– From Cricketer to successful businessman
Popular cricketer, Lennox Joseph Cush has not only made a name for himself in the world of sport. He is also exhibiting his commercial and management skills in the business arena and successfully at that.
But before divulging the extent of success he has been able to accomplish with his company, Star Party Rentals, on 21 Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he gave Guyana Inc. a front row seat into his career in cricket and his transition to being an entrepreneur.
Cush, who was born on December 12, 1974, attended the St. Winefride’s Primary School. From there, he progressed to Alleyene’s High. He also did some business courses in New York at Medgar Evers College.
The businessman said, “After I begun playing cricket in high school, I represented Guyana at the junior level in 1993/1994. In 1995, I went to England to play cricket for Guyana. Shortly after, I made my debut in first class cricket as a professional and continued to play up to 2005. I represented Guyana at the regional level and was a part the victorious Guyana Stanford 20/20 team in 2006.”
He added, “I took a break from Guyanese cricket and represented the US in 2008. I came back to represent Guyana in Standford’s 20/20 and was even selected to be in Stanford’s Superstar Team with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. In 2010 I played for Guyana and played a major part in winning the regional tournament. I then took to the Champion’s League in South Africa where I played my last game.”
The well-known cricketer said that he started Star Party Rentals in 2009 because he wanted to focus on business and planning a family. The company is a full events rental service, which supplies everything needed for events such as weddings, religious ceremonies, public meetings or live concerts.
He said that he decided on this business because it helps him to keep fit. Cush added, “I can be out there in the open. It’s something I can deal with and be a part of social activities.” However, he noted that he was encouraged by Mr. Looknauth Persaud to pursue the venture and noted that Persaud also played a role in the success of his business.
Cush noted that with his business, he has been able to generate small-scale employment. He said that he has in excess of 20 full-time employees and up to 40 part-time employees. Cush expressed that he is continuously making efforts to ensure that his service is of high standards as he is part and parcel of the operations and also micro-manages his business.
Speaking about his childhood, he said that he grew up in Campbellville/Kitty with his mother, four sisters and my cousin.
The businessman said, “Things were sometimes hard. But I began playing cricket in high school and loved it. I lost my mother in 1996 to kidney failure. From then, I was then left to stand up for my sisters. I now have a family of my own. I got married in 2009 and I have two daughters.”
With a family on board, Cush said that he intends to continue upgrading this business as he is always thinking about expanding.
His advice to young entrepreneurs is, “In order to be successful, you need to be committed, honest and fair in what you do. Remain focused. Try to be a leader. Associate with people who push you to be a better person. Also, be humble.”
