By Jules NARTEY TOKOLI
Firstly, initiating a business requires both talent and knowledge. Once these elements are applied effectively, they demonstrate wisdom.
Therefore, the concept of proposing that one could market this item despite lacking funds, yet leveraging their integrity to acquire the products, selling them, and subsequently repaying the debt represents true wisdom. This wisdom and its elements constitute genuine, organic wealth—real capital indeed!
As you repeat the process and keep building on that reputation, you are, in effect, building your wealth. With that intact, the person who you are dealing with can conveniently vouch for you and even guarantee on your behalf for another supplier to expand your business.
By doing this, you can establish and operate your enterprise without relying on electronic currency. Hence, maintaining a strong reputation is crucial for success as an astute entrepreneur.
Never believe that excelling in business involves being "kuluulu" or cunning. Others will see right through you, which could jeopardize your chances of building lasting family fortune.
Utilize Skills to Generate Prosperity
Let's delve deeper into the topic of talent. Consider individuals with talents such as being a musician, playwright, or author.
They can leverage their skills to generate income by establishing a distinct personal brand, turning this into substantial wealth over time. This form of wealth stems from the potential for perpetual royalty payments via copyrights or patents, should the creator be an inventor.
For example, Bob Marley died in 1981, yet his estate earns an estimated $16 to $20 million annually through music royalties, merchandising, and the continued global appeal of his brand, according to Forbes.
Following Michael Jackson's passing in 2009, his estate has consistently generated approximately $360 million each year, amassing more than $2 billion overall. These substantial earnings primarily stem from royalty payments and numerous commercial arrangements.
These illustrate what talent, along with wisdom can produce. Granted, those are unheard of in our part of the world. Plus, the personalities involved are mega stars. But as Africa’s artistes gradually integrate into what I may call the global copyright system, you can check this out again in fifty years’ if alive.
Keep in mind, also, that Bob came from a third world country whose system was not any much better than many African countries’.
Therefore, when human resources can provide you with generated currency—fake money—is it sensible to risk your life for something like that?
Do you think it makes sense to work for artificial money when you yourself–you in totality–are more valuable than any currency reserve, whether it’s the United States dollar or Ghana cedi, all put together, you as an individual are more valuable than those currencies combined, so why would you waste your life working for and dying for currency? It just doesn’t make sense.
Impact of the Flawed Education System
Unfortunately, though, our educational system was designed to keep us perpetually as slaves of currency; they make us feel like we have no value in ourselves. The only value we can obtain, we are made to believe, is when we pass our exams and are employed by some big company that pays us “fat” artificial money, (we’ll come back to that “fat” money debacle later).
However, here’s something I've noted during my brief time on this planet: Having grown up in the idyllic town of Ada Foah within the Greater Accra Region, I saw firsthand that most—if not all—of those known for their wealth were either "uneducated" or possessed minimal schooling.
In reality, up until 1961, there wasn’t a single high school (which we referred to as secondary school back then) in that town! The people who lived there constructed many large houses (though sadly, some have succumbed to coastal erosion due to the sea). Now, how exactly did they manage this? Primarily through activities such as trade, baking, fishing, and farming, amongst other means.
Nevertheless, they believed that by enrolling their offspring in schools, those children would acquire Western education and surpass their expectations. However, this seldom occurred. Often, upon completing their schooling—even earning degrees from universities—they ended up competing for the assets left behind by their "uneducated" parents.
Toxic Work Environment
Absolutely, which is why I think the Western-style education prevalent in Africa doesn’t equip us to discover our true human potential or utilize these abilities effectively.
Rather, within big companies, there exists a division known as the Human Resources Department, which aims to effectively utilize our assets for the advantage of the stakeholders.
Thus, we find ourselves relegated to performing isolated, monotonous chores that contribute little to our sense of purpose; afterward, meager compensation is provided, though some might absurdly refer to it as a "hefty" salary.
Once you receive your payment, the government typically takes around one-third through taxation. Additionally, you must continue paying taxes on various goods and services you consume. Essentially, you end up covering these costs by maintaining employment during standard working hours, usually from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
This is the state we have descended to! Due to the apparent "safety" we experience, our workspace becomes akin to a pot of crabs clawing at one another out of thirst and hunger, turning colleagues into adversaries as a result.
We exchange smiles with each other even as we simultaneously wish to undermine one another and strive to be above all. Yet, just when we think we’ve reached the top, someone else tries to push us down too.
This has led to distrust, suffering, rage, and irritation among others. It makes me think of the song "Ambush in the Night" by Bob Marley, where he sings partly: “Look at them struggling for power; however, they are unaware of the moment.”
So they are bribing with guns spare parts and money. Trying to belittle our integrity now, they say what we know is just what they tell us; and we’re so ignorant that every time they can reach us, through political strategy. They keep us hungry. And when you gonna get some food, your brother got to be your enemy! Ambush in the night”.
Granted, he wrote this song at the time to describe what was happening on the political scene in Jamaica; and really that is what you see happening on the political scene in Africa and throughout the world today. But it’s also applicable to the workplace and even the business environment.
We see top management fighting among themselves while they also try to win the favour of middle management by pulling strings, so they are also divided. Middle management then does same with lower management, and it trickles down to the floor employees.
And so, everyone who’s seeking to climb up will have to ambush another in order to get there. In effect, they’re fighting for power; they’re fighting for money, artificial money; and they’re fighting for prestige.
Thus whatever they have to do in order to get it they do it. They say the end justifies the means. That’s how we’ve reduced our value as human beings made in God’s image! It’s sad, isn’t it? Very sad!
Therefore, rather than working together to achieve goals, we find ourselves in conflict with one another. As such, the principle of "united we stand; divided we fall" holds no significance within our value system.
We merely offer empty promises. We profess to hold dear the idea that "united we stand" but, in truth, it holds no real significance for us!
Instead, we wish to step on one another. However, what we fail to see is that when you belittle someone else to elevate your position, you're not only diminishing all of humanity—including yourself—but also degrading everyone, including yourself; all for the sake of artificial money and currency!
In the concluding section, we tackle the conundrum of artificial currency and discuss what genuinely serves as a repository of value.
Feel free to reach out: +1 (914) 259-0242
jules.ntokoli@soleilvision.com
www.soleilvision.com
The author is a vibrant entrepreneur who serves as the Founder and Group CEO of Groupe Soleil Vision, which includes entities like Soleil Consults (US), LLC, NubianBiz.com, and Soleil Publications. Possessing profound expertise in strategy, management, entrepreneurship, premium audit advisory, and web consulting, his career has spanned both Ghana and the United States. Known for his insightful contributions, Jules stands out as a leading authority on areas such as corporate governance, leadership, e-commerce, and customer service. His writings delve into subjects ranging from economics and information technology to marketing and branding, establishing him as a key figure in conversations about African development and business innovation. Via NubianBiz.com, he strongly advocates for intra-African commerce and tech-fueled expansion aimed at strengthening small- and medium-sized enterprises throughout the region.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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