When I decided to start my business I had a problem I wanted to solve. I wanted to create a fast and simpler shopping experience for African fashion. The business would be one that solved all the issues around getting Afrocentric clothing and accessories. With my small business, I would control a lot of things. After running Zedi, my clothing brand for a number of years I have come to realize that the idea of full control is an illusion.
On one hand, it is the dream of every entrepreneur to have control over every aspect of their business, from the products or services they offer, and the interactions with customers to the way they run their company. You want to be able to make decisions that will help your business grow and succeed. However, the reality is that as an entrepreneur, you often have little control over many aspects of your business. The economy, your competitors, and even your customers can all have a significant impact on your business, and there is very little you can do to control these things.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist so sometimes I get upset or angry when things are going down a path I didn’t choose. Just when we plan to have a more affordable range of clothes inflation appears from nowhere! Mistakes by either myself or my staff could mess up my whole day. It may not even be the sale we missed for improper inventory management that is upsetting but just the mere fact that it happened. “We are too old to be making such mistakes,” I would say to myself. At first, these events were very disheartening. It made me feel like I was at the mercy of forces beyond my control. But, with time, I have come to see that full control is an illusion.
In fact, accepting that you don’t have full control can actually be a powerful motivator. It can push you to work harder, to be more creative, and to think outside the box in order to find new ways to succeed. It can also help you to be more resilient because you realize that when things don’t go as planned, it’s not always your fault, and you can’t always control the outcome. If it wasn’t for a time when I had my assistant coming to work late I wouldn’t have discovered a free clock-in system that we currently use. Now I can check on staff even if I’m not in the country!
Ultimately, as a small business owner, I have come to accept that total control is just an illusion. Instead of focusing on what I can’t control, I focus on what I can control, and I work hard to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. I also make sure to take time to enjoy the journey and celebrate the little wins along the way. Because, in the end, that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about – taking risks, solving problems, learning from your mistakes, and making the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
