Believe, Act, Adjust: Lessons From My Journey Building in Cameroon
Hook — The Morning I Told 200 Students the Truth
The auditorium was buzzing before I even walked in.
It was a humid Thursday morning in Douala — the kind of morning where the city wakes up slowly, the air still heavy from the night before, and the streets already pulsing with movement: taxi drivers leaning out of their windows to call for passengers, street vendors arranging trays of beignets and puff-puff, the smell of frying dough mixing with the scent of strong coffee.
Inside the IUT of Douala, nearly two hundred students sat in neat rows, notebooks and phones at the ready. This was part of the school’s mentorship initiative, where professionals were invited to share real-world experiences with the next generation.
I took the microphone, smiled, and looked out at them.
There was expectation in their eyes — a mix of curiosity and ambition.
Most speakers in this setting start with titles, achievements, and a polished backstory. But I decided to go a different route.
“As an entrepreneur in Cameroon, you have to focus less on the setbacks and keep your eyes on the prize,” I began.
“Some call it resilience, some call it perseverance, and here in Cameroon, we call it Hemle.”
There were nods in the audience — and also tilted heads, as if some were thinking, Hemle?
I explained : Hemle is more than determination. It’s that deep, almost stubborn force that keeps you moving forward when every logical reason says stop.
That day, I didn’t want to give them a motivational speech filled with perfect endings. I wanted them to hear the truth — the truth about building something meaningful here, in a system that often feels like it’s working against you.
Personal Journey — From Houston to Douala
Eight years ago, I made a decision that would completely change my life.
I left Houston, Texas, where I had a solid career, predictable systems, and access to opportunities many people dream about, to return home to Cameroon.
It wasn’t for a short visit. It wasn’t a “see how things go” trial period. I was coming back to settle.
When I told friends in the U.S. about my plan, they had questions — and doubts.
- “Why give up stability for uncertainty?”
- “Why leave behind an environment where business runs smoothly to one where you’ll have to fight for every inch?”
- “Why not just stay there and help from afar?”
My answer was always the same : because home still has untapped potential, and I wanted to be part of unlocking it.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I’d heard the stories. But there’s a big difference between hearing and experiencing.
Challenges Faced — The Reality Check
The first months back in Cameroon were like jumping into a game without a clear rulebook — where the rules change mid-play, and sometimes, the referee doesn’t even show up.
Administrative Hurdles
Paperwork here isn’t just paperwork — it’s a labyrinth.
Processes that could take hours elsewhere sometimes stretch into weeks, or even months. If you don’t follow up, documents vanish into invisible drawers. I learned quickly that persistence wasn’t optional — it was survival.
Customs Complications
Importing equipment for projects should have been straightforward. Instead, I found myself making multiple trips to the port, navigating shifting fee structures, and dealing with “unexpected” requirements. Time-sensitive projects were delayed. Costs went up. Frustration became a frequent companion.
Landlord & Taxation Surprises
Leases that suddenly changed. Tax bills that didn’t align with what was agreed. It taught me the importance of reading between the lines and documenting every detail.
Human Challenges
Employees leaving at critical moments. Partners disappearing after securing their share of a deal. Misunderstandings caused by different work cultures and expectations.
I’d faced challenges before, but here, they came from all directions — sometimes all at once.
There were nights I lay awake asking myself :
Did I make the biggest mistake of my life?
Turning Points — The Mindset Shift
Over time, I began to see a pattern.
The challenges weren’t going away. The environment wasn’t suddenly going to align with my expectations.
I had two choices :
- Wait for the perfect conditions and risk stagnation
- Do more with what I had, right now.
I chose the second.
This shift changed everything.
Instead of being paralyzed by what I lacked, I started maximizing what was already within reach.
When a deal fell through, I didn’t stop — I looked for another angle.
When a partnership went wrong, I didn’t give up on collaboration — I built better contracts, clearer expectations, and chose partners whose vision aligned with mine.
It wasn’t about avoiding setbacks. It was about absorbing them, learning, and recalibrating.
Philosophy & Framework — Believe, Act, Adjust (BAA)
This is where my guiding mantra took shape: Believe, Act, Adjust.
Believe
You must first believe in your vision — not just casually, but deeply enough that it becomes your anchor.
When storms come, belief is the rope that keeps you tied to the dock.
Act
Belief without action is just a dream.
I’ve seen people wait endlessly for perfect timing. The truth? There is no perfect timing. You move with what you have, where you are.
For me, action meant launching Africa Venture Group despite imperfect conditions, starting ventures like EkoTech, Immigration 360 Degré, and MyDoc.cm, even when every spreadsheet told me to wait.
Adjust
No plan survives unchanged.
In Cameroon, flexibility isn’t a bonus — it’s essential. Policies change, partners shift, markets evolve. You must adapt without losing your direction.
For me, adjustment meant pivoting business models, restructuring teams, and even changing market entry strategies when conditions demanded it.
Universal Takeaways — Beyond Borders
What I’ve learned in Cameroon applies to entrepreneurs everywhere :
- Adversity is universal — The form changes, but the reality is the same. Whether you’re dealing with supply chain delays in Douala or market saturation in New York, challenges will come.
- Mindset outlasts infrastructure — A resourceful entrepreneur can turn scarcity into opportunity.
- Partnerships require clarity — Whether cross-border or next-door, trust is built on transparency, aligned values, and clear communication.
Stories Inside the Story
There was the time customs held back container with equipment critical to a project launch. We had to improvise, repurpose older tools, and still meet the client’s deadline. That project taught me that innovation often comes from necessity, not luxury.
There was the time a trusted partner vanished just as a major deal was closing. The loss hurt — financially and personally. Not forgetting multiples unpaid bills by the government! But in hindsight, it was a filter. It pushed me to develop stronger due diligence processes and to value character as highly as competence.
Call to Action — The Long Game
When I returned to IUT that day, I ended my talk with this :
“You might Believe, Act, and Adjust — and still not ‘succeed’ by someone else’s definition. But you will learn. And that learning is success in progress.”
I truly believe success is not a fixed point. It’s an evolving process. Each setback you survive, each pivot you make, each lesson you carry forward — these are milestones.
So, to every entrepreneur, student, and professional reading this:
Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
Stop thinking conditions have to be flawless before you move.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Learn as you go.
And when the road shifts beneath you — adjust your steps, but never your destination.
Final Quote :
“Resilience is not avoiding the storm — it’s learning to dance in the rain.”