Frankly Speaking – Perceptions From a CEO

“WHAT WE ARE IS GOD’S GIFT TO US, WHAT WE BECOME IS OUR GIFT TO GOD” (ELEANOR POWELL)

I read the above quote in one of my daily devotionals and it struck me that as women, we are born equipped to take on anything (think about childbirth!!) – we are not lacking in any ability but it is our attitudes to life that eventually makes or unmakes us.

My life as a CEO has been far from the “glitz and glamour” life that I imagined being in charge would bring to me. In fact, I have had moments when I thought this was some punishment for something I had done and hadn’t asked forgiveness for. Some of the struggles have been mind-blowing and have left me questioning whether I made the right decision in starting my own business and whether I shouldn’t run back to the “comfort” of working for some hard-nosed boss.

But one word comes to mind… HOPE
I KNOW I where I have come from and have a “fair” idea of where I want to go or where I should be. What are the directions to this destination? In my opinion,
STRENGTH/COURAGE
RESPONSIBILITY
TIME-MANAGEMENT
CLEARLY WRITTEN OUT GOALS

Strength and courage
I overheard my employees talking amongst themselves one day and when they realized I was eavesdropping, one of them said “Madam, I don’t know how you don’t break under this stress. You really are a strong woman. ” Thing is, I have never considered myself as particularly strong. But the struggles I have had to face in the 7 years of running this business have really tested my every will power. BUT, I have come to understand that there is ALWAYS an end to everything. It’s difficult not to take things personal but that is the best advise I can give. Failure CAN BE a good thing sometimes – it should spur you on not break you down. Strength must come from within – no one can give it to you. You must tap into your inner man and draw from there. For me, prayer is the thing that strengthens me and keeps me going.

Taking responsibility for one’s actions is easier said than done. However, running your business can be one of the loneliest experiences you will ever face. It is then you realize that YOU have to be responsible for any actions the business takes. Your name is on that document, and not your staff…

Here, I find that a Board, or Advisory Council (even of some good friends) is helpful. It keeps you accountable and on your toes. Dedicating time to discuss the business with your advisors/Board forces you to think clearly about decisions you have made or that need to be made. You need people who can tell you the TRUTH and not pussyfoot around you. Harsh realities are key to being responsible.

Manage your time wisely is probably the best piece of advise I could ever give. Make time your best friend or it will become your worst nightmare (I can say that for a FACT!!). Don’t put to tomorrow what can be done today. I have seen firsthand what delays can do to your business/your person. Think about competitors, daily changes in forex rates etc etc.. Delaying actions can adversely affect you. The problem will NOT go away if you don’t handle it right away. Think about the snooze button on the alarm clock ….it goes off for a while but comes right back, beeping until you get up and turn off the alarm. That is exactly what delaying decisions does to us…keeps buzzing like the annoying snooze button and not keeping quiet till we handle the problem.

Write down the vision and let it be plain…. you can only know where you are going when you have the end goal in plain site. Your employees and Board also need to understand the vision and help you to get there. The vision cannot be in your head but must be clearly written out. Keep your eye on the goal. A good idea is to literally write out your vision and tape it to your bedside table or write in your diary – somewhere you can SEE it every single day – to keep reminding you of the direction you are heading.

All in all, the experiences I have been through as result of running my business have left me enriched, empowered and emboldened. I love the fact that I can spend time with my kids and play a part in their growing up. I still have a long way to go but I definitely am on my way and not parked at a bus-stop waiting on a tow-truck to tow me to a repair shop

Stephanie Atekpe
Aug 2015