KARACHI:
The I.I. Chundrigar Road, formerly called McLeod Road, serves as the spine of Pakistan’s largest financial centre, and is frequently referred to as ‘Pakistan’s Wall Street’. However, I assure you that not many have noticed the sheer number of beggars roaming about on the street. After careful observation, I have noticed that some of these beggars have developed the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur.
These beggars who mostly sell pens and handkerchiefs during the early morning have cleverly identified what the customer needs. They are always begging around bigger cars (because the bigger the car the richer the person), and talk in a low tone to portray innocence. No matter who the customer is, these beggars are always nice. I have also observed that they are very punctual, as begging during peak hours is most important for them. They also change their location if they feel that the traffic has shifted. While we are in the middle of an unprecedented crisis, these beggars have now resorted to selling face masks and miniature sanitizers. No matter what the situation, these beggars always seem to overcome the odds. If a customer is not willing to buy, they simply move to the next one and accept the failure. So how can all this help one become a successful entrepreneur?
The first lesson is that as an entrepreneur, whatever startup you run, run it happily and enjoy the work. Do not hesitate to interact with new people. Secondly, you are supposed to be punctual. Time is money and money is everything. Thirdly, always have a plan B in case your original idea fails. And lastly, be open to learning new skills to enhance your understanding and attract new customers.
Ume-e-Aiman Chhipa
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2021.
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