*Should everyone own a business? by Gift Ijioma*

SHOULD EVERYONE BE BUSINESS OWNERS?









First of all, let us drive home a fact….Business is not just what most of us imagine it to be. Some have the mindset that to own a business, one must first be super financially stable but that’s not usually the case. One does not necessarily need a lot of money to start a business but one might need money to expand the business.
Now, we have known for a fact what business is not, let us find out what business is. Business is the activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). Simply put, it is any activity or enterprise entered into for profit. Hence, you have no limitation whatsoever to own a business no matter how small…anything at all can serve as a business provided there is a profit at the end of the day. I am therefore of the notion that everybody can and should be a business owner.
Now,ask yourself the following questions :
-What do you have that can be of value?
-What abilities and capabilities do you have?
-What exactly do you do that can sell you?
Also ask yourself this question ,'What can you do?'. In doing this, use the 4 E's pattern which includes:
-Experience i.e. How long?
-Expertise i.e. How well?
-Expansion i.e. How far?
-Expression i.e. How famous?
 It's not just about what you do but who you do it for.There is always room for development.
Now, I am going to be telling the story of my very first business… My envelope business. But before I tell my story I would love to say I learnt a  lot about business from my mum being that she was a very lucrative person. She did a lot to help the family… at times her strength in doing all these marvels me. She had a lot of side businesses which ranges from supplying pure honey, pure soya oil, processed ginger and garlics to selling 1st grade clothing. In fact she was never idle…her hands always found something doing at any particular time. These and more made me learn so fast about business ideas. In fact, at some point during my undergraduate days,I began to make good use of my skills,I was into so many things which could fetch me money ,I was into hair dressing,mini catering services, photography and fashion designing,though in a very little way . I have not gotten to the professional level of these skills yet,though I hope to achieve that soon. Just recently, a friend of mine, a fellow corps member who I confided in as to the business I did love to go into during my service year said was amazed and asked how come I have so many business ideas of which she has never even thought of even one hence making her feel as though she was kind of lazy. I felt consigned and replied that there’s actually nothing wrong with her, it’s just the mindset, when she puts her mind to it, she will definitely come out with something nice to do.
Now, to my story…I was barely 14 years old then, I would not say my family was poor but we were not  just financially stable at the time. My dad was far away from home studying in one of the higher institutions in the country as he was one who loved education and desired to acquire more knowledge. While my mum was just a civil servant and did not earn so much as to cater for our every need, hence I was moved to do something to help myself and the family. But I did not  know how to go about it not until one day I saw some waste A4 papers littered in the house and an idea just struck me. Why not make envelopes out of these supposed wastes? And mind you I had no money on me at the time. I had only but a scissors, glue and then of course the waste papers. I brought these items together and made envelopes out of them, envelopes of different sizes. Now, I also had a problem of who to sell them to, but that was not for long. I met with some photographers in the neighborhood who needed envelopes to package hardcopy pictures for their customers, asides from that, I also met with some pharmacists who needed envelopes to package drugs for their customers. These set of persons patronized me and in no distant time, I had made a lot of sales and was very happy with myself. At that very tender age I could say I owned a business of my own with no capital at all. Therefore there’s no excuse whatsoever why everybody should not own a business, no matter how small. We live in a country were there’s not just enough white collar jobs for everybody and even if there is, the meager pay might not always cater fully for ones needs hence the need to own a side job or business.
I also believe that owning a business will help curb the rate of thefts in the country, when everybody is at least having a legit source of income, there won’t be room for robbery and the likes.
Still in doubt if you can own a business? No worries at all… you can actually start up a business with zero capital. Yes…that’s right. You just have to start somewhere its either you Sell for the Seller or buy for the buyer.
Selling for the seller
I once read in a book, the story of one Mrs. Achi who was financially unstable and as such could not afford a meal for her family. This woman having no money on her, went into the market and met with a woman selling cassava, she priced a bag of cassava which she learnt was sold for  N2500, the woman shrugged but went ahead to bargain for N2000 to which the cassava trader accepted. Then Mrs. Achi took about 3 bags of the cassava, bought a bottle of chilled coke at N100 on credit for the trader and pleaded that she wait for a while. The woman then called a wheel barrow pusher to help convey the goods to the other part of the market where the cassava was costlier. On getting there, the woman was able to sell the bags of cassava at N2500 each, thereby making a total of N7500. She paid the wheel barrow pusher N100… crossed to the other side of the market, and paid the initial cassava trader N6000 and settled the N100 credit for the bottle of coke. Hence making a profit of N1400, now she had enough money to cater for her family for the day.
Buying for the Buyer
During my undergraduate days, I once had an earpiece which was sold for about N700 in the market, my friends fancied it so much and so asked that I get it for them. Now this was already a very good business proposal for me. So, I collected N600 from each of them, transported myself from school to town where I could get the earpiece at a cheaper rate from one of my very good customers. Finally, I bargained and got the earpiece at N500 each of which I was very glad. I got back and gave my friends their earpiece , they were very happy to have gotten it at a much cheaper price, I on the other hand was happy to have put a smile on their faces while still making my own profit though very little, but that’s just how it starts. With just little or nothing at all, you can own a business.
Should everybody really own a business?
Entrepreneurial mindset
I am concretely on the notion that everybody should at least own a business as it is a way of moving towards achieving success through having an entrepreneurial mindset.
According to Anurag Avula,  Entrepreneurs and founders must be steadfast believers and unerring in their opinions of their product or service.
While many might, in their more fanciful moments, wish to read minds, it is probably a good thing that we can’t peer into the thoughts of our friends, colleagues, and peers. But delving into one mindset, in particular, can be helpful for many, especially business owners – the mind of an entrepreneur. A startup has to be constantly morphing, adapting, changing, and growing. How does one transform the seed of an idea into a successful and thriving business? The answer lies in the entrepreneurial mindset.
One former French Prime Minister once said; 'Make big plans and not small plans,big plans attracts big people,small plans attract small people and small people cause big problems' .This really got me thinking though at first glance I only couldn't help but laugh at the statement while trying to analyze it.
I strongly believe that; "Nothing can stop a man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goals also nothing can help the man with the wrong mental attitude either".
Usually, a startup company is built around the vision or ideas of one or two individuals. These people put themselves on the front line and have to overcome many barriers and negativity to see their ideas come to life.
Steve Jobs once said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance”.
Speed – Startups are fast paced. They are not held back by large company policies and processes and break legacy rules and restrictions.
A large company can absorb errors and be ‘good enough’ but as a small startup you have to excel in all areas and one big mistake could prove fatal to your business. You need customers to partner up with you because you go the extra mile, but also because they share your vision and want to be a part of your project and community.
Breaking the chains of unemployment
There are so many unemployed graduates roaming the streets today obviously getting fed up of their situation.The rate of unemployed persons roaming the streets can be greatly reduced if everybody can come up with a business idea and venture into it. The labour market will not give you what you deserve,it will only give you what you negotiate for. These days, it's not just about the degrees acquired from the high institution,it's about what you can do, what you can offer. Therefore, we should all be job creators and not job seekers.
Recognize opportunities for business and  creating wealth. Find a business to start.There are obviously a lot of persons with needs who are willing to spend money to solve these needs. Find them and solve them if you can!
Business ideas that rule the world
Imagine that you were born in the 16th century. Your occupation and future would be mostly predetermined by the family you were born into. If you wanted to become successful, you would have to be born into the family of a king, a bishop or a wealthy trader. Luckily those days are gone.We live in the idea age. Companies succeed because of great ideas and go bankrupt because of lack of them. Some of the most successful companies such as Microsoft, Walmart, Apple and Honda became successful not because of the wealth and social status of the families their founders were born into, but because of the ideas behind them.
Imagine what your life might look like if you could improve the quantity and quality of business ideas that you generate, multiple times. You could create a business that would change the world. You could change the lives of millions of people and leave a mark in history. You could make each of your days more adventurous and interesting.
Financial freedom
So many persons have long been trapped in the cage of financial instability.Owning one's own business can greatly set one free from such shackles In another way. One can be wealthy and not financially free. It's not just about the wealth ,but the condition you go through to acquire it. There are of course persons who are into white collars jobs which though they earn  huge mouth watering salaries ,the neck breaking job descriptions and of course having to work round the clock for at least 5 days in a week wouldn't allow them enjoy the money themselves. Financial freedom is the ability to acquire whatever you desire in the quantity you desire it,at the time you desire it and still retain the time,energy and peace of mind to enjoy that process. Owning a business of your own helps  you manage and enjoy your finances better.
As much as possible, identify the areas where people must spend money and create an offer around it. "Don't look for things people are not willing to spend their money on,craft an offer,craft a product!"
Be a proud owner of a business today,no matter how small...Start somewhere because there is always room for expansion!
Ijioma, Gift U.
OS/19B/3220