Why Entrepreneurs Should Be Like Kids

By Isioma Okenimkpe

Paulo Coelho “A child knows how to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something,
​ and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”

source: Shutterstock

   I recently became a mother for the first time, and since spending quality time with my little one and bonding with her, it struck me that babies are naturally born entrepreneurs so I thought it might be useful share.
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Key Takeaway

• In business you need to be courageous, never be afraid of failure
• Surround yourself with the right people and network
• Be flexible and true to yourself
• Believe in your gut and never give up on your passion.

    First is the newborn baby’s growth. A newborn baby’s growth is like that of a startup, some babies are born bigger while others are born smaller. According to research, the average newborn will weigh in around 7 and half pound and measures about 20 inches long but one thing is for sure, the newborn will lose some weight in the first few days after birth. In fact, nearly all newborns will leave the hospital less than they did when they’re first born. In the same vein, whether you start big or small, every business is created, and nurtured from a basic idea to a functional company, and with this comes its own growing pain and weight loss. The fact is that more than 50% of all businesses will fail within the first 5 years and this is nothing to be afraid of because just like the newborn, you will recoup with the right amount of time, resources, and dedication.

 Secondly, as each month passes, the newborn continues to grow, gain more weight, make smoother and more purposeful movements and have increasing brain power. Aside from these, they start to exhibit essential skills that allows them to survive and thrive, these include demanding for what they want, and they are never paralyzed by fear. These attributes are very productive for startups as they start to seek more information about their product and services, learn about their value proposition, they test hypothesis, embark on customer discovery, seek mentorship and so on. Yet, like babies, they face brutal challenges, and fussy days. But the good news is, it gets better. Just as babies can channel their energy from being fussy to being happy with the right amount of encouragement and support from their parents, so also do startups can achieve business development with the right amount of support and guidance.

   Entrepreneurs should be free thinkers like children, always looking out for new ideas and are open to adopting change. They should be opened to seeing both their good qualities and their faults as these tend to be reflected through the products they create. In the same vein, entrepreneurs should learn from past experiences, learn to listen, and expose themselves to new opinions and perspectives (just like I seek advice from my baby’s pediatrician when I go for her wellness visit), get advice from investors, advisor and in all be confident enough to make decisions as it pertains to the products and services which you offer.
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   Finally, with all the setbacks and challenges involved in achieving their milestones, children never give up. They learn to sleep on their back, they advance to rolling-over from side to side, they learn to sit up, crawl, walk, talk and the list goes on, yet they never give up. Through all these processes, they realize that it is all worth it. So, yes! being a startup is hard because you get to do everything whether it entails taking trash out, cleaning the floor, customer interviews, marketing, sales, you name it. It even gets harder when you lose your curiosity, enthusiasm, and ambition in exchange for a nice and steady job, but when these times comes, never forget to reflect on why we decided to be creators in the first place. Therefore, before quitting, think like a child. Remember your passion, how it all started and how you loved solving hard problems. As the saying goes “the business world may change, but the value of entrepreneurship never will.” ​