Fourteen years ago, I sold infrared remote controllers
door-to-door to survive in the Polytechnic. Twelve years ago, I had an
electrical business that does domestic house wiring and local inverters. Ten
years ago, I started a computer hardware company when I was in year 3 in the
university. Eight years ago, I became an Oracle 10G Administrator and added
software and data management to my company service lines. Seven years ago, i
had a Masters in Project management and joined a Real Estate and Construction
company as a Project Engineer. Six years ago, i started a Real Estate Development
Company. Two years ago, I became the CEO of an Investment company in Real
Estate, Construction and Agriculture.
Each venture was something I had never done before. Every
time I started something new, i had an incubation period i used in studying the
business, the market, the business pitfalls, the market players and the
industry trend. Every endeavor was a complete invention or required a massive reinvention.
Once upon a time, people worked for one company and then
retired with a pension. Later the strategy was to beef up their resumes by
climbing the ladder of an industry, working for a few companies and then retiring
on stock options. Those success paths are gone!
If you want to thrive (heck, survive) in the 21st century,
you will need to repeatedly reinvent yourself, discover your purpose through
God and trust in God. Let me offer some field-tested advice on how to achieve
this successfully.
1. Leverage on your strengths
While each of my endeavors was unique, they had one
thing in common-they needed the strengths I had to be successful.
When i started selling infrared remote controllers, one
of my strength was that I was studying electrical/electronics engineering in
school and have designed and constructed one, so I knew all the principles of
operation coupled with component knowledge. It became easy for me to sell it
with my product knowledge. When I was a teenager, i developed a good selling
skill (I call it survival skill) when i had to sell food, ice cream, ice water
and the likes for survival.
We are all born with unique gifts talents and
advantages. You do things that most people
can’t do (or cannot do as well as you), identifying these special strength is
the first most important key to your reinvention.
2. Identify what exhilarates you.
Have you asked yourself, “What is my passion?” The answer doesn’t have to be grandiose, earth-saving,
life–changing or revolutionary. What are the subjects, products, markets,
people activities you really enjoy? What are your interests? What stimulates you?
What fills you with energy while you are just thinking about it?
The answers will usually lead towards a rewarding
decision.
3. Be willing to step Back
To start a business in an unfamiliar industry, you may
need to take a step back to learn and study the business. Be willing to be an
apprentice for a while. Find someone who
has the success you aspire and seek his or her mentorship and counsel.
Be flexible, patient, and teachable. Nothing worthwhile
comes without effort and paying the price for tuition. Ask questions, again I
say ask plenty questions before taking the new step.
4. Beware of the NAYSAYERS
Your family, friends and peers know you inside-out, they
see you as that guy or lady that is just okay, nothing special or
extraordinary. Change frightens many, so
expect some resistance from those that know you very well. To many, it is
especially frightening to watch someone else have the courage to radically
reinvent themselves and chase their dreams. Why? Because it eliminates their
excuse for not doing so. It is much easier to try to talk you out of your
reinvention rather than act on theirs.
5. Build your support team
Find models, mentors and peer groups who share your vision,
purpose, passion and will be allies in your new adventure.
Also indoctrinate yourself with good books, magazines,
audio messages, and seminars as you develop skills, attitude and knowledge in
your new adventure.
Wait no longer!
Re-invent yourself into the person you always want to be.
Live the life of your grandest vision.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He shall
direct your paths.
