It is always fascinating how people answer that question. It basically depends on what you are paying attention to!
Some people are paying attention to politics, some to sport, some to celebrities in music and movies. And yet others are interested in gossip [there are even newspapers to cater for them]. There is nothing wrong with any of it because that is your interest. And I will never criticize you for it or ask you even to change.
But what if I asked you that question as an entrepreneur?
# Concerning your industry
# Concerning your country’s economy
# Concerning Africa
# Globally?
“What’s happening?”
Sometimes I will call someone like Ralph Mupita, and say “What’s happening?” It means I’m looking for his insights on the African telecoms sector because he runs MTN. Or Babatunde Soyoye: We can chat for an hour and scan the entire continent and then discuss the capital markets!
Or I can call Dr Agnes Kalibata, and say “What’s happening?” She will smile and say, “How much time do you have for me?” Then she will give me a detailed update on African agriculture.
“What’s happening, Edwin?”
He is the first guy to tell me that avocados were going to be a hot market in Kenya—long before it happened! If I ask you, what did you think of Tidjane Thiam’s move recently to build his own SPAC, I will not feel we are the same game if you say you never heard of him! This is one of the Elephants from Africa, in the business world!
What about the guys at Flutterwave?
Please pay attention to what matters to you as an entrepreneur! It does not take a lot of effort to plug yourself into following what is really happening that matters to you... as an entrepreneur. This is part of the #EssentialReading I was talking to you about last week!
But you will need to make some choices about your priorities and stick with them. Time is a highly treasured resource. Once you waste it, it’s gone forever.
Homework: Today when I ask you “What’s happening?” I want you to tell me about African #Pathfinder achievements that you see here on this platform, and across this continent.
I always get goose pimples of pride when an African, or person of African descent, achieves something that we have not done before. I just know that for them it required breaking through a higher level of difficulty! But I also know that success for them [and some of you], is always a #Pathfinder for others, and it always happens that others follow.
Last year we had some incredible #Pathfinders in the business world, from Africa, hit the world stage. I really hope you have been following and learning important lessons. Last month I wrote you here about a few of these amazing #Pathfinders, both women and men.
Now I want to hear from YOU [and you can send photos and links this time]: Who are some African #Pathfinders that we and the world need to know about? Is there a #Pathfinder living right next door to you? Or a young cub, maybe even a child or teenager, busy #Innovating and #ReImagining new ways of doing things?
Is there a company you read about or saw on the news, and you said: "Wow, they're really going places!!"
Is it you?
Hey, “What’s happening?”
"The move you are afraid to make could be the one that changes everything"...
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