Strive Masiyiwa 2016

STRIVE MASIYIWA 2016
THE EAGLE IN A
STORM.
This book, STRIVE MASIYIWA 2016 : THE EAGLE IN A STORM is dedicated to Dr.
Strive Masiyiwa and his mission to raise millions of Global Entrepreneurs and change
makers all over the World. Please note that the post here are Sir Strive‘s guides and teachings
on how to become a successful entrepreneur, therefore the credits for these posts go to
him.MAY GOD BLESS HIM RICHLY.
This is what Forbes Africa had to say about him, in their February 2018 Issue ….
Net worth: $1.7 billion

Origin of wealth: Telecom
Age: 56
Country: Zimbabwe
Masiyiwa overcame protracted government opposition to launch mobile

phone network Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in his country of birth in 1998.
He owns just over 50% of the publicly-traded Econet Wireless Zimbabwe,
which is one part of his larger Econet Group. Masiyiwa also owns just over
half of private company Liquid Telecom, which provides fiber optic and
satellite services to telecom firms across Africa. His other assets include
stakes in mobile phone networks in Burundi and Lesotho, and investments
in fintech and power distribution firms in Africa. He and his wife Tsitsi
founded the Higherlife Foundation, which supports orphaned and poor
children in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi and Lesotho.
All the work here are compiled by Itaba David, an avid reader of all Sir Strive Masiyiwa
posts, a young game changer with a goal of making sure that every African get his hands
with Sir Strive Masiyiwa work.
“Always, always account for your time, each

day. At the end of each day, you must be able
to give account for what you did with the
time. Life is too serious”
-Strive Masiyiwa
Table of Contents
PAUSE: ARE YOU PREPARED TO BECOME VERY SERIOUS? ........................................................................... 6
SERIES: THE EAGLE IN A STORM (PART 1 - INTRO). ...................................................................................... 8
__PROTECT THE ROOT OF YOUR BUSINESS. ............................................................................................... 21
PAUSE: RELEASE OF SPECIAL REPORT: “AFRICAN FARMERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE.”................................... 27
PAUSE: ANNOUNCING THE 10 WINNERS OF THE “NEW WEALTH CREATION MODEL” CONTEST. ............ 30
THE EAGLE IN A STORM (PART 5)................................................................................................................ 32
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A "TECHNOLOGY COMPANY" (PART 1). ........................................................ 35
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A “TECHNOLOGY COMPANY” (PART 2). ........................................................ 39
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A “TECHNOLOGY COMPANY” (PART 3). ........................................................ 43
PAUSE: KWESÉ SPORTS EXCLUSIVELY AWARDED FREE-TO-AIR BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR THE ENGLISH
PREMIER LEAGUE!....................................................................................................................................... 52
PAUSE: FLOWER POWER IN KENYA AND ETHIOPIA: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME .................................... 54
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY (PART 4) ............................................................ 60
PAUSE: LOVE AND LEMONADE ................................................................................................................... 73
PAUSE: “COMPETE WITH INTENSITY, LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, AND INSPIRE PLAY” - NBA ......................... 76
THE BUFFALO HUNTER................................................................................................................................ 81
BEWARE OF PORN, GUNS AND DRUGS....................................................................................................... 85
“ONE OF THESE DAYS” MAY BE TOO LATE.” ............................................................................................... 88
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN BUSINESS (PART 1). ..................................................................... 91
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN BUSINESS (PART 2). ..................................................................... 95
REFLECTION: EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT (PART 2).................................................................................. 102
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN BUSINESS (PART 3). ................................................................... 105
KWESÉTV UPDATE : __A FEW WORDS ON CONTENT, "INSIGHTS" AND LESSONS. .................................. 108
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN BUSINESS – THE ABILITY TO SELL TO A CUSTOMER (PART 4).... 113
PAUSE: “SPEAKING FREELY” ...................................................................................................................... 117
PAUSE: OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BISHOP T.D. JAKES. ............................................................................. 120
PAUSE: BRAND INTEGRITY MATTERS. ....................................................................................................... 133
PAUSE: __"THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT." ........................................................... 136
PAUSE: __“HARD THINGS ARE HARD.” ..................................................................................................... 139
REFLECTION: PERSONAL BRANDING – YOU AND YOUR WORDS. ............................................................. 143
“THOSE WHO WILL LEAD THE FUTURE, MUST UNDERSTAND CHINA TODAY.”........................................ 145
BUYING AND SELLING BUSINESSES, IS BUSINESS (PART 1) ....................................................................... 149
BUYING AND SELLING BUSINESSES, IS ALSO BUSINESS (PART 2) ............................................................. 153
PAUSE: GLOBAL SPORT, FROM AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE ...................................................................... 160
PAUSE: SEIZE THE MOMENT! GET INTO AGRICULTURE........................................................................... 166
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS CAN CHANGE AFRICA ....................................................................................... 173
PAUSE: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH ......................................................... 185
SELLING YOUR BUSINESS (PART 1) ............................................................................................................ 190
PAUSE: THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD ................................................................................ 193
PAUSE: THE THINGS WE "SAY" MATTER ................................................................................................... 197
THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN BUSINESS (PART 1). ................................................................................ 206
THE HARDEST THING IN BUSINESS: BUILDING AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION (PART 2).......................... 211
A REFLECTION: WHAT IS YOUR VISION? ................................................................................................... 216
THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN BUSINESS: BUILDING AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION (PART 3) .............. 219
PAUSE: INVESTING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT .................................................................................................. 229
PAUSE: CURIOSITY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. ..................................................... 240
REFLECTION: ALWAYS COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. ..................................................................................... 246
PAUSE: ARE YOU PREPARED TO BECOME VERY
SERIOUS?
When I was a young entrepreneur just beginning to enjoy the first flashes of success in my
business career, I befriended a very successful businessman from my homeland. Ariston
Chambati was a towering figure in his day. He was the nearest thing I ever had in those days
to someone you would call a mentor today. He'd already gained international recognition and
often travelled to international meetings, and served on several international boards.
He would often say to me, "Master two things: your time, and finding the right person for a
job. Get those two things right and you are on your way."
He was a "no-nonsense type" and he did not "suffer fools." If he invited you for a meeting,
no matter what time of day, he would turn up on time and well dressed.
I will never forget how he once asked me to come see him late one Sunday evening. Arriving
at his home, I found him dressed up and in his study. He never joked around and expected
you to get to the point quickly.
After the meeting, I asked him why he went to such great lengths ahead of such a simple
meeting, even with me. His response was well measured and serious.
He first explained to me a very painful experience he'd gone through on one of his business
travels. Then he added: "Young brother (he always used a term of endearment in my mother
tongue and I always addressed him by a similar term, which means "senior brother"), you
have the talent to go very far. . ."
__"Only remember this," he said, "Don't expect others to take you seriously when you are
not prepared to take yourself seriously. When you walk through that door, I want you always
to know that I'm a serious person."
Those words still ring in my ears over what must be two decades now, as though that
conversation took place only yesterday.
The men and women who are going to take Africa to the next level are those really prepared
to become serious, very serious.
End.
STRIVE MASIYIWA :Prince Mensah writes:
"..how does a young man approach or befriend people like this to mentor. Also what do you
need to do for them to mentor you?"
My reply,
I'm doing for you exactly what he did for me---I chose to set up this page so I could provide
mentorship. I might not be able to meet you physically, but the substance of what I post is
designed to do exactly what he and others did for me. Tools like Social Media were not
available 30 years ago, and you could only mentor someone physically, and then only one
person at a time. I can reach 10m people with just one post. And it can be as intimate as I'm
writing to you personally.
I hope that in time you might even conclude that you and I have spent a lot of time together !
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 1.

The more you learn to manage time, the more you can do and the more effective you will be.
It really is that simple.
You must always be reviewing the way you spend your time. There are habits that easily
creep into your lifestyle that limit your capacity to do things that make you efficient. Be
honest in evaluating those habits. Let me give you an example: whenever I travelled on long-
haul flights, I would watch a movie on the plane. This is a terrible habit because it means you
will arrive tired and unable to function effectively the next day. If I'm flying at night, I eat
before boarding and go straight to sleep once I'm on board.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : In a few days I shall begin a new series called,

"The Eagle In The Storm", to help you navigate your way through the tough times.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : I once coined an expression to describe people or activities that waste
my time:
"Time thief"!
There are a lot of "Time Thieves" out there.
The Tentmaker said:
"Ephesians 5:15-17 (AMP)
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the
unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly
grasping what the will of the Lord is."
__You are blessed.
JANUARY 14, 2016
SERIES: THE EAGLE IN A STORM (PART 1 -

INTRO).
The new year opened with turmoil in the Chinese stock markets as prices fell dramatically,
leading to a global selloff. In just one week, global stock markets lost over $2 trillion US
dollars! Other news in the global markets saw the price of a barrel of crude oil fall below $35
per barrel, down from a high of $62 per barrel less than 12 months ago. That‘s down 50% in
12 months and 71% in 24 months!
Since the beginning of last year, 2015, the price of copper has fallen by 30%; iron ore is
down by 42%; platinum has also been a disaster, losing more than half its value from less
than three years ago. Agricultural commodities have not fared much better on global
markets. Last week the South African rand hit an all-time low of 16:1 against the United
States dollar and it‘s still falling!
Your small business in Harare, Lagos or Nairobi may not have anything to do with China, or
with any commodity like oil, iron ore, or platinum, so you might be asking yourself, ―What‘s
that got to do with me?‖ Answer: EVERYTHING! It has everything to do with you, and its
impact is going to be very personal... Brace yourself, there‘s a storm on its way!
You might even be sitting at your desk as a civil servant, or supervising children at school as
a teacher, or upholding the law as a policeman; or maybe you‘re a pensioner, and you‘re also
saying to yourself, "I'm not in business; I don't know anything about these things, so what‘s it
got to do with me?‖ Answer: EVERYTHING! It has everything to do with you, and its
impact is going to be very personal... Brace yourself, there‘s a storm on its way!
You look at the sky and see rolling black clouds. The wind is picking up and you say to
yourself, ―A big storm is on the way.‖ Even though rain isn‘t yet falling, you know the signs
of a heavy rain storm and that you must button things down and secure yourself properly. Or
maybe you‘re one of millions on the continent today suffering another rainless sky, for
months on end, putting your fields, crops, livestock, perhaps your whole life at risk...
These are "signs" in weather conditions. Those who are experienced in such things can
usually say with a degree of certainty that a storm is coming. However, if you do not
understand these matters, or you blissfully decide to ignore them, you‘ll suffer a serious
drenching or worse.
In business economics we also have signs, and we're seeing these warning signs right now.
They're not any different from the black clouds and the wind, or the clear sky and the
drought. They're all linked. The stock markets of China and New York may seem far away,
and global commodity prices and exchange rates may seem irrelevant to your village, but
they‘re linked to the real economy in which you live and work!
The next 12 months or more will be very tough, particularly in emerging markets. Many
African countries will find it hard going. Consequently, it will be tough for citizens,
especially those who are most vulnerable. The weaker your country's economy going into the
storm, the tougher it will be. Similarly, the weaker your company or employer, the tougher it
will be...
__There is a storm coming.
Now let me tell you about the flight of the eagle. Prophets and Kings of the bible world
absolutely loved watching this majestic bird. They believed the eagle is the only bird that
flies during a storm. It's developed a flying technique (a skill) they call "mounting" the wind
(as though it were climbing a stairway). The eagle has so mastered the storm that it not only
flies during storms, but can find opportunities to prosper; it can actually use the storm to its
advantage.
Even in these storms, those with the correct mindset will prepare themselves. They will train
themselves to understand the times, and learn to prosper in its headwinds… they will mount
on wings as eagles!
Yes, it‘s going to be very tough, and for some of you, tougher than anything you could have
imagined, but you must not be discouraged or wearied. And when you come through it, you
will be much better at what you do. Just don't be afraid, and don't panic. In this series I will
remind you of some of the things you must do to prosper like the eagle.
This year we must be serious, very serious. Africa expects it of us.
To be continued. . .
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 1. The eagle does not fear the storm, neither does it pretend
it‘s not there. It seeks to thrive despite the storm. Faith does not deny the facts on the ground,
it overcomes the facts on the ground.
STRIVE MASIYIWA :Afterthought 2.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-41).
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Let's connect some of the dots on Africa-China nexus (although not only
issue):
# China is a huge importer of raw materials from Africa. It buys everything from copper, to
iron ore, platinum, oil etc., It turns these into products, many of which it exports to other
countries including the US.
Many African countries also receive loans for infrastructure from China.
The slow down in China's economy is affecting African countries as they are buying less and
less of our minerals. This means the price of the minerals is also falling.
China's solutions will result in further pain for Africa.
# South Africa: is a a big exporter of raw materials...to countries like China. A slow down in
China, affects SA (not the only problem in SA---economically speaking). But anyway a slow
down in exports as well as lower mineral prices, weakens the Rand.
South Africa is also a big employer of people of neighboring countries like Zimbabwe,
Malawi...who also send money home as remittances to help their families...
A slow down in SA and the weakening Rand, means less money sent home, few jobs for
migrants. Those countries, also affected by China slow down directly because they also
export minerals to China.
# Zimbabwe: affected by weakening Rand, as remittances also slow down and diminish.
Also becoz it uses $, dramatically weakens its competitiveness, leading to factory
closures...more problems than that of course---economically speaking.
# Nigeria, too dependent on oil. Price down means tight liquidity, economic slowdown, job
losses. Inherent weaknesses in economic structure (similar to other African countries) to be
severely tested.
# now you analyze your own country.
I will talk about solutions in future posts... Yet there are countries which will almost escape
unscathed and even prosper because of a deliberate design over the years of their #Wealth
Creation Model___Ah? (Perhaps now I have your attention; we shall talk).
STRIVE MASIYIWA : "Let's pay attention because we have never been this way before"?
Remember this message of a few months ago?
__I want to help navigate each one of you (who need my help) through the economic storms
swirling around us.
After 30 years of being in this game, I know a storm when I see one coming.
I began to see the current storm quite a while ago, and many of the things I personally have
to do I have already done. In past times that would have been enough for me, but I must
share some of these secrets with you---next time you will teach others. It's important to
follow very carefully each post on this issue, as I have quite a bit to say.
God bless you.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Tale Carter writes:
How come we cannot send you messages direct to your inbox.. What kind of business would
1 start at this stage in zimbabwe with a capital of $70 000 which u intend to get as a lot from
the bank using a house as collateral
My reply:
I would dearly love to have an "Inbox", but unfortunately, I am not able to deal with the
deluge of requests that come into that box. In addressing the needs of millions of readers like
yourself, I have to focus on teaching foundational principles that can be applied by as many
people as possible.
With respect to your particular question, I respectively submit that you have it back to front;
You must first establish what business you can do using your own particular skills (which
only you know), and then draw up a business plan, which will then decide how much money
you need. Spend time with posts I have done in the past, and also study and research before
you commit your hard earned money, or expose your home as collateral for debt (best
avoided).
JANUARY 20, 2016

The Eagle in a storm (Part 2a).
__CHANGING OUR "WEALTH CREATION

MODEL."
Ever since I started school, my teachers taught me that our country was "rich" because we
had many minerals, and we'd recite the list of minerals. By the time I finished secondary
school, I not only knew my country was "rich," but that Africa itself was "rich" because we
had so many natural resources.
Even though I didn't study geology, I could almost tell you where all these precious minerals
and other resources were found: oil, diamonds, platinum, gold, copper… in places like
Congo, there were names of some things I couldn‘t even pronounce.
__Yes, Africa is so rich!!!
As a young student, if I thought about what the global buyers of Africa‘s natural resources
then did with them, it was only ever a superficial thought. But I soon realized something
didn't add up…
__Sometimes it almost seemed that the "richer" a country, the poorer the people! But how
could this be?
"1+1=2"! My primary school teacher drummed it into my head, right?
Then I got to secondary school and one day the teacher came in and said, "You know, there
are situations when 1+1 does not always add up to 2." ?!
"I'm here to talk about mathematics,‖ the teacher said. ―It's time to put away the arithmetic;
this is senior school!"
"Senior school!"
I didn't end my study of mathematics in secondary school. I also studied it at university

where I majored in engineering.
What was it the Apostle Paul said about putting away childish things?!
Let me return to the wealth of our nations: I left university in the early 1980's. In those days,
it was not China that was rising into an economic giant, it was Japan! It was rising and
overtaking every European country, until Japan was second only to America… It was so
spectacular!
I first met a Japanese person when I was in my twenties and already working, yet I read
every single book I could find about their prowess.
"Tell me about the minerals of your country?" I asked my Japanese friend.
"We have no minerals to talk of," he said emphatically and proudly.
"What do you mean you have no minerals?"
As we talked about the Japanese rise, I was reminded of my lessons in mathematics!
And so I had discovered it was possible for a nation to be "rich" without minerals!
"We buy your minerals as cheaply as we can, and then we turn them into high-value
products."
"You mean you exploit us?"
"That's not the way we see it. After all, what would you do with them if we didn‘t buy them?
Do you know what we do with your platinum or your oil?"
Then he added:
# "Our wealth creation model as a nation is not based on raw materials and minerals."
"WEALTH CREATION MODEL?‖ What do you mean "WEALTH CREATION

MODEL???"
Deeply troubled (even insulted) initially, I knew there was something more to learn if I
avoided becoming emotional. The conclusions I reached changed the way I look at wealth,
and totally empowered me. It changed my mindset.
The Tentmaker once said that our greatest battle is always in our minds… changing the way
see things, particularly if we have held on to a certain perspective for a long time.
I hope it will do the same for you.
See my next post.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 1. There‘s a story told about a young Christian who was
praying one day, and he asked God, "Why did you create the Universe?" And in his heart he
heard God say to him, "Son, your mind is too small to contain my answer.‖ He‘d ask the
question again and again, making the subject of his interest ever smaller: "What about an
ant?" Again the Lord answered him, saying, "Your mind is too small to contain my answer."
Finally frustrated, he picked up a peanut. Then (as the story goes) the Lord said to him, "let
me give you a list of just 100 applications of the peanut that are yet to come!"
What do you know of the cocoa bean and its uses today? There are billion-dollar industries
waiting to be created with the raw materials of your country, that the world doesn‘t even
know about today.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 2. If you‘re a school teacher, why not ask your students
today to draw up lists of all the innovative things that are made from your country's raw
material exports.
__In just this alone, you will have taken the first step to changing our wealth creation model.
If they‘re in high school, ask them to draw up a list of nations that are very successful and yet
do not have natural resources. In this you will change their mindsets about wealth creation.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 3. If you‘re a policymaker, ask yourself what incentives

your country has put in place to encourage entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors to
develop exciting new products and services, and to invest in industries that use your raw
materials? What policies encourage investors to come in and set up industries that rely on
those raw materials? What tax breaks will you give me if I set up a manufacturing business
that uses the oil, platinum or cocoa of your country?
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 4. The late Shah of Iran once famously said that oil was too
valuable to burn as petrol. One day we'll find that platinum is too valuable to export as
platinum, even when processed. We will not solve the problem by telling miners to process;
we must give incentives to entrepreneurs and investors to develop products. We should be
seeking to export watches, dental equipment, computer parts… and emerging technologies
―made in Africa!‖
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Hafeez writes,
Dr , you need to organize development seminar for our leaders. God bless you.
My reply,
First of all this is (in substance) a development seminar.
Secondly and perhaps most importantly the people who follow this platform are the most
important leaders in Africa, and you are one of them. The day I think I'm not addressing the
people who are shaping Africa's future, I will stop immediately!
#YouAreTheLeader.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Chiedza Vivian,

Writes:
I got really emotional after reading your comment sir.I relate to what you said in this
comment,one year ago I gave birth to Kenzey a company precisely walking towards those
steps.Growing up my father always sat me down and taught me his views of this world.I
follow your page because you sound like my father whom I only see less frequently now
because he is miles away.Thanx Dad for teaching me the best is in Africa and it is my duty to
make Mama Africa shine.
My reply:
Thank you, I feel honored.
Kenzey will be a great success!
Stay blessed.
STRIVE MASIYIWA : Yemi Sanni,

Thank you for drawing attention to the Wikipedia reference to George Washington Carver.
He is indeed the person I was referring to in my afterthought about the young Christian.
He is one of my great heroes. Here is what he said about his faith:
"I was just a mere boy when converted, hardly ten years old. There isn't much of a story to it.
God just came into my heart one afternoon while I was alone in the 'loft' of our big barn
while I was shelling corn to carry to the mill to be ground into meal.
A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning,
and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I
was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked
him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember
that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed
as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed
several times before I quit.
My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course,
we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind.
That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith."
— G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931

JANUARY 27, 2016
The Eagle in a storm (Part 2b).
__IMAGINING NEW WEALTH CREATION

MODELS.
The talk with my Japanese friend had left me thinking deeply about how we in Africa think
about wealth. Maybe, just maybe, there was another way to think about it?
Imagine if my teachers had taught me that we are "very rich" because we produce some of
the smartest entrepreneurs in Africa… people with the know-how and vision to transform our
minerals into such great innovations and products that we no longer export our raw materials
all over the world!
From then on, every time I visited a country (or even a major city), and watched its economic
activity, particularly places doing well, I would reflect on its "wealth creation model."
__Imagine a wealth creation model that doesn‘t require any raw material endowment, like
Silicon Valley, or Singapore!
I was fascinated by countries that rise without necessarily being underpinned by minerals and
the exploitation of raw materials: Dubai, Mauritius, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, to
name but a few.
I was also fascinated by countries where consumers can buy domestically-processed and
finished products – value-added goods created from their own raw materials! I imagined a
Nigeria which turned its oil into plastics, fertilizers, sports equipment, cosmetics, deodorants,
and toothpaste!
It‘s good to have oil and platinum, and to grow cocoa and coffee. But for citizens to benefit
from a nation‘s natural resources, it‘s critical to have the best stewardship, and to eliminate
corruption. Without a culture of respect for rule of law, all future wealth creation models are
doomed to failure.
__The bottom line is: We can no longer allow our national economies to be underpinned
solely by the export of raw materials.
If we‘re not careful, we can even become dangerously addicted to them, such that African
nations, workers, and citizens in general are forced to endure endless boom and bust cycles…
When the price of oil is up, we're doing well; when it goes down, we're scrambling… copper,
platinum: boom, boom, bust! It‘s happening now.
We must prioritise the development of innovative capacity to redeploy our rich natural
resources within our own economies. It goes beyond the simplicity of "processing" and so-
called "beneficiation." That‘s not enough. We must also pay attention to emerging
technologies and how they‘re likely to affect the businesses we‘re familiar with today.
My appeal to this next generation is to get us out of a ―wealth creation model‖ underpinned
by export of natural resources. We can no longer afford to think of the wealth of our nations
in terms of mineral and raw material exports. Not when you know there's a Silicon Valley;
not when you know that Apple Computers Inc. is worth almost the same as Nigeria‘s and
Angola‘s combined GDP! Not when you‘re the generation that knows about Alibaba,
Tencent, Uber and Skype!
As we see the price of oil, copper, and platinum plummet, let's stop and take a deep breath,
and say to ourselves: "It's time to change our WEALTH CREATION MODEL.‖
__Within the next 25 years, we must break our addiction to resource-driven economic
wealth. It's time to turn to our African inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Selah!
As a simple exercise, take a look at your own country's key minerals and draw up a list of at
least 10 products made from them. Maybe some are new products or emerging just now.
Perhaps others have been around for a very long time. It must be based on proper research.
Of the items you list, are any already produced in your country now?
I will give iPads to the 10 most interesting lists. For example, oil: Petrol, diesel, toothpaste,
chewing gum, Vaseline, golf balls, tennis rackets, clothing, guitar wire... Now give me your
list! Platinum? Diamonds? Gold? Iron Ore? Copper?
These are the rules: 1) only include the name of the mineral, your country and a list of
products made from that mineral. No more than 75 words in TOTAL; 2) please submit all
your entries ONLY here under Afterthought #1. Other entries will not be considered; 3)
entries must be received by 3 February at 5 pm South Africa time; 4) all decisions are final.
If there‘s a tie in certain entries, then the first entry received will be selected; 5) you only
need to provide contact details if you‘re one of the 10 winners.
Strive Masiyiwa "Man is restless till he finds his rest in God"

Aurelius Augastine
Strive Masiyiwa Oluwatimilehin writes:
I'm 17. With this i'm now thinking of pursueing the career of an enterpreneur, I wanna be
part of the hope for Africa
My reply,
Yesterday was my birthday as many of your know, I turned 55 years Young. Reading your
short note (as with many others written on this platform), just filled me with so much hope
for Africa's future.
Now even if you choose to go into the Teaching profession, or medical profession as a doctor
or nurse, a technician or engineer, or even plumber; no matter what it is, acquit yourself with
excellence and integrity, and Africa will do well.
Thank you and God bless you!
Strive Masiyiwa The other day I was watching a professional soldier being interviewed on
tv. He was asked what it felt like going into battle for the first time. And here is what he said:
"As soon as we came under fire, my training kicked in", he said "all those months and years
of daily drilling just kicked in. The training just drove me; I mean---I could literally hear my
drill sergeants, my trainers! And before I knew it, we had won our battle."
Thinking about it later, I thought about the importance of training and preparation. In a
strange way it reminded me about faith; yes faith---it too, kind of works that way:
Everyday I read, study, meditate on the Word of God in my bible. And when trouble comes,
bang, faith just "kicks in", and before I know it, I have won my battle!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Don‘t make the mistake of thinking, ―Oh, I‘m not educated
enough to think about wealth creation models…‖ Yes, academic education is very important
indeed. You must prioritize it for you and for your family. But formal schooling is not the
only kind of education. And some technologies are so new that most people are still figuring
out how they work.
Don‘t be intimidated. Some new uses for minerals are still being discovered. And some ideas
and inventions… only YOU might have the mindset to think of them… right there in your
own town or village. You‘re right there, and you know certain things that only you happen to
know. Don‘t underestimate that. YOU could be the only one with the unique combination of
business savvy, imagination and local resource knowledge that‘s needed to invent a product
that changes the world forever. You never know unless you try. It‘s all about your mindset.
Afterthought 3. About 100 years ago, the American cowboy comic actor and author Will
Rogers said, ―Even if you‘re on the right track, you‘ll get run over if you just sit there!‖ Let‘s
get moving.
Strive Masiyiwa Vikram writes:
Dr Strive Masiyiwa Allow me to share this as posted on my wall this morning :
SME Development Scheme : to create a nation of entrepreneurs in #Mauritius.

Just as most car buyers take a road test before committing to the purchase of a new vehicle,
so serious entrepreneurs run road tests of the opportunities they consider. Each road test
resolves a few more questions and eliminates a few more uncertainties lurking in the path of
every opportunity.
No matter how talented you are, no matter how hard you work, no matter how much capital
you have, if you haven‘t given your idea a rigorous, critical examination before starting out,
you‘re on the fast-track to disaster.
I did my MBA at Wits University more than a decade ago and also did my dissertation on
SMEs. Over the years at Jeetah Consulting Ltd , I have also written numerous business plans
for entrepreneurs going through the above process.
My reply:
I AGREE completely!
The Eagle in a storm (Part 3).
__PROTECT THE ROOT OF YOUR BUSINESS.

A young man and his father were watching a huge fire coming down from the hills towards
their family vineyard. At first, the young man tried to organize buckets of water but it was
clear that the fire would engulf everything and consume the vineyard. Then to his surprise he
saw the old man pick up an axe and run towards the vines. Systematically he began to cut the
vines, leaving only the roots.
"We must protect the root, my son. Do as I show you."
And with this they saved a business that was several generations old.
Every business has a root, and you must know that root. You must be able to protect that
root, when things are tough. Sometimes protecting that root looks cruel, but you must protect
it at all costs. Sometimes it can come down to reducing activity to the bare minimum, with
just a handful of staff. Your most valuable resource will always be good people.
There's no successful entrepreneur who does not know what I'm talking about. It may well be
one of the most difficult things you'll ever do.
# Stay very clear about who you are and what business you're in.
# Don‘t underestimate the crisis.
# Make sure you‘re looking at credible data.
# Manage with grace under pressure.
# Review and revise your game plan as needed, acknowledging which plans aren‘t working.
# Decide what you need to do in order to get where you want to go.
# Tackle the problems systematically. Don‘t throw kerosene onto a fire.
# Don‘t get distracted; make the tough decisions that you need to, without delay. One bucket
of water won‘t save a hectare of crisis.
# Seek and value professional advice.
# Don‘t be afraid to try something new. Crisis is often how great innovation begins. (When
the going gets tough, don‘t give up on new growth!)
# Lead with courage and vision, even if your heart is sad.
Don‘t panic. Pray and plan.
Image Credit: Shetzers Photography
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1.
Avoid protecting "appearances"! When you were making good money, maybe you indulged
yourself a little; you bought a nice car, or maybe you started to build a dream house. Actually
there's nothing wrong with that as they are the fruit of your labor. But now things are tough
because of the economy: Act quickly__ protect the root! Sell the fancy car or just don't use it
anymore; stop building the house; stop anything that's not bringing in hard cash! Sell
anything that can bring cash into the business... That means anything that does not "generate
cash" like a plot of land.
Don't overextend yourself. Don't borrow unnecessarily and certainly don't borrow to keep up
your "appearance."
Ask your staff and family to cut costs and live within your means now -- make it a badge of
honor -- because it shows you're not just smart but wise. You'll have the last laugh when the
good times return, and they will return only if everyone does his or her part. Lagos, Harare,
Joburg, Luanda: are you listening? And soon the Eagle can hunt in a storm!
The other day I watched a professional soldier being interviewed on TV. He was asked what
it felt like going into battle for the first time. Here is what he said:
"As soon as we came under fire, my training kicked in. All those months and years of daily
drilling just kicked in. The training just drove me; I mean I could literally hear my drill
sergeants, my trainers! And before I knew it, we had won our battle."
Thinking about it later, I thought about the importance of training and preparation. In a
strange way, it reminded me about faith; yes, faith; it, too, kind of works that way. Every day
I read, study, meditate on the Word of God in my bible. And when trouble comes, bang, faith
just "kicks in," and before I know it, I have won my battle, just like that professional soldier!

A farmer looks up to the sky and sees black clouds rolling in, and says, "There is a storm
coming!" Now you may not be a farmer, but as an entrepreneur or a trained professional, you
should also be able to see "the weather signs in an economy" and say, "There is a storm
coming." The sooner you can see a storm through the signs, the more time you have to react,
as long as you are prepared to do so. Don't be a sitting duck waiting to be soaked! Sadly, for
some the soaking has already started, but even then don't lose hope... protect the root.
Strive Masiyiwa Eku McGred,

Asks:
Dr Strive, any idea as to how long this storm will last?
My reply:
Great question.
There are both global and national issues at play. The global issues playing out include the
slow down in China, and the fall in the oil price, and also other major commodity prices.
There are also regional issues such as conflict in the ME, and the droughts.
China will not crash as some have predicted. They are very smart, and are working hard to
make the necessary adjustment to their "wealth creation model". I'm heading there in a
couple of weeks, and will really have my eyes open and talk to a lot of people that I really
respect. My sense is three to five years we will begin to see the effects of what they are doing
now.
America is very strong, and will remain so. Don't listen to politics; I'm talking economics---
they have a remarkable engine for economic prosperity. Their strength will be important for
everyone.
In Africa it very much depends on how the different countries get a grip of the issues. Some
are moving remarkably well; others are not moving that well. Our economies are generally
small, and it does not take much to really make impactful changes, but they require courage.
Those who play politics instead of economics will get a real soaking.
At the level of your business, it should not take you more than a year to get out of the storm.
In 12 months time you should be having a good time, even though the storm might still be
raging.
The advice I give is tried and tested. I have seen many storms in the last 30 years. Normally I
just do what I need to do and take to the skies and hunt like an eagle! ---now I'm sharing with
you (SOME of) my secrets.
Strive Masiyiwa Reflection:
"Walking in love is one of the hallmarks of spiritual maturity. It must be seen in your
language, in your daily walk, in the way you respect others: it means you have encountered
God in your life." (From a sermon).
FEBRUARY 10, 2016
The Eagle in a storm (Part 4).
__"IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP

DIGGING."
There‘s a story told about a businessman who went to see a close and trusted friend.
"Things are so tough," he began to say, "I feel I'm in a deep hole and every day it just seems
to get deeper."
"Tell me the problem," the other man asked sympathetically.
"Everyone is against me," his friend said emphatically, then began to list all the people who
had undermined him and wanted to take over his company. It was a pretty impressive list.
After a while, his friend chipped in: "It appears almost everyone is trying to destroy you?"
"Absolutely!" And he continued to give more detail of people and things that had conspired
to undermine his business.
"So what are you going to do?" his friend finally asked.
"I shall fight and fight."
The friend listened and then gave this advice: "I noticed as you were speaking that you
yourself do not believe that you have contributed in any way to this situation?"
"No, I have not contributed in any way at all!"
"I see. So what will you do?"
"That is why I've come to you for help. I need to borrow some money to see me through this
problem for the next few weeks." The friend then politely declined to give the man any
assistance.
I personally would not help such a person. Do you know why?
# If you find yourself in a "hole" for whatever reason, the first thing you must do is to stop
digging and making the hole bigger.
# People who refuse to accept responsibility for any situation they‘re in will only make the
situation worse by the actions they take. If you have a problem to solve in business, don't get
distracted by looking for scapegoats or trying to mobilize political support against perceived
enemies. This is why many state-owned enterprises (parastatals) find it so difficult to solve
business problems.
# If you want others to help you, you must first stop digging, let go of the shovel, and allow a
trusted someone to give you a hand up!
# To move forward, you must dust yourself off and analyze honestly how you got yourself
into that hole. While you may feel a bit defeated, don‘t just drown your sorrows with drink or
other destructive and time wasting habits. An eagle in a storm must be alert for danger and
opportunity at all times, not at risk of slamming into a cliff or falling into a different kind of
hole!
What is the Japanese proverb? ―Fall down seven times, stand up eight!‖
To be continued . . .
Image Credit: Shetzers Photography
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Eagles find their strength in the sky. They‘re born to fly, not
stalk by foot on land. You, too, must know your own strengths and weaknesses, and that of
your business. Don‘t fight unwinnable battles for the sake of pride or ego! Extract the lessons
learned, then move onward and ever upward!
Strive Masiyiwa Focus more than ever on your flying skills:

I love the picture that I chose for this post: the bear chasing an eagle. There are always bears
out there; it might be a competitor, a regulator, a corrupt official trying to block you, tough
trading conditions, lack of capital, a downturn in the economy.
If you can fly, the bear is not a factor!
This is the time to go back to many of the posts, I have written in the past and carefully
reflect on many of the issues we have discussed. Read the comments of your colleagues
carefully to see how you can glean other insights. It's all important.
Strive Masiyiwa I have one more section on Eagle in a storm series, which I will release later
this week.
After that I start on a very exciting series on how you can get into the technology business: I
think you will enjoy it!
Strive Masiyiwa Munyaradzi writes,
Sir we thank you for all what you are doing. The question i have is when are the 10winners
of the ipads going to be announced?
My reply:
This week!
FEBRUARY 15, 2016
PAUSE: RELEASE OF SPECIAL REPORT: “AFRICAN

FARMERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE.”
__Soon it will be Africa‘s turn to help feed the world...
This week an American journal called Foreign Affairs has released an excellent collection of
essays entitled: ―African Farmers in the Digital Age: how digital solutions can enable rural
development.‖
In this new report, 20 African and global experts discuss ways to transform African
agriculture, with a focus on food systems and rural smallholder farmers. A quick summary of
a few priorities to speed up change:
# Rethink agricultural policies;

# Expand access to digital technology (to help smallholder farmers carry out business
transactions like banking, networking and sourcing info on inputs, innovations, pricing,
markets, training, etc.); and
# Improve collaboration and information sharing.
__Most important of all is… wider access to valuable information, which is why I‘m telling
you about this new report right away!
The report is 141 pages long so I'll share just one excerpt written by Bill Gates (founder of
Microsoft) which first appeared in this special edition (February 2016):
―. . .Right now, hundreds of millions of Africans rely on farming for a living, but they don‘t
grow as much—and they don‘t sell as much of their surplus—as they could. As a result,
Africa had to import $40 billion worth of food last year. Something is not functioning
properly when half of the continent‘s labor produces food, and the continent still buys its
food from somewhere else!
So what is going wrong? Why aren‘t African smallholders tapping into that $40 billion
market? The main problem stems from the fact that agricultural markets, like banks, exist on
a formal plane, whereas smallholders exist on an informal one. So farmers and markets
cannot communicate effectively. Smallholders don‘t know what the market will pay. They
can‘t grow crops according to the market‘s specifications because they don‘t know the
specifications. They have no way to learn the farm-management practices that would let
them double or even triple their yields. Instead, they grow mostly what they can eat or trade
locally, the way they‘ve always grown it.
As long as this information disconnect exists, there will be a related physical disconnect. The
rails and roads that would take crops from the farm gate to the market don‘t exist, because
the market doesn‘t want the crops the farmers are growing in the ways and volumes they‘re
growing them. So farmers are isolated, stuck with no money and no voice that the
marketplace can hear.
But digital technology can act almost like a secret decoder ring that links the formal and
informal sectors. Smallholders are already using mobile phones to communicate within their
networks, to talk to family and friends. The institutions that make up the formal marketplace
communicate in much the same way. So it is now possible to generate a two-way
conversation between Africa‘s producers and Africa‘s consumers—and this is an entirely
new conversation. Each party will be able to express its needs to the other for the first time
ever.
Imagine a smallholder farmer who can discover, easily, that yams are expected to fetch a
high price this year. She can also contact a local cooperative to combine her yams with those
of her neighbor, satisfying the buyers‘ volume requirements. Because she is assured of sale at
harvest, she can afford to take out a loan, using her phone, to buy fertilizer or better storage
or whatever else she needs to maximize her yield. In the meantime, instead of waiting for a
visit from an extension worker who may or may not know about yams and the soil in this
particular region, she can get advice tailored by crop and soil type via digital video or text.
When information can flow easily, when data is democratized, the cost of doing business in
agriculture goes way down, just as transaction costs go way down when financial
transactions are digital. The excessive time and money farmers, agribusinesses, and
cooperatives spend managing the risk of doing business with unknown partners is a drag on
efficiency. When these partners can know each other easily—can function as nodes in a
single marketplace—agriculture will thrive.
It‘s not as easy as the above paragraphs may make it seem. Building a digital agriculture
system that actually accomplishes these goals will take innovation and investment. But the
point is that before it wasn‘t possible, and now it is. The added variable of digital technology
has changed the
agricultural development equation. . .‖
You can view and download (free of charge) the full Foreign Affairs special edition on
agriculture here: http://fam.ag/20JyIQm
END
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. My good friend Sam Dryden (former head of the
Agriculture program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) was the key person
spearheading this anthology. He spent his early years on a subsistence farm in Appalachia in
the American state of Kentucky. As a boy, Sam had firsthand experience with farming and
how much life can be transformed by technology. He figured this out early when a rural
cooperative finally hooked up electricity to their family smallholding back in the day... (And
then there was light!) Over the years, much of his career has focused on helping poor
families try to grow food more successfully via technological innovations: ―We begin by…
humbly listening to farmers and their families, learning and respecting their cultures, ways of
living, and knowledge of place and home.‖
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. ―The new African food system should be built around the
idea that agriculture is about more than producing calories; it is about changing society. Its
five components should be valuing the smallholder farmer, empowering women, focusing on
the quality as well as the quantity of food, creating a thriving rural economy, and protecting
the environment,‖ write Kofi Annan and Sam Dryden in the preface. We must dare to think
big and change our mindset. Soon it will be AFRICA‘s turn to help feed the world!
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
PAUSE: ANNOUNCING THE 10 WINNERS OF THE “NEW
WEALTH CREATION MODEL” CONTEST.
A few weeks ago, I asked you to imagine a new wealth creation model where Africa‘s vast
mineral riches are not simply exported raw, but are instead transformed into countless
homegrown innovations and domestically-made products of all kinds.
I suggested a simple exercise to inspire you to imagine and research some of the infinite
possibilities. We received a wonderful response of almost 1,500 replies. I hope you found
your research as inspiring and interesting as I did reading about it. Just to remind you, this
was the assignment:
―Take a look at some of your own country‘s minerals and draw up a list of at least 10
products made from them. Maybe some are new products or emerging just now. Perhaps
others have been around for a very long time. It must be based on proper research. Of the
items you list, are any already produced in your country now? I will give iPads to the 10
most interesting lists. For example, oil: Petrol, diesel, toothpaste, chewing gum, Vaseline,
golf balls, tennis rackets, clothing, guitar wire... Now give me your list! Platinum?
Diamonds? Gold? Iron Ore? Copper?
These are the rules: 1) only include the name of the mineral, your country and a list of
products made from that mineral. No more than 75 words in TOTAL; 2) please submit all
your entries ONLY here under Afterthought #1. Other entries will not be considered; 3)
entries must be received by 3 February at 5 pm South Africa time; 4) all decisions are final.
If there‘s a tie in certain entries, then the first entry received will be selected; 5) you only
need to provide contact details if you‘re one of the 10 winners.‖
Selecting only 10 winners was really difficult. About 1400 of you submitted some
fascinating ideas and I congratulate everyone! However, to be in the running for the iPad,
some of you made it easier for me because you didn‘t provide all the requested information
to compete in the contest.
For the future, consider a lesson learned here – please take care to follow all the rules set
forth in any competition. If for some reason you forget to provide all the information
requested, your almost-winning submission could be disqualified before its merits are even
considered. That doesn't at all take away from the excellence of so many entries, truly a
wellspring of hope, creativity and talent.
A big congratulations to our winners (listed in alphabetical order):
1. Ms Esi Adetor - GHANA - Bauxite - Gold

2. Mr Kingsley Amaefule - NIGERIA - Oil, Limestone, Coal, Tin, Iron
3. Ms Agnes Bapati - BOTSWANA - Diamonds
4. Ms Amara Chukwudum-Aniche - NIGERIA - Lead
5. Mr EL Manuel Equo Dadzie - GHANA - Diamonds
6. Mr Eluaka A N Francis -NIGERIA - Silica
7. Mr Benjamin Kihuria - KENYA - Rutile
8. Mr Nicholson Kumwenda - MALAWI - Uranium
9. Mr Runyararo Mherekumombe - ZIMBABWE - Platinum
10. Mr George Mwangala Mugamangi - KENYA - Rare Earth Oxide
The winners will be contacted shortly by one of my team regarding next steps. There's no
need please to post all your contact details on line. Thank you to everyone who participated.
END

Remember what the great physicist Albert Einstein said, ―Logic will take you from A to B.
Imagination will take you everywhere!‖
FEBRUARY 21, 2016
THE EAGLE IN A STORM (PART 5)

__You need to develop relationships with people based on trust.
The other day I was in New York and decided to attend a church service with a dear friend of
more than 20 years, Dr AR Bernard of Christian Cultural Centre. During the service they
showed a video called the "Marshmallow Test." Young children were put in a room with a
marshmallow (a type of sweet) and told that if they didn‘t eat it, they‘d get an extra one when
the adult returned.
Left alone, the children then had to manage their impulse to simply grab the sweet and eat it.
Many of them managed to control themselves and so earned the extra sweet. However,
experts found that those children who‘d previously been let down by an adult ate the sweet
immediately.
__Some of the children in the Marshmallow Test just didn‘t value the promise made by the
adult because they‘d been betrayed by adults before!
So what has this got to do with our theme about surviving tough times… the Eagle in a
storm? Everything. Getting through tough times will depend on how many relationships you
have built up, based on trust!
When people trust you, it‘s possible to get a helping hand during tough times. Some children
were willing to wait because they trusted the adult who‘d made a promise to them. Asking
other people to wait or make sacrifices depends to a great extent on how much people believe
they can trust you, based on previous conduct, particularly when you seemed to be the one
with the upper hand.
As a matter of principle, you must build relationships with employees, partners, investors,
and customers based on trust. It‘s important to be known as a person of integrity. I‘ve already
written a great deal about respect for the rule of law. This is about respect for yourself as a
person of moral character.
You must establish your track record as an honourable person when times are good. There‘s
no point in showing humility only when things get tough; you must be trustworthy when
you‘re flying high!
# If during the good times you and your family were splashing money around like there‘s no
tomorrow, you‘ll find it difficult to call on others to make sacrifices.
# If you were never willing to pay your creditors (there‘s never an excuse for this!), you‘ll
find it difficult, if not impossible, to secure credit during the tough times.
# If you broke agreements with impunity because you were powerful, no one will stand with
you when it‘s you who needs help.
__Who do you know who really trusts you?
__Who is out there that will stand up for you?
Real trust transcends your ability to go to members of your family, your clan, your tribe,
your religion, your nationality or even your race. When you sit down to reflect upon this
issue, consider how many people from outside your "comfort circle‖ of family, clan, tribe,
race, religion, would consider you trustworthy? This is the "marshmallow test" for each one
of us, everyday. In Christianity, it‘s the real interpretation of the Parable of the Good
Samaritan.
Personally, one of the greatest testimonies of my life is the number of people who have stood
in my corner when I needed help. It never ceases to amaze me how far people are prepared to
stand in my corner. It's called "unmerited favor" and a blessing for which I am deeply
grateful.
There are also people out there who I‘ll try to give almost anything to help out when they are
in trouble!
Do all you can every day to reach out to other people and build trust. Be a person of your
word. Your character as a person of integrity is far more important than any money in the
bank, fancy car or anything material in your life.
Image Credit: Pennsylvania Game Commission /Hal Korber

Even governments need to build trust. Not long ago, the leader of an East African nation
called to ask for help mediating with an investor who‘d lost his business to a rival in their
country. The leader impressed me when he said: "We want investors to trust us with their
money." You can have the best investment code in the world, but if investors do not have
trust in the people and the institutions protecting their investments, they simply will not
come. They'll find somewhere else to go.
In the Parable of the "Good Samaritan," you will not appreciate its full meaning if you do not
understand the enmity that existed between Jews and Samaritans, as recorded in the bible
itself: The Samaritans were descended from a mixed race of people; they had a different
religion which was considered ungodly and cultish. They could also be extremely violent
towards Jews who came into their territory. And yet Jesus chose to demonstrate "love for thy
neighbour" as the ability to reach out to people who don't look like us, pray like us, live like
us, don't agree with us… and often those with whom we may have a grievance from a past
hurt.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3
You may be interested to know that it took the photographer an eight-hour wait to get this
photo of the baby eaglet and family. The mother eagle was so protective that it would not
allow the eaglet to pop into sight, fearing crows or other predators. Then, just s the father
eagle flew in to visit, the little eaglet popped its head up into the light for a split second to
say hi, before it was shushed back into the safety of the shadowed nest.
Strive Masiyiwa Why is paying your creditors so important?

When you start a business you are selling goods or services to other people. That means you
are a "creditor" to those other people, if you did not insist on cash up front.
How would you feel then, if someone does not pay you for what you did?
It is even worse when you the supplier also bought goods and services from another party. A
person who finds it difficult to pay someone for a product or service rendered, is actually not
in business, and they can never be described as an entrepreneur!
An economy in which people don't like to pay their creditors, quickly becomes totally
dysfunctional. I know countries in Africa which could be 10x bigger if there was a culture of
paying creditors.
Strive Masiyiwa The irony is that soon someone is going to make an extraordinary fortune
from creating "Credit Score" Data bases, in our countries:
-when you pay your creditors on time they will give you rating which everyone can have
access to.
Such systems are available in some developed countries, and I know that entrepreneurs are
working on deploying such systems even in Africa. If you are involved in such initiatives I
would like to know more one day (when you are ready to share---not prematurely).
Certainly this is a massive opportunity area for some of you entrepreneurs. Why not research
what is happening in other parts of the world, and see how you can "fast follow" to create a
great business for yourself, that can really help your country.
Strive Masiyiwa Evaluating the capacity of your potential customer to pay, as well as their
history in paying their creditors is a "skill" you MUST acquire if you are going to be
successful in business.
I will never lend money, or offer goods or services on credit to anyone who has a poor record
of paying. Don't rely on outward appearances, do your homework. And even when you do
give credit always limit your exposure to an amount you can ultimately walk away from.
You cannot afford to spend everyday of your business life chasing a single creditor---why
did you allow such a high level of exposure to a single customer?
Strive Masiyiwa David writes,
Thank you Mr Strive for this, we have many instructors , but we do not have many Fathers.
Another lesson learnt "Danger of premature exposure" #TimeForEverything #TimeWait &

#ATimeToAct
My reply,
This is a very important point that you raise, David.
Even an eagle must protect its young, it is not careless simply because it is powerful and a
king of the sky.
Similarly in business you must avoid premature exposure of your business ideas, when they
are in "infancy".
Some people will even describe their entire business idea to a Facebook or other platform.
I have spoken a lot in the past about how you protect your business ideas, and I hope those
who are interested will go back and read what I said about it.
FEBRUARY 26, 2016
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A "TECHNOLOGY

COMPANY" (PART 1).
The other day I was talking to a friend who runs a fast-moving consumer goods company, or
what the experts call an "FMCG" company. He was surprised when I said to him, "I also
consider myself to be in the FMCG sector; I discourage my people from seeing our business
as a ‗technology‘ business.‖
"I don't understand what you mean?" my friend said. "I thought you were in the telecoms
business; isn't that technology?"
"We sell fast-moving consumer goods. Our products and services (things like ‗airtime‘) are
for the mass market consumer. We‘re no different from Coca-Cola. We‘re chasing the same
consumer dollars."
Then I added, "Now if you‘re a consumer goods company selling bread, you must begin to
see yourself as technology company if you want to succeed in today's digital world."
A technology company that sees itself only as a "technology" company will end up losing
sight of the customer. And yet almost all businesses must so embrace technology in
everything they do that, for all practical purposes, they‘re "technology" companies:
__The most successful businesses today (big or small) are those that see themselves as
"technology" companies, irrespective of what business they are in!
Confused?
Imagine an entrepreneur who‘s running a small supermarket at a busy business center. Her
business seems simple enough: she buys fast-moving goods like bread and meat, and sells
them to her community, and perhaps to people who travel through it, like tourists or visitors.
How can we turn her business into a "technology business‖? How could she use technology
to make herself more efficient, attract more customers, be more profitable, and grow --
perhaps into a franchise? What advice would you give her?
# She needs to have a smartphone for starters. Through her smartphone she can buy
applications (Apps) readily available on the Internet to help her with things like inventory
management, payroll management, record keeping and accounts.
All this is technology.
# She can use the Internet to link up with wholesalers and other suppliers to order goods and
compare input prices.
# She can research the retail price her competitors are charging for the same items.
# She can bank using her cell phone. She can be part of a savings scheme.
# She can invest in a credit card terminal to attract new business and larger orders.
# She can advertise her goods on the Internet using everything from Facebook, to Instagram,
etc.
# She can even set up her own website. There are so many young people who can develop a
website for her at very little cost. Whatever business you‘re in, even the informal sector, you
must begin to have a presence on the Internet!
Technology matters in your business. Take the time to look for creative ways to leverage it to
make your business more visible, efficient and profitable!
__Don't think you must wait until you‘re ―big‖ before you learn to harness technology.
You‘ll become big by harnessing technology! Even if you‘re running a rural trading post or
sell goods at an informal market, technology can give you information, efficiency and
competitive edge to help you succeed and prosper.
In this series I‘ll talk about how technology can transform even the smallest business, in any
sector. As the great inventor Thomas Edison said, ―There‘s a better way to do it - find it!‖
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Technological innovation of one kind or another happens

nearly every day in smart businesses around the world. Are they happening in your business?
Often ―innovation‖ means looking at something ―old‖ in a whole new way. It could be right
there in front of you. Which technology entrepreneur said: ―The people who are crazy
enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do…‖? Which ―old‖ technology
did he re-imagine?

As an exercise, why don't you draw up a list of all the technology your business is using. If
you haven't adopted at least 5 new technology ideas over the last 12 months, you aren‘t yet
harnessing technology. If you don‘t have a business and are employed, you can still do this
exercise. This will make you "technology conscious." This type of technology "audit" should
be done by every business, including those in the informal sector. I would be happy to hear
about your list. Keep it short.
Strive Masiyiwa Ken Kar writes:

It's through OLX that am able to place food on the table for my family. what I just need is get
a wind of it that you want to sell sonething, i take photos using my phone and post it on olx.
within a few days your product is gone and i pocket a few coins out of it. So my 'little
business' is technology oriented.
My reply:
Wow, wow, wow!!!
Awesome.
This response had me running around the room.
There are people sitting at home Ken who should be doing exactly what you are doing.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has a platform called Ownai Classifieds which is similar to OLX.
We hope to expand this platform across the whole continent. It is growing so fast, and I get
excited each time I see their numbers.
Using platforms like this you can literally open up opportunities for your small business to
sell globally overnight.
Imagine Ken, what would happen if every informal trader in Africa discovered what you
have discovered?!
Imagine what would happen if every single person who runs any kind of business in Africa
set up a website (Africa has the lowest penetration of business presence on the Internet in the
world)?!!
Imagine what would happen if every cross border trader knew what you just said Ken?!!!
Imagine a day when rural small holder farmers can simply post a picture of a pig, or goat
they want to sell. These are the things you shall begin to see. What we need is young people
to go out and show them how this can happen so easily. Already there are platforms that help
small holder farmers to find buyers for their produce---this is all technology---changing the
lives of people.
Ken one of my people will get in touch with you so I do a post on whah you just said, with
you as my example. It will be part of this series.
Seeing what you just said, is what gives me so much hope that the next generation of
entrepreneurs are going to set Africa alight.
Well done.
Strive Masiyiwa I know I have given you a lot advice in the past. This one though is a little
special.
If I was starting a business today, I would spend my time understanding how to use the Web,
and mobile technology as the key platforms to drive my business.
If you don't make money with this one you will have thrown away a great opportunity. This
is the future---now!
When you buy a "data bundle" use it to make money for yourself; that is what it is for!
Don't just read what I'm saying read what people like Ken Kar, and others are saying.
Have a blessed week.
Strive Masiyiwa Jimmy Kwoba writes:
After reading many of your posts I had sleepless nights until I built two websites in my
country one is for cabs/ taxi and the other is for paying bills thank you sir ..www.cabbie.ug
and www.pesawire.com respectively I have faith in God that they will grow across the whole
world thanks to you Mr strive
My reply:
This is one of the best comments I have seen on this platform. My purpose is to spur
everyone to do something that will propel them into great entrepreneurship.
Well done Jimmy!
You will indeed prosper and one day I hope to meet you
Strive Masiyiwa Happy Ikechukwu writes:
I'm so very grateful to say the least Sir. After reading this, I just called my web designer and
my website will be up before the end of next week. You're such a great blessing to our
generation. I call this grass root economic revolution. I discovered that your message carries
an inherent ability that causes the reader to take action and apply it. More grace to do more
Sir. God bless you.
My reply:
You know I pray over these messages don't you?
Take this message, and really put it to action, it will completely transform your business, and
dare I say even your country.
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A “TECHNOLOGY

COMPANY” (PART 2).
__What are you waiting for?
I was inspired this week to hear stories from so many of you who are using technology to
connect buyers and markets, and, in the process, create income for yourselves. This kind of
thinking will really set Africa alight!
One post really caught my attention: ―It's through OLX that I‘m able to place food on the
table for my family. What I just need is to get a wind of it that you want to sell something. I
take photos using my phone and post it on OLX. Within a few days your product is gone and
I pocket a few coins out of it. So my 'little business' is technology oriented.‖
―Wow, wow, wow!!!‖ was my reply to Ken in Kenya.
When we later contacted him, Ken said he works as a police dog trainer (he‘s a civil servant)
and discovered he could use his phone to take pictures of things for sale which he posts on
OLX. After posting the items (which have included even animals like goats and dogs), Ken
waits for customers to call him on his phone. Like Econet‘s Ownai online classifieds in
Zimbabwe, OLX is a free mobile marketplace for all sorts of goods and services. You‘ll find
many such free platforms online.
To make extra money for his family, Ken even does commission sales for his friends, and
arranges delivery. He also trains privately-owned dogs after-hours Sometimes he even sells
puppies online (not police pups) thus expanding his potential client base.
I told Ken that there are people sitting at home who should be doing exactly what he‘s
doing… using a unique mix of skills, technology, fresh ideas and local knowledge to create
their own little (or big) ―technology businesses.‖
In the palm of your hand today, you have at least one exceptional tool to open doors and
close deals. What are you waiting for?
# Imagine what would happen if every smallholder farmer, informal and cross border trader
across Africa discovered what Ken has discovered!
# Imagine what would happen if every single person who runs any kind of business in Africa
set up a website (Africa has the lowest penetration of business presence on the Internet in the
world)!
__These are things you shall begin to see. What we need is young people to go out and show
others how this can happen so easily. This is all technology -- changing the lives of people.
Techno-entrepreneurs like Ken give me so much hope for the next generation on our
continent. (I highlighted Ken today, but you‘ll hear about others later on). With the power of
technology, everyone can be a winner: What do people want and need? Maybe it‘s not
invented yet. Maybe it‘s available somewhere, but not in your country. Maybe it‘s a service
in short supply and you can bridge that gap. Maybe it‘s old technology but you have the
imagination to do something new with it, like Ken did.
No one really knew how much they ―needed" a mobile phone till very recently in historical
terms. Now most people can‘t imagine life without one, or more. Technology makes it
possible to build new bridges of all kinds. Do you know where you want to go?
―We build too many walls and not enough bridges,‖ said Sir Isaac Newton. He was one of
history‘s great scientists (the theory of gravity!) but was also a great student of the bible.
Almost 300 years ago, Newton said: "Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it
cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or
can be done.‖

The fact that you‘re reading my post means you‘re one of millions of Africans who have
gone online, as Facebook is part of the Internet. As an entrepreneur or entrepreneurially-
minded person (even if you don‘t own your own business), you should be rushing to find
ways to earn money by going online. Don't get hung up that you have no capital, or that your
government does not help you. Let people like Ken inspire and challenge you today. All
these things like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Ownai, EcoCash, M-Pesa -- they can be tools
for you to make money for you and your family. They can help you contribute to
employment creation and economic growth. It's up to you!

I went "cashless" 2 years ago!
Yes, I decided I would no longer carry cash in my pocket, and I use plastic cards, or mobile
money. I even bought a small wallet which cannot contain cash. It was quite challenging
initially, but over time I have adjusted my lifestyle to eliminate the use of cash. In countries
like Kenya, and Zimbabwe there are now millions of people who don't carry cash. This is the
future.
If this is not yet possible in your country, just wait, because it will soon be possible.
In most developed countries, people no longer use cash money for anything other than small
things like coffee.
Strive Masiyiwa Daniel writes:
I studied forestry at a time kenyan government was experiencing cash crises- meaning no job
opportunities in forestry sector. After working on few low paying jobs & armed with
experience, i joined face book & started advertising my services for farmers with idle land &
would like to grow trees as a form of investment. I created a unique tree farming model 'food
forests' where a farmer can grow wood trees, fruits fodder, beehives all under one roof. I
formed a face book page 'Creative tree farming & solutions' where i interact with my farmer
clients /prospective clients- thro face book am able to network & pay bills & hope to build an
unique buz enterprise. Thanks strive, continue inspiring us.
Reply:
Every single entrepreneur on this platform should do exactly what you have done for their
own business.
Let's also agree that within 60 days everyone who has a business no matter how small it is, or
where it is will have a Facebook page (for business purposes), a website for their business.
Strive Masiyiwa Tough Bone,

Writes:
Thanks a lot for your inspiration sir. I am a young film maker and It was through internet
technology that I could raise 1.3m to shoot my 3 minutes short film "Shadow of Justice". The
current best action flick in my country.
And if not for this same technology no one would get to watch it on my YouTube channel.
People don't know the value of technology until they try it. Thanks for all your teachings sir.
#AfricaToTheWorld
My reply,
Great example. Some of the biggest emerging recording artists, and movie stars are first seen
through the Internet. Every single African artist,athlete, football player, musician should
have a social media presence, and use things like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. Let's
encourage them to do what you did. We have to step up Africa's presence on the Internet.
And we have to broaden our use of the Internet beyond social media. Things like Facebook
whilst popular are a very small part of what the Internet is, let's make sure people go beyond
them.

One of the biggest international news this week, is a report that an African based eCommerce
company called Jumia (which many Nigerians, and other countries know well) just raised
over $250m from some of the most respected investors in the world. The company is now
valued at over $1.5bn. Who will be the next Internet billionaire from Africa?--maybe you!
Strive Masiyiwa Joemack writes:
This is in thing in commercial activities in India, net marketing and sales
My reply:
In India and China, young entrepreneurs have taken to buying and selling goods Online in a
big, big way, and some of them are now billionaires. China used to have informal markets
such as we have in many African cities today; they have almost totally disappeared. I predict
that within 10 years the same will happen in Africa, even vendors at street corners will
disappear; it will all be done Online using a mobile phone. Let's see which African country
does it first.
Strive Masiyiwa Onyinye writes,
@Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Your highlight on Ken's online skill is explosively inspiring. Like
Ken, I built my house and family, selling magazine. I got into it while in Law school. I took
it online 4 years ago. Before then, I was using bulk SMS , Facebook, LinkedIn, BBM and
2go contacts, to announce new arrivals and track delivery. Today WE have ecommerce
portal with full social media plugins to promote, sell and track dispatch and subscribers
opinion of our performance. Today we receive enquiries and subscriptions online from every
part of Nigeria and delivering magazines nation wide. We have given employment and
businesses to so many young Nigerians. We are actually prospecting for investors to enable
us build our app. www.internationalnagazine.com.ng
My vision is to do with magazines and books what Jason Njoku did with Nigeria movies..
My reply,
Well done. This is really great. I hope others are reading what you did and will also apply it
to their own businesses. I like Jason very much and I admire what he did with his business
iROKOtv, and we have partnered with him for Kwesé Tv.
MARCH 8, 2016
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A “TECHNOLOGY

COMPANY” (PART 3).
__HARNESS THE FUTURE!
The other day I was watching a program about a young Chinese entrepreneur who created a
restaurant that has no waiters. Everyone orders food using an "App" and simply arrives,
collects and sits down to eat!
Ten years ago, I remember visiting a farmer‘s market in rural Kenya where they exchanged
prices on their cell phones, from village to village, to ensure that middlemen don't cheat
them. It has since developed into a highly sophisticated commodity exchange system. This is
technology.
In the past few weeks, some of you have shared exciting ways you already use technology in
your own businesses. Others of you are just beginning to launch your ideas. You are
harnessing the future!
__Whatever line of work you‘re in, you must master technology. It must be your silent
partner!
Many of you have asked advice about how to get started. Why not use the internet to do
research and bring yourself up to speed with best business practices and technology
innovations around the world?
Whatever you do, don't think you can be blissfully ignorant, or worse… resistant to the
changes happening because of technology.
When I was getting started in business, it wasn‘t possible to go to my phone or the ―world
wide web‖ to search for information about nearly everything. Today, almost all of you can
do this. The world can be at your fingertips!
__ If you‘re really serious about learning online, consider looking for a ―MOOC,‖ which
means a Massive Online Open Course. At www.mooc-list.com, you can find technology
education and training courses (and a wide range of other subjects) taught by top universities
and colleges around the world. Many are free of charge.
Coursera.org is one MOOC with courses on all topics under the sun, including ―How to
create a website in a weekend‖ and ―Web design for everybody.‖ You alone must decide
what you need to make your business more successful and profitable using technology, but
below are a few websites that offer IT courses that may be of interest:
www.udacity.com/courses
www.teamtreehouse.com
www.codeacademy.com
www.code.org
www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming
__Remember: information is power! But one word of warning: While the internet has some
amazing research information, be sure your sources are trusted and credible. Some of what
you read could be worthless and even destructive.
When I'm done with this series, I want you to be conscious of the impact of technology on
the business you‘re in now, and imagine its role in the future… not in a negative sense, but in
a positive way. You‘re not going to get away from the impact of technology. You must either
learn to harness its huge potential and use it to your advantage, or it will destroy you.
Looking at your own businesses today, you should already be working on these five
questions:
# How can technology help me design, produce, market and/or deliver first-class goods and
services to my customers?
# How can technology make my business more productive and efficient?
# How can technology make my business bigger?
# How can technology make my business more profitable?
# How can technology help me leapfrog my competitors?
That should be enough homework for this week!

You may want to learn more about technologies coming down the pipeline, some which will
replace old ones very soon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emerging_technologies If
you‘re an entrepreneur, do your best to keep abreast of such developments. Perhaps your
own ―technology company‖ can provide some of the specialized goods or services needed as
these exciting inventions arrive onto the scene in your country. The ―future‖ is not far away!
It pays to plan ahead.Manage
en.wikipedia.org
List of emerging technologies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Joseph, the South African CEO of Safaricom at the time it successfully launched the
most famous innovation to come from Africa (Mobile Money--M-PESA in Kenya. Our own
brand is known as EcoCash); once told me this:
"At the beginning of each year, I told my staff, I want you each to bring me at least 4
innovations for our business this year."
You know this is very profound. No matter what you are involved in, whether it is a
business, or NGO, or even government, if you cannot introduce at least 4 innovations that
leverage technology, each year, you are not going to be effective or competitive.
Whenever I'm listening to anyone who works for us, I am always listening to hear how well
they embrace innovation and technology, and it has nothing to do with being a technology
company---it is business!

For those of you who love soccer; technology is the "creative midfielder" of the team. It is
the "playmaker" in any successful business.
Spare no effort to invest in technology. Use it in every aspect of your business. Even if you
are selling tomatoes on the street corner; think about what technology can do for you, even if
it is just the use of your phone.
If you have a store or supermarket, make sure you have a website, and post things that are in
your shop. Open your business to a wider market, than your street. The whole country is your
market.
Strive Masiyiwa Frankline writes:
Today I proved your words to be true and certain.

I went to a supermarket and took photos of two jackets each costing Kshs 3500. I posted the
photos in my fb page having price tagged them Kshs4500. You know what? Withing 2hrs I
had Kshs 2000 in my pocket having bought them from the supermarket and delivered them
to my fb friends. Surely my phone is asset because tommorow I wont be idle.
Thank you!
My reply: first of all let me commend Frankline for being such an astute entrepreneur. But
what Frankline also exposes is that the Supermarket could so easily be generating a lot of
money for themselves by simply being pro-active. There is no reason why that Supermarket
should not be posting on FB, or on other Internet platforms to market their business, and also
increase sales and margins.
Let us start a crusade aimed at getting as many people as possible to set up a website, FB
page etc.,

The comments on this technology series are just amazing. I really urge you all to take time
and read what your colleagues have been writing. I'm just awed by it, and it has taught me so
much. Thank you all for sharing. Keep it coming. I really want to hear how you are using
technology in your business.
Remember also my challenge, I want everyone on this platform who is an entrepreneur
(including social), to have a strong Internet presence:
#You must have a website. I'm going to be writing about this separately in future, when I talk
about how you make your business global.
# you must use Social Media platforms, and there is more to it than FaceBook. Learn to use
them all---for business, and not just greeting friends or following celebrities and politicians--
-use it to make Money, because they are powerful business tools. If you don't know how to
do it, read what your colleagues are doing on this very platform.
MARCH 14, 2016

Pause:
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL YOU

NEED?
If you want to be successful, you‘ll need many specialised business skills, but probably the
most important one will surprise you: it's the capacity to READ! Yes, READ!
You must develop the capacity to read, and to read FAST, and by this I don't mean basic
literacy. This is why I talk of "capacity." If you‘re on this platform, you‘re someone who has
more than basic literacy skills. You are the next generation of leaders.
I'm sure you‘ve heard the expression: "(Great) leaders are readers."
You must have the capacity to read a lot, if you want to be successful. All the greatest leaders
I‘ve ever met, from any walk of life, had this in common: they liked to read books, journals,
and articles.
On one of my travels, I met someone who asked me a simple question:
"Where do you live?"
"I have a house in London and one in Johannesburg, but I spend most of my time in
airports."
"Where are your books?" she asked.
"In Johannesburg."
"Ah, that is where you live, because books are your most prized possession."
You must BUY and own books. It must be a constant investment. You‘re not a reader if you
prefer only to borrow books. It means you're not committed. If you have children, take them
to bookshops. Buy or build them bookshelves. Encourage them to own and treasure books.
Take them to libraries, galleries and museums… they're generally free!
__For the African continent to grow and prosper, we must build a greater culture of reading
in our young generations! There‘s not a moment to waste.
The pastor of a great church asked a young man, "Where is your bible?"
"I can't afford one, sir" the young man replied.
"Then sell your shoes!" the pastor replied.
This is the attitude you must build towards the ownership of all other books, too: "If you
think books are too expensive then you have not yet realized their value to you, and your
family."
Reading is by far and away the thing I do most in my day:
# You all know by now that I start my day by reading the bible for at least an hour. I read it
cover to cover at least once a year.
# Before I go to work or start my day, I delve through at least 5 newspapers that I subscribe
to.
# Then I read reports, mostly about what‘s going on in our various businesses. I also read the
latest developments in our industries.
# I read emails (I don‘t allow an email to go unanswered for more than 24 hours). Generally,
I read every email that gets into my inbox. This is why I don‘t like all sorts of emails to
clutter my box. I manage emails very strictly because if I don't, I‘ll lose control of my
agenda.
# Throughout the day, I‘m reading reports and responding to them. I can read very fast.
I hate rituals, but if you must have a ritual, this is it: Read every day to understand, reflect
upon and follow what‘s going on around you that affects you. Remember what I‘ve said
before: things happening far across the world can seriously affect you, too!
You can train yourself to expand your reading capacity quickly and easily:
1. Buy and read books.
2. Buy and read books.
Did I repeat myself?
Buy and read books!
In closing, the other day I went to see a play in New York about Alexander Hamilton, one of
America‘s founding fathers. It was a remarkable musical production and worth all the rave
reviews it‘s getting. I only had one problem: it was a musical performed in "rap" by a mostly
young African-American cast; for a long time, I didn‘t understand a thing they were saying!
But I could still follow the story very well, because I‘d read the book on which it was based
more than 10 years earlier. If I must see a movie, I need to read the book as well.
Someone who has a smartphone or tablet is reading (quantitatively) more than 100x what
their peers read 20 years ago. Nevertheless, the key to reading capacity requires an interest in
reading books, even those in electronic format.
Be smart, be wise; buy and read books. If you‘re planning to get to the top, one book a week
should be your minimum target.
End.

When I decided to return and work in Africa in the early 1980s, I sold all my few possessions
-- things like my stereo systems, my color tv (big thing in those days!), my prized music
albums... everything I could sell. I then used all the cash to buy books, because I wasn't sure
if I'd be able to find some of my most important books. When one of my friends asked me
why I was doing this, I said books were my most important possession, because with the
knowledge they give me, I can make enough money to buy anything else!

It matters what you read, if you want to be taken seriously. Don't become addicted to
following the lives of so-called celebrities. If you only want to read the 148 characters of
Twitter, you‘re playing with fire. Get down to reading serious stuff… If you don't like it,
you‘ll never be able to lead effectively!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. Read to sharpen your curiosity. A person who is not
intellectually curious about issues will develop a closed mind and will eventually end up
being manipulated by others.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 4. When we first started this platform, there were people who
complained that my blogs were "too long." They have grown, and together we‘re engaging in
one of the most serious platforms on Facebook. We have grown together.
Strive Masiyiwa Mpho writes,
Sir i never loved reading unless it was for marks .I only started reading more after you told
me not to just only read what you wrote but also read books about how other business man
and woman are runing their business. I have not stoped reading since then and i can already
see growth. Thank you sir..
My reply,
"I never loved reading unless it was for marks".
As usual Mpho your contributions on this platform are right on point:
Many people make this mistake of thinking that reading and studying is something you do
for "marks" when you are at school or on a course. It should be a lifestyle, and you can train
yourself to develop this lifestyle.
Here are a few simple steps others can take to be like you:
1. Use the Internet to go on Amazon and research books on areas that really interest you. It
will only take you half an hour at most. Draw up lists of these books, and make it your
objective to acquire one or two every month. Amazon is really easy to use, and the books can
be delivered in a matter of days or weeks depending on where you are.
2. You can also join platforms of book reviews, most major international newspapers and
magazines have such reviews.
With your smartphone you are a click away from finding out a lot of information about
subjects of interest. Even if you cannot afford to buy, you can still access a lot of things
Online for free.
3. Subscribe for one or two magazines.
4. Read for leisure as well, because even if you are reading a book on Alex Ferguson (former
Manchester United Manager), it will help develop your reading capacity and speed.
Reading is like anything else: the more you do, the easier it gets, and the better you become.
5. Cut back on tv, and focus on reading. If you have a young family, have one or two days a
week when you all switch off the tv, and do some reading.
6. Take a walk downtown at lunch time in your city and look out for all the bookshops. If
you are at an airport browse through the bookshops. Make it one of your "good habits".
Strive Masiyiwa Neba Grace writes,
Am really joyful about this post.I was discussing with my Czech friend the other day about
reading because am someone who likes to read a lot and am writing my own book now and
also invest a lot of money buying books. My friend told be she was just checking the people
who read a lot or who are reading books or investing in reading Czech Republic was number
7 and India number in the Worlds ranking on people who read and she didn't see Africa.I
went speechless really. Please my dear African brothers and sisters there a lot of free e-books
out there to gain loads of information to grow and expand our knowledge let go get it and it
true the bible says "my people die because of lack of knowledge" Knowledge is power
believe me.
My reply,
Now you understand why I wrote this VERY IMPORTANT post.
Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to us!
Strive Masiyiwa When my wife and I were first married, she rarely read anything outside of
a few fashion and sport magazines. She was amazed that I liked reading even as a form of
leisure. I encouraged her, and before long she was also reading. Today she reads much more
than me! I cannot keep up with her.
She is always being invited onto boards of international organizations, because she is very
diligent with reading board books and corporate documents.
Strive Masiyiwa
This has been an amazing response:
This post has registered over 211,000 likes. Over 400,000 are engaged on it at any one time.
It has already reached over 7m people.
Quite remarkable!
Clearly it is a subject that resonates with many of you.
Here is what we should all pledge to do:
If the 1.3m regular followers of this platform pledged to read just One book a month we
would completely transform our continent. "How? "---you might ask; just try it and see what
happens!
It actually does not matter (for now what you read, it can even be a fictional novel). It must
be at least 250 pages to qualify.
You must however post and say something brief to introduce the book to others. Naturally I
would prefer if it is related to business, and entrepreneurship. I'm keen to hear what you read,
so I can also get some of the books you find.
Let's start a movement on reading
Strive Masiyiwa Neba Grace writes,
Am really joyful about this post.I was discussing with my Czech friend the other day about
reading because am someone who likes to read a lot and am writing my own book now and
also invest a lot of money buying books. My friend told be she was just checking the people
who read a lot or who are reading books or investing in reading Czech Republic was number
7 and India number in the Worlds ranking on people who read and she didn't see Africa.I
went speechless really. Please my dear African brothers and sisters there a lot of free e-books
out there to gain loads of information to grow and expand our knowledge let go get it and it
true the bible says "my people die because of lack of knowledge" Knowledge is power
believe me.
My reply,
Now you understand why I wrote this VERY IMPORTANT post.
Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to us!
MARCH 20, 2016

PAUSE: KWESÉ SPORTS EXCLUSIVELY AWARDED FREE-TO-AIR
BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE!
I‘m really excited to share some great news. Last Thursday, the English Premier League
(EPL) announced it has exclusively awarded Econet Group the free-to-air rights to broadcast
live EPL for three seasons beginning in August 2016!
Kwesé Sports will also serve as an agent to sub-license these EPL rights to free-to-air public
broadcasters in 50 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
In case you‘re new to my FB page and are wondering what‘s going on, Kwesé TV is our new
soon-to-be launched satellite and broadcasting network, wholly-owned by Econet Media, a
subsidiary of Econet Group. Kwesé Sports is part of Kwesé TV which will also offer
entertainment, news and business channels with exclusive and premium programming.
I‘ll update you from time to time about our progress. After the launch of Kwesé TV later this
year, I‘ll also use this as a case study on how to set up a major business venture like this one.
In terms of the discussions we‘ll be having on this platform, I want you to focus on what
you'll learn about entrepreneurship rather than on your role as a potential customer. There
will be other platforms to discuss this as a customer, which the company will set up.
__What interests me here is really what learning and tips I can give you to help you establish
and build businesses that can be successful -- not only in your local community, country, and
across Africa, but even globally.
For competitive reasons, I will not be able to reveal certain things at this stage:
# Timing is important in business. (Notice that I didn't shout out, ―Hey guys, I'm bidding for
the English Premier League.‖ Do it first, before you start talking about it!)
If I were baking a cake, I‘ve just shown you one of its key ingredients, so it's too early to talk
about how it will taste! There will always be people who, if you give them flour, want to
voice an opinion already about the type of cake it is; they‘ll tell you it's chocolate with ice
cream on top! Always wait until you see a greater picture… then you get a good surprise.
Thank you as always for your support.
End.
Learn More Online:

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/mar/170316-premier-league-
agrees-rights-deal-with-econet-south-africa.html
Image: World Cup 2010, Johannesburg, South Africa Fan Park

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Putting together something like this requires a real team
effort, just like becoming a winning soccer team. Many of our team around the world helped
make this happen. Here are some links to read more about this exciting development:
http://www.kwesesports.com/.../kwese-sports-wins-english.../
http://www.econetwireless.com/press-releases-details.php...
http://www.premierleague.com/.../170316-premier-league...Manage
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. ―Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance,

learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do,"
said Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to most of you as Pelé, probably the greatest
footballer in history. There‘s so much for us to learn from the focus and discipline of top
sports professionals in all different sports around the world.
Strive Masiyiwa From this post, I hope that some of you have began to appreciate the
"business side" of sport.
Content is the "raw material" of the broadcasting business.
When you set up a broadcasting business you have to buy "Rights" from the owners of the
content. These rights vary in price from a few hundred thousand $, even to billions of dollars
per year for sport in markets like the US, and Europe.
English Premier League, Spanish League, Champions League, CAF (African soccer) and
NBA American Basketball League, are the most expensive when it comes to the African
market. Other sports like Rugby, Formula One are also premiumly priced assets.
Entertainment content like movies, and top series are also extremely expensive.
Every type of business has a "raw material"---the better the raw material, the better the
output. What is the "raw material" of your business?
MARCH 24, 2016
PAUSE: FLOWER POWER IN KENYA AND

ETHIOPIA: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME
On Valentine‘s Day last month, I came across an article in a top British newspaper: "My love
is like a red rose shipped all the way from Africa." It told how fresh cut roses grown in
Kenya and Ethiopia are now exported in huge numbers to Europe, a market dominated for
over 300 years by flower growers in the Netherlands (also known as Holland).
"Where once most cut flowers, including red roses, came from Holland. . .today they more
likely come from Africa. New figures reveal a huge drop in Dutch production, in favour of
imports from Kenya -- where roses are called "waridi" in Swahili -- and Ethiopia. Half a
million people depend on the floriculture industry in Kenya alone,‖ according to the Daily
Telegraph (14/02/16).
Holland still holds onto about half the cut flower market worldwide, but now Kenya and
Ethiopia are the #4 and #5 cut-flower producers in the world! Together they earned more
$1.3 billion in export sales in 2014. That‘s 13.5% of global market share in a $9.1+ billion
global market! Wow!
Proper growing of even one rose bush in your own garden requires knowledge of water,
light, soil, pest management, fertilizers, and pruning. The best rose growers chalk up their
success to a lifetime of experience and a lot of ―TLC‖ (tender loving care).
How did Kenya and Ethiopia master all these processes to become world-class growers and
exporters of cut flowers in this highly-sophisticated global market? They partnered and
recruited experts from all over the world. They invested billions in the latest technologies,
including climate-controlled transport terminals specially designed to ensure fresh flowers
arrive quickly across the world looking as beautiful and smelling as nice as when they were
first cut!
They listened to customers who say they really want to buy cut flowers that last a long time!
They learned from the transfer of technology skills and best practices. Result: Kenyan and
Ethiopian flower exports have expanded exponentially, making billions in forex earnings for
their countries, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Research and development will continue as in any major industry. For example, flowers
require a lot of fresh water to grow. That‘s a scarce resource. Cultivation requires a huge
number of workers. That means ensuring labour management that respects and protects
workers and their families. They require a lot of sun (very plentiful in Kenya and Ethiopia on
the Equator, so year-round growing is possible). But sometimes weather is unpredictable and
supply must not be affected so that means investment in glass houses (also known as green
houses).
This is floriculture, but why stop there?
__Who says we can‘t go on to challenge traditional global market leaders in other industries
over the next few decades? I believe we can!
Someday we‘ll read stories like this on a regular basis about Africans rising up to dominate
industries like textiles, electronic manufacturing, motor vehicle production, food processing,
health care, and many others.
It won‘t happen simply because we want to see it. We have to take practical steps to ensure it
happens. I remember 20 years ago serving on the board of an investment fund set up by then
President Bill Clinton, and chaired by Ambassador Andrew Young.
We identified horticulture as one of many potential industries where Africa could excel. We
did extensive research to see what conditions and policies would be required for this to
happen.
Although Kenya was behind several other countries at the time (and Ethiopia was nowhere to
be seen, but if you ever met the Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi and his colleagues nothing
would surprise you today)… We all agreed that Kenya would take off, even though we had
no idea how far they would go!
Now if you go to church on Easter Sunday, or a wedding any time of the year, and you see
roses, you now know there's a very good chance they were grown in African soil under
African skies. Don‘t just see them as beauty… celebrate them as another way Africa is
rising! Happy Easter.
End.
Image Caption: Fair trade rose flower farm in Kenya which produces cutting flowers for
export to Europe
A dear friend sent me a message this weekend in which he drew my attention to the
remarkable similarity between John 3:16, and 1John 3:16.
The Apostle John wrote the two books at very different times. And he did not paginate them
into numbered verses.
In 1994 when I read the bible cover to cover for the first time, my Pastor (Tom Deuschle)
asked me for my initial impression; to which I said:
"I'm still trying to reconcile how a book written by more than 60 different writers spanning
hundreds and even thousands of years; reads as though it was written by one person."
He smiled and said, "if you will believe, it was written by one Author."
Have a blessed Easter.
ps. There is something about Easter that always makes it feel like the first day of my life!
Policies to attract investment are very important but policies that are formulated without ever
consulting those whom you hope to attract to invest are at best a total waste of time. It
always saddens me when I see well meaning policymakers sit down to prepare policies and
even laws without ever consulting anyone other than themselves and their ministers. It‘s so
often ‗take it or leave it,‘ because we know what is best.‖ Next post I am going to write about
the importance of listening!
Strive Masiyiwa Papa Ekow writes:
I feel your AGRA team must have left Ghana out of this product, nevertheless bless you for
the impact you have set in me so far with your teachings.
My reply,
Ghana is one of the key countries in the Agra initiatives, so key that it is the West African
headquarters of the entire initiatives. The first chairman and founder of Agra is the Hon Kofi
Annan. Only a few months ago I was in Ghana and we held the Agra board meeting there.
We also held meetings with President Mahama, and former President John Kuffour.
If you are interested in the work of Agra visit their website, and also follow online.
The Internet is a wonderful tool my dear brother because it allows you to do so much
research on your own about any issue. You are even able to go back and study some of the
things I have written on agriculture in Africa, and even see some of my speeches.
Strive Masiyiwa In a modern economy there is more to agriculture than simply growing
food. If you are also able to grow things for the export markets foreign currency flows into
your economy. This enables your country to import other things that are not produced locally
including medicines.
Growing food is good; growing things that generate exports is also good; both should be
there. Let's develop our capacity to do both, as best we can.
Strive Masiyiwa I recently had an opportunity to do a tour of the Dutch horticultural
industry. Amongst the things that struck me were the following:
1. The country is actually very small and yet they have built a high value agricultural
industry. It really fascinated me how they are able to generate such high income from tiny
plots of land.
2. One of their leading professors in agriculture told me that they have developed tomato
seeds that are so valuable that one kg is worth more than one kg of gold.
3. They export over $10bn of vegetables every year. Just imagine this is more than the GDP
of many countries in Africa.
I'm always trying to learn something new wherever I go. I particularly like to try and
understand what drives prosperity of nations.
I did not tour because I wanted to go into agriculture, I simply wanted to learn, so I can help
small holder farmers in Africa to make more money for themselves. I'm after all chairman of
the largest organization in Africa, seeking to uplift the lives of small holder farmers: AGRA.
If you look for good you will find it, if you look for bad you will find it too. Remember the
old adage I taught you---"eat the meat and throw away the bones".
Strive Masiyiwa From my last post on sport, I hope that some of you have began to
appreciate the "business side" of sport.
Content is the "raw material" of the broadcasting business.
When you set up a broadcasting business you have to buy "Rights" from the owners of the
content. These rights vary in price from a few hundred thousand $, even to billions of dollars
per year for sport in markets like the US, and Europe.
English Premier League, Spanish League, Champions League, CAF (African soccer) and
NBA American Basketball League, are the most expensive when it comes to the African
market. Other sports like Rugby, Formula One are also premiumly priced assets.
Entertainment content like movies, and top series are also extremely expensive.
Every type of business has a "raw material"---the better the raw material, the better the
output. What is the "raw material" of your business?
Strive Masiyiwa Nnamdi writes,
True talk. We are awaiting the take of of your kwese sports so as to key in. I pray you would
find it worthy to bring it to Nigeria.
My reply:
Nigeria is always a key market in anything I try to do in Africa. It is now 16 years since I
first arrived to do business in Nigeria. It was difficult at first, but now I have mastered how to
do business there in a clean way. By the grace of God I have truly prospered in Nigeria. We
have huge plans for Kwesé Sports in Nigeria. We are going to storm that great country!
Strive Masiyiwa Fifteen years ago whilst on business in Mauritius I asked my young guide
how things were going in his country. He excitedly took me to see a rocky piece of wasteland
just outside the capital and pointing at it he said:
"Sir, my grandfather worked as a farm laborer, and used his money to send my father to
school and he worked in a hotel as a waiter, and he sent us to school. Here on this land our
government is going to build a world class financial services center; we call it Cyber City.
This is where I shall work", he said proudly, and then added, "sir, we have a vision as a
nation; come back one day and see."
Fifteen years later, it is the largest Financial Center in SS Africa after Joburg. The wasteland
is now gleaming high rise buildings housing some of the largest, most sophisticated
businesses in the world. Thousands of jobs have been created, billions of dollars in foreign
exchange flow through the economy every year. I moved the headquarters of Econet Global
there many years ago, and we have beautiful offices employing many professionals.
What do you "see"? What is your vision?
Strive Masiyiwa Patrick Latigo writes,
Strive, this is a real master piece. As an African entrepreneur with a big dream for high
quality, high value added agricultural products that meet stringent export markets' quality
and safety requirements, I strongly belief the continent will surely rise. We need enabling
business environment created by African governments and sustained promotion campaigns
of our products. Look at the opportunities under AGOA! So much can be done by Africans.
Happy Easter too.
My reply,
Two years ago when the renewal of AGOA was being delayed in the American Congress, I
travelled there in my capacity as Chairman of AGRA, with former President of Nigeria
President Obasanjo to urge Senators and Congressmen to renew it.
As AGRA we have also been fighting hard to ensure that another major initiative which
helps African Small holder farmers called "Feed The Future", is also extended. This is one of
the most important things President Obama put in place that few people except policy experts
know about. We are not just focused on the the US, but we also engage Europe, China,
Brazil and India to try and open up markets for African agriculture.
With my colleagues at AGRA we spend a lot of time helping African governments design
policies aimed at fostering agricultural development, A lot of progress is being made, but
these things take time, and we must be patient even as we persevere.
MARCH 28, 2016
TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A TECHNOLOGY

COMPANY (PART 4)
__Listen before you leap.
In a recent interview, a former CEO of Apple Computer, John Sculley, talked about
entrepreneurship, innovation and new ―disruptive‖ technologies. He said his Apple business
card back then didn‘t call him Chief Executive Officer. It said: ―Chief Listener‖ …
As you transform your business into a technology company, you‘ll have important decisions
to make. You, too, will need to become a ―chief listener.‖ Not every exciting new technology
will be right for every business.
Not long ago I met a young farmer from Zambia who told me of innovations he was
introducing on his smallholding of only a few acres:
He knew he had to introduce hybrid seeds to increase his yield… seed technology.
He was using fertilizers and testing out different application methods… soil management
technology.
He was introducing storage bags to protect his harvest from losses… technology.
He was interested in buying a dryer to ensure that he could extend the life of his crops…
technology.
He was using his cell phone to find buyers for his produce, and had set up a website…
technology.
He regularly talked to other farmers and exchanged information on Facebook and

Instagram… technology.
He was using solar power to light up his home and power up some of his equipment…
technology.
He was part of a cooperative planning to buy a tractor and other equipment to improve
productivity and output… again, technology.
He was aware of what other young progressive farmers were doing all over Africa, using
social media to keep abreast of news from Ghana to Brazil and beyond… Technology,
technology, technology.
This young man had done his homework and was in the process of making careful
technology choices on his path to prosperity.
So, how might you get started? If you‘re already in business, you must first take the time to
listen -- to your customers, your business team, and a few trusted experts, whether many or
few. I‘ve already discussed the importance of reading…
# What do people in your market or industry say they want? Is it available? Why or why not?
How can technology help?
# How can you and your team do your work better -- more productively, efficiently and
quickly?
How can technology help?
# Do you know what your competitors are doing?
How can technology help you do it better?
The business magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes once said: ―The art of conversation lies in
listening.‖
__Listening is a critical form of market research that doesn't have to cost you a lot of money.
―If we were supposed to talk more than listen, we would have two tongues and one ear,‖ said
the great American writer, Mark Twain in the 1880s.
Twain was reportedly offered the opportunity to invest in the first telephone by its inventor,
Alexander Graham Bell, but he decided… no. I guess he didn‘t like the sounds of that new
technology! I wonder who he listened to? Back then, a telephone was no doubt a very
disruptive idea.
Basic listening homework includes deciding the right questions, then:
# listening to customers, suppliers, competitors and experiences of trusted others;

# consulting with experts (not just the ones trying to sell you new technology).
__Please don‘t just wake up one morning and decide on ―impulse‖ to spend or invest lots of
money just because a salesman or so-called expert tells you that new technology alone will
make you rich and successful. You must do your homework first!
In today‘s high-tech world, people still talk much more than they listen. Did you know the
words ―silent" and ―listen" have the exact same letters in them? There are so many more
ways to do your business research now than ever before.
Everyone can learn and benefit from being a ―Chief Listener.‖

Image Credit: KMW – Ubuntu Hope
Strive Masiyiwa Sirjeff Dennis writes:
I've been a poultry farmers since when I was 17 till now I'm 22, technology has taken me to
places where I've never dreamt of. With the current technology I'm using about making my
own chicken feed with modern millers, using automated facilities like drinkers, feeders,
heaters, brooding lamps, freezers and abattoir I'm making a handsome profit while improving
lives and providing jobs to my fellow youth.
We are now moving ahead to create something that would directly link our products and
customers.
You can read my story featured in how we made it in Africa

http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/tag/sirjeff-dennis/
My reply:
I loved your story!
During the negotiations for the renewal of AGOA with the Americans one of the sticking
points was the poultry industry in Africa. Whilst I time and space does not allow me to talk
about the issues; let me say I learnt a lot about this incredible industry. The opportunities for
you will surely reach the sky.
Step up your application of technology. Keep looking for ways to use technology to drive
your business!
As soon as you have introduced something,immediately start the next...always tinkering!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Nobel laureate writer George Bernard Shaw said almost 100
years ago: ―People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I don‘t believe in
circumstances. The people who get on in the world are they who get up and look for the
circumstances they want, and, if they can‘t find them, make them.‖ Think about it.
Strive Masiyiwa Pastor Shingi writes:
I am a pastor in a mainline church and I am 'listening' to you and what is going on in the
world of technology. I am confident that the way I do my ministry can be enhanced and be
more effective through the use of technology. Thank you for your teachings.
My reply:
Even the church is not immune to the impact of technology, when we use it as a tool.
Personally I'm amazed by how much technology has impacted my devotion and study over
the last few years:
When I go to the church service I carry an iPad, and record the service. This allows me to
study the service in greater depth later.
On my iPad I have all the Translations including the Hebrew and Greek, which means I don't
need a Concordance. Having all these Translations in one place is just amazing. I use an
Online platform called OliveTree, and an App called study notes.
For you as a Pastor the opportunities are endless:
For instance all your teachings should be available on YouTube (I follow many Pastors on
YouTube). Online tools like YouTube and Facebook are now more effective and cheaper
than an older technology called Tv.
You should be using platforms like Yookos, and Facebook to also deliver your messages;
You should offer your congregants payment options to make their tithes, and offerings.
You can have Online church services every week, and make your ministry global!
If you sit down today, and draw up a list of technologies you could be using, you will find at
least 25!
Strive Masiyiwa Victor,

I will have one of my people get in touch with you. I'm humbled by what you have done.
God bless you.

COMPANY (PART 5)
__Use mobile phones and the Internet to change your business.
Most of the fastest growing businesses in the world are businesses that have "re-imagined"
well established business areas by introducing innovations based on the Internet and mobile
phone technologies. You don‘t have to change the business you‘re in to make it a
"technology company." You just have to "re-imagine" it using the Internet and the mobile
phone.
Let's look at some examples:
# From 'flea markets' to eCommerce: Africa is full of what we commonly call "flea markets"
(informal markets). These are small little businesses selling almost anything that we find in
every African city. Some are huge -- Mbare Market in Harare, Ikeja Market in Lagos, Kibera
in Kenya, to name some of the best known. There you can buy almost anything!
In China some smart young entrepreneurs looked at these informal markets, and re-imagined
them on the Internet.
__Out of this came some of the most valuable businesses in the world today… companies
like Alibaba and Tencent!
# We all know about companies like Uber and Lyft, and their Chinese counterparts. All these
guys did was use mobile technology, and the emergence of smartphones, to bring efficiency
to something as old as cars -- hailing down a taxi!
# A young entrepreneur in America, who loved reading books, wanted to find a way to get a
book. Instead of spending his time going to bookshops and libraries, he thought: ―Why not
sell books using the Internet?‖ The company he created is one of the most formidable
businesses in the world today. It‘s called Amazon.
# A group of entrepreneurs used to sell videos, something we see on the streets of Africa
every day. These guys thought to themselves: ―Why can't we do this Online?‖ First, they
started selling on a website, then they thought why sell videos? We can just stream the
videos direct! That is Netflix, folks!
# Years ago if you wanted to sell something like your car, you went to the newspaper and
bought a column in a "classifieds" column. It was time-consuming and costly. Today there
are thousands of businesses that do this Online.
Some of the greatest opportunities today lie in simply taking things we have always done,
and applying innovations based on the Internet and mobile phones.
Today I want you to think about the business you're in, or work for, and ask yourself:
__What have we done to make this a technology business? How much of our income comes
from our use of the Internet and mobile phones?
If it‘s less than 25%, you‘re headed for extinction… and you probably deserve it! If you don't
get your business Online and using mobile technology, someone will "re-imagine" what you
do, and take it away from you.
# You have to drive your business through the Internet and Mobile phone technology.
There‘s no business which is exempt. You saw the article I published recently called "Digital
Farmer." Yes, even smallholder farmers in villages must use mobile phones and the Internet
to grow their businesses.
Here‘s an interesting prediction: within 10 years there should be no markets found anywhere
in Africa, like Siyo So, Mbare, Ikeja, and Kibera. You shouldn‘t find anywhere in Africa
someone selling wares at a street corner, even vegetables. It will all have gone Online, and
ordered using a mobile phone. Now let's get to work!
Image Caption: A farmer uses mobile phone technology to compare prices at various markets
within, Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Strive Masiyiwa Prince writes:
Sir you have taught me so much since i officially made you my mentor for years now, i have
passed through your entreprenurship school and now am teaching others and also learning
more from you. Two years ago on the month of November when you first shared the uber
knowledge with us, i caught a whole lot from it. Today i want to announce to you that we are
about coming out with a system in the world that will promote Africa. Ofcourse it will be
technologically advanced. Watch out for more Sir and i know soonest the world leaders will
promote Africa and our new technological paradigm which you contributed immensely to
this development. Like David said, 'he has exalted the horn of his anointed above his fellows'
This Africa will experience. Thank you lord, DR strive you are a great African leader with
great heart. Long live Africa
My reply:
I loved this very much!
Strive Masiyiwa Canda Multimedia writes,

Our printing firm; C & A Computer Services is located in Benin City, Nigeria but we have
succeeded in offering quality printing services to clients in far away places like Portharcourt,
Lagos, Calabar, Abuja etc. This is simple! They send us their information, we do the design
and send to them using the social media platform. Once they give us the go ahead and
transfer the fund, the printing proper is done and within hours DHL or FedEx personnel are
at your doorstep to deliver your printed work at your doorstep. Before, we use to think of
opening branches across Nigeria but now we are thinking of occupying more space on the
geography of the internet. One day, we shall be in Benin City and still be printing for clients
in Europe. Technology has made it possible!
My reply:
You will be global one day, very soon. Remember to offer me shares at the time of your IPO!
If you want to know what will create the jobs in Nigeria (and other African countries), as
well as the next generation economy, it is guys like this. I truly salute you.

The other day one of the followers of this platform showed me a service he had developed to
replace the "Office Messenger" (still very common in Africa---basically an errand guy who
takes mail and messages from one company to another). The App he had developed which I
will feature one day, works just like Uber or similar service: if you want an office messenger,
you just use your Smartphone, and a guy pitches up in minutes, and can take a message
wherever you want.
So the "Office Messenger" is obsolete but in his place is a young contractor with a bicycle.
Self employed just like an Uber driver.

There are millions of Africans who work as migrants in neighbouring countries. For instance
Zimbabweans, Malawians, Zambians and Mozambicans work as migrants in South Africa.
Many of these people are low income workers, and they leave their families back home. This
means at the end of every month they have to send money home. The way it had been done
for over 100 years is to give the money to someone crossing the borders, snd hope they don't
cheat you!
More than 4 years ago I put a team to study how this works, and develop an "App" so they
can use their phones for cross border transactions. The technology part was quite easy, the
difficulty was getting the regulatory approvals from Central banks (particularly in South
Africa). It was not easy, but after some three years they finally gave us approval late last
year. It now takes just a few minutes to move the money from one country to another.
Out of a desire to solve this "human need", we have created one of our fastest growing
businesses!
APRIL 7, 2016·

COMPANY (PART 6)
__Applying technology to an old, old idea!
In some parts of West Africa, they call it "susu." In South Africa they call it a "stokvel." In
Zimbabwe they call it "mukando.‖
__A group of people who know and trust each other get together and they form a savings
club. They agree to save a certain amount of money every month and each one of them takes
turns to receive a large amount of money. It‘s a traditional savings and loan idea that‘s been
around for a very, very long time.
Women in informal markets, in villages, in church groups, do it. Low income workers do it,
right across Africa.
People who have tried to estimate how much money circulates in these informal savings
schemes believe it‘s probably billions of dollars across Africa.
About three years ago, I brought together a small team of smart "coders" and asked them to
design a mobile "App" to "re-imagine" this system. The team developed a platform which
enabled a group of people to use their "mobile money" service to save their money using this
platform, using their phone number as a bank account. We‘ve now successfully implemented
this idea, and thousands of Savings Clubs are now using it.
The "EcoCash Mukando" platform does not try to do away with this traditional system, but
has simply applied technology to make it more efficient and flexible:
# it holds the deposits on behalf of the savings clubs, and what are known as "burial
societies."
# they can earn interest on their money, which they could not do before.
# it's easier and safer to deposit and move their money.
Since the service was launched in Zimbabwe a few months ago, I have been amazed at how
many clubs exist, as each week hundreds of new clubs are joining, and being formed.
Now that we have got the concept working, and generating revenue, our next task is to begin
to roll it out in other countries.
A few weeks ago I was having a meeting with a leading international banker in New York,
when he suddenly said to me, ―Tell me about this banking system your people in Zimbabwe
have pioneered. You call it Mukando; what an amazing idea. You guys could mobilize
billions in savings!"
I simply smiled, and thought to myself, "Here is a guy in New York, watching something we
are doing in Africa."
I have no doubt in my mind that this is a billion dollar idea.
I have used this example to illustrate a very important point to you:
Some of the greatest opportunities out there do not necessarily involve new inventions or
innovations. You can start by observing things around you, some of them basic mundane
things. Some of these things are taken for granted, as "the way things are done," but
everything that you can see with your physical eyes, is "subject to change."
Why can't you be the person who brings this change by applying a technological innovation
to it...
Here‘s my challenge: Think about the most mundane activity around you, and "re-imagine it"
for the DIGITAL AGE. If you succeed, you'll be on your way to becoming a billionaire.
One last point: many people tell me they have lots of ideas, but the mobile operators in their
country are not willing to partner with them. As much as I'm in this business, let me tell you
something: you don't need them!
Uber, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber, WeChat, Instagram, Alibaba… none of them went begging
mobile operators to partner with them. They just did it.
Come up with strategies that bypass the need to get anyone's approval or permission,
including mine!
You could be the one who changes the world with an idea all others thought impossible.
Don‘t get left behind.
Strive Masiyiwa My reflection today:
"learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting
God have his way with you. This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy
other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply. The more you
go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to
our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Apostle Peter).2Pe1-TLB
APRIL 13, 2016

COMPANY (PART 7)
__Maybe it was "esusu," "stokvel," and "mukando" that got me into business after all!
In my last post I talked about a traditional savings scheme practiced across Africa. It‘s easily
the largest savings bank on the African continent, holding billions of dollars with operations
in every single country in Africa (each one with its own brand name), and a branch network
that goes right down to the village level! Well, it's more than a single bank, it is more of a
system.
I talked in my post about how technology could be applied to this amazing informal system
to make it more efficient, modern and secure. I imagined that African entrepreneurs
(including myself) will soon create a multibillion dollar industry around it. The mobile phone
and the Internet are the key tools to making this happen.
Which reminds me, did I tell you that this is really how I raised my first capital to go into
business?
When I returned to my home country Zimbabwe, soon after its independence, I got a job with
the state-owned telephone company as an engineer. In those days there were no mobile
telephone companies. Almost every day after work, I used to stop at a local hotel for drinks
with some of my mates before catching the bus to go home. I did not own a car in those days,
and I used the public bus system to get to and from work.
My friends and I would often discuss different business ideas which could help us generate
more cash for ourselves. I personally wanted to save up to buy or build a house one day, and
get married. I soon realised that these discussions always ended up as nothing more than just
talk, so I determined to put some form and structure to it:
__"Why don't we start a savings club in which we all pledge to set aside a portion of our
salaries?" I suggested to more than 10 people gathered around the bar.
"What will we do with the money?" someone asked.
"Well, we can develop projects in which we invest?" I suggested.
"Like what?!" someone else chimed.
"We can start a disco. The one here is lousy!"
Almost everybody thought it was a good idea, and I was chosen as the coordinator. I also
suggested that next time we meet at a more serious venue, rather than a pub. I suggested the
home of an uncle of mine, and we set a date for that weekend. On the Saturday morning set
for the meeting, only three of my friends pitched up! I suggested we start anyway, and we
agreed to each set aside every month what would have been the equivalent of $75.
I went off and opened the bank account, and told all the would-be members of our little
―mukando‖… adashe, ajo, chama, chilimba, chit, ekub, estibe, esusu, hagbad, likilimba,
kixikila, maround, motshelo, njangi, upatu, stokvel, vicoba were just a few of the savings
schemes that you shared here last week… (sometimes spelled in a few different ways, but
I‘ve done my best).
At the end of the month, only two of us actually put in any money. Two others who promised
to put in money continued to attend meetings for a month or two, but then we kicked them
out after it became obvious they were never going to put in any money.
__Once I put in the first $75, I became a very serious individual. I never entered a pub
again... The rest is history, as they say!
Here are some things to take away:
# I really started with $75, as a member of a failed savings scheme of young professionals.
# It's great to get together with your friends to start a business, but don't allow it to just
become pub talk. Put some action plans together.
# Once you start putting money aside, things begin to happen.
# When people must put their money into an account, you‘ll soon see who‘s committed and
who is not.
# Don't be discouraged if others aren‘t willing to commit; just proceed with those who will...
even if it‘s just you!
# Even if you haven‘t yet decided what you‘re going to do, start saving, even if it‘s very
little. It's not reasonable to imagine you‘ll be able to borrow money, and start a business,
without putting in anything yourself, however small.
Today, you can raise money for small ventures on the Internet using much more
sophisticated schemes such as "crowding sourcing." My daughter and her friends used a
similar scheme when they were at university to raise money for a social venture. Whilst you
must exercise caution when participating in such schemes (as many are scams) you must still
have the intellectual curiosity to study them carefully, and understand how they work.
(Please don't inundate me with requests for information on this one, because I'm a little too
old to get into it. Those of you who are determined will no doubt figure it all out). Here‘s one
place to get started in your research about what‘s out there:
http://crowdfundbeat.com/2015/04/05/2015-list-of-crowdfunding-websites/
One more thing -- I never condemned anyone who didn‘t join me. I found ways to keep the
relationships with them. Some of my friends who participated in those first meetings also
went on to establish themselves as entrepreneurs, and often speak of how they had been
inspired by my commitment in those early days.
End.
Strive Masiyiwa Reflection today:
"Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not
put them down, not cut them out." (The Apostle Paul)
(Colossians 4:6/Message Translation).
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. If I were starting out today in business with only $100 in
my pocket, I'd focus on a business driven by mobile technology and the Internet. This could
be in agriculture, in retail, in renewable energy — whatever draws my real passions. I would
not get involved in trying to sell goods and services to governments and local authorities
through things like tenders, but on businesses that allow me to sell directly to the consumer.
I'd teach myself to Code, alongside my evening classes in business finance and law. I would
set aside time to volunteer for something in my community. And above all, I would not miss
a church service
APRIL 17, 2016
PAUSE: LOVE AND LEMONADE

This week I just happened to read a very inspiring article in Black Entrepreneur.com from
2014 that I want to share with you:
How did a 9-year old, Mikaila Ulmer of Sugar Land, TX, beat out the conglomerate giants
such as Kraft, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble to land coveted shelf space and a million
dollar contract with Whole Foods?
Her precocious response? ―I don‘t know? Do they make theirs with love?‖
Her company, BeeSweet Lemonade, is the beginning of a Lemonade empire in which the
idea came from when she was stung by bees when she was just 4 years old — twice in one
week.
―After that I would freak out about the bees — like overreact — and then my parents wanted
me to do some research so I would be less afraid. And doing that research I found out how
incredibly important pollinators they are, and that they were dying,‖ Mikaila said. ―And I
decided to create a product that helped save the bees.‖
She dug up an old lemonade recipe from her great-grandmother‘s cookbook, and added
honey — her way of calling attention to the plight of honeybees.
Beekeepers have reported losing 42 percent of their colonies in the past year. That‘s the
second highest annual loss on record.
Scientists suspect pesticides may be behind the decline, which could threaten our food
supply, since bees pollinate crops.
―The pesticides either get into their brain and they can‘t find their way back to the hive, or
they have the pollen with the pesticides and they feed it to the hive and then the whole hive
dies,‖ Mikaila said.
She and her family started brewing BeeSweet for local events, then bottling it for a pizza
shop. Within a few years they had a company on their hands.
―We donate a portion of the profits we make to organizations that help the bees,‖ Mikaila
said.
Some kids her age might not want to give any of their money away, but she‘s okay with it.
―It‘s solving a problem in this world. That‘s what keeps me motivated to do it,‖ she said.
Whole Foods Market heard about her efforts to save the bees and is now selling her
lemonade in 32 stores across four states.
―She‘s asking questions about logistics, what retail prices should be, or margins. She‘s
incredibly sharp,‖ Whole Foods‘ Erin Harper said.
Mikaila‘s family helps her run the growing business that is now on track this year to sell
nearly 140,000 bottles.
Even with all this work, Mikaila‘s parents try to give her time to be a 10-year-old.
―Every weekend she does something that she enjoys. It may be rollerblading this weekend,
sleepover this weekend. You create a balance because she is working as hard as she is
playing,‖ her mom said.
Mikaila said BeeSweet will debut two new flavors this summer. She said seeing so many
people buying and enjoying her lemonade makes her want to grow her business even more.
So her work continues, with hopes to create a little more buzz for the bees.
Visit Mikaila‘s site and show support: Bee Sweet Lemonade (http://beesweetlemonade.com/)
***
The above article can be found at: http://www.blackentrepreneur.com/9-year-old-

entrepreneur-lands-million-dollar-contract-with-whole-foods/ We thank the authors! Now for
the update!
If you can‘t quite imagine what a great achievement this is, look up WholeFoodsMarket.com.
It‘s a huge supermarket chain across most of America, and its logo is ―America‘s Healthiest
Grocery Store.‖
Today I did a little research to find out what Mikaila is up to since the article was written,
and learned on her Facebook page (technology!) that this amazing entrepreneur, who is now
11 years old, visited the White House last month for Easter 2016… as a celebrity chef! I also
learned today that in early May they're relaunching the company with a new name, "Me and
the Bees Lemonade.‖ Stay tuned!
Mikaila‘s company is so busy with orders now, she‘s kindly asked her customers to please
bee patient, as they have such big demand for their products in recent weeks, they‘re running
a little beehind in delivery times. Mikaila signs her note ―Love and lemonade…‖
Wow! We wish her all the best.
End.
Image Credit: Josh Huskin: Photo

The next great entrepreneur might be in your home, but it might not be you… It could be one
of your children! It's important to encourage, support, and nurture the gifts of children. They
might be the next great entrepreneur, or scientist, or athlete, or artist, or musician, or Pastor.
Whatever it is, help them to bring it out; it's a gift to Africa, and the world.

My grandmother once told me that the reason babies are born with their little hands tightly
clenched is so they don't drop their gift to the world. This is one "old lady's tale" I choose to
believe: the solution to every problem we have is in our children. We must do everything we
can to protect them, and ensure they get an education, and develop skills to contribute of
their gift to the world.
APRIL 21, 2016
PAUSE: “COMPETE WITH INTENSITY, LEAD

WITH INTEGRITY, AND INSPIRE PLAY” - NBA
More great news! Few of us in Africa had the opportunity to watch the pioneering talents of
the amazing Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (‗The Dream‘ from Nigeria, inducted into the
Basketball Hall of Fame) and Dikembe Mutombo (an eight-time All-Star player from the
DRC). Over the years, millions upon millions of fans could watch them play on TV in their
prime, but most of us living in their home continent of Africa missed out…
This is all about to change!
Last month I shared the announcement that Kwesé Sports was awarded free-to-air
broadcasting rights for the English Premier League in Sub-Saharan Africa. Today I‘m
excited to tell you that we‘ve signed another exclusive big name in international sport -- a
multiyear partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
This new deal, the largest ever for the NBA in Africa, will see Econet Media become the
official broadcaster of the NBA in Sub Saharan Africa!
This means NBA content will be offered across our digital and mobile assets, including the
much-anticipated Kwesé viewing platforms and its sports offering, Kwesé Sports!
We‘re so proud to be involved with a renowned brand such as the NBA that shares our vision
for sport in Africa, and our values as a company. The NBA‘s trademark is ―Compete with
Intensity, Lead with Integrity, and Inspire Play.‖ That‘s a winning goal for all of us to aim
for!
Now basketball as a sport began in a snowy state in the USA in 1891, where a local athletic
director was trying to think of an exciting game that could be played indoors (in a very cold
climate) in a small space. He was looking for a sport that didn‘t rely as much on strength as
on agility and skill. The story goes that he thought of an idea – how about a game throwing
soccer balls into two ―goals‖ made of peach baskets, strung up on a wall with wire?
Innovation! Dr. James Naismith is credited as basketball‘s ―inventor‖ back in the day. Now
it‘s a multibillion dollar sport!
Beginning within the 2016-2017 season, African basketball fans young and old will be able
to enjoy a feast of their favourite sport, and this time it will be more convenient and
accessible.
Kwesé Sports entertainment won‘t be limited to live games. We‘ll also produce a host of
original NBA content to support our coverage of the NBA. Kwesé Sports will also carry the
League‘s 24/7 dedicated channel, NBA TV.
In the millennial year 2000, sports fan Nelson Mandela said: "Sport has the power to change
the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else
does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once
there was only despair.‖
A gold-medal-winning Olympic athlete (and the first foreign-born player to win the NBA‘s
―Most Valuable Player,‖) Olajuwon says his parents taught he and his siblings the
importance of discipline and ―to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in
ourselves…‖
I hope the next Luol Deng (South Sudan), Serge Ibaka (Congo Brazzaville) or Nneka
Ogwumike (Nigeria) will be inspired by seeing their heroes perform daily on one of the
world‘s greatest sports stages. Stay tuned for more updates on Kwesé Sports online
http://bit.ly/KweséSports_NBA
End.
Image Caption 1: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards/Team World) at NBA Africa Game at
Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 1, 2015.
Kwese Tv, will be available in every single country in sub-Saharan Africa. It will not all be
sport; in a few weeks we will start to unveil some of our key content in entertainment and
education as well.
The first countries to offer service are those where we are given licenses to operate. I'm
pleased to also tell you that many countries have already licensed us.

One of the biggest businesses in our group is a company called Liquid Telecom. Many of
you may know this company for its pioneering work in building fibre optic broadband
networks in Africa. What many people don't know is that when I started this company 17
years ago, it specialized in installation of small satellite dishes for companies, throughout
Africa. Many businesses, particularly banks and mining groups rely on our satellite services
to communicate. We are easily the largest provider of such services in Africa.
What does this show you?
1. We already have the most extensive infrastructure and capability to provide services to
any part of Africa.
2. We are repurposing assets and capability that we already have to enter a new market.
What assets do you have?
---don't say "nothing"---you have enough---remember the post on the "Rod of Moses"!

We also secured the rights for the "women's basketball"(WNBA). We need to move away
from the notion that sport is just for men. Some of the finest athletes in the world are women.
We will show a lot of women's sport.
Strive Masiyiwa The business model of TV:

When you start any kind of business it is extremely important to understand how money is
made in that business. There are many people who start a business without fully
understanding how money is made in that industry.
When you are developing your Business Plan, a key ingredient is what we call the "revenue
model". A revenue model must be realistic based on very careful analysis, and an
appreciation of the reality.
Many people fail because they actually don't understand how money is really made in the
business they are pursuing!
In the business of television there are two ways that money is made:
1. Free To Air: In this model the tv provider broadcasts for free, and relies on advertising for
revenue. In many African countries, the size of the "ad revenue" available is generally small,
and in turn limits the amount of money tv broadcasters can make. This is also the reason why
they cannot afford good quality programming.
Many state broadcasters fall into this category.
2. PayTv: this is the subscription model which has been pioneered by operators like Sky,
DSTV, Zuku, and others. Here customers pay on a monthly basis for their service.
As an entrepreneur you must always be keenly interested in how different businesses actually
make money. This should be based on proper understanding rather than superficial
understanding.
Strive Masiyiwa Chinonso writes:
I hope Kwese Tv will not only show European and US Sports content but extend a hand of
fellowship to the Africa sport platforms especially the various Football League and CAF
Championships...
My reply:
As I pointed out to you, the RIGHTS to broadcast are owned by the League in question, and
sold to broadcasters only when they expire. If you do not see us broadcast a particular league,
it will be because the rights are currently held exclusively by another broadcaster.
Some of the African sports rights are either not available, or are difficult to access because of
"challenges" associated with those who control them. [I'm sure you know what I mean!]
Whenever rights become available, we will fiercely compete for those rights with all tenacity
that comes from Grace.
Strive Masiyiwa In the TV business "content is king":
In the business of tv, the most important thing is "content":
The most important content is what we call "premium exclusive".
The most expensive content is live sports programming.
The most expensive sports programming is found in the United States, and Europe, where
broadcasters can pay billions just for the right to broadcast a sport every season.
The NBA basketball is one of the most "premium exclusive" rights in the world of sport.
These "rights" are sold by the Sports League on behalf of the clubs, for periods of 3-5 years
and ONLY the winner is allowed to broadcast the games. You can only bid for rights of a
sport when they expire.
Tv shows and movies are also "sold" in much the same way as sport. Each episode of a tv
series that you might be watching costs the broadcaster a lot of money and some can cost
millions for an episode.
Kwese TV already has some of the most sought after "premium exclusive content" for both
sports and entertainment.
Strive Masiyiwa I think you will also enjoy this little video clip from the signing ceremony in
New York:
https://vimeo.com/163870569
Strive Masiyiwa Tv rights pay for the big salaries of your favorite sports stars:
A football club like Manchester United makes its money in many different ways. This
includes selling tickets at the gate, and as well as charging for advertising on things like
shirts worn by the players.
By far and away the biggest source of money comes from tv rights. These are sold on behalf
of the clubs by their sports league, and then the money is shared. The rights are sold on a
national or regional basis. Rights for Africa, are usually sold as continental or regional
packages.
More stories loaded.

APRIL 26, 2016
THE BUFFALO HUNTER

There is a story told about a professional hunter who had a friend who always wanted to go
with him on one of his hunts. So one day he said to his friend, "I have a permit to go into the
Zambezi Valley and hunt for a buffalo. Would you like to come with me?"
The friend was ecstatic at the opportunity.
"When do we go?" he asked.
"In about six months time, but before then I have to train you about hunting."
For the next six months, the two men met every day, and they discussed and planned for the
trip. The hunter's friend was surprised by how meticulous the hunter was about everything.
He taught him about the bush, and how to survive in it. He taught him everything about
buffaloes.
―You must respect the buffalo,‖ he said, ―because it's a very intelligent animal, and it is also
extremely dangerous."
He gave him lots of books to read, about hunting and buffaloes.
During that time, the friend also trained every day at the shooting range. He understood by
then the different types of guns used to hunt buffalo. He also had to do fitness training, which
surprised him.
"You can die out there if you are not fit," his friend explained.
He was totally astounded by what he was learning about hunting.
"Until now, I thought all you do is just go out and shoot, but now I know there‘s more to this
than meets the eye!" he exclaimed.
When the day came, the two men set out into the wild bush of the Zambezi Valley, one of the
most beautiful places on the earth. It is also inhospitably hot, and the terrain is tough.
They'd been tracking one single animal for 5 days, and the hunter's friend was totally
exhausted. He watched as his friend patiently made meticulous plans every single day. The
hunter seamed to take forever, from the point of view of his friend. Sometimes they would
walk, and sometimes they would sit for hours. The hunter was always looking around,
scanning the bushes, not even (it appeared) always paying attention to the surrounding areas
more than the buffalo.
"Why can't he just shoot and we go home!?"
He was getting tired of this, as they walked almost 50 miles a day. He was also hungry most
of the time, as they only ate rations of dried meat and fruit, most of the time. The hunter
looked at the animal through his gun sight over and over every day, but wouldn‘t take a shot.
Sometimes they appeared so close, but he still did not do anything.
It was the fifth day: The animal was in sight again, but the hunter was going through his
routine again. The friend sat in the bushes, when suddenly a rabbit appeared in front of him
and he thought to himself, "At least if I shoot this rabbit, we can have meat tonight. I'm tired
of dry rations." So he pulled out his gun and fired once. The rabbit disappeared, as he had
missed anyway, but so did the buffalo, and with it, the entire herd.
The hunter looked at him in total horror and disbelief!
Then he shouted, "Run, or you die!" as he took off.
They almost got stampeded by an entire herd that seemed to appear from nowhere. Also,
suddenly there were lions everywhere that he had not seen before! But for the skills of the
hunter, who led them both to safety, they could have died.
The buffalo was gone. The hunt was over.
They had to return home, empty-handed.
There are at least 5 business lessons I want you to extract from this story.
Your turn: List 5x simple (one line) responses, if you are interested. No essays.
[By the way, I don't approve of hunting. So remember, this is a business story. Don't write
me stories about animals!]
End.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought:

When I was living in Zimbabwe, and my business was still very small, I travelled to London
to negotiate a very important transaction. I had two colleagues with me who were both highly
skilled in their jobs. On the last day of our discussions, one of them excused himself saying
he had something very important to attend to of a personal matter. We continued with the
negotiations which were not very easy, and we really could have used his skills.
In the evening as we were leaving for the airport, I noticed that he had a big box under his
arm. When I asked him what it was he told me that is was a spare part for his car.
I told him there and then, "you will never travel with me again."__I don't travel with "rabbit
hunters"!

When Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African Deputy President, was in business (before he
went into full time politics) he had a nickname for me: "The Buffalo Hunter‖!

The mission of the hunters was not only to kill a buffalo, but to bring it back home with
them. Hunters tell me that bringing it back is the toughest part of the mission.
Whatever you are trying to do in business, you must always be acutely aware that there are
competitors out there, these are the "lions" of our story. The experienced Hunter knew they
were there. He had to choose a moment when he could get the job done in such a way, that
he would not have simply fed some hungry lions. This is what you call "the wisdom of the
hunt"; it's much more than an issue of timing.

The "friend" here could be a member of your team, or staff. You must choose people who
not only understand that you are on a buffalo hunt, but also what it takes to secure the prize.
More often than not, you will find that whilst people will understand the vision when you
start off, once the going gets tough, they replace that vision with their own narrow vision of
the rabbit hunt. These are the people who start to moan and question your strategy behind the
scenes. It takes great leadership to keep everyone in the buffalo hunt.

When I was about 14 years old, I persuaded a captain in the Zambian army to take me with
him on a trip to the Zambezi Valley. He had to swear on his life, to my mother that he would
bring me back alive!
He was from the area.
We were there for two weeks. We had no guns, and we walked on foot. 41 years later, I still
remember it like it was yesterday!

Don't forget the herd:
The Hunter was interested in a particular animal, and not just any buffalo in the herd. He
never lost sight of that particular animal, once he had selected it. He also understood at all
times that the greatest protection of a buffalo comes from the herd (the other Buffaloes). The
"herd" could be the environment, or the regulators, and all those who want to protect the
status quo. These are those forces that the buffalo can call on for protection. The experienced
Hunter knew that the "herd" was there and had to be navigated. If it was spooked, the
unintended consequences could be disastrous.
Every major new business initiative has to face the "herd" at some time: Uber is at war with
taxi operators around the world. Google faces regulators in Europe.
If you really want to understand the story of the "Buffalo Hunter", go study the struggles of
Moses, as a leader. He had to deal with "rabbit hunters", and others who thought they were
also good (if not better hunters). Some simply wanted to go back!
MAY 2, 2016
BEWARE OF PORN, GUNS AND DRUGS.

__If a business opportunity looks too good to be true, it could be much worse than that!
A friend of mine in South Africa who is into "BEE deals" (as they call them over there,
stands for Black Economic Empowerment), called me one morning, very excited: "I have
these American guys who want to sell us a company in one of the Caribbean Islands. It's a
financial services business. It makes a lot of money. Can I bring them to see you?"
He's a dear friend so I acquiesced to his request. The Americans were smooth, sophisticated
guys from Texas who made a very impressive pitch. These were days before things like
PayPal and Mobile Money transfers.
After the pitch, I asked them if we could see some financials. We signed the customary Non-
Disclosure Agreements and we were given the papers, including the presentations. I
promised a quick response. They wanted African partners to roll out in South Africa, and the
rest of Africa.
―We need a strong BEE partner, and you guys at Econet can also take us into Africa," was
the parting shot.
That evening I sat down to look at their financials. It was a remarkably profitable business!
I quickly called one of my top financial advisors, Ayo Adeboye, and gave him this directive:
"Porn, guns or drugs. I just want to know which one it is?"

A few hours later, Ayo walked in with a big shake of his head.
"Porn."
"I thought so."
"How did you know, because it is not easy to see, based on their presentation?"
I sighed: "Those kind of profit margins and cash flows are only possible from criminal
enterprises like porn, guns or drugs."
The following day, I called my friend and told him that the business these guys were
involved in was an immoral and criminal enterprise. He was initially very upset... with me!
I also told him that it was a totally immoral enterprise, whose victims included children, and
these guys knew they were facilitating such activities.
The lure to make an extraordinary amount of money was very strong, and I could see that the
temptation was there for my friend, to try and justify himself. I don't know what became of
it, and I never discussed it again with him. I just know he did the right thing, and quietly
walked away from the "deal of a life time"...
There is no such thing! The "financial service‖ they were offering was a special pre-paid
debit card which allowed people to buy pornographic materials on the Internet without their
name being traced.
There are businesses out there that you will know at once are criminal enterprises. They
always come with a promise of easy money, or unusually large profit margins.
"Hey. Be careful out there…" (Line from a popular TV series).
Check very carefully what you're being drawn into, even if the people behind it are
impressive. Corrupt, criminal enterprises will land you in jail or worse.
End.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. You'll never be considered a serious entrepreneur if you do
not have a "head for numbers." It's very important to learn how to study the financial
statements of a business. Anyone who has ever studied accounts (even at a basic level) will
tell you that you can tell the type of business, and its industry, by looking at the figures in a
financial statement.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. If someone came to you and said they were watching a
soccer game last night, between two top sides, and you asked: "So what was the final score?"
and the guy replies, "I think it was 56-25,‖ you'll know immediately that this guy does not
know what he‘s talking about, or he's confused soccer with another sport he was watching. If
you think that's funny, you should hear some of the numbers used when financial issues and
economics are being discussed in some of our media and public discourses!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3:

Throughout your business and professional career you are going to meet many people who
are going to want to cut corners, or to encourage you to join them on doing something that is
either immoral, unethical, or just illegal---or all the above.
You must be constantly on the lookout to avoid such situations.
More often than not, it will look initially like you just lost a great opportunity. But let me
assure you, that even if it takes years for you to be vindicated, you will be vindicated in the
end.
"Faith recognizes no fear, because it trusts in the ability of God. When you are faced with
challenges, don't cower or become frightened or fretful: Be in charge. Irrespective of what
happens around you; even if you receive negative news from afar, maintain your composure.
Take charge. Refuse to worry."
As a spiritually minded person, I like to focus my mind on something I have read in the
bible, often muttering away on the verse. One of my favorite is 1John 5:4
....."this is the victory that overcometh the world, even my faith."
[It means to me that there is no problem out there that I cannot get over, because of my faith.
So I just steel myself, and smile knowingly.
Hey, if you ever get into some of the jams I occasionally get into I thought it might be
helpful to share how I handle it.
I'm an "inside-out" person; which means I like to approach things from an inner strength
first, before I act, and act I will; but my spiritual positioning comes first. Let's just call it my
little secret, shared only with a dear friend---you. ]
Have a blessed week.
MAY 8, 2016
“ONE OF THESE DAYS” MAY BE TOO LATE.”

When I start some of my projects, I‘m sure a few people think I‘m really ―way out there‖ as
far as what seems possible in this world. ―Too ambitious!‖ ―Impossible!‖ ―You must be
joking!?‖ Although I don‘t know if many would say this to me, I expect they think it
sometimes.
What about you? Do you sometimes have a great idea but, even before other people tell you,
―No way! Not you!‖ you say those words to yourself? Do you make the big mistake of
stopping yourself in your own tracks even before you do your research? Even before you
start putting real foundations under your business visions?
__Stop that kind of thinking right now! Wherever you are in life, you can‘t change where
you began, but you can definitely change where you end up.
When I wrote the story about the Buffalo Hunter I was so interested to read your comments.
Thank you. Many of you are very very wise indeed! Now, I have some questions for you:
What do you do when you wake up in the middle of the night, or you‘re walking down the
road, and you suddenly have this ―light bulb‖ moment, this great idea? Do you write it
down? Do you look up on the Internet to see if someone else is already doing it?
__What you do AFTER you have a great idea, is what becomes your legacy in life.
Do you get to work on it ASAP, or do you doubt yourself and get busy with something else?
Maybe you just roll over and go back to sleep, saying to yourself, ―Yep, I‘ll give that idea
some thought… one of these days.‖
I guarantee you that a ―One of these days‖ attitude will get you nearly nowhere in life. I
promise that if you don‘t take concrete actions to do something about it, that idea of yours
will get forgotten or lost, or…
―One of these days‖ you might wake up and hear about someone else who‘s just done the
greatest thing -- maybe even made millions or changed the world in a way others thought
impossible -- with almost the exact same idea that you had, except…
We‘ve talked a lot about business thinking and planning, but let me tell you, you can have a
top MBA from Harvard or Stanford or anywhere else in the world… You‘ll still go nowhere
if your approach in life is to get down to work on it, ―one of these days.‖
Now some of you with ideas already have money. Some of you don‘t. Many of you lament
about funding, but that‘s really NOT the key thing:
__You must first believe in yourself. (This whole topic is a subject for another day! There‘s
much to be said about faith, and faith at work.)
Believe in yourself and get to work on your dreams. You won‘t know if you don‘t try.
If you have a great idea, ―one of these days‖ should be... now. You‘ve heard it before, and I
hope you‘ll hear it again and again: ―Yes, you can!‖ The question is, when?
End
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Professional sport is about physical strength and skills, but
it‘s also very much a mental discipline. The tennis star Venus Williams once said, ―Believe
in yourself. Even if you don‘t, pretend that you do, and at some point you will.‖ The famous
boxer Muhammed Ali said, ―I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was.‖
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. If you‘re a parent, four of the most important words you can
bless your children with: ―I believe in you!‖

"This job will be yours one day, if you stay", these were the desperate words of the CEO of
my last employer. I was only 26 and I had just told him I was leaving to go and set up my
own business. He thought I had gone completely out of my mind. In those days graduates
didn't leave good paying jobs to go into business!
He tried everything to try and persuade me to stay. I offered to serve 6 months notice.
It was easily one of the toughest decisions I ever made: The uncertainty, the fear of failure;
All these things and more flooded me every day. I was also the principle bread winner in my
family.
You might be 26, or 56, or 76; if you have this desire to start a business, or to join a new
business (that gives you the chance to be entrepreneurial) ---end the procrastination---do it!
Strive Masiyiwa Christopher Karanja writes:
I notice u dont talk much abt a very important sector in most of ur posts here ie AVIATION,
pilots are in very high demand worldwide but training them is quite expensive. Pliz talk abt
this a little. It's as much a business venture as is any other sector.
My reply:
If you go back to my earliest posts, you will see that I have always said that "every sector
offers equal opportunity". You can build a very successful business out of any sector. What
is important is to understand the sector well.
Aviation is a huge industry and there are numerous opportunities which can accommodate
anyone who chooses to develop expertise and entrepreneurship in it.
I wish you well.
MAY 14, 2016
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN

BUSINESS (PART 1).
A few weeks ago I identified the most important skill in business as the ability to read. The
second most important is the ability to count (work in numbers). I've also talked about this
before. Now what is the third? It's the ability to sell!
This is a huge topic and one of my favorites: Every entrepreneur must be a good salesperson.
You must never stop selling, even if you're the richest man in the world.
I remember listening to Bill Gates one day talking passionately about one of the products
from Microsoft. I thought to myself, "Wow, he is the richest man in the world, but he‘s still
interested in selling his products!"
And it's not just Bill Gates.
__Every great entrepreneur has this skill: the ability to sell.
Let's talk. First things first:
When I was about eight years old, my mother gave me a packet of sweets to take to school. I
sold the sweets one by one over the lunch break! After that, I bought my own sweets and
sold them to my friends using my profits. Before long I had a little business.
But it almost became a disaster when I took to the streets and got lost, whilst trying to sell
my sweets. Then my mother intervened! She stopped me selling sweets on the street and
channeled my energy into more creative things, and helped me sell them from her shop. She
did not kill my entrepreneurial zeal.
There are a lot of people who dream of getting into business, but they think it‘s beneath them
to be seen trying to sell something.
__Never look down on a street vendor, because from their ranks will come more great
entrepreneurs than from most business schools!
Whatever it is you're trying to do, whether it's a product or a service, you must know how to
sell. There are millions of people who work for organizations, even in very senior
management positions, who could not even sell an alcoholic beverage to an alcoholic. This is
bad.
There‘s an old adage amongst military planners which says, "A battle plan is only as good as
your first contact with the enemy." In business we say, "A business plan is only as good as
your ability to sell to a customer."
The ability to sell is a skill you need, beyond selling something to a customer. It includes
"making a proper pitch" to investors and bankers. It also includes "selling your vision" to
potential and current employers, and partners.
__It's all about the ability to sell!
I want you to become conscious about what it really takes to sell something. Once you
become conscious of selling at its most basic level, we can move on to things like marketing.
Let me close by saying this: Some of the greatest salespeople I've ever known are
Americans. I have such admiration for the practice of sales and marketing in the United
States.
Imagine for a moment the guy who invented Coca-Cola... How on earth did he persuade
people they could overcome thirst by drinking a "black" liquid?! I imagine people would
have recoiled at the idea of drinking something that looked dirty, and there were no fridges in
those days.
From now on, I want you to think consciously about how a product or service is being sold!
One last thing: It doesn‘t matter how good you are in sales, if the product or service is bad,
you will not last. Let's talk about how you can become the greatest salesperson, even to the
point of selling ice to Eskimos!
To be continued....

Every year members of the British Royal family travel around the world promoting British
companies and products. They are not ashamed to go out and sell products and services
developed by companies from their country. They don't consider it has something beneath
them, but something of high honour. They know that when British companies are successful
it creates wealth and jobs in their countries.
We should all be passionate about promoting and defending products and services produced
by companies from our various countries, and so should our leaders.

I once got a phone call from the ambassador of a certain country, and he asked to come and
see me. I was really curious because it is very unusual for ambassadors to make such
requests. To my surprise he brought with him catalogues, and brochures of businesses in his
country. He urged me to consider buying services and products from his country. I was
totally amazed and impressed by what he did.
Sadly many ambassadors would consider what he did as something beneath them, and
undignified. I respectfully beg to disagree, because Ambassadors must be at the forefront of
promoting the businesses of their countries.
And not just ambassadors; we must all of us be on the lookout for opportunities to promote
products and services from our countries, and our continent. This is where wealth, taxes, and
jobs come from; it is not rocket science.

Everyone in a leadership position who does not take time to sell, yes sell, products and
services from his or her country, does not appreciate the modern wealth creation model.
The Commerce Secretary of the United States, declared at a meeting I attended in Nairobi
last year:
"I am the Chief Marketing Officer of US industry."
I have just returned from Atlanta where my wife and I attended the graduation ceremony. My
wife was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate for her work with the Higher Life
Foundation. We witnessed the graduation of the first group of 10 students that we sent to the
University. Many of you will remember the post that I did when we sent the students there.
All our students did very well, and one of them achieved the very high distinction of the
Rhodes Scholarship.

Coincidently whilst we were in Atlanta this weekend, the city which is the home of the Coca-
Cola Company, held a ceremony to mark the 130th Anniversary of the "sale of the first glass
of a Coke"! The ceremony was held at the site of Jacob's Pharmacy, where Coke was first
sold as a "medicinal beverage".
The people of Atlanta are extremely proud of their "corporate son"---the Coca-Cola
Company, which has brought them billions of dollars in wealth, tens of thousands of jobs,
and continues to be a major pillar of their economy.
We should never "despise humble beginnings", Coca-Cola was once a small company too.
If you want to study marketing and sales at its very best, you need to buy yourself books
about the history of Coca Cola.
Did you know that it was Coca-Cola who came up with the idea of a "bearded old man
giving children gifts at Christmas"---Yes! "Father Christmas" was a marketing promotion of
Coca-Cola, that is why he is dressed in "red and white"---hohoho!!!
MAY 20, 2016

BUSINESS (PART 2).
__Presentation is extremely important.
In July 1997 I learned about a public tender for a GSM cellular license taking place in the
southern African country of Botswana. I decided that we must submit a bid, even though I
knew the competition would be fierce.
Having purchased the bid documents, I sat down with my team and carefully went through
each page, line by line. We must have spent three days, working over 20 hours a day,
reviewing this document which was not more than 50 pages long.
# You must understand fully what is asked for. Seemingly small details make the difference
between success and failure!
I had a staff of 35 people and I divided them into teams, working on different sections of our
response. None of us had ever submitted an international bid before, and we didn't yet even
have experience operating a cell phone business.
We knew there were 20 other bidders, and most of them were well established international
operators like MTN, Vodacom, Bharti and France Telecom (Orange).
There was really no Internet in those days, so we couldn't just "go on the Net to do research."
We called friends in the industry and asked them to share with us information on how such
bids were put together. We kept calling and sending "faxes" back and forth because that was
the technology available to us at the time. Of course, there was no "email"!
Don't let anyone say to you that "hard work can kill you.‖ There's no such thing. We worked
up to 20 hours every day. We ate pizzas, and slept in the office.
Once we had completed the substance of our response, we turned our attention to the
presentation.
"Our presentation must solicit a ‗wow‘ when it is opened," I told my staff.
I brought in a friend from an advertising agency to help us with the design of the
presentation. (I promised to pay him by giving him the advertising contract when we won!)
Color printers had just come on the market, and I went to a guy who had one, and asked him
to print everything in color. Our presentation was bound by a professional printer, who
worked all night to get it done. The presentation was thematic and told a story about the
people of Botswana. We designed a logo for our new company: Mascom Wireless.
On the day of submission, we delivered our bid documents: 10 x 900 pages! And it had taken
just two weeks to put together! All the bidders were present, as was the media, and
government officials. We made sure we were the last to arrive.
There was a collective gasp! "Wow!"
Three weeks after our submissions were presented, we were invited to make oral
presentations before a panel of experts hired from Sweden, as well as the Botswana regulator
led by a formidable lawyer (the best regulator I ever met in my life), Moses Lekaukau.
We knew this would be part of the process for the selected final bidders: Mascom Wireless,
MTN, Vodacom, France Telecom (Orange) and Bharti. Each bidder was given a day to make
their presentations and answer questions.
We were ready: I had drilled my team like commandos. This was our moment. I left nothing
to chance. We even agreed how each member would dress, and we entered the room and
greeted the panel members in the Botswana language!
__We knew our document, and we knew the numbers! Although we were facing such tough
and experienced competition from around the world, and we were unknown, I had deep faith
that we would win.
Three weeks later, the government of Botswana announced that Mascom had come first!
France Telecom was second, and Vodacom came third. Two licenses were granted.
# All the skills I had honed in SELLING ever since I first sold sweets to my friends at eight
years old were needed. I had come a long way!
# If you‘re going to play in the big leagues you must go the extra mile. Don't settle for
mediocrity!
# Always present your work with passion and excellence.
One day a few years later, a senior executive at a big Swedish company said to me that one
of the consultants involved in the bidding process had told him after he retired that he‘d been
totally shaken by the quality of our presentation, describing it as "out of this world, and
beyond anything he saw in Europe." The executive then asked to see a copy of the
presentation, so I gave him a copy and it was taken to their headquarters for display.
The company we established in Botswana in 1998 is there to this day. This was actually my
first cell phone license, not Zimbabwe. It is called Mascom Wireless, and it‘s not only the
biggest operator in the country, it‘s a world-class business, run mostly by Botswana people.
And why not?
Presentation is a key part of the skill of selling something. Study how to make the best
presentations. You must be equipped with the latest tools of quality presentation of your day.
When you have prepared the presentation, go through and practice it together carefully with
your team (if you're presenting with others). Even if you're going alone, the more you
practice, the more confident you will be.

If we're going to make a presentation, I don‘t want anyone in the team who was not involved
in putting it together and practicing beforehand. If a person arrives late to the meeting, I will
not let them into the presentation with me. It‘s not something to be repeated. You must arrive
at a presentation early. And don't waste other people's time.

There was a requirement in the Botswana bid that each bidder must have experience of
minimum 100,000 mobile users. Since we did not have such experience, I reached out to find
a partner. It was holiday time in Europe. A friend introduced me to a guy at Portugal
Telecom, who said they would take 25% equity, but could not offer any assistance because
everyone was on holiday. They sent people to review our documents, three days before the
bid submission. They were very happy with what we had done on our own.

The place where you run your business must be well presented, even if it is a small tuck
shop. Invest continually in the presentation of your business. It must speak to the customer as
professional and efficient. These things matter to customers. Keep the place clean and
inviting.
MAY 27, 2016
Pause: [I will continue the series on sales and marketing next week].
“EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT”

__New fund launched to support children and youth in emergencies
Did you know that 75 million of the world‘s children and youth are missing out on school
because of violent conflicts, natural disasters and health emergencies like Ebola?
I don‘t need to tell you that people in such crises are more vulnerable to risk of abuse, human
trafficking, extremism, and exploitation of many kinds. It‘s a terrible situation and children
are usually the worst affected.
This week at the inaugural World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, local and global
organizers led by former PM Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Education, and UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon officially announced the launch of ―Education Cannot
Wait.‖ This unique fund for education in emergencies was put together to create a more
collaborative and effective response to help kids who‘s schooling has been interrupted by
humanitarian disasters.
―Education Cannot Wait‖ funds will benefit school-age children and youth living in (or
escaping from) communities torn apart by violent conflict, disease outbreaks, earthquakes,
floods and other emergencies that destroy infrastructure, scatter teachers and families, and
disrupt access to education… sometimes for years on end. (Right now, less than 2% of
humanitarian aid during crises goes toward education).
__In addition to funding pledges made this week by governments, I am pleased to tell you
that the global private sector is also doing its part to support ―Education Cannot Wait!‖
About four years ago, I was one of the co-founders of the Global Business Coalition for
Education. This week, GBC Education, led by Executive Chair Sarah Brown, announced its
plans to mobilize $100 million in private sector financial and in-kind donations to support the
Education Cannot Wait initiative. The Coalition‘s 100+ private sector organizations will
draw from our networks of skills and resources to support this important cause in various
ways.
Education should be a sacrosanct door to knowledge, prosperity and hope for everyone. We
must each do what we can to respect and promote everyone‘s right to go to school!
Especially children and youth… No exceptions!
GBC Education is a global movement of businesses committed to changing children‘s lives

through education. Many other international groups are working on this issue. What about
you? Why don‘t you look around at some social needs in your own communities, and come
up with some innovative solutions? It doesn't have to be a huge fund like Education Cannot
Wait.
Start on your own street!

Even your one voice can make a world of difference...
If you want to learn more, check out:
Global Business Coalition for Education http://gbc-education.org/
Safe Schools video featuring Dynamo, Laura Carmichael and poet Yomi
(Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84v9VM1KMTs&feature=youtu.be)
End.
Image Credit: A World At School

I'm currently a member of a special commission set up by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-
moon to examine ways to help the 60m children who are not going to school around the
world. You can learn more about our work by going to the following website
http://educationenvoy.org. As you can see, apart from five former presidents and prime
ministers, the Commission includes many business leaders including myself, Aliko Dangote,
and Jack Ma. We all know that true prosperity is not possible if we do not assist the next
generation fulfill their potential.

Running a business as an entrepreneur is very time consuming. It can leave you with time for
little else, particularly things outside your business and family. This can often leave you
thinking that responding to challenges in your community are best left to those who are well
established and have lots of money and influence. As I told the students at Morehouse last
week, this is not the approach that I myself have followed:
I started helping orphans go to school when my own business was still very small and I was
battling to pay the rent. Even when I was fighting for a license in Zimbabwe, I was already
helping orphans. Perhaps you and a friend can reach out to help just one child, starting today.
God knows you will be helping yourself, because He said: "It is more blessed to give than to
receive."
Strive Masiyiwa Kpote writes:
Reading this just convinced me further that I am on the right path... Started an education
foundation in my area for less the less privileged children in 2012. I have been self funding it
with my salary. I have hope to start my own business soon but been thinking if I will be able
to sustain the cause pending the period my business breaks even... I know God got me and I
am encouraged today to do more. Thank you sir.
My reply:
This is very inspiring to me.
I want to know more about your foundation.
Imagine what would happen if each one of us on this platform decided we are going to
educate a child who is not in school. And we were also willing to help those who are not our
relatives or even members of our tribe.
We can transform our continent in a generation.

How you can become my partner, today!
Helping others go to school is not new to us as Africans. In fact if the truth is told most
education in Africa is financed by relatives and family. None of us would have made it if it
were not for a brother, a sister, an aunt, an uncle, or even a kinsman who stepped in to pay
our school fees.
Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora are doing a galant job to keep children in school on
the African continent. No international donor organizations does more to educate young
Africans than those working in the African Diaspora.
If we want to transform the African continent itself however, we each one of us need to
consider going the extra mile. There are a few things I would like to suggest we do:
# You could consider assisting, (at the same time that you are doing your duty of helping
your brother, sister, or cousin) a CHILD who is not related to you, in any way. Have the
courage to even support someone who is not a kinsman from your area or tribe.
# assistance is not just financial. Even if you are a high school student or you are
unemployed you can make time to teach children, for several hours every day. You have
everything you need to start a program like this today.
If you manage to assist at least 10 kids in this way, for a year. I want to hear about it, because
you will have become my partner.
Let's do this together. Let's be partners in changing Africa.
MAY 29, 2016
REFLECTION: EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT

(PART 2)
__How you can become my partner, today!
[I will continue the series on sales and marketing next week].
Helping others go to school is not new to us as Africans. In fact, if the truth be told, most
education in Africa is financed by relatives and family. None of us would have made it if it
were not for a brother, a sister, an aunt, an uncle, or even a kinsman who stepped in to pay
our school fees.
Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora are doing a gallant job to keep children in school on
the African continent. No international donor organization does more to educate young
Africans than those working in the African diaspora.
However, if we want to transform the African continent itself, we -- each one of us -- need to
consider going the extra mile. There are a few things I would like to suggest we do:
# You could consider assisting (at the same time that you‘re doing your duty of helping your
brother, sister, or cousin), a CHILD who is not related to you, in any way. Have the courage
to even support someone who is not a kinsman from your area or tribe.
# Assistance is not just financial. Even if you‘re a high school student or you are
unemployed, you can make time to teach children, for several hours every day.
# You could even organize with one or two friends so that you do it together as a "teaching
club." If you‘re running a business you can invite some of your staff who are willing (don't
force anyone), to join you.
You have everything you need to start a program like this today.
If you manage to assist at least 10 kids in this way, for a year, I want to hear about it, because
you will have become my partner.
I not only want to teach you how to make money and become more profitable, I also want
you to become my philanthropy partner in Africa. This is the quickest fastest way for us to be
partners.
Will you become my partner?
Let's do this together. Let's be partners in changing Africa.
Image credit: KMW Ubuntu Hope

There is something deeply spiritual about this message for me personally. One day we will
talk about it, but for now, if you are spiritually discerning, this is what we call a "message in
season." It is what you need to do, and you should not waste time to do it. Therein lies your
testimony.
Strive Masiyiwa Francis,

Writes:
I Started Doing Something Like This (Though A Little Different From What You Advised)
6years Ago And I'm Glad I Am Doing It. I Came From A Village Where Parents Hardly
Send Their Children To School And The Ones That Managed To Send Always Ends It At
High School. So I Took The Liberty Of Counciling Both The Parents And The Kids On The
Value Of Either Going To High School Or College. The Parents Complained Of Lack Of
Funds But I Opened Their Minds To The Possibility Of Reducing Their Irrelivant Expenses
And Channeling It To Education Of Their Children Even If It Means Selling Part Of Their
Land. Today, I'm Glad To Report That None Of Them Sold Their Land And About 11
People From Are In College Some From A Very Poor Family And Others In High School.
Almost All Of Them Are Very Brilliant. I Used Various Technic To Make The Parents And
Kids Agree With Me But It's A Long Story. Thank You Dr Strive Musiyiwa For Your Good
Work To Humanity.
My reply:
This is an amazing story. Keep doing it my brother.
You are truly a blessed man. You are one of my partners.
Strive Masiyiwa Mc Drake,

Writes,
Sir I must say am really happy to get this from you. After graduating with a Law degree I
moved into the Economic Capital of my country where I saw numerous kids walking around
doing nothing. With the assistance of two friends we formed a little evening school for kids n
the elderly teaching English language and other subjects . Today we have more than 70 kids
both orphans and disabled. So I hope I become your partner and we meet someday. From
Douala, Cameroon
My reply:
You are my partner in philanthropy!
This is an amazing story. There are many other similar stories today. I love them!
Well done.
Strive Masiyiwa Champion Ali Uchenna,
Writes:
Father strive sir, you went the xtramiles for me to give me an education i will do same.
Before now , i gather little children of about my daughter's age, 2-5yrs and teach them
spiritual morals, my younger sis is due to continue cos am about going to school and when i
get to that foreign land, i will make an impact in the lives of my fellow students. Thank you
sir, for saying yes to God
My reply:
I appreciate your efforts. Continue in it.
Strive Masiyiwa Nkurunziza writes:
Hi, Masiyiwa, according to your wish for being your patner, I would like to inform you that
i'm already your partner because i have a school of 30 children. so i'm in kigali which is
Capital city of rwanda. so i'm waiting to hear from you through my inbox. thank you.
My reply:
Dear Partner, I would like to visit your school when I'm in Rwanda. I'm coming soon!
JUNE 5, 2016

BUSINESS (PART 3).
__Study to show yourself approved.
There is more to sales and marketing than simply putting an advert in a newspaper or on
social media. Sales and marketing is a professional discipline just like engineering or
accounting.
You must be conscious of the need to acquire some deeper academic understanding of this
subject if you want to run a successful business or be a top executive.
You know by now that I don't believe in experience which is not supported by continuous
study and scholarship.
Although I had a passion for selling, my own professional training was in electrical
engineering which I studied at university. I also majored in economics. When I decided to go
into business, I focused my studies in finance and accounting, as well as in sales and
marketing.
These days if you have a degree you can study things like an MBA if you want to get into
finance, accounting, sales and marketing. But even if you didn‘t get to university, there are
diplomas you can study in these subjects, even through night school, and online.
It‘s up to you to do your own research. One good online place to start looking is
https://www.coursera.org/ which I‘ve mentioned here before. If you go to this website just
type in any business subject you want to study, like accounting, finance, economics, sales
and marketing. They also offer financial aid.
The things I teach you here are not enough to ground you in these areas. This should just be
enough to get you started after realizing the importance...
Accounting, finance, economics, sales and marketing: These are the bedrock for any
entrepreneur, irrespective of your choice of business. You might be a farmer, or a doctor
planning to set up clinics. Maybe you‘re in real estate, or retail. It doesn‘t matter.
Thanks to technology, no matter where you live, if you have a Smartphone, computer and
internet connection, it is possible for you to study at the best universities in the world online.
Check it out and tell me what you find.
__Study to show yourself approved.
Accounting, finance, economics, sales and marketing: These are foundational skills. Take
economics, for example: What does economics have to do with your life? Everything! The
role of the government in your economy, private markets, consumer choice, production
decisions, market structures, monetary and fiscal policies, unemployment, inflation,
international trade and exchange rates… These are not just academic topics for professors.
They impact you and your life, one way or another, every single day
I'll say it one more time: Accounting, finance, economics, sales and marketing! Yes, you‘ll
go on to hire experts in some of these areas as your business grows, but you must have a
basic grounding yourself to be able to deploy and manage your teams effectively
You‘ve heard me say before: "Oh, how I wish all God's people could understand economics."
There‘s nothing that does more harm in a nation than when not enough people understand
economics -- both the leaders and the led. We must do everything to understand economics
or we perish.
Strive Masiyiwa Josh writes:
I've read books that stress on the importance of staying lean (don't rely on a business plan but
rather make one as you progress). KINDLY write more on the best approach ie staying lean
or not.
My reply:
I don't agree with this approach Josh. A great business idea requires you to sit down and draft
a business plan. After you start the business you should routinely return to it so that you are
taking into consideration the observations you are making from your contact with the market,
and the customer.
Strive Masiyiwa Skill # 1, for the modern entrepreneur is READING. Skill # 2, is Working
with numbers and data.
Here is an example of what I was reading this morning:
https://www.slideshare.net/.../2016-internet-trends-report/1
Ask yourself why I would read such a report:

The future of my business absolutely depends on my ability to read, understand, and use the
kind of information in this type of report.
Strive Masiyiwa I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Stephen Keshi the
Nigerian soccer player. I had the privilege to watch him play as a captain of one of the best
African teams ever assembled. Later on he went on to coach not only the SuperEagles, whom
he led to victory in Cup of Nations, but also coached several African national teams. He was
a great African.
To lose him at only 54 is really sad. My condolences to his family.
You can read more about him on http://www.kwesesports.com/
JUNE 8, 2016·
KWESÉTV UPDATE : __A FEW WORDS ON

CONTENT, "INSIGHTS" AND LESSONS.
I promised to update you regularly on our progress towards the launch of KweséTV. I do this
to share some ideas with those of you planning to set up new businesses. It's not about
making you a customer, so make your comments based on being an entrepreneur, rather than
a customer. There will be lots of time for customer type discussions. Right now I want to get
the entrepreneur in you moving:
Remember my mantra from Joshua: ―Pay close attention because we have not been this way
before!"
This is a new business for me, but I‘ve been working on it for more than three years. When
you plan to enter any new business, it‘s extremely important to try and understand what
drives that industry:
# What am I selling to people? In the business of television, our product is CONTENT. We
need to acquire programming for each of our channels (I cannot say at the moment how
many we will have) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
# The content must be "compelling"… that is, worth paying for!
# Since our platform will be broadcast across 44 African countries, our content must
accommodate the rich and diverse interests of this huge African continent.
So, content is our product. Sport is a universal product, but it will not be enough. Sport is
also very expensive, because it‘s finite. By this I mean, for example, there‘s only one NBA,
and the rights can only be held by one player for five years at a time.
We‘re now holding a lot of very exciting sport content. The deals we have announced so far
are a tiny fraction of what we now hold. I‘ll talk later about some of the mind-blowing deals
we‘ve done on entertainment and educational content.
The "insights‖:
I will not launch a business, where there are existing competitors, unless I can identify at
least five ―insights"; you might call them "game changers." I must then hold these insights
closely to my chest like a good chess player. If the game intensifies, I must be able to
generate at least five more in "quick fire"!
Finding the "insights" requires hours and hours of continued study and research into an
industry. This type of study is like an "immersion‖ -- you must eat, sleep, think, think, think,
learn, learn!
The lessons:
# Know and understand your product:
You know there are people who have been running businesses for years who don‘t know
what product they‘re really selling. Surprised? I meet such people all the time.
Sometimes the product you‘re selling changes. Actually this happens a lot. You can go out of
business if you‘re not constantly reviewing what is it that you‘re actually selling to people!
# Hire the right people:
To be honest with you, the thing that excites me the most on this new venture is the quality
of people who have joined us. It is just amazing! We now have more than 80 people working
for us from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Dubai,
and London. I‘ve already lost count of the number of nationalities. I expect this number to
ratchet up to 200 by August, and it will be over 2000 by the end of the year.
Image caption from left to right: Strive Masiyiwa, Lisa Borders (WNBA President), Tsitsi
Masiyiwa and Amadou Gallo Fall (NBA Vice President and Managing Director – Africa)
The other day I asked my wife to come and witness our signing ceremony for the Women's
NBA (WNBA). When we first met, my wife was an extreme athlete, and she is the only
person I have ever known who played for the national team in two different sports at the
same time. Yes, she was a member of the Zimbabwe women's basketball team, and the
women's hockey team. Our son, who is 18, is an amazing athlete and last year turned down
an opportunity to train with a top English Premier League side, because he prefers American
Football.
Last week my wife and I attended a conference in San Diego. There was something one of
the presenters said which caught my attention: "There is US$10 Tn currently earning 0%
interest. This money is available for investment. It is unfortunate that policymakers in most
developing countries are not willing to engage the owners of this money."
Most of this money is in pension funds, which means it belongs to ordinary working class
people, such as teachers and civil servants. Whilst I have always known there was a lot of
money available, even I was surprised it was that much. It‘s better to earn 0% interest on
your money, and know you can access it anytime you want, than to be offered 20%, and not
know if you will ever get it back. I cannot count the number of times I have offered to help
some African policymakers access this type of investment, only to be rebuffed.

One of the first things that I do when I'm looking at a business area is to subscribe to "Trade
Journals". Every industry has trade related publications. Even if you are running a retail
shop, you can still find trade journals of that industry.
To give you an example since I began to work on Kwese Tv, I started immediately to
subscribe for magazines, and articles that relate to this industry. I get news alerts on things
said by key players and other authorities in the industry. I also send people to trade shows
where they can meet people who are in this business.
I make friends in the industry who can teach me, and share their insights. I want to surround
myself with people who know the business-game.

Nigeria is already one of the top three producers of movies in the world, in terms of number
of movies produced every year. The top three are Bollywood (India), Nollywood (Nigeria),
and Hollywood (USA). When it comes to making money from the film industry, just one
movie made in America's Hollywood like Star Wars, makes more money in one weekend
than all the Nigerian films make in one year!
There are many things that we in Africa can make to improve the financial viability of our
film industry, and much of it is in our hands. The first step is to respect copy rights, and shun
pirated videos.
Strive Masiyiwa Gaapher Nashon,
Writes:
Would you advice me on a journal dealing with electronics
My reply:
Dear Gaapher,
You are the one interested in this business, and not me. So you must be the one who does the
research into what "trade journals" you must be reading.
Every single business has trade journals, and most of them are actually free and online. All
you have to do is use your browser on your smartphone or computer. Doing research of this
kind will lead you into so many different opportunities that you just never imagined.
Strive Masiyiwa Joshua Apuuli,

Asks:
About #INSIGHTS how do you adapt to a scenario where the competitor copies all your
insights in the short time.
My reply:
Remember my post called "The Fast Follower"?
Expect a good competitor to go for "fast follower", or even to improve what you come up
with. Your "insights" must be designed with all that in mind, including "Quick Fire"
responses.
In business you must enjoy healthy competition from a "worthy opponent", it always, always
makes you better. The problem are those businesses that don't like competition and so resort
to underhanded methods, including using political power to stop or hurt their competitors.
Strive Masiyiwa I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing, this week, of Stephen
Keshi the Nigerian soccer player. I had the privilege to watch him play as a captain of one of
the best African teams ever assembled. Later on he went on to coach not only the
SuperEagles, whom he led to victory in Cup of Nations, but also coached several African
national teams. He was a great African.
To lose him at only 54 is really sad. My condolences to his family.
You can read more about him on http://www.kwesesports.com/
JUNE 11, 2016
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN BUSINESS

– THE ABILITY TO SELL TO A CUSTOMER (PART 4)
___Seize the moment when it‘s offered.
Over the past few years, I‘ve talked to you a lot about the most important skills in business.
First and foremost - the capacity to READ. Second, and completely essential: the ability to
work in numbers (data). Now in the current series we‘re looking at the third most important:
Every entrepreneur must be a good salesperson!
Some of you have pointed out that if an entrepreneur doesn‘t have the ability to sell and
market, no matter what other skills he or she might have, the business will sooner or later be
doomed. Sadly, it‘s really true. You must never be fearful or shy or apologetic about selling.
Let‘s recap this series so far: Part 1) Intro: Every entrepreneur must be a good salesperson;
Part 2) Presentation is extremely important: Always present with passion and excellence;
Part 3) Study to show yourself approved: Accounting, finance, economics, sales and
marketing are the foundational skills for any entrepreneur.
Now let‘s get to Part 4: Close the deal!
A young real estate agent was showing a couple around a house.
"Why don't we start in the main lounge," he said.
As soon as they entered the room, the woman exclaimed in delight, "I really love this room!
Wow, it's amazing!"
"Let's buy this house," the woman said to her husband. "This is what I'm looking for!"
Excited, the young agent said, "Come, I‘ll show you the rest of the house."
Then he added, "I have houses even better than this to show you!"
He hurried them to see the rest of the house. After that he drove them to see some other
houses, and encouraged them to call him the next day.
They didn‘t call him, and he did not get the sale.
Explaining his disappointment to an older more experienced sales agent, he was totally
surprised when the other man laughed at him:
"You should have closed the deal on the first house. When she said ‗I love this room,‘ that's
the point where you start working to close a deal!"
Many people just don't know how to close a sale. I see it all the time. I'm always watching
the sales techniques of people I meet every day, even in shops.
You must know when you have made a sale, and move quickly to close. Don't keep going in
circles!
# The customer is the one who is choosing, not the seller. So there was no point in telling
them he had other better houses.
There‘s a story told about a businessman who was negotiating a multimillion dollar deal in a
restaurant. As the negotiations proceeded late into the night, and got to a crucial stage, the
waiter came to them and said, "We are about to close, sir." The man looked around and
realised that they were the only people left in the restaurant.
He got up and said to the waiter, ―I want to see the manager immediately.‖
Seeing the manager he asked, "How much do you make in one night?"
"$2000, sir."
"Okay, I will give you $25,000, and one week‘s wages for each of your staff if you keep
things open."
They shook hands. The man went back to the table and continued the negotiations, until he
closed the sale.
# Close the deal! Tomorrow it may not be there. There are always things that can happen that
can completely change the trajectory of a deal.
# A good salesperson knows when to seize the moment, and move to close.
A good salesperson is not a hustler, but they are passionate and persistent. There‘s a huge
difference. Don't be a hustler.
Humility is a better characteristic in the ability to sell than cocky overconfidence.
Honesty is the glue of good salesmanship.
If you enjoyed these two examples and want to read more, you‘ll find many such stories in
books on sales, as well as biographies of great entrepreneurs from around the world. You
must buy such books and build yourself a library on great business books. Also, do formal
courses in sales and marketing, even if you‘re planning to be a professional in another field.
Whether you‘re an engineer, an accountant, a computer expert, a lawyer, or any other

profession, I will only consider you for the top job once I am satisfied you can do three
things: 1) You're a "reader." You must be a person who reads and reads -- things that are
coming in front of you, things related to your job, and more broadly. No modern executive
can function without the capacity to read; 2) You must have a head for numbers. You must
understand how to read and study financial statements, and 3) You must have the ability to
sell.
Strive Masiyiwa Rashida, writes:
If I am not a strong salesperson is it wise for me to hire someone? Do I focus on my strengths

and hire my weaknesses?
My reply:
Now that you have recognized that you are not a strong salesperson, you can now do
something about it. Why don't you try for a sales and marketing course online. Force yourself
to be constantly conscious about the need to improve your sales skills. Being a good sales
person goes beyond the ability to sell to your customer, you will always have to sell
something including "pitching an idea" to financiers and investors (this too is a form of
sales).
Even when you have to hire good people, it is far much easier to know the good ones, if it is
something you yourself understand.
Have a great week.
Strive Masiyiwa President Obama's final Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) is being
held this year in Palo Alto. It is taking place in next week. I think this is one of the greatest
legacies of his Presidency.
Remember the one we did in Nairobi last year.... It was great, and I met many great young
entrepreneurs from all over the world.
I'm one of the speakers again. If you are attending, please come and join my session, and
hopefully we can shake hands and have a chat!
Strive Masiyiwa Adao, writes:
Uncle Strive is there any TV channel that we can follow this summit on live?
My reply:
I'm sure if you go online and research Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), you will get
all the information you are looking for, including learning about the speakers, and events.
Strive Masiyiwa Robert says:
"I want to sell sunlight to Africa"
My reply:
I love your attitude.
In my next post, I will turn to the issue of "marketing". There is a big difference as you
know, between sales and marketing, even though they go hand in hand. The guy who can
market, is the guy who can "sell sunlight to Africa".... Stay with me, as we explore the whole
subject, including things like developing your brand.
Strive Masiyiwa Harnu,
One of these days I am going to do a post in which I ask regular followers of this platform to
write the names of their business.
Anyway I love the name of your business:
ADRON HOMES...the best real estate agent in Nigeria!
JUNE 18, 2016
PAUSE: “SPEAKING FREELY”

__Words and actions can change the world.
I‘m back to one of my favorite subjects again… READING and BOOKS.
Today I want to share with you about an American publisher friend of mine, Robert L
Bernstein, who just released his autobiography called: ―Speaking Freely, My Life in
Publishing and Human Rights.‖ Robert not only had a long career as a top publisher, but
continues, now at age 93, as a prominent human rights activist! He started this work back in
the 1970s, protecting the rights of people around the world to speak, to publish, to read, and
to write, what they want… freely.
Before I tell you about Robert‘s human rights work-- some of which I‘m honored to say I
now play a small part -- let me first tell you a little bit about his story:
Robert started his publishing career right at the bottom of the pile as an ―office-boy-in-
waiting,‖ (that was the title he gave himself) not long after serving in World War II in
Morocco briefly, and India. He first started work at a publishing company in New York City
called Simon and Schuster (which came up with the innovations of selling crosswords and
paperback books, back in the day). After he got fired there (you have to read the book; it
wasn‘t because he didn‘t do great things), he moved to Random House where he started in
the sales department… and eventually led the whole company, for 25 years!
Over time, as a top publisher, Robert knew very well the power of the written word, yet saw
how authors and publishers in some countries were living in dangerous situations, at risk of
being imprisoned, or worse, for the work they were doing.
As a very young Jewish boy in America, Robert had heard firsthand how words (spoken or
hidden!) could save lives and expose truths, and also end lives and hide truths. Listening to
dinnertime stories (at his grandfather‘s apartment) told by Jewish refugees who his
grandfather helped flee from the Holocaust -- these were doctors and professors and others
who‘d lost almost everything -- Robert heard tales about the lives they‘d left behind, and also
about how they were starting all over again as strangers on a new continent.
But as a young unemployed man looking for a job, just out of the war, Robert didn‘t set out
to be a book publisher. He wanted to go into radio or television, an exciting new technology
at the time. Then someone suggested work at a publishing company… and he decided to give
it a try.
__That decision not only changed his own life, but turned out to change the world!
Maybe it was his early memories of the poverty he saw in India, the corruption he saw in
Morocco and the tragic, but also inspiring, stories he heard at his Grandfather‘s dinner
table… maybe it was all those things that helped inspire him to become a prominent activist
for Freedom of Expression (some people call him the modern "father of human rights"!)
First, Robert started the ―Committee on International Freedom to Publish,‖ then the ―Fund
for Free Expression,‖ and then ―Human Rights Watch‖ which still exists today, an
organization he even felt free enough to criticize strongly a few years ago when he thought it
was going the wrong direction…
Now I‘m not going to tell you Robert‘s whole story, because I hope you‘ll look it up and be
as inspired as I was when I first met him several years ago.
__I‘ve told you before how you can learn a lot from biographies and autobiographies of great
people. This book has some really important stories, whether you‘re starting out in business
or been there quite a while:
In this book Robert shares stories from his life that highlight the importance of ideas (both
thoughts and actions); the great power, of course, of reading and writing; managing people
(―hire and delegate‖); and also, innovation in his work as both a publisher and a social
activist.
# And where did his whole career start in the 1940s?! Innovation (ideas just "pop into my
head")... and sales and marketing!
A few years ago, I was so inspired that my wife and I decided to help fund the Masiyiwa-
Bernstein Fellowships at the Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at the New York
University Law School, which was launched (with his sons Tom, Peter and Bill) in April
2015. One of Robert‘s sons, Tom, is the Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., where I also serve on the Committee on
Conscience (which focuses on genocide prevention).
I count myself honored to be associated with Robert and all his family‘s human rights work,
and am really humbled that he‘s mentioned me in his book.
You can order this important book online as a hardcover or e-book at

https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Freely-Publishing-Human-Rights/dp/1620971712
End.
Image caption from left to right: Strive Masiyiwa, Robert Bernstein, and Faculty Director,
Professor Margaret Satterthwaite at the Robert L Bernstein Institute for Human Rights
inaugural conference.
Image credit: NYU School of Law

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Human rights are not a luxury, or something to be observed
if they don‘t conflict with some other priority, like peace or economic development. They are
instead the key to achieving those things and anything else of urgent importance to the
world.‖ — Robert L. Bernstein
JUNE 20, 2016·
PAUSE: OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BISHOP T.D.

JAKES.
More than 20 years ago, I came across the teachings of an American pastor called T.D. Jakes
and I would listen to him whenever I had the opportunity. Although I listened to his
teachings on television and the Internet, I hadn‘t actually met him until a few months ago.
There I was in Hollywood, discussing programming for KweséTV with major film studios…
I told them I wanted to introduce our viewers to "values-based" shows, series, and films. By
this, I mean I believe there needs to be more ―vision‖ in television and film -- programs that
really inspire and encourage greatness of mind, heart and spirit.
Immediately, one of them said to me: "Have you seen the movies produced by Bishop T.D.
Jakes?"
"No, not really. I know he acted in one or two Christian movies, but does he also produce?"
"Where have you been?" they all said, in disbelief. "T.D. Jakes is one of the most
accomplished producers in America today."
"You mean, Bishop T.D. Jakes?!"
"Yes!"
"He is also an amazing entrepreneur."
"Really?! I thought he was just a Pastor!"
"Who says he cannot be a movie producer, a singer and entrepreneur, as well? This guy is
one of the best entrepreneurs in America."
"Wow!"
After leaving the meeting, I said to my team: "Find me everything you can about T.D. Jakes.
I need to know what the good Bishop has been doing."
My people are very good at this kind of research and within a few hours I had my report.
All I could say was, "Wow, wow, wow!"
Bishop T.D. Jakes, has made nine films including the box office hit, ―Heaven is for Real‖ in
2014 which grossed over $100m worldwide! He‘s a bestselling author and has made 20
music albums, even winning a Grammy.
Through our Hollywood contacts, we reached out to see if I could meet him to discuss how
we could collaborate on KweséTV. To my surprise, it turned out that he was actually in
South Africa at the time, even as I was in the US.
We agreed to meet in South Africa when we were both there.
"I have 12m followers on social media and many are in Africa," he began to tell me over a
lunch in Johannesburg.
I was totally amazed by what he has been doing in the film industry, and even as an
entrepreneur.
"Bishop, I want you on KweséTV," I said to him.
"Let's talk," he smiled.
It was a great meeting! Afterwards, we prayed together.
As President Barack Obama said: ―What makes Bishop Jakes special is that no matter your
station in life, he‘s there to speak with you, to pray with you, and to see you as an equal in
the eyes of God.‖
Fast forward, many months later:
Bishop Jakes and I met on stage last weekend at the most prestigious event for the black film
industry, known as the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). It is attended by mostly black
industry players from the US, Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe. It's a place for buyers of
programming like Kwesé to do deals with producers and studios.
Bishop Jakes and I announced that we would be working together to produce original
programming, specifically for KweséTV.
Now how cool is that?
Well, watch this space. It's our time.
End.
One reason I set up KweséTV is that I believe the time has come for Africans to tell their
own stories. We recently held meetings in South Africa with leading producers, directors,
and creative writers to discuss how Kwesé can work with them to tell "our story." This is
only the beginning.

Do you know the name of Bishop T.D. Jakes' latest movie to hit the box office in March this
year? This is something he said about this film: ―This movie reminds all of us of our
responsibility to take care of each other. To go beyond the requirements of our day-to-day
job...to do kind acts for people in crisis. It is rewarding not only for the person who is the
recipient of your kindness, but it is also rewarding to you.‖

Did you know that the movie industry in Nigeria is believed to employ more people than the
oil industry?

Can you name 10 leading Hollywood actors from Africa, or of African heritage?
Strive Masiyiwa As an entrepreneur, you should keep your eye on how the business model of
Kwese Tv, is being rolled out. Over the last few weeks for instance you saw us begin to
unveil some of our key sports content, such as the COPA del Rey (Spain), English Premier
League, NBA, WNBA, Australian Cricket, EFC...all this is part of the content which will
form Kwese Sports.
Now for the first time we are beginning to show you Kwese Tv, and how it's content will be
made up.
In building your strategy, everything must be methodical and well thought out.
Keep asking yourself, "what is the strategy here? Where are these guys going?"
Most important, "WHAT LESSONS, AND PRINCIPLES, CAN I PICK UP FROM HOW
KWESE IS BEING SET UP?"
Don't rush to jump to conclusions. Remember what Joshua taught us:
"Pay attention, because we have not been this way before."
JUNE 27, 2016

___You and your brand.
When I launched my first business in 1986, I didn‘t really know that much about marketing.
As I mentioned in my first post in this series, I first learnt to "sell" when I was only eight
years old. Remember my story about selling sweets to my school friends? People bought
from me because they knew me and, of course, I was selling something I knew that they
wanted!
It‘s possible to run a very successful business short-term, even if you don‘t know anything
about marketing. You can sell, sell, and sell. But if you want to run a really profitable
business, you must understand the importance of marketing, which involves many steps.
Confused? It only means I have gained your attention. Now let's talk!
# Sales and marketing are not the same thing, but they go hand in hand.
# Advertising and marketing are not the same thing. Advertising is simply one of the tools
we use in marketing.
# It's important to develop a brand. In the end, the most valuable part of your business must
be its brand. Branding is what I want to talk to you about today.
A brand is not just a cool logo. It‘s a kind of promise, an identity, a vision, even a mission
that goes beyond the product or service to be sold. Think of the message communicated by
Nike‘s ―Just do it.‖ No mention of sports gear at all! What do you think they mean by ―Just
do it‖?
The Nike ―Swoosh‖ is one of the world‘s most iconic logos. Designed in 1971, the creator
was a young graphic design student in Oregon, in the USA. An accounting teacher at her
school had heard she needed some extra money for oil painting lessons, and asked her if she
wanted to help design a logo ―that showed movement and speed and would look good on a
shoe.‖ He and another guy were planning to start a company. He told the her the design
mustn't look too much like the main competitor‘s logo, (Adidas‘ stripes).
―What else you got?‖ was the response of Nike‘s co-founder (the accounting teacher) when
she presented him the Swoosh design. He was not very impressed.
So she designed a few more ideas, but he chose the initial design saying, ―Well, I don't love
it, but maybe it will grow on me.‖ At the time, she was paid only a whopping $35 ($2/hour)
for her work.
45 years later, the Swoosh is still around, nearly unchanged. The company is now worth
billions, employing tens of thousands of people globally.
__But it‘s not the ―Swoosh‖ visual symbol alone that‘s important! Or the Apple logo.
Branding goes beyond the graphic image.
Although admirable in simplicity, and amongst the most powerful brands on earth, if Nike or
Apple made bad shoes or computers, it wouldn‘t matter how memorable their logos. A brand
has to do with perceived values, and building trust.
Now think about Walt Disney which for decades has produced family films. Walt Disney
was a pioneer of innovation in entertainment. What Disney wanted to do was ―create
happiness through magical experiences.‖ Not ―create films,‖ but create happiness!
Bringing a brand like Disney‘s to life over the years is not easy. It means continually
listening, to understand what your customers really care about. It means consistent delivery
of value and quality, true to the brand you‘ve created. It means keeping your promises as a
person and a company.
How do people learn about your brand? I‘ll talk more about other aspects of marketing in my
next post.

Business is down everywhere in Africa, these days. Whether you‘re in Angola, South Africa,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, and many other countries. In business we don‘t believe that a "problem
will fix itself." We believe in doing something. This is a good time to get into marketing.
How is what you sell different and/or better than what your competitors sell? That‘s an
essential question to answer. Beyond a logo, do you and your company have a unique
―brand‖ identity?
―People will forget what you did, people will forget what you said, but people will never
forget how you made them feel,‖ said the late great writer, Maya Angelou. Do you have a
good understanding of your customers' needs, wants and expectations? If not, it will be very
difficult to get very far in putting together a successful marketing plan. Get started on that
before my next post in this series.
Strive Masiyiwa Something on the power of the brand:

[something for the senior class]___
A friend of mine visited a company in China, which manufactured clothes for some of the
leading clothes brands in the world. The owner of the factory showed him exactly the same
shirt manufactured for two different global brands. They used exactly the same material, and
virtually the same design. And yet when they were sold in stores, in the same country, one of
them was almost 100x more expensive!
"Those people are being cheated!" My friend said indignantly.
"Not necessarily so", I replied, "before I began to study carefully how brands are developed,
and sustained, I would have agreed with you. Now I know that even if you told the customers
everything, they would still buy that more expensive brand; there is an emotional connection
which goes way beyond cost. You must understand these things if you are going to succeed
as an entrepreneur."
Strive Masiyiwa Through the law of faith, God has "set eternity in our hearts"; this means
there is no limit to the extent of your faith; how far your faith can go; how much you can
accomplish; how much you can take over. (Dr Chris Oyakilome)
Strive Masiyiwa You guys are truly remarkable!

I just love your comments:
You are asking, probing, questioning, all the right issues.
All my life I have watched hard working entrepreneurs fail to make any real money because
they did not understand the role marketing plays in profitability of a good business or
product.
I urge every single entrepreneur and business executive to not only read my posts, but
equally and perhaps more important the debate that follows.
Reading your comments, is one of my favorite activities of the week. Keep it up.
Incidentally I'm not the only one enjoying your comments---it would blow your mind, if I
told you some of the people who told me they enjoy the comments of my followers!
[being discrete I cannot share their names].
Strive Masiyiwa Something on the power of brand:
There is a story told in marketing about a leading luxury car manufacture who had an
amazing new competitor for its top brand. The story goes, that the company carefully studied
the product from their competitor, and found that it was comparable in every way: reliability,
speed, noise, everything. And it was also cheaper.
After reviewing the situation carefully, the chairman said:
"Step up the marketing, and increase the price."
What do you think happened?
I want you to think very carefully about this, before rushing to answer---[tip] it's not as
simple as it looks.
Strive Masiyiwa As I have said before, almost any adult can cook a hamburger, but it took a
marketing genius to create McDonalds. If you are going to succeed as an entrepreneur or
business executive, you must be intricately, and intimately aware of the dynamics that drive
real profitability in a business.
I want the next generation of African entrepreneurs to set the world ablaze---that is why I set
up this platform.
JULY 4, 2016

__Your marketing strategy.
When I first got started, I sure knew how to sell, but I didn't know how to market… I must
have been in business for about five years when I first really got into marketing. It happened
during a particularly difficult time in our economy, when things were really down and
business wasn‘t really moving.
I tried to run some adverts in a local newspaper to create awareness of the things I did, but
things did not really move as I had hoped. And when people did call, I seemed to get the
wrong type of customers to the ones I wanted.
"I really need to teach you about marketing," my friend Enoch Hwande said to me.
"Oh, you mean I should advertise more?" He was the Creative Director of a major
international advertising agency.
"No I'm not talking about advertising. I am talking about marketing."
"What‘s the difference?"
"There is a huge difference, and you will not get very far in developing your business, if you
don‘t learn the importance marketing plays in a successful business. Right now, you think all
you must do is go out and sell, or bid for tenders. If you want to build a really big business,
you must really evaluate what your understanding of marketing is all about."
"Teach me, please!" I begged him.
"Look, if you really want to learn, then maybe you should consider a course. Why don't you
let me whet your appetite by allowing you to come and see a campaign we‘re developing for
one of our big clients."
Over the next few weeks, he opened my mind to what goes on behind the scenes. I listened to
highly-skilled marketing executives discussing and debating every aspect of their ―marketing
strategy."
__It was as sophisticated as discussions with my engineers on a product. I was almost in awe.
It opened my eyes.
I remember how I would go home and sit with magazines looking at adverts, and not the
articles! I'd sit watching television so I could discuss the adverts with my friend.
Then I started to buy books and magazines until there were more books on my shelf on
marketing than any other subject.
"Did you see the latest campaign from Coca-Cola? Can we get together this evening and
watch it together? I need to understand what they‘re trying to say."
I was fascinated by both the art and science of marketing. I learned that to develop a really
successful marketing plan meant thinking "big picture" while also doing detailed research.
Today there‘s a whole new world of information available to you in your market analysis. It's
possible to find online DATA and research information, and also online advertising you can
study. That‘s a huge advantage I didn‘t have back then. Overall, your marketing plan should
at least discuss the basics:
# Your target market (Who and where are your customers… past, present and future? Be
precise.)
# Your customers (What matters to them most? Price, quality, prestige, etc.?)
# Your competitors (Who are they, and why are your products better/different? Remember
the role of perception.)
# Sales strategy (What‘s the best way to reach out to different customers in your specific
target market? Who do your customers trust?)
# Advertising (By now, can you tell me the difference between sales, advertising and
marketing?)
# Customer support (Listening is so important. The value of your brand depends on it!)
Once I start a new business, I start to think of who is going to drive our marketing. It‘s as
important as who is going to head the finance.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. If you‘re interested in the topic of advertising, here‘s a link
to a brief advert we made for Econet Green Kiosks in 2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBASQ9IaMU
I‘m not sharing this with you because I want you to sell you anything… I just want you to
see what I think is a really great advert, put together by a first-rate creative team.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. ―The aim of marketing is to know and understand the
customer so well that the product or service fits him, and sells itself!‖ advised Peter Drucker,
considered by many to be the ―father of modern management.‖
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. ―Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again,
and bring their friends,‖ said iconic filmmaker, Walt Disney. What he‘s talking about is
―word of mouth‖ marketing and it‘s about the best there is... and the most cost effective way
to advertise for sure!
Strive Masiyiwa Tafadzwa writes:
On 702 Talk show Busines with Bruce Whitfield the analyst said it was positive that a major
player was joining the SA telecoms space and believed it will have an impact on the service
delivery. Am happy to be part of this facebook class, Dr Strive can you also teach us mergers
and acquisitions in of the lessons. Thank you
My reply:
As I have said before "buying and selling businesses, is also business". I have done both.
I have also merged businesses.
Hopefully at some point in future I will talk about this subject.
One lesson you should already have learnt from this deal, is that in serious business, we don't
go around telling the world about a deal before it is done. You never heard me talk about this
deal, or any other for that matter.
Strive Masiyiwa Enoch Hwande introduced me to his mentor in the field of brand
development and marketing: his name was Ian Shepherd from South Africa. He ran the
African operations of one of the the largest Advertising Agencies in the world. Even before
South Africa, came out of apartheid, Ian was already reaching out to make friends in the rest
of Africa. Enoch was his Zimbabwean partner.
The brand positioning of our company:
"Inspired to change your world", was developed by Ian, Enoch, and myself, in Ian's office.
When I moved to live in South Africa in 2001, Ian became one of my closest personal
friends, and we both shared a passion for bible study. Ian passed away this morning (4/7/16),
but he would not have put it that way, he would have preferred us to say, "he has gone home
to be with the Lord."
I dedicate this series on marketing to him.
Hamba Kahle, my brother.
Strive Masiyiwa I have been advised that there are some rather pathetic individuals who have
set up fake Facebook, and Twitter pages, to further their political interests. Please ignore
them, and any other imposters.
The kind of people I associate with do not impersonate other people. When you impersonate
another person, it means you have a very low self esteem.
As a public figure, I have a verified Twitter and Facebook page (there is always a blue
circle), and you must stick with that.
Strive Masiyiwa
Strive Masiyiwa Kenneth writes:
the difference between Marketing and other Marketing activities, such as selling, advertizing,
branding, promotion etc. all the other activities are branches of marketing... marketing is a
process that begins with the identification of customer need and end at the satisfaction of the
customer. while marketing a product, the customer is always in mind from the beginning of
producing the product to the end, with the clear tought of doing them good. considering
quality, pricing, competitors, status, culture, enviroronment... and a whole lot of other stuffs
that will give you a edge and drive your product to the mind of the customer. knowing the
customer to satisfy and understanding how to satisfy them is key to marketing successs.
My reply:
I agree with you.
Let's put marketing into practice in our businesses, to make them more profitable.
Strive Masiyiwa Allison writes:
@ Dumnodu Emmanuella a good product does not and cannot sell itself without marketing
and advertisement..... telling you from experience...we lost a huge business because we
believed that the product is the best in the market only for us to wake up one day and see the
worst of products killing ours because the other product producers marketed and promoted
theirs,printing in it on the heart of the customers while we believed that the customers will
find us and they never did....learnt that in a hard way....thanks Dr.
My reply,
You are absolutely right Allison.
Thank you for the contribution to this issue.
Strive Masiyiwa Phillips Sliver asks:
@ Mr Masiyiwa it is true that Liquid Telecom is buying Neotel telecom?
My reply,
I can confirm that this is true.
Liquid Telecom is part of Econet Global.
Liquid Telecom recently announced that it is buying a South African company called Neotel
for R6.55bn ($435m).
Liquid Telecom has offices and operations in the following countries: UK, UAE, Kenya,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho,
South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, DRC, Djibouti, and Somalia.
They also provide services to customers by satellite throughout the African Continent.
Most of their customers are large organizations such as telecoms groups, banks, and oil
companies.
I have enjoyed watching them grow over the last 17 years.
PAUSE: BRAND INTEGRITY MATTERS.

During the last few weeks, I have blogged on the importance of sales and marketing skills.
We‘ve also begun to discuss the importance of building, nurturing, and sustaining a brand.
I‘ve tried to show you that behind the sales campaigns, promotions, and advertising you see
on TV and in newspapers is a highly complex business tool which you must appreciate and
master if you want to develop a profitable business.
This series has been one of the most successful ever, with reach sometimes topping 8m per
post, according to statistics from Facebook. I have totally enjoyed the amazing comments.
Africa is on its way to developing some incredible businesses out there. I feel it in my spirit!
There‘s a lot written about brands, and people much more qualified than I spend their careers
studying and teaching about brands. You would do well to read and follow some of these
experts.
One thing I‘ve tried to instill is the important of "brand integrity." This is because, in the
final analysis, a brand tends to take on the persona of its founders, and those who manage the
business on a day-to-day basis.
You must do your best, and try very hard, to instill in your brand a culture of integrity. This
is not easy, particularly as the business gets bigger, and you‘ve moved away from the center
of day-to-day action.
In my 30 years running a business (remember I started in 1986), I‘ve met and known some
highly gifted entrepreneurs who looked ready to set the whole world ablaze, but after a few
years, some of them failed spectacularly. Whenever I looked back on what had happened…
more often than not, it was an issue of integrity.
The other day, someone brought me an article from an African Internet newspaper (I won't
mention the name because I don't want to judge them, only to advise). The newspaper is run
by young entrepreneurs who follow this platform. In the edition brought to my attention, they
had an article in which they purported to have interviewed me, on the phone, whilst I was "in
Denmark.‖ The interview was a total fabrication, and whilst I have heard that Denmark is a
beautiful country, I‘ve not yet had an opportunity to visit in my entire life.
This saddened me deeply because of the harm they did to themselves, and the integrity of
their brand.
A newspaper, even one on the Internet, is a business. It‘s a business whose brand must be
based on integrity, because people come to it to be informed about what‘s happening. The
moment you start writing stories out of your imagination, and print them as true, you‘re on
your way to practicing the ideology of Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's minister of propaganda).
Last week I also commented on the practice of setting up fake websites on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, and other other social websites, pretending to be someone else. In the
beginning, it seems to be a bit of harmless fun. This is how most drug addicts began -- a
"little joint" became heroin…
It‘s the same in entrepreneurship: The fake website can lead you to fake credit card identity,
and fraud, and fake drugs that kill others… and maybe a very long prison sentence. It's a
slippery slope.
Africa has some of the most gifted musicians and actors in the world. Most of them go
unrecognized, and live in poverty. They could be making millions, and standing on the world
stage just like the most famous European and American artists. The problem is simple --
"pirating" of their material, supported by some of their own fans who happily buy the fake
products! This is blatant theft.
__Let's do our best, every single day, to try and build brand integrity.
We don't need fake newspaper stories any more than we need fake drugs, fake credit cards,
fake DVDs, and fake websites.
The original is always the best, and it has brand integrity.
Thank you.
Strive Masiyiwa
Dr Matthew Wazara:
Thank you for your message this evening.
Remember the passage in Isaiah that I gave you a few weeks ago:
Isaiah 52.
You can also add to your study today, 1Chronicles 16:7-36 ( the anchor verses as you know
are 21&22).
The times you are seeing are also why I wrote the series "The eagle in a storm"---it is right
that you now "see" as I was "seeing", but even then the storm will soon pass.
Stay blessed, and rejoice always.
PAUSE: __"THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO

WHAT IS RIGHT."
I may have shared this story before with some of you: Many years ago, I was giving evidence
in a hearing over a dispute with a partner. The hearing was taking place before an arbitrator
in London. As a requirement of the arbitration process, before the hearing each party had to
disclose all documents (including all correspondence) over the course of the relationship.
One evening during my three-day cross-examination, as I was preparing for the next day, I
came across an email written by one of my staff which completely contradicted and
undermined everything I‘d been saying. It was very damaging for our case. No one had seen
this email, and it had never been disclosed.
I discussed the email with a lawyer on my team. He just shook his head and said, "If that
email emerges, our case is gone. We will lose."
Our dilemma was compounded by the fact that our partners hadn‘t disclosed many
documents that we required, and that we knew they had. They openly lied to the judge,
saying the documents did not exist. If we lost the case, we would immediately lose $15m.
And that was a lot of money for us in those days.
What was I to do?
That evening I knelt down and prayed. Then I went to bed.
The following morning, I returned to the stand but before I could start, my lawyers asked the
judge for an opportunity to speak:
"My client came across some documents last night which had not previously been disclosed."
And with that he handed him the file with the email in it. The judge read it carefully, then
handed it to the other side. Their lead advocate who had been aggressively cross-examining
me, read it, and looked at me.
When we resumed, the advocate for the other side did not raise the email, and its contents. I
noticed that his entire tone and attitude had changed -- he was more respectful than before.
The judge then adjourned the case to allow him a few weeks to consider the case.
A few weeks after the hearing closed, but before we had a ruling, the lawyers of the other
side called our lawyers saying: "Our client would like to settle this case, before the judge
issues his ruling."
And with that they offered to pay us the money we had been asking for.
To this day, I don‘t know what happened on the other side that prompted them to settle, but
on my part, that‘s when I first coined the phrase:
"I would rather lose believing God was with me, than win knowing He was not."
The great civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, once said, "The time is always right
to do what is right."
Whilst the story I have just told is an extreme example, be assured that every day of your life
you will have your integrity tested. Much of the time it is very small things that are almost
unnoticeable, but at others, it will require every ounce of your integrity and courage.
The picture of the "Eagle in a Storm" was taken from the Zimbabwean side of the Victoria
Falls.
Strive Masiyiwa "new era of responsibility‖:
"a recognition that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that…we
seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining
of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task‖.
(President Barrack Obama's inaugural speech 21st January 2008__I was there in person).
Strive Masiyiwa I'm in Washington today. Big, big day!

Keep an eye for the post. I will be speaking at 3:30 EDT
https://www.whitehouse.gov/globaldevelopment
Strive Masiyiwa I'm in Washington today. Big, big day!

Keep an eye for the post.
Strive Masiyiwa Sydney Mukoweshuro,

Writes:
I would rather lose,knowing God was with me,than win knowing he wasn't!!it's really not
about the material wealth we accumulate is it,?it's not the cars,not the homes?it's not even
about the victory,is it?it's how u fight that matters. It's the narrative about your fight that lives
longer than your bank balance..as the tentmaker would say. ..."I have fought a good fight,I
have run a good race,and now Iam fully poured out"....I too shall fight a good fight!
My reply:
You have said it better than I.
Thank you, my brother.
There is never greater a time than NOW, to uphold our integrity, and recognize those who do
the same.
JULY 21, 2016
PAUSE: __“HARD THINGS ARE HARD.”

Yesterday was a very special day for me and I‘ve been looking forward to sharing it with all
of you. I was given the honor by the White House to introduce President Barack Obama to a
global audience, and to talk about the efforts during his Presidency, to help the poor
throughout the world.
There are certain moment in life when you just say Wow! and this was one of those
moments.
The event was the White House Summit on Global Development which brought together top
global experts to talk about the progress that President Obama and his Administration have
made possible in energy, food security, global health, good governance, development
partnerships and youth initiatives around the world.
I first met then Senator Obama 10 years ago over lunch in Johannesburg, on one of his many
visits to Africa. He had sought me out because he knew I was part of a small group of
African and global leaders who had been assembled by out-going UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan. We had to find solutions to address hunger, food security and nutrition in Africa.
During our lunch, I quickly recognized Senator Obama as a man of great vision – a leader
with a heart not just for the people in his own country, but for the whole world, and for the
African continent in particular.
He did not need me to tell him that women smallholder farmers are the backbone for
agriculture in the developing world, or that in parts of Africa and India, close to 40% of
children are stunted, or that over one billion people still have no access to electricity. He
already knew.
__He also understood it required bold leadership and unprecedented cooperation on the part
of governments, donors, philanthropists, civil society and the private sector to address these
issues.
President Obama‘s presidency has been a testament to this vision. Even as the global
financial crisis into which he was elected raged around him, he put global development at the
center from the very beginning, and he stayed the course.
# He was truly an eagle in a storm!
As President, he‘s championed major initiatives such as:
# Power Africa, to bring electricity and economic growth to sub-Saharan Africa;
# Feed the Future to dramatically improve food security and nutrition;
# The Young African Leadership Initiative to nurture the next generation of leaders;
# The Global Entrepreneurship Summit to pivot our focus to entrepreneurship and job
creation… and more, much more.
Even when the Ebola crisis threatened to blow everything away, he was there too, personally
and deeply engaged in taking decisive steps to mobilize the world… again, an eagle in a
storm!
When I first met him, he was Senator Obama, a promising leader who‘d just published his
book, ―The Audacity of Hope.‖ Now even as his Presidency of the US draws to a close, I
have no doubt he‘ll continue his visionary global leadership, transforming that hope into
innovative actions to help the poorest of the poor uplift themselves to prosperity.
As the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, James MacGregor Burns, wrote: ―The most lasting
tangible act of leadership is the creation of an institution – a nation, a social movement, a
political party, a bureaucracy – that continues to exert moral leadership and foster needed
social change long after the creative leaders are gone.‖
In this post, I‘ve shared with you some of the exact words from my introduction of President
Obama. Let me close now by saying again: ―Mr President: On behalf of all the hundreds of
millions of people whose lives you touched and continue to touch through the initiatives you
launched: Asante Sana, Tinotenda, Amhlope. Thank you.‖
END
Image credit: Robb Hohmann/USAID

President Obama's African initiatives in numbers:
1. At the meeting a few days ago, President Obama announced that he had just signed a law
called Feed The Future. This is a $7bn program to help small holder farmers including many
across Africa. I have been involved with this program under Agra for the last 8 years, and
already 20m families are being assisted. By signing it into law, he was making sure it would
continue after he leaves office.
2. His program to help Africa increase power generation by 30,000 MW, is already law.This
will increase Africa's current capacity by 50%. Hundreds of companies are already getting
loans and investments for projects. I was there when he first announced the program. I'm not
in this business but I want to see the 650m Africans who have no electricity finally get light.
And imagine what it will do for business!
3. There are 250,000 youth in Africa who are reached by YALI! I saw some of them when
we were in DC.
4. President Obama sent 3,500 soldiers to build temporary hospitals to help us fight Ebola. If
he had not done that as part of his contribution--which far exceeded that of any other nation
on earth, it would simply not have been possible to stop Ebola.
#RespectObama.
This is absolutely phenomenal. No President in history has committed that level of resources
towards Africa.
Some things that President Obama said at yesterday's Summit really stood out for me. One
was very simple: ―Hard things are hard.‖ Whether you‘re the President of the United States,
in the most powerful position in the world, or you're facing down a great challenge in your
own brand new business... what Obama said to people in the audience (mostly people
devoted to eradicating poverty) I'd like to say to many of you who share comments here each
week: ―You give me hope!‖
"And these three abide: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of them is love."
For those of you who are interested, here are the links to a video of President‘s Obama‘s full
speech to the White House Summit on Global Development https://vimeo.com/175693825
(about 31 minutes) and my introductory remarks prior to that speech
https://vimeo.com/175680152 (about 7 minutes).
Strive Masiyiwa Champion Ali,

Writes:
You are a testimony father strive, at this same moment in my life i see a future so bright, all
the way from nigeria, you sent me to school in south africa, you footed every bills. Right
now am studying marketing and business management/entrepreneurship in one of the best
schools for the blind in africa. Sir, is a waoh! Experience, the environment is perfect, the
teachers are superb and the management is unique. Is a people and place you would love to
visit here in cape town. Thank you sir, for this golden opportunity, am gon make best of it.
#eventheblindhavesight
My reply,
I'm glad things are going well. It is such a blessing to be able to support you.
AUGUST 2, 2016
REFLECTION: PERSONAL BRANDING – YOU

AND YOUR WORDS.
Just by chance a few days ago I found a YouTube video of the Academy Award-winning
American actor Denzel Washington speaking to a graduating class at an American
university. The power of his words reminded me of my New Year‘s message several months
ago when I talked about the importance of your words. I'll share the link with you, as I think
those of you who know of this great star may really be surprised.
In the course of the current series on the importance of sales and marketing, some of you
have asked about personal branding. I won‘t go into great detail on this today, but I want to
say that your words are not just your ―bond‖ as the saying goes, but your words are your
brand… not just your business brand but what announces to the world, each and every day,
your character and integrity. Every time you open your mouth, or put something in writing,
keep this in mind.
I‘ve shared this story with some of you before: Several years ago, long before Internet and
Amazon, I was in London going from shop to shop looking for a bible translation called The
Living Bible. I‘d just heard a sermon about the meaning of Matthew 12:35: ―A good man‘s
speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and
his speech reveals it.‖
The main message of that sermon (which I wrote down in my notes) offers an important
lesson in personal branding, although of course that wasn‘t the pastor‘s intent:
―…The most important part of your life is actually the ability to use words. Words define
your life; words define your values. Words define your personality. You are no better than
your words; you are no greater than your words,‖ the pastor said.
―The character of your words is the character of your personality: Watch your words. No
man ever got better than his or her words. Your life is the expression, the manifestation, the
reflection, of your words. It does not take long to know who you are. All you have to do is
talk for a few minutes; this is because your words locate you, they tell you where you are
at…‖
Since I posted my reflection on words last December, I‘ve written about many subjects and
shared three series with you – The Eagle in the Storm; Turning Your Business into a
Technology Company; and now The Importance of Being Able to Sell to a Customer…
None of this teaching though will be sown in fertile soil if you do not guard your words,
which as the Apostle Matthew said, ―reveal the rich treasures within you.‖ The words you
speak and the ones you don‘t speak... Your silence can also speak volumes.
Be a person of your word and know its power. There‘s a saying about a tongue which I read
somewhere: ―The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful
with your words.‖
Your words are your brand. How you express yourself matters greatly. We‘ll discuss more
about personal branding and related matters later on, but nothing is more important than the
integrity of your words, and the way you express them.
Image credit: Andrew McConnell.

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. I hope you'll be as inspired as I was by this homemade
YouTube video taken of Denzel Washington, making a graduation speech to some American
university students last year. In his talk he makes three key points, and they're each a real
Wow! If you have kids or friends in school, you'll want to share it with them, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJrc6E0m-E
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2: ―...the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great
boasts. Consider what a forest is set on fire by a small spark.‖ James 3:5 (NIV)
Strive Masiyiwa Lawal writes,
I have set up a group of abt 40 and counting pple, we had our fifth meeting last friday,
turnout has been impressive, we come to discuss,digest and utilise in closer terms the
teachings of strive masiyiwa, We are all on this page, i have been impressed with how well
and fast it has been growing. I head the 'Strive for Africa'( nigeria) Group and I need people
like me who we can work together and head such groups for other Africa nations here. Let us
meet, Let us walk the talk. Thank you.
My reply:
I love this, and I am just humbled to learn about your initiative.
Next year I plan to start visiting African cities, and meeting with some of you in "Town Hall"
settings, so we can discuss your experiences.
Let me know if you like the idea.
AUGUST 6, 2016
“THOSE WHO WILL LEAD THE FUTURE, MUST

UNDERSTAND CHINA TODAY.”
__Scholarships for global leaders of the 21st century.
Great news! For the second year now, I‘m excited to tell you about a scholarship program for
young people to get a Master‘s degree in Global Affairs from one of China‘s top universities.
If you‘re selected, this could really be the chance of a lifetime!
Not only will you expand your learning, but you‘ll also share the experience of studying for a
year in China with other young leaders from around the world.
If you follow world news – as you should – you‘ll know how important this opportunity is
for you to take part in and shape trends of the 21st century. If you‘re looking to be counted as
a global leader, this is one excellent opportunity to prepare yourself!
Last year I joined a group of international donors that support the Schwarzman Scholars
program, which each year will select up to 200 talented young people to spend one year
living, working and studying together at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. This
$450m scholarship program was started last year by Stephen Schwarzman, the founder of
Blackstone, one of the biggest financial organizations in the world.
Courses will be taught in English and students will study under the tutorship of some of
China's leading academics, top academics from other parts of the world, along with business
and political leaders, all in a Chinese environment.
The Schwarzman Scholars curriculum was developed in collaboration with academic leaders
from Tsinghua, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Oxford, Duke – all these are top
universities in the world.
Last year, 111 young people from around the world were the very first group to be offered
Schwarzman Scholarships. The inaugural class included successful applicants from
Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe!
# The submission deadline is coming up soon, on 15 September, but there‘s still plenty of
time for you to apply if you‘re eligible and interested in getting a Master‘s degree in Global
Affairs.
# This scholarship is fully funded and includes tuition, room and board, international airfare,
an in-country study tour, books and supplies, a laptop and smart phone, health insurance and
a modest personal stipend.
# To apply, you must have an undergraduate degree (can be in any field) and be between the
ages of 18 and not yet reached 29 years of age by August 2017.
If you meet the rigorous requirements and are selected, it could be YOU heading to China to
study for a year! It's not enough for you to have excellent grades, though. You need to clearly
show your commitment to leading on the global stage. If you don‘t have perfect marks, your
outstanding contributions in other areas could be the reason you win the scholarship:
# Do you have demonstrated experience in leadership roles on campus, in your communities,
your workplace or in other organizations?
# Do you have a demonstrated interest in expanding your educational horizons?
# Can you articulate a clear vision of how and why a year as a Schwarzman Scholar in China
will help advance your personal goals (and beyond)?
If this is not for you, perhaps you know of other brilliant young people with leadership
experience and potential who you think should apply? Please share this information with
them as soon as possible, as the application deadline is 15 September.
I really hope the African continent will be well represented in the next class of Schwarzman
Scholars. If I was the age of many of you reading this post, I would apply for this opportunity
right away!
For more details, go to http://schwarzmanscholars.org/news-article/schwarzman-scholars-

accepting-applications-for-second-class-of-scholars/
The end.
Image: Beijing city scene

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. ―The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.‖
I‘m sure some of you have heard this Chinese saying before. Are you a young African
scholar or aspiring business leader ready to get a deeper understanding of the economic,
political and cultural factors shaping China‘s expanding role in the world? Are you prepared
to take a step that could literally start you on a journey well beyond one thousand miles?
You‘ll never know if you don‘t try!
Strive Masiyiwa It's 2am, in the morning (where I'm), and I have just completed work on a
new series, which will really bless the entrepreneurs. It is on the subject of "buying or selling
a business".
Get ready for this series.
Strive Masiyiwa Debbie writes:
This is a brilliant initiative, kudos to you Mr. Strive MASEYIWA. However, I think you
should consider not giving age limits as there are older people, outside this age bracket stated
above (e.g. Moi for instance), who I am sure are intelligent, aspiring business leaders, ready
to expand their educational horizons, who have demonstrated experience in leadership roles
at different points in their lives and have been looking forward to opportunities like this but
disqualified because of age brackets usually given. If there are such opportunities available
kindly point us to such or you could create one sir. Bless you!
My reply:
Debbie, as you will see from the Website, this is not my initiative, but that of another
philanthropist Mr Stephen Schwarzman. The program is to help over 200 highly gifted
students from around the world. My own contribution was to ensure that more young
Africans also get an opportunity to be part of this program, by making a contribution.
Naturally, I'm sure you appreciate that I don't get to write the rules.
"He has done a good thing", and let us commend him for it. There will no doubt be
opportunities to develop more such programs in future. So, if you or any one on our
platform, does not qualify, for this particular program; let's rejoice with those who do, and
cheer them on as they go their way; it is Africa being developed, and it is "marvelous even in
our eyes."
Strive Masiyiwa Someone by the name of Geophrey Tenganamba, has published a book,
which is being sold on Amazon. I did not authorize him to use my material or the images,
and pictures from this page. I consider what he did to be a form of fraud. I have instructed
my lawyers to deal with the matter through the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile please do not buy his book or that of anyone else purporting to be from me. What
I give you is for FREE, it will always be free.
How to Build A Multi-Billion Dollars Business: Breaking Through: Africa Challenging
Economies Kindle Edition
by Strive Masiyiwa (Author), Geophrey Tenganamba (Editor)
Be the first to review this item
AUGUST 14, 2016
BUYING AND SELLING BUSINESSES, IS

BUSINESS (PART 1)
__A big idea, an excellent team.
A few months ago, Liquid Telecom, one of our businesses, bought a South African telecoms
company called Neotel Communications, for about $450m. Quite a few of you who saw the
news about the transaction wrote to me, asking me to share some insights into buying and
selling businesses.
I‘ve therefore decided to use this acquisition as a case study to share some tips on the subject
of buying and selling businesses. First of all, some background to the Liquid/ Neotel
transaction: Liquid Telecom is a company I set up from scratch in about 2000. It was one of
the first businesses I launched when I left my homeland Zimbabwe, and began to live in
South Africa.
Initially, our business operated from Mauritius and London. It was my first time to set up an
office in a European country, when the idea of Africans setting up businesses in Europe or
outside Africa was quite rare. I'm glad this has changed, as it should.
__Liquid was a small high tech company with a "big idea." That‘s all you need sometimes.
We also had an amazingly passionate team, who were highly skilled and confident.
Within a few short years, the company became highly respected in a new area of telecoms in
which it was almost a pioneer. It was also a "B2B" company, meaning that it sold services to
other telecoms players, and not direct to consumers.
Liquid initially focused on moving international voice traffic for telecoms operators in some
70 countries. We did this using satellite technology, and we developed earth station facilities
in Europe and throughout Africa. We even had an earth station facility in Norway.
Even when you‘re enjoying success in any business, you must always stay on the lookout for
disruptive changes that could either threaten your business or create new opportunities. In the
case of Liquid, the growth in telecoms voice traffic was slowing down, but we saw that
movement of data traffic to support the Internet was going to be explosive. Most importantly,
we saw it long before most of our peers. We quickly moved our focus into developing fibre
optic networks.
After the Neotel acquisition is completed, we‘ll have more than 50,000 km of fibre optic
networks across southern, central, and eastern Africa. This is the largest such network on the
African continent.
We were not the only ones to see this new landscape, but different players, new and old, saw
things in different ways. Some companies built undersea cables, others became Internet
Service Providers, and so on.
Our own business grew quickly, and through effective management and judicious use of our
resources, it soon emerged as the key player in its sector of the industry.
Making the business bigger required a combination of setting up and building businesses
from scratch, but we also made acquisitions in some markets. The Neotel transaction is just
the latest in a long list of acquisitions that we‘ve done to build the business. We‘ve also
bought businesses for Liquid in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,
and Zimbabwe. Neotel was owned by Tata Communications, a subsidiary of the giant Indian
global conglomerate, Tata.
In this series, I‘ll share with you some of the principles and processes that we use in deciding
when and why we buy businesses, and how to buy a business. There‘s also the challenge of
integrating and transforming a business that you buy.
Sometimes we also sell businesses, and we do this quite often: "Buying and selling
businesses, is also business."
When I decided to set up this Facebook platform, I was very much aware that it would be
quicker and easier to simply write a few books. I was also aware that I could make money
from selling books. Certainly by now I could have written many books. But that was not my
intention. I do this as a gift of love. I don't want my material sold in any format whatsoever.
I'm totally opposed to anyone compiling and selling the material I provide on this platform,
for FREE.
If you come across anyone selling books claiming to have been written by me, please report
it on this platform, so that my lawyers can deal with it.
Please enjoy my gift of love, and share it with others, but do not allow anyone to sell it. This
is not the time to be a "Gehazi".
Strive Masiyiwa Strive Masiyiwa My other question is "Are you of preference to set up and
register African conglomerates to be, in Africa and headquarter them outside Africa e.g,
Europe/America (as in your case Econet, registered in South Africa and headquartered in
London). What are the tax implications of both strategies and what are other unforeseen
challenges for first timers? Which one is the best option (African registered vs Euromerica
registered) with due respect that corporate taxes trickle to national development?
My reply:
There are many factors that you have to consider in deciding where to set up a business. The
key thing is to do it in a rational and analytical way. It must make good business sense. For
instance I cannot just wake up one morning and say, "Oh I want an office in Tokyo, because
I don't have an office in Japan." That would be very silly. The idea in business is not to try
and impress people, but to do what is good for the success of your business.
For instance when we set up a London office for Liquid Telecom, one of the key reasons, at
the time was because the telecoms regulator there allowed us to set, the type of operations we
needed. We were actually granted exactly the same license as British Telecom. There were
no restrictions on ownership of the business, and we could bring people into the country, and
get work permits for them, if we wanted. Mauritius was very much the same.
This is a big subject, and no doubt we shall discuss it again.
Strive Masiyiwa Iyke writes:
Sir, I wish to know when and where you will have a life seminar or public speaking on
entrepreneurship especially in Nigeria?
My reply:
Dear Iyke,
In substance this is a "a seminar or public speaking"--I am "speaking" to more people in
Nigeria, than I would if I was there. At the same time, I'm reaching people in every corner of
the world.
Whilst I would very much love to add a dimension of maybe Town Hall meetings in some
countries, my challenge is I'm a full time business leader, and it is really difficult to find the
time.
When Kwese Tv, is fully operational, we might consider a show which deals with some of
the issues that I raise.
Thank you.
Strive Masiyiwa Dr#StriveMasiyiwa, will kweseTV be in ghana?
My reply,
I was in Ghana on Saturday, and watched KweseFree Sports network, on our Affiliate
Partner, Viasat. We will be increasing our premium sports content to them over the next few
weeks.
There will also be a Kwese Entertainment Television Network, which is also based on
exclusive, premium content. It will have programs and shows that have never been seen
anywhere before, and lots, and lots of African content.
AUGUST 21, 2016
BUYING AND SELLING BUSINESSES, IS ALSO

BUSINESS (PART 2)
__Buying a business: six key questions.
A good entrepreneur must never be too sentimental towards a business. There‘s a time to
buy, a time to sell, and even a time to close a business. It's all business, and in a successful
business career, you must have the capacity to do all three.
In the first part of this series, I introduced you to the subject of "buying or selling
businesses." As an entrepreneur, you need to be aware that buying or selling a business is
also part of business.
Let's look first at the subject of buying a business:
__You must always be very clear why you want to buy a business. Many people buy
businesses, filled with emotions, yet with very little analytical work to justify their decision.
A friend of mine, with a great job, once came to me very excited that someone he knew was
planning to sell his business, and he wanted to buy it. And as often happens in such
situations, he wanted me to help him fund it.
Having listened to him quietly, I asked a simple question, "Why do you want to buy a
business?"
"I have always wanted to get into business," he began.
"So, why have you taken this long?‖ I asked, adding, ―After all these years, you could have
already started something of your own; so why now?"
I wasn‘t asking these questions just to be difficult. I wanted to see if he was an entrepreneur,
or just someone hoping to make himself more wealthy.
After we had discussed for a while, I asked him: "Tell me what you‘re going to do with this
business, once you acquire it?"
Whether you‘re buying a business for the first time, or you‘re a giant multinational buying a
business, these same questions always apply:
1. What is the motive behind your decision to buy a business?
2. What will you do with it, to grow and expand it, once you‘ve acquired it?
3. Do you have the capacity to run and develop the business that you‘re planning to buy?
4. What will you to pay for it, and how did you reach that price?
5. How are you going to pay for it?
6. What are the challenges and risks you will face that are outside your control?
When buying Neotel South Africa, we had to answer each of these questions, methodically
and dispassionately, sometimes bringing in outside parties to test our answers to each
question.
__These are principles you must write down carefully. Many books are also written on the
subject. Believe me, I‘ve read books and articles on acquisitions over the years, including
those that failed spectacularly.
In a big company like Liquid, management must convince both the board and the investors.
Then, of course, there are the banks and, in this case, there were lots and lots of banks.
Going back to the story of my friend:
I'm always skeptical about people who try to get into business by buying a business, unless
they happen to be managers of the business they‘re trying to buy. In most instances, when
people opportunistically try to buy a business that‘s on offer, it ends up badly. It either ends
up struggling to keep its original glory, or they simply go out of business.
Most big businesses are not opportunistic buyers. They know exactly what they‘re looking
for, and they‘ve usually been watching the business they propose to buy for quite a long
time.
Every week we‘re offered businesses to buy. I always, always, apply the six rules I‘ve listed
above. Once I can tick off the boxes on most (if not all) of those questions, in a methodical
and dispassionate way, we can begin to look at it. Otherwise, I say thank you, and move on.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. If you‘re going to buy a business as a way to get into
business, you must be able to demonstrate to a would-be investor or financier that you really
have a vision for that business, and that you have the skills to execute on it. "It's a very
profitable business," is not a good reason for me to support anyone to buy a business!
Strive Masiyiwa Marcus ,

Asks:
Thanks Doc, is it mandatory for the seller to furnish the buyer with all information
concerning the business or it is bought on how it is basis?
My reply:
This is actually a very good question.
Before you buy a business from someone, you must make sure you read up, as much as
possible on "THE PROFESSIONAL PROCESS, AND PROCEDURES", for buying
businesses. Any good (corporate) lawyer, and professional accountant, should know that
there is a very precise process to be followed in buying and selling a business. If you follow
this process, the chances of getting a bad surprise diminish considerably.
To give you an example, in answer to your question:
the buyer asks the seller to set up what is called a Data Room, where all corporate
documents, contracts, agreements, and financial records of the company are kept. We call
this the "disclosure process", and if the seller is not willing to make all necessary disclosures,
we walk away, no matter how good the deal.
The same process applies if you want to sell a "stake" in your business to an investor, to raise
more money. It is therefore extremely important for any entrepreneur to understand this
process and how it works. This is senior class stuff, for guys like you!
Strive Masiyiwa Kayonde, asks:
...In buying a business, is it necessary that you possess knowledge about the business?
For instance, when considering buying a tech-company and you are a professional lawyer
(you don't know about techs), but you see the business as a very promising and healthy one.
Can one still go on with the acquisition?
My reply:
If it is your money that you are using to buy the business, it is always upto you how you use
your money.
However if you go to a bank to borrow money, or approach investors; you are most likely
going to be turned down. Personally, it would be virtually impossible to persuade me to
either lend money , or invest in such a situation. At best I would ask you to use your own
money, and come back to me after a year or more, so I can first assess what you have done
with the business. It might sound harsh, but that is reality; no one likes to put their money to
such an obvious risk. These are the rules of the game, it's like buying a goal keeper, hoping
to turn him into a striker!
Strive Masiyiwa Victor, writes:

Does it mean risk-taking is nt part of business entrepreneurship? I knw its always advisable
to look b4 leaping, but if an entrepreneur shld avoid or creat no room for possible risks in
business then he may end up being stagnant or his growth in business may remain stunted.
There wil always be risk in business otherwise the axiomatic expression: "take the risk and
join the millionaires" wil pass out as a mere "Vocis flatus"
My reply:
Risk taking is indeed part of business, but recklessness is not.
There is also an "axiomatic expression", which says: "a fool and his money are soon parted."
Not every "axiomatic expression" is true, only the ones that draw from the bible can be relied
on.
Strive Masiyiwa Marcus ,

Asks:
Thanks Doc, is it mandatory for the seller to furnish the buyer with all information
concerning the business or it is bought on how it is basis?
My reply:
This is actually a very good question.
Before you buy a business from someone, you must make sure you read up, as much as
possible on "THE PROFESSIONAL PROCESS, AND PROCEDURES", for buying
businesses. Any good (corporate) lawyer, and professional accountant, should know that
there is a very precise process to be followed in buying and selling a business. If you follow
this process, the chances of getting a bad surprise diminish considerably.
To give you an example, in answer to your question:
the buyer asks the seller to set up what is called a Data Room, where all corporate
documents, contracts, agreements, and financial records of the company are kept. We call
this the "disclosure process", and if the seller is not willing to make all necessary disclosures,
we walk away, no matter how good the deal.
The same process applies if you want to sell a "stake" in your business to an investor, to raise
more money. It is therefore extremely important for any entrepreneur to understand this
process and how it works. This is senior class stuff, for guys like you!
Strive Masiyiwa Lawal, asks:
Thanks as always Dr, but is buying a business really better than starting one from the
scratch?
S4A- Nigeria.
My reply,
Personally, I always prefer the option to start a business from scratch. Certainly, if you are
just starting out in business, I highly recommend that you start something of your own first.
I normally sanction buying, as a strategy of growing a business that we already own, or as a
means to strengthen our position in a particular area of business that we are involved in.
In our "case study" Neotel South Africa. We were already the biggest player in that industry
across Africa. We had a presence in South Africa, but it was not strong enough. So this was a
way to grow an existing business, and our market share.
Strive Masiyiwa Jezreel asks:
what if their reason of selling the business is as a result of enviromental factors that will
necessarily affect the company's performance negatively when u buy it,how will u deal with
such situation
My reply:
Don't look at someone's reason for selling, as a negative thing. Buying and selling of
businesses, is going on all the time. It is part of good business. It is rather like buying and
selling players in soccer--it's part of the game.
I introduced this subject because I realized many young entrepreneurs don't always
appreciate this fact of business.
Companies like Microsoft and Google are buying scores of companies every year, and those
who sell to them are very excited to sell to them too--it's business, and it's good!
Strive Masiyiwa Tongoona asks:
I know this article is incomplete and I may be jumping the gun here Dr Masiyiwa but at the
end will you please address when it's right for a relatively smaller business to resist being
bought out by a bigger and more organised and more lucrative business entity. When is it
right for "David" to stand up to a "Goliath"? Thank you.
My reply:
I love your question, and I only wish I had time and space to respond to it.
1. Unless the smaller business is listed on a Stock Exchange, there is no reason why the
owner should come under any form of pressure from a bigger business to sell. This should
never happen in any country, where there is rule of law, and constitutional protection of
property. So the David and Goliath battle does not really arise. You sell only if you want to
sell. You cannot be forced.
When the company is publicly traded on a Stock Exchange, if the potential buyer can secure
enough voting support, then they can force a sale. This is rare, even though when such things
happen it grabs headlines.
2. There are many entrepreneurs who decide to sell their businesses, willingly, to a bigger
company. I shall discuss this in more detail, when we come to the topic of SELLING your
business--as business.
Strive Masiyiwa Tom Kyonda,
Asks:
The above list of questions amounts to an examination to the prospective

entrepreneur.However,nobody would mark for you.How do you handle a possibility where
you feel you have the right answers for the set of questions yet in actual sense you are out of
order(wrong)?
My reply:
This is a very profound observation.
To be honest with you, many entrepreneurs go bananas, when they get an opportunity to buy
an existing business, that is big, and gives them what they see as "a once in a life time
opportunity."
Even if you are convinced you have done your homework, it is important to take advice from
people with a critical eye; those who will say things you don't necessarily want to hear.
Strive Masiyiwa Atli of India, asks:
Sir, I understand why you bought Neotal suth Africa. But want to understand why Tata sold
it. Because I am Indian exploring possibility of expand our Aviation Business in Africa
specially in Nigeria. After studying Africa I understand one thing that African people are
very kind and Intelligent so we have better chance of business with association with them.
But little scared that acceptance of Indian are less or what?. Because Tata generally not sell
there business. They are Indian leading business house in India.
My reply:
The reasons companies decide to sell or buy a business are varied and complex. I cannot
speak for Tata's reasons, but I agree with you that Tata is one of the most successful and
sophisticated businesses in the world today--Absolutely world class.
When I" myself decide to sell a business for instance, it might be because it is not performing
to my requirements, or it might be because I want to fund another business, which I consider
more promising. Sometimes it is because I don't think I'm the best owner to get the best from
the business, and to grow it to its best potential.
Strive Masiyiwa Lucy asks:
My question is, sir When buying a business, is necessary to continue with the original? I was
thinking that you can change the business to what you want.
My reply:
If you use your own money to buy the business, Lucy, you can do whatever you want.
However if you are going to borrow money, or to ask investors to put up the money, then
your room to make those kind of changes is based on what you tell them you are going to do
with their money.
If you come to me, and ask me to help you buy a bakery, and then you turn it into a butchery,
I might not be too happy, particularly, if you are a baker by training!
PAUSE: GLOBAL SPORT, FROM AN AFRICAN

PERSPECTIVE
__What stands out?
A few months ago, I discussed the importance of setting up a website for your business.
Have you launched yours yet? Every single business, however big or small, must have a
website. As soon as I announced we were going into sports television, we set up a website
for the new business, kwesesports.com.
For those of you following this new African sports website, you‘ll notice it has gone through
several makeovers, aimed at constantly improving it.
As an entrepreneur, you must never stop trying to improve something. Our site will continue
to go through many makeovers, as the business itself develops and grows.
If you‘re interested in taking part, I‘d now like you to visit the www.kwesesports.com
website and share with me your comments. Don‘t look at it from the perspective of a
consumer, but rather as an entrepreneur. It‘s not yet in final form.
__What stands out? Think of things I've said about marketing and branding.
Notice for instance that we didn‘t start by trying to sell anything, but simply to inform the
customer about what‘s happening in sport around the world – from an African perspective. A
friend of mine who‘s an avid sports fan told me he now visits the site several times a day to
see what‘s going on. (And that‘s not just because he‘s my friend!) He‘s shared a few
comments for me to think about, and I hope you will, too.
__Never stop listening and learning!

Now we‘ve begun to give you detail about our new Free-to-Air (subscription free) 24-hour
sports channel called Kwesé Free Sports. Again, we are not selling anything! We also allow
the customers to watch for free, live-streaming content. We don‘t get any money from the
companies that sell the data bundles to watch the streaming content.
So what is happening?
__We‘re investing in the brand. We are playing the ―long game.‖
Keep watching. Keep looking carefully to understand the strategy. You may never be told the
strategy of a business. More often than not, you have to study for yourself to get to it.
By now you‘ve built your own website for your business. Why not share with us your
website... Who knows, I might visit it and highlight it in my Afterthoughts. I‘m going to pick
a few and highlight them, but I want to see passion and uncompromising quality from you. I
also want you to constantly give your website a makeover.
End.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. You'll find this out if you decide to help comment on our
website, but I‘m thrilled to announce another exciting "First" for Kwesé Free Sports: We‘ve
struck a deal with Formula 1® World Championship Limited to give us English languages
rights for three and a half years, across Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. This
weekend's coverage starts with the Belgian Formula 1® Grand Prix! Practice and qualifying
rounds are 26-27th August. The race is on 28 August. http://www.kwese.com/.../econet-
media-brings-f1%C2%AE-to...
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

BUSINESS (PART 3)
__Key question #1: What is your motive?
Nic Rudnick, the CEO of Liquid Telecom, has been with Econet Group for nearly 20 years.
Before becoming CEO of a group company, he worked in many different roles. He is a
seasoned and highly skilled businessman who knows what it takes to build a successful
business.
During one of our strategic reviews, he explained: "Our business in South Africa, Liquid
Telecom South Africa, is not big enough to compete effectively. South Africa is a key
market for our business, and we are just not competitive enough."
"Our business in that market has been built from scratch, but our key competitors are bigger
than we are. We need an acquisition to accelerate our growth,‖ he said.
This was the beginning of a conversation that he would then support with studies and
proposals. And it would not be a one-day affair, but a process.
"Oh, right, if you get an acquisition opportunity, let's look at it. Let's have a comprehensive
assessment of each and every option in the market. Then put the word out that we are buyers
in that market."
Months would follow. Our intelligence had led us in different directions, sometimes to dead
ends. Then one day the phone call came through from one of our sources:
"The deal between Vodacom SA and Tata Communications over Neotel has fallen through.
It could be coming back to market."
"Okay, what do we have on Neotel?" I asked Nic.
"We know everything about them. I can have a report on your table within a week."
What followed was a rigorous evaluation of the opportunity, using each of the six key
questions I gave you before. Do you remember them?
1. What is the motive behind your decision to buy a business?
2. What will you do with it, to grow and expand it, once you‘ve acquired it?
3. Do you have the capacity to run and develop the business that you‘re planning to buy?
4. What will you to pay for it, and how did you reach that price?
5. How are you going to pay for it?
6. What are the challenges and risks you will face that are outside your control?
We had every box ticked, but before we could make a move, I wanted to do one more thing.
Do you remember the post on the "Buffalo Hunter"?
(https://www.facebook.com/strivemasiyiwa/photos/a.500176003390233.1073741828.496453
373762496/1042021479205680/?type=3&theater). I actually wrote it, as I was working on
our bid for Neotel. We can discuss it again in the next post.
―We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible
situations,‖ said the American pastor and author, Chuck Swindoll.
"Impossible‖ is one word that can really imprison your hopes and dreams and entrepreneurial
planning. Is that word in your vocabulary?
Continued. . .
Every week I receive offers of businesses to buy, or to buy shares:
99% I turn them down. The ones I look at, are usually the ones I was already looking at!
Remember I'm an "old Buffalo Hunter"-- I already know what animals I am looking for. I'm
not just out there hoping "something" will just pop up, and then I start running around. If
something happens to pop up, I must already have been looking for it, and it must be a
Buffalo., not an impala, a rabbit, or even an elephant!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. ―When you‘re first thinking through an idea, it‘s important
not to get bogged down in complexity. Thinking simply and clearly is hard to do…‖ This
advice from my good friend Richard Branson is really worth taking on board, when you're
first evaluating your opportunities with the six questions. Complexity will come, soon
enough.
Strive Masiyiwa Sivuliye asks:
Sir Strive. When big companies want to buy your company, is it possible to sell maybe 3
thirds while retaining the rest? What are the advantages or disadvantage of such a
transaction?
My reply:
At the moment I'm looking at the subject of "buying". I will also consider the issue of
"selling" a business.
A seller must also follow a set of rules in deciding why and when to sell a business.
For instance in this case, what is your motive?
-The answer will decide if, when, and how much you should sell, and even to whom.
If you follow a methodical process, you will find the answer staring at you in the face.
Strive Masiyiwa Peter Kanayo, asks:
Dear Strive, thanks for the inspiring post. There is a key question I need answer to: how do
you manage the culture shock that is sure to come when you acquire another company?
My reply:
Peter this is a very important subject. You must never forget that when you are buying a
business, it is an organization that employs people. Even if it is one or two people, or
thousands, the issues that arise are the same:
The people who work for the organization have dedicated their lives on developing the
business. They have families, and they are stakeholders in the future of the organization.
I'm totally opposed to people who buy an organization to simply strip it, and sell the assets.
When I'm buying a company, I am very keen to first establish, amongst other issues, as much
as I can about the employees. I'm also interested in the culture of the organization.
I like to buy a company where the employees are happy to see me buy it, because they know
I will add value, secure jobs, and grow it.

As I mentioned in my last post, on the subject, there is a "technical process" used when
buying a business (irrespective of the size), which should never be ignored. You must make
sure you know this process before you ever attempt to buy any business. Amongst the issues
you must do are the following:
1. Hire a (corporate) lawyer--not just any type of lawyer. They must have prior experience in
buying and selling procedure.
2. Hire a qualified accountant, who has been involved in buying and selling of businesses.
3. If you can afford it, include a professional banker in the team.
We call these people, External Advisors, to the transaction.
[I was once approached by a large company to buy shares in one of my businesses, when I
was still very small. I asked them to give me money to hire the best advisors to help me!]
There must also be a professional process set up by the advisors, to enable proper exchange
of information between the two sides.
Strive Masiyiwa As some of you know I have been in Kenya this week.
I'm chairing a conference which happens every two years, called the African Green
Revolution Forum (AGRF). It is dedicated to promoting the development of African
agriculture, with particular emphasis on helping smallholder farmers:
#FarmersAreEntrepreneurs.
Yesterday we launched the #CampaignFor AfricanAgriculture--we have spent the last few
months urging governments, donors, investors, bankers to increase their financial
commitments, and make pledges at the conference:
We did our first pledging round, which was led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and followed
by organizations from around the world:
We hit over $30Bn!
Wow!
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
PAUSE: SEIZE THE MOMENT! GET INTO

AGRICULTURE.
Yesterday was a very special day for smallholder farmers across Africa. We had a huge
meeting in Nairobi to discuss how we can improve agriculture and increase food production
across the continent. Every two years, the African Green Revolution Forum brings together
government leaders (including presidents and ministers), agriculture policy experts, banks,
donors, business leaders, farmers' organizations, farmers, NGOs, and entrepreneurs. We also
had former presidents such as HE President Obasanjo of Nigeria, and HE President Kikwete
of Tanzania.
This year we had a special agenda called "Seize the moment." We wanted not only to discuss
progress made since we last met in Lusaka, Zambia, but specifically to focus on ways to get
more investment and financing (including bank loans) into agriculture. To this end, we asked
the key players to come to the meeting with actual financial commitments.
The leaders of several African countries were part of this important process, including
Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania,
and Zambia. Other countries have been asked to step forward and join this campaign.
As some of you know, I personally traveled to see several leaders in my capacity as the
Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which organized the
Forum. I was well received in each country.
# The President of Kenya, HE Kenyatta, kicked off the process by pledging to invest an
additional $250m to help support young farmers.
# President Kenyatta was followed by President Obama who, through one of his top Africa
advisors, Gayle Smith, confirmed that his program (recently announced when I was in the
US) now has full Congressional approvals to invest more than $6bn in the years to come, to
secure livelihoods through agricultural development. US companies are also stepping up
investment into African agri-business, as part of the President's strategy.
# Bill Gates said in a video that he would commit another $5bn to African development over
the next five years, with some of it being used for agriculture.
# The Rockefeller Foundation, represented by its President, Dr Judith Rodin, and the great
grandson of its founder, David Rockefeller Jr, put in another $180m.
# The Commercial Bank of Kenya (the country's largest bank) challenged all banks in the
country to follow its lead of $400m.
# The World Food Program said it would buy $110m of produce from African farmers, every
year, going forward.
# OCP, a big fertilizer company from Morocco, announced it will build fertilizer factories
across the African continent over the next five years at an estimated $1bn.
But the night was still young, brothers and sisters!
# The African Development Bank, led by our own Dr Akin Adesina, coolly stepped forward
and pledged $24bn over 10 years -- an increase of 400% on its current support for
agriculture!
Later in the evening, we honored one of Africa's greatest sons, Dr Kanayo Nwanze of
Nigeria, who has dedicated his entire life to promoting African agricultural development.
__Dr Nwanze was announced the inaugural winner of the Africa Food Prize! This is a new
annual award for courageous and visionary leadership in the field of agriculture.
After receiving his award, Dr Nwanze stepped forward to make his acceptance speech.
# Then he announced that the organization which he heads, the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), would put an additional $3.6bn into African agriculture
over the next six years!
Wow, wow!
Congratulations Senior Brother! You are a champion, now, and always!
Over $30bn was pledged.
Even if you‘re not a farmer or in the agriculture industry, this type of investment will create
millions of jobs and fuel economic growth. It's good for Africa! Even if you‘re not in any of
the participating countries right now, rejoice with those who would rejoice!
My colleagues and I on the board and management of AGRA, as well as our alliance
partners, will continue our efforts to get more money into African agriculture.
I have now boldly called for the pledges to be driven to $100bn. I hope you‘ll consider this
business.
It's the future.
End.
Image caption: IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, receiving the 2016 Africa Food
Prize at AGRF gala dinner.
From left to right: Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Strive Masiyiwa,
Prof Dr Joachim von Braun and Dr Eleni Gabre-Madhin
Strive Masiyiwa In most African countries, Agricultural activity employs more than 70% of
the population, and accounts for more than 50% of GDP. However, lending by commercial
banks, accounts for about 3% of total loans provided. This is a shocking statistic.
If we can find a way to get this figure to just 10%, it would dramatically put our continent on
the road to sustainable prosperity.
It will not be changed because someone gets angry, and lashes out at banks. We have to
thoughtful try and understand the underlying factors to these, or any other problems. Then
find (lawful) solutions, that are a "win-win" for both banks and farmers. Banks are
custodians of other people's money (including yours and mine), so we have to find the right
solutions. This is #LeadershipToday.
Strive Masiyiwa This report caught my attention this morning:
Reuters - Sub-Saharan Africa is seeing a surge of interest in irrigation among small-scale

farmers as climate change brings more erratic weather and as rising populations in countries
from Nigeria to Kenya mean demand for a reliable harvest is growing, agriculture and water
experts say. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimates that more
than a million hectares of small farms are now irrigated in the region, based on limited
government data and satellite images. In Tanzania, the area of small farms with access to
irrigation has risen from just 33,500 hectares in 2010 to about 150,000 today, institute figures
show. But up to 29 million hectares in the East African nation alone potentially could be
irrigated, said Ruth Meinzen-Dick, an IFPRI researcher.
Strive Masiyiwa Africa currently spends $35bn a year importing food. 99% of what is
imported can easily be produced in Africa. A bad policymaker says, "How can I ban this?" A
good policymaker says "How can we encourage and equip our own people to get into
agriculture?"
An armchair critic says, "This is bad and should be stopped" -- but does nothing.
An entrepreneurial-minded person says, "How can I take advantage of this
OPPORTUNITY?"
All have their place, but which one are you, and I?

When most people think in terms of agriculture they think in terms of "tilling the land, or
raising animals"-- this is an important aspect of farming, but it is part of an entire "value
chain", making up the agriculture industry. There is room for you to be part of agriculture as
an industry. As HE Olusegun Abasanjo (former President of Nigeria), has always said,
"agriculture is a business, and not a rural development program." You can show your
entrepreneurial prowess through agriculture.

For those of you in the senior class of our entrepreneurship program, I want you to do some
reading on a guy called Dr Norman Borlaug. This is one of the most amazing human beings
of the 20th century.
When you have read about him you will definitely come to appreciate why the agricultural
development fraternity, and indeed all leaders hold him in such high esteem.
His granddaughter, Julie Borlaug, delivered a stirring speech at the conference:
It is indeed, Africa's turn to have a "Green Revolution".
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. As His Excellency Obasanjo said in presenting the

inaugural Africa Food Prize: "Dr Nwanze is a model for how a great leader can make a
difference in the lives of people on the ground. Dr Nwanze's accomplishments on behalf of
African farmers is a reminder of what's possible when you combine passion, good ideas,
commitment, focus, hard work and dedication." If you want to learn more, check out
africafoodprize.org.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. As I left the hotel to head to the airport, an American
gentleman called out to me, "I was at the meeting last night. I did not know that we could
also pledge." As he handed me his card he said, "We want to build tractors, and to help
young farmers. We are one of the biggest companies in the world. Can we still make a
pledge?"
"Africa is open for business,‖ I said. "You are welcome!"
Strive Masiyiwa Lesego writes:
Mr Strive Masiyiwa, thank u very much. May God continue to guide you in this journey.
Though i do not see my country Botswana not being mentioned, i am a proud African, and
hope to see my country being involved in the mission.
Dear Lesego,
AGRA is run by an international board of highly dedicated and committed men and women,
who travel from all over the world to attend meetings, and give their advice.
As chairman of the board, (a position I took over from HE Kofi Annan, when he retired), I
never cease to be humbled by the commitment of the board members, as well as the staff and
field officers of AGRA, in their mission to see African farmers prosper.
I'm proud to advise you, that one of the members of our board, is The Governor of the
Central Bank of Botswana, Linah Mohohlo.
Strive Masiyiwa William Onoka,

Writes:
On behalf of Sylnerm Group and on my capacity as the chairman, I pledge to help distribute
Africa's Agriculture products. Dr Strive, it is the progress of this progress that must be scaled
up. Thank you sir.
My reply:
Well done William. Each one of us can also make a pledge, whether we are big multinational
corporations, or young entrepreneurs.
Imagine what would happen, if each one of us, made a similar pledge.
Strive Masiyiwa Fasoranti writes:
That's right! Agriculture (all the market chain) has a huge potential now and in the future..
My brother Abdulraheem Adam is on this path right now. He's already converting the food
waste in his community into organic fertilizers to remove the huge cost of fertilizers and the
adverse effect of inorganic fertilizers in farming.
Next, we are already exploring innovative (Do-it-Yourself) ways of processing potatoes,

groundnut, cassava etc in the community as well.
These are grassroots youths in Nigeria, defying the norms, getting our hands dirty and
running speedily the viable path in agriculture.
Thanks Dr. Strive for this eye opener. Huge insight here.
My reply:
I congratulate you on these amazing efforts.
Food waste is one of the biggest challenges that we have:
About 40% of the food produced by our farmers never actually gets to eaten; it is wasted. In
Africa in particular, it is because it rots because we cannot process or keep it fresh.
There is a big effort now to highlight this challenge. If you want to learn more about some of
these challenges, and how others are trying to address them, visit the website of the
Rockefeller Foundation and learn about a program called YieldWise.
Strive Masiyiwa Harrison Opion writes:
Africa will never profit from agricultural unless we first invest in irrigation infrastructure so
that we mitigate the losses caused by relying on rain for agriculture. All these funds will
come to nothing.
Dear Harrison,
Respectfully, in your haste to be critical and deride the efforts of others, you failed to realize
that the funds from The African Development Bank of almost $24bn, are aimed at providing
loans to governments, in Africa, so that they can finance projects like Dams, irrigation and
roads. For Dr Adesina and his team to have mobilized that kind of money, in just the 12
months since he was elected President of ADB is an absolute miracle.
The change you want to see, will never happen until YOU personally commit yourself to also
do something.
Strive Masiyiwa Desmond from Nigeria, writes:
Thanks Dr. Strive whenever I try to tell people around me that I am a farmer ,they laugh. I
have worked in the seed industry for some light yrs,I was a part of SEMIS Training in 2014
for seed processing which held in UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI,a program sponsored by
AGRA,I worked in IITA for sometime,I have seen the work AGRA is doing,Keep the good
work up, I presently am looking to go into rice processing, as I have been into production for
sometime,I am a partcipant in the diamond bank building entrepreneurs today season 6
(BET6) . http://diamondbankbet6.com/entries/655 The link above is my video pitch, Please
friends click on the link,to give me a chance to receive world class training on
entrepreneurship .
Many thanks and God bless
My reply:
I'm so excited when I hear from people who have participated in AGRA related programs of
this nature.
Even though we have spent hundreds of millions over the last 10 years launching various
programs to help people like yourself, involved in various aspects of agriculture activities,
we all need to know how it is impacting lives like yours.
Thank you my brother.
God bless you.

The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), has been going on now for 10 years. Every
single year, we hold the conference in one of the African countries.
I have attended almost every single one of these meetings.
Before we hold a meeting in a country, we have to be invited by the government of that
country. The President of the country acts as our host. The chairman of AGRA (which I'm
currently), acts as chairman of the meeting, and receives the Heads of State and delegates
attending the meeting.
Last year we were in Zambia, and next year we will be in Ivory Coast. Our first meeting was
held in Accra Ghana, and was hosted by the then President HE John Atta Mills.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS CAN CHANGE

AFRICA
__There is a social entrepreneur in each one of us, waiting to be unleashed.
Last week when I was in Nairobi, I slipped away briefly from the conference on agriculture,
which I wrote about in my last post, to visit some young friends, Jessica Posner and Kennedy
Odede.
I was accompanied by three dear friends and colleagues: David Rockefeller Jr, a
philanthropist and conservationist (great grandson of John D Rockefeller, the founder of the
Rockefeller Foundation); his wife Susan, a renowned filmmaker; and Josette Sheeran,
President of the Asia Society. Josette is also the former executive director of the World Food
Program, and sits on the board of AGRA.
I'd heard about the extraordinary work of Jessica and Kennedy from my wife. (They‘re a
married couple -- she from America, and he from Kenya). I was keen to see it for myself!
This was not my first visit to Kibera, a sprawling, informal settlement where hundreds of
thousands of people live on the outskirts of Nairobi. I‘d been there before, and it was mostly
still every bit an "eyesore" of struggling, urban, human existence and extreme poverty, as
anywhere I‘ve seen in Africa. I could have been in Diepsloot in Johannesburg, Katanga in
Kampala, Makoko in Lagos... You know what I am talking about.
__But amidst all such places that can "look" so hopeless, you can also find hope shining...
"When were you last here?" my friend Josette asked, as we entered its dusty and noisy
environment.
"Probably 5-10 years."
"Has anything changed?"
"Not much, that I can see..."
To get where Jessica and Kennedy worked, we had to get out of the cars and walk through
narrow streets for several miles. This is a hard environment, but the people were so friendly...
that had not changed.
As we walked, Kennedy explained to me their audacious plan to build an aerial water

reticulation system crisscrossing the entire settlement, to provide clean water. I was
intrigued, and a little skeptical at first. But... when we got to the first water station complete
with pipes running above us, I was completely taken aback!
Yes, they‘ve begun to build a system which has water pipes in the air, rather than
underground, something never tried before in such a place. I was impressed, very impressed.
(Remember, I'm an engineer). I knew that laying water pipes below ground in such an
environment would be prohibitively expensive… and this system stops water contamination
and pipe tampering! This was pure innovation, which is why we call people like Jessica and
Kennedy "social entrepreneurs."
There was more:
# A school for girls starting at pre-school and primary. Another interesting innovation, they
explained to me, was how parents who can‘t afford to pay anything (which is virtually
everyone) pay by volunteering time to clean the school, and cook meals for the girls, in
rotation. I had never seen parents so engaged in the education of their children -- beaming
and excited. We need such engagement by parents in all our schools in Africa!
# The clinic was really a mini-hospital. They had so many innovations, some of them
contributed by some very famous tech companies in Kenya like Safaricom, and Salesforce
from America. Awesome!
Kennedy and Jessica actually live and work in Kibera where Kennedy was born and raised.
When they first met, Kennedy was already working as a social entrepreneur in Kibera, but
through the encouragement and assistance of Jessica, he managed to go to America and
attend one of the country's leading universities. They got married and returned to Kibera to
continue their work, now armed with an education.
Walking back with Kennedy beside me, still talking enthusiastically about his plans to
transform Kibera, I didn't say much. My thoughts were filled with so many emotions. For
one, I thought of the irony of an old nun who had just been declared a saint only a week
earlier by the Pope in Rome.
I'm not a Roman Catholic, but I still admire the Pope and what he represents, and I'm
privileged to have lived in a time when Mother Teresa worked and lived in the slums of the
informal settlement of Kolkata in India, with the same selflessness and passion of Jessica and
Kennedy.
"Did this young man and his lovely wife know about her and her sainthood?" I wondered to
myself, but didn't ask.
"Thank you for the assurance, that behind my generation is one coming up, which is better
than my own," I told them as we left, adding: "You are doing God's work, and it is not
without recompense."
As my friend Josette explained to me when we entered Kibera: "Less than 100 years ago,
there were places like this in cities of America and Europe. This is how they transformed
them into what you see today... people like Jessica and Kennedy."
I agree.
All that needs to happen for change to happen is when one or two people stand up for that
change.
End.

If you want to learn more about Jessica and Kennedy, you can read their inspiring life story
in a book called "Find Me Unafraid." Their organization is called Shining Hope for
Communities (SHOFCO), and you can read about it on their website www.shofco.org or
look them up on Facebook. You can also find them on Twitter (@hope2shine) and
Instagram. Yes, they‘re using technology to get the word out! You can also donate money...
and if you are nearby to Kenya, drop by and visit them! You can find them in Kibera and
also in Mathare, Mombasa and Mukuru.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the two men who refused to help the wounded man
represented those whose calling and job it was to show compassion, justice and love, in their
communities -- a priest and a Levite. We must not harden our hearts to the social challenges
in our communities. Each one of us, as we are, has all the resources and capacity to bring
about the change we want to see. As Gandhi once so eloquently put it, "You must be the
change you wish to see in the world..."
Don't have the mindset which says, "Why doesn't so and so do something?" whilst doing
nothing yourself… No, YOU do something, because you can! Look around. You really can.

I recently watched a movie about one of my all-time heroes, a man called William
Wilberforce. The movie, called Amazing Grace, gives a very accurate history of his life long
battle to stop the sale of black slaves captured in Africa. William Wilberforce's life and work
totally inspired me when I read it as a young Christian.
Strive Masiyiwa Champion Raymond asks:
Strive Masiyiwa tell me something about you, I always read your posts and comments ie
everything you put on media. So tell me why are you not able to secure that information for
yourself and not share with us(because I looked around and saw that successful people never
share their mind but you are successful and you can share with poor people like me)
My reply:
As I thought of your question, what came into my mind was this:
"Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give." (Matthew 10:8).
Strive Masiyiwa Victor Onyango

Writes:
Hello Strive Masiyiwa i live near the said slum and i am a witness of the project and i was so
touched until i also started a youth group to support in community social work by doing the
cleanliness of the terraces which they use to convey dirty water down to the sewage,before
we started it as a youth group presently it is Slums Anti-Pollution Agency ,hopefully by the
grace of God through friend's support we shall be able to reach all the slums in Kenya then
later to other parts of our continent by doing the thorough cleanliness for a conducive
environment for my brothers and sisters to live in.
My reply:
What a response!
Imagine what would happen, if each one of us, we're inspired to respond, as you have done.
Unleash the social entrepreneurs of Africa.
Strive Masiyiwa Igbinevbo,

Writes:
The mindset of social entrepreneurship will develop Africa faster than any government
policy will. This is one truth I've picked from this write up today.
As a young dental surgeon, I'm already planning to launch out a campaign that will bring
dental care to our people in the interiors. I hope to be able to touch at least 3000 people
within the first year of operation. Coverage will increase as time goes by.
This post has successfully reinforced my resolve.
Kudos to Jessica and her husband, Kennedy. Kenya, and indeed the whole of Africa will
never forget them..
My reply:
Awesome!
Go for it, and keep us informed.
Strive Masiyiwa Deborah Odenyi,
Writes:
Glad to have hosted you at The Kibera School for Girls. You really inspired my girls.
My reply:
Greetings to you and those wonderful young women of Africa!
It was an honor and privilege to witness what you are doing to produce tomorrow's leaders in
every sphere of life.
Well done.
God bless.
Strive Masiyiwa Mageni writes
As a fresh graduate of Water Resources Engineering, I have been pestering my self seeing
the Ugandan towns being built up with unplanned settlements like Katanga and my question
was how is NWSC going to manage nonrevenue water in these settlements, never did I know
that pipes could be hanged up! Thanks a lot Strive Masiyiwa this post has given me an
answer and in my current research I will have to include this. May The Almighty GOD add
you more knowledge to share with us such stories. GOD bless you.
My reply:
I hope it inspires you to do more than just simply add to your knowledge. It should inspire
you to want to do something in Katanga.
As long as you hope that some authority in your country will be inspired to do something,
then you were never really inspired.
There is nothing stopping people like yourself from writing to Kennedy and Jessica, to get
the designs, and to also get tips on how to raise the money....this is what those who have
been truly inspired will do.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

BUSINESS (PART 4)
__Trusted relationships matter.
The "lions" are always out there. You have to respect that they‘re there, also hunting. It‘s
part of business. Our research told us that Liquid Telecom would have possible competitors
who also wanted to acquire the asset. The sellers were likely to follow a tender process. Our
intelligence seemed to suggest that some very aggressive competitors could emerge, with
very deep pockets.
We developed our business plan carefully, and discussed how we would make the business
work within the rest of our operations. This would be a large acquisition at $450m, but it
would be manageable for Liquid and its management team.
We brought in external advisors to help us evaluate and test each stage of our proposed
strategy.
You must always seek expert advice, when it comes to buying a business. It doesn‘t matter
your own business skills, or how well you know the business -- seek advice, and develop a
culture of taking advice from trusted and credible professionals… include experts who are
prepared to give you hard, cold facts and analysis that they know may not make you smile.
Many of you have asked: What about raising the money?
Let‘s start at the beginning: For an entrepreneur, relationships matter. They‘re the most
important part of business. I‘ve told you before, you must build trusted relationships. Twenty
years ago, I went to a bank branch in Harare, Zimbabwe and asked them for a loan. It was the
local branch of an international bank.
# A bank is a business, and never, ever forget that! They want clients who will grow with
them, and continue to make them money. If you run from bank to bank, you may never get
an opportunity to build a real relationship with them. Even as we‘ve grown and built
relationships with new banks and financiers around the world, I still hold on to my oldest
relationships, just adding new ones as I go.
# Respect the so-called "small guys" you meet today, because they‘re headed to be
tomorrow's "big guys‖ (and by this, of course, I‘m referring to women, too!) Some branch
managers at the banks I dealt with 20 years ago, are now very senior executives in the
banking world.
# The serious entrepreneur treats the bank as a partner. They don't just pitch up when a deal
emerges. They‘re constantly talking and comparing notes with the banks. Some of my best
deals are brought to me by the banks… It's their job, to bring me good deals!
This is not rocket science: Build relationships based on trust, and start today! Some of the
other key relationships I rely on, even today, were also made over 20 years ago!
By the time we learned of the Neotel opportunity, we and our "lead" bankers were really old
partners. We‘d gone on many buffalo hunts together over the years, and we knew the rules of
the hunt.
They weren‘t hearing it for the first time from me. We‘d made known that we were looking
for an opportunity to make a big acquisition. Once our teams had completed their
presentations, and our advisors had given their support, it was time to make the approach:
"We need money to buy the business, and also to develop it, going forward. We have a solid
business plan for it."
"For that kind of money, we‘ll have to syndicate with others. You know you‘ll need to come
up with considerable equity. How far are you on equity?"
"We‘ll share with you our plans on the equity piece. We have everything in hand. We know
what you need. And we need your help to make it all happen."
# Banks like to share risk with other banks. This is called syndication. Sometimes you can
have as many as 20 banks working on a deal. Again, a good entrepreneur makes it their
business to know how it works. This is how large amounts of money can be put together very
quickly to support mega-deals.
# By now you‘re familiar with the difference between "debt" and "equity" in financing a
deal. From the business modeling (used for our business plan), we‘re expected by the banks
to know how much debt, and how much equity we need to make a business deal work. At
this level, it‘s almost a science, and there‘s very little debate amongst the experts.
"Let's meet."
"Our team is ready."
The rest is history. A few months later, the deal was done, fully funded, and ready to go.
I hear you asking: "And what happened to the lions?‖
The "tall" tale of the Buffalo Hunter says: "The lions were very, very big. We managed to
shoot the buffalo, and to get it out of the bush just in time. Our children are now fed well,
and we‘ll be planning a new hunt soon!"
When I first started out in business, I opened a bank account at the branch of a local bank. I
used to go and deposit money, and withdraw whenever I needed it. At that time I thought the
most important thing was being able to borrow money from the bank.
One day I realized something that totally changed my life, and it was this:
I COULD ASK THE BANK FOR ADVICE!
When I enquired further I found out that the best banks even had people whose job it was to
give advice. Giving advice is a very big part of the business of banks. Even if your business
is still small, try and find out more about the Advisory services available at your bank. If
they don't have such services, find a bank that does!

When I stood with President Kenyatta in Nairobi, a few weeks ago, at the AGRF, we asked
people to come forward to make pledges. In less than an hr, more than $30bn, had been
announced.
It all seemed so simple!
Not so, my dear friends. Months of planning by leading experts, some of whom had been
CEOs of multi-billion dollar organizations had been involved.
I remember the first day, it was suggested that we could try and mobilize a very large amount
of money. It seemed impossible, but once we identified the experts, and talked to people who
had specific experience in this type of thing; things quickly clicked into place. That is how it
is done.
When you work with the right experts, and consult the people who have the correct
experience, hard things can be made to look simple, and even fun!

Some of you have asked guidance how to write a business plan. You can find many different
resources online to get you started. Richard Branson has put together one really helpful
template for entrepreneurs who want a start-up loan from him (only for England and
Scotland). Check out http://entrepreneurs.virginstartup.org/virgin-startup...

You must read up on the various aspects of banking. Banks are not simply about borrowing
money and making deposits. That‘s a small part of banking. You will not join the big leagues
if that‘s all you understand. When your business is still small, your relationship with a bank
is usually the "commercial banker." For something like buying or selling a business, you
need to become familiar with the "investment bankers." These days I have very little
interaction with "commercial banks." I deal mostly with the "investment bankers." I speak
with investment bankers almost on a daily basis. This is where the big stuff happens!

Do you remember the posts I wrote in which I said: "Every game has its language"? There
are things you can say that will expose whether you‘re a player or just a casual observer of a
game. You cannot speak about soccer, using the language of tennis… People will laugh at
you! Just by listening to someone for five minutes, I can tell you if investors and financiers
will take them seriously, even if they themselves think they‘re very serious.

A friend of mine who is a very famous international musician wanted to start a business
venture which needed a lot of money. He went to New York (most important place for big
money deals). Whenever he asked for meetings, everyone agreed to see him, including the
chairman, but the moment he asked for money, they politely declined. Then he changed
strategy, and sent an experienced entrepreneur who was not even well known. He didn‘t get
to see the chairman of the bank, but he got the money after just one meeting, with some
really junior guys! What‘s the moral of this story?
Strive Masiyiwa Ali,
Thank you Sir.The only way we can go far in life is by seeking advice from those who know
more than we do.
My reply,
There are many reasons we should develop a culture of seeking professional advice, and it is
not necessarily because we believe the one giving advice knows more than we do.
Unfortunately there are people who are literally afraid to ask for advice simply because they
think it is acceptance of ignorance.
We cannot all be experts of "EVERYTHING". I'm not a motor mechanic, or an electrician; if
I call either of them to fix something, it does not mean they know more than me; it just
means I recognize their expertise in their field.
If you want to raise money for instance, remember there are people who spend their everyday
raising money. If you have never raised money, talk to someone who has raised money--
don't go round in circles, pretending you know what you are doing.
Strive Masiyiwa Mpho Ndou,

(One of my best students), writes:
uhm..... no body ever told me that,Thanks Sir
My reply:
You know the verse that says "my people perish for lack of knowledge":
When I was a young entrepreneur, some 25 years ago; I took a loan using my house as
collateral. I built a business, and created many jobs for my fellow citizens. But due to
circumstances beyond my control, at the time, I found myself unable to service that loan, and
I lost my home. Even today, I can still see the bewilderment and fear of my young children
as our home was possessed, and sold!
By the grace of God, I picked myself up, and rebuilt.
I LEARNT MUCH LATER THAT WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE, I COULD
EASILY HAVE AVOIDED BORROWING AGAINST MY FAMILY HOME.
Im determined that I should do everything in my power to ensure that young entrepreneurs
never fall into that kind of situation.
It is not going to be easy, this I know...but let's keep trying.
It is not going to be easy because you are all in different countries with different problems,
and different systems. So I focus on teaching principles, that if applied will help you,
wherever you are.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
PAUSE: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO DRIVE

ECONOMIC GROWTH
__The US-Africa Business Forum.
A few days ago, I had the honor of speaking at the 2nd US-Africa Business Forum, a
gathering of CEOs from Africa and the USA, African heads of state and government, and top
American government officials, including President Obama.
My panel, chaired by US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, was called: ―High tech
growth: How innovation and technology are driving African economic growth.‖
―If there‘s a lesson to be learned, it is this,‖ I said: ―When young people have ideas, the first
and most important thing is to listen to them, and to take them seriously.‖
I shared a story many of you have heard before: Twenty-five years ago, I was like many
young African entrepreneurs, with a great idea. To get it launched, we went around saying:
―We can give people mobile phones!‖
You have to bear in mind, at the time, 75% of the people in Africa had never even heard a
telephone ring. (Today, 75% of us have a telephone, and sometimes more than one!) So it‘s
been a great revolution, but those of us who drove that revolution could have been spared a
lot of anguish if our governments had been able to see that what we were trying to do was a
good thing.
Great new innovation and entrepreneurship didn‘t end with the introduction of mobile
phones. And it doesn‘t all have to come from the United States.
__If we‘re proactive in supporting the rise of entrepreneurship, and foster the ecosystem of
support that entrepreneurs need, even in Africa, we‘ll see our own versions of Google and
Facebook.
China, and now India, have begun to put in place similar support mechanisms for their young
entrepreneurs, and the results have been quite spectacular. African countries where this is
starting, like Kenya, are showing some interesting results already. We need more to do this!
In the panel discussion, I shared lessons learned from my business experiences, and also a
few from your FB comments over the years:
# Listen to young people who come to you with what sound to be ―crazy‖ ideas.
# Regulators must not seek to control but seek to encourage. In many African countries, the
regulators are not playing a role that could foster the emergence of the next generation of
tech entrepreneurs.
# The architecture of helping young entrepreneurs FUND their ideas is a problem… We have
very few African countries able to do this in an institutional way.
Earlier on, during the Forum, I‘d had a conversation with Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President
of the African Development Bank, to say we need to do more to help young people get
access to startup funding. It‘s difficult for them worldwide, and acutely so in Africa. It‘s even
more difficult for women entrepreneurs.
When Dr Adesina was working at AGRA (on whose board I sat and now chair), we were part
of a team that developed a program to help fund smallholder farmers in places like Ghana,
Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. We developed an innovative structure to eliminate the need
for security when banks extend loans to young people and women. We discussed ways to
expand such schemes to the new generation of entrepreneurs who have only ideas as their
primary "assets." I cannot say we‘ve found a solution yet, but we‘re talking!
Some good news we heard at the Forum is that two-thirds of sub-Saharan African economies
are growing faster than the global average, and three African countries are among the
world‘s top 10 fastest growing economies! Do you know which ones they are?
One of the Forum co-sponsors, American businessman and philanthropist, Michael

Bloomberg, spoke confidently of Africa‘s ―limitless opportunities!‖ I would say ―Wow!‖ but
we already know this, don‘t we?
In closing, I‘ll share just one important comment made by President Obama in his remarks:
―Business should begin with a handshake, not a shakedown.‖
By now, most of you know that respect for the rule of law should be sacrosanct. Not just to
build investor confidence, but to the whole sense of hope in society. I‘ve said it before, and I
want to say again – just say no to corruption. If you think something might be wrong to do, it
probably is. Don‘t risk it.
# Innovation
# Entrepreneurship
# Trusted partnerships
# Education and skills training
# Investment
# Visionary government support mechanisms
# A reduction in red-tape
# Access to startup funding for young entrepreneurs…
All are keys to Africa‘s future growth and prosperity. Much also depends on respect for the
rule of law, and an institutional framework that protects everyone, equally and fairly – from
bottom to top.
Together… yes, we can. And with vision and faith, we shall.
End.
Image Caption:
U.S. Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker; Founder and Chairman of Econet Wireless
Group, Strive Masiyiwa; Chairman and CEO of Dow Chemical, Andrew Liveris; and Co-
Founder and CEO of Andela, Jeremy Johnson.
Years ago when Dr Adesina and I were working together on AGRA, he showed me a report
which showed that whilst agriculture employed more than 70% of Nigeria's population,
banks in that country lent only 3% to agriculture, even though it was also 45% of GDP.
We showed the report to our chairman and my predecessor, as chairman, HE Kofi Annan. He
instructed us to go to Nigeria, and show the report to the governor of the Central Bank. We
flew to Nigeria, and held a meeting with the Governor and all the bank CEOs. There was no
shouting and screaming, or blaming anybody--we tried to find solutions. We all knew that it
would not be solved in one day, but there was progress made--in the real world, this is how
we make changes sometimes: step by step, precept upon precept, said the prophet, "here a
little, there a little.." Your turn!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Côte d‘Ivoire, Nigeria and Tunisia were the countries
spotlighted at this year‘s US-Africa Business Forum, which I hope will become a legacy of
the Obama Administration. If you‘re interested in finding out more, please go to
http://usafricabusinessforum.bloomberg.org<http://usafricabusinessforum.bloomberg.org/>.
If you‘d like to watch my panel check out the link below.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Commerce Secretary Pritzker asked our vision for Africa‘s
future. Three to five years from now, she asked, what do we see? That was difficult to
answer. Looking back five years, did anyone see Uber? Looking back 10 years, did anyone
see or imagine the power of Facebook? How would you have answered this question? What
do you see?
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. One of my co-panelists was a 32-year old entrepreneur

called Jeremy Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Andela, a really interesting engineering tech
company with offices in New York, Lagos and Nairobi. Look them up and be inspired.
―Dream of technology to change the world?‖ they ask. If so, check out https://andela.com/
Strive Masiyiwa Talentt writes:
i am one of the fast followers and i want our Strive to use the word chairperson not chairman
to show gender sensitive,chairman implies that only men can be leaders, all the same you
always inspire me vaMasiyiwa.
My reply,
You are absolutely right...keep correcting me, madam Chairperson.
Strive Masiyiwa Faruna. Writes:
Thanks Dr Strive, you are always standing out for me, through your coaching here i've been
able to birth an agricultural business called FAGGREENS-FARM-LTD, for now, dealing
with poutry and soon cultivation. Faggreens Farm is being run by just me and my family for
now, here in Abuja, Nigeria, we are small yet but with big agricultural vision. FAGGREENS
FARM is dedicated to you, an idea birthed from your inspiration. Thanks so much sir.
My reply:
You make it all so worthwhile!
There are times it is quite hard to keep this platform going because of all my duties. Then I
see a message like this one, and I'm totally inspired to continue.
Right now I'm in India.
Keep me informed of your progress from time to time.
OCTOBER 1, 2016
SELLING YOUR BUSINESS (PART 1)
__Don‘t procrastinate when facts are obvious.
To be honest with you, the first time I sold a business, it felt like my heart had been ripped
out of my body! Selling a business for the first time is never easy and can leave you
emotionally devastated. However, the important lesson of this series is this: The capacity to
sell a business is a "rite of passage" to maturity as an entrepreneur! If you‘re unwilling to
consider selling, let alone actually sell when you have to, then you‘re not cut out for the big
leagues…
Now let's talk:
It took me about five years to build my first business. I started building it before I was
married and had children. It was everything to me. It was not unusual for me to spend 48
hours at the business non-stop. I was young and bursting with energy, drive, ambition,
passion... and I poured it all into my little business. It grew quickly, and soon people heard
about me. I had what they call in Africa "a name," and it was because of my business.
Over the last 20 years, there‘s been a lot said and written about my high-profile dispute with
the government of Zimbabwe in those years, as I tried to convince them to let me set up the
first mobile phone business.
Today is not the time for me to go over that ground again. However, my decision to take the
matter to court resulted in the government refusing to do any business with me whatsoever.
And my business at the time relied on a lot of government contracts…
Whilst I thought that the government's decision was unfair, it was what it was. I had either to
wait until the business collapsed, or sell it. I had no option, so I moved quickly to find a
buyer.
__I wasted no time, and I did not procrastinate about it. Don't ever procrastinate when the
facts are obvious!
I sat with my accountant and my lawyer, and advised them of my decision. We drew up a list
of potential buyers. The buyers knew the challenges I was facing. I also made sure I
disclosed everything, so that I did not mislead them.
A few weeks after starting the process, it had been sold and I was out. I said goodbye to my
staff and went on my way. It was tough, very tough, particularly as I had sold as a "distressed
seller," which meant I had little room in the negotiations. I did my best to get the best deal.
From that day forward, I was never the same again. I had acquired a tough inner core: I had
become a better entrepreneur!
__Today, I have sold many businesses, for any number of reasons. And I shall talk about
some of them in this series. I did the right thing, each time.
Selling a business is not always because of a crisis; it‘s just part of good business. It‘s like
selling soccer players to other teams is part of the business side of owning a soccer team. A
soccer team that won't sell any of its players is not a serious team. An entrepreneur who will
not sell a business or assets to deal with a problem they face, is also not serious.
I know investors who won‘t put a cent into your business unless you assure them that you‘re
willing to sell, if that‘s the best option for the business!
In this discussion, I‘ll examine a number of issues relating to when to sell, and how to sell.
When I was in America a week or so ago, a young entrepreneur came up to me and said
proudly, "I'm a ‗serial entrepreneur.‘ I start businesses and then sell them to big businesses
like Google and Apple."
"Next time you have a business to sell, give me a call first!" I replied laughing.
That‘s his business model. It's rather like a guy who sells "day-old chicks." It's a very
efficient business model. What‘s your own business model?
Strive Masiyiwa Russell,

Writes:
And is it possible to sell an idea before l launch it as a business?
My reply:
Yes it is possible to sell an idea, before setting it up as a business. You must first register for
a patent over the idea, which requires you to prove that you are the first person in the world
to come up with that idea.
Once you register your patent, you can sell your idea.
I have written about protection of your ideas (Intellectual Property) extensively before, this is
why it helps to go back to my old posts, if you are new to the platform.
When you read my posts, you have to also read the comments from others, because many of
them are quite extraordinary. I enjoy reading all the comments, just like I have done with
yours!

"Are we dealing with a distressed seller or a distressed asset?"
When you look at a potential acquisition (a company you want to buy), you obviously have
to ask a lot of questions: Is the owner facing a real problem – like cash-flow, illness,
political, etc. -- but the company itself is performing normally? Or, is the asset you want to
buy performing poorly in the market (perhaps facing new competition, or losing value
because it can‘t innovate to meet market demand, or key global prices have either risen or
fallen?) There are lots of reasons people sell their businesses. You and your team need to ask
the right questions to find out.
Strive Masiyiwa Augustin,

Writes:
Publish it in french too, we are fans of what you do here in Burundi
My reply:
That would be really great. Unfortunately, I speak only High School French, and it would be
costly to hire a translator. You must do your best to help me by spreading our messages.
We must all try to learn more languages. Good for business.
OCTOBER 9, 2016
PAUSE: THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE

WORLD
__World Teachers‘ Day.
Earlier this week was World Teachers‘ Day. The theme for 2016 was ―Valuing Teachers,
Improving their Status.‖ The day (October 5) was dedicated to honoring women and men
around the globe who have chosen the life-changing profession of teaching.
Life-changing, and also world-changing! Each school day, teachers have the solemn duty to
walk into a classroom, or perhaps under a tree or the like, often with limited resources…
knowing the future is really in their hands. Not just the future of each child sitting there, but
the future of his or her family, village, town, nation, even really... the world.
Now THAT‘S an important job! Where would any of us be today without our teachers?
Let‘s talk.
Do you remember a teacher who really transformed your life? What did he or she teach you?
Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge and skills. It‘s also about building character
and a community of citizens ready and able to build more prosperous nations, and a healthier
world.
According to UNESCO, almost 28.5 million teachers will be needed to ensure primary
education for all children by the year 2030. And two-thirds of those teachers will be needed
for sub-Saharan Africa…
__Do you have what it takes to do this life-changing, world-changing work?
As many of you know, 20 years ago, my wife and I first set up the Higherlife Foundation to
help young people get access to education. Our program has really expanded since then, and
our goal now is to reach two million children by the year 2020. We believe quality education
for children can change the world! But, of course, it all starts with excellent teachers.
Some say that outstanding teachers should be seen as the real celebrities of our society. I
agree. And all of us can play our part to make that happen – parents, the private sector,
governments, the media...
This week, and every day, let‘s show our respect and appreciation to all the teachers around
the world, most of them unsung heroes, who inspire our children to greatness.
To all of my own teachers, I thank you.

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought,
The most transformative thing we can do to education in Africa today, is to put a computer in
the hands of every teacher, and to ensure that they have access to the Internet. This is a much
higher priority than putting computers in the hands of the students. Ideally both teacher and
student should have a computer.
The second most transformative thing we can do in education in Africa, is to get parents
engaged more actively in the education of children. Having had my children educated on
three continents (Africa, Europe, and America), I had not realized how we (African parents)
are not sufficiently engaged in the education of our children, compared to parents in Europe,
Asia, and America. Teachers need to encourage parents to be more involved. It's an
important collaboration.
Strive Masiyiwa
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Is there an innovative and inspiring teacher who you think
should be nominated for the Global Teacher Prize? Or perhaps you want to nominate
yourself? (This is fine!) The closing date for the next $1 million annual prize is 14 October
2016. You can find out more at www.globalteacherprize.org.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. I think we all have at least one teacher we really remember.
Have you ever tried to find them and say thank you? Most of us probably haven‘t… Why not
take the time to recognize those teachers, and share here what made them so memorable?
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. Parents and everyone who raise children have to help
teachers do their jobs. They can‘t do it alone. Make sure your kids start their day with a
nutritious breakfast. This is brain-fuel! And after school, be sure to take the time to ask: How
was your day? Did you do your homework? Tell me something new you learned today!
Strive Masiyiwa Lotan Ronald, writes:
Computers and the internet have the potential to accelerate research and learning for both
teachers and students.
But, Sir, what happened to books..those we can touch and feel? I understand the undisputed
contribution of IT with regards to learning, but I believe reading from books builds a culture
(of diligence, patience, calm and order) that can hardly be earned through reading from a
computer, or a tab. Growing up, as a young boy, I always had a strong admiration for my
folks who had access to books and took(or had) the time to read them. They had a more solid
vocabulary and a wonderful sense of imagination; drawing from the diverse sources of
knowledge they plunged into during their reading time. Grossomodo, I could also say they
they were a lot more gentle and self-confident than the average kid.
I think the culture of 'book-reading' had lost its pride today because the habit does not
necessarily ensure success at a career/corporate level. But the are still inestimable personality
and cultural benefits to be earned in this regard.
I have a project to open a library, starting with the university areas, then reaching out to a
more diverse demographic. A quiet place where people can come, sit down and expose
themselves to a universe of knowledge. A small initiative, but which I believe can yield great
benefits.
Who knows? By so doing, I may earn the honorable status/title of a teacher myself.
#teachersareblessings.
My reply:
Whilst I personally enjoy reading a "hard copy" (physical book or newspaper), the truth of
the matter is that most of my reading today takes place on my tablet, or my Amazon Kindle.
On my tablet (IPAD) for instance I have 15 Bible Translations, the entire Strong's
Dictionary, plus the Hebrew and Greek word bible translations.
Similarly, I review at least 10 newspapers every morning on my way to work.
I access all these and more every single day.
Technology allows me to carry all these books on my smartphone or tablet.
Imagine the number of books teachers and students would access, if we gave them all a
tablet?!
Strive Masiyiwa Jaytab, writes:
I used to be ashamed to say I am a teacher earlier on when I started teaching...but I woke up

one morning with a different mind set...now, I am proud to be a teacher knowing that, I have
kids who look up to me, who see me as a role model, who argue with their parents because of
me (miss jay didnt say this, miss jay said that).
Its amazing how much knowledge I get to pass on.
My reply,
"Miss Jay", I'm proud of you!

You absolutely made my day.
I have decided to send you an IPAD. My Administrator will be in touch with you.
OCTOBER 14, 2016
PAUSE: THE THINGS WE "SAY" MATTER

__A record is being kept, somewhere!
I'm sure many of you are following the gripping saga of the American presidential election,
as it enters the final stretch. Whether you like America or you don't, you should be interested
in what happens in countries like the US. Because of its sheer economic size, it has a
material impact on the lives of everyone in the world. That's just economics, not politics.
You know that I generally stay away from commenting on political issues, and this is not
going to be a departure from that policy.
Here‘s what caught my attention last Sunday morning as I reflected on the events of the last
few days, with respect to the US campaign: One of the candidates, Donald Trump, has
become engulfed in a massive crisis because of something he said to a friend idly (whilst on
a bus 11 years ago) when he thought it was just the two of them. However, what he said was
actually picked up on a live microphone.
Increasingly, what often creates controversy is something a candidate "said" at some point.
And usually it's been recorded by some technology of our time. All these things -- emails,
telephone calls, Twitter, YouTube, SMS, Instagram, the list goes on and there are more
coming -- they all capture and record something we "said" (even if it‘s written).
Imagine 25-50 years from now (in the lifetime of most of us): The technology will be
available to record virtually every spoken by those who run for public office, allowing us to
review it before making our choice on a candidate.
And as the technology evolves further, even ordinary people will be subjected to the same
tests. I know companies today that will ask a job candidate to give them access to their social
media footprint. Yes, they may look at things beyond LinkedIn to learn more about you!
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ said these words:
Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle
(inoperative, non-working) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and
acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
Increasingly, the technology exists to record "every idle word that men speak."
If Donald Trump loses this election, it can be said that he was "condemned by his words."
The same for Hillary Clinton; if she loses, it may be said that she lost because of those
"damned emails" or things she said in them!
Not to oversimplify an election campaign with lots of issues, or get into politics at all:
Whoever or wherever you are, and whatever you do... Your own words can make you, or
break you.
As you use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, never forget these are "your words."
Once you click that mouse, it‘s gone! (You cannot recall, and you cannot delete). A
permanent record exists. One day, that record will either justify you, or condemn you.
Words matter!
We must be careful about the things we say. Even our most idle comments are now a
footprint of our character, for the whole world to see and judge.
A few weeks ago, I was having a meeting with a very important potential business partner,
and he began by referring to something I‘d said against corruption years ago.
"Where did you get that?" I asked, quite surprised. "On YouTube," he replied.
Live your life as though everything you "say" is being recorded somewhere, and you may be
called to account for it one day... It's not just a spiritual thing, anymore.
God bless.
Years ago I was involved in a major arbitration and, being a telecommunications engineer, I
went to the judge and asked for an order for the other party to disclose relevant SMS and
email communications between executives. This was at a time when few people understood
that this information could be obtained through the telephone company. Before the other
guys knew what was happening, we‘d accessed all the information we needed through a
court order. Case over!
OCTOBER 21, 2016

__Know your strengths, and where you want to go.
"So why do you want to sell this business?" I asked, after reading the financial statements.
"This is a sound business; it‘s profitable and growing nicely. Are you distressed by
something?"
"No, I'm happy and I don't need the money. I just don't feel I can take the business to the next
level," he replied confidently.
"Explain?"
"We need a lot of money to scale, and meet the growing demands of the business. My
partners and I just don't have the capacity to do that. We want to sell."
This was not a distressed business and this was not a distressed seller. He was smart, very
smart. This type of seller is very tough to negotiate with and usually gets out at a premium.
They‘re usually very well advised by smart bankers and lawyers, too!
I‘ve been in this position myself and when I did it well, I made a "ton of money‖! It's like
when Tottenham sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. This happens in business when you have
a hot little business that the big boys need. Besides the howls of protests in public, they were
rubbing their hands in the board room with total glee! I know if you‘re a fan of Tottenham,
you might not have liked it, but £86m for a young player… go for it!
In business we‘re always doing the same.
I remember one time with a business we were developing, I needed hundreds of millions of
dollars to take it to the next level. This meant investors would make us minority owners. I
opted to sell and take my money elsewhere, even though I knew it would be big one day.
No regrets… Remember the guy who sells "day-old chicks‖? This was me on that one!
Now if you‘ve finally decided to sell YOUR business (whether a one-person shop or a global
giant) let‘s talk about a few key things you should be thinking about:
__―Is the time ripe to sell?‖

If it‘s not a ―distressed‖ sale, this can be difficult to answer: Sell now? Or later? Especially if
a potential buyer isn‘t yet knocking at your door, external market factors like interest rates,
input prices, new competitors or innovations, income tax issues, regulatory changes,
economic forecasts, etc. all could impact your decision. As always, do your homework and
consult experts when necessary.
Like I wrote a few weeks ago, don‘t procrastinate when facts are obvious, but also don‘t
allow yourself to be pressurized into making a hasty decision… especially not before asking
and answering the all-important question:
__―What is my business really worth?‖
Appraising the market value of businesses is also a business, and can be complicated. To
help you price your company correctly (depending on its size) try to hire the best
professional valuation expert you can afford. You might ―believe‖ your business is worth X,
partially based on emotion, but you could be very wrong – either on the high side or the low
side.
__Pay attention because you may have never been this way before…
# Be ready to answer lots of questions (with facts and data) and always remember -- honesty
is the best policy. No one expects to be buying a perfect business!
# Make sure your financial records (and all your legal documents) are in order. Most buyers
want to see (and verify) revenues and profits. If you can, have available at least three years of
financial information. Audited statements are best.
Whatever you do, don‘t get excitable and sell yourself (or your business) short… Your
professionalism and confidence can make all the difference between a win-win business deal
and daylight robbery.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. Buyers will often pay more for your business (or product or
service) if you present it in the just the right way, and if they believe what you're offering has
a special and unique value. I‘ve talked before about the importance of a quality presentation.
Now ―value‖ is not exactly the same as ―price.‖ Do you know the difference?
Strive Masiyiwa Samuel,

Asks:
I will like to know, is it wrong to sell a distressed business, knowing that the business is
distressed or just fold it down? (Cavat emptor)
My reply:
You can sell a business even if it is distressed. The most important thing is to avoid waiting
until the business collapses, because then you get nothing. There is always someone out there
willing to buy even a loss making business, because they have the skills and resources to turn
it around.
Strive Masiyiwa My grandmother:
Yesterday, my grandmother went home to be with the Lord. I spent the first 6 years of my
life living alone with her in the village. We had such a special bond.
We estimate that she was 106 years old, which means she was born before the First World
War. Her brother fought for the British in Burma, during the Second World War, and came
home blind. He would often come bye the house using his white cane, and we would sit and
chat.
During the Zimbabwe War of Independence, she lived in a special Internment Camp called a
"Keep", to prevent her and others, cooking for the guerrilla fighters. Years later she
confessed to me, "I still managed to cook for the boys from the Keep".
At the end of my first year at school, she cooked me a special egg for coming "first in class"
at the local village school. I left the country after receiving my prize because several older
boys in my village had "disappeared", and the Rhodesian army had come looking for them.
They were amongst the first fighters in our war of Independence.
I don't mourn my grandmother, because she knew the Lord. My fondest memories when I
returned to Zimbabwe was singing hymns with her, and discussing "Jesu"!
I celebrate her life, and rejoice the hope she held to the end in her "Jesu".
"Faith, hope, and love, these three abide, but the greatest of them is love."
SM.
OCTOBER 27, 2016

__When partners break the Golden Rule.
Looking back at the times I have sold businesses or stakes in businesses, there‘s one reason
I'm almost guaranteed to sell. Do you know what it is? Wrong partners!
When I was younger, I would tough it out and fight, but these days, on the rare occasion that
my due diligence fails to spot that I have the wrong partners, I sell immediately!
I was once involved in an amazing tech business with two able partners. We had equal shares
and one of the partners was managing it. One day whilst going through the financials, I
noticed something which suggested he was enjoying all the benefits. I asked one of them to
explain how they did the calculations, but I did not get a straight answer.
I listened quietly as he tried to bamboozle me with the maths. I did not say anything. The
following day, I called and asked him to buy us out for very little, even though it was worth
millions. He gleefully accepted my offer.
Within a few months the business collapsed. Let‘s just say they did not understand the full
value of my contributions to our business.
As an entrepreneur who's planning to build a big, big business, you need to understand that
you can rarely do it on your own; you'll likely need partners. It's my job to find the right
partners. It's also one of the hardest jobs that I do. And now, even after more than 30 years in
business, I'm still mastering this important skill.
The first question you have to ask about partners is: Why do we need partners in business?
There are many different kinds of partners:
# Partners who can provide capital;
# Partners who can provide technical expertise (or specialized knowledge) that you don‘t
have;
# Partners who can provide access to markets and opportunities;
# Partners who can provide services to your business.
You‘ll need partners to undertake things you cannot do alone, and partners to share risk.
It can be very good to have partners. Even Bill Gates has partners, and continues to start new
ventures and investments with partners. You just have to learn to find the right ones, and how
to manage relationships with them.
Here‘s one key law of partnership of any kind:
__ "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you."
Most of you know this as the ―Golden Rule.‖ As a partner, you do not want to be mistreated
or cheated by your partners. So don't enter relationships with an ulterior motive. Don't do
anything that creates mistrust between you and your partners.
The spirit of an agreement is more important than the letter; never break either. Don't act in
bad faith towards your partners.
There are many excellent reasons to work in partnership, and also many bad ones that will
lead to heartbreak. We‘ll discuss some of those later on. For a start:
# Do we share core values?
# Do we trust and respect each other?
# Do we agree on the goals and vision to take the business forward?
# Do we agree on how we‘ll use the money raised and how the profits will be distributed?
You must want to see your partners prosper because of what you‘re doing together. I know
this sounds obvious, but there are people who don't want to see their partners also prospering
and getting rich! If my partners are happy and prospering, I feel really good.
# Choosing the right partners is critical.
In my next series, I‘ll talk about the hardest thing in business - building an organization.
END
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. ―So in everything, do to others what you would have them
do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.‖ Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Some people think they need a partner just because they
need money and can‘t afford to hire someone. That alone is NOT a good reason to get into a
partnership. While different strengths are great, different ethical values – that's a deal
breaker!
NOVEMBER 3, 2016
THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN BUSINESS

(PART 1).
___Building an efficient organization.
As an entrepreneur, you may have a great idea or innovation which you believe is going to
change your community, your country, or maybe even the world we live in. And you‘ll
probably make a lot of money along the way. That‘s allowed, and there‘s nothing wrong with
it, provided you don‘t harm others, the environment, or break the law.
Go ahead, make money, be a billionaire, and you know I‘ll be right there cheering you all the
way! But before you can ever get there, you‘ll have to build an efficient business
organization, employing lots of people, because no one can do these things alone.
In this new series, I‘m going to talk about what I call, "The hardest thing to do in business:
building an efficient organization."
You'll face many different challenges as an entrepreneur, but the most difficult is building an
efficient organization. What do I mean by efficient? Let me start with one formal definition:
―Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.‖
Most people fail dismally in this area. It‘s at once the most difficult and most complex thing
that any entrepreneur ever has to do. In this series, we‘ll talk about many issues including
registering a business, recruiting and hiring your team, and organizational structure.
This is business "MBA stuff" and if you just want to run a little bottle store, it might be tough
for you, but if you think you can open more than one bottle store, hang around and see. As
they say in my beloved Nigeria, "It's for the senior class."
You won‘t be the next Dangote or Zuckerberg if you don't know how to set up an efficient
business organization.
To lay the foundations for this series, here‘s another definition: The Cambridge dictionary
describes ―organization‖ as ―a group whose members work together for a shared purpose in a
continuing way.‖
__The verb ―organize‖ is also important here! It means, ―to make the necessary plans for
something to happen; arrange.‖
Do I really need to write much more…? If only it were as simple and straightforward as it
sounds!
Building an organization has many different aspects. Can you tell me the importance of
nearly each and every word in these three definitions?
Organizations can be almost any size, but the ones I‘ll be talking about here are ones that
involve a hierarchy of authority and delegation: executive leadership, mid-level management,
technical experts, frontline supervisors and employees in different departments, most with
different operational functions.
This means a complex array of people with different talents and skills, like those I'm proud
and blessed to have on our companies‘ teams globally. Maybe different roles and gifts, but
the key non-negotiable ingredients? Integrity, shared vision, mutual respect, accountability.
I won‘t dwell on problems so much as solutions in this series, but to get started, here‘s a list
from a McKinsey report on some of the biggest challenges faced by companies (young and
old) trying to build organizational capability:
# Organizational resistance to change.
# Lack of resources.
# Lack of credible metrics.

# (Lack of) identification of who is accountable for execution.
# Inability to gain attention and buy-in from line managers.
# Lack of senior management support.
# (Lack of) clear vision or objectives.
# Ineffective training approaches.
# Inconsistent application of methods, processes.
Now you see why I‘ve said building an efficient organization is the hardest thing to do in
business. But with great people on your team, all is possible!
We'll get started on this and more next week.
When my business was still relatively small, there was nothing I enjoyed more than to visit
with every single project, and meet with my staff. Sometimes I would visit a project several
times a day. It was a wonderful way to run the business. But as it grew bigger and bigger, it
became inefficient.
So what do you do when the business is in 20, or 100 countries? Have you ever thought
about it? Or, when the business has 500,000 employees like some of the global giants?
These are the types of questions, this series must cause you to think about.

This week I had the privilege of visiting the African Leadership University, in Mauritius.
Hopefully one day, I will get a chance to write about this remarkable initiative and the
amazing entrepreneurs behind it.
#This is the future of Africa!
Someone asked me to talk about the "Art of Leadership", and I replied by saying, "before
you turn your attention to the "art" of leadership, address yourself to the "science" of
leadership first:
Things like proper financial management, effective use of resources at your disposal.
identifying skilled people, providing training to staff; getting basic processes in place, that
are at the core of EVERY business.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. I once read somewhere: ―If everything is important, then
nothing is.‖ Time is precious. Building an efficient organization means hard choices. You
may naturally get buried in day-to-day work, but never lose sight of the company‘s vision
and core values! Set your priorities each day and stick to them. Otherwise, chances are good
that your scattered efforts will lead you (and maybe your whole organization) every which
way, except forward. As I wrote a few weeks ago: ―Know your strengths, and where you‘re
going.‖ This goes for companies, too!

There is nothing that unsettles me more than a disorganized person. I just don't want them
around me!
Similarly, I don't like disorganized situations of any kind.

One of my favorite all time books, is a little book called Shackleton's Way. I read this when I
faced some of the toughest leadership challenges of my career. I was totally stunned when I
read it. You would be wise to include it in your reading list. I don't need to tell you where to
find it, because that information is on your smartphone already.
Strive Masiyiwa Ali Uchenna,

One of my favorite students, writes:
This is a big one, the very truth of your global tentacles, indeed for the senior class. Dish it as
is hot, father Strive you are fixing us a hot plate, you are about to feed us your Strength.
My reply:
I want to "dish it hot" my brother. This is really one of my own personal strengths, and yet
I'm still learning, and thinking about it every single day.
Over the years I have met Entrepreneurs in business, and even social enterprises, who were
amazingly gifted. And yet they failed spectacularly because they did not understand what I'm
talking about in this series. The saddest thing was not that they failed, but they never knew
why they failed!
Strive Masiyiwa Charles writes:
Thank you Dr. Masiyiwa for the wonderful stuff you are teaching us. I am particularly
interested to learn from you on the subject of failure, when does failure stop being a learning
process and totally become failure? I have been involved in many ventures some have had
short term success but most have failed, in most cases I keep learning something albeit in a
small way or I develop new opportunities out of failed ventures, can this be described as
learning or "hustling", a very popular term here in Kenya now
My reply,
There is always a lot you can learn from failure, most importantly, never to give up.
However don't make a virtue of failure by repeating the same mistakes. So make sure you
have learnt the right lessons from any failure.
NOVEMBER 10, 2016
THE HARDEST THING IN BUSINESS: BUILDING

AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION (PART 2)
__Talking a good game is not enough.
I was meeting with one of New York‘s most successful bankers, when he quipped, "In my
business we don‘t rely on intellectual property. There‘s nothing we do that‘s so special;
we‘re just damned good managers of businesses!"
I could immediately understand what he meant because when, for instance, you stop to think
about a business like McDonald‘s, you ask "What‘s so special about a hamburger?"
But somehow out of that humble hamburger they‘ve built a $96bn business… a global
business bigger than the GDP of Kenya ($70bn)!
__They are "just damn good managers of business!"
When we launched our Mobile Money business in Zimbabwe, it wasn‘t a new idea in
Zimbabwe, or in Africa. To be honest, one of our competitors was a year ahead of us, but it
really didn‘t matter to me. I knew that when we finally launched our own service, it would be
bigger and better because "We're good managers of businesses! It's not all IP and
innovation!"
Whenever I see a business, as a management practitioner, I'm interested in how it‘s run. I'm
always asking myself, "How are they organized?"
We hear a lot spoken about good leaders, but a good leader who doesn‘t know how to
manage effectively, using the latest management techniques, is a total waste of time as far as
I'm concerned.
You've heard the expression, "He talks a good game, but he can't play."
Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are like that. They can talk a good game, but they cannot
manage an organization. Talking a good game can be important, but it's not enough!
If you want to build a profitable and growing business organization, you must first have an
acute awareness of the role that organizational management plays. Your awareness must
extend to an appreciation that it is a "technical discipline" which must be learnt.
It doesn‘t happen naturally: Good management is something you must apply yourself to.
Never fool yourself into believing that if you have a good idea, and some money, you just
hire the right people and "Hey presto, you have a big successful business!"
I want you to be different: I want you to be able to pick up an idea, any idea, and turn it into
a successful business organization that generates profits, and can grow into a national,
regional, and continental champion, even a global one.
A good football manager knows that he must have the most skilled players available for each
position. He knows that the formation he applies in the game is extremely important for the
type of game. And the team must work as a single functional and intelligent unit. They must
play with and for each other.
Having followed soccer for a long time, when I go to a game the first thing, I need to see is
the Team sheet, then I want to see the proposed formation.
One player who either is not skilled enough, or is selfish can destroy a game...and if one
player takes a bribe to throw the game?

A young Pastor who was a highly gifted preacher once came to me for advice:
"When I hold crusades I draw huge crowds, but my congregation does not grow. People
come but they never stay. I don't understand why we don't grow into a big, big ministry?"
"Show me your organizational structure, and also the qualifications of each of your
professional staff" I asked him.
Then I took his bible, and showed him the story of Moses (Exodus 18:13-27). Then I added:
"Having a proper organizational structure with qualified staff who have been delegated their
functions, and empowered properly was necessary for Moses. Surely it must be good for you
too?"

I once asked a friend, who had just been elected President of his country, why he had chosen
a certain individual as Minister with responsibility for a big ministry with some of the
country's key assets:
"He is one of my most loyal supporters, and worked very hard for our election."
"How about the actual job, you want him to do?" I asked.
__"if you were the manager of a football team, is that the basis on which you would select
the goalkeeper, for instance?
__With respect this guy has not run anything bigger than a tuckshop, and he will work very
hard to turn everything under him into a tuckshop."
Strive Masiyiwa Tino,

Writes:
Strive Masiyiwa so what happens when you are a starter and only people you have been able
to team up without payment are just technical crew, now that i already have my service how
do i crack the sales puzzle, seriously am getting alot of challenges, more to that my business
is a technological innovation. I need people to know what i have done how do i reach people
with a compelling message? because if i don't sale now i won't be able to run this business
and I'll go off it. Any ideas big brother
My reply:
Go back to the beginning and go through all the Posts I have done over the years, and you
will find the answers to your questions. For instance I have addressed this very issue you
raise.
Strive Masiyiwa Vimbai Bosopo,

Writes:
In the event I notice this selfish player sir but is good in everything else what is the best thing
to do
My reply:
There are two types of players you must get rid of:
#Selfish players;
#corrupt players who take bribes.
__It does not matter how gifted, or competent or even loyal you think they are. Any
organization that has this type of player is (ALREADY) dead, even if it appears otherwise.
Strive Masiyiwa Morenike, writes:
I really don't understand this organisational structures, I own a small business and I can't
afford to pay staff yet, so I do almost everything myself. What do I need to do to build this
organisational structure @strive Masiyiwa
My reply:
At the moment you are the sole employee of your business. This is a good start, but you will
not always be like that. One day you will need to hire other people to help you, even if they
are members of your family (relatives, including your children must be treated as employees,
and paid if they work with you).
It is important to still study and learn about how successful businesses, and entrepreneurs run
their businesses, in anticipation of the day when you yourself need to grow your business
bigger.
Strive Masiyiwa Kolawole,

I enjoyed what your colleagues said in response to your question. I cannot answer it in such a
short comment. In many ways you will find answers in things I have said before.
Remember my afterthoughts, are often more important than my original post.
Strive Masiyiwa Patrick Chewe, writes:
When i read your posts i am pumped up. i see what you mean. when am in shoprite i realise
its jst a the same business concept like my local store in my neighbourhood but the difference
is tht shoprite understands how to run a business
My reply:
Very insightful comment.
The guy behind Shoprite, a South African Supermarket chain, is one of the most successful
entrepreneurs in the world today.
As you get better at management, and business leadership, you will learn to appreciate the
guys who are good at their game. This guy is a "Pep Guardiola" (Manager of Manchester
City)--top drawer.
Strive Masiyiwa Chigozie, writes:
This is revelational truth about a successful organization or businesses. I have been fortunate
to start up businesses with great and innovative idea and also raised capital for it but it often
fails but thank you Dr strive for this revelation, now I know I got it all wrong, I have never
had a management not to consider good management. I hope I can set up a good
management system that can carry the business. I have always dream to take on big company
establishment, now I hope I put up a management structure that will help to make it a reality.
Thank you once more Dr Strive Masiyiwa!
My reply:
This is why you are going to be a success...a great success indeed!
Strive Masiyiwa Ernie,

The best way to understand the business of a public company is to go to its published
financial statements. A Google search on McDonald's financial statements, and the reports
from their chairman are wonderful reading.
If you want to dig deeper, study the reports of analysts and brokers who follow the company.
With a little more effort, you can get to these reports on the Internet.
A few years ago, I did a series on the power of financial statements of companies. One of my
favorite business tools.
NOVEMBER 12, 2016
A REFLECTION: WHAT IS YOUR VISION?

Twenty-five years ago, a dear friend in America heard about the travails I was going through
in Zimbabwe in my efforts to get an operating license for my mobile business. He was a
senior director of one of the largest companies in America. He wanted to see how he could
help me.
"I have been speaking to some very influential friends of mine about you," he began to tell
me when we met a few months later.
"I think you have the potential to become a remarkable businessman. So, here is my
suggestion: Give up the pursuit of a mobile business and come into something like
McDonald‘s. I have spoken to people there, and they will give you a franchise for any
African country of your choice. You are just what they need. They will train you and give
you capital."
He then explained to me how this remarkable organization worked. He gave me a pile of

books on them, which I read that weekend. I was in absolute awe of them, and I knew this
opportunity could change my life forever. With passion and their organizational acumen and
support, it would make me a very, very rich man.
A few days later, I called my friend and declined the opportunity. With barely enough money
to feed my children, and not knowing what would happen next, I headed back to my beloved
country to continue my fight.
Fast forward:
Twenty-five years later, I ran into my old friend, now retired from his job. He looked me in
the eye, with glistening tears: "I have followed your career with such pride. You achieved
everything I thought you could. And you did it on your terms. Don't stop."
That was a hard, hard decision for me to take. Let me tell you this, "As long as you live in
time and space," you will not be spared the need to make decisions like this one. You will
not be spared some tough, tough situations. You will not be spared setbacks, and even bitter
disappointments, at times.
I had a vision of what I wanted to do, and I was not going to be distracted from that vision,
even by what seemed to be better opportunities.
Pause:
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it
comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.‖
I did not have a vision to make a lot of money; I had a vision to transform
telecommunications in Africa. On my desk, I had a mission statement which said, "Our
mission is to take telecommunications to all the peoples of Africa."
If my mission had been to make money, I would have accepted a franchise from one of the
best companies in the world.
A vision is not a vision if you aren't prepared to pay a price to make it happen. Making
money is not a vision, and neither can it be a mission.
Today I have another vision, and you are in it!
Stay with me, we have work to do together. It has only just begun.
To be continued…
It was an interesting week. I wrote about it several months ago in the series, the Eagle in a
Storm. Go back to it, if you want to understand the times we are in. Beyond that I will not
engage in political debates concerning America, or any other country. Let's move on...

"Where there is no vision there is no hope," said George Washington Carver, an African
American inventor and agricultural chemist, born into slavery way back in the 1860s.
Orphaned very young, Carver didn't let tough times get in the way of his dreams. One of
many things he's known for is devising about 100 different products using one crop, the
peanut, which he thought would help poor farmers not only source better food but have a
better quality of life. With vision there is hope... What is your vision?
Strive Masiyiwa Anon, writes:
I don't care really,i just want to be rich
My reply:
When this is your vision, and mission, the problem is, if the opportunity to be rich comes
through theft and corruption, you will take it. If it comes through destruction of your
environment or endangered animals, you will take it. Ultimately, if it comes through
peddling drugs and narcotics, you will take it.
At least he has been honest, and we all know someone who thinks like this, and some of
them hold high offices of state, somewhere in the world.
In some Asian countries, every year they execute many young people (some of them
Africans), who thought they could make money by bringing hard drugs...this is what happens
when you say to yourself "I don't care really, I just want to be rich."
Strive Masiyiwa A journalist once asked Archbishop Tutu, why he was always optimistic:
"It is because I'm a prisoner of hope", he replied.
No matter how dark, or hopeless the situation becomes, don't allow yourself to become
cynical about the future. Make yourself "a prisoner of hope", because hope never fails.
Strive Masiyiwa Anon (that is not his name), writes:
"I don't care really, I just want to be rich"
My reply:
When this is your vision, and mission, the problem is, if the opportunity to be rich comes
through theft and corruption, you will take it. If it comes through destruction of your
environment or endangered animals, you will take it. Ultimately, if it comes through
peddling drugs and narcotics, you will take it.
At least he has been honest, and we all know someone who thinks like this, and some of
them hold high offices of state, somewhere in the world.
In some Asian countries, every year they execute many young people (some of them
Africans), who thought they could make money by bringing hard drugs...this is what happens
when you say to yourself "I don't care really, I just want to be rich."
NOVEMBER 25, 2016
THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN BUSINESS:

BUILDING AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION
(PART 3)
__Always pay your workers first.
You can‘t call yourself an entrepreneur if you have the habit of not paying your workers on
time, erratically, or not at all. Real business leaders always pay their employees first. Let's
call it the first law of entrepreneurship.
Let's talk.
I began my business career as a construction contractor more than 30 years ago. My business
entailed getting construction contracts, some which took several years to complete. I would
sometimes have thousands of people working on my projects. 90% of my people were paid
on a weekly basis. It was almost a ritual, whereby we‘d go to the bank on Friday morning to
collect the "payroll."
Each worker was paid in cash, and we would sit and pack the money into little brown
envelopes, after deducting taxes. We'd then travel to the sites and pay them their money.
I never ever missed a payroll… except once, and it probably saved my life. I was abducted
from my office at gun point on one of my payroll days. The person who raised the alarm that
I was missing said this: "We know something has happened to him because he didn‘t come
to supervise the release of this week's payroll."
# If you owe your workers money, you‘re not yet an entrepreneur.
The second law of successful entrepreneurship is this: If, for any reason, you‘re going to
miss your payroll, you must always make sure the lowest paid workers are the first to get
paid -- not the managers and others you deem most skilled.
# Always pay the lowest paid workers first. They‘re the most vulnerable.
If we didn‘t have enough money to meet our payroll, I spoke to my senior people and asked
them to make the sacrifice. It also meant I myself would go home with nothing. But workers
like cleaners, laborers (we had a lot of these in the construction business), drivers etc., were
always paid first. This always included the youngest people in our business.
If you want to go far as an entrepreneur, treat workers‘ salaries and wages as sacrosanct. If
you see a big man who has lots of cars, a big house, goes on holiday overseas but is in arrears
on salaries and wages, he‘s really not an entrepreneur.
Don't be fooled, he‘s not a big man at all! True entrepreneurs pay their people on time, all the
time. And they take care of the most vulnerable members of their organizations first. I‘d
rather someone called me a successful entrepreneur on the basis that I never missed my
payroll, than on the basis that I made a billion dollars.
Now to help avoid such a crisis, there‘s one thing you must learn to do straight away in your
business, and that‘s manage your cash flow… your ―accounts receivable‖ (sales) and your
―accounts payable‖ (expenses). If you don‘t keep track of your cash flow, I guarantee at the
end of some months, you‘ll have a shortfall.
If you haven‘t already done so, put together a cash flow budget, with a few different
scenarios (best case, worst case, different assumptions). You can‘t predict everything, of
course, and surprises happen, but do your best with what you know now. Cash in? Cash out?
Timing? Enough cash to meet payroll? (This is a complicated subject but we‘re just talking
about payroll here.)
A few years ago there was an article in Forbes‘ magazine called ―Success will come and go,
but integrity is forever.‖ Never forget that. Most all businesses have legal and contractual
obligations which you must respect. But there are also moral obligations to consider... Do
you know the difference?
Image credit: ArtisticNaturee www.facebook.com/ArtisticNaturee/
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. The famous American football coach, Vince Lombardi,
once said: ―It‘s not whether you get knocked down… it‘s whether you get up.‖ There will be
times when being an entrepreneurial leader will be really difficult. I talked about such times
in the Eagle in a Storm series. Steel yourself for hard work and prepare yourself for the hard
decisions and sacrifices a ―big man‖ (or woman!) must make in times of challenge, because
they will come!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Relatives can be some of the most loyal employees in a
small business. It‘s also easy to forget that they are employees who need to have a
CONTRACT, and must be paid a salary, just like anyone else. Make sure you pay salaries
even to that "small cousin from the village who cleans the place." That little cousin deserves
respect, and she has some dreams too, which need money!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. Every employee must have a written contract of

employment, even if that employee is your only employee, or a relative. You will not
become a big business if you don't learn the habits and practices of big business.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 4. If you go one week without paying the payroll, park your
car at home, and go to work on public transport. If you haven‘t paid the employees for more
than one month, sell the car, and pay them. I‘ll never advise you to do something I‘ve never
done myself. My staff at Econet Zimbabwe will tell you I gave up my car for more than a
year when things got tough. And yet I never missed my payroll obligation.
People laughed at me and said, "Masiyiwa is broke." The newspapers wrote about it, but I
never lost the respect of my employees, and they stuck with me. We shared a vision which
burned deep in us. No one respects an entrepreneur who makes an exception of themselves,
whilst asking others to sacrifice.
Strive Masiyiwa Bhekithemba Mhlanga writes:
Sorry great man I will have to disagree with you on this one. Relatives are the WORST
employees. They are not fully motivated because "its my brother's company" whereas other
employees know the consequences of "skiving". I would happily share my profits and
success with relatives but will NEVER hire them. That being said I'm a big fan of your posts.
You have revealed to me a side of business I never knew existed. Kudos sir.
My reply,
The subject of employing family members in a business is a big topic in its own right, and
perhaps one day we shall focus on it. There are strong views for and against, but it's not our
topic today.
It is a reality than most small businesses in Africa are family owned, and employ relatives.
Last week I was in a major European capital and met with a member of a family who have
run a family business since 1929... it is amazing successful. I have also seen real disasters
particularly in Africa, and some successes too.
It does not change the fact that everyone must be holding a proper contract.
Strive Masiyiwa How about your own contract?
If you look at my afterthought on the basic elements of a Contract, it also applies to you the
owner of the business!
When I first drafted a contract for each of my employees, I also drafted the same contract for
myself, as employee #1. Even if you are a "one person" business, you must have a contract
between you and the business.
So I wrote a "One page" contract, which included all the things I pointed out in that
Afterthought (read it). Every month, I received a salary according to my contract, even
though I owned the business. I never took one cent more than my contract. My bookkeeper
paid me, and kept the records.
So, do you and your partners in the business, have a contract?
Take this practical advice from me. You will be amazed what it does for your cash flow!
Strive Masiyiwa Afeke, writes:
I don't think we have this channel in GHANA
My reply,
Kwese Free Sport is available on Viasat channel in Ghana. Kwese App is also available in
Ghana, and you can download it on your mobile phone. Some of my friends in Ghana having
been watching the NBA channel, using their Kwese App.
Strive Masiyiwa There is a story told about a Christian Entrepreneur who went to the
Tentmaker with a problem:
"My business is not growing, and I'm always having financial problems. I have tried
everything, and I pray and fast almost every day. What should I do?"
"Come back in a few days, and I will tell you," replied the Tentmaker.
A few days later the Tentmaker called, and gave this word:
James 5:4
Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry
out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Then he the Tentmaker added:

"why are you running around in that beautiful car, and yet you have not even paid the
gardener?
You say your relatives have plenty of food and shelter, so they do not need to be paid for the
work they do for you. Pay them rather and let them attend to their own affairs, as adults.
Attend to these whilst you have time, otherwise you will not even have a business."
Strive Masiyiwa Reply to question:
"What does a typical contract contain?"
When I started my business, I created a one page "contract document" for each employee. It
had the following sections: 1) your duties; 2) your tasks; 3) your responsibilities; 4) your
salary (any lawful deductions from salary), and payment date, working hours, holidays.
[Just simple bullet points. Nothing "legalistic".]
I‘d then take each employee through it, and we‘d both sign. Even the cleaner and the
relatives had this simple contract.
I also used this "one page" template when recruiting people. After recruitment, I would turn
it into a contract. Even if the person was not educated, and could not speak English, I still
prepared and discussed a contract for them.
If a person didn‘t have such a contract, I didn‘t want them hanging around the place, even as
a volunteer or "helper". This leads to an inefficient organization.
You don't necessarily need a lawyer for something like this, depending on your business and
the type of job__Just a sense of fair play. And you can Google to find some draft contract
language online.
When you get bigger (and you will if you adhere to professional management approach), you
will soon hire HR people etc.
If you have a friend who knows HR, you can also seek their advice...but keep it simple, and
fair.
DECEMBER 3, 2016

BUILDING AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION (PART 4)
__A great vision needs great people.
Organizational management is really about "people and process." If you don‘t know how to
master these two, it doesn‘t matter what you‘ve invented, or how much money you‘ve
raised… you won‘t make it in business.
It‘s usually really hard to get the best people to join you when you‘ve just started a business
because you‘re (rightly) considered too risky.
It‘s particularly difficult when you, the founder, are yourself young and inexperienced. I
know what I'm talking about because when I started out almost 30 years ago, I was only 26
years old and didn‘t have either the money or reputation to attract people to work with me.
So I understand why most people in that situation will often turn to unemployed relatives and
friends, who can sometimes be unskilled and even troublesome. Believe me, I‘ve been there,
and done that!
I almost laugh now when I look back, but I hired some people who were downright
incompetent and almost got me killed... Remember I'm an electrical engineer by training, and
some of my early recruits as electricians did not quite measure up!
In my own case, my partner and I did almost every kind of job in our little business. There
was simply no room for "pretending to be the big man"! When we did a job for a customer, I
was there myself, and sometimes when we finished, I joined the cleaners to make sure the
customer's premises were left clean. We did the work, the cleaning, the invoicing, and the
books. We woke up early, and went to bed very late.
I never complained because it was "honest hard work" for a young man, and I enjoyed it. I
interviewed every single person that I hired very carefully. I always looked for people who
were skilled, sober, honest, and prepared to go the extra mile. I knew them personally, and
their families.
I tried to be fair in every aspect of my dealings with my employees. It wasn‘t just that I
considered myself an honorable man, but I also knew that "people talk." I wanted word to get
out that I was a "fair guy" in an industry where people were often exploited, and owners of
businesses were known to think of themselves first, particularly when they got paid, as I
discussed last week.
When I did get paid, the first thing I tried to do was invest back in the business. In particular,
I wanted my staff always to have the best tools for their job. I also wanted them to be proud
of their employer. I was fastidious over things like uniforms, presentations and appearance
before a customer.
Knowing that I didn‘t always have the opportunity and money to hire the most skilled
people, I focused a lot on training and workshops, which I handled myself. I drilled and
drilled my staff. We talked about each job, and I allowed everyone to say something about
what we learned. It's great to have the big idea, but you must have an eye for the details.
Then one day it happened: I got a call from an engineer who worked for a highly reputable
and well-established player in our industry. He wanted to join me. And soon it was a flood,
with people prepared to take a pay cut for the opportunity to work with my young company.
Now remember what I said earlier: "People talk." You want them to give you and your
company a good reputation, one that attracts the best people to your business. The best
people are the most profitable. That‘s business!
In his bestselling book, ―Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others
Don‘t,‖ Jim Collins writes, ―Great vision without great people is irrelevant.‖
Do you have the right people in your company focusing their time doing the right things?
We‘ll get to the importance of ―process‖ next week.

This week I was part of the delegation of global CEOs who were invited by Pope Francis to
the Vatican to discuss moral and ethical leadership. I was given the opportunity to talk about
the role big businesses can play in helping young entrepreneurs. Fortunately, you guys had
helped me to prepare and I used many of the ideas, and concerns that you have shared with
me.
Someone said at the meeting that my Facebook page, has "started a global movement." I
thought that was a nice compliment for my dedicated followers.

The response to the post I did late week as part of this series, "Pay your workers first," really
took me by surprise. The post reached 16.5m people. At one time it had engagement of more
than 1.5m, and recorded over 1.4m Likes. It was incredible. What pleased me most was that
a new generation of entrepreneurs is rising, which is like none before: You have a high level
of integrity; you care about the people who work for you, and you care about your
communities and environment. Well done! Let's build a global movement.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. I consider it a disgrace to have a business with people from
only one tribe, or where people from other races and religions feel unwelcome. From the
beginning I wanted diversity in my companies, and went out of my way to hire women, and
people from different tribes. My country, Zimbabwe, had a sizable community of other races,
and I hired them as well. A healthy business is one which reflects the diversity of the
community in which it operates. Diversity gives a business strength, and with that comes
profitability.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. ―People will forget what you said. People will forget what
you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel,‖ wrote the Nobel laureate,
Maya Angelou. It all goes back to the importance of the Golden Rule which I wrote about a
few weeks ago in my post about choosing partners... This applies to how workers and
management treat each other, too!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. I'm not opposed to hiring relatives, but to the extent I have a
choice, I try to avoid it. I once hired a cousin and he pushed his weight around the place. One
day I told him off, and when I got home, I found his parents waiting for me, because they
were senior in our family. The following day, I fired him and never looked back! If you have
to hire relatives including your children, you must make it clear to them that they‘re not there
to be the bosses or policemen, particularly of people more skilled and experienced than they
are. They must be respected for their ability by those working around them, otherwise your
organization will not attract the best professionals.
Strive Masiyiwa My sister Caroline,

Writes:
I was employed for 8 yrs and got into business now for 8 yrs. When I did it was together with
my new husband then...we were determined to build an empire. On the issue of pay people
first, we do not always agree. He is of the idea that if we spend all the cash out we run out of
business and next season there won't even be a job for the employees...it has a sense to it, but
it also has repercussions.
Whats your expirience with businesses managed by families. Specifically those successful...
I want to succeed, grow old doing business with him
My reply,
Family businesses are the majority of businesses in the world.
Countries like India, Italy, Japan, and even the mighty US, have a surprisingly high level of
family business.
There are many experts who spend their time studying and writing about family run
businesses.
Personally, I think the issue is not the ownership structure, but the management principles
applied in running the business. A family business can become a global enterprise, and can
survive generations. There are some very famous family businesses.
When you work as a married couple in a business, or as brothers (or sisters), it is important to
learn to leave the work at the office. Find other interests that force you to take your mind off
the business otherwise it will consume you and even your marriage. Don't fight and argue in
front of your staff, it is not good for morale.
Strive Masiyiwa Akin,

Asks:
I was literally waiting for this post. Dr Strive Masiyiwa, I really want to know your take on
using technology to make the hiring process impartial and effective.
My reply,
Use technology as much as possible, in this and everything you do. There is some
remarkable technology used in hiring people. You cannot even begin to imagine the type of
technology used at some of the largest companies in the world. I have served, and continue to
serve on the boards of some remarkable companies, and I'm aware of some of these
technologies.
This said, there is no technology which has yet been found to replace wisdom, and good
judgement. So, yes, use technology in the process; let it tell you as much as possible about
the person, their qualifications and qualities, then use your wisdom and judgement, to get to
character.
Strive Masiyiwa Adbul,

Asks:
Mr Strive am a big fan of your incredible work just got a question. IS IT TRUE THAT
EMPOWERING YOUR EMPLOYEES AND LETTING THEM HANDLE YOUR
FRANCHISE IS THE IDEAL GROWTH BOOSTER YOU NEED FOR YOUR
FRANCHISE TO EXPAND? THANK YOU
My reply,
You will never build a big business, until you understand how to empower people. It really is
that simple.
You have to build institutional processes, that are efficient, and accountable, within which
empowered people can operate.
DECEMBER 9, 2016
PAUSE: INVESTING FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

__Do well AND do good.
Last week I took part in a summit of global business leaders, convened by Pope Francis at
the Vatican, to discuss how business can play a more central role in solving some of the 21st
century‘s biggest challenges, such as climate change, high youth unemployment and
financial inclusion (to help all, regardless of income, get fair access to financial services).
The Pope told all of us gathered there: ―Seek ever more creative ways to transform our
institutions and economic structures so that they may be able to respond to the needs of our
day and be in service of the human person, especially those marginalized and discarded.‖
Wow…
I had the privilege to speak at this meeting (organized by Fortune and Time magazines) on
what‘s become known as ―impact investing.‖ In the world of philanthropy, these are
investments intentionally made into organizations, companies and funds with the expectation
of getting BOTH: 1) a market-rate financial return and 2) a social and/or environmental
return.
__In business it‘s possible to make a positive difference in the world, and to make money, at
the same time. You can ―do well by doing good,‖ as Benjamin Franklin put it.
Let me give you one example: Years ago when I was living in South Africa, I was often
approached by families of low-income workers from my home country who had lost a loved
one and wanted help to repatriate the body for burial.
When a poor family is faced with death of the breadwinner, the trauma goes beyond the loss
of the person. It can also leave the entire family in abject poverty. Sometimes the cost of the
burial can itself create huge financial stress on a family.
__"Surely there must be a way to solve this problem and help people in a sustainable way,
using entrepreneurship," I challenged my executives.
I wanted to find a solution by creating a viable and sustainable business model. (Look up
―sustainable‖ and ―viable‖ and give me some good definitions. It‘s important to understand
what potential investors are looking for when they look at your business plan.)
The idea we developed was "mobile insurance." The business we set up is now called
EcoSure. We wanted people to be able to use their mobile money wallet to buy life
insurance. The platform we created allows people to pay as little as 50 cents per month for a
payout of $500. Those who can afford more can contribute more, up to $5 per month.
Since we launched the platform, millions have bought insurance for themselves and their
families, enabling them to plan ahead and prepare financially for very difficult times. It‘s the
fastest-growing business in what we call our Fintech division (digital financial technology),
and known as Cassava Fintech. It‘s now being scaled in different African countries.
EcoSure is not only profitable but worth a lot of money as a business! I was proud to share
about our little venture with the world‘s foremost business leaders. This is how you invest for
social impact: True success comes only when we identify human needs and reach out to
solve them, in a sustainable way.
# What human need do you see today that you (as an entrepreneur) can solve?
The greatest opportunity for you as an entrepreneur doesn‘t come from looking for a way to
make money, but from trying to find a solution for a problem that‘s been there, sometimes
for a very long time.
It might even be a tradition or challenge that people have always accepted as being there.
The Tentmaker taught us, "Everything we can see, is subject to change."
By now most of you know the quote: ―Be the change you want to see in the world.‖
Look around you, with entrepreneurial eyes. What do you see? What do you NOT yet see?
Can you and your business do well AND do good?
―Amid the challenges of our day,‖ Pope Francis told us, ―see the human face of those you
earnestly seek to help.‖
End.
Image credit: Paul Haring

www.facebook.com/CatholicNewsService/photos/
Strive Masiyiwa Reflection,
"And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts
on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on
the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace
will be with you." (Tentmaker).
"I build bridges to those with whom I have differences by "dwelling on the fine, good things"
I can find in them...".
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought,

I was in Washington today, and met a young man from Morocco. He was so excited to see
me, as he follows me avidly on FB. He was even more excited when he learnt that I have
visited his home town of Marrakech. He was so proud to be identified as an African. I shared
with him my recollections from my visits there.
He wants to go home to start a business, and create jobs.
I meet people like him all the time on my travels, and it always leaves me so energized.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. I'm not a Roman Catholic Christian, but I have a lot of
respect for the traditions and work of the Catholic church. Pope Francis is an inspiring moral
figure in the world today. I pray for him often, as I do for all leaders around the world. If you
want to read more about what he told us at the conference go to:
http://www.catholicnews.com/.../helping-others-realize...
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Here‘s a little homework: Do you think your values are
reflected in the way you run your business? What about the ways you spend and invest your
money? If you‘re already in business, does it make a profit AND make a positive social
and/or environmental impact? If so, well done! Tell me about it.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. When we first launched the ―mobile insurance‖ idea, our
team entered into a partnership with the wrong people, and they tried to cheat us. We had no
choice but to shut it down. The matter went to court, and eventually we won the legal battles.
It was painful. When it was all over I told our team to start from scratch. In business you
have to accept such setbacks, dust yourself up, learn the lessons that need to learned, and
start over again, until you get it right.
Strive Masiyiwa "..³These investments have the potential

to demonstrate how we can identify new opportunities to solve old
problems. By leveraging market forces, investments directed into
companies, entrepreneurs, and funds can address some of our most pervasive
social challenges. Simultaneously targeting strong market returns, impact
investments offer a unique opportunity for individuals, families, and
groups to contribute to their own financial inclusion²."
Jean Case (one of the most influential entrepreneurs, speaking at the Vatican Summit).
Strive Masiyiwa Enerst Wins,
Writes:
Great wow, Excellent work..........I have also be en able to see a solution to one of the major
problems on our tertiary campuses, It will make campus life easier... thank you alot Sir.
My reply,
If you follow the story of Facebook, this is exactly how it started! Someone was trying to
solve a problem on Campus!!!!
DECEMBER 11, 2016

BUILDING AN EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION (PART 5)
__Process: getting the right things done right.
For the last few weeks, I‘ve talked about the critical importance of ―people‖ in organizational
management. Today I want to talk about ―process.‖ Every single day, I‘m approached by
people with great business ideas, and I also have my own fair share of new ideas. Sometimes
I just love to sit in my study, or go for a walk, just thinking about a new business idea.
Let me share with you one of my best kept secrets: If I can‘t get my mind around the
PROCESS, I'm not going to do it!
I have to feel I have a deep understanding of how an organization will emerge to take this
great idea forward. I can easily take 50% of my thinking time on this. Once I get my mind
around the process, I can then focus on the right PEOPLE to make the right things happen.
__Process and people are the backbone of the organization.
Now what I mean here by ―process‖ is the series of actions you take in order to achieve an
intended outcome or result. Within one business, several different processes usually take
place – raising capital, strategic planning, recruiting and training staff, research, product
development, product testing, marketing and so forth.
When I first started in business, I was still very young, and had worked for just a few years.
Fortunately, my two employers had been a computer start-up, in Cambridge, England, and a
state-owned enterprise (SOE) in my home country, Zimbabwe. In both organizations I‘d
made observations about how companies are set up and run.
I loved the start-up, which had only two owners. Decisions were made quickly and I got my
chance to do all sorts of things, even though I only had a freshly-minted engineering degree!
The SOE was the exact opposite: it had rigid organizational structures. There were many
highly-skilled and qualified individuals, but decisions were slow.
Whilst I enjoyed the mission of the SOE, I knew I had to get back to the start-up
environment. I nevertheless took away a critical understanding of how big organizations
work, including their political culture.
If I‘d been able to choose, I probably would have first joined a large international
organization before I went off on my own. I certainly would have loved to get an
understanding of "best practice" from an international organization like Coca-Cola or GE,
both of whom I greatly admired. The opportunity was simply not available, so I did the next
best thing… I bought books about them.
My favorite books were written by entrepreneurs, explaining how they set up these
businesses. At weekends I‘d just disappear into my own world of Sony, IBM, Coca-Cola --
the great companies of my day. I didn‘t just read, I devoured their material!
I wanted more, so I moved into the really academic work of people like Peter Drucker and
W. Edwards Deming (Google them). I had all their books and articles.
In my own country, I‘d constantly ask questions about the organizational structures of well-
established companies. Information was always limited back then, not like now with the
Internet!
As a young entrepreneur in Africa, it won‘t always be possible for you to start your own
business after a professional career in an established organization where you can learn all the
ropes, and study processes.
# You still owe it to yourself to try and close the deficit in your understanding of what it
takes to organize and build an effective business organization.
# You may not even be ready yet to have people working for you, with all those fancy titles
and positions, but you still must have the intellectual curiosity to do your homework and
understand what‘s really happening!
If you don't understand the processes that help you build and run an efficient organization --
managed by capable, highly motivated professionals -- you‘ll struggle, wear yourself down,
and probably end up bust, or worse.
Let's get down to business, real business. We‘re good managers, what about you?
END
Strive Masiyiwa Reading friends:

When I was a young man, I decided I wanted to get really fit, so I bought a Mountain Bike,
and every weekend I would go into the hills near my home and ride around. It was tough,
until I found a friend with the same interest. Together we would go out, and just push each
other.
Today, I have similar friends, who I call "reading friends."
We send each other articles, books and notes from our own readings. We all do this in our
own way on Social Media, but the key here is to exercise a "filter," and avoid things that
really don't add anything to your growth, or keep them to a minimum. You cannot discuss
football all day.
You need to challenge yourself on things of entrepreneurship, at least if you are on this
platform.
What I write you is a small fraction of what you need to be reading.
#You are a Champion, and our future!

I was recently told that 40% of the people who can read, now get their news through
FaceBook. And it is rising.
How many "books" do you think I have written on Facebook?
Answer:
Add up all my posts, and afterthoughts, and turn them into pages of a book!
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1. "There is nothing quite so useless as doing with great
efficiency something that should not be done at all," wrote Peter Drucker. Getting the right
things done, and done right, by the right people – that‘s the goal of organizational
management.
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 2. Some of you have asked me about book recommendations.
Here's a good list to help get you started that includes many important business classics:
http://www.topmanagementdegrees.com/management-books/
Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3. ―Deciding what NOT to do is as important as deciding what

to do,‖ said Steve Jobs. Efficient organizational processes are essential… But a labyrinth of
red-tape is bad news!
Strive Masiyiwa Chris writes,
Mr Strive, i read books but I have never read any book from introduction to its ending, what i
normally do is to go to the table of contents and select the most relevant chapters and read
them very carefully and meditate on them. Many of my friends say I am unserious with
books but with this method i have read more books than any of them. Please what is your
opinion about my method.
My reply,
Sorry Chris, your method is not very good. It will land you in trouble one day.
It is better to read one book properly, than a thousand books badly.
You build your capacity to read more and faster, by reading often, and not through
"formula".
Strive Masiyiwa Itaba,
Writes:
Sorry Sir, how many books do you read in a week, month up to a year. And how do you
manage the time, am a high school student and have the passion to read more and more
books. This year I have read 45 books, Thanks for your motivation sir, God bless you!
Reply,
I'm really impressed. This is just what I want to hear.
You must build up your capacity to read two books a day, or the equivalent in articles. And
this you must do, whilst doing all other things in your life.
Anything less, and you will not be able to compete with those in your generation who will
shape your future.
The key is to read like this when you get to University, and most importantly when you are
my age.
Strive Masiyiwa Peter writes,
two books a day is something out of my mind.In this week I struggle to finish a Book titled
Shoe dog by Phil knight.
My reply,
The quantity and speed at which you read is just a matter of practice. There is nothing gifted
about it at all.
When I first started this platform, there were complaints from some of our colleagues that it
was "too long." They wanted it to be like Twitter. I persisted and today it is read by millions,
every week. So what happened? Practice! The serious guys like you got used to it.
Now you know why I'm not a "Twitter person."
I recently met a former Minister in a very serious government, and he told me that his daily
briefing document to start his day was more than 200 pages!
If you are the CEO of a Fortune 100 company, you easily read the equivalent of 5 books of
more than 200 pages in a day!
If you practice by forcing yourself to read serious material, it gets easier and easier, but never
say it's impossible, because to get to the top, where you are headed, that is what you will
need to be able to do... with ease!
Strive Masiyiwa Ubong writes,
Dear Lord Jesus!!!!!!! Two books a day???? That means I've been playing all these while. I
have to start living. Thankyou Mr. Strive
My reply,
In my response to Peter, I said you must build the CAPACITY to read at least two books, or
the EQUIVALENT in articles and publications, per day, assuming a book is about 200
pages.
Now let me tell you, I know many leaders who read much more than this.
You should not be intimidated by this, because if you aspire to be the Chairman or CEO of a
big company one day, just the emails, reports, studies, and correspondences you would read
per day will be more than 400 page views. That is nothing in today's fast-paced business
world.
Now you may not be receiving reports and studies requiring you to read so much quickly, so
train yourself now, by reading a lot of books and articles that are serious, so that when the
day comes for you to lead, you are not overwhelmed and become delinquent to your
responsibilities.
You might yet choose that you don't want to get to that level, but at least know what is
expected should you decide to get there one day.
Strive Masiyiwa Rachel writes,
What about as a mum, homeschooling 4 children? Should I read CEO books, although a
career is 20 years away? Or many parenting, home school etc books?
My reply,
Some of the most extraordinary business leaders today are women. Many have faced some of
the challenges that you face, and even more, but they have gone on to achieve everything
they ever wanted to achieve.
Don't short change yourself by assuming a stereotype women's role, you can be CEO, and
you can lead a country, and still be a great parent too. So go for it!
Strive Masiyiwa Banabasi, writes:
I am one of people who told me that I don't have time to seat and read. I spend 50% of my
time on the road and more time in the office making follow ups. But I will try to make time
for reading books because i have realised that I can learn more. I know it's going to be tough
but I have to give it a try.
My reply,
This is not an option for you !
We live in a time in which the job you are doing today will have been completely
transformed, disrupted, or even disappeared within 5 years.
By developing a strong culture to read, and study, you will remain in the flow of the changes
that will occur, and you will develop new skills sets. Don't rely on "experience" only to
create earning power for you and your family.
Strive Masiyiwa Michael writes,
Sir, your commitment to the cause for reading and learning to work with numbers has
inspired me so greatly that reading is now a part of me. I am currently reading one book a
week plus at leat 10 serious articles. I hope those numbers multiply by 2 in 2017. Thank you
for the inspiration. I also rereading you Facebook posts starting from as far back as 2014.
My reply,
You are amazing!
I could not ask for more.
This coming year I'm planning to do some "town hall" type events in different African
countries. I will meet some of you and discuss what you are doing. The scheduling is still a
bit tough, because my days are so jam packed, but we will make a plan.

I have one international board, in which the "pre-read" board material is about 1000 pages of
documents. I set aside one day on a weekend, before the meeting to go through every page.
All my colleagues will have done the same.
Strive Masiyiwa IPAD competition:

Time is running out for those who want to win an iPad for Christmas. I have looked at all the
answers, and I have not yet seen one that is correct. Read the question again carefully, and go
back to the App. It is still open until the end of day Friday (clue!).
Strive Masiyiwa Win an iPad for Christmas!
I'm starting to give some Christmas gifts. So here is my question of the week:
The guys at Kwese have now added a number of sports and news channels to the App, which
you can download from any country in Africa. I will give an iPad to the first person who tells
me, how many sports channels (give the names) are on the platform already. I will also give
an iPad to someone who tells me how many news channels there are already.
I will announce the winner on Friday.
My next Christmas gift, will be really big, so get ready!

DECEMBER 15, 2016
PAUSE: CURIOSITY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL

ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
A young woman came up to me the other day and said, "Mr Masiyiwa, I follow you on
Facebook and I'm still trying to decide whether or not I'm an entrepreneur?"
"Are you curious by nature?" I asked.
"How do you mean?" she asked, puzzled.
"An entrepreneur is someone who is hyper-curious, and manages to channel that curiosity
towards a singular purpose. If you‘re a person who likes things the way they are, and you
don't like change, you‘re never likely to be a successful entrepreneur."
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me about an incredible new technique for something
(I won't tell you what it was today).
"Can you send me a link to something that‘s been written?"
Even before he had even sent me the link, I rushed to search on the Internet. Within a matter
of days, I‘d read dozens of articles, watched video clips, and was tracking the idea. Soon I
was corresponding with some of the key players involved in this new idea. Not long after, I
had a sample in my hands… Soon I would be looking for a business opportunity!
What are you tracking right now? ―How do Apps work?‖ Things like ‗WhatsApp‘? ―Can I
build my own App?‖
We just launched "Kwese App" and it‘s amazing. Every week we‘re adding new channels to
it. The other day, I watched an African football game using the App. I used the Wi-Fi in the
hotel because mobile data is too expensive for watching a football game! You can download
the Kwese App in a matter of minutes. Go to the Kwese.Com website, if you don't know
how.
# What are you tracking right now?

A few years ago, I went to a toy shop in the UK and bought one of the first "drones" and
spent days flying it in my back yard. This was years before Amazon and Google announced
their plans to use drones to deliver goods and medicines to remote areas.
"What are seeing?" My wife asked, as she watched a "middle age" man trying to fly a toy
helicopter in the backyard.
"One day this will not just be used in warfare,‖ I told her. ―These unmanned vehicles, will
deliver everything, including medicines to remote villages. Robots are here, and it's going to
be absolutely massive!"
If you‘re not reading about things like robots, and the technologies emerging around them,
then you are probably not an entrepreneur. They will affect everything, and every industry.
# What are you tracking right now?
"Have you ever seen a Tesla?" my friend said to me. He was a tech entrepreneur, and
investor in Silicon Valley.
"I have one of the first Teslas,‖ he smiled. ―Next time you‘re in Silicon Valley, let's go for a
drive."
I was burning with curiosity!
"A Tesla! You have one of the first?!"
"I invested in it when it was still just an idea. We have made so much money, I'm
embarrassed."
"Stop. What other ideas like Tesla are you looking at right now?‖ I asked, ―Do you think, I
could take some of this into Africa, right now?"
"Things move so quickly now, any of these new ideas will hit the rest of the world and
Africa too within months after launch."
Yes, I went to Silicon Valley, just to get a chance to be driven in a Tesla.
Now, you might not yet afford to go all the way to Silicon Valley, but on your smartphone,
you have all the access you need. Use it, before you are left behind by the ideas that are
changing the world.
# Be curious!
End.
Image credit: Ubuntu Hope
Give way to the child in you, because that‘s what drove the likes of Steve Jobs. Don't be like
a grumpy old man or woman who wants to keep things the same around them. Shake
yourself up, go out there, and try something new! Go to a toy shop and buy a robot for you
and your children. Play with them, this Christmas, and let your imagination take you to your
next venture!
That smartphone in your hand that you use for Facebook and WhatsApp, can also help you
build your OWN Facebook and WhatsApp! WHAT… are you waiting for?
Look around you… What do you see? What do you not YET see? Imagine!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../google-follows-amazon.../
Strive Masiyiwa In the last week we have announced acquisitions and expansions in the
following African countries:
South Africa ($500m), Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
This will result in hundreds of millions of investment, as well as thousands of new jobs.
I'm putting into practice many of the things I teach on this platform.
We believe in Africa.
Strive Masiyiwa Farayi writes,
Hi Strive. Am surprised you have gone back to West Africa after you have been cheated by
the Nigerians couple of years ago. What's your motivation this time?
My reply,
Farayi I was never cheated by Nigerians, I was cheated by less than 10 people out of a
population of 170m people. Nigerians are the same as Africans from every other African
country. Some of the finest people I ever met on planet earth are Nigerians.
I have never, and will never leave West Africa, or Nigeria. When anyone does you wrong
who is from another tribe, nationality, religion or race, don't generalize it into everyone from
that group of people, otherwise you will miss the opportunity to be truly blessed.
Merry CHRISTmas.
Strive Masiyiwa African media network Econet Media and MTG (Modern Times Group), a
leading international digital entertainment group, on Friday announced the conclusion of the
sale of MTG‘s Ghanaian free-to-air terrestrial channel Viasat 1 and Modern African
Productions (MAP) to the Econet Media Group.
Econet Media acquires all MTG assets in Ghana as well as MAP‘s operations in Ghana
(VIASAT channel), and Nigeria as part of this deal and will retain all staff.
Kwese Free Sports Channel now available in 19 countries. Five countries (Kenya, Rwanda,
Malawi, Uganda, and Ghana) now have a full 24 hr channel. Nigeria, Botswana could be up
in time for Christmas.
Strive Masiyiwa Kagiso, writes:

We appreciate and welcome it with warm hands in Botswana
My reply,
I have always enjoyed investing in Botswana, ever since I came there as a young man and set
up Mascom.
Whenever some African leaders ask me, which country is an example of "ease of doing
business", I give Botswana in my top 3x countries. Regulators in Botswana go out of their
way to make it easier for investors to bring money and set up businesses, and provide jobs,
and services.
Kwese Tv is going to be very big in Botswana, and you will be amazed by what we are
planning to do.
Strive Masiyiwa Adam writes,
Sir I am a Zimbabwean living in the United Arab Emirates and I was very proud to watch a
Kwese Sports programme on one of the Arabian channels. You are a great source of
inspiration and pride to the nations. May God bless you more and more.
My reply,
Thank you Adam. There is nothing to stop African businesses from being global. Start a
business right there where you are. It's a global world now.
#You can do it!
Strive Masiyiwa IPad winners,

Yes, we now have a winner! The question was not so simple, but someone got it!
I will announce the winner in Friday's post.
I will also announce something rather special.
Strive Masiyiwa Adeleke, asks:
In what area is the acquisition in Nigeria, so we can position?

Yours is Faith in action! You are keeping realisable hope alive everyday
My reply,
We are currently testing the broadcasting equipment in Nigeria. I understand we are days
away from going live in Abuja, and Lagos, initially. We are starting with our premium sports
channel called Kwese Free Sports. It is completely free like the NTA, and Channels Tv. It
focuses only on live sports events from across Africa, and the world. You can watch English
Premier League, NBA, Cricket, boxing etc.
Strive Masiyiwa iPad competition:
I'm still waiting to get the right answer for my iPad gift competition. For those of you who
want win an iPad, go to the question I posed on one of my afterthoughts of the previous post.
Perhaps you missed it. Look at the question carefully, then go back to the Kwese App, and
download it for free. I will give the iPad to the first person who gives me the correct answer.
Strive Masiyiwa Allen, writes,
Strive,
My name is Allen and we met at the first NBA all star game in SA. I was wondering if
Kwese will be able to screen live my basketball camp I'm hosting in Zimbabwe next year in
June.
Luc Mbah A Moute who plays for LA Clippers will be the guest at this camp and we named
it The Luc Mbah A Moute Top 50 U17s Basketball Camp.
..........
(Long text)
I look forward to hearing from you.
My reply,
We have not yet been granted regulatory approvals to operate in Zimbabwe. We will not be
able to broadcast any sports from Zimbabwe until that happens. Zimbabwe is not amongst
the 19 countries currently receiving our programming.
As soon as a country gives us regulatory approvals, we not only start broadcasting our sports
channels, but we also begin to sponsor local content from the country. This is the business
case.
I wish you well in your efforts, and I hope one day soon we can add Zimbabwe, and if that
happens, you can be assured we will immediately start a program there to support initiatives
similar to yours..
The good news is that we are planning to bring two full NBA teams to South Africa in
August.
Strive Masiyiwa Mutale writes:
are you developing a 'lite' version of your app that is not as data heavy? wifi is not always
available for most who rely primarily on mobile data which, as you said, is quite expensive
My reply,
Speaking to you as an entrepreneur, I say "what an opportunity for you!"
Entrepreneurs see a problem, and say to themselves, "if I can solve this challenge, then I
might make a good business for myself". In that problem you see is an opportunity for you--
"seize it before another!"
Strive Masiyiwa Katambi writes,
I've been watching Kwese free sports in Tanzania for almost a month now! Hello Africa,
Hello Tanzania. Mr. Strive Masiyiwa you're such an amazing person. You just dont know
how this simple Facebook 'teaching' is inspiring my spirit. Now I'm a better person. God
bless you Dr.
My reply,
Katambi, I have wanted to be in Tanzania for nearly 20 years. Each time I saw an
opportunity it never realized, but I kept trying to come in!
This year we have managed to buy not one but two businesses in Tanzania. We are so
excited, because we are going to make up for lost time by making Tanzania one of our key
markets in Africa.
DECEMBER 22, 2016
REFLECTION: ALWAYS COUNT YOUR

BLESSINGS.
When my business was still very small, I once found myself facing a crushing cash flow
crisis. My biggest concern was finding money to meet the payroll, and this one month, it just
seemed impossible.
Being a believer, I prayed every day for a miracle as the deadline drew closer. One morning,
it came into my spirit to approach a very wealthy businessman whom I knew was also a man
of faith, and would hopefully appreciate my situation. I went to his office, and said to him
boldly that I believed God wanted him to help me. To my shock and disappointment, he
turned me down flat.
I left his office and continued to try and get the money. Eventually an old friend of mine who
ran a bank called me out of the blue and helped me out with a small loan. He didn‘t even ask
me for a guarantee, which surprised me. This same banker friend continued to extend to me
little loans whenever I was in trouble, and he never asked for a guarantee of any kind.
Many, many years later, when I was much more successful, the banker friend of mine
disclosed to me something very shocking:
The wealthy businessman whom I‘d gone to see that morning called him after I left his office
and told him to extend to me the loans, and not to tell me that he was the one who had
assisted me by giving the guarantees.
I learnt two lessons from that experience:
# There is so much that can be accomplished in life, when people don't look for credit.
# Always count your blessings, because they are always there.
Just imagine if I‘d railed against that guy as being greedy and selfish, simply because he
didn't see things my way, or help in the manner I considered best. Perhaps he would have
heard about it, and withdrawn his support. I would often bump into him and when he
enquired about my progress, I would cheerfully proclaim my hope that things were going to
be just fine, and he would always say, "God is great, hang in there!"
During the dark days of Apartheid, someone asked Archbishop Desmond Tutu how he
managed always to be so optimistic that it would end one day soon. He replied by saying, "It
is because I'm a prisoner of hope."
A few weeks ago I offered iPads to two people who gave the first correct answers to my
question about the news and sports channels currently on the Kwese.com App.
__Congratulations to Michael Asante and Alan Branson. I will be sending you both an iPad
for Christmas. These are the answers I was looking for:
10 sports channels:
# Kwesé Free Sports
# Kwesé Sports 1
# Kwesé Sports 2
# NBA TV
# NBA TV (Bandwidth saver)
# EFC 56
# ESL
# Arsenal Media
# Spurs TV
# ESPN
7 news channels:
# Al Jazeera
# France 24 English
# Bloomberg
# TVC news
# KTN news
# Africa News
# BBC
The events (live matches) are not channels.
Stay tuned for much, much more! This week, I will give an iPad to someone who gives me
the list of six African countries where the Kwesé Free Sports Channel (KFS) broadcasts as a
24-hour channel.
Meanwhile, I‘ve delayed my special announcement until January. This one will blow you
away… Don't try and speculate on what it might be; you‘ll just end up feeding the fake news
hucksters. Just wait for it, and be prepared.
Merry CHRISTmas.
―He is the reason for the season.‖
End.
Image credit: Christopher Rimmer, christopherrimmer.com

―Only in the darkness can you see the stars,‖ said Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. If you're going
through a tough time right now, never lose heart. I pray the New Year will be a better one for
you.
―But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that
consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best
of the three is love.‖ (1 Corinthians 13:13).
At the beginning of 2016, I sensed that it was going to be a really tough year in many African
economies. I knew this from the data I was studying from many of these countries, as well as
the global tail winds. If you study most of my posts during this past year, most of them were
designed to give practical steps you can take to reposition your career and family, as well as
your business (if you‘re an entrepreneur).
I put in a lot of prayer and reflection before I write to you, so I can only urge that you go
back and read "meditatively" what I wrote, because you‘re going to be examined on your
knowledge, but not by me. When all is said and done, and you feel weary, remember "hope,
faith and love abide," which means they never, ever fail; you can only fail them. Bring out
the Eagle in you, that you might hunt in the storms.
Strive Masiyiwa Joel, writes,
Your words are like an oasis in the wilderness Sir, to a thirsty Shepherd boy....keep writing
keep advising, keep mentoring....and by the way where can I get your books?
My reply,
Thank you for your kind remarks.
As for the books from me, "this is a book"!
It is not the way it is bound that makes it a book, but the substance of what is communicated.
In the time of Moses a "book" was something on a stone tablet; in the time of Paul the
Apostle it was some scrolls; it was the German Priest Luther who created the modern book in
its bound format. And now that too will disappear.
If I had simply written a book, I would not have reached the Millennials who consume
everything in digital format. You can bind what I have said into a book for yourself, if you
like. I know lots of people who have done it.
Merry CHRISTx
Strive Masiyiwa Abubakar, writes,
Hello Dr Strive Masiyiwa, I am into post-consumer Plastics waste recycling in North East
Nigeria,thou my company is relatively small but I have 3 staffs on my payroll,I have also
engaged a lot of youths that picks these materials on the street which I buy per Kg which
would at least make them self dependent and busy for someone to brain wash them into
becoming nuisance in the society especially here in the North East where Boko Haram still
exist,secondly these waste are non biodegradable and are either burnt or buried here,in a way
we are saving the environment.My business has a lot of potentials here in Nigeria because of
our current exchange rate as you know we largely import Virgin Plastic Materials,for now
there is a very high demand for recycled materials,I started the company August 2014 when I
was 27 years old but I was only able to break even last month,as you know a lots of mistakes
will be done but I endured,that is my little story Sir.
My reply,
This is a very laudable effort, and I commend your motives. Please make sure that you also
invest in gloves and masks for the young people who collect the plastics, and also warn them
about materials that are dangerous.
Creating jobs, is the key to defeating groups like Boko Haram. I have been urging your
government at every opportunity to help entrepreneurs like yourself to set up businesses in
North Eastern Nigeria. I will use you as an example next time I see your President, and his
ministers.
Well done!
Strive Masiyiwa Kwese Free Sports Channel now live in Nigeria!
I would like to congratulate our technical teams working in Nigeria for managing to get the
Kwese Free Sports 24 hr sports channel up in Lagos and Abuja, before Christmas. The
channel is now live (analogue in Lagos), and Abuja (DTT). Roll out will continue throughout
Nigeria, over the next few weeks and months.
I would also like to thank the Nigerian government and regulators for granting us all the
necessary approvals. We have also been granted approvals to launch Kwese Tv. I will be
making further announcements on this during January.
Meanwhile for all our friends in Lagos and Abuja, please look for the station--remember it is
completely free! There is even a live ManU game next week!
The technical teams in Botswana are still battling to complete their tests; hopefully it will be
up in a few days. __Come on guys, you can do it!
Strive Masiyiwa #Not interested in politics, not in the past, not now, and not in the future.
Announcement will be on something to do with entrepreneurship support for my followers
on this Facebook page. Ignore "fake news hucksters".
Strive Masiyiwa Susan, writes:
Congrats sir.Iam sure in the next few years you will roll it in South Africa.Àll the best!
My reply,
Thanks Susan.
Although SA does not yet have a Kwese Free Sports Channel, it is still possible to watch
other Kwese channels using your Kwese App. You can watch most of our programming
from EVERY African country, using the App. Try it.
Strive Masiyiwa Perseverance, writes:
Kenya , Rwanda , Malawi , Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania this is your answer. By the way
with your inspiring ways i think you are the one who coined "Inspired to change your
world". .I need to write a book about you Sir. Thank you for changing my world.
My reply,
What a lovely thing to say. I appreciate it.
I'm giving away an expensive iPad, which means there is something in my question which is
tricky, and not easy to pick up (clue). You are going to have to do a bit more research, but
you have upto next Friday. The winner last week was not the person who rushed to answer....
With "extravangant love"...merry CHRISTx.
Strive Masiyiwa The answer to my question about which 6 countries had a 24 hr Kwese Free
Sports Channel is as follows:
Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria.
There is another 14 countries where the channel is available for a limited number of hours
per day.…See More
Strive Masiyiwa Kimoita, writes:
But sir that is the same answer I had given on Friday at 07:34 am. Or what was the criteria
for selecting the winners? I thought I was going to be one of the winners! KINDLY check
my answer on 23 December at 07:34am (unedited). I have been looking forward to this.
My reply,
The correct answer was first recorded at 4:51pm 22nd December.
I used my discretion to give two more iPads for answers that came in 24 minutes later, at
exactly 5:15pm--in the spirit of Christmas!
Lots and lots of people got the right answer but, it was a question of time.
Let's congratulate those who got my iPads again and focus on the next one.
Strive Masiyiwa Obadeyi, writes:
I heard more about you in early 2015.

Since then, I have always tried my best to learn from you and your post.
Sadly, I was interning when you came to Mauritius.
Would have loved to learn at your feet.
No knowledge is wasted however.
The willingness to keep learning will drive us into greater hieghts to make Africa greater.
My reply,
Throughout the year, I visit so many African countries, including Mauritius, where I go
several times a year. Normally, I'm in and out without anyone really noticing, because I
come for specific business. Sometimes my visits are for public events, like the one I did in
Mauritius a few months ago, but that is quite rare.
My team are looking at ways to engage some of you who have been on this platform, during
my visits. Who knows you might get a call one day, and we can do lunch. We just have to
wait and see how it works out, because the challenges are quite immense.
Merry CHRISTx.
Strive Masiyiwa AK Kipkip,

Asks:
What Bible Translation this comes from, I love the power of the words utilized "Trust
steadily, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly" very powerful and impactful!..Merry
Christmas Sir Strive.
My reply,
Good question!
I took it from the Message Bible Translation:
"...Trust steadily, hope unswervingly, LOVE EXTRAVAGANTLY.."
I love it!
[I always start my bible study with The King James Translation. I then start to look at other
translations to see what further insights I can get of exactly the same passage. It is amazing
what you learn.
Look how "extravagantly" God loves us. In John 3:16, it does not say "God loved us ", He
SO loved us". Try this same passage in the Amplified!
Let's be "extravagant in our love of others, this coming year!"
Strive Masiyiwa Kimoita, writes:
But sir that is the same answer I had given on Friday at 07:34 am. Or what was the criteria
for selecting the winners? I thought I was going to be one of the winners! KINDLY check
my answer on 23 December at 07:34am (unedited). I have been looking forward to this.
My reply,
The correct answer was first recorded at 4:51pm 22nd December.
I used my discretion to give two more iPads for answers that came in 24 minutes later, at
exactly 5:15pm--in the spirit of Christmas!
Lots and lots of people got the right answer but, it was a question of time.
Let's congratulate those who got my iPads again and focus on the next one.

Strive Masiyiwa 2016

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STRIVE MASIYIWA 2016

Net worth: $1.7 billion

Masiyiwa overcame protracted government opposition to launch mobile

“Always, always account for your time, each

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 1.

STRIVE MASIYIWA : In a few days I shall begin a new series called,

__You are blessed.

JANUARY 14, 2016

SERIES: THE EAGLE IN A STORM (PART 1 -

__There is a storm coming.

This year we must be serious, very serious. Africa expects it of us.

STRIVE MASIYIWA :Afterthought 2.

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Tale Carter writes:

JANUARY 20, 2016

__CHANGING OUR "WEALTH CREATION

__Yes, Africa is so rich!!!

"1+1=2"! My primary school teacher drummed it into my head, right?

I didn't end my study of mathematics in secondary school. I also studied it at university

"Tell me about the minerals of your country?" I asked my Japanese friend.

"We have no minerals to talk of," he said emphatically and proudly.

"What do you mean you have no minerals?"

As we talked about the Japanese rise, I was reminded of my lessons in mathematics!

"You mean you exploit us?"

"WEALTH CREATION MODEL?‖ What do you mean "WEALTH CREATION

I hope it will do the same for you.

See my next post.

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Afterthought 3. If you‘re a policymaker, ask yourself what incentives

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Hafeez writes,

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Chiedza Vivian,

STRIVE MASIYIWA : Yemi Sanni,

— G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931

__IMAGINING NEW WEALTH CREATION

Strive Masiyiwa "Man is restless till he finds his rest in God"

Strive Masiyiwa Oluwatimilehin writes:

Strive Masiyiwa Vikram writes:

Dr Strive Masiyiwa Allow me to share this as posted on my wall this morning :

SME Development Scheme : to create a nation of entrepreneurs in #Mauritius.

__PROTECT THE ROOT OF YOUR BUSINESS.

"We must protect the root, my son. Do as I show you."

# Don‘t underestimate the crisis.

# Make sure you‘re looking at credible data.

# Manage with grace under pressure.

# Tackle the problems systematically. Don‘t throw kerosene onto a fire.

# Seek and value professional advice.

Don‘t panic. Pray and plan.

Image Credit: Shetzers Photography

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 1.

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 3.

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 4.

Strive Masiyiwa Afterthought 5.

Strive Masiyiwa Eku McGred,

Dr Strive, any idea as to how long this storm will last?

Strive Masiyiwa Reflection:

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

The Eagle in a storm (Part 4).

__"IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP

"Tell me the problem," the other man asked sympathetically.

"I shall fight and fight."

"No, I have not contributed in any way at all!"

"I see. So what will you do?"

I personally would not help such a person. Do you know why?

Strive Masiyiwa Focus more than ever on your flying skills:

FEBRUARY 15, 2016