WALK A LIFETIME IN MY SHOES 2.0

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW RIDICULOUS IT LOOKS

Just get it done. 

We often put ourselves down because we are too cautious of what people will think. We do this for various reasons and some hold merit but that should not stop us from pursuing what we long for. It could be because one has established a reputation and going after what they want will taint how their immediate community will perceive them. Another reason could be because they are just shy, afraid of how people will react to the ideas they have. Either way, no reason is reason enough to not go after your dreams and desires as long as they bother no one.

Let me take you eight to nine years back, I was fifteen years old or so by then and that is when I realised my passion for selling. I recall I had close to no capital and the idea just sprung on a close friend and I while walking to the taxi rank and we just went with it. We jokingly told the rest of our group what we wanted to venture in to and it was received rather negatively. "Gents, you really want to sell sweets?". We were excited so we payed no attention and went to get our stock. We combined the few cents we had and bought two packets of sweets (green smoothies) and went home with a packet each. 

The next day he showed up with an additional, already opened packet, from his grandmother. That was to be our safe plan so that we aren't tempted to taste our own supply. It was new grounds and the environment was intimidating to start such a hustle. We went to one of the most prominent schools in the country at the time and selling treats was not going to be well received by our target market, or so we thought. The first two packets went by so quickly that we even had to put our safe plan on the market and it too sold really quickly. Before the end of the school day we were out of stock but people wanted more. 

We had to meet the demand so the profits we made on our first day all went into expanding our business. We bought two packet each, differing in flavours and as soon as we got home we asked our peers to place orders. When we got to school we sat in the amphitheatre ready to meet the various orders we received the night before and boy we did not anticipate how much candy would sell. You would swear it was drugs or something. The risk we took paid off, having a variety of flavours was a win for us and our growing clientele. So on that day, the second day, we decided to expand a little more. This time we introduced another type of 'sweet', in came Halls and we were cruising. 

We were operational for three days and we were swimming in money (it was a lot considering we were fifteen). Business was so good we invested our time and energy into it, completely disregarding school which was supposed to be our primary objective. We stopped carrying our school bags, we would leave them in our lockers first thing in the morning just to carry pouches with our stock and we used our pencil cases as cashier tills. It was exciting, we expanded so quickly that within a week the business was self sufficient. We were enjoying the profits and it was paying for itself.

We went on for two weeks until we heard that someone might have snitched and we had to stop our illegal operation before the authorities could get to us. At first in seemed like a not so good idea, what helped was that we did not think too deeply about what people would say and it paid off. I was glad to see that it was not a fluke because in varsity I launched a food service. I was anxious because at the time there we enough people who were selling food but they didn't have what I have, kasi flavour. I based my business on providing exactly what my market wanted and more. 

I bought an electric grill and even loaned capital which I paid back in full within the first day of business. The aim was to give them an experience with food I was sure they did not know or were not accustomed to. The meal was basically a quarter leg, fries and salsa and I was not stingy with the meat. Often times slipping in an extra piece in the orders of my trusted customers. They would come to the kitchen, lured in by the popular genre that is amapiano and I would tell them stories of Lesotho and places were you could get grilled meat. Often times exaggerating a little but it hurt no one and it was good for business. It didn't last long but I had made twice my allowance in no time. 

The essence of this lengthy rant is simple, just go after what you want regardless of how stupid it may sound. In truth, what do you have to lose? It doesn't matter whether you do good or badly in life, people will always have something to say. Rather they speak behind your back when you have fulfilled your passion or you are in pursuit of it. Go after that girl you like, apply for that job you yearn for, be proactive because  chances of someone giving you on a silver platter are close to zero. Dala what you must, you won't die. What if it goes as planned?