DAY 29: Turning the Negative into Fuel for Success
by Archibald Marwizi at American Corner, Gweru Memorial Library, Gweru, Zimbabwe, 7 July 2017
Since Independence from colonial rule in 1980, the Government of Zimbabwe and private sector players have availed billions of dollars in funding for business projects and economic empowerment programs — yet the majority of Zimbabweans remain without meaningful employment; company closures and streets filled with vendors have become the order of the day. History has taught us that parceling-out funds and folding our hands waiting for results, only leads to loss of the scarce resources. Besides Youth, Women, Agriculture, Mining & Manufacturing support funds, by end of 2016, government had taken-over in excess of US$830 million in Non-Performing Loans — through the Zimbabwe Asset Management Company (ZAMCO). Customised Business Incubation can improve such inefficiencies and increase chances for sustainable economic development.
Whilst there are structural issues that must be addressed at a policy level, my Day of Learning Event sought to begin by placing personal responsibility on each of us as responsible citizens. What can we learn from those succeeding and running thriving businesses in the same environment? Don’t we risk burying our spirit of entrepreneurship behind the justifiable genuine excuses? Can we channel our energies towards changing what we can, instead of specialising in finger-pointing and shouting at things we have no power to directly change?
This ODoL Event took the format of a highly interactive workshop, deliberately designed to ensure everyone’s participation.
→WATCH ALL 8 VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THE DAY OF LEARNING ←CLICK LINK (Look out for 9th Professional Video Documentary)
→MODEL FOR BUSINESS INCUBATION & HARVESTING TALENT ←CLICK LINK
→POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ←CLINK LINK TO VIEW
→PICTURE GALLERY ←CLICK LINK (Ongoing Update)
INSPIRING THE SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Two of the most despicable acts in human history are slavery and colonialism, yet we must turn the painful & emotional lessons into fuel for success. Cecil John Rhodes came to Africa in 1870, as a sick and weak 17-year old. His family hoped the warmer African weather would help improve his health and prolong his life. Within a few years, he was controlling the global supply of diamonds and harboring a dream to dominate Africa, from Cape to Cairo, bring back America under the Crown and everywhere he turned, he wanted to see a product of Oxford at the top of the ‘tree.’ His disadvantaged health in a foreign land, did not stop this young man from dreaming and acting on his dream. I invited my 17-year old son, Ed, to become a fitting Visual Aid during the learning process — for everyone to see how young Cecil John Rhodes was, and to be challenged not to stop dreaming and acting on their dreams — regardless of prevailing circumstances. It was also encouraging that one of our participants is visually-impaired.
As I proposed the need for a deliberate and contextualised Business Incubation Model by funding of qualifying ideas, using the I.D.E.A.S (Innovative/Inspiring. Disruptive. Economically-viable. Achievable. Scalable) test — Kudakwashe Maxwell gave all participants hope for the future possibilities. Teaching himself to make animation characters and video programs at 16 — the 19-year old founder of KAKIC Universe, showcased some of his work. Dr Faith Ntabeni-Bhebhe immediately requested Kudakwashe to come and make a presentation to inspire students at her Flame Girls’ College (She started the Girl’s College after realising — to be effective at empowering the girl-child, we have to start when they are still in Primary & High School — previously she had focused on Female Executives & managers). Kuda exuded the confidence Africa needs, going forward. The potential of his talent MUST get enough partners to help him raise over US$50 000 to attend the prestigious Vancouver Film School in Canada, where he has been accepted in order to develop his talent to world-class standards.
(Watch Kudakwashe’s Animation Videos by following the LINKS below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0GT_3PZ2o + https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qbK5YaB06I&t=4s + https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4ITjjdWnY&t=24s
LIFE-CHANGING LESSONS LEARNT
There was no doubt, everyone present had and has so much to share — the same reason why most expressed the desire to facilitate their own Day of Learning Event. The relevance of lessons learnt (if we are going to incubate multiple business enterprises), was that we have to start at a personal level. Intra-personal and self-definition issues took centre-stage. Some of the nuggets of wisdom shared by participants included:
1. Practice “True-North” Principles
a. Give and it will come back to you — it doesn’t have to be money. Give advice, give help to those trying to build their dreams, invest in others and in future — you will not lack in rich networks.
b. Plant seeds — remember they must rot first. Possess the capacity to water, cultivate and wait all the way. Don’t give up too quickly and don’t stop doing what you have to do, even if you cannot see anything — yet.
c. Never rely on your 1st level income (what you need for subsistence/daily needs). Use it to grow a 2nd level income (extra savings from your basic income), until you have a 3rd level income (your own money you can use to enjoy, change a car or go on holiday, without affecting your other obligations).
2. Lack of Financial Capital must never be an Excuse
a. Shift your Priorities — Change your mind-set. If you can save to import a used car, accessories, expensive phone, too much furniture in too small a house — then what you need is discipline to be able to save towards your dream or business idea.
b. Start with your talent, inherent gifts and acquired knowledge & skills — learn and practice how to turn them into the cash you need to fund your ideas. That’s what Kudakwashe Maxwell is doing, that’s what I am doing by writing books, facilitating training workshops, hosting radio programs and consulting for organisations.
3. There are no jobs in Zimbabwean — but there is plenty of work to be done — identifying this work and structuring initiatives around it, will ultimately create meaningful jobs for those who are not entrepreneurial. Find a need you can meet and work to ensure you generate income in the process. (Everyday, I receive requests for assistance from people looking for a job, my heart bleeds because I understand the status quo — A national Business Incubation program will provide quantum effect over the mid to long term period.
4. The African/Zimbabwean agenda and restoring what our season of socio-economic challenges has stolen from the younger generation. No one can define this for us.
a. Let’s teach our young people not sell their Purpose, Beliefs & Values (PBVs) just because they are facing economic hardships.
b. When we go overseas or interact with other cultures — we must do so without feeling inferior. We must maintain and be guided by our PBVs whether at college or in business interactions — our African values must be respected at all times, without infringing on the values of others.
5. Hold board meetings with yourself — No one knows you better than you, you cannot lie to yourself. Convene the “Me-Myself-and-I” committee for introspection and making the tough decisions in life. Face your realities because there are things in life, which no one else can do for you. Hold these regular board meeting and take responsibility.
6. Identify & Develop talent, wherever you are — Flame Girl’s College doing it through a school, Ignatius Musonza through community interaction & Gweru International Book Festival, Sikhu Mashingaidze doing it working with rural communities through her organisation WIDER. I did it at a friend’s house — Wilbert Tafara Manyika has a passion for writing comic books during his spare time, yet resources are channeled into his sporting. It’s easy not to realise this as talent and passion for incubation (could this be what he is best at?). I have been helping adults publish on Amazon and Kindle — why not help this 11 year-old? (Copyright 2017 — Wilbert T. Manyika)
7. The Need to Restore Integrity — University students are paying other people to conduct their projects and assignments, parents are paying for this. Can the global markets trust our farmers or manufacturers to deliver, after ordering for goods online? The challenge was set before us — to build systems and businesses with true integrity. For us to leverage the internet to grow our markets — we must first build TRUST. The quality of our university degrees and college diplomas is dependent on this Trust and Integrity element. Business Incubation will help conduct the screening and re-training process.
A FIRE IGNITED
Through an oral resolutions session and feedback forms used, participants expressed the following desires:
1. To facilitate their own Day of Learning Event, with Sikhu Mashingaidze aiming for the excluded rural communities.
2. To meet more often and exchange ideas and reminding each other of the resolutions and promises made — American Corner invited participants to also join the Food 4 Thought conversations taking place every Wednesday afternoon at Gweru Memorial Library.
3. Mr Ndlovu challenged all to formally engage Gweru City Council so that the benefits he personally got from the ODoL event are transferred to all the Community Centres within the city.
4. Collaborations for the Gweru International Book Festival, Flame Girls’ College, Agriculture Institute, Retrenchees & Unemployed Graduates Association, Catapult Africa Business Incubation Fund and WIDER Zimbabwe were ignited and structures for implementation expected after the Day of Learning.
INSPIRATION
Inspiration was provided:
1. An inspiring YOUR WORLD WITHIN video (The Power of The Human Mind) sent by Tony Makoni was played and challenged every participant. 3 minutes — yet asking probing and poking questions. What if today is the beginning? What if I can be the one other people look up to? What if my ideas change the way people see reality? What if nothing good happens until I believe it? What if I stopped wasting my time trying to convince others — because I am the only one who must be convinced!
2. Others pointed out that it’s young and visionary talent like Kudakwashe Maxwell that give them inspiration.
3. I shared 2 Bible stories that have inspired me to advocate for Business Incubation as the most sustainable means to Zimbabwe’s economic growth and prosperity. 1st is the story of Israel under siege in 1 Kings. It took four lepors who were excluded by the system and thrown out. They figured if they remain where they were or returned to the surrounded city — they would still perish. They chose to confront their fears, looked outside the troubled system and market — they initiated and discovered a nation’s breakthrough from sanctions.
The 2nd story is in 1 Samuel, when David was running for his life from King Saul. David left with no food, clothes or weapons. He was later joined by a group of fearful men who were in Debt, Distressed and Discontented — He made a bold decision to become their Captain. He trained them, inspired them and groomed them into award-winning warriors whose raids and victories began to build wealth and prosperity for themselves and their nation.
Wherever you are — you can resolve to challenge the status quo, become a captain over those around you and begin to change your world for the better!
PARTICIPANTS’ FEEDBACK COMMENTS — Areas you found most beneficial. Learning points:
“Entrepreneurship among the young — Kudakwashe’s presentation” (Dr Faith Ntabeni-Bhebhe)
“Self-introspection. Opportunities are available, only if we can stop to see them. The meeting of great minds to share great ideas, showing that it is possible — no matter the challenges…We need to have more interactions along these lines, just to motivate and ignite something that has been lying dormant in us.” (Lizzie Murandu)
“Business opportunities in the global landscape. The importance of self-introspection by developing intrapersonal & interpersonal skills. No jobs in Zimbabwe, but work — people need to be entrepreneurs…Well-organised and professionally facilitated.” (Edward Mutinhiri)
“The shared experiences and the example of young man Kuda and his dream of a successful film company…The participants were quite active and informative, as a result shared valuable experiences.” (Ignatius Musonza)
“Entrepreneurship, intrapersonal & interpersonal skills & self development. Investment of time. How to see opportunities even in a negative environment…Amazing event that is beneficial for all ages and worthwhile.” (Kudzai Vushe)
“Innovation — if you don’t have capital, start with your talent. Have regular meeting with yourself — me, myself & I” (Kudakwashe Maxwell)
“Entrepreneurship is about you and what you are able to do…A well-paced discussion where all individuals had the opportunity to contribute.” (Jairos Ndlovu)
“Importance of self-audit — personal board meeting. Go back to your skills, talent and passion. How to turn my salary into 2nd level and 3rd level income. Give — of your skills & time, serve your community…I would like to take ODoL to a rural community, possibly Binga or one of the rural communities we are partnering with as WIDER-Zimbabwe.” (Sikhululekile Mashingaidze)
“How to build a business that provides trust & integrity — not just goods. How to deal with warped/misplaced priorities…a way this line of thinking (Turning the Negative into Fuel for Success) can be taken to the ordinary, everyday woman (the marginalised) rural folk.” (Jane Mutatu)
“Entrepreneurship & start-up experiences. Networking. Motivated to start own business…It was a good networking workshop.” (Edmond Makope)
“If it is feasible, we better meet more often.” (Jabulani Pongolani)
Challenges faced in the inter-continental movement of funds could not stop this day from happening. 19 participants braved the chilly Gweru winter morning to make this day the success it was. A delayed lunch only provided more time to network and exchange ideas! After all the theme was: “Turning the Negative into Fuel for Success!”
Special thanks to Sponsors & Partners:
· Age of Wonderland
· Hivos
· Baltan Laboratories
· Gweru Memorial Library
· EducationUSA
· American Corner
· Overseer Tapiwa Kwangwari & Pastor Nicholas Mukwewa (Living Word Church)
· Chef Bright
· KAKIC & Mr A. Mangezi
· City of Gweru
· Participants — Edward Mutinhiri, Alice Gondo, Lizzie Murandu, Sikhu Mashingaidze, Sibongile Marwizi, Kosheni Mtisi, Tapiwa Kwangwari, Kudzai Vushe, Edmond Makope, Kudakwashe Maxwell, Ignatius Musonza, Jairos Ndlovu, Bevan Hungwe, Kudakwashe Nhanga, Jane Mutatu, Tafadzwa Chimbira, Belinda Msesengwe, Jabulani Pongolani & Lloyd Ndhlovu.
Together, we can harvest the Street Vendors, Retrenched Workers and Unemployed Graduates and make Zimbabwe prosperous again!
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and Like Age of Wonderland for making this Day of Learning happen!
