Sbusiso Leope - Billionaires Under Construction: The Mindset of an Entrepreneur

First published by Tracey McDonald Publishers, 2017

Suite No. 53, Private Bag X903, Bryanston, South Africa, 2021

www.traceymcdonaldpublishers.com

In association with Leadership 2020

www.leadership2020.co.za

Copyright Sbusiso Leope, 2017

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-620-72715-0

ePUB ISBN: 978-0-620-72716-7

PDF ISBN: 978-0-620-72717-4

Text design and typesetting by Patricia Crain, Empressa

Narrative compilation by Lisa Witepski, Creative Copy

Cover design by Ron Olivier, incynq solutions

Cover photography by Made2FlyCreative

Printed and bound by Pinetown Printers (Pty) Ltd

This book is something I have been praying about for many years. To be able to share ones story is a privilege; to be able to help people learn something from it is an even greater one.

I believe that this is the billionaire generation. Were all billionaires under construction certainly, thats my mindset. And my work ethic.

Thats what I am hoping youll take away from this book. My life has been an exciting, unpredictable mix of ups and downs, but I think that the lessons Ive learnt will resound with everyone. Ive had my heart broken, Ive had my hopes dashed, and Ive failed. Just like you. And Ive come back, smiling and stronger than ever before. Just as you can. Thats the story of entrepreneurship.

If I can make people understand this, Ill be making an impact. Thats something Im passionate about, because I truly believe that entrepreneurship is the way of the future, and not only because we cant rely on the private sector to provide employment for all Africans which is, it goes without saying, one of Africas most complex challenges. There are also the hundreds of other benefits entrepreneurs bring to the economy. Consider how Elon Musk and Siyabulela Xuza are changing the way we think about energy. How Mark Zuckerberg changed the way we communicate. How Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, founders of Uber, changed the way we get around. How Herman Mashaba and Jabu Stone revolutionised South Africas beauty industry, how Thato Kgatlhanye is leading the way in social entrepreneurship with her Repurpose Schoolbags and how Mrs Daphne Mashile-Nkosi has pioneered leadership in business through her role in the mining sector.

These people havent just built businesses. They are shaping the way we live today. I salute and applaud them, and I urge others to join their ranks.

I know that doing so isnt easy. Thats exactly why I wrote this book. Consider it to be a practical guide to what you need to do, and how you need to think, if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Ill say it again. We are the billionaire generation. We are whom we have been waiting for. Our time is now. Its Africas time. We are in the right continent, ripe and full of opportunities. It wont come to us on a silver platter. Its time to get up, dress up and go get it. We cannot be stopped.

2017

Contents

1 You can't stop my go

7 curiosity didnt kill the cat

Interviewers often ask me how many lives I have, because Ive been knocked down so many times and yet Im still standing.

Im always interested to know why they think I was knocked down, but the truth is, yes, I have faced many challenges, both personally and professionally. Ive been fired from two radio stations and almost sued by a major international media group. Ive been called a controversial figure, desperate, a down and out, a fraud. The press has a feeding frenzy every time I face a challenge.

Back in 2006 when two of our most powerful artists chose to leave TS Records, the label I started with TK Nciza, newspapers libellously claimed it was because we had mismanaged their money. When Metro FM fired me because I had used their awards ceremony as a platform to promote my energy drink MoFaya some of my peers in the entertainment industry snubbed me, as if their own reputations would become tarnished if they associated with me.

Through it all, Ive remained steadfast and committed to my dreams. Its difficult but I never give up. Because entrepreneurs just dont. We are resilient.

The truth is that nothing comes easily. If it did, everyone would be an entrepreneur. Everyone would be rich. Everyone would be successful.

As entrepreneurs, we need to have faith even when were facing obstacles. Our job is to believe in something that probably doesnt yet exist, and to convince others to believe in it, too. We are leaders, showing others the light, finding loopholes, turning negatives into positives. We dont take no for an answer. The climate might not always be conducive, but even in times of disaster, a true entrepreneur will find a way. In fact, its sometimes when things are at their toughest that entrepreneurs shine, because we think differently from everyone else. Our views are almost diametrically opposed to the mainstream. When others are saying no, we are saying yes.

But you cant do that unless you are resilient. If you dont have what it takes to bounce back, you might be able to run a business on behalf of an entrepreneur but youll never be the guy who creates an empire.

How do you become resilient? Life forces it upon you. You cultivate resilience through the challenges you encounter. Its channelled through the people around you your parents, your grandparents, your guardians, your friends, your family, your mentors.

I believe that anyone can develop resilience, because no ones life is perfect. For me, growing up in Tembisa and working at my Mom's hair salon and my Dad's spaza shop since I was 12 years old, it's easy to think I had it easy. But we all faced challenges, which seemed monumental to us. Its all relative, and no one passes through life unscathed.

Because of this, I think that anyone can become an entrepreneur. Some people may disagree, saying that there are individuals who were born to be entrepreneurs, and I understand their view, too. Certainly, the Richard Bransons, Donald Trumps, Tim Tebeilas and Aliko Dangotes of the world seem to have a Midas touch, succeeding at everything they put their hand to and sparking creative ideas that they later transform into thriving businesses.

But whats important to realise is that entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. Not every entrepreneur is a millionaire. Some are forced into business because they have no other option; they cant find a job, say, and they have to create their own employment. The people who sell food on the side of the road are a great example. Rather than turn to crime, theyve made their own solution.