From Czech Lessons to Business Lessons

Earlier this month I spent time in beautiful Prague.

The main reason was to deliver my Let’s Start a Business programme in a 30-hour one week version (the photo to the left is me with participants). But I also caught up with friends and took some Czech classes.

I discovered an organisation that offered open classes for foreigners so on four evenings of the week I had 90 minutes of beginners Czech. These classes cost the princely sum of 50 CzK (equivalent to 2$) – a bargain !!

Of course there were inconveniences: usually there were 30 people in the room; the teachers only used Czech and had different methods of delivering the lesson; some students already had a basic knowledge of Czech and most of the teachers worked to that level not the lowest level.

I experienced many frustrations – people chatting to each other in class; the varying teaching methods used by the teachers and of course my own reactions to my frustrations.

One evening, as the tram took me home and I looked out at the beautiful buildings that make Prague one of the most loveliest of cities, I started to list the lessons these Czech classes had for people starting out in business.

• it’s better to start than wait for the perfect situation
• take one step at a time in the direction of your goal
• even small steps towards your goal are worth taking
• if you really want to achieve something you’ll find a way
• persevere – you’ll get there in the end!  (and if you’re learning Czech you certainly need perseverence !!)
• don’t be quick to blame others – the fault may lie with you!
• anything cheap almost certainly has a downside
• know yourself – your strengths and weaknesses
• know your Why
• surround yourself with people who believe in you and are willing to support you (the girls at my Airbnb were giving me 10 Czech words to memorise each day)

So Hesky den to you all !

And please comment below – share your thoughts and lessons that life has taught you that are relevant to people starting a business.