Zimaal Outlooks

MY JOURNEY

This June makes one year since I started out on my own. The challenges have been enormous and have presented in various dimensions, degrees and forms but I take solace in the fact that I have persevered and still am. I know the challenges may not end soon but i'm confident I will see the end.

I hired my second and only staff who resumed today. Since I started out, I have received over forty applications and have interviewed about the same number of persons but have only hired two at different times to take up the same position. It could be a worrisome phenomenon to have a ratio of about 20:1 for those interviewed against those hired. A lot of factors are responsible: some of the guys interviewed had negative and poor attitudes (probably because Zimaal Outlooks is still small); some asked for "armed-robbers'" salary knowing our current capacity; some were just not fit for our purpose; we couldn't afford some given their antecedents and current expectations.

While I have only had two staff since inception, I have worked with over 20 people indirectly. They are majorly vendors and redistribution partners/customers. My experiences with them have been bitter-sweet. Sweet because they gave our business presence and operational nudge. It was with them we started having activity. Bitter in that most of them took advantage of our trust. They are either owing the business for longer periods than necessary or they abscond with the proceeds of the business in their possession.
In all, I have been learning in the last one year and there don't seem to be a slow-down in the learning process. Someday, I know, I will heave a sigh of relief when my street education will begin to yield street multiplication.

Lessons: 

1. In any circumstance, no matter how bad, there is a positive, good and sunny side. Look out for it.

2. If you will break-through, you must pass a barrier. It is up to you to give up in the face of the barrier or break the barrier and smile on the other side.