In Nigeria and most of Africa, starting a business can be very stressful and discouraging. Economic activities that yield profits and bring added value to social life in the communities are at the rudimentary stages. Trade by barter is still existing in many rural areas and are now being frustrated by the new social and economic realities driven by technology. Societies have developed their own methods of entrepreneurship that depend on unwritten values and systems. However, with increased levels of education, cultural changes, urbanisation and increased unemployment, there is a rapid change in societal expectations and values that have introduced modern enterprise requirements. 

It is significant to note that in post-colonial Africa, many educated people were not trained for business and do not possess the skills for modern business ventures.  Consequently, the ways of doing commercial activities have been changing and now demand new skill sets that may not be tangible but are natural and true.

Therefore, to many nascent entrepreneurs in Africa, it often feels like there are insurmountable obstacles to laying a good foundation for business in the communities. This situation may explain why most African entrepreneurs do not venture into enterprise and when they do, they quit when the going is tough and return to paid emplyment or nothing at all.

Starting a business in the African environment is a lot of work, but it is important to note that success is made of sterner stuff. However, there’s no avoiding some basic steps and reality for new small business owners who aspire to grow in future in the present day. 

So with simple steps such as Prepare, Form, Fashion and Create, it is possible to develop a business mindset and take actions with a sense of purpose toward building the foundation of a strong business. Often experienced business consultants say to their clients, you must give it all. Giving it all is like directing energy to a blunt axe.  When the axe is sharpened then it can add value to the purpose.

The natural first step in starting a business is to be prepared and ready to do something that humanity will use, cherish and appreciate and are willing to give something in return to the entrepreneur or businessman for their efforts. This first step involves being convinced that one can do something useful to make the human community better. The conviction leads to a mindset change that will drive the ability to form the concept that leads to a defined but flexible pattern. This foundation or set out,  is forged by continual and dynamic experience as the enterprise is built in the mind of the business starter. Continuous meditation on the concept brings knowledge of the purpose of the business to the mind and strengthens the mindset through communications and linkages with experts and interested parties. This situation change also continually shapes the nature of the industry in the mind and creates the avenue for an appropriate understanding of the legal and financial aspects of the industry operations. 

Upon this understanding, the image of the business begins to form in the entrepreneur’s mind and the Fashioning process begins. At this stage, the businessman begins to take inventory of the resources available in the environment that will support the shaping, structuring, fabricating and casting of the foundation of the enterprise. The structure of the enterprise determines the growth process and how far the business can go within the existing legal and financial policies and framework. This image may be blurred at first but will continue to be clear as the mind is transformed daily through the renewal of concept. 

Then with a good visualisation of the business shape and structure, available resources can be used to create the business from the foundation to growth. The transformation of the wishes of the entrepreneur, to belief and the belief to reality is driven by an energy source only generated in oneself through thinking, meditation, knowledge, understanding and wisdom. This energy which sets the entrepreneurs apart, can be drawn by anyone who has such self-control to develop the mind to the point of obedience to the Infinite source of all things.

Anyone aiming to start a business venture on this earth must understand that there is a Spirit behind every business, and all entrepreneurs have absolute control of their minds and are obedient to their inner thoughts. The discovery of self is the beginning of wisdom and a successful business venture.

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