ONE OF THE MINDSETS WE MUST CONFRONT AS AFRICANS IS OUR TENDENCY TO SOMETIMES FIGHT EACH OTHER'S PROGRESS! There is something I have observed that genuinely concerns me. When someone outside our community starts a business, we admire their courage. When they become successful, we celebrate their achievements. When they build wealth, we study their success. BUT WHEN AN AFRICAN DOES THE SAME THING, WHY DO SOME OF US SUDDENLY BECOME SUSPICIOUS? When another African starts a business, instead of asking how we can support them, we sometimes begin looking for reasons why they should not succeed. When they increase their prices, we accuse them of being greedy. When they become successful, we question the source of their success. When they expand their business, we assume they are trying to show off. When they make a mistake, instead of offering constructive criticism, some people celebrate their downfall. HOW CAN WE BUILD A STRONG ECONOMIC COMMUNITY IF WE KEEP TREATING EACH OTHER'S PROGRESS AS A THREAT? Think about this. You are comfortable paying a large company £500 for a service. But when an African-owned business charges £300 for a comparable service, you complain that they are too expensive. You will recommend a business you have never visited, but hesitate to recommend someone within your community whom you know is competent. You admire entrepreneurship until the entrepreneur is someone you grew up with. WHY DOES SUCCESS BECOME LESS ACCEPTABLE WHEN IT COMES FROM SOMEONE WE KNOW? Let me make something clear. Supporting African businesses does not mean accepting poor service, dishonesty or incompetence. We must hold every business to proper standards. But our criticism should be based on evidence and fairness, not jealousy, unhealthy competition or personal resentment. ANOTHER AFRICAN'S SUCCESS DOES NOT MEAN YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITY HAS DISAPPEARED. Someone else's business growing does not mean yours must fail. Someone else buying a property does not prevent you from buying yours. Someone else securing a contract does not mean there are no opportunities left for you. We need to move from a mentality of competition at all costs to one of collaboration, value creation and shared progress. Because a community becomes economically stronger when its members can build trust, share knowledge, create opportunities and support deserving businesses. IF YOU CANNOT CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS OF SOMEONE BESIDE YOU, HOW WILL YOU BUILD SOMETHING GREAT TOGETHER? Africans in the diaspora, we need to do better. We don't have to be best friends to support each other's progress. We don't have to agree on everything to respect each other's achievements. And we don't have to bring someone down simply because they are doing something we have not yet achieved. STOP SEEING ANOTHER PERSON'S SUCCESS AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF YOUR FAILURE. There is room for more people to succeed. LET US BUILD A CULTURE WHERE AN AFRICAN'S SUCCESS INSPIRES ANOTHER AFRICAN TO RISE, NOT TO FIGHT. Henry Ideas | HOREB Limited #HenryIdeas #HorebLimited #AfricanDiaspora #AfricansInUK #AfricanEntrepreneurs - @henry.ideas