“You will always have time for the most important things in life”
Have you always wanted to do something to change the nature of society?
Something that is your creation which & will benefit the people?
Most of us would have dreamt about this at least once in our lifetime. But it is hard to follow that dream because of all the concerns & doubts within us that make us hesitant to step out of our comfort zones. After all, it can a little scary out there!
But always remember, if you want to make a difference, you must have the courage to take that first step. If you follow someone else’s steps, you are simply imitating something that is not your own. It is important to stay inspired to do riskier things.
Here is the story of young entrepreneur Christopher Crilly Pienaah, a student who started his venture and is an inspiration for all of us who think, ‘there is not enough time for everything’.
INTERVIEW
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Startup Founder and Entrepreneur & I spend most of my time developing entrepreneurial skills to help create innovative brands. I created a venture called Chrisline Prints & Advertising.
I recently completed my postgraduate program in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Management at the University of Nottingham with a particular interest in international entrepreneurship and its related fields. I like leveraging AI while working on entrepreneurial projects, startup incubation activities, and I am very passionate about digital entrepreneurship. I love reading business-related books and watching football too!
2. What inspired you to start this venture?
The inspiration behind this venture was to leave a legacy. I belong to the “Cheetah Generation” of entrepreneurship that constantly wants to make an impact on society. My task is to change the perception of young people’s views about the job market. Being your own boss is the sweetest thing. Always dream of becoming a job creator instead of a job seeker. I call it being a Social Entrepreneur.
The law of forced efficiency says,
“ There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”
3. What are some of the challenges you faced?
Challenges are part of the journey to greatness. Failure is one of the common traits of an entrepreneur. I’m open to making new mistakes in my entrepreneurial journey but not the same mistakes. One of the greatest challenges young entrepreneurs like me face is with “Finance” and the right team to gel with your vision.
4. How do you manage studies along with your business?
Having a plan and a business schedule keeps me on track. Remember the 7 Ps: “Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. Proper planning and its right implementation will provide ample time for all our activities.
5. How were the initial responses like?
There were doubts initially. But we have proven ourselves & now everyone knows that we are here regardless of the competition.
6. It requires a lot of courage and confidence to embark on something like this. Where do you find the strength and positivity to grow this venture every day?
My strength and confidence come from God Almighty. I find solace in him to grow the venture every day. I can’t afford to fail because I’m a Victor.
7. What has changed since you began your journey as an entrepreneur?
My perspective of life has changed. The problems I encounter in my daily life after scrutinizing or subjecting them to the ingenuity problem-solving technique I learned back at school ends up becoming a viable business idea for me. Remember that entrepreneurs cannot solve all problems; some problems are societal.
8. Many students want to do something outside their academics but don’t know where to begin. What do you want to tell them?
Sometimes you have to be radical in your approach. Apple wouldn’t be Apple today if they didn’t adopt the radical form of innovation. I had to use my third-year school fees to invest and sat at home for almost a month before I could join my colleagues. I had to convince my uncle that my mum didn’t have money to pay for my school fees.
9. What’s your biggest learning lesson from this?
Respect time and respect seasons. It takes time to build a resilient brand. Utilize your time for everything important.
10. What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to build one of the most innovative and creative brands globally. Helping young entrepreneurs set up innovative startups is a dream of mine and a great necessity.
11. What’s your motivation to keep going every day?
Family is and always has been my motivation. They support me through thick and thin and always encourage me to do more.
Next time you think of doing something, go for it!
Don’t even be afraid & try to curl up in your comfort zone. Find the time for the most important things in life, the rest will come to you.
We hope all our readers will get inspired by the stories of young entrepreneurs like Christopher and march towards their goals!
Scholarship Track 