#Call to Action
__What problem will you go out and solve today?
A few days ago, one of you asked me if I had any advice “for a younger me”? Someone else commented that they thought that week’s post did not seem to have a “call to action”!? Well here goes:
Within 5 years of starting my business, I personally knew every young upcoming entrepreneur in my country. They were my friends, and sometimes even rivals. We hung out together, addressed challenges together.
We organized ourselves, and we created networks. I was quite often the instigator-in-chief of some of the networking platforms. I would travel across the country to organize meetings of entrepreneurs.
We did not have what you have today—sophisticated technology and connectivity that can enable you to reach corners of Africa and the world. I am very proud of our teams who for the past almost three decades now have literally built digital networks connecting businesses and millions of #People across the continent.
__In all our companies we have a solemn and shared mission to ensure that NO AFRICAN IS LEFT BEHIND in the digital revolution.
The opportunities in this #TechnologyRevolution we’re in right now [known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR] are endless. What do you see? What's happening? What is in your hand?
By now, many of you have gotten to know other entrepreneurs through this platform. Some of you may even have tried to do business with each other. You have helped each other with pitches in prep for investor meetings and for some entrepreneurship competitions.
In time I hope you will come to realize that this may well be the greatest ASSET I have given you…
Each Other!
Now as I leave the platform here I want you to remember the advice I've shared here so many times before:
“If you want to be successful in life, find a human need and reach out to solve it”. [TL Osborne]
In 1993, I wrote down the mission of Econet Wireless and posted it on all our documents: “Our mission is to provide telecommunication services to all the peoples of Africa”.
It was a bold and audacious statement from a 32-year-old!
When asked by the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe to explain why I wanted a license, I wrote in an Affidavit:
“The number of people in Africa [in 1993] who actually had a phone was 0.7% of the population. My country Zimbabwe was one of the highest at 1.4%. Whilst 98.6% of the people do not have access to a phone, 75% have never actually heard a telephone ringing. I want to help change that.”
The judges agreed with me.
That is how Econet came about: through a court ruling of the Constitutional Court. Today more than 75% of the African people own a phone, and almost everyone has access!
__We did not do it alone. It was done by a generation of entrepreneurs of which I was part. Our work is not done, and a new generation of entrepreneurs like you must now boldly take up challenges in every aspect of African life.
In the almost 40 years that I've been an entrepreneur, I have created hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs, and made a lot of money for myself and my investors.
But if you ask me what my favorite #Innovation is in terms of meeting a human need, you might be surprised: It is the InsureTech service called EcoSure.
Whilst it’s not as big a money spinner as other services, or as transformative as EcoCash, Liquid, and many others, it was something I conceived personally, after seeing someone suffering.
I did not try to make money, I just tried to solve a problem. That is entrepreneurship personified. Did we make money? Yes, we did, because you will always make money if you use the principles of entrepreneurship to solve a problem.
Focus on the problem at hand, and not to make money!
What problem will you go out to solve from today?
Over to you! That's my call to action.
❤️❤️ End ❤️❤️
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