Why is “Now” the
PERFECT TIME to start?
Posted on March 21, 2012 11:18 am under Diary
of an under 30 CEO, Entrepreneurs, Management
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“For disappearing acts, it’s hard to beat what
happens to the eight hours supposedly left
after eight hours of sleep and eight of work” –
Doug Larson
By Ola’ Jacob Ajayi
According to a Chinese proverb, the best time to
plant a tree is 20 years ago, the next best time is
now. In life, we give ourselves the negative
reasons not to get started. We believe so much in
the “Why I cannot start now, and Why I should
start in the next 10 Years”. Sad! The more we
grow, the more challenges we face.
Airtel’s ongoing “Fast is an Attitude” campaign
caught my attention last week and two of the
copies wowed me;
1. Tomorrow is 24 hours late
2. Millionaire at 29? You are 5 years late.
Though a typical African child finds it difficult to
achieve some feats at an early stage, hence we
resolve to make fantasies of the kind of life we
want. According to a friend, the following are
reasons why a 24-year old businessman might
not be a millionaire in this part of the world;
1. He is probably battling with a 3 credit unit
course in school
2. If he is out of school, the dude is busy
looking for employment in multinational
corporations.
3. He wants to make money without any
impact on the world.
4. He believes he needs to work for like 10
years to garner capital for his business.
5. Lack of electricity, manpower dearth and
bad economic system are turn offs.
6. Nobody to motivate him. Friends, Parents,
Siblings believe he should get a job, and not
“start a job.”
7. Lack of focus for ones’ life.
8. He is turning God to a magician by
expecting miracles without sowing seeds
(Faith without work).
I was part of a team that interviewed some fresh
graduates for a contract job in a company last
year. I took interest in one of the applicants and I
asked him what kind of job he is interested in. He
said, “Do I have a choice? There is no job in this
country . . . . if you are lucky to get one, just hold
on to it. I have submitted CVs to Oil and Gas,
Telecoms, FMCG companies, Schools, Financial
institutions etc. All I want is to keep my head
some where and earn a living.”
When you don’t have a plan for yourself, then you
need to squat on other people’s plan. Why should
you get just any job? Why should you pity
yourself that life is gruesome in this part of the
world and you can’t make it until you hit a
jackpot? The scare never gets away, so you either
end up settling for less or you make it big.
One thing that interests me about the employed
folks is that they use the active 30 years of their
lives in building an empire for a smart man. On
retirement, they suddenly take interest in having
their own business so that they can continue to
earn a monthly living. Gratuity paid, no more
monthly salary . . . . . life seems miserable at this
point.
According to a research we carried out during
business training for prospective retirees last
year, over 78% of retirees lose their gratuity to
starting a new business. Yes, they’ve got the
experience but you don’t walk miles to the river
without having a clue of how to cross to the other
side.
At 65 years, they suddenly become desperate to
change their world. Every business looks
promising to them, thus they invest without any
major feasibility study. Few of them would be
lucky to end up as consultants, secure another
job with a meager pay, run a successful business,
or just retire home and become a dependent on
the family. What happens to those that are not
lucky?
Waiting for the right time to start your own
business is tough. The time is never
right . . . . .expenses on expenses – You need to
take care of your family, push your social status
higher, do personal development, cater for the
known and the unknown, spend some money on
wants and needs. The capital will never be
enough to start!
No matter where you are and what you are
presently; a student, job seeker, uneducated,
employed . . . the best time to build the next 10
-20 years of your life is now. Whatever is planted
now will be a giant with many fruits in decades if
properly managed.
Mark Zuckerberg had many reasons not to start
Facebook in 2004. Yeah! No capital, dearth of
technical ability, he was still in school and his GP
could suffer, some friends didn’t support him, no
idea of how to monetize the startup …but despite
that he got started and I’m happy to tell you he
made the Forbes list of world billionaires, and very
soon FaceBook would be available for you to trade
on wall street. His tree is just 8 years old.
There are many success stories that tell us to
start, stand the storm and win the game.
Business is not an automatic success and requires
lot of planning to get on board.
Let’s share a few points together:
PART A
1. Understand what you want for your life
2. What is your present background – Passion
and Qualification
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
4. What are your competencies?
PART B (Sketch it down on a notepad)
1. Write out 5 business ideas you have
2. In front of each idea, write the estimated
capital and how many months needed to set
up
3. Write out different ways you can use to raise
minimum capital
4. Do your research
5. Pick one of the ideas
6. Write out your implementation plan
7. Gradually start implementation
Starting now doesn’t mean having everything
set. It takes time to conceptualize and execute,
so don’t rush yourself, just make sure you start
the first step of putting your ideas together and
move to the next step.
Go get started, and remember to share your
thoughts.

www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/why-is-now-the-perfect-time-to-start/1336

Thanks for sharing this invaluable information.

@Jacob Ajayi

Very well said

Anyhow you look at it, you are better-off starting your own business early in life.

Yes! Fear of failure? It is true and real!

In actual fact, no serious businessman or woman can totally avoid failures.

Indeed, you need a dose of it to make any meaningful progress in your business.

Therfore, start that business idea you have been thinking about for ages as soon as possible.

Challenges will surely come but it will only make you stronger.

See the opportunities in your ideas and try and work around the obstacles.

A trailer load of patience and prayers are necessary for your success.

See you at the top