I have attended various business presentations in Zimbabwe characterized by the phrase, “Becoming your own boss in Zimbabwe”. To be honest, Iam against the idea of becoming your own boss. I believe that’s the reason why most start-ups in Zimbabwe are failing. They were formed on the premise of becoming own boss which is a facade. Never form a business because you want to be your own boss. It only increases your chances of failure.

Our consultants have reported that more than 60% of the SMEs in Zimbabwe were failing because of this selfish motivation of forming a business – becoming your own boss. Hush! I know ‘becoming your own boss’ is one of the most popular words online but it’s also among the most misleading.

1. Becoming own boss is selfish

Becoming your own boss is a selfish motive. All it talks about is you. It sees the owner of the

business as the king and that his needs are the most important. This usually affects the product development of the company. Instead of the company focusing on the needs of the customers to develop a product, it focuses on the need of the boss to make profit. This usually leads to product failure because the product has fails to meet the need or priced outside the market’s price perception or affordability.

2. Becoming own boss violates ‘customer is king principle’

After finishing my ordinary level, a manager of a leading supermarket in Zimbabwe took me under his wings and trained me. He would call me every week to his office asking me what I was learning. A meeting would never end until he told me, ‘Young man, remember the customer is the wheel of this organization. He is the one writing all our cheques.” He taught me that an organization is formed to be a servant of the customer and not the other way round. He gave me examples of organizations violating that principle. Some of them were still doing okay during that time but now it’s a different story.

3. Becoming own boss violets the Greatness Principle

The equation of greatness doesn’t start at the top (being a boss), but it starts from the bottom (being a servant). Matthew 11 v 11a says “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist… The second part of the verse says “…notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” So John was great but he was servant. He never acted like a super figure till his death so much that no one even realized he was Elijah. The Bible goes on to explain that he who is least in the kingdom of God is Greater than John.

The question I pose to you is, does starting your own business to become your own boss make you the least in the kingdom so you become greater than John. LOL! No wonder most businesses start-ups are failing in Zimbabwe. You can’t beat John when you start great. Look at the top companies in Zimbabwe and see how humble they are. Some have made millions by humbling themselves to be your professional maids and clean your offices and clothes. The moment you ditch the lie of becoming your own boss and follow the servanthood route you will start making money. Iam amazed at how ‘men of God have increased more than servants of God we had long back. Being own boss is a recipe for business failure

4. Becoming your own boss is a marketing façade

Hahahahaha! Pardon my misdemeanor. Where do you see this phrase most? Either in a self-help book which talks about becoming your own boss and start the road to becoming a millionaire. How much does the book cost? $47.00 or more. Isn’t the author making his first million from selling that good for nothing book which is a recycled version of the more than 50 books he has read and is churning it out with the difference of just a catchy slogan. Do not be fooled. There is no book about becoming a millionaire that can help you more than this simple magic word, ‘ACTION’. Do not be a victim of these scams. Most of these places were the word become your own boss have an up sale model were you will become there slave disguised as an own boss.

5. Becoming your own boss is not a need

Lastly, starting a business to be your own boss doesn’t solve any needs your customers might have but it solves a selfish need in you of wanting to be a boss. Who wins this war in the end? The customer always wins. They move to the next supplier. Solve a real need in your potential customers. Read stories of real people who solved real needs. Read the story of Empersa in Kenya and learn how they created a company which solved a real problem faced by real people. First find a need and go out there to solve it.

And as always, to your continued success!!!!