When artist Jules Holtzapfell did not make it into the salon of 1866, he shot himself in the head. “The members of the jury rejected me,” read his suicide note. “I must die.”
For a painter in nineteenth century France, the salon was everything, and the reason that the salon was such an issue for the group of impressionist was that repeatedly, the salon jury turned them down and did not approve their paintings for exhibitions. Every painter relied on the approval and permission of the salon jury to continue in the business of painting. That lack of endorsement put pressure on artists who killed themselves because they saw themselves as failures.
After years of rejections, some other artists abandoned the effort to exhibit their works at the salon. They decided not to seek the permission of the jurists again and created a new platform where many painters can exhibits their artistic talents to the public. That shift in mind opened up art gallery business in France.
Dear entrepreneur, whose permission are you waiting for to make success of your skill? The truth is that you must take responsibility for your vision and the dream. That is your business.
The law of responsibility says you are completely responsible for everything you will become. Whether you fail or succeed is your fault.
The good thing about law or principle is that it provides a level playing ground for everybody. Let me give you an example; whether you live in Europe or Africa if you jump from third floor of any building you come down, the law of gravity applies. Laws have no respect for anybody.
When people around you say that business expansion is impossible in Africa without compromise, then you have choice of what to believe. The outcome of your belief is your responsibility. What you permit is what you experience in life and business.
When Chinua Achebe first wrote his story “Things Fall Apart” and presented it to different publishing houses, they rejected it. Some actually rejected it immediately, claiming that fiction from an African writer had no market potential. He took responsibility for his work and didn’t wait for the permission of anybody to pursue his dream. In the year 2005, Things Fall Apart was selected among Time Magazine’s 100 Best English language novels. It sold over 8 million copies worldwide and translated into many languages.
Dear friend, nobody has the permission to decide the future of your business. You decide what happens both in the near and long term. The responsibility of any entrepreneur is to provide direction and become the person in the business through learning and action. If you have a dream, then permission to succeed is resident in the dream.
If you ever get idea through thinking or meditation, then technically, you do not need the permission of people to turn the idea into success. The best people can offer is counsel, professional support, and assistance. The people who did not give you the business idea cannot have authority over the success or failure of the business. You do!
How do you take responsibility for your business ideas?
Be principle conscious
The first is to find as many principles and laws, and align your thinking with it. As an example, you know that the Law of gravity paraphrased says, “Here on earth, everything that goes up must come down.” It does not matter how many people who says no to the law of gravity, it is certain that whatever you throw up must come down. You need to be conscious of principle that can guide you in business. That is a first step for responsible business executive.
Let people solve problems with you
If the idea is yours, then, the best people can do is to solve problems with you and not for you. People can help you see how better you can apply your idea and solve problems for the public. The truth is that as someone with business idea, you have given birth to brainchild. You are the chief responsibility officer for the idea and the father of your brainchild.
Constantly develop yourself
Your decision is as good as your perspective and learning. Leaders are learners, says a wise person. The difference between an artist who committed suicide because the jurists at the salon rejected his painting and another who invented another art gallery in France was just a perspective. One saw impossibility and the other saw possibility. Develop your mind to produce better result.
Love your self
In business, there will be a lot of rejection. Sometimes people can reject your ideas or proposal during negotiation, it is not because your idea is bad but because the people cannot see what you see at that moment. It does not you are hated. When you love yourself, it helps your confidence to move on in business and see what is possible beyond what people say.
Sometimes, an idea is unappreciated until it gets into another sphere. Permit yourself to try again.
Victor Mamora
