How to Run an enterprise in SL - Sujeewa

By Sujeewa Kokawala,

This post originated from my comment to SanerComics's blog post on similar topic.

- Value your workforce: Employees are the best asset, and they should be well supported.

- Make it a win-win: Make sure that your employees are always given a chance to build career in their desired path while making that plan the best use of them for you.

- Balanced Team: Do not hire 25 freshers and 5 guys with 10 yr experience [especially if you are dealing with graduates]. The balance of the team and right hierarchy would work like an oiled machine

- Do not preach Americanism: Some who lived in west [and received third degree brain wash] try to make the company a territory under US law. You ought to support SL way of life. One of my bosses almost lost a valued employee as he once said "show your F**King document" in a public meeting. This is not America.

- Be profitable: Some run centers for tax cuts in west. Some run them to have a base to visit SL. But ppl who work will find it hard to accept. You have an obligation to have a genuine business that means profiting and benefiting employees.

- Do expand: As I mentioned above some companies do not have big strategy. Employees suffer most.

- Do business no charity: Some western investors think that they do a favor by bringing company to its employees. They think IT IS DUTY of SL to support them. WRONG. You ought to come and start a company to earn money, other objectives are secondary.

- Do not cry: Some expat investors complain regarding anything from mosquitoes to check points. They are right, SL is not the most perfect country. But what is the point? SL remains SL. If you open a cafe in Saudi Arabia, you can't complain for having to close it on Friday.

- Be objective, do not let minor hurdles to take you down: Running business in SL is tough as systems are not best. You may face issues in customs, power supply, municipal, taxation etc. But tackle them in SL way and do not let them take over your goal.

- Be strategic: Do not expect your SL employees to run it for you. Usually they look at you with a higher view and respect. Generally they expect your guidance.

- Don't block: Some business ppl try to block the progress of anyone in order to keep things at controllable level. Do not, you're the end looser not them. They can find another job.

Today, I think that the best support you can do for SL is to start a company on your own or bring some investor. It should be profitable and you ought to be money oriented.

Is our Driving on the road represents us

Many of us who live here experience it every day. Rash and undisciplined driving is the most common thing that you can see every morning. For those who come once in a way may be it is a real nightmare.

Why? Many of us attribute this to people. Is that the only thing, I guess there is much more to that.

Infrastructure, Psychological atmosphere representing lack of Discipline, Education & Learning. Public as whole.

Infrastructure:

Roads- can we make it wider and wider. I guess no, so there should be good public transport system. I guess Train is the best (MRT for city area) is the burning need. Government should think about this, as an individual you can do much.

But

Psychological atmosphere representing lack of Discipline:

If you are living in Sri Lanka, you might have watched TV advert by Maliban (for those who have not seen it I will try to find it and upload to YouTube, If anyone has please do so and publish the link here). The result of that advert is that any one who crosses a road today generally raise their hand to signal the on coming drivers. This means if we teach they will learn.

"A delay on your side does not necessarily make a rush on my side" is it true?- well if you get to that trisho (three wheel) 20 minutes late and ask him to take you to destination, what would he do! He is doing a business and would try to deliver your demand. If you travel by bus, do you like a slow driver or one who takes you there on time. Someone told me if the politicos in the country are bad it shows how the people in the country as they represent public. No matter whether you are a driver, pedestrian or passenger you can equally contribute to the betterment or worse.

So next time when we see a rash driver, we may need to think who is responsible. Perhaps it is all about us and it is time we question is it me?