Opportunities in a Paper Sun
If you graduated University or College this summer, have had little luck in any subsequent “milk rounds” do not despair – sometimes “real” opportunities are not where you expect to find them, nor are they necessarily in your typical “corporate” 9am to 5pm?
A while ago I was introduced to the Director of a manufacturing business…Originally the “business” was tiny starting its life as a retail store that saw a growing niche in the wholesaling of certain food ingredients to trade customers.? After several decades of growth it was acquired by private equity, who quickly undertook a handful of strategic “tuck-in” acquisitions to provide further opportunities for the business.? The Director was one of a small group of eager students that took advantage of the Company’s graduate placement programme; the others drifted away but he stayed; and now, I understand, he is part of the C-Suite?
Instead of solely looking for career advancement in larger commercial entities, non-profits and within the Public Sector; broaden your horizons, just a little, and consider entrepreneurial opportunities with one or more existing smaller firms – ideally family run?? No, it will not be easy – sometimes the Founders will not be open to new ideas, but occasionally you may get the odd win?
The thing about (some not all) small businesses is that they may have been established by a “technocrat” that loves inventing and making “stuff” but is hopeless at and not really interested in the day-to-day management/operations – consequently the stress mounts and the business suffers?? The opportunity for you lies in starting from the bottom, doing all the various mundane thou necessary daily tasks (whether cleaning, answering calls, writing letters, marketing, payroll, making tea and so on); by seeing all aspects of the business after a certain point you realise the need for more professional management.? So you gradually, as you build trust with the Founders, introduce various policies, procedures etc. that, over time, help the business to operate as a “business” should – without the Founders need to constantly oversee everything?? Without realising it you have lifted a heavy burden off their shoulders, and in the process made yourself not only increasingly more valuable but also indispensable to the enterprise.? In this way, you gradually build and start to (hopefully) climb the management ladder here or elsewhere?
Caveat: some Founders will never listen, nor trust others and constantly remind you that “it does not work like that in this trade/business” – cut your losses and just walk away, because they are unlikely to ever change.
As well as acquiring practical business experience, remember to constantly educate yourself – learning from others that have successfully grown multiple businesses from the ground-up.? When money permits, try to get some formal coaches and mentors – to improve your knowledge and to build your network further?? Then gradually join one or more business masterminds to help boost your personal growth still further – and opportunities yet untapped.
领英推荐
Like everything, take your time – stews are delicious if cooked very slowly?? Your objective, as my former Sensei used to constantly reiterate, is to build strong foundations.? Others that you graduated with will pass you by, but, over the long-term, you may well compound your successes and start to exceed theirs?? If not, you may find some solace in the success that you actually managed to achieve, something that you are fully content with – you are “happy in your lot?”
So if you did not get “chosen” do not despair – there is a World of opportunities for you to explore, in business, as a “multipreneur”, “intrapreneur”, “solopreneur”, “mompreneur”, “silverpreneur”, “ablepreneur”…!? Just do not give up!
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Kip
The EBO Guy
…Acquiring businesses for employees