There are two choices in life, the right choices and the wrong ones. The problem is the right choices doesn't seem right on the spot and the wrong ones seems more fun. I am glad I learnt this lessons early in life. Opportunities surrounds us in abundance we are either alert to identify them or too lazy to identify them.
I learnt how to make money at the age of 11, 10 to be exact I was in grade 6 my very 1st year in Gauteng, the city of gold. The year was 2003 I was a senior at New Creation Ministries Sunday school, Mrs. Shebe shared a story about Sir. Richard Branson founder and chairman of Virgin Group a conglomerate chain of businesses with 400 companies. It was early January 2003, what a way to start a year? Richard Branson has been my idol ever since. Mam Shebe as we used to call her shared how Mr Branson started from nothing, written off by everyone to be one of the greatest entrepreneur of all time.
The day I heard about Sir Richard Branson, I decided I will never ever be an employee, I made a commitment to achieve GREATNESS ( don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with being an employee it's a personal choice, not a smart one though) after all intrepreneurs are important within organizations.
I started my 1st business same year I heard of Sir. Richard Branson (2003) Karabo Madisa was my 1st business partner. The whole business thing was a seed planted in my fertile mind by Mam Shebe. I sacrificed 2 weeks pocket money of R2/day as a way of raising capital, I never touched a dime from that money, yes sweets and chips were tempting but I persisted. I was so inspired by Sir. Richard Branson, I wanted to do something about the inspiration his story gave me.
I had R20 at the end of two weeks which I then used to buy my stock "20 cents chews" was my business, Karabo and I pioneered the slogan "Wa ja wa phasa" meaning if you buy from us you are guaranteed to pass, that strategy was so effective especially during exams time, those were the happiest moments of my life. Unlike my peers I didn't only go to school to learn and play, earning was part of the package meaning I went to school to learn, apply and earn.
It was so exciting that I went to school 1 hour 30 minutes early to take care of the business, I started to make so much money for an 11 year old that I proposed to give my siblings pocket money to which my parents agreed just like that we had a deal. I was not giving them R2 I increased their pocket money by 50 cents which made them so happy and I was proud of me. That alone gave me a sense of responsibility, I was getting aggressive with my selling skills, making sales was my favorite kind of "play." I never enjoyed going to the park with my friends It was sort of boring, slowly I started to notice that I am of a different breed.
I would sell sweets before assembly, during break time and after school, then rush home to manage my moms spaza shop, I probably was the hardest working eleven year old. My weekends were no different I will be ordering stock for moms spaza shop and getting sweets to sell during the week, Sundays were the only days I eased off I went to church and spent the remainder of the day with family.
I know of one thing that made me stand out and that's a choice to be different. I chose to be different, to be daring without caring what the naysayers say, that has been my attitude throughout. My friends laughed at my busy life but I couldn't be bothered as I could afford things which only their parents could, it was fun. I don't care about your circumstances they are a mere excuse that's holding you back. God gives us all 24 hrs in a day which we use or waste, some use their 24 hrs to make a difference some use it to get deeper in debt.
I worked on my work ethic early in life, I set goals and dare to achieve them, especially those which seems to be impossible, those goals which 98% of people see as impractical goals. Dreaming is cheap and easy everyone does that, but no one wants to work hard to wake up from their dreams which as a result will make that dream remain just that, a dream.
I am not from a wealthy family, I am not a politicians child and I am not a magician, life is full of choices, I chose to surf and thrive on top of my circumstances what are your choices?
NB: This article introduces you to my book to be published. Keep checking my blog.
