Lessons Entrepreneurs should Learn from the Uprising in the Middle East

The #1 lesson entrepreneurs could learn from the recent uprising in the Middle East is ...... No, not Social Media.... Guess again! Social media is surely one of the top lessons but the top-most lesson you can get out of the events in the Middle East isn't so obvious.

#1. Momentum in a trend is good.

I know most people won't agree with me because Social Media organized and spread the whole revolution so it should be number one on the list. The truth is, I disagree.. Without my number 1 lesson to be learned here, the revolution would have taken place in Tunisia alone or may be Egypt and wouldn't have spread protests and potential (as for now) regime changes in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and the minor demonstrations we are starting to see in Saudi Arabia and Iran. The momentum created a wave across the whole region, and now that the momentum is still building, it's really a crucial and fragile time for regimes in the region and elsewhere to hold on to power to survive the momentum's waves.

Increasing momentum convinces people in business, warfare, politics and so on (by building a growing hope for change or a certain event). When people see build of power, confidence or activity, they tend to believe in some sort of coming result and they follow.

With this strategy, entrepreneurs can learn to project confidence with investors, employees and even customers by constantly achieving milestones. You could stay silent for a while, but once you start, keep moving with a series of activities and coverage. Inconsistency kills (kills momentum and confidence).

I'm pretty sure the leaders whose regimes are facing these protests wouldn't want to see any more leaders step down due to pressure because that would build confidence in their own protesting oppositions and increase the whole Middle East uprisings momentum. I predict if one more regime should fall, then it wouldn't be the last ruler we'll see step down due to protests in 2011... The fall will make the protests spread more across the region and beyond. Also, if no leader should fall in the coming weeks or days, (Libya being a crucial point) then the momentum may begin to die down... Therefore, the fate of many other Middle Eastern regimes facing protests may lie in Tripoli. Just saying... ;)

#2 Social Media

The lesson #1 would be an entrepreneurs greatest take-away from the recent uprisings. Understanding this whole psychological concept of using momentum to project confidence would be a great asset to you. Lesson #2 is obviously everyone's favorite lesson from the happenings. It is SOCIAL MEDIA..

Social Media gave power to the people in these regions through mass real-time connection, spread and organiztion.. The campaigns that toppled decades long regimes started on the 2004 founded social network Facebook. Give people social media and they have freedom..

Also, engage your users on social media and they'll work for you through spreading your message. Especially if you can relate to a cause, social media sites like Facebook or Twitter can make your message go viral.

#3 Greed isn't good afterall.

Another take-away for entrepreneurs from the recent events is the fact that greed isn't good for anything you are doing in the long term. The toppled regimes have been accused by their followers of embezzling of billions and not providing necessities and jobs to their followers.

Therefore, what this means to entrepreneurs is, if you want to build the next big thing, don't be greedy towards your employees, investors and customers... Don't be too self focussed.. Stand up for them if you want your venture to go far.. Don't focus on yourself, focus on the company's interest.. Forget making a huge net-worth for yourself, rather, build a very valuable company. If you think in the long run and shun greed, you and your company will do more financial and the party will last much longer.

Lastly, if you believe there is more to be learned from the recent uprising in the Middle East both as business or life lessons, let us know in the comments below.