Capital is Not Your Problem

Capital is Not Your Problem

We are not limited by the things that surrounds us but by the things within us. – Selahsomeone

In my article, Be The Boss, in one of the comments a lady challenged me, asking if alongside the ideas, I will also provide capital for people? This question hit me because I am aware most people claim capital is what is stopping them but then I also realized that there ideas in that collections that require zero capital to start. Then I remembered the words of Jon Ochs, “Lack of money has never stopped anyone fully committed to a cause from achieving it.”

In other words, “Capital has never stopped anyone from being successful but lack of  beautiful ideas and poor mindset will always do”.

Let me share this true life story with you, even though I am sure some of you have heard it before. There were these three friends from a tertiary institution in Lagos State Nigeria, they came up with an idea to develop a website that will assist business people with information on interstate buses; departure time, boarding location, prices etc. This idea costs them practically nothing to set up, however getting relevant information was very tasking but they were committed to it. Four years down the line, the website had grown to become a first to recon with for business travellers, then they got an offer, some big corporation wanted to buy the website. Eventually, they agreed on some whopping million Nairas for a website, it took them less than nothing to set up and now these boys are millionaires.

Do you still think what is stopping you is capital?

You might have beautiful ideas that you think would look good provided you have large sum of money to back it up but trust me if those ideas are truly beautiful then there should be a way of breaking them into bits and starting small. Most big money making corporations you see today once started small; while most big celebrities you adore today were once nobody hustling from one end of the street to another looking for auditions and producers to listen to their demo track. Starting small affords you the rare privilege of falling small and rising big; a chance to learn and nurse your dream to reality at the same time.

The mindset of champions do not come after they start winning, the mindset of champions come ever before they know what winning taste like. It is born out of desire to be successful; when your appetite to be a success story becomes more pronounced than your appetite for any other thing this world can offer.

Michelle Mone – Co-founder and CEO of MJM Ltd: Michelle attended a dinner where she was wearing a cleavage-enhancing bra. It was one of the most uncomfortable bras she had ever worn and she was convinced she could design a better one. 3 years of research and several debts later, she finally managed to design the perfect bra and her brand Ultimo was born.

J.K. Rowling – WRITER: The English writer was penniless when she moved back to England after divorcing her Portuguese husband and describes this period as ‘rock bottom’. She decided to finally finish her Harry Potter books and send them to agents and publishers. Although she was turned down by few and told ‘not to quit her day-job’ as they believed she can’t make it writing but she had that positive mindset that kept her going. Nowadays Rowling is one of Britain’s wealthiest women, she is even richer than the Queen and is highly involved in charity work.

BANKY W- Nigerian music icon, producer and singer: Begged To Sell CDs In Salons To Survive; Went To Church To Eat Free Food. Banky had to take up to three jobs while also in university! To start up his music career he would walk to the owners of salons, greet politely, and ask them to let his group entertain their customers. Sometimes, some would kick them out and sometimes some would say yes. If told yes, after singing for a minute or two, they would sell their CDs to the customers! But because he would not give up, fame found him.

Now again, do you think it is lack of capital stopping you?

Brace yourself, if you really want to excel, put your capital-problem mind aside, become creative with your dream, think of how you can break it into smaller units, how you can convince people to buy into it, how you can package it so invitingly that it becomes irresistible. Yes! There will be many rejections, many let downs and in fact friends and family will tell you it is a waste of time and try to put you off but if your idea is brilliant and if you have that positive mindset, sooner than you expect, you will make it to the limelight.

Cheers!