A HARD LESSON LEARNT AFTER LOSING OVER 2 MILLION IN SALES AS A BUSINESS OWNER As business owners, we are all faced with unforeseen challenges, and the story of one of my colleagues, which I want to use to illustrate my point, will summarise what many of us go through behind the scenes. For privacy's sake, I will not mention her name. In her words, she said, "I recently took on an order for 400 sachets of powdered brown pap—an unfamiliar product for my brand but one I believed in." My team and I worked tirelessly for a month, investing everything we had. After fulfilling the order, the customer decided to pull out at the last minute, citing the price and competition with larger brands. Now, I have a warehouse full of stock, and my heart is heavy. So can you imagine committing to a major order—one that's outside of your regular production - yet you say yes because that's what we entrepreneurs do: we take risks. This lady dedicated weeks of labour, funds, and even borrowed capital to fulfil an order for 400 sachets of powdered pap. With everything on the line, the customer walked away, saying that they found a better quality with another bigger brand. What can we learn from this? ➡️ First, not every opportunity is as solid as it seems. Always assess and have contingency plans. ➡️ Secondly, the importance of maintaining liquidity and not tying up all resources into one deal. As this lady was left with a warehouse full of product, they faced not only a financial strain but also the emotional challenge of telling their hardworking team the news. But here’s the thing: our setbacks are not failures. They’re stepping stones. Every business hits a roadblock, but how we bounce back is what defines us. Sometimes, diversifying your client base and maintaining a solid backup strategy can save you from moments like this. If you're in the production business, never lose sight of a broader strategy. This lady's experience is a reminder to keep evaluating every decision, even in the heat of action, and ensure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. Let’s move forward, strategize smarter, and turn challenges into future wins. 📌 Lastly, do not run your business on emotions. Hence, do not render services with your customers not paying for the products or services un full or half deposit. Don't accept and execute on contracts with no money down. Hope you gained value from this? Kindly repost this to save a business owner out there from making the same mistake. Thank you, and I am rooting for you, Dear AlphaLion 💛in Business #eminentaugusta