Hello there, my name is Rabin Eli Musili, I am an “under 30” Entrepreneur and CEO here in Nairobi, Kenya. I’m passionate about art, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and business growth..
I founded Brandkings Kenya Ltd, a digital marketing agency aiming to help brands leverage on the internet to reach the right audience and grow their revenue streams in the summer of 2017. At 21 years of age.
Due to the love of being in entrepreneurial environments, I left the corporate world behind to give myself time to think about what I wanted to do next and how I wanted to spend the next 10 to 15 years of my life and entrepreneurship was the answer.
As a young entrepreneur in Kenya I have faced multiple challenges In my journey, failed, solved and learned a few valuable lessons. Here are a few tips for all young entrepreneurs, creatives and Startup business owners;
Keep improving yourself
If you want to become successful, strive for personal growth. Read more valuable books, take relevant courses, practice time management, work on your people skills and lastly work towards better mental and physical health, because when that suffers, so does your business.
Do what you love
Some say that the best business ideas are those that bring a lot of profit, but what use is that if you don’t love what you do? A passionate mindset gives you the energy and drive to keep going despite the odds. Work won’t feel like work at all if you love and value what you do..
Believe in your ideas.
As young entrepreneurs, we are presented with virtually countless opportunities to imagine and innovate, but in studying successful launches around the world, you find common beliefs and mistakes made by our predecessors. Before others can invest in your business, you need to believe passionately in it, and in yourself.
Learn to assess risk and results
This is one of the most valuable tips for young entrepreneurs. And sure, some risks won’t pay off, but whether they do or don’t, the experience and lessons learned will become assets.
Spend wisely
As a young entrepreneur, I have made many wrong financial decisions in the race for early success. As an entrepreneur, you’re most likely going to make a few bad decisions considering you need to spend money on tools and technology, office space, staffing and marketing campaigns. Make sure to set a strict budget, but one that includes an emergency fund.
Walk your talk
People don’t just pay attention to what you say, they observe what you do, so model the behavior you want to see. Furthermore, allow others (that includes team members and clients) to hold you accountable by asking for their feedback.
Trust the process & Build a strong team
Always have a plan that will move your business forward and depend on it, even if the progress needle may not be moving as quickly as expected. That further means focusing on what you can control, taking one day at a time and learning through each experience is the best way you can stay afloat.
A great business is almost inevitably built by having the right team. First and foremost, hire members that possess relevant skills and are truly good at what they do. Even more important, is that they should be passionate, believe in your company’s goals and demonstrate a willingness to learn.
Entrepreneurship is however a continuous learning journey, never be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them.
