Knowledge is Not Enough for Business Success

This topic keeps resurfacing so I'd like to put it to you to comment on. My take is that it is time we debunked the myth that all we need is to "know" and that "knowledge", which, kwa wengi nilioongea nao, wanamaanisha "information", will take us to our highest high. Sikiliza, kunatofauti kubwa kati ya "literacy" na "education"....
To me, knowledge is the minimum building block for business success. 

"Knowledge in Context"

How many people who "know" their material are still out there, looking for jobs and business contracts?

It isn't enough to know your area of study, you must have knowledge in context.  Nilikua naonge na ndugu yangu mmoja aliyemaliza chuo mwaka jana. Huyu kijana anachapa kazi sana na, baada ya miezi michache alikua meneja wa kitengo cha maana sana kwenye hiyo kampuni. Sasa hivi, chini ya mwaka baadaye, ameisha boreka, he wants to go into business for himself. His ideas are great, his knowledge of the field, unquestionable, lakini kuna vitu vichache which he must understand about applying his "knowledge" to the real world of work.

Kama kijana anayetaka "kutoka", umefanya utafiti gani kujua kama unachotaka kufanya ni relevant and profitable? Umewahikupractise unachojua kuhusu biashara? Na umefanya kwa muda gani?

Although experience is best, hata kama hauna experience, bado unaweza kuanza biashara yenye mafanikio! 

Lakini usiibuke tu, check yourself kwanza. 

It may not seem fair but you need to know kwamba:

1. School theories will not work in the practical world of work

Test them out before you expect them to work like a chemistry formula with titration.

2. No matter how great your idea is, you need to sell it to someone to trust you with their money - network to build relationships

Develop relationships with those who started out and made it, those who can influence your business environment, investors who may want to partner etc If you don't get to them directly, tafuta watu wanaowajua na share your plans (with discretion of course, watu hawana aibu) with them.

3. Although more young people are starting businesses, the market is still held by "the old guard" - convince them that you can

Make sure your age is not your cage - be clear and articulate about the profitability of your business and how soon the bank, an investor, family member etc can see a return in their investment (have someone (they trust) in your newly formed business network, back you up).

4. Work more than you get paid for to prove your capacity - build a brand and reputation kwanza

Show that you aren't just hot air, kwamba you both "know" your area and can back it up with performance, each time - don't worry, money will follow your reputation.

5. Conduct yourself professionally and ethically 

Look, speak, act right- nothing else gives you and your business greater PR

6. Give it time!

Be patient! Call it  a business cycle, law of seed and harvest, whatever it is, know that you cannot short circuit the process of starting, developing, managing and growing (although, well advised and positioned, you can tweak the length of time for you to start seeing the returns).

7. Speak up

Let people know you exist through every medium you can and quote those happy with your work to others.

8. Make that money!

It'll speak louder than you of what you're made of.

9. Maintain discipline and growth

Don't blow your money on "things". Kuna wanaokula mbegu badala ya kuzipanda tena zivune mazao mwengi zaidi. Reinvest in the business, make sure you grow and later, diversify.

10. Remain humble

Don't show off. Don't let a little success change you. Stay focused, keep relationships, make money, don't let money make you.


In the world of business, people don't ask you what you know, they ask what can you do for them and those really sharp want to know what you have done before and for whom, to prove you can do it again.

Kuna cha ziada tunachohitaji kufanya kupata mafanikio.

Jipange upya.

If pure knowledge were enough then everybody in your class would be a success. 

Find out what those who are making it are doing and learn (as long as it's legal and ethical).