We have a client that reminds me of what is a businessman. Normally, businessmen create a business out of demand. This chap I talk to creates business out of a problem.
If you see a stretch of a river bank being eroded, you will naturally think that's a government's job to fix it. Not this man. He saw the problem, he decided to approach the right kind of people to convert his idea in the form of technical and financial proposals. With the proposals, he approached the right people to present it and ultimately convinced the paymaster (the government in this case) to accept it. Then he has a contract. That's how he makes his money. Of course, we are also fortunate to get business acting as his consultant along the way. Our job is to help him to put his idea into legible proposal.
But then, this kind of business needs a lot of patience. It might take a long time from the time he gets the idea until he finally is awarded the contract - three years or even longer!
The thing is, he knows how to turn a problem into a business venture. Of course, it still boils down to demand. In this case, there was a need to get the problem fixed before irreparable damage is caused to the river bank.
1 comment:
I am presently trying to brainstorm some innovative ideas to market and promote our café. I hope I can be as original as this fellow you mentioned and be able to think out the box.
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