Back to Basics

By my very rough estimates, more than 95% of people who love wildlife have seen the most amazing animals up close, thanks to Sir David Attenborough.  We've held our breaths, sat on the edge of our seats, talked authoritatively about marsupials and blue whales, regaling our young ones with facts we have gleaned through the good Sir's eyes and ears from the comfort of our (or other's) living rooms. Bless his heart. Sir David is undoubtedly the world's mo st known and respected naturalist (he turned 90 years mid this year). For 60 years, he has travelled the world, to parts unknown, capturing nature in its element, and relaying the same to billions of viewers the world over. What many do not know is that at the start of his career at the BBC, the Producers of Zoo Quest discouraged him from appearing on TV - BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED HIS TEETH TOO BIG AND UNAPPEALING TO TV AUDIENCES. He worked behind the scenes, doing whatever people do behind he scenes to make th...

The secret to running a successful enterprise lies in having a great product..a product that is in short supply, and for which there is a great demand. FACT. While many entrepreneurs choose to focus on, and sell the tangibles, I strongly believe that at the end of the spectrum, the decision to buy is driven by the intangibles - the emotional connections created in the customer journey. Charles Revson, Founder of Revlon Cosmetics summed it up well, when he said "In the factory, we make cosmetics; at the shop, we sell hope".  The wisdom in this nugget rings true today, maybe even louder than it did more than 50 years ago. Marketing communications has grown purely on the strength of creating an emotional connection between a brand and its consumers.   Pick any brand ... Coke, Apple, BMW ...they are not screaming from the rooftop about quenching your thirst, making you work smart or getting you from Point A to Point B.  Their messaging is skewed towards appealing to the...

Everyday I learn something new; many a time, I ask, "Just how much is there to learn in this Rainmaking journey?" For the benefit of my good friend (unajijua) who is embarking on the path to entrepreneurship, this one's for you....to all those in my circle who are already in the journey, I hope you will validate my musings, and recharge your batteries as you navigate through the hustler's maze. Entrepreneurship is a journey full of twists and turns. It is an oxymoronic journey - fulfilling, yet draining, rewarding, yet nerve-wracking, predictable, yet unclear.... It is my pleasure to share with y'all my favourite P's. You may look at these as Prescriptions for the Hustler's Journey; every hustler's suitcase should have a generous portion of these P's (Caveat: I am not an all-knowing, all-expert Jules; I have learned through getting my fingers burned, through agonising phases of confusion and pain, through humorous moments of emptying Rob...