You can learn from my experience and apply the lesson to your business. Just as the topic suggests, it hurts to learn through experience sometimes. I have been exposed to harsh business conditions that could have easily meant no more attempts, but I’m determined because it often pays out fairly or even lucratively. This time I want to write from a first person approach, other than telling you to take the lesson even when it hurts, I will tell of my latest success from keeping on working on it despite unpromising conditions.

 

Like many young stars, I started dreaming on both exploring and monetizing my passions even before I went to university in 1997. I recall that when I graduated at university the focus was on getting lessons from a South African institution to become a youth councilor, then it was fine art painting, then it was publishing, screen printing, motivational speaker, a business (butchery in town) and finally fine tuned to who I am today – artist, entrepreneur and publisher. This is clearly marked by my continued self designed screen printing works, web-hosting service and ever growing online publishing profile through my websites and five title books already in the market.  

 

Before I share the lesson from my experience, I will relate comprehensively the story of how I think success has come from taking the lesson despite hardships.

 

My Latest Success

 

Soon after inviting my brother for a web-hosting service that I offer at yeboyesrates.com, he cautioned me not to give up on the idea until it works. He actually saw its potential and got worried because I often give up too early for any ideas work. 

 

Today I have learnt a lesson over the past seven days – Take the Lesson for as Long as it won’t kill You! I’m even ashamed to tell that I’m seeing my success come through from a sold and paid off screen printing machine. I had given up on screen printing and fortunately had secured a buyer that had already paid for the machine, when I realized that I was stuck with more than 150 blank t-shirts. There had to be a plan to dispose off the t-shirts at a profit. I therefore took chances and do my long time business idea of printing tourism based designs and sell in tourist attraction locations as souvenirs, and this has taken me through to my success.

 

On 31st September 09 was a big day in Swaziland, the annual reed dance, where people from all over the world come to witness the event. Such an environment is ideal for selling souvenirs. With the four ready set up screens that I had designed with African as well as Swazi theme, it was easy for me to prepare for the event. Out. I printed only 30 t-shirts and set out to display my items closer to the entrance leading to the royal kraal where the dancing takes place.

 

Surprisingly, on the first day I made sales enough to encourage me to come back the next day. The next day was good also and I got orders to deliver more quantities the following day. I had to print some more to satisfy the orders according to customer size, color and print design preferences. Going to deliver the last order, I made more sales than any other previous day.

 

The Hurting Lesson of Selling

 

  1. Nothing just Happens

Knowing that nothing just happens has helped me understand life better and know that whatever the circumstances, it all works together for good. For example, when I got to the gate where I wanted to sell the t-shirts, I was faced with resistance from other sellers and the police. Later I was forced to move to an opposite place and sell from there. After a few hours, I realized that the position I had been located was the best since my merchandise was isolated and more visible.

 

 

  1. Patience Pays

Not selling within the first four hours didn’t mean I had to pack and go. I stayed even though there was no hope of making a sale and got surprised when I eventually made the first sale. I found myself making reasons for staying so that I cope with the circumstances. To me, staying would answer the question on whether the idea works or not. If it didn’t work, I would then be forced to try other means of disposing the t-shirts or those of exploring my tourism passion.

 

  1. Its Better When You Like What You Do

It often comes naturally to pursue something that you like than that which you force yourself into. Many time people do something under the influence of making money and more money. It’s good to make money but its easier doing what you like because you never feel pressured to do the work.

 

Way Forward

 

The reasons for selling the screen printing machine still exist and thus I’m still going to let go of it, but as long as the owner hasn’t taken it, I will keep printing the t-shirts and accepting orders. If it happens that orders cannot be fulfilled because the screen printing machine has been taken, I shall refer customers to the new owner.

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