"The global market is quickly arriving on each and every one of our doorsteps and in order to remain in business, we need to aim for "best in the world" with our products.  Have good quality just isn't enough any more.  Entrepreneurship is taking over the world so there are millions of people in business and countless people doing exactly what you are doing.

If you are not continually striving to improve the quality of your products or services, sooner or later, there will be someone providing YOUR customers with a better product, with better service and at a better price.

Competition is everywhere and competition is good as it ensures that each one of us continually improves our products and services.

So, aim to make your product or service the best in the world. Research what others are doing in your industry, see how they are treating their customers and what service they are providing, check their pricing and what they offer and just never stop improving."

Everything is FIGURE-OUT-ABLE - Marie Forleo

It is said that luck is when opportunity is met with preparedness.

The luckiest people in the world are said to have been prepared for opportunities when they came their way.

The best way to be prepared for opportunities is...

1.Identify a range of different opportunities that you would like to become available to you and your business

2.Think about what it is that you need to do that if these opportunities came your way, you were prepared to take advantage of them

A simple ways to be prepared for opportunities is to carry a briefcase/laptop bag around with you where ever you go with the following in it...

a.Your business cards
b.Your business plan
c.A price list of your products
d.A memory stick with a presentation about your idea/business on it
e.A receipt book in case someone wants to pay you
f.Your CV in case you are asked
g.A prototype of one of your products where applicable

By being prepared, you will be amazed at how many more opportunities you will be able to take advantage of

Am sure most people have tried to lose weight or get in shape at one point in their life. Recently I have been working on toning and getting fit. I realised while doing this that this was a journey similar to starting a business that makes a difference. The concepts are similar and we can learn from them and apply them to our journey as an entrepreneur. Here are some of the lessons I learnt.

1.       It takes more than one night to be an overnight success.

When I decided to get in shape, I went for a jog around the block; I cut of sugar from my tea and all sorts of different activities. I was so excited, and I wanted to see instant results. I wanted somehow to be in shape and have that great body and be super fit after 3 days. Obviously it did not work that way. Actually I think I looked bigger and I think my scale is broken because I actually gained weight. It can be after a few  weeks of constantly working on the exercise routine that people start noticing. A lot of times people assume this is how it will work when starting your own business. You are going to walk up to the very first person and they are going to buy your product, they are going to invest in your vision and you are going to make a massive profit. Wouldn't that be awesome! Then when you get into it and start something you find all these barriers and even some people who recommend you give up! Do not be turned off by this. Just like exercising, results can take more than one night to become an overnight success.

2.        It is not always fun but the results are!

I never feel like exercising. I get home and I had a long day in the office so I just want to relax in front of the couch and in the morning it’s too cold to actually get up earlier and exercise before I go to work. I wish there was some kind of pill or medicine you can take that miraculously gets you into shape. Then there is the small issue of watching I eat! I love burgers, chips and custard donuts and in order to make sure I lose the weight I had to give those things up. This reminded me of all the sacrifices I have to make everyday for my business. Sometimes you have to work a little longer than most people, sometimes you have to give some luxuries for the long term vision. It will definitely be worth it in the end.

3.  You have to be intentional

In my journey to weight loss and keeping fit i have had to be apply different strategies. Not only do i have to run, but i also need to watch my weight. I had to intentional with the exercises i chose. I only wanted to lose weight, work on a flat tummy but i did not want to get the big biceps and muscles so i decided not to use the heavy dumbbells  Similarly you have to use various strategies to build your business. Make sure you have a business plan to constantly assess if your strategies are appropriate for your vision. Be intentional about where you want to go and how you will get there. A business plan is a blessing here.

These are just some ways that exercising is similar to starting a business. If you can think of other ways the two are similar please write it in a comment below.

Zimbabwe has come through the lost decade with grave signs of business principle abuses, economic meltdown and high levels of political instability. This has all contributed to the growth of excessive entrepreneurship and informal business niches within the broad spectrum of the Zimbabwean economy. Needless to say, many have fallen victim to the “bush economics” and “casino economy” model of business and corporate leadership.

Opportunities have been created by various government policies, free market economics, and business resettlements across the country and region. The lack of opportunities is not the challenge for the Zimbabwean business person but his preparedness to turn his business venture into a lasting viable corporate legacy.

Strive Masiyiwa, has done well in building an empire that outlives his existence and his model has pretty much painted the tenants of corporate leadership and entrepreneurship success. Imbedded in his victorious lifestyle are various magnets of entrepreneurship that this article seeks to discuss.

Statutory compliance though excessive and at times monotonous in Zimbabwe, is a key pointer of business success that the Zimbabwean entrepreneur has failed to consistently adhere to. The evasive set up of failing to pay annual taxes and adherence to guidelines of local regulating authorities in business operation are the very signs of short term projects whose destiny is failure.

Business heritages are built on high values of integrity in operation and adherence to standards that are consistent with ethical business ideologies. Integrity in adhering to business operating processes as gazetted by regulators help ensures a reputation and image consistent with victory.

Compliance with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for taxation is of utter importance, mandatory submission of returns with the Registrar of Companies and all other forms of annual business licencing positions a business entity for a positive outlook with all its stakeholders. In essence budgetary control mechanisms should be set in order with funding for such obligations given significant priority.

The open market economy has seen the dynamics of competition propelling business success. Business positioning in terms of competitive advantage and a unique selling proposition has become the distinguishing factor for repeated sales and increased turnover. It has become imperative for organizations to focus on internal business process documentation and improvement due to fierce competition from local and foreign players penetrating the market. Service excellence, continuous product and service value addition rank higher within the customers mind. Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders are thus forced to align with the current market dynamics or risk being slowly pushed out of business.

The greatest asset an organization has its people and investing in Human Capital over the long term is a magnet for improved strategic development. Adherence to management schools of thought in handling the strategic human resources of an institution or informal organization sets in motion the base for enterprise development. It is advisable for business leaders to harness and invest in their human resource function for long term benefit and short term reduction values in the bottom line.

Brand Equity has suddenly become a standout point for building a lasting image and corporate outlook in the market place. Strategies that ensure brand visibility and corporate image maintenance is the investment need for business development. This is applicable across the broad economic spectrum of business models including those situated in the informal sector. Trivial matters that include visibility of logo’s on business  infrastructure, corporate colours, business cards, website design, emails designs, and any other regalia that help fortify your market presence are good investments at these junction.

Risk management and cost containment policies in a strained liquidity economy ensure business success. The failure to analyse investment decisions and efficient management of cash flows has been the draw back for most corporate and informal sector businesses. Good business ideas have failed due to mismanagement of funds, adverse investment and poor risk management policies and processes. This has become of significant importance due to the liquidity position of the macro environment of Zimbabwe, which has seen businesses struggle to meet their recurring working capital needs. The incorporation of experts in the areas of risk management and financial management is of relative importance, as it helps management to make informed decisions.

“Rome, was not built in a day”, and building a lasting business legacy is a step by step process that needs co-option of these business principles for guaranteed success.