Business is not just selling stuff

I have been in business for so many years and I love doing business.

Some people think the sole purpose of doing business is to make a profit. Well at least this was what we were taught when we were in college specifically for those who took up a business course.

Yet not too many people realize that many successful people are still in business not because of the profits they will make, but for something that is much more. I will spend some moments to explain this later.

Doing business is not easy. This is why I shudder when I hear young people recruiting other young people to sell stuff for them under the guise and promise of “being in business.” They give out lines like: “Are you contented with being an employee forever? Why not quit your job, sell our stuff and be in business of your own?”

There seems to be a semblance of truth, but not the complete truth. Because the only thing they are doing is selling stuff. They are not really in business.

Business is more than just selling stuff.

A business executive once said: “Business is simple. Make some stuff and sell it for more than it cost you. There’s nothing more to it than that except for a few million details.” And that is so true.

Others are more depraved and heinous. They entice people to sell stuff for them by promising the recruit that when they join the company and sell their stuff, the recruit will be able to reach all of their dreams within the shortest possible time. And these “dreams” usually dwell on material things like cars, houses and travel.

I met a 21-year-old girl in one of the conferences and asked, “So tell me your story.” She says she is a registered nurse but she gave up everything so she can concentrate on her “business.”“Oh is that right?” I said. “Well tell me more.”And she waxed eloquent on how being stuck with a job does not appeal to her, and now that she is in business she is on her way to reach her dreams.

All she wants in life is to have a car, a house, to travel and help her family and all these dreams of hers would be achieved through her “business.”

I looked at her intently and asked a pointed question. “And do you have a car now?” She excitedly said, “Yes! And I am here with this company for only two years.”

I did not let her go away easy. My next question is: “Is it paid in full?” And she looked at me back and said, “Oh no, I am paying it in installments which I plan to pay in full in five years.”

I did not want to quash the dream of this young girl, but neither do I want to let her go without exercising my responsibility. I said, “Miss, just a piece of advice. You are simply selling stuff and that does not qualify you to be a businessperson. Learn more stuff. Have another plan and study business more.”

Here is the other aspect about business William Feather says this beautifully: “I like business because it is competitive, because it rewards deeds rather than words. I like business because it compels earnestness and does not permit me to neglect today’s task while thinking about tomorrow.”

In case you have not noticed, profit is not the sole reason for doing business. And Feathers continues saying: “Business is honestly selfish, thereby avoiding hypocrisy and sentimentality. I like business because it promptly penalizes mistakes, shiftlessness and inefficiency, while rewarding well those who give it the best they have in them. Lastly, I like business because each day is a fresh adventure.”

This is just one of the many other reasons why successful people still do business. Not just for the profit of it, but because of the challenge and the merit behind it.

This is why the beauty, as well as the danger of doing business, is not how much money one gets to win or lose. The more important aspect of doing business is what a person becomes because of the business he or she is engaged in.

Does the business make the person better or bitter? Does it bring out the best in the person? Or does it create a beast out of the person?

Has the businessperson become more selfless and a blessing to society? Or has the business simply made the person a whole lot more selfish?

These are the elements in doing business.It takes more than just “selling stuff” to be in business. It takes skills, competence, experience and a lot of character building to be good in business.

I really and honestly hope the young girl would wise up. But in my own personal experience, it will take a while until all the hoopla die down and she wakes up to realize that having stuff is not all there is to doing business. I left her my card and I have a funny feeling that one day, she will communicate with me and ask for advice.

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