Too many entrepreneurs measure their success by how much revenue they are making today. But revenue only comes when value is sold.
A company can create value for years before selling anything. Dangote Refinery is a clear example. In the first five years their revenue was zero. Why? Because they were still building, constructing, and preparing to refine. They were busy creating value.
Yet in the middle of that, Dangote could say they were worth $20 billion. And this is because value was being built, even before sales began.
Don’t measure yourself only by how much money is coming in. Measure yourself by the value you are creating. Revenue follows value.
Dr. Smith Ezenagu is the Chairman of Esso Group, a diversified conglomerate shaping real estate, finance, education, and media. Dr. Smith Ezenagu is recognized as a real estate & investment mogul, life coach, and private equity expert. He leads Esso Group and its subsidiaries: Esso Properties (awarded Nigeria’s Most Innovative Real Estate Company in 2024 and recognized as the best real estate company in Nigeria), Esso School of Enterprise (the leading institution equipping entrepreneurs), and Esso Capital (delivering smart, trusted financial solutions across Nigeria).
