My dear entrepreneurs, visionaries, and architects of our nation’s economic future,
I write to you today as one who has walked the winding paths of business, witnessed the rise and fall of many ventures, and learned that wisdom often comes disguised as painful lessons. There is a truth I must share with you—one that may sting like the morning frost on the highveld, but which can save your dreams from withering before they bloom.
On the Art of Building Your Business
You have fire in your bellies and visions that could transform our beloved Zimbabwe. But too many of you are making the same costly mistake: you hire as if you are filling buckets with the first water you find, and you cling to the wrong people as if loyalty alone could turn poor performance into excellence.
Listen carefully: A withered tree doesn’t suddenly bear sweet fruit.
I have seen brilliant minds build promising ventures only to watch them crumble because they held onto employees who had checked out long ago. You tell yourselves, “Give them time to change,” “They just need more training,” “Perhaps next month they will improve.” Meanwhile, your competitors sprint ahead while you are teaching someone to walk who has no intention of running.
The Wisdom of Patience in Hiring
When building your team, move like the wise hunter who studies his prey before taking aim. Interview not once, but multiple times. Ask difficult questions. Check references thoroughly. Look for character, not just credentials. Seek those who share your hunger, your vision, your willingness to work through the tough seasons.
A single exceptional person is worth ten mediocre ones. Quality always trumps quantity in the early stages of building something meaningful.
The Courage of Swift Action
But when someone proves they don’t belong on your ship—when their attitude poisons the well, when their incompetence becomes a burden your growing business cannot carry—you must act with the swiftness of lightning. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Today.
This isn’t cruelty; it’s wisdom. Every day you delay is another day you are stealing from the good people on your team who are working twice as hard to compensate for those who aren’t pulling their weight. It’s another day you are limiting your business’s potential to grow and create more opportunities for others.
A Sacred Responsibility
Remember, you are not just building businesses—you are building the economic backbone of our nation. Every job you create responsibly, every successful venture you nurture, contributes to Zimbabwe’s prosperity. But if you let misplaced compassion cloud your judgment, you risk everything you have worked for.
Be kind but firm. Be generous but wise. Be patient in your choices but decisive in your actions.
Your success creates ripples that touch countless lives. Honour that responsibility by surrounding yourself only with those who share your commitment to excellence.
May your ventures flourish like the baobab tree—rooted deep, reaching high, and standing strong through every season.
With respect and hope for your success,
A Fellow Traveller on the Path of Entrepreneurship
ZimLedger Admin
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this letter promote responsible business management and do not advocate for unfair treatment of employees. Every worker deserves respect, fair compensation, and lawful treatment. The advice herein encourages thoughtful hiring and decisive action when necessary, always within the bounds of ethical business practices and employment law.
ZimLedger
ZimLedger is the all in one business and finance platform for Zimbabwe. It generates quotes, invoices, payslips and financial statements, manages business ledgers, tracks income and expenses, and builds shopping lists. ZimLedger offers a simple yet powerful solution tailored to local needs. Whether you are budgeting in ZiG or USD, managing business accounts, converting Ecocash statements, or tracking household expenses, ZimLedger empowers you to stay organised, make informed financial decisions, and grow your wealth—right from your phone or computer.
