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Showing posts from April, 2014

…and then I got sued

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I have always been fascinated with the American culture of taking people to court for various arbitrary issues – many garbage TV shows, showcase this culture of American society. Salacious tendencies that should be reserved to the bottom few who like to slog mud. With my self-righteous banter well on the way - I was not aware of dark cloud amassing in the distance. As an entrepreneur - like so many would know, one is always up for new opportunities. Analysing and trying out new things that can or will not add value to your business. With that I ventured into the development of mobile games - games played via mobile, electronic device as an app or through existing platform. Our first App was quite a  success - not Silicon Valley success but gave well over 2000% profit - with all cost covered. Clean profit. So I devised the second, substantially bigger game - which invariably would take up all the profits for product development; hired a development team to develop

The stuff of legend – an entrepreneurial story

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I recently met a very interesting gentleman – let’s call him Sipho. Now, Sipho is an elderly gent – about 1.55m in length with a small frame but broad shoulders, indicative of many years of hard work and labour. His stare is piercing and focused and one gets the impression that this is not a man to trifle with. He is fit and one could never say he is in his 60s. Years ago, Sipho lost his job and the income potential it had, with a family to support he was down on his luck. He had to find ways in which to support himself and his family, means that were legal and did not depend on the state. Employment opportunities for someone of his limited skills/education and advanced years were limited, and as is the case with most entrepreneurs – limitation became the fire that would drive him to achieve. Sipho has an interesting business case – he goes around Bellville Taxi Terminus (the area in Bellville where all the busses, mini bus and midi bus taxis and train all depart f

The deal with my title

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I get a lot of queries when I present my business cards to people - the title on the card reads; PathFinder. – "path finder" they would say, "what is that?" I have long been trying to lead without a title - my aim consistently has been to become a corporate leader in South Africa and the world. I never went out to become a CE or an MD or any other fancy title out there. All I wanted to do is build a major business, build my skills and abilities in the process and help nurture other people and of course, make a whole lot of money in the process - very naive view, I know. But these are my guiding principles throughout my career as an entrepreneur. Being in business for a bit, one realises how the world is not necessarily how you would like it to be. I realised that I cloud not go with a blank space for my title - after all people respond differently to you if you have an impressive sounding title. Doors open sooner and more accommodatingly. People are happy