Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yaw Sarkodie, Business Transformation and Innovation Strategist of Innate Motion, located in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a business humanizing firm that supports businesses to operate regeneratively and positively impact our society and environment. Our guiding ethos is to bring more empathy and human logic into business. Our business operates globally via a diverse collective of nomadic entrepreneurs who work together while independently building their respective businesses. This collective shares the belief that 'Businesses can lead our global transformation from degenerative systems to regenerative ones by tapping into the immeasurable power of our humanity and nature.'
Our customers range from small to large-scale enterprises across any industry across over 80+ countries - FMCG, Automotive, Technology, Finance, Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, Services, etc. We believe every industry and company has a role to play in our broader ecosystem. We partner with various organisations to unlock that value for humanity's collective benefit.
Tell us about yourself
A stubborn optimist and an ardent challenger who has always been passionate about improving the quality of people's lives through business. My belief that businesses should lead the charge to deliver socio-environmental value as they strive for profit keeps me grounded on my entrepreneurial journey. Professionally, I serve as a Transformation Design Strategist.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Transforming the corporate and brand strategies of four large multinational businesses across different countries and continents over the last three years to be more future-fit, delivering a better positive impact to their respective ecosystems.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Stepping out with confidence to sell yourself and your business with the hope that a potential client or someone in your network would see the value you can bring to their business themselves and be open to taking a chance on you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Believe in yourself - The first step to any initiative is first to have faith in yourself that you have what it takes. Fear of failure is always a given, and you most likely cannot run away from it, but you will never learn until you try, and that learning becomes the safety net that prevents you from hitting the ground. Trust your learning and, more importantly, your instincts. You have to be mentally and psychologically ready to kick off.
- Start investing toward your vision - Not everyone will see what you see, which is alright. That should not deter you. Everyone looks at things from their own perspective and understanding. Prioritize equipping yourself with the right skills, knowledge, and tools that will arm and differentiate you in your space. At some point on your journey, best believe opportunities will come knocking, and you must be ready to grab and make the best of them.
- Work hard and stay humble - It goes without saying but remain humble in your pursuits. It pays to respect everyone and appreciate the value they contribute. Humility opens doors like you won't believe, and hard work will keep you in the room. Wherever you find yourself, make it a point to add value in any form to whatever you do.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://innatemotion.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaw-sarkodie-mensah-3a991a71/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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