Whispers of an entrepreneur

I continually tell people that I am not political – contrary to comments and thoughts I share. Politics in their essence do not interest me, but I cannot help being intrigued from a business perspective. My knowledge and understanding, underpinned by years of tutelage and experience in business have made me acutely aware of promises made to clients, customers and/or voters. I find fascinating the whole concept to telling people anything under the sun in order to garner votes, to ‘serve’ the people that have put you there. False promises and advertising is undergone with little to no consequences. If a business/brand made similar assertions without delivery, they would cease to exist or die a very public and costly death. This is not the case in politics. Having grown up in Cradock in the 80s, at a very politically charged time, I have fond memories of meetings and general gatherings – where the subject of the gathering was to spread information and pray that the ANC l

I am an admirer of Julius Malema… This may come as massive surprise for everyone who knows me – but before you think any differently about me, let me outline why I am saying this. Julius Malema, our favourite verbal diarrheic – whatever you think of the man, he has done something few of us have. He became a political entrepreneur. These beasts are few and far between, with most notable icons of political entrepreneurs being George Washington of the USA and Mahatma Gandhi of India, just to name a few. These are men who had a dream, a vision and had the ‘balls’ to take the proverbial bull by the horn. Remembering, Business Management 101 – he saw the window of opportunity and entered the market before the window closed. Timing, playing a crucial role in achieving success and exposure, something AGANG SA could learn something about. (On my next post I will write something about my swipe at AGANG SA). So now, Mr Malema is conducting business, and garnering support from a

According to Statistics South Africa the official unemployment rate in South Africa is 25.6%, a mammoth quarter of the economically active participants in our country. The rate among youth lies between 45% and 60%, depending on which source you consult. Low skills and lack of opportunities lie at the heart of this cancer affecting our young people. Numerous personalities indicate that entrepreneurship is a possible alleviator of this massive scourge on our youth. True as that may be, we need to take a long hard look at the reality before pushing for reforms with minimal chances for success. One of the most crucial resources an entrepreneur needs to have is a working knowledge and experience in the area in which he/she wants to start and grow a venture. Our youth currently does not have the required experience to go out and start businesses, they mostly lack the networks required to be secure deals and if they do, there is often lack of capacity to deliver on the contract.

It is the impetus of every entrepreneur since the beginning of time, to change the world, shaping and bettering it – all in pursuit of a particular dream or ideal. During the time of my forefathers, the desire for far off places, goods and news was one of the greatest conquests. After all,  Mfengu  people were among the first tribes to trade with the Europeans. The world must have been vast then – with new things at every turn. As Thomas Friedman once put it, ‘ the earth is flat’  now. Having a unique idea, the required capital to make it a reality and outpacing everyone in the market to make it a reality is so precarious – most of us have a better chance of being hit by lightning. It is important to remember, for every Mark  Zuckerberg , or alike entrepreneurial superstar, there are thousands of entrepreneurs who apparently did not make it to the level. These entrepreneurs are still and most importantly, pushing for an ideal, shaping a future and showing utmost grit and

The title is so cliché – mentioned my authors, writers, commentators and bloggers throughout the world – yet this short dictum bores the lifeblood and is the foreteller of business, economic progress and general development for humanity. As a Christian, my life is underpinned by my faith and understanding of the Word as given in the Holy Scriptures – if we look at Genesis 3 verse 17; God says to Adam , “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “ Cursed   is the ground   because of you; through painful toil   you will eat food from it all the days of your life….” Adam must have thought to himself – what now; the ground is cursed, hard and arid – to eat, will have to make a plan. This first necessity resulted in the development of tools – tools to tame the harsh land, to produce food and a livelihood for Adam and his family. As the generations have gone by, key points in history – defining mom

Growing up in Cradock , I observed a few cultural differences between the rituals and habits my friends had and that we exercised as our house. Not fully understanding, and as any smart kid would do, I inquired from my elders. I was told that, though we speak isiXhosa, live like amaXhosa and generally look and act the same, we were not. We are in actual fact Mfengu, such a foreign concept and understanding to me. It took several years till my  teens to fully grasp the fundamental difference. Mfengu people are closely related to the   Zulu   people, but now often considered to have assimilated to the   Xhosa people   whose language they now speak. Historically they achieved considerable renown for their military ability in the   frontier wars. The term Mfengu, is derived from the word ukumfenguza , which means to beg or ask for a place to settle or wonder about seeking service. In the spirit of my ancestors, who went place to place trying to find value and a home, I believ

Ever since I was a young boy - I have been mildly obsessed and intrigued by business, all forms of enterprise still excite me today, from the vendor at the taxi rank, to the Somali national who owns the neighbourhood shop, to the Spar franchisee and every other business in between. These are all the unsung heroes that keep South Africa afloat, growing, strong and full of prospects. Mind you my understanding of business back then was made up of the various general dealer shops, bottle stores, funeral parlours and taxi operators I saw all around me; not forgetting all the butcheries as well – all buzzing in my little township on a Karoo 'dorpie' (small town). Back in Apartheid South Africa, the township seemed to be a blaze with enterprises and developing entrepreneurs ( a term I would only fully understand at University ). These men and woman, yes woman were also prominent as shebeen queens and what can be best described today as micro-financiers, lovingly referred t

Human nature is so fascinated with first days, new years, etc. And I don't claim to be any special or different.  This morning I had such an interesting experience - my son who is now 1 year and almost 2 weeks, just started his first day at day care. A huge step for this young man, a step I am sure he is not aware of, but as his parents it symbolises so many things. Time is moving, he is growing up, we are getting older, and he is gaining independence. Time is moving Though we occasionally hear it and know it and arguably have said it on numerous occasion, it still does not hit home as it should. Time is not standing still. Do all you have planned to as early as possible. Travel, start a business, do that course you have been thinking of but have put at the back of your mind - for tomorrow you will not be as you as you are today. Seize each days opportunity.  My son is growing up I always tease that I have more than one child, my physical son who tires me out daily, as