This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
As the world continues to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing has become clear: the businesses that thrive in times of economic downturn are those that possess a unique mindset – a mindset of ambition.
According to Viresh Harduth, Vice President: Small Business, Sage Africa & Middle East, 'it's not about the situation you are in, but about how you approach it that will determine where it will take you.'
Ambition is the spark that ignites a business's vision, driving it to achieve greatness. It's the drive and motivation that keeps entrepreneurs focused on their goals, even in the face of adversity. As Harduth notes, 'ambition defines your vision, drives your goals, and motivates you to get up after you are down.'
But how do ambitious businesses channel their drive and motivation? The key, says Harduth, is to cultivate and channel ambition to all the right places. By letting the outcome drive you, it's easier to focus on the positive in every experience, including failure.
Ambitious businesses are authentic and creative in their approach, self-sufficient and responsible, and willing to sacrifice some things in exchange for an opportunity to develop and grow. They set ambitious goals, but remember that the key to achieving goals is in breaking them into smaller, even micro-goals. This allows for slow, steady growth over months, aligning all goals to the mission but pushing oneself out of their comfort zone.
By focusing on quality over quantity, seizing opportunities, and making an impact in others' lives, ambitious businesses can create a positive, responsive, and aware outlook. And it's this ability to make timely decisions, execute them, and drive towards the outcome that is hugely valuable – especially for small businesses, which can often get closer to their customers, creating both business and emotional relationships in the process.
