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Here are 15 Things we learnt from Senator Ben Murray Bruce on Forbes Africa TV’s “My Worst Day with Peace Hyde”
No man steps in the same river twice for it is not the same river and he is not the same man. In business no two days are ever the same and challenges faced by others, although they may have some aspects in common, tends to affect the individuals in different ways. This month, as we stayed glued to the seat for the gripping account of Senator Ben Murray Bruce on Forbes Africa TV “My Worst Day with Peace Hyde”, here are 15 things we learnt from the show.
- It sometimes pays to think
According to Senator Bruce, Nigeria needs a common sense minister whose job is to just think about Nigeria and find solutions to the problems of Nigeria, without enriching himself. Sounds simple enough, who wants to be the Minister for Common Sense?
- The world is driven by ideas
Always remember the ideas you have is your collateral and you have to protect your intellectual property to prevent someone from stealing the next big million-dollar move.
- The Accidental discovery
Sometimes the best business ideas happen entirely be accident, according Senator Bruce, the passion for the entertainment industry happened entirely by accident, which as led to the mammoth Silverbird group.
- Break the mould
As the director of NTA at the time Senator Ben Bruce went against convention to air the Miss World Pageant during a live telecast instead of watch the popular evening news and Nigeria won the pageant.
- The external environment can be hostile to your business
Not all challenges in business are created internally; sometimes-external forces can harm your business as Senator Bruce experienced when a publication outside his control led to catastrophic consequences.
- Respect the power of the media
The media has the power to create or destroy your organization by what they say about you and as a result it is important to understand and respect that power.
- For every action there is a reaction
As an entrepreneur, it is important to understand that there are consequences to every thing we do and in Senator Bruce’s experience the action of protestors resulted in a loss of $10 million for him.
- You have to be able to take care of the little responsibilities in order to get bigger ones
As senator Bruce puts it if Nigeria could not look after 18 year old girls then why would foreign investors bring their money into the country. Always manage the little things you have well.
- Always look at the big picture
For Senator Bruce, his background is not a city or a country but the world. Expand your vision and immediately a world of new opportunities opens up to you.
- Money is a coward
Another profound knowledge from Senator Bruce, money only goes where there is no fear and peace so create an enabling an environment without fear and watch money run into Nigeria like the advanced countries in the world.
- Always take the higher road when it comes to your country.
Do not attack your own country but instead help advance it by pushing positivity.
12.Give help to the poor and save your life!
According to Senator Bruce, it is our responsibility to support the poor to prevent crimes of violence and attacks from spiralling out of control in Nigeria. Lets all do our part to help the needy.
- When you conquer poverty you become fulfilled
Senator Bruce says, as you grow older you need less and so once poverty is no longer an issue, the economy will be in a much better position.
14. Words can be powerful weapons
After a speech at a conference by Senator Bruce a young boy stood up and shouted lets kill all our leaders. It is important to watch what you say so that you do not incite somebody to do the wrong thing. That also goes in business.
15. Economics is the answer to all our problems
According to the senator, most of the problems we face as a nation has nothing to do with religion but more to do with the redistribution of wealth and once we have an equilibrium most of our problems will vanish.
