In my few decades of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide under the African sun, I have come to learn a few things about my people - some characteristics to die for, others to kill, at once.
“Pride” falls under both categories. I am proud to be Tanzanian! I am proud of our diversity in ethnicity (over 130 tribes) yet unity in identity and language. I am proud of the fact that we look out for each other; as long as there is a community around them, it is almost unheard of to have a Tanzanian go without food or shelter. I am proud of the fact that we spearheaded Africa’s fight for freedom and unity at great national cost and have that as a lasting legacy. I am proud of our hospitality to people who are destitute, even to this day. I am proud of the fact that we tightened our belt and chose to develop on our own terms, rather than bow down to international political pressure. I am proud to be Tanzanian with the same pride that made our forefathers brave, selfless, sacrificial, persevering and united in pursuit of a common purpose, even when they didn’t get personal gain or live to see their dreams realised. This “pride” in my people, I too take pride in.
Then there is “p-ride” in my people. Out of the same set of circumstances of self-reliance, measured growth and employment for all, so that no one gets left behind, Tanzanians developed an “I am too proud to beg” attitude, even in situations when they aren’t even begging for anything. Funny how when we do beg, for example, for aid, we actually have no qualms about it. I’m just saying. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, being “too proud to beg” for business opportunities.
Take seeking for jobs, whether it be in employment or a business seeking clients, for example; it is typical of many of us to do the minimum to send out our documents, call-in to follow up a few times and then, let the opportunity go without “closing” the deal because we think “well, they know I exist, I have sent them my application documents and even followed up, if they really wanted to do this with me, they would have reverted to me, I’m not going to beg, I know my value.”
Similarly, I have noticed that a person will get out of their way to “sell” when at the beginning of their career yet a few years and titles later would not “go out to beg” for business.
What a pity. “As a man sees in his heart, so is he” reminds us King Solomon in one of his proverbs. Why would we choose to see it as “begging” and not “selling”? Ndugu zangu, as an employer-client, you cannot expect me to be more concerned with pursuing your success than you are. After all, who wrote to whom for this business opportunity? Kwahiyo unamringia nani? Do you know how many other people have applied for the same job as you have? Do you have any idea how many businesses are vying for the same tender to supply products and services to us? There could be tens, hundreds, even thousands. You think you are the only one with an idea? You would be surprised as to how many others have thought up something similar and have put it out to market. It is said that an idea is shared by 99 other people. Even if you were the only person and or business pursuing that opportunity, you still need to be persistent, show the employer-client that you are serious about partnering with them. Maanisha! Follow through.
So many employment opportunities are forgone, sales lost, because of the prideful mindset of the person seeking it.
I would advise both individual and business alike, to “change the way they think, perform and present themselves” to close that deal and continue nurturing the business relationship to guarantee repeat business past the initial transaction.
To do this, one should:
