I would like to share these lines with potential entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to providing services to those who wish to undertake an economic activity. I feel that this is a field that requires exploration, if we are a few, surely we will approach a good planting. I do not intend to become Dr. Entrepreneurship, all I will do is "throw" some lines in which I propose to "rescue" the entrepreneur.
We have become used to living in the midst of fashions. Clothes, music, books, decorative styles, neighborhoods, businesses, politicians, phrases, etc.
Among these trends, the words entrepreneur and micro-entrepreneurship have prevailed.
We listen and read a lot on the subject. As often happens when you talk a lot about something, there are so many who speak at the same time that you end up not understanding.
Let's see what comes out of this personal exercise.
With the advance of neoliberalism, there was a high concentration of supply in the international market and, obviously, Latin America is not an exception, therefore, neither is Argentina. Proportionally, the supply of products (goods or services) has grown much more than the demand. Conclusion: there is a lot of almost everything or there are many offering the same and, furthermore, there are few who take most of the "available cake" (demand), which in turn also presents a marked concentration, as a result of the decrease in the purchasing power of the middle social sector. This has a strong impact on the socio-economic aspect of society, increasing unemployment and underemployment rates.
A fundamental aspect of capitalism is the oversupply of goods and services, produced with high technological efficiency, promoting the phenomenon of “commoditization”, that is to say: the fall in nominal sales prices and the average profits generated, which encourages that companies must increase the number of units sold, which, in turn, feeds back the vicious circle: supply increases and prices fall.
What is unfortunate, and essentially contradictory about this system, is that people (employees, merchants, professionals, businessmen) are left on the road with very few possibilities of reintegrating into the economic circuit, therefore, the concentration of wealth in a smaller and smaller sector. It is to be expected that at some point it will happen that the excessive supply in the face of a demand that is increasingly distant from consumption, ends up causing a natural reformulation of neoliberal strategies, since they would face the internal fallacy of their theory. Due to the force that the system has taken, I do not believe that the governments of emerging countries can carry out any action that mitigates the social effects it produces.
Faced with this phenomenon caused by the disbanding of the capitalist system, it is inevitable to ask: and in the meantime, what can those who are outside the system do? A simple answer is: try to enter through commercial, industrial and professional ventures. I dare "almost" to affirm, without criticizing, that even this "need for income" has become one more product of this commodified consumer society.
Micro-enterprises, generally, are launched without prior planning, either due to the need to generate income in the shortest possible time or due to ignorance of the regulatory framework of the free competition commercial system, to which, to give it a sensationalist touch, although starkly real Some authors define it as "the fittest", as happens in any competitive discipline.
The truth is that entering an economic segment that presents a high level of competition without any differential characteristic is almost impossible. One pattern of this is the shortening of the times between the opening of businesses (launch) and the closing of the same. In many cases, the new entrepreneur dismisses his experience and trajectory during his previous economic activity, whether in a situation of dependency or independently. The urgencies drive to start activities with the primary objective, humanly understandable, of "having a job" or "feeling productive." This is exacerbated in men, since we have burned the command "you must provide." The difference in the approach of a woman and that of a man is noticeable.We men hardly allow ourselves to "have fun" in the run-up to the idea's implementation. We consider it a serious thing that does not admit relaxation or play, which, in turn, undermines creativity.
Like any business, a micro-enterprise must arise from an idea, subjected to a technical feasibility analysis, to avoid overestimating possible future results and avoid not only a potential economic loss, but the inevitable frustration and anguish in the face of failure.
When a person wants to start a business without a clear idea regarding the item or segment, it is very useful to investigate the personal history of the new entrepreneur, to detect genuine resources (general knowledge, trajectory, training, capital, friends, contacts, family) that it has, since with those ingredients (resources) it will have to "manufacture or create" the product (good or service) that it will offer to a certain market segment, through the strategies decided in its commercial plan.
It is easier to detect certain business opportunities to develop when the future entrepreneur does not have pre-concepts (beliefs) about a particular economic sector, since there is a flexible attitude and therefore more open to reflection and objective analysis, based on the convenience. When we "fall in love" with our ideas we resemble "capricious babies" and do not admit any observations, since we will "listen" to them as if they had the intention of checking them.
A fundamental aspect to consider is the determination with a certain level of accuracy of the future income that can be generated through the venture. Normally, when a person decides to start an independent activity, they need to generate income immediately. This can work against the project since it requires a maturation period, not only prior to launch, but once the business has been launched. The biggest drawbacks occur in those people who in the past had achieved a high standard of living, since, faced with their decision to start an independent business, they must adapt their financial budget to their new reality. A typical, and fatal mistake is usually to budget for future income from current needs, which ends up mortgaging the project,even before being launched.
Given the current high competitive action, which although many times it is of little result, it is necessary to refine the communication that will be used for the launch.
The existing noise is a lot, which causes the generation of antibodies in potential clients. This point is related to the initial capital required for the business, not always considered in the previous business plan. In practice, the number of people who open a store is notorious, investing in the rent and / or purchase, in the remodeling and decoration, in the facilities and in the merchandise, but at the time of the inauguration they realize that they they have run out of capital to advertise their existence. Many times we allow ourselves to be "seduced" by self-reference. If we consume or would consume this or that product, we will surely attract many customers.
It is also frequent that the launches of the ventures do not have a previous investigation (number of inhabitants, competition, traffic of people, possibility of parking and / or commercial authorization) of the chosen area, nor of the tasks ("know how") involved with the activity to develop. What had previously been perceived as very simple, in practice it was not so simple and the area in which it was decided to establish the business, which at first glance did not present competition, has a large number of businesses in the same field.
To avoid falling into potential miracle recipes, it is necessary to mark a break between the before and now, otherwise an immobilizing blockage occurs. The past is what was and the present is what you have to build the future. Values from the past must be rescued to precisely reinforce the present.
Many people are immobilized yearning for the past and justifying their actions (including inaction) in the bad situation of their country.
Excuses are unnecessary, you just have to look for them.
I think it is very important for the entrepreneur to get together with other entrepreneurs, to listen to others who live a similar situation. I don't think going to thematic training theory classes is enough. The entrepreneur requires reflection and a space for contention and this is generally not found in traditional training.
In the current globalized context, the technique has ceased to be the fundamental pillar of entrepreneurship, becoming a tool of knowledge. The materialization of the latter is reflected through innovation, imagination, creativity and inventiveness, which inevitably emerge as a consequence of reflective doubt. Technique has long been the fundamental basis of competition, since competitive differentiation was based on the constant search for efficiency.
In recent years, technical training has been appealed to as the miraculous key that would open the door to the "prelude to success." It is clear that it is easier to teach technique than to provoke reflection in those who wish to increase their knowledge to apply it to personal endeavors. Obviously, the technique will participate implicitly in the referred encounters, since it will form the limit required for the reflection to be positive, avoiding dispersions. The product offered must be efficiently produced, but the fundamental thing is, firstly, to focus the efforts to detect or decide the product to offer.
It is very "relieving" to be able to share feelings with others who are "in it." Although all participants have decided to start a business, not all will be able to face it with the same emotional integrity. Each one will present their own, and understandable, problem that they will face according to their possibilities (personality and character). If it is a person who has lost their job, they will surely have low self-esteem, which will end up negatively influencing their decisions. The group acts as a safety net.
The fundamental resource of a micro-enterprise is the entrepreneur himself. This is not always understood by the entrepreneur himself or by those who provide advice from the outside with the best intention of giving him a hand. You have to be in someone's shoes to understand what they feel.
Entrepreneurs, just to mention a few, will present different situations related to their current activity:
1- With current independent activity (including professionals)
- Good or stable situation Bad or declining situation
2- With dependent activity
- They seek to improve their economic situation; they estimate that they will lose their current job
3- No activity or employment
- With own capital to invest Without own capital With training or knowledge Without specific training
I believe that each entrepreneur should be very careful with their business idea and consider the pre-launch stage as part of the same undertaking, as the "kitchen" of the future business. This gives the feeling of being busy in what the new activity will be. This stage is essential so that when the time comes to launch the idea to the market, the entrepreneur feels solid to face the uncertainties (inclement) of the market.
Although there are no recipes for success, every entrepreneur should consider the following possible actions:
- Group work aimed at framing economic activity in a context of high competition. Colloquial, with little content of "technical and political debate". If you do not know a workshop (there are many), it is possible to create one. An entrepreneur who wishes can summon other potential entrepreneurs to meet and chat about their plans, their wishes, and their fears. The group energy is very strong and blanket. It is very important to limit the time of the meetings so that they do not become long meetings of friends that end up being ineffective. The advance of the current economic system is consolidating our loneliness. We are accessing new and sophisticated means of communication and we are increasingly isolated. Individual containment for those who require it. Many times,instead of acting as a sensor to avoid making mistakes, the fear of failure becomes paralyzing. In this situation it is advisable to consult a professional. If the entrepreneur begins by respecting what he feels and looking for solutions, he has a long way to go. Recognizing yourself is a huge step towards being able to recognize others. We cannot fail to mention that all economic activity (this is what we are talking about) requires taking the other into account (market, customers, suppliers, contacts, employees, etc.) Carrying out an individual evaluation of the project or idea. As a guide, I suggest the following steps as they serve as a road map.If the entrepreneur begins by respecting what he feels and looking for solutions, he has a long way to go. Recognizing yourself is a huge step towards being able to recognize others. We cannot fail to mention that all economic activity (this is what we are talking about) requires taking the other into account (market, customers, suppliers, contacts, employees, etc.) Carrying out an individual evaluation of the project or idea. As a guide, I suggest the following steps as they serve as a road map.If the entrepreneur begins by respecting what he feels and looking for solutions, he has a long way to go. Recognizing yourself is a huge step towards being able to recognize others. We cannot fail to mention that all economic activity (this is what we are talking about) requires taking the other into account (market, customers, suppliers, contacts, employees, etc.) Carrying out an individual evaluation of the project or idea. As a guide, I suggest the following steps as they serve as a road map.Carry out an individual evaluation of the project or idea. As a guide, I suggest the following steps as they serve as a road map.Carry out an individual evaluation of the project or idea. As a guide, I suggest the following steps as they serve as a road map.
- Operational and commercial feasibility (it is important to relate it to the personal experience of the entrepreneur). The project must be viable both in operational and commercial terms. Determination of competitive strengths (differences). It is convenient to list them Clear definition of added value. If necessary, the idea should be reformulated. Market analysis (customers, suppliers and competition). Commercial and economic plan. Quantified (measurable) objective. There is no use that "give me to live." Business strategies. Where do I intend to position myself? Who will be my target customers? Economic budget for the launch Sales and profit estimate Investment estimate Design of the communication and / or promotion of the enterprise Pre-launch action plan (what, who and when) Launch.Patience and a lot of faith in the project launched.
The market shows a huge number of projects that end up being aborted due to lack of some of the steps mentioned in the evaluation. But what I consider most important is that group work can be carried out. It is a way of rooting the project, of flying and at the same time being on the ground. At the same time that others give us ideas, we contribute ours. We accompany and let ourselves be accompanied.
Hopefully this is useful for those who want to start an economic activity. There is always time to do better the things that are done. The fundamental thing is to do what has to be done and for this there is nothing better than to be respectful of what one feels.
