The only way to eat an elephant …

In today’s fast world of easy come easy go, and of deal making and tenderpreneurship, it is not often you hear people talk about the fundamentals. This is one of the reasons the Heartlines NGO embarked on their storytelling journey with the “Nothing for Mahala” film.

I have been involved in many different ventures over the past 20 years. Some big, some small, some inspired, some silly, and some just getting started. The thing about every venture is that you need cash to pay the bills. Sure, the more modest you are, the more frugal, then the less cash you need. But there will always be accounts to settle. 

The financial objective of every business venture is to make a profit. That does not mean the mission can’t have a sense of purpose or make a difference, but profits do allow you to invest and grow. And that is the ultimate purpose: to continue.

The thing about profits is that they don’t need to be supersized. The best companies, in my view, grow organically. And they save some money for when times are tough, and they invest when things are good. One can never disrespect anyone who is doing an honest day’s work. And as for profits in a venture, well, I would rather build and struggle and make money over time than bend the rules and stretch the norms in the pursuit of inflated revenues. I can tell you all one thing: No one ever went broke from small profits.

The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker