1. Create jobs
..... How important is it for you to create jobs?
Many years ago, I was given a very interesting proposal, whilst visiting a
certain wealthy country:
"Would you consider moving permanently to our country?"
The man asking the question was a very senior government official, in that country.
He continued:
"If you move to our country, we will give you residence, a passport, and fast track to citizenship. We will even consider funding to support some of your ventures that you do here."
I could hardly believe my ears; someone was actually trying to recruit me, to change my citizenship!
"Why?", I asked surprised.
"You are a proven 'job creator'. We need people like you, to come and create jobs... Entrepreneurs create jobs, and you are good at what you do. We have done our research on you.
....There is nothing more important for us than creating jobs for our young people."
I smiled. Thanked him politely, before declining the generous offer. I nevertheless proceeded to lead a venture that created jobs for his country. Businesses and ventures that I have started or been involved with, over the last 29 years, as a business person, have created more than 100,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.
"Would you consider moving permanently to our country?"
The man asking the question was a very senior government official, in that country.
He continued:
"If you move to our country, we will give you residence, a passport, and fast track to citizenship. We will even consider funding to support some of your ventures that you do here."
I could hardly believe my ears; someone was actually trying to recruit me, to change my citizenship!
"Why?", I asked surprised.
"You are a proven 'job creator'. We need people like you, to come and create jobs... Entrepreneurs create jobs, and you are good at what you do. We have done our research on you.
....There is nothing more important for us than creating jobs for our young people."
I smiled. Thanked him politely, before declining the generous offer. I nevertheless proceeded to lead a venture that created jobs for his country. Businesses and ventures that I have started or been involved with, over the last 29 years, as a business person, have created more than 100,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.
"Entrepreneurs create jobs".
... There is nothing more important than creating jobs for our young people. I cannot imagine anything more important at the moment, and more urgent, particularly in Africa... Our very future depends on it! Speaking recently, at an event in New York, I said:
... There is nothing more important than creating jobs for our young people. I cannot imagine anything more important at the moment, and more urgent, particularly in Africa... Our very future depends on it! Speaking recently, at an event in New York, I said:
"With 60% of our population under the age of 30 years old; creating
skilled jobs for our young people, is the greatest challenge facing Africa..
Period." The most sustainable way to create jobs is to create policies that encourage
entrepreneurship, and through it investment. We have to value our entrepreneurs, as real partners of development. We
cannot choose to treat them as criminals. We must acknowledge their
contributions, and celebrate them.
Some of the most successful countries in the world, actually have active
programs to recruit entrepreneurs from other countries. Such is the recognition
they give to people who create jobs.
Even if you employ just one person; even if that person is your daughter or
nephew:
You are an employment creator, and a very important person to your country.
You are an employment creator, and a very important person to your country.
2. Be a Success.
I said the first thing you can do for your
country, as an entrepreneur is to create jobs, for your fellow citizens.You cannot do this, if you are not a success! As an entrepreneur your duty is to develop products, and services, that people
need, and want. It is important that you do this, without harming yourself,
without harming others, and without harming the
environment. You must abide by the laws of your country. You must do what you do, efficiently, and
profitably. Yes, profitably, because that is how we measure success in
business.
A business which is not successful, cannot invest, and it cannot
grow, and if it is not growing, it cannot employ more people, and pay more
taxes, which pay for schools, roads, hospitals, and the salaries of civil
servants, soldiers and police. It is important for your country, that you are a success. It is good for your country, that you are a
success... A resounding success! Let me repeat, it for the hard of hearing: It is very important for your country, that its entrepreneurs, are a success.
It is not possible for you to live in a country, which is succeeding, and yet
its entrepreneurs, are struggling and going bust...that is a national crisis!
Only a fool hears, that someone in their business community, has failed, and laughs. When you hear that businesses are failing in your community, it should be a source of great distress for you.The fact that the business is owned by someone you consider a 'show off' should not lead you to rejoice. If you do, it means you have no understanding of economics, or any appreciation of how an economy actually works. In the same way, you should rejoice, when you hear that someone has set up a new business in your community, or country....
When this happens, "you" prosper, even if that business appears to have nothing to do with you. Learn to look beyond the person or persons behind a business, and see your economy; that is what we call maturity. As an entrepreneur its important for your country, that you are a success. It is important for your country, that others around you are also a success. Remember what the great Tentmaker, said, "... when I became a man, I put childish things away."
Only a fool hears, that someone in their business community, has failed, and laughs. When you hear that businesses are failing in your community, it should be a source of great distress for you.The fact that the business is owned by someone you consider a 'show off' should not lead you to rejoice. If you do, it means you have no understanding of economics, or any appreciation of how an economy actually works. In the same way, you should rejoice, when you hear that someone has set up a new business in your community, or country....
When this happens, "you" prosper, even if that business appears to have nothing to do with you. Learn to look beyond the person or persons behind a business, and see your economy; that is what we call maturity. As an entrepreneur its important for your country, that you are a success. It is important for your country, that others around you are also a success. Remember what the great Tentmaker, said, "... when I became a man, I put childish things away."
3. When you are successful, you create wealth for yourself and your country.
Apple Computers, became the most valuable company in history.
Its value on the New York Stock Exchange reached a staggering $710bn. To put
that in context; it is almost half the GDP of the entire African continent
(estimated at $1.6 Tn)! We all know what Apple sells: iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc., These are consumer
products, manufactured by the company, mostly in China, and sold around the
world. The founder of Apple computers, Steve Jobs, died in 2011. The company
that he left behind, generates billions of dollars in tax revenues, for his
home country, the United States. This is used to pay the salaries of civil
servants, build roads and other infrastructure, build schools, hospitals,civil
defense and a powerful army......This is wealth!
I could have said that about Coca Cola, Toyota, Barclays Bank, Alibaba, Dangote
Cement.
Every great business, in the world, no matter how large it is today, was started by entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs, create wealth for themselves, and also for their countries.... Actually they do it for their fellow citizens. Now let me, tell you another secret:
It is not just large companies like Apple, and Dangote Cement that create wealth. Even a street vendor, is creating wealth, when he is successful. Even the guy who sells a packet of sweets or airtime, is creating wealth. This is economics, 2.0, which many people do not appreciate. As an entrepreneur it should be your dream, to create wealth not only for yourself, and your family, but also your country. Now here is another point, which I want to close with:
As an entrepreneur its important for you to be successful and profitable, because that is how you create wealth for your country. However, if you want to consciously, BUILD your country, then you must make sure that you pay your taxes. You will never be a nation builder, if you do not pay your taxes:
- when you import goods, pay the duties that are due, according to the law;
- when you sell goods, pay the value added taxes that are due;
- when you pay your employees collect the income tax, and give it to the government;
- when you make a profit, give the taxes due on profits, without waiting to be chased for it.
Every great business, in the world, no matter how large it is today, was started by entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs, create wealth for themselves, and also for their countries.... Actually they do it for their fellow citizens. Now let me, tell you another secret:
It is not just large companies like Apple, and Dangote Cement that create wealth. Even a street vendor, is creating wealth, when he is successful. Even the guy who sells a packet of sweets or airtime, is creating wealth. This is economics, 2.0, which many people do not appreciate. As an entrepreneur it should be your dream, to create wealth not only for yourself, and your family, but also your country. Now here is another point, which I want to close with:
As an entrepreneur its important for you to be successful and profitable, because that is how you create wealth for your country. However, if you want to consciously, BUILD your country, then you must make sure that you pay your taxes. You will never be a nation builder, if you do not pay your taxes:
- when you import goods, pay the duties that are due, according to the law;
- when you sell goods, pay the value added taxes that are due;
- when you pay your employees collect the income tax, and give it to the government;
- when you make a profit, give the taxes due on profits, without waiting to be chased for it.
"Oh how I wish all God's people were entrepreneurs".
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