7 business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa

7 business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa

Strive Masiyiwa, has over the years, gained massive recognition from his business empire, which he has built since he was young.  

Strive Masiyiwa is also famous for his humanitarian works, most especially in Africa, where he came from. 

Let’s take a quick view of his background and how he strived over obstacles before going into the business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa, which is our main focus in this post.

So, Strive Masiyiwa was born in Zimbabwe on January 29, 1961, presently 59 years old. At age seven, his family had to abscond the country when Ian Smith’s government declared independence from Britain.

After earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from the university of wales, Strive worked in England before deciding to return to Zimbabwe to help in the resuscitation of his country after its deadly battles of independence in 1980.

Even in all these events, he was still determined to be a successful businessman and help his country.

Strive Masiyiwa, over the years, has received a lot of recognition and accolades for being one of the most successful businessmen from Zimbabwe.

Strive has also been featured in Forbes Magazine as one of 10 Most Powerful Men in Africa for 2015.

In all his years of struggling, striving, and winning, there certainly must be lessons you and I must be able to learn from. And that is what we want to look at below, the 7 business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa.

7 business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa

Let start with the first lesson, which says

1. Persistency Is Key To Success

Immediately returning from England after his degree, Strive Masiyiwa decided to work in the electrical industry but eventually quit and created his own company. 

In no time, he became successful and wanted to diversify but was battling the Zimbabwe Government led by Robert Mugabe. The latter refused to give him a license to commence his business called Econet Wireless.

Strive Masiyiwa was on the brink of bankruptcy after a five-year intense legal battle with the Zimbabwe government, but eventually won and started operations in the country.

From this overview, one of the 7 business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa is that persistence is key to success in our business life and in every aspect of our lives. 

Strive Masiyiwa remained persistent in pursuing what he thought was suitable for himself and his country despite numerous challenges and obstacles.

2. Happiness Comes From Giving

Strive Masiyiwa, over the years, is well known for his philanthropist act. He awarded a scholarship to over 200,000 African students, assist 40,000 orphans with their education. 

Through the years, he has spent his time mentoring young entrepreneurs through various platforms. They do not also forget that he has financially supported initiatives in public health and agriculture in many countries of Africa.

And a lot of other goods deeds he has done, really commendable!

This teaches every young entrepreneur that life isn’t all about getting; it is also about giving. Strive Masiyiwa has given a lot to humanity, given his wealth to the poor, given to help recover his country, mentorship to the young entrepreneurs, and many more.

3.Aim For The Top 

Masiyiwa has always aimed for the top in his business life. His records speak for him.

He subsequently had appointed and board membership in top companies in Europe, such as being a board member for Unilever, a commissioner for UN Commission on Adaptation, and the co-found of Generation Africa. 

The list is indeed endless. This is one great business lesson to learn from Strive Masiyiwa. The top is where the decisions are being made, where you get to meet world leaders and men of influence. 

As a young entrepreneur, you should be aiming for the top and nothing less; you need to plan a strategy to get to the top and how you can go through every obstacle just like Strive Masiyiwa did in his business career, not letting these obstacles hinder him from reaching his potential in life.

4. Leadership Skills Are Needed To Go Higher In Life

One business lesson to learn from Strive Masiyiwa is that you need to have great leadership skills. Over the years in his career, he has acknowledged top individuals, businesses, and institutions as great leaders. 

Masiyiwa was mentioned as one of the “10 most outstanding young leaders of the world” by the world’s junior chamber of commerce. 

This and many more accolades have been awarded to Strive for his commendable leadership skills.

As a young entrepreneur, having leadership skills helps you to be able to organize and lead your workers into achieving goals that you need to get to the next level.

5. Follow Your Passion 

This might seem like a cliché! But the truth is, Strive Masiyiwa followed his passion, and he became successful. 

After returning home, Masiyiwa spent his early years working as a telecoms engineer for his state-owned telephone company, but eventually quit the job and built his own company. 

He left a good job for his passion, this might not seem new, but indeed it is one business lesson to learn from Strive Masiyiwa. When you do what you love, you might not immediately succeed, as you will face obstacles, but surely, with your passion, in no time, success is guaranteed.

6. Great Things Start Small

You must agree that these business lessons from Strive Masiyiwa are pretty straightforward and things we hear every day in the life. 

But practicing them is what makes the difference, and that was what he did. Strive Masiyiwa started his own company with only US$75, relatively small. Yea! he started small and built up. After five solid years of building, Strive Masiyiwa emerged as one of his country’s most prominent industrialists, having built one of the largest electrical engineering companies. 

7.Your Legacy Matters

This lesson is one that people often do not give much attention to. In our business life, time should be dedicated to evaluating what our business or life stands for. 

We need to ask ourselves what legacy we will be leaving when we leave this earth. Over the years, Strive Masiyiwa has contributed positively to the world and created a legacy that people will never forget him for. 

Having helped his country recover from its battles after independence, to fight for the rights of the people against the government, to provide a scholarship to 200 000+ African students, to his foundation that caters to orphans. What more can be said about this great businessman? 

Conclusion

These business lessons to learn from Strive Masiyiwa might seem so straightforward, perhaps it things we hear every day, things people say every day, but in this post, we use the business life of Strive Masiyiwa as a case study. These are things every good business owner should learn. 

These lessons are not just to be heard or read; we have to practice every one of them. To be a successful businessman, you need to take action today.

I, therefore, would advise you to go through the lessons over again from the first to the last and begin taking steps to be the successful entrepreneur you are supposed to be.