I come from a country where unemployment is at an all time high. Approximately three in ten people have jobs, and among those three, only one has a well paying position.

As a result, many young people go through the school system with very little hope of making it in life. School is just something they do because it’s a legal requirement, a basic human right so to speak. They are demotivated, mentally exhausted and lack passion and drive.

I recall asking a young group what their dreams were several years ago. To my dismay, the majority struggled to think of an answer. And their explanation was “What’s the point of having a dream if it’s never gonna come true? Just look around at the country we live in!”

That was a huge wake up call for me, and honestly speaking, the reason for me deciding to start a Career Coaching agency for young people.

But unemployment hasn’t just affected my home country, Zimbabwe. It’s a global crisis. The Covid pandemic in 2020 led to thousands of companies around the world letting go of millions of workers.

Instead of losing hope and giving up on life because of the heart-breaking unemployment situation, may I suggest entrepreneurship as an answer. A few years ago I would have called you “crazy” if you had told me I would be advocating for entrepreneurship in the future.

You see, I grew up in a family where going to school, getting good grades, landing a job and living happily ever after was the norm. We were never exposed to entrepreneurship. In fact, entrepreneurship was never an option.

My experiences over the past few years have however showed me that getting a job in a company can’t be the only choice young people have. We need to be skilled in the art of starting and running businesses that make money.

That said, here are a few things you need to know before you start a business:

1. Choose a business you have the skills to run

Skills in this case refer to having practical knowledge of a particular field, and not just “head knowledge.” If you’re going to start a biscuit making business, you need to have the skills to make the biscuits yourself.

Why? When you’re starting out, you might not have the money to hire people to make biscuits for you. Even if you do, you need to know exactly how biscuits are made and what a perfect biscuit looks like, so that you can supervise and train others successfully. If not, you will become a victim in your own business.

In a nutshell, start a business you can do well consistently, not just one you think will bring in the most money.

2. Be realistic about how much time you have available for your business

Will you be able to effectively run your business and deliver to clients once a week, on weekends and holidays, or everyday? If you’re only available in the mornings, factor this into your business. Don’t over promise of you can’t deliver.

This was a big lesson for me as a mom to a toddler who spent all his time at home – realising I had to build my business around being able to look after my son and come up with realistic targets.

After trying to compete with and perform at the same pace as young business women who didn’t have small children, had their kids in school or enjoyed the convenience of having a nanny, I decided to change my business model.

My solution: I moved most of my career and business coaching services online, with in-person workshops and appointments held occasionally.

3. Start small

It’s tempting to want to start with a huge “BANG” ,but before you do, consider the resources you actually have – not what you hope to make in a few weeks or months.

There’s really no point in starting a business with all the bells and whistles when you can barely afford your day to day expenses. If you do, the only “BANG” you will make is the sound of your business crashing to the ground.

4. Consider your limitations

When starting a business, we always want to focus on the amazing possibilities ahead. But it’s essential to think about your limitations too – what are the things that could get in the way of you delivering a world class product or service? What are your weaknesses?

Is it a lack of transport? Are you a full time student? Or perhaps a stay at home mom who spends your days chasing your kids around the house and doing chores? Do you forget things and lose track of customers ‘orders?

Find solutions to these things before launching your business. If possible, build your business AROUND them and get well organised. Develop systems to ensure you meet every target and deliver every order.

Finally, when you see certain businesses hosting glamorous events, complete with red carpets and champagne, remember that it might have taken them years to reach that level of success. Don’t feel pressured to perform at the same pace when you’re just starting out.

Here’s to success in 2023 and beyond!

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