“I have stumbled more times than I can count. I have launched businesses and projects that went nowhere, signed contracts I later regretted, invested money into “foolish” ideas, and spent nights staring at the ceiling, wondering if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.”
These are the words of one of Ghana’s topmost successful entrepreneurs, Dr Daniel McKorley, expressing how daunting and bumpy his road to success has been.
Widely known as McDan, the head of the McDan Group, reveals his journey has seen numerous bruises, sleepless nights, and regrets before making a name in Ghana’s business circles.
For a man like McDan, his knowledge about entrepreneurship is not the polished gloss of motivational quotes or Instagram-worthy punchlines. He has lived it and has garnered experiences. Hence, his words cut deep.
“There were months when I carried the weight entirely alone. Partners left, investors pulled out, and the people closest to me could not understand the risks I had taken or the doubts that haunted me. I have even stood in my own way, driven at times by my impatience, pride, ego, and fear,” the business mogul reflected.
This is a sobering confession from a man whose empire today spans logistics, aviation, salt mining, and more. Yet, beneath the billion-dollar deals and polished boardrooms, McKorley insists the path to success is paved with failure, rejection, and moments of gut-wrenching doubt.
But the twist in McKorley’s tale lies not in the failures, but in what they produced. Each collapse, he says, became a crash course in resilience. Every scar turned into a compass pointing him toward better decisions. And every disappointment ultimately laid the foundation for the businesses that finally took off.
He says, “And yet, those very failures became my greatest teachers. Every loss forced me to refine my vision, every disappointment sharpened my resilience, and every scar prepared me for the businesses that finally took off and flourished.”
For McDan, the entrepreneurial road is not for the fainthearted. It can be lonely, unforgiving, and often misunderstood. However, he insists that the road is worth travelling.
The lesson for travelling that road, he says, is not quitting or the spirit to persevere.
“If you’re in business, know that you might fail, lose money, watch your business collapse, and give up. You’ll face frustration, disappointment, and even self-sabotage, but ultimately, if you (and you should) persevere, it will likely lead to remarkable success,” he assured.
This nugget from the entrepreneur comes at a time when many young Ghanaians are flirting with entrepreneurship on social media. They are “brainwashed” to believe entrepreneurship is the quickest and easiest way to financial freedom and independence.
But Dr McKorley’s story, however, strips away the illusions. It is not about overnight success or shortcuts; it is about grit, scars, and learning to dance with failure until success finally takes your hand.
For him, the entrepreneurial journey is not a bed of roses. However, if you endure the thorns, the flowers will bloom, not now but maybe later.
