Event Update:SOS Business Surgery - The first 90 days (19-01-12)

Hello, my name is Donna-Ray Campbell and I write the 'Event Update' column on behalf of Stimulus for the

 Entrepreneurial Report.                                                            

SOS Business Surgeries are events that we

Hold monthly that give an opportunity for 

Entrepreneurs to learn life skills, share experiences

And gain information that will allow them to take

practical steps towards development.

 At these events one2one sessions can be booked in advance

 For a closer and private review of you particular situation.         

 Our SOS Business surgery for January took place on the 19^th
at The Zimbo Jam Offices. Our topic for the event
was the first 90 days. During this session
 Miss Rudo Nyangulu [Stimulus Group CEO]
delivered a workshop on business goal setting and how these goals can be realized through careful planning and implementation. .

The session began with a recap exercise to bring up to speed those that had not attended our last SOS Business Surgery, on business planning for 2012. The core of the workshop was to start the group on a course that promotes strategic and creative thinking about their businesses and the potential they have. The exercise included a four page handout that allows the individual to set a 5year position for their business then drill down from year five to the ‘first 90 Days of 2012. Miss Nyangulu began by asking the group to list up to 10 key goals that will need to be realized within the next five years to determine where their businesses would be at the end of that period. This was done to encourage the entrepreneurs to keep the ‘bigger picture’ in mind and have a strategy (detailed plan) to show you how you will achieve it. The desired outcome was to enable the group to not only think big but to also know how they will get there as they carry out their day to day business.

The following step was to focus on year one objectives. This exercise challenged the group to divide all the objectives of year one into the four quarters of the year. This required one to prioritize their business needs in the immediate whilst staying on course to achieve their long term vision. For example; if an entrepreneur was starting a business in 2012, quarter one goals would include company registration, developing a brand and creating an online footprint. When setting goals to be achieved at start up, one needs to consider if their goals are realistic and based on their current circumstances. Then one needs to consider if their goals are achievable, specific (tangible not abstract wishes) and measurable. It is also advisable that your goals are timely; they need to be done within a specific period of time in order for you to track your progress effectively.

From the quarterly breakdown we then went a step further as Miss Nyangulu asked us to break down our quarterly goals into months, weeks and days so we  had to set target activities with due dates for completion, for example,  register the company by the 31^st of January 2012. When your goals have due dates you are more likely to work towards achieving them. Therefore you become more proactive in implementing your business goals. Those who do not have a business as yet were encouraged to use their first quarter to begin their business proposals and then set targets to help them get their businesses underway.

Finally we had a group exercise where each group was tasked to create a business or use one of their own and create a 5 year business plan for their model business. This was done to encourage discussion and allow for the sharing of ideas as the workshop had been an individual development process up to that point. This activity was also designed to help individuals new to business who are not confident in making these decisions alone. Through discussion and debate different approaches to goal setting were explored which provided an excellent training ground for new entrepreneurs and a good refresher for veterans.   

The exercise was very interesting as the different levels of experience and the different types of experiences of the individuals in the groups led to heated debates as well as multiple requests of clarification of how things should be done if one wants to carry out an ethical business.  The session raised vital lesson on the right way to do business, ‘the ideal approach’ to business and the reality of doing business in Zimbabwe today. This challenged individuals with different mindsets and approaches as well as brought valuable insight for those thinking about starting a business as well as veteran entrepreneurs It is often the case that start up entrepreneurial business fail due to founders cocooning themselves in their own knowledge and reasoning instead of looking at things from a much broader perspective, discussing their ideas and seeking specialist assistance and advice. The session was very well received and there was much discussion long after the event ended. Everyone left the session with a renewed knowledge and understanding or new knowledge as well as a different perspective when approaching business planning and implementation in practice. 

 Photography provided by InonziMemory by Fungai Tichawangana

Miss Rudo Nyangulu explaining business plan implementation

Everyone quickly got to work on their 2012 implementation plan

 

Miss Rudo Nyangulu giving instructions for our group activity

The group discussions were very interesting and eye opening for all

Some groups experienced many deadlocks as idea's differed in planing

The presentations after the group discussions revealed lots of new knowledge for all!