Many a times, we are called to place bets on various undertakings in the form of our skill or capital in the hands of others in exchange for a great array of rewards. Often, the rewards do not accurately reflect our input. Have you ever thought of taking a chance on yourself? Brian Kayongo, founder of Concept Enterprises implores you to place that bet on yourself in his 180-pager.
In his book, The Enterprising Entrepreneur, as he refers to himself as well, Brian Kayongo takes you through his journey of about 12 years that span from Uganda, in a small Kampala neighborhood, to the backyards of Boston, Massachusetts.
Dropping nuggets of wisdom one after another, there is no promise of an elevator ride to the top. It is a tale of backing burning desire with belief, building dependable alliances, creating common grounds, ensuring fair exchanges, and pounding the pavements. He takes you through the understanding of work as play in the mega theater of life.
Kayongo believes that we cannot help but know our gifts. He wants you to understand that you have within you all that you need to succeed. Just reach deep inside yourself and find it. This book should inspire you to take a chance on yourself – just believe it can be done, so he says.
Understand that you are responsible for wherever you are in life and take keen knowledge that our lives, like a house rises brick by brick, only advance step by step. Find your own pieces, take initiative, master your craft then scale up by duplicating whatever you are doing right.
When you have something that you want done, just do whatever is required to give your idea the life and the legs to walk on. Know your needs, for example Kayongo’s journey started at 16 years of age when he just wanted a regular income to guarantee him regular meals. He knew his need and that need helped him set goals that got him started on his Chapati business “chain.”
Kayongo believes that success also requires that you cut bad relationships and nurture good ones. “You have to decide whether you want to be a successful businessperson or everyone’s friend, because you can’t be both.”
Know what comes to you naturally, that is your labor of love. Follow it. The universe has strange ways of lining behind the fellow who seems enterprising in great spirit. Doing what you love brings this out and spreads it around.
When his dream for accounting clashed with his father’s desire that he takes nursing as a profession and vocation, he tactfully sold his father on his objective, to which his father responded: “Okay, so, how are you and I going to make this happen for you?”
Finish what you start and celebrate every milestone. Brian worked on finishing his associate degree in accounting, and as much as it was only a little arc in his circle, he appreciated and celebrated it.
The book takes practical steps towards bringing life-changing solutions. At his Concept Enterprises, Kayongo has developed daily planners to help you be more effective in executing your daily tasks.
Be motivated. Nothing gets done until someone is motivated. What is your motive? Is it strong enough? It is out of motivation that you are going to do anything. Work more on internal motivation, external motivation such as bills to pay and places to take your family will come by themselves.
Happiness is key in driving success. Always feel good. To be happy, overcome fear, doubt, laziness, and peer pressure. Then become adept at budgeting as a tool of financial responsibility. Ensure that budgeting is at the core of your planning. A lot of things need money to get going.
Summon courage when facing change. When attempting life change, your emotions will trigger lots of questions. Your mind will wander into some scary places. Do your best to wrap your mind around your burning desire that is causing you to undertake the life change.
Know exactly where you want to go and seek to understand what it takes to get there. “If you don’t know where you are going, how do you chart a path to get there?”
Start small and in all the obstacles you are going to face, be tenacious, positive, and realistic. Study your field well and do not procrastinate. Start now. “Wishing for something and not doing anything about it will not get you a single step closer to your dream than you are right now.”
Believe in yourself. It will take a great many believers in your products or services for you to succeed. Believers are followers. “If you don’t believe in yourself, you cannot expect anyone else to believe in you.” “Know you can, and you will,” affirms Kayongo.
Cure yourself of the malady called perfection. Create an expectation of progress, not perfection. Perfection is a dream killer. It is numbing and paralyzing. “Sometimes, because we are so afraid of failing, we don’t start anything. Our self-doubt lists reason after reason why you should not do something.” So, focus on fulfilling your dream, not other people’s expectations.
You will only succeed to the extent that you are willing to do what is required. “Everyone can be successful if they plan well, work hard, and keep going.” Be optimistic and do not quit.
Work on your habits. Just like compound interest on investments grows the money, your good habits will compound into great character. Bad habits are like money borrowed on compound interest. It puts you on the “receiving end”
Develop knowledge and be positive. All actions – negative or positive – bear their own. “If you want to change your health, start today with something small, and keep adding a new small thing each day.”
Focus on your objectives and steer clear of distractions. Work with great intensity. “If it is important enough to do, it is important enough to give it your full attention.”
When it comes to your dream, be fixated. When it comes to your plans, be fluid like water. It takes the bends, the falls, the dams, the rocks, and goes round the hills. Finally, there it is! At the see level, in the ocean because of pliability.
Key Takeaways:
- Start only important things
- Finish what you start however long it takes
- Choose good people when building a business alliance
- Face your fears. Discomfort precedes the life you desire
- You are only obligated to fulfill your dream, not anyone else’s
- Apply five golden principles: Integrity, action, leadership, risking and networking.
