Creativity Beyond an Academic Degree - Starting An Unconventional Business
Introduction by Host: Dr. Gee
Are you looking to start your own business, but you are intimidated by the unpopular nature of the business, societal pressures, or its relevance to your degree? We are joined today by Priscilla Adams, CEO of Waakye Palace in Kumasi, and she shares her journey from acquiring a degree, to conceptualizing the waakye selling business idea, to her current successes.
Guest Bio
Priscilla Adams is the founder and CEO of Waakye Palace, which she runs with her brother. She has a degree in History and Sociology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Q: At what point did you decided to found Waakye Palace instead of follow your degree?
When I came to Kumasi, I was just looking for good waakye to buy, and I was not getting the taste that I was looking for. That’s where the idea came from: I wanted to fix the problem I had, and guessed that other people had a similar problem. I saw a dream I wanted to realize it, and that was it.
Q: Did somebody encourage you to follow this path, or was it just your decision?
I didn’t tell anybody about this dream. When you have a dream like that, you have to convince yourself that you can do it. You have to invest yourself into the dream so much that you will not be discouraged when people don’t respond the way you want. No matter how strong you are, people’s opinions of you can really bring you down if you are not careful.
Q: Did you need a lot of capital to get started?
Yes. There’s a lot of people who say that all you need to start a business is a good idea. But truth be told, you actually need money. That may mean working extra for a time in order to build the capital needed to before you start. Try telling a landlord that you have an idea that he should invest in before you have the capital to back it.
Q: What are some challenges that you have experienced?
The biggest challenge was finding help. I have had to do almost everything yourself. Going to market preparing the food, interacting with customers, that was all me. And at the beginning, everything I made had to go back into the business. It was very hard
Q: How have you built up trust with your customers?
I think it’s the consistency. Sometimes you have the taste vary a little bit, but being consistent keeps people coming back. I think that is the best way to build your credibility in this industry.
Q: Have you had successes through following your ideas?
Yes. When I started, there were obviously fears. Will people like what I make, can I stay consistent? I have made orders for people all over the place, not just our immediate location, which is stressful as well. But it is also fulfilling. My biggest success is being able to reach people far away.
Q: What advice do you have for those who want to start a business?
When you have a dream, you have to let it grow on you. Sometimes, we have to take our time before we push ahead with our ideas. People may voice concerns, but if you are not careful, you will take those concerns as your personal fears. Do not be afraid of your dream, but carefully think about it and plan it out before you start.
Q: Have you had pushback, as a person with a degree, in selling food?
Yes. I recently took an Uber somewhere, and the driver and I began to talk about work. When he found out that I was selling food, despite having a degree, he seemed confused and a little bit disgusted. If you find something you love to do, who cares what others may think about your choice. I am doing this because I am happy doing it.
Closing Thoughts
Chasing what you love to do, especially when everybody has their opinion to throw at you, is hard. Most people enjoy sharing their opinions, but most of them do not actually care about you. It’s up to you to choose which opinions you hold on to. Do not let what others think about you deter you from doing what you love.
Full Video Here:
