The Power of Small

One of the biggest hurdles that entrepreneurs face when it comes to taking that step is the realisation that they do not have the capability to get to the great big dream. This is especially true in Nigeria where there are a whole universe of systemic issues that make entrepreneurship ever more difficult. I mean the World Bank ranks Nigeria at number 131 out of 185 economies for ease of doing business. Nigeria is ranked number 119 for the ease of starting business. (Click here for their data chart) Against the many different hurdles, it is still possible to be an entrepreneur. One just has to be really strategic about the choices one makes as a potential/new business owner.


As a someone making a big step in life, there is power in thinking small. Thinking small is counterintuitive for a generation that has practically been raised on the motto "Think Big." I mean looking at the streets of Lagos, bigger house is better just as bigger car is better. So why then would I be advocating thinking small as the solutions to making big changes in life. Well, because there are some small ideas that lead to big progress and changes.

There are two tracks for entrepreneurs: invention and innovation. Invention requires the entrepreneur to bring a completely new idea to the marketplace. This often times requires the business owner to create a new product/service and hope that consumers would adapt to the new product/service. This is a risky step. Part of the job of a business owner in Nigeria, anywhere in the world for that matter, is risk management. A lesser risky is offered to the Nigerian entrepreneur within the innovation track.Innovation is the addition of small changes to big ideas to create a big impact.

Innovation offers the chance for the Nigerian entrepreneur to take a look at a proven and existing product or service and find a way to improve it incrementally. In a lot of ways innovation is harder on the entrepreneur that invention because it requires thinking critically. Innovation requires the entrepreneur to be aware of their target market and really tailor their business to meet the needs and wants of that audience.

Think hard! What avenues could use a dose of innovation in Nigeria? You just might have your next business idea in front of you.