Kwaku Bediako, Founder & Chief Creative Director of Chocolate Clothes Ghana, says there are three essential ingredients for starting and succeeding in business, and by extension any venture in life. He shared these thoughts during the weekly Springboard Alumni Hangout on Zoom Webinar with Rev. Albert Ocran.
Kwaku has seen these three secrets work for him since he started the company which is now a global brand that designs for celebrities and the Black Stars of Ghana for the 2014 World Cup. He has been featured on CNN African Voices, Vogue magazine, and BBC radio.
Let’s look at them in detail.
#1. Think Big
The first secret to starting and succeeding is to think big. Don’t think small and shallow. Kwaku is an epitome of big thinking because we can see evidence of this in his line of clients and where he has been honored. Small thinking uses the same energy as big thinking, so why not think big?
When Donald Trump was in active business life, he wanted to build a Trump Tower in a certain place that will be taller than all other existing buildings. The town folks thought he should do it to their specifications but for Trump, he said he would either build it tall and huge or no building at all. Bold thinking. Big thinking. Have you read Think Big by Donald Trump? It’s powerful and relevant to you if you are into business and even for personal life.
“Small thinking uses the same energy as big thinking, so why not think big?”
When I say think big, I am not saying that all of us will necessarily end up serving everyone on earth with our product. But rather I am saying that if you are serving 5 people, why not 100 or even 1000 people? Thinking starts from the mind. Small thinking boxes you in and restricts your life. Think big and be free to act.
“Small thinking boxes you in and restricts your life.”
#2. Start Small
The second ingredient for success shared by Kwaku is to start small. Very important. No big company on earth started big. Even those who started relatively sizeable, still saw themselves small compared to their vision. Chocolate Clothing started small with only Kwaku. After University, he started an idea company called Checkmates. Their services were marketing and business ideas. That’s how he started small.
“Even those who started relatively sizeable, still saw themselves small compared to their vision.”
In my article Every Big Thing Starts Small: Lessons from the Databank Story, I shared that the founders of the investment firm borrowed $25,000 and rented an apartment at Kantamanto (Accra) with only five workers. 30 years on, the company is employing many people and making clients financially independent. It all started small.
#3. Move Fast
The fact that you start small does not mean you must walk like a tortoise. Growing fast means you must do everything possible to bridge the gap between your reality and your dream according to your timelines. It’s daily, steady, consistent, and actual. Nothing can stop a growing child unless starved to death.
Kwaku’s last key to success is moving fast. If he had moved slowly, we would not have seen Chocolate dressing the Black Stars and famous people like Steve Harvey and Idris Elba. Don’t sleep and expect to grow organically. Don’t play and expect to be knowledgeable. Even though the slow motion is better than no motion, you can move fast if you want. Moving fast will result in the fact that what would have taken you 10 years can be done in 5 years. Move fast and see how fast you grow. But never neglect any of the laws of growth especially the pillars that will hold your success like honesty, faithfulness, and consistency.
“Growing fast means you must do everything possible to bridge the gap between your reality and your dream according to your timelines.”
There you go, three keys to start and succeed in any venture. May we apply ourselves to them and succeed.
Which of these three keys is your favorite and why? Share your thoughts.
Eric Otchere blogs daily at www.erickotchere.blogspot.com. You can reach him via mail at otchereeric@gmail.com.
