Overrating the Entrepreneur

There's a trend - Governments in order to boost their employment figures are turning to the entrepreneur and implementing programs that overlap that lead to an often dead end road where the entrepreneur can't get what they truly need to get their business off the ground at the end of their education - MONEY.

The programs being touted in the media about entrepreneurialism seem to suggest that everyone has what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes there are some great ideas out there in the minds of those that would be great if they can ever get off the ground. These individuals have neither the experience, the connections, nor the financial backing to realize their "dreams".

It is therefore against, this backdrop that this post is being put so here are some things that you need as a prospective entrepreneur to consider:

1. You need to research your business well. Having just an idea without knowing at least how phase one will work isn't enough. Business is not an arena that you can "fly by the seat of your pants". You need to know your business inside out. You have to provide the information necessary to enable your team to make sound decisions. If you need to get aspects researched, then pay to do it. You'll save yourselves lots of time by finding out what you need to know.
2. Your professional team is necessary as they have more experience than you do. You won't go to the doctor and ask for the syringe to administer your medication that you should have no access to, don't expect that your professional team is going to hand over the tools of their trade for you to botch it up - and then blame them. Also while helping you to understand the guidelines of their expertise, they will not train you in their area of professionalism. 
3. FUNDS - Have funds to start your business or GO HOME. Trying to start a business on the back of others using their assets is just not going to cut it. You need to understand that others are not going to have the need in place more investment in your business than you are. Pay your professionals and other service providers well and STOP LOOKING FOR HANDOUTS! We have to pay to access the information that we then provide you with to make important decisions. 
4. Too many "entrepreneurs" want to behave as if they are the bosses of their professional team members. Respect the personal time of your professional team members. Calling them incessantly after hours and on weekends even when paying fees can create a challenge. All professionals need down time to adequately prepare for the next work wave so they can be on top of their game. This is necessary when we ask nicely. 
5. Follow the advice that you're given - sitting in meetings taking up time and then not following through on the outcomes from that meeting, only to turn up again with incomplete tasks is tantamount to Bovine Faeces - wasting time and energy of all involved. 

Following these five (5) suggestions will go a long way in helping you build a strong and profitable business and in this instance is given freely. If you are lacking in these areas and are thinking about entrepreneurship there are agencies to help you get prepared in the areas you are lacking the resources. Go there first! 

Many professionals discuss these areas among themselves, it's time that you also know so that you can adjust your "business practices". Don't become another statistic just because they're overrating the entrepreneur as an employment solution. 

It's not always collateral

Barbados is a lovely island with some phenomenal properties. Some time ago, a client was referred to me who had a major challenge. They were facing foreclosure on their properties. Over time, they had acquired properties, fixed them up, and rented them out to long term tenants. The rents that they charged were, for this day and age, through the floor - nominal figures inclusive of all the utilities. Without any formal business structure in place, they were making money and keeping under the radar, until when it happened.

The was a major collapse of some sewage infrastructure at one property. It sucked up the majority of the saved funds and then it started happening. The owners were put in a system of catch up - the funds coming in were insufficient to pay current and past commitments. Over time it resulted in a downward spiral where loss of one property would mean the loss of the others.

When we reviewed the case we found:

• that the properties within the portfolio were quite good
• the were under producing from the standpoint of revenue
• no contracts were in place with the tenants 
• tenants were tardy in their payments 
• some were doing trade offs in terms of fixing aspects of the property and deducting it from the rent
• the insurances were pending renewal
• the owners needed financing fast as foreclosure on three of the properties were pending
• one property actually began foreclosure procedures as the bank sought to recover 
• the owners were already cashed strapped, they were doing this as a means of helping less fortunate people

Thankfully this worked out well. 

• We were able to assist the client in the formation of their property management entity. 
• All tenants were met and new leases were drawn up
• The new leases in had with new terms and conditions guaranteed a positive cash flow for the period of years for which we sought financing for them
• Through obtaining the financing we were able to get back the property which had begun the foreclosure procedures and actually went through the auction process. 
• The system for operating such an entity was taught to the owners who now have the templates for not only operating their current stock of inventory, but also expanding their portfolio to include others

Why not visit our website to check us out in full. We just may be able to help you. Just in case you see anything you can tell us a bit about yourself and we'll take you through the processes  from there to ensure you have the correct resources for your needed solutions.