The Sunday Mail
THE word “fool” may come across as rude or too strong, but it is used 56 times in the Bible.
Hosea 4vs6 notes: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;” Proverbs 10 vs 21 states: “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.” Without being unnecessarily polite, a fool is a fool.
I believe there are fools that have had the luck of being put in charge of multi-million-dollar entities by Government but they have failed to deliver and they have failed the nation.
I hate to break it to you, but when your company first starts out, it’s not worth very much.
You must understand that. You may have a million-dollar idea in mind, but fleshing out that idea is what separates professionals from amateurs.
I must say the local political leadership has thus far initiated multiple projects and policies designed to benefit ordinary Zimbabweans.
Where else in Africa can you see a leadership that is so anxious to see its own people prosper as is presently happening in Zimbabwe?
But are we letting our leaders down? Do we have the right mindset to do business? And are we empowering the right people? Wisdom dictates that 100 percent of nothing is nothing. Although it may sound so simple that it almost sounds stupid, it’s all a matter of putting things into perspective.
Back in the day, CEOs and directors of big companies were often white people. In most African countries it is still the case. However, our leaders in Zimbabwe consciously made an effort to empower their people to lead the companies. Instead of grabbing these opportunities, there are people who have decided to give a bad name to empowerment.
For instance, the first thing that some people prioritise upon being elected board members of certain organisations is a house in Borrowdale Brooke, a hefty pay cheque and the latest Mercedes-Benz S Class. This clearly is akin to empowering a fool.
Well, while it is perfectly normal for one to be paid for offering a service, a hefty pay cheque should naturally follow after hard work. One who only takes up responsibility in order to loot and satisfy his personal needs is obviously a fool.
There is urgent need to look at the big picture and work for the greater good.
It is unquestionable that the fetish of chasing after a quick buck is working against local business. A hard-working culture is required for a better nation.
Foolish people normally do not give a hoot about the future of either the company or its employees.
But it is important to realise that the success of an organisation is often built on the sweat of its employees.
A true businessman worth his name must leave a legacy for the nation.
John Stith Pemberton developed Coca-Cola in 1886 and to this day we still enjoy the product. So, you should ask yourself what you are doing for posterity. Do you want to be known for the wrong reasons, or you want to be known for creating and running a business from which thousands of families will feed off for generations?
Most often first-time entrepreneurs are self-centred and think only about themselves.
They are usually reluctant to open up the business to other investors, insisting on sole ownership of the business.
So many companies are distressed in Zimbabwe and probably a financial partner is required to steer the ship.
The fear in most CEOs is if a new partner comes, they will definitely set up a new structure and they fear being booted out. Honestly, if you are being booted out of the structures for the good of the business, you are better off not being part of the venture.
Why should company employees and the nation suffer because of the decisions of a few board members?
Learn to get help, accept criticism and be principled. There is more to business and attitude contributes a lot.
If you are making losses in a market where some are making profits, ask yourself where you are going wrong, or, most significantly, ask yourself if you deserve the position you have.
There is need to stop blaming the economy and the country’s leadership for poor performance.
As an auditor, I can confirm that poor corporate governance and poor business practices are some of our main challenges. Nobody is perfect. The quicker you identify your skill-set, strengths and weaknesses, the better suited you’ll be to fill in the pieces around you. You may have come up with the greatest, most revolutionary idea ever, but that’s not even a quarter of the battle. I haven’t met anybody whose business turned out exactly the way they envisioned it when they first set out.
The idea will evolve over time and it will undoubtedly look different than what you formulated in your mind in the beginning. Remember, it’s not the pieces of the pie but rather the size of the pie that matters the most!
Do not be foolish! Build an everlasting legacy.
Taurai Changwa is an articled accountant and ACCA finalist. He is managing director of SAFIC Consultancy. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted at [email protected], or visit Facebook page SAFIC Consultancy, or WhatsApp on 0772374784.
