Khalif Kairo, who for years built a popular online personal brand around his car selling business, has recently been in soup. Kairo – whose real name is Joseph Kairo Wambui – has been arrested multiple times and sued over business dealings that he never honoured. People who say they were his clients have come out accusing him of taking their money by false pretence. They claim to have paid Kairo millions for vehicles that he never delivered.
As his legal troubles mount, it has become inescapable that the popular young car salesman’s business is on the verge of collapse – if it has not collapsed already. In business though, there are always ups and downs. Businesses are started and many are shut down only to remerge stronger. In fact, the mantra, you either earn or learn, holds a lot of water when it comes to entrepreneurship. The question is; how will it pan out for Kairo? In his case, there are critical lessons that everyone running a business needs to learn.
Entrepreneur Caroline K Gikunda, the founder and director of Alpha Charlie, a transportation and construction business that supplies building materials within the larger Coastal region and the Mount Kenya region, and Malindi’s Drivers’ at Alpha Charlie holiday homes and villas, listed ten lessons that she has learned from Kairo’s journey in business.
“I may not know the dynamics of Khalif Kairo’s business… But I have noted 10 solid lessons to be learnt from his journey. These are the following:
1). If you are succeeding or look like you are, do not look down on those who are broke or struggling. It doesn’t mean that you are the most hardworking or smartest person. There are thousands of people working harder than you… Sometimes business favours you for having natural advantages over the rest. Be grateful. Stay humble.
2). Never eat Capital. Simple. If a client has paid for anything, never touch their money regardless what you are going through. Also…avoid using Client B’s money to pay for Client A’s order regardless how good business is going for you. Or you will unknowingly turn your business into a pyramid scheme.
3). Never regret the memories you made and the good times you had when you could. Misers will remind you. ..si ulikuwa king of soft life, sota sasa! No regrets. You enjoyed it while it lasted. If it made you happy, it was worth it!
4). Businesses just like Careers have their peak. Know your peak and make your hay while the sun is up, knowing that the rains will come…and you don’t know when. Add value to yourself to face the storm. Invest and save money. Money will save you at your hour of need.
5). When your peak is over and you are on the down hill spin…save your energy for the most important thing, yourself. You don’t need to spend your time or energy fighting negativity back, responding or justifying. You can even take a break and have them talk. Focus on you. Save yourself.
Caroline Gikunda: Be careful if you have a business; your friends can easily misuse it
6). When a business man is down, regardless the mistakes he did, legit business people feel his pain, and hope that he will stand again some day. To them, they’re loosing one of them at the top. Misers and losers celebrate. ..because to them they’re gaining one of them at the bottom.
7). Just as social media can build, so can it destroy. If you are doing your business on social media, guard your integrity and your brand as you would your business assets. Be trustworthy. Be honest.
8). If you have financial discipline you have made it. Financial discipline knows that you will not spend money you have not earned. Financial discipline separates your money, your Client’s money and your business money.
9). It takes a lot of Discipline and character to get to the top, but it takes much more discipline and character to remain on top.
10). Regardless the storm you are going through, if you don’t lose yourself in the the storm, you will rise again.
