Young Business: Shifting The Paradigms

An entrepreneur I know likes to say "Mhlekazi, capital is not scarce out there; vision is".

This makes me think; if this man says capital is not scarce, then why are young people not getting into businesses or starting their own ventures? It is only logical that people exploit the resources they have, and many examples here include the mineral wealth we have; we all exploit those. Then why not with capital?

It is because we have a deep-conditioned fear that we will fail; that we are not adequate; that we could never become well-off if we don't work for a big establishment or government. Young people are conditioned - from school to church and home - and readied to serve one man or the other. Their education is centered around the idea that they must be "Employable" when they finish schooling.

This notion has created a culture of job-seekers which has become dangerous as the youth walk the streets aimlessly, hoping to be "Employed". This has a danger in that we always see in the news how protests have turned violent; how people are cruelly and ruthlessly harmed by "Job-less Youth" over a cellphone during frequent robberies taking place in our communities.

All of this is not happening because the youth decided to wake up one day and become a criminal, as the government would call them. These guys were prepared for nothing else but to be "employed" and when that did not happen, they turn to the government and ask "Where is the better life that was promised to us?" Then chaos begins.

The education system in South Africa should be different from systems adopted elsewhere in the world because our challenges here are not like those of other worlds. Here, poverty is a design and thus can be reversed, with the will of the people (forget the ANC and the DA and whoever else is out there). Educate the youth to be self-sufficient, self-reliant and teach them entrepreneurial skill which will enable them to see the endless opportunities which are out there.

So, encourage the youth to see beyond the little village of Mathysloop in Mpumalanga; beyond the dusty streets of Orange Farm. Harness the youth and mentor them. Share your experiences with them and tell them that indeed education is important, but self-sufficiency leads to life.

Young people must also remember to respect their ideas, for if this is not done, no idea will ever manifest. People must have respect for their own intellectual property, believe in it hard, work on it and share with people you trust. An idea that dies out in its infancy stages is not worth inception.

Young people must also learn to share. Give light to your ideas (read the parable of talents in some chapter in the Bible) Your ideas are worth celebrating when everybody knows of them and can benefit from them.

Mhlekazi is right; vision is scarce but this should not render us fearful because we can still cultivate the land for the attainment of this, then South African youth will be looked at with awe and wonder, not only for this victory but for many other past youth victories, like the 1976 Revolution.

So, let's roll up our sleeves, young people, and let's get working. Become your own hero and write your own His-Story because remember: For as long as the Oryx does not have a scribe, accounts of the hunt shall always favour the Hunter.

Write your story!!!

Youth Must Flourish: We Are Great!!!

I was honoured to have been asked to speak at the monthly Ekasi Business Network in Khayelitsha last night. Not so much because it gave me another opportunity to sell BlackReign Communications but because as I spoke to the young people in attendance, I could see myself in them.

I must thank Luvuyo Rani of Silulo Ulutho Technologies for entrusting his brainchild - Ekasi Business Network-to us for as of next month, BlackReign Communications will take to the front line in designing and delivering the network sessions. We are ready.

So, I was asked to take the place of our keynote speaker who couldn't make it to the event due to business commitments, and tell the story of BlackReign Communications. Our story is similar to other stories you will hear from any other young kid in the ghetto. We realised how great we were. Of course, we could not have realised this until we tested ourselves. Test ourselves, we did and we were even more convinced of our greatness in what we do and in our niche market.

After my brief moment on the podium and after the session had ended, a boy came rushing into the venue at which we had held our event. He was rushing so he would not miss the session but unfortunately, the session had ended. This guy is only a grade eleven chap and has so many business ideas. Upon hearing of the network sessions, he wanted to be part of them.

This young man exhibited the spirit necessary to flourish in anything you decide. He did not sit and wait when he heard of the event; he went to the place to find out for himself. He showed what it is to be a 'Go-Getter'. There are many like him among us but they need to be afforded a space to be the 'Go-Getters' they are. Network sessions, workshops- anything which can get people together to seek solutions to problems- need to be a thing of a norm in our communities.

They need not necessarily be of business nature. There are social innovators out there; there are gender-sensitive organisations; there are public health activists out there. Get everyone. Build your communities with the skills you have and according to the specific needs of your locale. Young people have a responsibility to determine the outlook of the future in all spheres of mortal life.

We are great! Our country boasts some of the most transformative laws to enable ALL young people and every person with business interests, to flourish. Young people need to take advantage of these and I want to be part of that revolution.

I will be looking forward to seeing more young people who want to talk about their business successes and challenges and hopefully, together, we can come up with lasting and sustainable solutions. 

I will post an update on the date of the next Ekasi Business Network in due time. 

Follow us on Twitter:

@BRC_Comms

@MatthewsEffect

@TheOasisOfMan

Young Entrepreneurs Killing It: Making Life Decisions That Matter

The year 2014 has brought with it many changes in South Africa, like everywhere else in the world.

Many of us made the changes for this year last year already and some of the decisions we took are paying off, with others proving to be but stuff of dreams. Among those decisions for me was finally getting our business up and running officially and we did that.

The economies of the world demand that entrepreneurship be explored and exploited as a means to develop the societies of the world. South Africa has seen a steady rise of entrepreneurs, albeit most of whom are informal traders, and as such there is a lot of potential and a good prospect for the economy of the country.

This, however, will remain but a dream to be pursued and never attained, because the ground is yet infertile for this. We do acknowledge the efforts of the government in trying to assist business in this regard but all of this shall remain an illusion if no entrepreneur takes to the fore and works.

So, entrepreneurs must place themselves in position to be acknowledged and respected as businessmen and businesswomen. The fact that one does not have an office should not stop you from making that first design. Not having capital should not mean an idea should die. Not knowing where to register your company does not mean you should not work on your admin and other related tasks.

Basically, the factors which seem to be conspiring against you and your ideas are nothing more than just another piece of business which you need to sort out. Go to business seminars, conferences and other workshops designed to equip young entrepreneurs and you will see. Find yourself a mentor; somebody you can trust with your ideas and whose judgment you believe in. These guys are everywhere, they are waiting for your call.

The key is to get started. Develop your idea to the point where you are satisfied and then share it with someone. Do your research and address all questions related to what you seek to do. Remember, the best ideas are not necessarily the most complicated. Be strong and never give up. If ideas are not coming today, don't kill yourself, you will get there.

I want to leave you with this: There is no such thing as You Only Live Once (YOLO), this idea is designed to make you rush into things and not think properly. The truth is this: You Only Die Once (YODO) but you live everyday. You will live tomorrow and you will have another day to work on your ideas.

The monthly Ekasi Business Network happening in Khayelitsha is designed to help young entrepreneurs who are starting up by linking them with like-minded people and opportunities for business and partnerships. The event is held at Khaya Bazaar every month on invitation. The next one is tomorrow but details shall follow soonest.

Follow us on Twitter:
BlackReign Communications @BRC_Comms
@MatthewsEffect
@TheOasisOfMan