Entrepreneurial Inspirations
These are stories of others that have begun to realize their dreams.
X Unlimited Corporation
SABAA QUAO
Sabaa Quao is responsible for the strategic and creative development of this communication and design firm. X Unlimited provides it's customers with brand strategies and new business development, design and advertising. Projects in the X portfolio include: launches of the Toronto Raptors and Playdium, business-to-business communication for Nortel, and consumer campaigns for Roots and Levi's.
In a recent interview with RBC Royal Bank, Sabaa offered insights and advice for other young entrepreneurs.
RB: When you first started out, what was the biggest obstacle you faced and how did you overcome it?
Sabaa: The largest obstacle I had to overcome was being perceived as "young" AND as a startup. I overcame both by being obsessive about professional presentation. That calms people down and they forget that you're new at the game. I think many people present their ideas poorly and without confidence.
Once you've got the contract, professional presentation and confident delivery keeps client confidence high.
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" Ideas are valuable. If an entrepreneur has a good idea, then find a way to test it fast. This doesn't mean pouring all one's life savings into the idea, it's about SMART testing BEFORE pouring one's life savings (or someone else's) into the idea. "
(Sabaa Quao, X Unlimited) |
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RB: What would you do differently, if you could do it all over again?
Sabaa: I would pay more attention to building good office management and record keeping systems. It's one aspect of the business you don't want to be thinking about when work is pouring into the company. By the time the company is booming, you want your office management and record keeping to be on autopilot.
RB: What do you think are the biggest advantages that young people have when starting a business?
Sabaa: Naive optimism. Please note, that has a different nuance from "blind" optimism. The entrepreneur's naiveté, if channeled wisely, helps keep the mind open to new ways to approach a problem.
And the energy that can accompany optimism and youth is invaluable. I don't think I have the same energy (or willingness) to grind through 90 hour work weeks as I used to 5 years ago. All work and no play works great for a while, not forever. Ideally, one becomes more efficient with experience.
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