Ghanaian business mogul Dr. Daniel McKorley, founder of the McDan Group, has shared insights on the power of building businesses away from public scrutiny, arguing that quiet progress often proves more sustainable than social media-driven visibility.
The entrepreneur, whose empire spans logistics, shipping, aviation, and salt mining, advocates for protecting business visions from unnecessary noise and criticism during their formative stages.
“When you focus on doing the work without broadcasting every detail, you protect your vision from unnecessary noise,” McKorley explained. “People cannot attack what they do not see. They cannot drain your energy with doubt if they do not know what you are shaping behind the scenes.”
This philosophy shaped McKorley’s approach as he built McDan Group from its founding in 1999 into a conglomerate with operations across West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea.
McKorley’s journey began with McDan Shipping Company, established with headquarters in Accra and branches in Tema and Takoradi. The company now maintains presence in over 2,000 major airports and ports globally, demonstrating the effectiveness of his quiet-building approach.
The business leader recalls facing skepticism during his early entrepreneurial years, particularly when venturing into industries many considered too complex or ambitious for a young entrepreneur.
“I remember working on projects that many people doubted would succeed,” McKorley reflects. “Some questioned why I was venturing into areas too complex or too ambitious for a young business.”
Rather than seeking validation or justifying his strategic moves publicly, McKorley chose to let results speak for themselves. This approach enabled McDan Group’s expansion into multiple sectors, including the aviation industry, which many initially viewed as beyond his reach.
McKorley emphasizes that “moving in silence” doesn’t mean complete invisibility but rather exercising strategic discretion. Business leaders should promote their products and services while keeping future plans confidential.
“Do not rush to announce every small win on LinkedIn,” he advises entrepreneurs. “Do not feel the need to broadcast every steady step forward on Facebook. Do not be quick to showcase minor milestones on Instagram reels with polished edits.”
The distinction lies in promoting existing business while protecting strategic blueprints from premature exposure, criticism, and potential interference.
For young entrepreneurs operating in an era where “building in public” receives significant attention, McKorley’s philosophy offers a contrasting perspective. He argues that fragile ideas require protection from external doubts, expectations, and public scrutiny during critical development phases.
The McDan Group now operates three main divisions: McDan Shipping Company, McDan Aviation, and McDan Logistics, with diversified interests extending to oil and gas, security, construction, and real estate development.
McKorley’s success story demonstrates that sustainable business building often occurs away from public attention, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on execution rather than managing external perceptions and expectations.
“Quiet progress is powerful,” McKorley concludes. “Build with focus, with persistence, and with intention. In the end, it is not the noise that endures, but it is the work and the impact that speak the loudest.”
The business leader’s approach reflects broader discussions about entrepreneurial strategy in the digital age, where social media visibility often creates illusions of progress while potentially exposing developing ventures to premature scrutiny.
McKorley’s philosophy suggests that timing public announcements strategically, after achieving substantial progress, can be more effective than continuous updates throughout the development process.
His advice resonates particularly with entrepreneurs building complex ventures requiring significant development time before becoming market-ready, where premature disclosure might invite unwanted competition or criticism.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
