10 ways to rise to the top

No one goes into business planning to fail. However, things don’t always go according to plan.

So if you’re intent on being the best, what better way to learn than from those who’ve become synonymous with the industries they work in?

Emmanuel Jambo is an in-demand photographer, while Flora Mutahi founded Melvin Marsh International, the business behind the Melvin’s Tea brand. Here’s what they’ve learnt.

Photographer Emmanuel Jambo.

Emmanuel Jambo – Photographer 

1. Put out good work

To grow and keep your clientele base, you have to put out good work. People will notice you because good service attracts clients. While at it, stay loyal to your clients, as they are the ones who refer you to other customers.

2. Be consistent

To build a name for yourself, consistency is key, even in terms of quality. How good your work is should never be dependent on the price you charge for it. Determine your quality and the standard of service you will be providing and stick to it. With time, your returns will be commensurate with the kind of work you are putting in.

3. Go the extra mile

You might have to walk the extra mile every day to get to where you want to be. You might find yourself having to work for free to get your work out there at first, which is not easy. I did that, and it got my work out there where I wanted it. Even after you have made a name for yourself, some clients will ask for favours and you may have to comply. A lot of times this means giving extra time. 

4. Never give up

Just like it is for everyone else, it wasn’t a walk in the park when I started out. I remember back in the day when I got an assignment I had been hankering for. I was so excited about it, but before I even got to it, it was given to someone else. No matter the disappointment, I sought out other opportunities and it all paid off eventually.

5. Find the thing that sets you apart

I did not focus on whether it would not work out for me. I always knew that my purpose in life lay in photography. After I shot my first wedding, I became absolutely certain about the direction I wanted to go in, so I quit my IT job and never looked back. Part of my modus operandi is that I keep it natural and try not to depend on Photoshop. This sets me apart. Every individual has something that they can do better than everyone. Find that thing, incorporate it in your work and keep improving on it.

Flora Mutahi – Melvin Marsh International founder.

Flora Mutahi – Melvin Marsh International founder

1. Don’t be a copycat

My parents were seasoned entrepreneurs and my mother would always tell us, “Don’t go down the beaten path. You have to stand out.” That means that in everything I did, I had to find a way of doing things that nobody else had. When I ventured into the tea business, Ketepa had almost a 100 per cent monopoly in the tea industry. I chose to focus on flavoured tea, which was not available then, and I began with my favourite: ginger tea.

2. Be honest with yourself

I walked away from accounting when I found out what I wanted to do with my life. Make a plan and go for it. I was taking an accountancy professional course at Strathmore University and I would skip classes a lot. My heart wasn’t in it. And then I met someone who told me to be honest with myself and get the guts to walk away if it was not my thing. So that’s what I did. With no regrets.

3. Learn everything you can about your business

When I started out, Kenya did not have free-flowing salt, so I decided to venture into making it. I went to the University of Nairobi and got lessons on food technology so that I can have an understanding on what it entailed. I would report daily as if I was going to work. I then looked for machinery and got funding. I did the same with tea making. As soon as I decided to go into the tea business, I went to Mombasa to learn everything about tea and packing.

4. Take risks

If I could go back in time, I’d take bigger risks. Women need to learn to take risks. We’re so happy being in the background and letting men take the risks. You have to stand up for yourself. Be heard.

I, as a woman, may have the best idea in a group but I just don’t voice it because we are conditioned to think that men can say things we can’t.

5. Always show up

When women are called up to leadership positions, we have a habit of saying no. It goes back to conditioning.

What I try to do is say ‘yes’, and then figure out how to do it. And then negotiate your terms. Let them know what does work or won’t work for you.

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