15 Business Insights from Dapo Adeleke's Adamu and His Horse

Some days ago, I read Dapo Adeleke’s Adamu and His Horse for the first time and found it rather interesting. Beyond the adventures and stories, I was able to glean business (or even life) lessons from the book which recorded the adventure of a young man named Adamu who met with diverse people and experiences on his quest to obey the request of his late father. Published by Lantern Books in 2004, the book meant for children of secondary school age compelled me to think back to my own schools days. Anyway, it’s a book worth reading or re-reading as it is not likely that you’ll find those nuggets or precious stones as I did on your first reading. I had to check and reflect on my findings. Eventually, I settled on these fifteen. Nobody sent me on a treasure hunt of the book. So, if you find more than my find, good for you. While they are lessons, they are also quotes from the book. Here they are:

ü  Passion/Problem: ‘A sorrowful heart makes a dull face, pg. 8.’ Do what you care about anytime you want to start a business. Most business ideas try to solve a problem. Adamu wanted to set out to reclaim his inheritance from his father’s slave. For many days, weeks and even months he was obsessed with the idea that not carrying out with his plan made him unhappy. If you are bothered by a particular problem in the society and you want to create a solution, perhaps you are the next Albert Einstein. If it bothers you enough, go for it. Put a name on it. Call it a business passion.

ü  Determination: ‘Be determined to follow the path come what may, pg. 13.’ Going after the treasure would require taking huge risks. But Adamu was going to go along with his plan. Starting and running a business is not a walk in the park. Many days are not going to see you the business owner happy or joyful. But keep your determination up as Adamu was found to do.

ü  Sport: ‘Adventure to the strong willed is a sport, pg. 13.’ See your business as a sport. It’s going to get better as you practice and/or work hard at it. Adamu had taken up the reins of his horse and set out on a journey which outcome he was yet to determine. He was determined to feel good along the way. Do the same with your business. He had nothing but his horse but he made do with his decision to pass through a treacherous Ancient Route to reach his destination.

ü  Frustration: ‘Beware of taking decisions at a time you feel frustrated or discouraged, pg. 17.’ Adamu met a man who handed him good advice, according to the book. In business, there are bound to be setbacks or moments that decisions must be made. Make good use of this piece of advice as Adamu. This also should include the decision to start your business.

ü  Haste: ‘Do not take decisions in haste, pg. 18.’ Whether in business or other aspects of life, it’s considered prudent to wait a while before taking a serious decision. Again, if you want to start a business ensure that you’ve taken the time to make the right decision for you.

ü  Punctuality: ‘A cool weather reduces the stress and fatigue of a long journey, pg. 21.’ Set out early in the morning to your business or project and let this habit keep you going. Definitely, a cool weather would reduce the stress and fatigue of a long day at work!

ü  Kindness: ‘Be kind to everyone you come across, pgs. 22, 61.’ Good customer care and business development cannot work without kindness to your clients and even your competition.

ü  Patience: ‘Be a patient and careful listener but be slow to reply, pg. 23.’ Patience is key to grasping what becomes of your business. If it’s going to work, it will only work when we exercise patience in our undertaking.

ü  Self-learning: ‘Learn with yourself, pg. 23.’ Teach yourself when and where possible. Read books on business and practice meditation. Reflect on your experiences and keep a journal of your activities. Go back and learn what you have excelled at doing and change what needs improvement.

ü  Confidence: ‘Do not take anyone into confidence anyhow, especially on matters of importance to you, pg. 23.’ Adamu learnt the hard way and almost lost his horse because he wanted to be frank with a stranger on the way. Your business account details, investment information, important incorporation details and other such information are not to be shared with anyone you encounter.

ü  Rest: Find the time to rest when it is necessary and be merry with your sport. Enjoy the ride as you embark on or work at your business. However, ensure that there are days during the year that you allow yourself some rest in order to avoid a burnout. Most business people find it strange that rest helps their business to thrive. While I do not have personal experience of this, I am sure that it is healthy to find time to unwind. Go to a bar, a book club, attend a show, go to the cinema, whatever makes you happy. Just do it.

ü  Experience: ‘Learn from your experience but don’t lean on it, pg. 46.’ Experience, it is said, is the best teacher. Business goes up and down; hence, every bend of the journey is worth noting. However, a business owner should endeavour not to lean heavily on bad experiences or celebrate every feat with loudness and gusto. Calibrate your experiences and when it doesn’t seem like the odds would end, consider quitting your project. Otherwise, give it some time until it’s time to quit.

ü  Signs: ‘Do not be careless about signs of fortune or misfortune, pg. 51.’ Many a business would warn the owner before it breaks down. Adamu’s journey was interesting and he learnt along the way. Check for signs that your business is suffering. It is not always obvious especially when the sales are up. If you notice that your business is doing well, check what is working and consolidate on your gain. You may need to hire and/or fire accordingly in order to save your business.

ü  Caution: Be careful with strange elements that give nothing but collect everything lying against you all the way. Business partners come in diverse shades and forms. Read in between the lines. Read the terms and conditions before signing deals. Do not disclose good information about your business, life, family and career to strangers or deceitful friends and relatives. Be wary of dubious deals that want you to double your money or income. Ponzis, schemes, money lending, money doubling, scams and all sorts of things promise you heaven and earth but take all your savings with them. Imagine that a blind beggar would have done that to Adamu!

ü  Family/Friends (Loved Ones): ‘Take cognizance and care of loved ones, pg. 114.’ Even though his family and friend did not like his decision to embark on the dangerous journey, Adamu was still nice to his loved ones. It is possible that your loved ones would not want you to have a stress disorder from embarking on a hard project like starting and running a business or enterprise. Bear with them. Many of them mean well for you and when you have the time to spare, spend time with them.