Olatunde Akanbi
Member
For many years, I was excited about starting something new.
New businesses.
New ideas.
New opportunities.
Today, I think differently.
I already have enough businesses to build.
Now I want to make the companies better.
Here’s what I’ve been focusing on:
1. Better people.
The right people in the right roles.
People who can make decisions and produce results without waiting for me.
2. Better management.
I don't want every problem to come to my table.
I want managers who can manage.
3. Better systems.
If something works, document it.
If it keeps failing, fix the system.
4. Better numbers.
I want to know what is actually happening in the business.
Revenue.
Costs.
Profit.
Cash.
Performance.
Not assumptions.
5. Better accountability.
Everybody should know what they are responsible for.
And we should be able to measure whether it is happening.
6. Better structure.
As companies grow, the structure must grow with them.
Clear roles.
Clear authority.
Clear reporting lines.
Clear decisions.
7. Better governance.
I am becoming more interested in boards, policies, controls and proper decision-making.
Because a company should not depend on one person.
8. Better documentation.
I want the company to know what the founder knows.
Not keep everything in the founder's head.
9. Better succession.
I am thinking more about what happens if I am not there.
Who takes over?
Who makes decisions?
Can the company continue?
10. Better companies.
This is probably the biggest shift for me.
I don't want to keep saying:
“What else can I start?”
I want to ask:
“How good can we make what we have already built?”
At 44, I am not trying to build the biggest number of businesses.
I am trying to build companies that can last.
Companies that can outlive me.
Companies that can employ people for decades.
Companies that can create value for the next generation.
That is what being a Company Builder means to me.
New businesses.
New ideas.
New opportunities.
Today, I think differently.
I already have enough businesses to build.
Now I want to make the companies better.
Here’s what I’ve been focusing on:
1. Better people.
The right people in the right roles.
People who can make decisions and produce results without waiting for me.
2. Better management.
I don't want every problem to come to my table.
I want managers who can manage.
3. Better systems.
If something works, document it.
If it keeps failing, fix the system.
4. Better numbers.
I want to know what is actually happening in the business.
Revenue.
Costs.
Profit.
Cash.
Performance.
Not assumptions.
5. Better accountability.
Everybody should know what they are responsible for.
And we should be able to measure whether it is happening.
6. Better structure.
As companies grow, the structure must grow with them.
Clear roles.
Clear authority.
Clear reporting lines.
Clear decisions.
7. Better governance.
I am becoming more interested in boards, policies, controls and proper decision-making.
Because a company should not depend on one person.
8. Better documentation.
I want the company to know what the founder knows.
Not keep everything in the founder's head.
9. Better succession.
I am thinking more about what happens if I am not there.
Who takes over?
Who makes decisions?
Can the company continue?
10. Better companies.
This is probably the biggest shift for me.
I don't want to keep saying:
“What else can I start?”
I want to ask:
“How good can we make what we have already built?”
At 44, I am not trying to build the biggest number of businesses.
I am trying to build companies that can last.
Companies that can outlive me.
Companies that can employ people for decades.
Companies that can create value for the next generation.
That is what being a Company Builder means to me.