Si, Se Puede! Believe It and You Will Achieve It! (1)

It is on record that Amazon.com is the biggest online bookstore on earth. But what perhaps is much more important to us in the field of motivation and personal development is the foresight and effort of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.

In July 1995 when Bezos set up his online bookstore and started selling books online, little did he know that he would expand his business to this monstrous size. Though he knew little or nothing about how his online bookstore was going to be, he had absolute faith that he would make a big business out of Amazon.com. Armed with this faith and confidence in himself, he launched Amazon.com from his garage in Seattle, USA.

Being a pioneer in online book marketing, it was difficult for Bezos to convince prospects to patronize his business. But as difficult as it was, Bezos refused to be discouraged. He kept encouraging himself and holding tight to his belief that he would make a big business out of his online bookstore.

Bezos started with books. Later, he added e-books, music, movies, computers/laptops, electronics, gourmet foods, clothes, sportswear, cameras, tools, hard wares, softwares, etc.

You will be correct if you say that presently Amazon.com has moved from being the largest online bookstore to becoming one of the largest online retail stores in the world. Thanks to the zeal, faith and courage of Bezos who had a thousand and one reasons to quit, but refused to quit until the tide turned in his favour.

Dear reader, what is it you want to achieve? What is that goal you have set for yourself? Have you been wishing to take the necessary steps for achieving your goal and yet you don’t seem to know what to do? Or are you having some feeling of doubt and fear as to the outcome of your venture? Then, practice the following instructions, and like Bezos, you will succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

1.   Have Enough Faith to Begin

How do I start a business of my own? The answer is simple: THE WAY TO START A BUSINESS IS TO START IT. You must first have a clear-cut idea about the kind of business you want to venture into. When that is settled, you should go ahead to do those things that must be done to set up your business.

This is where the problem of many a would-be business men/women lies. They know the business they can do to succeed, but they lack the courage to launch out. They are afraid of failure. Some have not yet set up their business, but they are already nursing the apprehension that people may not patronize their business.

The fact is: you don’t run any business or worthwhile venture with doubt and fear. You run business by faith. You just have to force yourself to believe that the business will turn out well.

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ARE NOT RUN BY FEAR OR DOUBT; THEY ARE RUN BY STRONG BELIEF – BELIEF THAT THE BUSINESS WILL THRIVE. UNTIL YOU COME TO THE LEVEL WHERE YOU BEAT YOUR CHEST AND SAY CONFIDENTLY: “IF I FAIL, LET ME FAIL. IF I LOSE, I WOULD TRY AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL I SUCCEED,” YOU WILL NEVER SUMMON UP COURAGE TO SET UP YOUR BUSINESS.

As far as your business is concerned, you don’t have to know the outcome before you launch out. You can never know the outcome. Nobody can know the exact outcome of any venture. It is this uncertainty that is freezing people from venturing out.

Be that as it may, you don’t have to fold your arms and do nothing. YOU HAVE TO LAUNCH OUT FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN HOPE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS DERIVABLE FROM YOUR BUSINESS. The Book of Success, the Bible says: “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED, AND IN THE EVENING WITHHOLD NOT THINE HAND: FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHETHER SHALL PROSPER, EITHER THIS OR THAT, OR WHETHER THEY BOTH SHALL BE ALIKE GOOD.” (ECCL. 11:4-6) (emphasis mine).

What matters in business is the courage to launch out without minding the outcome. Launch out first. Believe that it will turn out well. It is this kind of belief that enabled Bezos to abandon his lucrative career in finance to pioneer a very uncertain career in online bookstore.

2.   Begin from Where You are and With What You Have

The biggest mistake you will ever make is to wait until you have got enough money before you start your business. Waiting to get enough money can keep you waiting indefinitely. In the end, you may end up never getting the amount.

Why wait indefinitely when you can start from where you are and with what you have? The fact is: you can always start your business from where you are and with what you have. This is the wisest thing to do, considering the fact that money cannot and should not be a hindrance to launching your business.

IF YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH MONEY TO START YOUR BUSINESS, YOU CAN AT LEAST START WITH THE LITTLE YOU CAN AFFORD.

Most, if not all, multinational corporations have their little beginning. They didn’t just become multinationals overnight. That is what some people don’t seem to realize. They once started from the scratch.

They started from so little beginning that people thought that the businesses would die a premature death. But with time and patience, the businesses grew to become financial empires! Think of corporations like Microsoft, Motorola, Dell Computers, Coca-cola, Adidas, etc.

They had their humble beginning but they never remained small. They grew larger and bigger with time. It is not bad to start small. This is the normal way to start a worthwhile venture. You start small and grow gradually. What is, however, bad is remaining small without making effort to grow larger and bigger.

Bezos started Amazon.com from his garage. He did not go for an expensive warehouse and office, if at all he had the means of doing so. Rather, he made do with what he already had.

YOU DON’T NEED MUCH TO START. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. YOU CAN ALWAYS START WITH SOMETHING NO MATTER HOW LITTLE. YOU JUST NEED TO SIT DOWN AND CUT DOWN YOUR EXPENSES, ACQUIRING ONLY FEW ESSENTIAL FACTORS OF PRODUCTION WHICH YOU CAN AFFORD AT THE MOMENT.

It takes humility to start from where you are and with what you have. But remember that humility comes before honour. Don’t let money be an excuse. IF YOU CANNOT GET ENOUGH MONEY TO START YOUR BUSINESS, START WITH THE LITTLE THAT YOU HAVE OR THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.

The fact is: if you cannot start with the little that you can afford, even if you have enough money, you may still not be able to start. This is because even with enough money, you may still be complaining that it is still not enough. Money can never be enough.

As you start from a humble beginning, many people who have no faith and cannot see beyond your little business will try to discourage you. They will wonder why you have to start small. They would say it is demeaning to start small. In their negative opinion, it is better you don’t do anything at all than to start small.

But remember this wise saying: “WHAT YOU IGNORE OR TREAT WITH LEVITY IS WHAT YOUR CONTEMPORARIES WILL USE TO SURPASS YOU IN LIFE.” Never look down on what you do! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. Take that step today! You will be glad you did!

3.   Believe You Can

Si, se puede is a Spanish expression which means “Yes, it can be done,” “Yes, it is possible,” “Yes, we can,” or “Yes, we are able.” Belief is the determining factor for your success in any venture. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF A VENTURE WHICH YOU ARE EMBARKING UPON, IT WOULD BE EASY TO QUIT. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE IT, YOU ARE CAUSING DAMAGE TO YOUR LIFE AND DESTINY. The Bible says: “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” (Isaiah 7:9)

Unbelief is like the OFF button of a computer/laptop which shuts down your mental and spiritual power system. If your mental and spiritual powers are shut down, you are finished.

Draw on your mental and spiritual powers by always exercising the faith that you will make it big in your business. Do not walk by your senses; walk by faith. BUSINESSES ARE RUN BY FAITH. THE KIND OF FAITH THAT PREVAILS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD IS THE FAITH THAT NEVER QUITS.

The fact that others failed in a business does not mean that you also will fail in the business. You can succeed where others failed. You can break records that are yet to be broken. You can thrive where others have quit. You are not destined to fail. You fail only if you quit.

YOU CAN SUCCEED WHEN NOBODY BELIEVES IN YOU, BUT YOU CAN NEVER SUCCEED IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You are born to be an overcomer. God has already equipped you with the wherewithal. The Bible says: “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

The main weapon you need to live a victorious life is FAITH. The same faith weapon is what you need to achieve great success in your business. The message for you today is: si se puede! Yes, you can. Yes, you are able. Never allow doubt to shut down your belief system. You are never finished as long as you are willing to hold tenaciously to your faith.

Others may have cause to doubt. Others may have cause to quit. But NOTHING SHOULD CAUSE YOU TO DOUBT OR QUIT. Any time the feeling of doubt comes up and you feel like quitting, let this Spanish expression rekindle your faith: si, se puede!

CONSTANTLY REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE ABLE. REMIND YOURSELF THAT IT CAN BE DONE. AS LONG AS YOU HOLD UNTO YOUR BELIEF, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!  

In the realm of faith, all things are possible. Faith makes the impossible possible. This is why you must operate in the realm of faith at all times.      

And until I come your way soon, ONLY BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVES. I speak this word of encouragement to you: SI, SE PUEDE!!!

PS: part two of this article will be coming your way soon. Watch out for it and make sure you don’t miss it!