Choose, pursue your careers wisely

do you aspire to be?
If you recall in my earlier instalments I mentioned that if you want to pursue a career as an entrepreneur, one of the determinants of success is pursuing an area you are passionate about, in other words, follow your heart.
There is no use in pursuing a career in the ICT sector when you are passionate about the automobile industry, for instance.
Just be a mechanic or sell cars and realise your self worth.
More often when people identify their chosen paths, the stumbling block is start-up capital and this has proved to be a huge deterrent.
I shall be addressing this topic under separate cover so don’t worry much about it.
There are quite a number of sources of funding available for bankable ventures.
All you need to do is to get organised and I shall be taking you through the steps on how to put your ducks in a row and get ready for the march!
We will discuss how to access start-up and expansion finance, access to markets, appropriate technology and human resources.
Technology entrepreneurs
This week I would like to discuss how entrepreneurs relate to some industries as they explore their self worth.
Topping the list are technopreneurs who are, essentially, technology crazy buffs, who exploit their skills in their chosen fields.
These guys have the latest technology at their fingertips and are spread out across many sectors, be it computers, digital media, cellphones and many others.
They are basically trying to make money by sharing the latest technology on offer that is there for the taking and globalisation has greatly assisted these creative innovators.
Social entrepreneurs
Then you have social entrepreneurs who are essentially in the non-governmental organisations sector whose objective is to engage in not for profit ventures that are widely supported by the donor community.
Do not be misled by the “not for profit” cliché, there are some huge projects going on in this sector and these are driven by the entrepreneurial minds of some brilliant Zimbabweans who saw an opportunity and gladly embraced it.
Now they are in business and making a living out of it. The projects range from market gardening, scholarships, drama and theatre and various other income-generating projects around the country. Yes, there are many opportunities out there.
Tourism entrepreneurs
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in Zimbabwe which recorded an 11 percent growth last year and is destined for even happier days ahead and with it has emerged a new breed of tourpreneurs.
Sounds strange doesn’t it?
But nonetheless it is increasingly becoming a force to reckon with.
Those with a vision have realised that this is the way to go and as the country takes moves to correct the negative perception that has tainted the image of our beautiful country there is huge potential in this sector.
Talk about lodges, tour operators, eco-tourism and many other attractive ventures in tourism. While at it, can somebody please do something at our national airline, it’s crying out for innovative entrepreneurship.
Come on guys, let’s put our minds together, there is a huge opportunity beckoning here and once the skies are opened up, we will be flying all the way to the bank! We can do it, it’s possible.
Agricultural entrepreneurs
Our economy is agro-based and enter the agropreneur. There is a lot going on in this sector and opportunities abound to tap onto the abundant resources available in the agricultural value chain.
One only needs to spend some time outside the tobacco auction floors and observe how the growers are anxious to spend their pickings.
They are crying out for services, which they can enjoy in secure surroundings without any fear of being taken for a ride.
Agricultural inputs, chemicals, motor vehicles, electrical accessories, support services and even holidays can be sold to these cash-rich farmers.
They just want to deal with somebody they can trust and the opportunities are there for the picking.
Information entrepreneurs
This group could as well be classified as technopreneurs, but I sense some resistance that they want to be classified on their own as inforpreneurs.
They are largely domiciled in the ICT sector and their drive for innovation has seen them at times falling on the wrong side of the law by violating copyright laws.
They are well known for pirating software, music and have become a bane for some entrepreneurs, especially musicians who are constantly crying for their heads.
There are, however, some progressive inforpreneurs who have risen to the challenge and are earning an honest dollar by exploiting their potential. Peace guys, I’m not taking a dig at you, but merely stating the status quo.
Gospel entrepreneurs
This one appears to be controversial and I shall tread very carefully lest I touch off some live wires.
There is an increasing army of gospreneurs entering the scene and one cannot easily differentiate their offerings as each one tends to be unique in their own way.
It began with gospel musicians initially under the guise of praise and worship, which became commercialised along the way.
We cannot take it away from them; gospel music has its own niche market and some of the musicians have really done very well.
There has been concern, however, in some quarters that religion has now been taken to some level with the advent of some organisations that are now viewing it as a money spinning venture.
Talk of opportunities.
I rest my case, and as always; let’s make money.
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