Empire Logic: Are you a Butch or Lyon?

For many of us we were reigned in by either by the sultry sounds of Jamal, the dope lyrics of Hackeem, the snapped bite of Cookie or the pure genius of Lucius Lyons. But the empire tv series captivated much more than our attention it exposed to to a world seldom seen, that is the intricacies of running an empire.

I'm certain that some you want to be the head of your own empire, someday,whatever that may be. For some people the harsh reality is they're simply never going to own one, not in this market at least.  But for those of us and placed emphasis on us who have the dreams to setup businesses in this market there are certain things that are going to happen and certain things that just aren't going to happen.

I got inspiration to write about empires from the TV show, however some local empire experience just about propelled me to investigate just how did they do it. Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, the owner and founder of the Sandals group , ATL group and The Jamaica Observer is one of Jamaica's most successful businessmen, but his story provides inspiration not just in the sheer size of his current accomplishments but where he started from. This man built his empire from literally nothing, imagine your local a/c repair man becoming a multimillionaire hotel mogul and businessman who brings in the latest luxury cars into the country. Butch Stewart is one example of successful emperors but he did it at time when things were not easy just as is now.

He lamented in an interview that he made decisions based on long term payoffs, most business owners know that early decisions are crucial and listening to others may be to your detriment. Sometimes it is better to follow your gut. Knowing that you are bound to fail but don;t be stupid if your know the risk will tank the business don't take the risk.

Economists are all for businesses, we have models and rules of thumb for businesses entering and exiting markets, seldom seen are models for entrepreneurship. Their is a sub-discipline however which theorizes "entrepreneurs as  opportunists who fill the disequilibrium in the market".

Nothing short of the truth is my opinion but the markets have changed and if you want and empire like Lucious Lyon or Butch Stewart then you better be sure that your product is killer. You respond to the needs of your clients to not only grow your profits but your clientele.