An accomplished entrepreneur and best-selling author, Marek Zmyslowski, returns to share his passion for renewable energy. Listen to him talk about solar energy, online business, and his goal of leaving the world in slightly better shape than it was when he arrived.
About Marek Zmyslowski:
Marek Zmyslowski is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Jumia Travel and HotelOnline.co, Africa’s largest hotel booking portals. Recognized as one of the Ten Most Important People in Tech by IT News Africa Magazine, Marek serves as a Lead Mentor at Google’s Launchpad and the World Bank’s XL Africa Program. His hiring approach values individuals raised in challenging environments or those with a resilient spirit from overcoming adversity. Marek thrives in the early stages of business, focusing on ventures with exponential growth potential and continuously seeking the “unfair advantage.”
Marek shares his captivating journey of entrepreneurship and adventure in his memoir, “Chasing Black Unicorns“, where he offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a groundbreaking business in Africa, making it a must-read for business owners seeking inspiration from an extraordinary journey.
For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.
Marek’s commitment for renewable energy
Commitment is a key component of achieving business success. Just like what Marek did in the renewable energy industry, he took time to build good team and gain experience. For Marek, commitment usually involves sticking to something for a considerable period, around 5 to 10 years. If you are not committed to your business, you are likely to give up when things get tough.
Commitment allows businesses to establish a solid foundation, learn from experiences and build trust with stakeholders. It also enables them to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities. By staying dedicated to their vision and goals, entrepreneurs increase their chances of creating something significant and sustainable.
However, commitment alone is not enough for success; it must be combined with strategic decision-making and adaptability. Nonetheless, committing to a business for a significant timeframe enhances the likelihood of achieving significant growth and impact in the business world.
Episode highlights:
- Marek Zmyslowski reckons that one of the key tenets of success in business is commitment. You can build something significantly big if you stick to something for at least 5 to 10 years. It takes time to build a good team that aligns with the interests and goals of your business, and gain experience in a certain field. [07:31]
- The comfort zone is the challenge a successful entrepreneur should overcome. While you are in your comfort zone, you are losing every business muscle that helped you achieve success previously. The complex system of tools and skills you have worked out on your path in your business journey will start degrading at some point and you might lose your growth opportunities. [17:20]
- One of the most valuable skills is a solution-oriented mindset. Use it to dig into the understanding of business growth, the grasp of building a brand, the skill to scale the business faster, and everything that might make your business stand out among the others. [21:49]
- Marek sees an ecological lifestyle as something that doesn’t clash with a luxury lifestyle. A compromise between luxury, comfort, and emotions is his direction in the solar business. [39:21]
- Marek claims that it is important to find the balance between what you are lacking and what you are good at. In order to cooperate with people better than you, you have to achieve a certain level of maturity. [47:01]
- Creativity comes from the constraints you put around. As an entrepreneur, you need the constraints when you play in the same sandbox for so long and you lose the ability to grow. The sandbox becomes an endless desert when there are no walls [50:03]
Marek Zmyslowski’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“It’s better to be a king of a village than a minister in Rome.”
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