WONDROUS WEDNESDAY: FEATURES Richie Khoo from Naked Insights

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Richie Khoo, Naked Insights (Technology Start-up), Adelaide

1. What were u scared of?

I think setting up your own thing is always scary. It’s not like you apply for a position with yourself. Mainly it’s the self-doubt, is this a crazy idea, am I just wasting my time, will anyone really want this thing. I think worrying about ‘Does anyone really want this’ is actually in a way a good kind of worry to have. Yeah I would say prepared to be scared along the way. At some point you end up in what they call the ‘trough of despair’, treat it as not if but when. One day when I felt especially bad and unsure.

I just googled it and found these funny pictures and good articles about it, there’s plenty out there to support you. In the end I think it’s better to fail and know than to have died always wondering what if id tried that thing.

2. What made u go ahead?

They say some of the best ideas are when you are scratching your own itch and solving a problem you yourself have faced or deal with. I used to complain to my friend about how crappy all the software was for Insurance Advisers finally one day he said, we’ll you’ve got all these ideas about it, why don’t you just build it already. We set the business up together from that.

I took a break from it for a while when it didn’t seem to be going anywhere fast, but then a year later I had much greater clarity on what I wanted to do and had read much about the ‘Lean Startup’ approach and decided stuff it, I don’t want to just get another job I want to have a real hit at this thing!

Also I was in real doubt about making enough money etc, my partner was really supportive and was like, just go for it, we’ll work it out and if it all flops after a few months that’s ok, at least you’ll know you gave it a go. Having even just a few people that really believe in you really helps also.

3. Why this business/opportunity?

Like I said before it’s something that used to pain me and working with my business partner was something that excited me as well for us to do a project together. Many people build an pp to say help you meet your mates for drinks, this doesn’t solve a real issue in the world, businesses/organizations have real pain, address pain and I think you’re half way to a business. I felt I had the industry/domain knowledge to actually be able to solve this better than the next guy so I suppose all that led to us jumping on this opportunity.

4. What would u advise others?

I used to write on cards ‘follow your dreams’ but then didn’t really follow that as real advice for myself.

I had all these circumstances as to why I had to do all this required things in life and had all these commitments and responsibilities. In the end all that doesn’t matter. I strongly feel we each have this inner compass and we know if we’re on track with what we really are interested in or just doing time, my strongest advice would be to start following your gut more on big decisions. Also be careful when you feel like what you’ve done before starts to become your identity. I studied accounting etc. and then would tell people ‘Im a CPA’, I’m not a CPA, I’m just me and I happen to have a CPA. When you make your stuff about who you are I think you can get stuck, I know I did. In the end jump at the things that in your gut you know you should be following. Everyone says there’s no failure and there really isn’t it just takes effort to remember that’s true and not get caught up in stuff. I would advise everyone to read.

5. What books would you recommend?

I would totally recommend ‘The entrepreneurs guide to customer development‘ and the ‘Lean Startup‘ for EVERY entrepreneur to read also ‘The EMyth‘ is important too

About the Writer

Veronica is a free spirited change make, changing the world one project at a time. Read more about her projects and her experiences on her blog : http://vincairoland.tumblr.com/

ASHOKA IN KAMPALA

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One of the things that transcend language, race, age, gender, etc. is PASSION. It was definitely very refreshing to meet, to hear and to learn from the Ashoka fellows of East Africa during their Changemaker’s event in Kampala recently.

Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka said that: “The most PROFOUND change occurs when a social entrepreneur pursues a system changing idea”

And indeed it takes a lot of ingenuity, passion and commitment to change a system, which requires understanding the elements, interconnections and what defines these relationships to know whether to change the players or the rules or the purpose and how to do so in order to create systematic change.

Some of the amazing Ashoka fellows who shared their experiences on that day are:
– Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka – Founded Conservation to Public Health which achieves gorilla conservation by enabling humans, wildlife and livestock to coexist through improving primary health care in and around Africa’s protected areas
- Clare Wavamunno – Founded Hills Preparatory School which was born out of the love for her child with learning disabilities to provide a friendly and vibrant environment to reconnect children with learning disabilities to the mainstream education system

Some of the common challenges they and other Ashoka fellows faced when trying to create change are:
– Convincing other people to change their mindset and behaviour
– How to create win-win situations if we work together
– Building a core team that buys into your vision as it can be extremely lonely being a social entrepreneur. You need to invest in relationships to find like-minded people with the entrepreneurial mindset
– They also shared that sometimes you might be wrong/half right but as an entrepreneur, you are constantly putting yourself out there and saying that this is a solution. This is a big risk but you have to trust your instinct and to do your research.
What are the steps that can be undertaken to launch an idea?
– Take a deep breath, sit down and reflect on what you’re passionate about, how you see yourself sharing your passion with others in a constructive manner, talking about your ideas with experts and identifying a potential niche.
– Look at what you’re unhappy with and how you would like to change that and convince others to follow you.
– Say YES to life!
– Find a core team ie. 5 people to move your idea
– Create transformation; the ecosystem ie. working through public-private partnership, get noticed and appreciated by building a successful stories through pilot program, tackle through evidence based advocacy
– Make it affordable. Make it interesting.
– Donald Trump said “Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever give up”

I like how this event shows a very human side of social entrepreneurs. Sometimes, this profession can be over glorified. People think how cool it is to be a social entrepreneur or living their passion but to take an idea from just that; a thought to real life execution and really creating systematic change is extremely challenging to say the least.

And sometimes you look at these social entrepreneurs through these admiration lenses and put them way up there as something that only those people can do but at the end of the day, you realise that they are humans too and they need our support as much as we need more social entrepreneurs out there.

About the Writer

Veronica is a free spirited change make, changing the world one project at a time. Read more about her projects and her experiences on her blog : http://vincairoland.tumblr.com/

WONDROUS WEDNESDAY: FEATURES BODA BODA TOUR KING

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Walter Fahd, Walter’s Boda Boda Tours Kampala

  1. Can you tell us how you started with this boda boda tour business?

After high school, I went to South Sudan. I was looking for a job as I couldn’t afford university. I was working there for a few months and decided to come back to Kampala. I got a loan to rent a boda boda for 6 months like any other boda boda driver and I started giving tours to my customers as they told me they wanted to see more of Kampala.

One day I realised this can make a difference and be a business opportunity. I tried to find out everything ie. history about the places that I need to tell other people. They kept asking me questions and I find out the answers and that’s how I started my boda tour.

Everytime I meet different people around the world, they gave me advice; that’s how I kept going and I came up with many things ie. a Facebook page, and people started writing reviews, blogs and my friends kept passing the word and I’ve 10 boda drivers working for me now. I pay them on a daily basis. They all speak good English, have good experience. Currently I give all the explanation on my tours and I tried to teach them but not all of them picked it up so we do the tours in group so that they can learn it as well.

2. What are some of the challenges that you faced?

People kept asking questions of things that I don’t know and that’s exactly why people who compete with me have gone out of business. There were 3 Americans who wanted to partner with me and wanted more shares in my company but we have a lot of arguments.  And they started their own business but they couldn’t get any customers. So many Muzungus who know them, they kept recommending me because for them, the quality is better on my tours.

3. What is important to make it as an entrepreneur?

For me, I never knew that I would own a business one day so I never knew how to lead but it has been growing slowly. So I think it depends if you like doing something and you try to do it well, then you’ll always be an entrepreneur.

For me, I felt that I wasn’t comfortable being just a boda driver but I prefer to have my own company as a tour guide. So I always strive to learn to do it very well; how to tell good stories, how to satisfy my customers, learn what they want, show them the highlights of Kampala and if you don’t know, find out. Be honest and tell them the answers later.

So for me I believe being an entrepreneur means doing something and if you like it, don’t just end there, you also learn how to do it well, to have happy customers because customers are the ones who’ll recommend it to others and people then get to know about it.

4. What advice do you have for people who want to be entrepreneurs?

People should look at what is in them. They shouldn’t look at what’ll give them quick money or what others have.

- Click to Tweet

Look at what they have and how to make it better. Just start from wherever you are and always doing it better. It doesn’t matter what you do ie. being a chicken farmer; have better chicken and others will recommend your chicken.

About the Writer

Veronica is a free spirited change make, changing the world one project at a time. Read more about her projects and her experiences on her blog : http://vincairoland.tumblr.com/

WONDROUS WEDNESDAY: FEATURES Eva Mynsberghe (tco)

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WW 1I met Eva of Balungi at a lovely Saturday market and was immediately attracted to her table of beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings made from natural, organic recycled Ugandan materials such as barkcloth, banana fiber, newspaper,etc.

Here Eva shares the Balungi story all inspired by beauty.
Eva Mynsberghe, Balungi

Can you tell us a little bit more about Balungi, how it started?


Balungi is a family business. It started way back when I was young by my mom and since I was young my mother raised me up with the beauty of Uganda’s nature. We just fell in love with it!

The potential of Uganda’s natural materials is way bigger than people think. The creativity of Balungi with Uganda’s treasures is endless just research and maintaining the products were a big challenge. Balungi’s ideologies are environment, sustainability and a passion for beauty made in Uganda. Through Balungi’s principles it is quite obvious they combine

recycled materials with Ugandan materials.

Balungi is not an NGO. But they are definitely benefitting the Ugandan economy because Balungi purchases the natural materials from Ugandan markets and the incoming money is reinvested in salaries, Ugandan materials, broadening the company, etc.

But how it really started is just a passion for BEAUTY and Nature.

And you’re also supporting local designers?

Definitely we are looking for more dynamic designers with a passion for Ugandan beauty. Balungi is empowered by a self-motivated team, a fusion of European and Ugandan designers. At the moment, we have a brilliant Uganda designer, who is already years with us and it is just great fun!

What are some challenges that you faced when you first started?

The biggest challenges we had were our target market, conserving and finishing of our materials. First we had to examine the potential market, so we went to the Friday Market in Juakali village (Nsambya, Uganda) to see the reactions of the Uganda people and tourists. We went there with a small collection of earrings. The reactions were so positive that we decided to widen the collection and to articipate in other cultural events like LABA!, International Woman’s Day, Mexican festival,…and now every Saturday on the market at Prunes Coffee Shop.

Going forward, for you to push on, do you think it is a combination of passion or opportunity?

Definitely passion but I am blessed by the opportunity to lead Balungi. It was always my dream together with my mother that our passion for beauty would become our profession. So I definitely did that because I saw in my course in industrial design where we are heading in Europe is not really my cup of tea. Sometimes they are heading towards something that doesn’t make sense but I definitely think it makes sense what Balungi is accomplishing. Balungi is build up with passion for: beauty, nature,
sustainability and Uganda’s magnificence.

God is there and he is great and that Balungi is becoming quite big is definitely a fruit of hard work.

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are starting up?

Actually I think every person should believe in himself, believe in your product, know what you’re busy with, know your target, what potential clients like or don’t like and never go low. You’ve your own company with its ideologies and a strong base leads you throughout. You will always have clients who are happy and clients who will ever complain but one thing I definitely know: always approach your customers in a positive way, keep your principles – no matter what – and in the end everything looks much brighter.

Visit Eva Mynsherghe Facebook Group

About the Writer

Veronica is a free spirited change make, changing the world one project at a time. Read more about her projects and her experiences on her blog : http://vincairoland.tumblr.com/

DO YOU KNOW THE 3 MAGIC INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR PASSION BUSINESS? (tco)

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Unlike the previous generation, our generation is focused on finding a person and following their passion. That’s why there is an increasing growth and rise in passion businesses. If you are going to live, you might as well do what you love. But its crucial to realize that it would be foolish to think that that all your passions would be great business ideas.

We have found that there three parts of a MAGIC formula to make your passion business come to life. They are:

 

1. Convergence: Chris Guillabeau, author of the 100 dollars startup went around and interviewed 1500 passion entrepreneurs and shared in common phenomenal amongst passion business. They all intersected in a zone called convergence. This is the area where your passion and what other customers want meet. Imagine you have a passion for garlic; there are a lot of people who probably like garlic too. But can you imagine offering a line of garlic ice cream. It may not be the sexiest things that your audience would be willing to spend on or taste appealing to anyone.

2. Understanding what customers want: If you read our previous articles the 3 fundamentals of understanding a business, you would know it’s crucial to have customers who are interested in the product or service or product your offering.

The trick is to constantly test your product with your potential customers and avoid just asking friends and family. As much as they are a crucial support system, they do love you and they would lie to you in order not to hurt your feelings. Remember its okay to get your ideas rejected or have negative feedback; these are all lessons to better understanding your customers and your audience.

3. Skills: Also perhaps if you are passionate about making web applications but do not have the skills to do so. It would be a huge problem if you don’t know how to do it, its better off to start off identifying what skills or expertise you have and what is missing. This might mean you want to look for someone who is an expert that you can partner with, or assess if you have the funds to hire some specialized staff. Also perhaps if you are looking to enter a field, instead of developing a program or a product, you might look for affiliate programs or franchise where you can sell other peoples products.

The thing people underestimate with skills is that many of things you know are transferrable. For example, if you are good at some things probably your good at other. For example, if you are good at teaching, one of the skills you will acquire is communicating, which is good for sales, trainings, and corporate functions such as corporate branding.

In order to make your passion come to life, remember there is no 100% guaranteed magic formula, but the crucial component of it is that you need to make sure there is enough of a market size and that you are producing what your customer wants.

The ultimate truth however is that failure is usually the best teacher, there is no method which will be fail proof only your attitude to the learning’s.

If you want to learn more about how to develop your business check out one of our programs or attend one of our webinars that can help you make things happen.

 

READY, SET, LAUNCH: The fundamentals to understanding business (tco)

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A patient went to a doctor and was told their condition needed immediate surgery.

The patient was overwhelmed and told the doctor he didn’t understand and asked him to explain the condition. The doctor responded that the patient should trust him because he was an expert. The patient stood up, looked at the doctor and said how I can trust someone who can’t even explain what he does.

MBA schools and business programs often complicate what business is all about. If we remove all the layers and bring it to the core. Business is simple. Essentially it boils down to these three components:


Although setting up this structure is quite challenge at first, once its up and growing you can add more components to grow your business.

Product/Service: As old has time has been, we have been using business for exchange of goods and services. In order to do a transaction you need to have a product or a service to sell. If you don’t have anything to sell, the bottom line is you’re not in business. Once you have this, its beneficial to develop an offer. This is where you merge your products or services with clear messaging towards your buyers.

Customers: Lets say you have a product or a service and no one to sell to, if people are not wiling to pay for the your product or service it’s pretty hard to be in business. This can be because if you don’t have a clear audience, sometimes you waste your time building something that nobody wants.

Before Andrew Mason founded Groupon, he founded The Point, a social initiative platform. The idea was too abstract to market, and it didn’t have enough a market. When he stripped down the idea, and focused on one kind of customer finding his niche, Groupon has now become a billion dollar company.

Now, once you have customers who are willing to spend money, it’s beneficially to think on developing a strategy on how to expand your customers and get them more interested. It also helps to try to think of how Hollywood prepares for their launch of their movies, they prepare the campaign for the launch. This can take from weeks up till a year.

Payment System: Lets assume that you have a product or a service, and clear customers, if you are unable to get them to pay you for the product your not in business.  There are endless ways of getting paid; do you want to get paid in the form of cash, vouchers, even barter for something else?

Depending on your business, the size, the people you work with, etc. it may require you to get registered, open a bank account and even set up invoicing systems for your customers.

If you want to learn more about how to develop your business check out one of our programs or attend one of our webinars that can help you make things happen.