Divine Ndhlukula

I have come across many people, both young and mature who have told me this same old story “I want to go into business, but I don’t know where to start”. My simple answer to them is – “I can’t help you until you have decided. “. And indeed, nobody can, until you decide that you want it. Whether you are thinking of starting a business…or thinking of launching a new product…or employing somebody… The best advice in the world won’t help you. Until you decide. I get hundreds of messages on my social media platforms, emails, meet up people at many business and social fora, and the same question keeps coming and coming…. I love helping people, the real problem I have noted is that many of these people are still sitting on the fence.  They have not decided to be an entrepreneur yet. I have tried to give some semblance of answers to this question, but it won’t do much help. Because you have not decided to be an entrepreneur yet. I was fortunate to have lived beyond my time as it was irreconcilable to think of going into business at the time I was in high school, the 70s. I, however, was already sold on the idea of not working for other people at the time I was in my teens as I was very clear that I would want to start and run a business, not just a small business, but a significant business. When you decide, the world opens up to you. Your brain starts to find a way to make it happen. Here’s an example…  Think about the last pair of shoes that you got. Once you bought it… did you start seeing it everywhere on the streets? It’s not like they just suddenly appeared. They were always there, your brain just ignored them. Until you decided, the same thing happens in your business. If you’re on the fence, nothing is going to happen. When you decide to do it, you will start finding ways to make it happen. When I decided to start a security company, I did not bother to worry that I had no prior knowledge and experience in the sector, but I was just decided that I would do it, learn as I go and try to make a success of it as I had seen the opportunity. It’s the difference between a dreamer and a doer. I will continue in the next issue on this topic, till then.

I hope my blogs so far have inspired a lot of you from the feedback we get. One of the reasons I have had to come up with these blogs is, I strongly believe that out there, are men and women of virtue whose desire towards economic development can only be realized when somebody has stirred and awakened the entrepreneurial giant that has been sleeping within them. As I post various entrepreneurial issues and topics, I try to make this journey as practical as possible for all aspiring, new and accomplished entrepreneurs. It is my sincere hope we will build a prosperous society that ushers in equal business opportunities to all who dare stand and make a difference. Therefore, I always try to be as candid as possible with a practical approach to entrepreneurship which I have experienced over the past few decades.  It is my hope and plan to reach out and have intimate discussions with those who strongly believe that entrepreneurship is a channel through which one gets to decide a life that is right for them through bootcamps that will soon be happening in a serene environment in the woods of Zvikomborero Farms. Entrepreneurship provides the base for economic growth and expansion for economies like ours which desperately needs more new businesses. I hope to ignite a burning desire that will stir the hearts of the young men and women in college to think entrepreneurship as they create their future paths. What this economy needs now are entrepreneurs – people who start up new businesses, take risks and create new jobs, not people who don’t want to live off pre-existing enterprises. I also want to continue igniting a desire in the hearts of the mature corporate executives, the so-called successful corporate leaders to think beyond their current comfortable zones. In the next few months, I will be sharing ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUCCESS TIPS which I trust will help some of us on our journey as we pursue our dreams and goals. I dare challenge you colleagues out there with this – in life, if you have two choices, become rich or you work for the rich, what would you go for? Till next time