ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE REQUIRES VISION, PASSION (Part II)

By Winston Muleba Jr

Opportunities are being hatched. But the real question is what are we as Zambian youths doing? Are we going to be active participants in the growth and development of our country or are we going to be satisfied with being spectators? As youths, we need to take advantage of the opportunities, create sustainable development and wealth. We need to lead the way and invest in massively in Zambia. The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is a body corporate established through the enactment of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006 to foster broad based economic empowerment. Broad-based economic empowerment is defined in the Act as ‘the economic empowerment of targeted citizens especially youths. Without a vision and passion, among other factors, setting up a company was going to be difficult for Monica Musonda.

A Vision is about what you want to be. It can't be something that doesn't have strong contours or is a mirage. A vision has got to be clear. You can see it out there. But I think before you show people where to go, you've got to show them where they are and where they've been. I think you need to start working on your plans and find out what you should start with, what you should go through, what kind of culture you should bred into the plan and where you stand today. You're going to work with people some day when you implement your plans hence I think you can create a vision in your business in this way.The people you intend to work with must understand the economic realities of your business. I think until you accept those realities it's very hard to create a good vision for the future.

Another African business executive who has pursued a vision so passionately is a Congo based musician, Kofi Olomide .He grew up in fairly comfortable surroundings, but there were no musicians in his family. He used to have fun working on familiar, popular tunes giving them his own lyrics, changing the rhythms. A neighbor of his realized that he possessed a true talent and encouraged by teaching him the guitar. Kofi Olomide was a skillful student and passed a scientific baccalaureate. Following his diploma his father sent him to France to study Business Administration at the Bordeaux Business University. At the age of 18, despite his success as a brilliant student as a young man Kofi was still very attracted to arts and music in particular, showing a gift for song writing and singing. Olomide possesses a first degree in Business Economics and reportedly has a Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Paris, but he found mainstream fame and considerable fortune playing music.

During the 70's he began to build a reputation amongst the Zairean community as a songwriter. 'Onia' was his first success. In 1977 Kofi's brother encouraged him to record his first songs. During his holidays, he recorded 'Asso' and 'Princesse YaSenza' -a homage to women- at the Veve studios in Kinshasha, from then on, he collaborated with artists such as Papa Wemba and ZaikoLanga Langa. Koffi was awarded the title of 'Best Zaire artist in the year 1978 for the single 'Aniba' .1983 was a turning point in Kofi's career, he recorded his first album 'Ngouda' and showed a strong determination in becoming a main force in African Music. Two duets were performed and recorded with Yakimi Kiesse and Fafa from Molokai.  In 1986 he started his first real group called 'Quartier Latin'. At the same time he was heavily impressed and influenced by the groups such as Kassav. After 10 years of success he also decided that he wished his career to take a more international turn. It is so amazing to note that Olomide is very learned but then he is so inclined to music because of the vision and passion he’s got for the music industry.

Their commitment is almost contagious; as such entrepreneurial drive requires a vision and passion, Koffi Olomide and Monica Musonda, dedicated and concentrated efforts which came naturally after having engaged themselves in doing what they love to do.  Their aim therefore have been neither success nor riches, but the pursuit of something in which they are genuinely interested, therefore, If you aren't passionate about your ideas, you'll fail every time.  It's for this reason that it is not advisable to assign people to an innovation project.  It is instead advisable to give chance to people who can volunteers - even if they aren't the "right" people, if they believe in the opportunity and are fully engaged in finding a new or better way, or new or better product or service.  People who are "assigned" to innovation rarely have the passion necessary to fight the battles that are required when implementing radical change. If you have the vision necessary to be successful, and you are passionate about the idea or solution, you have all the key ingredients to be successful.  However, you can have all the innovation tools and techniques on the planet, you can quiz your customers and use "open innovation", you can implement all the idea management software in the world, but if you don't have good vision and high passion for the problem or solution, it will all go for naught.

TRY AQUACULTURE BUSINESS

Aquaculture has grown rapidly in volume and complexity around the world in the last several years. In Zambia a lot is been done on the development of Aquaculture in the near future. There are many different reasons why an Aquaculture business can fail. Aquaculture is a management-intensive business. It is a high risk industry with mostly high profit margins. The need for intensive and skilled management stems from the high level of capital invested in the facilities, and the high levels of operating capital required operating a competitive and profitable business. While aquaculture has a centuries-long history as a source of food for households globally, the most dramatic change in more recent years has been the development of aquaculture businesses into complex industries.

These industries operate on national and international levels. Individual companies of YOU and I must answer a series of questions that involve pricing, output and market positioning. No company can survive in the modern world unless it plans for the future. Business/Marketing planning is the technique that enables a company to decide on the best use of its scarce resources to achieve its corporate objectives.

The business plan is the passport to this future therefore; fellow Zambians don’t hesitate to venture into this business.

The Youth Employment Network free E-Coaching programme for young entrepreneurs

The Youth Employment Network free E-Coaching programme for young entrepreneurs


“The Youth Employment Network (YEN), an inter-agency programme of the UN, the ILO and the World Bank, offers a free E-Coaching programme for young entrepreneur...s (16-35) who have recently started or are in the process of starting a business.

The YEN Marketplace offers a free E-Coaching programme that matches experienced mentors to young entrepreneurs from around the world.

The programme aims to:

Provide entrepreneurs with direct access to business expertise
Facilitate knowledge sharing between entrepreneurs
Provide substantial personal support to entrepreneurs to supplement their institutional and financial resources


Deadline: December 2nd 2013

http://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com/the-youth-employment-network-free-e-coaching-programme-for-young-entrepreneurs/.

Refus to Give up

No matter how big or powerful an enemy looks. There is a force in you that is more powerful than any opposition. Refuse to give up-Joel Osteen

Become self-reliant and re-defined

"Aloneness is a time to be ourselves, with the freedom, dreams, enjoyments, and casual simplicity that recharge us and return us to our roots. It's a chance to review and plan, to introspect and create, to become self-reliant and re-defined. It is an assertion of our precious identity whenever we have lost ourselves in a world that is full of people and bustle." Peter Shepherd

DEFINE YOUR GOALS

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.” – Denis Watiley

2014 International Millennium Camp for Youths- All Expense Paid to Finland

2014 International Millennium Camp for Youths- All Expense Paid to Finland.

Whom: The Millennium Youth Camp is a fun science camp for young people between years 16-19 interested in natural sciences, mathematics and technology who want to ...start up a career in these fields.

When: 3rd -11th June 2014
Where: Helinski, Finland
Price: Free (even flights!)
Organizers: Technology Academy Finland, LumaCentre (Finland’s Science Education Centre), Aalto University in cooperation with Kemira, Nestle Oil, Nokia, Rovio, UPM, University of Helsinki and other Organizations.

Millennium Youth Campers are young people interested in natural sciences, mathematics and technology who want to start up a career in these fields.

Eligibility:

You have to be:

between years 16 – 19
super into mathematics, natural sciences or technology or all of them!
Everyone born in the years 1995–1998 from anywhere in the world may apply for the 2014 Millennium Youth Camp through online service.

Worth:

The Organizers of the event will cover the following:

All educational activities,
Travel,
Accommodation
Food

Deadline: 15th December 2013. http://bit.ly/17nzEfV

ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE REQUIRES A VISION, PASSION (Part one)

By Winston Muleba Jr.

I have come to realize that most of us Zambian youths have the courage to take calculated risks, to face the unknown if necessary, to be free from anxiety and hesitation in difficulties and to be able to withstand the pressures of life with inner balance and peace of mind with faith in oneself and hope for tomorrow. Most youths have goals, plans and dream wonderful dreams about their future. But all this comes to naught, if do not have vision and passion to carry the plans forward. The reality of life is that, prosperity is not something which one can inherit, but something which one can create out of their own consciousness, through efforts, determination and will to succeed against odds. This basically addresses the fact that a person may inherit great riches but he may remain poor in his outlook and attitude. Frankly, it doesn't really matter "who" has the vision as long as someone is willing to stick their neck out and declare the vision.  A visionary youth is someone who can make sense out of the wealth of ideas, and weave together a plan for implementation that will make a difference in the world. Steve Jobs, for example, probably got millions of ideas from his friends, but he was able to focus on a few of these into initiatives that show real innovation. Similarly, as much as we admire clarity of entrepreneurial vision, it seems important to recognize that in most cases, such a vision doesn’t emerge fully-formed one day from the entrepreneur’s head, but rather, evolves over a period of time, following a period of exploration and poking around.

Passion basically being an intense emotion that compels action. When we feel passionate about our vision for the future it provides us with an unequaled source of energy. It enables us to survive setbacks and to persevere in the face of challenges and uncertainties. In passion we know ourselves to be fully alive and are profoundly grateful for it. Passion is communicated through clarity, intensity, commitment and authenticity, regardless of style.

Your success, your  achievements, your happiness, your goals, your friendships come from you not from your circumstances, unless you want to give up your control to extrinsic factors and place more emphasis on the world that exists outside you rather than the world that exists within you. If you start early with definite aims and goals, you have better chances of seeing yourself leading a better life than if you start rather late in life. It does not mean one cannot achieve success later in life. Among other Zambian entrepreneurs, who started with definite aims and goals are the Likes of Monica Musonda, who passionately pursued her vision with passion; therefore, aspiring entrepreneurs would do well to recognize that both passion and vision evolve over time. Monica Musonda, a Zambian based business woman who was mentored by Aliko Dangote. Narrates the key things she learned from Aliko Dangote, of which I feel most youths in Zambia would learn from her experience and probably consider her as a role model. She had a successful 15 year career in corporate finance. She worked with one of Africa’s richest men, Aliko Dangote, as director of legal and corporate affairs at Dangote Group, where she led a project to build a cement plant in Zambia. Drawing from the experience and lessons acquired from working with Dangote in Nigeria, Musonda moved back home to Zambia to set up Java Foods. The firm manufactures the eeZee brand of instant noodles. She qualified as a lawyer years ago and went on to work as a corporate lawyer, working in private practice and in-house for 15 years. Her dream was to be a partner in a pan-African law firm”. She moved to Nigeria to work for Aliko Dangote in 2008 and everything changed for her. Her experience of working for Dangote opened her eyes to business, to different opportunities that our African continent offers and to a new thinking. What inspired her most about Nigeria was the entrepreneurial spirit – the fact that so many young people were taking the leap and working for themselves. They were not afraid to risk everything for what they believe in. One thing that she noticed here in Zambia is that the economy was still dominated by foreign companies despite the opening up of the market. So with the encouragement of her mentor and former boss Dangote, she moved back to Zambia to set up Java Foods with the intention of taking advantage of the surplus wheat flour and processing it into instant noodles and pasta.

The serious and most important advice she posed for other entrepreneurs in Zambia and Africa as whole was to have a vision and passion. Be courageous, focused, disciplined and lastly, persistence. Furthermore, Working with a visionary is always hard work. She pointed out that her former boss never stopped working, which meant they never stopped working. On the flip side, Dangote emphasized the importance of maintaining humility and focus, being driven and working hard and not being afraid to take calculated risks. His motto was “nothing is impossible”. Her future plans are to start distributing the Southern Africa market with “eeZee Instant Noodles”. As Zambia is both in COMESA and SADC, her intentions are for Java Foods to distribute eeZee and other food products in East and Southern Africa. Her goal is for eeZee to become East and Southern Africa’s leading quick meal option in the next five years.

(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK THURSDAY)

AMBITION

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. – Mark Twain

EMPOWER YOURSELF

By Winston Muleba Junior

Youths are the ultimate change maker. Behind all big and positive changes youth's contribution is inevitable, to this effect it is very important as a youth to know that whether you want to start a new business, get a better job or simply take charge of your life and change it for the better. No one is going to do this for you. It’s up to you to do it. You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. - Jim Rohn

According to Peter a Business Consultant, Life Coach, Healer, Teacher as well as a Business & Personal Coach, Self-empowerment means to gain knowledge and understanding of the self. Think of it like this. If you knew absolutely nothing about a car and its inner workings, and the car broke down somewhere far from home. You would have no idea what to do to fix the car, so that you can go on. Yet if you had a good knowledge and understanding of the car and its inner workings then you could figure out what needs to be done, get the tools and spares to do it, and fix it. In this situation you would be empowered (feel empowered) for you would know what to do to get yourself going again. You would not just sit in the car and wait for someone to come and sort out the problem for you. So self-empowerment means to gain knowledge over the Self. In a similar way that you would have gained knowledge and understanding on the inner workings of the car.

It is an obvious case one would ask questions like, what can I do to empower myself? How can I have a better life? How can I start a business?

I have actually noted most of us as youths want to be empowered financially; I  believe that a youth can be empowered Physically, Emotionally, Mentally and Spiritually .I feel that financial empowerment is a combination of several of the others and want to give people additional tools to help achieve it for their own help and to help their family.

There is a lot of programming that people allow themselves to be a part of. If you allow yourself to be programmed you will be disempowered. It’s time to change the programming to believing in yourself and what you can do.

Do you empower yourself?

A positive attitude goes a long way, but when you combine a positive outlook with a system of both subtle and dramatic shifts in your approach to life, success will be waiting for you around the next turn.

The truth is, we are wholly responsible for all that happens to us in our lives. You cannot blame others. You cannot blame God. You cannot hold your parents or friends or family members or anyone else responsible for your life and blame them for your problems and disappointments. You and your life are shaped by your thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, beliefs, prejudices, and in short yourself. Others may interfere with your life, only to the extent you allow them.

This is the secret of our existence upon earth. You are the author of your life. You are the writer and director of the tragedy and comedy in your life. You write the screenplay. You invent the characters and the situations. Things that are seemingly beyond your control are in fact your own creations. They are the situations you have attracted towards yourself, knowingly or unknowingly, in this life or in some previous ones. You are creating your life, every moment, as you think, as you sleep, and as you act. When you realize the truth, you will not only make a giant leap forward in resolving the issues of your life, living  responsibly and actively, taking care of what needs to be done in your present situation, but also stop holding others responsible for it.

Whether you believe it or not, you are the driver of your life. You may seek the help of God or someone else to help you get things done. But it is a choice you make, not theirs. Whatever you are thinking now, whatever decisions you are making now, on whatever road you wish to travel now and at whatever speed, all these together determine where you will go ultimately and what you will achieve.

There are basically two fundamental ways in which you can position yourself in your life: one as an active participant, creating your own life dynamically through your thoughts, words and deeds and the second as a passive onlooker, blaming others for your problems and letting things happen to you without taking charge. You see people usually flit between these two categories, sometimes acting responsibly and at other times letting things happens to them. In either case you are the person who took the decision and made things happen either passively or actively.

When you accept the notion that you are the creator of your life, with God as your willing partner in case you have chosen Him to be your guide, you assume responsibility for both your successes and your failures. When things go wrong, instead of complaining and blaming others, you look at yourself or into your own self for necessary solutions. You will try to learn from your failures or think of better solutions to deal them. This is the greatest blessing of assuming responsibility for yourself and your life.  

When you accept responsibility for your life, you will see the many changes happening in your life, attitude and responses. As a youth you will be confident and ready for any eventuality. You set goals, create plans and put your plans into actions. You use your resources intelligently and efficiently. You begin to accept challenges realistically and deal with them with clarity and purpose.

This planet belongs to a multitude of living beings, not just humans but animals and plants. The environment in which you live is also shared by them. Some of the events that impact you also impact a million others. But not all the people live alike or react to their problems alike. When there is a crisis in life, some panic, while some stay calm. Some escape into fantasy and illusion, while some stand firm and face the reality. When the economy is in a downturn, some keep blaming the government and the business establishments, while some make steps to earn extra income or minimize their expenditure. There is always something you can do about the problems and situations in your life. You may not have control over the world in which you live. But you have control over your thoughts, actions and reactions. It is the manner in which you think, act, react or respond to external situations, where you can assume responsibility for your life and empower yourself to make things happen. Take charge of your life today. Make things happen.

What steps then do you need to attain Self-Empowerment now?

Firstly, you must eliminate the false, negative and outdated beliefs that support the “status quo” that boring world of obligations, expectations, limitations and regulations that hold you in bondage to a life that doesn’t make you happy. This is a creative process, not an intellectual one! You have to create the person you wish to become through eliminating everything that does not support your goals. Secondly step is to create a positive new belief system that supports living an authentic and happy life, by reflecting today's dreams, desires, hopes and aspirations. This, too, is a creative process, it is to start over with a blank canvas, and create yourself and your life as you imagine it to be.

To attain Self-Empowerment now you must embrace change, consider this; why does a terrorist entertain thoughts of killing, while a Buddhist monk contemplates world peace? The answer is clear; your belief system serves as the mental machinery from which your thoughts emerge, like a cosmic bubble machine that automatically pumps out what it has been programed to produce. Negative beliefs spawn negative thoughts that lead to negative results, and positive beliefs spawn positive thoughts that lead to positive results.

To change your actions, change your thoughts. To change your thoughts, change your beliefs. To change your beliefs, stop surviving in the stagnant factory of your past and start creating a fresh new foundation for life in the brave new world of the present!

You are, in reality, the ultimate creator of your own life experience. To attain self-empowerment now, open your mind. Question your beliefs. Throw out what’s outdated and embrace what’s new, exciting and life affirming. When your beliefs change, your thoughts change. And when your thoughts change, your life will change. Embrace change and live a happy life!