that runs businesses. Your need to have the right mindset for business growth.
Set your mind right!
A story is told about, two sons of an alcoholic father:
One struggles through life as a drunk. The other becomes a successful, ambitious Businessman.
When asked: “Why are you the way you are?”
Both responded:
“My father was an alcoholic.”
What does this story teach? We can all be looking at the same things, and make different choices. It speaks further to interesting points of view, and mindset! And it is true that we all see the same situation very different. What some may use to justify a weakness, you can use it as motivation to grow your life.
This is the reality of what we are facing in Zimbabwe, same economic environment, yet people are seeing different things.
When others are not seeing opportunities, others are seeing opportunities for growth.
Choices are everything. Business growth is a choice, you can make the choice today to make better choices relating to your business.
People hate it when they are confronted with the fact that personal responsibility is the route to success.
This means being firmly in control of how you think. The thinking has to be right in order for you to start seeing growth in your business.
What are you thinking?
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” These are the words of industrialist, Henry Ford, and I do agree with him. What do you think when you look at yourself in the mirror. Do you see a person waiting to die or do you see a person about to make history? Do you see an oxygen thief or God’s finest creation? Do you think you can turn around your life, or that is it, you are going to end up where you are?
The Banister Effect
There was a belief for several decades that it was impossible to run a mile in four minutes. This was not to be so for long, as on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.
Two months later, Roger Bannister again ran a sub-four-minute mile, this time with John Landy running a sub-four-minute mile with him. A four-minute mile is now a standard for distance runners.
The limitation was in people’s thinking. This is what we are faced with in life approved theories of what is doable and what is not. We end up being prisoners of our thoughts.
The fact that something is difficult does not mean that it is impossible. You can do what is easy, and be like everyone, but you can attempt the impossible and do the unforgettable. You need to develop a growth mindset. I actually did an article on how to development a growth mindset. You can access it on the Business Weekly website. Your business will only grow when your thinking grows.
Think Different
If you want to be significant, and grow your life, you have to be different. You cannot afford to think what everyone is thinking, and expect to be different.
Common thinking gives you common results, uncommon thinking gives you uncommon results. This is the problem; many people want the familiar because there is security.
There is no criticism in familiarity. There is no risk of serious loss in familiarity. If you want to change your life you need to be prepared to think and do things differently.
Apple Nugget
“Here’s to the crazy ones — the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones, who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
These words date back to the 1997 in an advertisement which was created for Apple Computer Inc under the title “Think Different”.
Apple was faced with serious competition from companies like IBM which was termed, “Big Brother”.
Even in the midst of serious challenges, Apple was able to stand up and stand out confidently with an intention to change the world. Steve Job’s dream was a computer in every home, and his dream has literally come true.
Apple’s Think Different advertisement still carries fundamental truths and challenges all of us to think differently.
We cannot doubt the fact that even after his death; Steve Jobs will always be part of the lives of people.
Great people do not die, they live beyond the grave. The secret behind Job’s success, he was prepared to go against the grain, and experiment with his fantasies.
A company which started in a home garage has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon which has changed the look of personal computing in the world today. The secret was simple, new thinking, and thinking differently.
So, the first step in business Growth, is to actually grow your thinking. Your mindset has to be right.
Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences.
He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal and professional development.
Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on WhatsApp: +263780055152 or call +263772467255.
