Have you thought about an idea and after a few weeks or months seen someone doing the exact same thing? It hurts so much especially if it’s so successful and you wish you did it when you thought about it.
“there's nothing new under the sun" I know you have heard it many times but let me remind you why it matters more than you might think. We've all been there. But here's the key takeaway: there's an abundance of opportunities waiting to be seized.
Some of the most iconic inventions and businesses were not entirely original ideas. Take the example of the Wright brothers. They didn't invent the concept of flight, but they pursued it relentlessly and became pioneers in aviation. Still people don’t go about saying I didn’t invent airplanes so I can’t start an aviation business, or “there’s so many airlines, I don’t think mine will sell” duhh!!!!
What if Mark Zuckerberg never discussed his thoughts with his friends? Imagine a world without social media as we know it. Sharing your ideas can lead to groundbreaking success stories, and collaboration can turn sparks into a roaring fire. It just amazes me how some people are so conceited about business ideas especially with friends. Sometimes it’s not just money you need to bring an idea to life. You need smart people too and many times you either have the money and lack the brains or have the brains and lack the money. Even when you have both, it’s always good to hear another perspective. Basically what I am saying is don’t be a loner. How boring will success be if achieved alone.
Let me share a story…I realize that I talk about my husband a lot but I’m proud of the young man, can’t help it🙊. So early this year, he made a move to get a business partner, he was ready to split his profits with a partner that will keep him in check. For context, he is a fashion designer and if you are familiar with the fashion industry in Nigeria, you will know that despite having so many business opportunities, tailors have the worst business ethics. The first fashion designer he contacted declined and he reached out to a friend who was working in a Fintech company and they now run the business seamlessly. It’s so impressive! Angry clients no longer call in the middle of the night demanding for their clothes because he has someone that ensures he is meeting deadlines. That’s it about the young man today😉
It's often said that problems are opportunities in disguise. The story of Airbnb is a prime example. They saw the problem of people needing affordable accommodations and turned it into a global business opportunity, changing the way we travel and stay. They didn’t say we have to build in every city in the world. Again, most times you don’t really need money you need ideas
So, how can you make the most of opportunities? First, don't be afraid to share your ideas. Seek out collaboration and feedback. I know there’s always that fear of our ideas being stolen, but an idea you can not implement will someday be implemented by another person. To avoid your ideas being stolen, you can discuss them with your most trusted friends or members of your family.
Second, embrace the iterative nature of innovation and build upon existing concepts. You don’t have to build something new. If you need to start a business, and you do not have a solid idea, build on a successful idea. Don’t go trying to build something elegant that no one wants. People pay for value, you need to be doing something someone’s willing to pay for.
Finally, always keep an eye out for problems to solve, as they can be your next golden opportunity. What’s that thing you always complain about? Could be your goldmine. Stop complaining and start thinking of ways to make it better. There’s a particular road we usually pass in my community that’s so bad but is the shortest route to the tarred road and it’s closer to my son’s school. Everyone complains of that road but no one ever does anything about it. I guess it’s because we expect the government to come to our aid. But honestly the government only does things in their interest and we are the ones that have to service our cars frequently because of the terrible road conditions. Yesterday, I saw a young man filling the road up with sand and stones and it was smooth enough. Just one man that got tired of the situation. Here’s the interesting part though: people kept giving him money as a way of saying thank you for fixing the road. On average 300 cars/motorcycles pass that road everyday and if each person gave him at least N50, he would have made N15,000 in one day!! That’s about $15 and it’s more than a day’s wage in Nigeria. He has been working for three days now and I bet he has made some money while solving a problem!!
“there's nothing new under the sun" doesn't mean you can't succeed. It means that opportunities are all around us, waiting for the right person to seize them. Be that person! And, keep maximizing those opportunities.
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NB: image is of tea with passion fruit. Its an amazing combination. Try it if you love tea😊
