Henok Yeshanew is only 24 and he already has multiple successful businesses in his roster. Some of these are an award winning full-service marketing firm that helps many businesses achieve results and ultimate success. This young entrepreneur, born in Ethiopia but Canada resident,also won several business leadership awards for his admirable commitment to community work and non-profit ventures.
The fun fact about becoming a lawyer that led Henny to drop out of university
Like many other youngsters, Henny struggled to decide what he really wanted to be in the future. It is so difficult to make such an important decision in our life and even listening to advice from our family and friends do not help much. When we are in the situation of not knowing what to study or do for our career, it is usually due to not having found our calling and path.
Henok Yeshanew wanted to be a lawyer or at least this is what he thought he wanted. He indeed ended going to university in order to become a man of law but he quickly realized that this career won’t lead him to what he was aiming for in his life. It was quick for him to realize what his calling was and that is simply helping others, on all levels. And possibly doing so as a team, in a sharing environment. With that renewed attitude Henny was able to pull the trigger and take on the solo-preneurship journey. It was a matter of days for him to realize that in this world we need to connect, network and share. And that the team work makes the dream work. From there he always strived to build teams and grow together.
Here are, in summary, Henok’s biggest lessons learned and tips for all future entrepreneurs:
1. Having patience
The path of an entrepreneur is one of the most challenging and complex. In it, a multitude of fears, doubts, hurdles and critics must be overcome and crushed. Few other “careers” put drive and determination to the test as much as entrepreneurship. On the other hand, once the obstacles to start the journey have been overcome, this is an exciting road to walk.
2. Building a strong team
You might have been asking, why do you actually need a business network or a team? As Henny keeps saying a team is like a multiplier of performance. With a team, as long as it is well formed and established, you can see the bigger picture, tackle the weak points and put gasoline on the fire. It also helps in having multiple opinions and different points of view.
3. Empowering others
Empowerment refers to giving people the authority to make decisions and act without having to seek approval. This means that people use their own intelligence, experience, intuition, and creativity and this feeling of trust makes them perform 10x better. Henny applies this concept to any of his peers, whether is a team member, family, friends or even clients.
4. Focusing on your skills
Let’s clarify one thing: You are not an entrepreneur if you delegate most or all of your important tasks. An entrepreneur is, by definition, someone who constantly gets his hands dirty solving problems. Delegation is just a means of getting rid of lower end tasks so that you can focus on your core abilities. Delegate what you are not the best at so you can dedicate yourself to those areas where you’re the best.
5. Never go alone
Can you make it by yourself ? Of course you can. Will it be pleasant ? I doubt it. Entrepreneurship calls for loneliness and long hours at the desk with your head spinning. My advice, probably the most important, is to look for others, include others into your journeys, together we go way further. In business and in life.
Check Henny’s journey on his instagram at @hennyempowers