ARE YOU CONNECTED?

Relationships, depending on whether they are good or bad can affect your business either positively or negatively. Most people in business for themselves can recount how when they started their ventures, they were told that their businesses would not succeed. Their success depended on whether they received and internalised the negativity or whether they ignored it and went ahead seeking those who would encourage them. I would like to share three positive things we gain from good business relationships.

The first thing I would like to highlight is that good relationships can result in an increase in knowledge. I belong to a vibrant progressive group of farmers on Facebook. This platform has proved invaluable as I am continually learning from people who have already gone through some of the challenges I’m facing now. We have formed positive relationships and exchange knowledge regularly. When someone has an issue on their farm or in their garden, they post their challenge and usually within minutes, solutions begin to be given. I have not met most of the people I interact with but due to unity of purpose, bonds have been formed and I have even received free business consultation.

The increase in knowledge that comes from positive relationships is because conversations are multi-dimensional. You are likely to get more information than you asked for just by asking the right question and listening. Recently I had the privilege to join other young people at a workshop on opportunities in agribusiness. There was quite a bit of networking and it was eye opening to hear what others were doing and what their plans were. I met a young man who has an avocado plantation, another young lady rearing quails, another growing seedlings, and even a young person who owns a consultancy firm that employs 4 full-time staff! We exchanged business ideas and all of us walked away with more than what we had come with.

The second thing is that relationships do is that they give you access that won’t be given to someone who doesn’t have that relationship. Sometimes having access to someone with more experience than you can be more useful than Google. As I have mentioned above technology can play a great part in creating a platform for interaction. However, nothing can replace having a person tell you how they got something done in person. It’s also easier to ask questions when you are unclear and you can feed effortlessly off of their energy. As a young business person or farmer you can get leads on good prices to sell your produce, where you can sell and even new methods to keep costs down. Having access to good information also can give you first mover advantage in a given market. It may also be a source of finding cheap funding.

A story is told of a gentleman who desperately wanted to change his financial situation but didn’t know how to go about it. In his desperation he attended a meeting by a business man who encouraged those present to think of a gift that they had. Once they did that, he challenged them by telling them that their gift could be the beginning of a new life.

This gentleman used to make a healthy cheesecake for friends and family and so he decided to pitch this idea to a food company. He went without an appointment but was given audience. Unbeknown to him, the CEO of that company was visiting that branch that day. He tasted the cheesecake, loved it and as they say, the rest is history.

It was only until this man’s recipe was connected to the right person that it made him money. The same is true for you my dear reader. Even if you grow the best vegetables or have the best product on the market, it will not make you money if you are not connected to a buyer for your goods. Seek out the right connections and your gift can be used to benefit you.

A word of caution here. Do not only seek relationships because of what you want to get from it. Relationships are only healthy when they are mutually beneficial. Make sure you are also sharing and bringing something to the table.

Finally, connection over time gives birth to multiplication. When you are part of a positive network and prove yourself loyal, more opportunities open up. As you prove yourself trustworthy and you are a person who keeps their word, your reputation will precede you and to some extent, business will begin to follow you.

The phrase your network is your net worth, has become a popular one and it rings true. The people you are connected to determine your future as their habits and values will inevitably rub off on you as you spend time with them and listen to them. As John C. Maxwell wrote in his book, Talent is never enough, relationships influence your talent. Therefore relationships must be chosen wisely.

Mweendalubi Simamba