Thread by @kedukudzi

HAUSI ENTREPRENEUR - a thread.
Today Ecocash and Econet calling was mostly down. Folks were complaining on here blaming the company for losing them business. This strangely included some who call themselves innovators. Now, how will you survive when you cannot solve such probs?

https://twitter.com/kedukudzi/status/1102631105025445893

You see, we do confuse titles and descriptions a lot on here. Many of us are not entrepreneurs. Neither do we run startups. We are small business owners with small businesses. Kuzvigamuchira mushonga mukuru. True entrepreneurs create models that outlast product. Timeless ones.

One of my fav brothers responded to my earlier tweet capturing part of what I wanted to say. The real entrepreneurs minimized losses today, still got business. Because Ecocash is but 1 payment system & being paid isn’t just cash. Also, Whatsapp was still up. So solution:

If you have a business that deals with repeat customers and you have perishable product you could have given them credit, delayed payment is better than none, but unokara cash. Mutual benefit. You could have taken credit from suppliers but haugarisani ne vamwe muraini, wadzva!

That you still had WhatsApp was a gift, you could still receive orders, deliver. The only problem to solve was payments there. Also, entrepreneurs are not afraid to ask for help,if you were on Twitter you could have crowdsourced solutions. I only knew end of day app was working -

An innovator would have gotten that information early and gone round with a smartphone with the app on it, inserted customers SIM cards on delivery and gotten paid. Or did the same to pay suppliers. But you want to be number 1, & talk down others. I always tread with care on this

Because my work allows me to deal with all sorts of folks. Some micro enterprise owners have fantastic models, better than some big folk. Indeed there are things we can’t entrepreneur ourself out of -bad policy for e.g. don’t minimize that. But also respect other people’s hustles

When you’re gaining traction, be humble, fast growth also ruins companies on days like this you have greater exposure. Some food businesses threw away chikafu nhasi. Was a good day to donate it all and get goodwill at least lol. Entrepreneurs tolerate ambiguity. Solve problems.

Now I want to read so I’ll make this short.
Google Business Model Canvas. Read on it, create yours. You need it especially in this dynamic environment called #Zimbabwe. Stop whining, it doesn’t inspire,you’re not owed people’s payment systems no matter what you pay. Innovate zve

Solutions come from people. Ask others. Ask on here, hopefully you have the social capital. Ukaona uchizeza ndiwe wakakanya nekumbotuka vanhu. Others yakakosha. Reconcile. Get help.
A great product, perfectly branded will never one up a tight business model. Learn, cdes, learn

Find inspiration from the ghetto youth. Big money circulates in Epworth, Mabvuku they are ecosystems all by themselves. They don’t brand as well as we do, they don’t brag either, but they have superb models that work - not depending on everything to be parfect. Let us learn, cdes

Best wishes tomorrow and the days to come. The real entrepreneurs will emerge amongst us. Some of us will work for them. We will all make money, be happy and praise the Lord.

Umwe ngaati ameni!

Hausi entrepreneur asi if y’all whining.

You’re a small biz owner, still good.