Omaha entrepreneur and civil engineer discusses how to maintain discipline and achieve goals

Local business owner Videgla Sekpe knows all about the importance of tenacity when pursuing an entrepreneurial dream.

The founder and CEO of Mjenzi, an organization that provides real estate investment and construction services, Sekpe says his mission is to use his civil engineering expertise to build

healthy communities.

“Mjenzi means builder in Swahili,” he says. “That’s really why I felt like that was the most appropriate name for this company.”

Son of courage

Sekpe says developing the right foundation is essential to starting a successful business, both literally and figuratively.

He also says discipline, hard work, and bravery are important qualities for an entrepreneur.

“Sometimes you just have to follow your gut,” Sekpe says. “Follow what’s inside of you.”

He says his first name Videgla, which means son of courage in the West African language, has shaped his perspective on facing uncertainty. While transition can be scary, the only way to achieve a dream is to take action.

“When I start getting super comfortable, then I realize that I’ve stopped growing,” Sekpe says. “I need to take that next step that’s going to help me grow and continue to expand my potential.”

Staying disciplined

To avoid becoming overwhelmed, Sekpe says he recommends aspiring entrepreneurs take incremental actions toward a goal, starting with research from books or podcasts. He also encourages people to stay with their day jobs until they have prepared a solid business plan.

“Start taking the smaller steps, even if it is just investing in knowledge and education about the direction of your dream,” Sekpe says.

Defining success

As he evaluates himself, Sekpe says he defines success as a daily push to persevere toward a goal and impact others.

“Follow your dreams because at the end of the day, it’s not about dreaming big,” he says. “Anybody can do that, but the question really is, ‘How long can you dream big?’ Keep that dream alive no matter what the season of life is.”