You said Brain a few times.
A brain is muscle and Somalis are known to not exercise in the west.
Connections from Family can only get you so far. In the end you need to make revenue and make your circle of partners gain growth; there's old farts who have no education but they have made mistakes and have life experiences you can't teach.
Just don't be entitled to anything when you are in Puntland.
Sxb, I lived in Somalia. I can tell you these people:
1. They are hard to deal with unless your proposition benefits them. They don't work for free, I'm not talking money-wise but it could be other commodities.
2. They inherently distrust qurbajoog. You have to have a public face if you are doing business. They expect charity donations and a good personality.
3. Everyone in Somalia is about publicity and getting their name out there. If you offer them a good reference to their employer/relative. They'll work.
4. You need a local partner. The local partner is because they are street-savvy. They know everything on the street and know the tricks of the trade.
5. You need to keep the government at bay, if they see money or a good project they go crazy wallahi. I suggest recognising the gov't/president a bit.
6. You need advertisement. Locals are susceptible to marketing. I used to go to a British-school in Somalia and they would make us go around the streets to analyse Somali behaviour in the suuq's. These niggas will go for a shit $15 shoe over a $8 good one because the seller told him 'waa new fashion'.
7. You need agents. If you are going to into retail or selling stuff wholesale (like nappies, tissues, water, concrete or whatever) you need people that will be based in different cities to sell for you. Its hard to do everything by yourself in Somalia.
8. Be religious and mention your love for Somalia 24/7.
