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By Amanda Ellen Nicola Jojo
BUDDING businessman, Enock Abraham’s entrepreneurial journey is a by-product of circumstances, choices and chances. The Entrepreneurial Magazine had an exclusive with Abraham who revealed how these three elements fused together and shaped him to be the person he is today.
Circumstances
Without a plethora of options to choose from, life served Abraham with circumstances and situations that were difficult to solve.
He said: “I was raised in a poor family, my father lost everything when I was in form 2. I had to adjust to a ghetto school, I had to sleep in one bedroom with my mother and siblings in a 2 bedroomed family (house). Walking 4km to school and staff, my uncle was now paying my fees. My father had to be a security guard, my mother now was selling chocolates in the streets. So, this gave me so much zeal, power and hunger to help my now struggling family. Hence I dropped out of school to seek better pastures in a foreign land.”
Choices
People drop out of school because of various reasons, these may include financial issues, trade-offs, and even lack of motivation. Among other reasons, Abraham made a choice to drop out of college because he felt like the system limited his imagination, creativity and innovativeness.
“…I realised the school system trains people to be ‘employees’ not entrepreneurs,’ go to school get a high paying job ” for whose company. I want my own thing, I want to own my own corporation.
“I want freedom (doing whatever I want in any given time without being controlled by anyone), I want comfort, I want a legacy ‘A wise man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.’ I want to be a millionaire.
“I also want to help my nation, create jobs and eliminate poverty, this country is so looked down upon, I want to rise amongst other young entrepreneurs to create a movement that will raise Zimbabwe to a world giant. It seems impossible on paper but we can do it,” Abraham expressed.
Chances
Prior to his entrepreneurship journey, Abraham was an aspiring professional footballer and he even represented Manicaland in the National Youth Games (U18) in 2017. Because he did not have funding for his football passion, his dream did not come to fruition.
“Every door I seem to be knocking was closed so I had to man up which resulted in me leaving for South Africa after Valentine Kuzondishaya called me to work for his newly formed company; Jango Kings Food And Beverages.
“So literally I wanted to raise capital to finance my football dream (to register for European agencies) until my eyes started opening when I saw opportunities in the business world.
“The company I wanted to work for was looking for capital to purchase ingredients for its first production. So, from there that’s when I started entrepreneurship… I had to make calls to get debt so that I can buy equity in this company since it was on its knees,” Abraham clarified.
Business interests
Because of the notion that real estate has been tested by time and proven to be a great investment, Abraham is on a drive to build fortune by investing in the industry.
“I am a big fan of real estate. I believe it is my niche and that is where the rich store their money. I believe in the notion “generational wealth” and real estate is an answer to that. Besides real estate I like manufacturing (any form of manufacturing),” he said.
Philosophy for philanthropy and entrepreneurship
Abraham upholds the notion that there is a direct correlation between fulfilling people’s needs and entrepreneurship.
He said: “I believe entrepreneurship funds philanthropy it generates wealth to create a mass change in the society. People need jobs, starving families need food not motivation, orphans need homes not inspiration. Basically, what I’m saying is entrepreneurship creates a good flow to fund philanthropy if done well.”
For that reason, Abraham is involved in philanthropical activities which include; buying and distribution of food to the destitute especially the homeless people, sending food and clothes to orphans, and he also funds rehabilitation as well as counselling services for people who use drugs and former commercial sex workers.
Values
As an entrepreneur who is instrumental in spurring change, Abraham is grounded on a set of values that help him understand events, solve problems and make decisions.
“Firstly, I pray about everything before I make a decision. My life is simply guided by the word of God, without Jesus I’m nothing and I do my best to please Him.
“I value obedience, that is, stay faithful with the small amounts and you will be faithful with the big amounts.
“Smartness, I don’t like working hard being a busy body rather I act smart. How can I do more and more with less?
“Leverage and learning, the ability to learn reading constructive books, listening to constructive videos and audios, seeking mentorship. By the way I’m Mentored by Shacky Timburwa in the business side of things, he is my top mentor amongst others. Lastly, humility, I believe that humility is honor,” Abraham highlighted.
Challenges
As a young entrepreneur who is still trying to find his footing challenges and setbacks are inevitable, they are part of the package of starting up. Some of the challenges include empty promises from potential investors, crossing paths with established entrepreneurs who are unwilling to share business nuggets with him, loss of partners amongst other reasons.
“I am 21 and so many older folks just think that this young man is being over ambitious so they pull off. But age is just a number remember Mark Zuckerberg was only in his early twenties when he founded Facebook, so many younger people have brighter ideas, game changing proposals but they lack financial assistance to fund their dreams because of the notion “too young.”
“Which I believe it’s killing Africa at large at some point, my brother presented a top proposal to the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange and the response ‘I’m not ready to lose my licence for this’ yet the idea was a game changer,” Abraham lamented.
“Our company right now ” Jango Kingz Food and Beverages” is selling equity to enable a mass production for the jango kingz energy drink. If there’s anyone who wants to buy equity is welcome.
In a bid to enable mass production at their plant, the visionaries behind Jango Kingz Food and Beverages are selling equity.
Words of advice
“Start by getting your mind right. Erase your employee mindset and start thinking like an employer. Learn how to sell, you can’t be an entrepreneur who can’t sell so basically start by investing so much in yourself, read books, seek mentorship from proven mentors etc. Finally, be ready for pressure, rejection, consistency etc,” he said.
