Reader’s Note: This is Chapter 2 of my upcoming book “HOW TO QUIT YOUR JOB AND BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR.” You can read Chapter 1 here.
The necessary boring stuff
In the vast landscape of entrepreneurship literature, countless books, courses, and articles explore the theoretical knowledge essential for aspiring entrepreneurs. However, this book has a distinct focus—it is not a conventional business training manual. Instead, our journey step sides the realms of traditional entrepreneurial teachings, delving into the practical steps required before making the transformative leap from employee to entrepreneur.
While I won’t delve into the intricacies of ideation, business model canvases, business plans, or cash flow management, let me emphasise that this knowledge is crucial and should not be overlooked. I will highly recommend that you enter an incubation programme with any business hub or enterprise support organisation close to you. If you are based in Ghana, you can find a list of innovation and business hubs on the website of the Ghana Hubs Network – https://www.ghanahubsnetwork.com/ .
Most of these hubs have incubation programmes that will enable you to learn the principles of validating a business idea, prototyping your product or service, developing a minimum viable product (MVP) and developing a go-to-market strategy. If you are outside Ghana but within Africa, check out the website of Afrilabs, the association of African hubs, for a hub in your country – https://afrilabs.com/ .
Should your current employment situation impede your participation in a physical incubation program, fret not. The digital realm offers an array of online entrepreneurship courses. You would find world-class courses for free on websites such as:
1. Alison – https://alison.com/tag/entrepreneurship
2. EDX – https://www.edx.org/learn/entrepreneurship
3. Google Digital Garage – https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage
4. VC4A – https://academy.vc4a.com/entrepreneurship-course
5. MIT OpenCourseWare – https://ocw.mit.edu/collections/entrepreneurship
Yet, I won’t conceal the truth—engaging in these incubation programs or pursuing online courses requires dedication, self-motivation, and considerable discipline. The journey might be perceived as tedious or boring. But the knowledge you will gain from these will serve you very well when you finally take the plunge and start your own business.
These foundational steps might not be as glamorous as the vision of entrepreneurial success, but they form the bedrock upon which your venture shall rise. So, embrace the necessary groundwork with an open mind and a hunger for knowledge—it is a pivotal phase in shaping your entrepreneurial destiny.
