IN the face of setbacks and obstacles, it is very easy to get dejected and feel defeated. Many falter and give up. But the successful are those who persevere through hard times regardless of the roadblocks.
There are many young, adults,
men and women who have
accomplished fantastic and
impressive things; not because
they are athletes, business
people or military personnel,
but they are average people.
Most of these people are
highly motivated by the cause
they deem greater than their
own lives, that is why they take
risks.
Today, we feature Tryson Kaombe, a pottery businessman.
Like any other person, Kaombe is a man who experienced ups and downs
over the course of his upbringing but remained persistent throughout and
kept telling himself, 'I can do it'
Kaombe was born to Tryson Kalabo and Esiya Mwaba in 1971. He started
his primary school in 1979 at Mununga Primary School before going to
Chilengwa Basic School in Ndola for his eighth and ninth grade.
He completed his senior secondary education at Masala Secondary School.
"My childhood life and education ladder was a rough one that it is by the
grace of God that I finished my secondary education. My parents were not
well-to-do that this situation always comprised our way of living. I went
to school on foot to and from and passed through rains such that at times, I
felt like giving up," he explains.
When he was young, he wanted to become a driver.
Kaombe says in 1996, he faced a lot of challenges that made him become
a helper for some bricklayers; he did this kind of work for a period of
time. The little resources he got from this work were used to finance his
driving course.
When he successfully completed a driving course, Kaombe became a taxi
driver in Ndola.
"During the time I worked as a helper brick layers, I gained vast
experience on how to handle cement, sand, stones and flux stones. My
experience in building made me realise that I could do more with it, hence
I decided to stop driving taxis after having had a very good business
discussion with my uncle, Mr Bendick Kamweendo. Mr Kamweendo
introduced me to a pottery business. I was just 25 years when I started this
business", he says.
He adds that he became so passionate about this business that he made
several flower pots for his customers.
"Having had a good experience on how to handle raw materials, I decided
to apply some innovation to my products. In this regard, I started making
flower pots in modified shapes which included shapes of frogs, birds and
other fancy designs.
This way of making flower pots attracted so many
customers that I started making not less than K500 in a month. The
quantity of material that made me make that much was just one pocket of
cement," he says.
Kaombe says in 2004, he decided to enter into a partnership with a friend
who knew how to make tombstones.
"The partnership was for the sole purpose of exchanging ideas so he taught
me how to make tombstones and I taught him how to make modified
flower pots. This partnership only lasted for three months for various
reasons, we decided to part. In 2004, the cheapest tombstone we made was
sold at K600. After dissolving our partnership, I decided to go back to my
previous flower pot business," he says.
He says after this, he faced difficulties in stabilising his business of flower
pots seeing that he had married, it meant that there was more demand for
money to keep a family.
"Currently, I am a fulltime brick layer and carpenter, I get contracts to
build houses for various individuals and organsations, and I also do
roofing of any kind. My pottery business has boomed. Different people
have hired me to make tombstones for them. The tombstones I make range
from K1,500 to K4,500. In the mean time, I have six workers who always
come on board whenever I have a tender of any sort," he says.
Kaombe says he also serves as a treasurer for Village Bank, a project
under FINCA and as chairman for Empowerment Circle.
Both are groups for small business entrepreneurs.
He says one of the major challenges he faces in the business is customers
underrating what he does.
Kaombe says this is even before they see his finished product.
"My advice to fellow businessmen and women regardless of the business
they do is to continue working hard and producing the very best of quality
products and services with regard to their businesses.
To the youths, I
wish to urge them to work hard... they have what it takes to make it in life,
regardless of their background. The most important thing is to have focus
and determination and to envision yourself," he says.
He adds that upcoming businessmen and women, especially young ones
should learn to separate profit from capital to avoid going round the same
circle.
"Many people have been doing various businesses, but for many years
they have the same quantity of products, same standard of living and same
capital because they fail to differentiate profit from capital and their
proper usage.
10 years from now, I envision myself having a very big
company like Uniturtle Industries," he says.
"Through my business, I have
been able to support my family financially and most importantly, I am
happy that my efforts have paid off in that I have managed to build
houses. In 2010, I bought three plots in the sizes of 25m x40 m, 25m x
40m and 16.5 x 40. It is on these pieces of land that I have put up
structures which include small apartments and main houses," he says.
Kaombe is an Adventist, a happily married father and husband of six. His
firstborn is 16.
"I am inspired by one entrepreneur in Ndola who owns Most Hardware
because this man started small, but he has growing big in his business. He
gives me hope that I can also do it," he says.
"You and I have the power to
live a bigger life. Challenge yourself. Take the risk! There is no law that
says you have to carry your background problems on your shoulder. Do at
least one small thing every day that allows you to reconnect with yourself.
Make brief mental sanity a priority to get still, determined and focused."
He adds that every goal is achievable; one just needs to focus on their
objectives, be persistent in one's efforts and work hard to make it happen.
"There can be no hurdle 'uncrossable', no obstacle invincible and no
stumbling block insurmountable," he says.
Be determined and focused, I know you can do it, Can't you?
For comments; mwenyamuleba@gmail.com / 0966 461 943/0950 594 050
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