Start Small, End Big

A Chinese proverb says: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
Unfortunately, the desire of many is to start big and make the journey overnight. That is the reason many people who want to set up their businesses always complain of lack of capital.
Granted, there are businesses that require huge capital outlay. But even then, you can still start from somewhere. You need not amass or look for all the money you can before embarking on your project. People who wait to have enough resources before commencing their project always end up waiting endlessly, and in the end, they end up achieving nothing.
The truth is, if you cannot start with the little you have, even if you have millions at your disposal, you may still not be able to efficiently utilise it. Your ability to judiciously mange the little resources at your disposal is what will distinguish you from the underachievers.
To get to the top, you must start from the bottom. You must climb from the low rung of the ladder.
Starting small is not a crime; it is the normal way of starting a worthwhile venture.
When you take a quick peep at the Nollywood (Nigeria’s film industry), you will find new stars there. Now, you will be tempted to think that these new stars arrived there overnight. But that is not true. When you read their profile, interview them, or get accurate story of their life, you will realise that they did not get there overnight. They started small, they started from somewhere. They made series of effort – participated in school or church drama; went for training; applied and made themselves available for audition, role plays, and spend much time rehearsing their roles, until they finally had a breakthrough.
History is replete with stories of super achievers who started practically from the scratch, and climbed their way to the top.
Bill Gates of the Microsoft fame started from his parents’ garage. Michael Dell commenced his Dell Computer Corporation from his dorm room at the University of Texas. The power-packed booklet: “Our Daily Manna” was commenced with only 200 copies. Coca-cola Corporation, maker of the popular brand of the soft drink, Coca-cola, began with only one man, who used kettle to produce it.
Have you been waiting for favourable or have you been waiting for enough cash to embark on your project? The fact is, the favourable moment you are waiting for may not come. The big cash may not come readily, or may come too late.
Now is the right time to start. You can start from where you are. You can start with the little that you have. Your destiny is hinged on the little resources at your disposal. The resources could be money, knowledge, skill, experience, talents, material things, etc. these are all you need to climb your way to the top.
These resources are the seeds you need to sow before you can expect bountiful harvests; and not just sitting down waiting for bigger resources. Make do with what you have. That is what management principle is all about.
To start small and end big, you can practise the following instructions –
1. Stop waiting for miracle to happen; or rather while waiting, don’t sit down and fold your arms doing nothing. Even if you are expecting big money, just start with the little you have. A bird in hand is worth a million in the bush. Just get yourself busy doing something, no matter how little, to move you up gradually towards reaching your goal.
2. You need high level of discipline to start small and end big. One benefit of starting small is that it is very easy, because your overhead expenses and other expenses are minimal. The sacrifices you need to make are little; but at the same time, if you don’t exercise discipline, it very easy to call it quit, because progress may not be as fast as you may contemplate. It takes and patience to build wealth. Wealth is built the way house is built. First, you lay the foundation. The foundation must be rock-solid, or else it will collapse; after the foundation, you start building the wall, pillar, and do the decking, plumbing, roofing, wiring, etc. all these require discipline. Discipline yourself to stay put until you finish big.
Often, things may not turn out the way you plan it; you may experience disappointment, frustration, or disaster, but keep holding on. Winners never quit and quitters never win.