Whispers of an entrepreneur

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 fi...

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 w...