Yes, Jamaica. You know the Jamaica I am talking about. The beautiful resorts, the amazing Dunn’s River Falls and the world famous “No problem, Man!” white glove service. (NOTE: It is in fact "man" and not "mon", the American ear simply hears the accent as "mon")
If you have ever visited Jamaica, via a flight to Montego Bay, that may be all you have ever seen, besides the few communities visible through the window of your bus during your mad dash from the airport to your caged in resort. I have vacationed in Jamaica as a tourist. I have done that. And I have relished the sliver of beauty I was exposed to.
My visit this September was not for vacation. It went to inspire people and show them the path of entrepreneurialism. Alas, they inspired me and have shown me the path.
I flew into Jamaica's capital, Kingston, this time and stayed at a Jamaican home. I traveled and walked throughout Kingston. I saw the perimeter of the dangerous ghettos that tourists and locals alike rarely enter. I toured the middle class areas and walked parts of the wealthy Kingston 8 area.
And I spoke with many people. Many, many people. It was here that I discovered something I didn’t expect. I discovered something far more beautiful and inspiring than you would ever see as a tourist. It is the entrepreneurs of Jamaica with their relentless pursuit to improve themselves and the world that is beautiful and inspiring. In one word, I was impressed. In a few words, I was impressed to my core.
By any measure, Jamaica is small. An island that is dwarfed by Cuba. And Cuba, in the scheme of things, is extremely tiny itself. The economy of Jamaica, too, is small. New Jersey alone has an economy fifty times bigger than Jamaica. Fifty times! And even the population is small, with 2.7 million people living in the entire country. To put that in perspective, about 1.7 million people commute into New York City every morning. So, by the end of the evening rush, New York has moved more people in and out in a single day than Jamaica has as an entire population.
So what’s the point? Jamaica’s small. So what? There is power in small. Lot’s of power. David beat Goliath after all.
I believe the world is in the early stages of “next generation entrepreneurialism.” These are entrepreneurs who are building businesses not with the primary intent of getting rich, but with the primary or perhaps the exclusive intent of serving others. Don’t mistake this group for push-overs, or charities or hand-outs. This new type of entrepreneur has an absolute awareness and desire for riches. But they are acutely aware that wealth is inevitable, when they serve others first. Call them go-givers. Call them next generation entrepreneurs. Call them Toilet Paper Entrepreneurs, if you wish (I do). But know one thing for sure, they are getting rich. And they are getting rich, right.
So what does Jamaica have to do with the “next generation entrepreneur?” They are leading the way! Who would have thought it? But it is true. “Little” Jamaica is making a BIG impact. I have seen it first hand… I have seen the light (and lots of it, coupled with humid, 90+ F degree heat). This is how Jamaica is doing it:
Natural Opportunities Abound
1. Sun and Heat – The Jamaican entrepreneurs have caught on. They are the Mecca for natural energy research because of their continuous sun and warmth. They are sitting on the opportunity of a lifetime and they know it. The constant sun (minus a hurricane or two), can position them as leaders in the green movement.
2. Personality – The people of Jamaica, as a whole, are extremely courteous, friendly and stress free. Particularly when you base this on American standards. I can see the call centers now.
3. Location, Location, Location – A mere one hour time difference from the US East Coast (and that's only during day light savings time - otherwise there's no difference); a short flight from New York to Kingston; and a major shipping hub. Add those up and opportunities abound.
Hyper-Social Networking
1. World Wide Jamaicans - It is estimated that more Jamaicans live overseas than in their homeland. The U.K., Canada and the US are home to the majority of overseas transplants, providing local Jamaican entrepreneurs with a natural network that extends internationally… and in many cases the network is family members. Many transplants are starting to come back to their homeland and with them comes their wealth and their networks.
2. Two Degrees of Separation - Everyone doesn’t just seem to be related, but many residents are related in some way. It is not uncommon for Jamaican natives to have thirty or more Jamaican cousins if you are a native. This quickly adds up to only a few degrees of separation from some very influential folks like the Prime Minister, Usain Bolt, or anyone else in the country. Talk about power networking.
International Influence
1. Name Recognition - For a small country, it has a lot of emotional influence over its super power neighbor. Mention Usain Bolt, Cool Running’s, Reggae, or Bob Marley and most of the world's citizens instantly recognizes Jamaica. Try to do that for any other country in the Caribbean, perhaps the world.
The Right Mindset
1. Complacency, Not! – I have seen it first hand. "The satisfied" stop hunting and "the hungry" hunt harder. The Jamaican entrepreneurs are hungrier than any other entrepreneurial group I have ever met. But don’t mistake hunger with starvation. Starvation results in desperation. Hunger results in calculated moves. The Jamaican entrepreneurs are hungry, very hungry… but not starving.
2. Don’t Resist, Instead Strive – Possibly the biggest indicator of Jamaica’s inevitable entrepreneurial triumphs is the desire to strive, not the desire to resist. The Jamaican entrepreneurs I met had a great desire to be true to themselves, and to comply with their hearts desires. They clearly appreciate and want the achievements of wealthy nations, but they want it on their terms. Their way. This leads to differentiation, and leads to huge opportunity. The Jamaicans have this right - they are pushing ahead, not pushing away.
3. We Are What We Speak – No other variable has more influence over our success as entrepreneurs then what we say about ourselves. I have heard every Jamaican entrepreneur, both female and male say “No problem man.” But, and this is a big BUT, the meaning behind it is speaking to their success and not simply a quip to stress reduction. This popular phrase is being used with growing focus toward their aspirations. I asked one entrepreneur about the aviation business he plans on starting. I asked him if he really fathomed something so grand was possible. He said “Yes. Absolutely. It’s no problem, man.”
I’m not stupid. Jamaica is facing nearly (emphasis on nearly) insurmountable challenges. Guns for drugs trading, an overwhelmed police force, a burdened education system, a struggling (albeit improving) transportation infrastructure, skyrocketing inflation, rampant crime, the list goes on and on. The cup isn’t half full; but nonetheless there is clearly something to drink. And the young entrepreneurs of Jamaica are starting to fill the cup even more.
There is more than a mere hope in Jamaica. There is a belief here.
I have met with the next generations of Jamaican entrepreneurs. They know their destiny, it is undeniable. They will not be stopped.
I have talked with them, I have observed them and I have heard them. They know, deep inside, it is now their turn. And it is these entrepreneurs, here in Jamaica, who have started a small, but prideful and relentless change. Jamaica, in its on small way, has started the next generation of entrepreneurialism. The giant perhaps is still sleeping, but David for sure has awoken.
The entrepreneurial world has grown today. Maybe in a very small way, but it has grown. And more positive change has begun. The world has flattened even more, and as a result the opportunities for all of us have increased. The new generation of entrepreneurialism has been more clearly defined by getting rich right, not fast. And there is a country to thank. Not only for what they have done, but for what they will do. Thank you, Jamaica.
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