Model your Business Idea using the Lean Canvas
Three weeks ago when we first started out on our journey, one of the questions asked was “how” does a person develop the skills and characteristics an entrepreneur needs to be successful.
Not an easy question to answer.
We all recognise entrepreneurial qualities such as creativity, risk-taking, and self-confidence when we see them, but are short on identifying ways to develop these qualities.
Day 3 – A Self-Motivated Cohort of Entrepreneurs
What is apparent on day 3 of the workshop is that a core group of those who had signed up for the programme and had followed through by consistently attending the workshop on a Saturday were displaying many of the characteristics we associate with entrepreneurs.
Focus and discipline evidenced by their consistent attendance in class, creativity in the ideas they generated, and definitely self motivated and confident as they stood up and presented to the workshop.
Day 3 was all about communicating to the class in a structured manner a business idea using the Lean Canvas methodology. Adapted from the Business Model Canvas, the Lean Canvas provides a simple one page framework within which a startup entrepreneur can develop their business idea and share their thinking visually.
Applying the Lean Canvas
The first half of the morning comprised an intenses session of theory and how to use the Lean Canvas as a tool to expand upon the business ideas and opportunities developed using the ideation and evaluation tools introduced during day 2.
Talk about shooting the lights out!
Never doubt the ability and talent of Kasi to take a concept such as the Lean Canvas and show how it can be put to good use in the most challenging of environments. The group activity required each group to take one of the many business ideas they had developed and model it using the Lean Canvas; present their Lean Canvas to the workshop and be prepared to take questions and defend their idea.
Shisa Nyama, Bakery, to Pay-Day-Loans! There was no shortage of ideas.
More importantly the presentations demonstrated how everyone in the workshop was able to express their business idea using the language of the Lean Canvas.
A solid foundation was therefore laid for day 4 where the skill developed with the Lean Canvas will be extended to include the Marketing Canvas, another visual tool with a business language of its own.
