Starting a business in Lesotho

I did it. 

I started a business in Lesotho. Let me explain a bit. 

I live in neighbouring South Africa, a beautiful part of the world. Life here is adventurous. Life here is not for sissies - as we call them. 
Africa is to live, to love, to fight... We stay here because we love it. We love it because it is AFRICA!

There are a few websites where you will find all the practical ways of registering a business in Lesotho. It's not a very complicated process - or so it seems. 

I tried the process alone and got nowhere in 3 months. So I hired an accountant in Maseru - Lesotho's capital. Which is by the way one of the smallest capitals in the world. #UselessFact
You will have to trust another human being to work on your behalf, but it will make your life a lot easier. And it will most likely be the only way to keep you sanity! 

Hiring people in a foreign country might not be good for your heart. But I am taking the gamble and I am 'trusting' other people in my business. 

So - all my paperwork is in place. The business is rearing to go!
I might write some more and keep people in the loop in the journey of starting and running a business in Lesotho.

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How to stop antidepressants?

I was there.

That uncomfortable moment when someone for the good of an 'antidepressant'-user asks me to share my story about quitting my anti's and when eternal happiness was found.

I was a non believer when it came to anti's.

I thought they were for attention seeking needy self centred people who were weak. (maybe they are, but I now proudly add myself to this group)

After finding myself longing more for death than for life I started anti's. They took the edge of my deep 'sadness' - read depression.

I used for 6 months. Anti's stopped me feeling more or less anything. Anti's saved my life.

Since I learned that modern medicine was for real and I am pretty sure prolonged my life by some time I consulted a doctor and slowly weaned myself of the good stuff.

It worked for me. I have been off anti's for more than a year and I am alright.

My fear with sharing my recovery story is that people make it into dogma. Not into my way, but into THE way.

I come from a back ground were testimony - life changing stories - are adored. Telling them became a subtle art of the right pauses and exclamation marks. Real - or near real - drama. Lived but polished. Real but storyfied maybe gloryfied.

Don't let other peoples stories determine your story. My story is  plain and boring. It works for now.

Yours is yours to live and try.

Your time, your rhythm, your story 

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My little racist brother

I am driving in my car past a location - township.

I see 10 little black children sitting next to the road huddled around a box.

My immediate thoughts are: will they kill the puppies in the box after severely abusing them or will they use the kittens they caught to knit a life blanket after which they will slowly club them to death like innocent baby seals.

I drive on and hate my thoughts. Why do I think this?

But it probably true - again - Why do I think this?

I pull over and turn around.

I will go back and say hello while having a look in the box.

20 Rand - 1 euro - will set these puppies free.

Imagine my instagram post: A selfie with a box full of puppies

with the caption: 

These guys saved by the bell #IamABell #Lucky #PuppiesOfInstagram #IamAHero #AllBecauseOfMyRacistThinking

My last # wouldn't make the cut. 

If I saw a group of white children play with a box in a middle class area my thought would have been: great to see a group of young future engineers and doctors experiment with this box. #kidsAreCute #DamnThisPartOfTownIsGorgeous

I went back.

I had a chat with these kids. They were playing with an empty box. #losersOfInstagram #Me

I don't like my little racist brother living inside my head. I will try to stop feeding him. If in doubt I shall chose to engage with people.  

#NoPostOnInstagram

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Culture shock

I am a passport holding European. I live in Africa. I love Africa.

I see myself as a pale African. I belong here. In a continent of conflict - in a continent of love - in a continent of life

But once in a while I go back to my 'mother'land. I visit the poor bastards who believe vitamin D starvation is natural, who believe that three days sun in a row is a great summer, who believe white people can dance...

I have never been so angry. I fumed for days. I needed to be calmed down. I wanted to punch some lovely people in the head. - I didn't

I met European entitlement.

Entitlement is a word I have always associated with Africa. Mainly in a context of middle class people telling me how unreasonable the poor are for wanting running water, housing, free schooling, education, hospitals...

I often choose to agree. I have become more capitalist than socialist by living in Africa. It keeps me sane. It justifies my life in a context of massive poverty. - I worked for it, so should they.

In Europe, I met unemployed people who have yearly holiday from looking for work.

You hear this right. People who are doing nothing take holiday from doing nothing to do ---- NOTHING!!!

And this is ok - I guess

But the people in the system expect this.

The expectations are sky high. And with this people can only be disappointed.

In Africa we celebrate the small 'normalities'. In Europe we lament the small 'defects'.

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Cannabis Honey

When I was a youth worker, I was often confronted by older people with complaints about my young people.

I always disagreed. Young people are awesome. They have dreams. They believe they can change the world. They often do.

Older people however, have always freaked me out. They seem too smooth. Smooth is never good. Unless you are a life insurance salesman... which is also not good. So never!

I finally have proof of my ever present suspicion towards the elderly.

I was invited to do a talk at a local walking club about Beekeeping in South Africa. They were a lovely bunch of people. The average age was rather high.  Here I can add that my grey hair blended in nicely.

After I finished my presentation, people showed their real colours. 10% of the 'congregation' asked me about CANNABIS HONEY. (10% was 4 people)

Can it be made? Yes - excited smile

Does it have 'Healing' powers? Not sure - a look of disgust with my no knowledge

Do I have it? No - disappointing eyes

Where can I get it? ... - a look of craving and desperation

One older gent asked me if I would put beehives in a cannabis field to pollinate the flowers and produce cannabis honey?

He assured me it wasn't for himself but a friend of his.

When I told him I can put my hives anywhere he asked for my phone number.

Old people are the new problem. The youth is fine. Leave them alone.

Rather worry about those smooth elderly...

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The curse of private education and medical health

I have private medical aid. My children go to a government school which is not free.

I live a good life. I live a comfortable life.

I am mid 30ies so my life resolves around planning my future, starting new projects, sustaining old ones, raising the two most wonderful kids... I live a busy life.

The busyness of life makes me disconnect with the struggles of the people around me. As a white middle class pale African, I realize that my life is very good compared to the world average. My life is also great compared to the South African average.

Our government is pretty useless. Our president is corrupt and seems to only care about enriching himself and those who help him in this endeavour. He has embezzled money and has no regard for the constitution of our country. Many of our basic government institutions are failing.

I have noticed that I don't really engage in the fight for better governing as I have found ways to make my life comfortable by just throwing a few extra Bucks (read - Many Rands) on the table. I can live the life of a king in a country of poor.

I think this is the curse of being middle class. We have power to change our country. Politicians are more likely to listen to a group of business men and woman than to another riot in the locations. My compromise in paying extra for services I already pay for in rates and taxes gives our politicians another chance to get away with ignoring the problems we have.

We should not have to pay for medical aid, education, private security... If the government did their job all should be serviced with the taxes and rates we pay.

Zuma, it's time to go!

I will not stand by and see you run this country straight into hell.

But before I engage, let me first jump in my comfy car to take my overly cared miniature schnauzer for a walk on a beautiful beach to forget all the crap around me...

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Cancer

I am slightly 'beneuk' - read overly scared - of getting cancer.

When I found out that I had three new brown spots on my back I got seriously worried. I tried to make light of it, but my mind kept thinking the worst.

My mind is my most powerful muscle. Unfortunately it's not been trained very well.

I started thinking about a world without me. I started planning my estate. My mind started projecting all my unfulfilled dreams on the sky canvas around me. All this for three 5mm spots on my back.

My mom is a doctor so I got her to have a look at my back over skype. Note to self: Computer camera's are not the most accurate broadcasters of details.

She concluded that her conclusion was inconclusive.

She told me I should go and find a second opinion and that - by the way - many skin cancers are not easily treatable. Why did she have to add that last bit.

All this happened on a public holiday so the doctors locally are closed. I nearly went to emergency. Imagine this: people with shot wounds, car accidents, kidney failures and me with my three brown spots.

However in my mind this was quickly becoming an emergency.

The following day I got up and made an appointment with the doctor. The doctor was conclusive in telling me that the spots are signs of getting older. Like I need spots to tell me that. He convinced me that seeing a doctor was the right thing.

But he would that's how he gets paid.

So I'll live to fight another day.

Oh and the three spots got burned off. Serves them just right little scary bastards.

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Your naughty child

It happens to some of us. We will deny it in public, but we know deep down that it's true.

You have the naughtiest child in the class. You made it. You put it in the class. And now you have to carry the consequences of those foolish acts.

You'd expect people to understand your hardship. You want people to show you some mercy. They surely know it's not your fault. You are wrong. People like to judge. They will not let you off the hook lightly. Their accusing glances will haunt you wherever your paths cross.

Here is a guide for parents who unlike me have the naughtiest child of the class.

Firstly, brand your school run car in your oppositions brand. People will start hating the opposition. Suddenly your child might turn in a money spinner. And we all know that money makes us happy!

Secondly, whenever the school organises an event, send 'new' people to the happenings. Granddad to the school sleepover, mom to the parent evening, granny to the musical, dad to the sports day and aunty to the yearly tidily winks circus. You will keep people guessing who 'that' child belongs to.

Thirdly, delete yourself off the nowadays compulsive class whatsapp group. Class whatsapp groups are the gangrene of our society. For all the practical sharing there are ten dismissive and divisive comments.

To make this invaluable post even more invaluable: delete yourself of most maybe all whatsapp groups. Whatsapp groups are evil, useless and complete time wasters.

If you feel these three golden tips do not change your naughty child problem enough. You can put it up for adoption. There are many desperate couples out there who can easily be tricked in having your kid. Desperate people don't see the truth, they live in denial.

There you go. Another problem solved in your life.

No need to thank me.

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A story of two Countries

I am busy exploring a new business venture.

The basic idea is to ship raw materials from Europe to Africa for processing. There after, for the processed product to be exported again. It should be a simple process or so I thought this would be.

As the raw product is agricultural, I have to deal with the Department of Agriculture.

I wanted to do this project in South Africa. This is home. This has however shown to be very challenging.

I have made numerous calls to different people who have all proven to be extremely unhelpful.

The answers I got have ranged from:  "Eish, I don't know" to "I truly could not care about what you do". The indifference to a potentially good job creating project has stunned me.

But then why would well paid officials care about creating jobs and opportunities?

So I gave up on South Africa and decided to try our neighbouring Namibia. I made one phone call which got me the number of the Government Department Director.

He was in a meeting with a minister so I was asked to send an email. I feared another African reply (read No reply) but to my surprise he replied within 1 hour of receiving my mail. I was shocked - I am still in shock.

So I shall keep exploring opportunities on the continent I fell in love with, but I will no longer be restrained by a slow and frustrating bureaucratic system.

Goodbye South Africa - Hello Africa

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Soul Travelling

Darkness surrounds - it captures

Hope feels years away

The lesson not to give up has to be relearned

Every day Every moment

Pain is the only constant

Yet the soul keeps travelling on a road knowing that one ray of change will light it all

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 3

Year One Evaluation:

Currently, the plants are 18 months old. This is a short evaluation on their growth. I removed all their fruit.

Sharpblue: Healthy growth, developed a nice spread of branches.

Dixi: The majority of the plants died, there is hardly any growth with the surviving plants, the worst performer by far. I have very little hope that they will come right.

Powder Blue: I thought Powder Blue and Misty would be great varieties, but they have not performed well. There has been very little growth and both have lost a few plants. These two are my biggest disappointments.

Misty: See Powder blue

Centurion: Has performed better than expected. I wasn't sure about getting Centurion full stop, but they are my third best performer. Their growth has been slow but steady. They are delicate beautiful little plants with olive shaped light green leaves.

Brightwell: Just beating Sharpblue for the price of variety of the year. They have grown well and are healthy. The tallest one grew from 10cm to exactly 60cm tall. there has been very little spreading of the branches. Tall and straight has been their motto.

Chandler: I rescued my chandlers from an abusive home. They have struggled to get going. The majority died. I don't see them being great performers in the future, but time will tell. My remaining chandlers are also looking sick.

Without taking the fruit into consideration, I would bet on a Sharpblue, Brightwell and Centurion orchard, but the real test will be next spring to see what the fruiting per variety will look like.

  

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Letting go

I let my first member of staff go.

I fired him.

It feels terrible. It feels really wrong.

This is not why one pours his or her life in a startup. I want to create job. I want to see people thrive and reach their potential.

But with G this didn't work out.

I hired G in December. His family back ground is complicated. His dad was murdered. His family are very poor. Life is hard.

Since he started working he has missed work on so many occasions I had to do something as it was affecting the morale of my staff.

I think he has a drugs or/and alcohol problem. I organised a place in rehab for him. The councillors of the rehab told me that I cannot change him. He needs to make the first step by acknowledging his addiction.

Against my labours consultants advice I asked G if he had an addiction. I asked if I could help.

He turned me down. He turned help down, an opportunity to start again.

I wonder where he will end up. He is a good man. As struggling man, but aren't we all struggling in some way.

Be blessed G. Travel the journey of life well. May you find freedom. 

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 2

10 months have past, since I planted my blueberries from the nursery in 20 liter black bags.

I planted 5 plants of each variety in:

50% Compost

20% Perlite

20% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

I planted 4 plants of each variety in:

30% Compost

30% Perlite

30% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

Finally, I added one teaspoon of Aluminium Sulphate to keep the soil Ph between 4.5 and 5.5.

It is too early to draw any conclusions on the viability of a blueberry project in the Port Elizabeth region. It is impossible to see which varieties will do better in our climate, as none of the plants are bearing fruit.

So far, I have come across a concern. Blueberries are very thirty. 

I have to water my plants every second day or they show leaf loss.

This makes me wonder if a water needy project like this will ever be a good idea for a water scarce country.

Dixi seems to be most affected by the drought, with Misty being a close runner up. The other varieties are all very similar in water neediness.  

Happy New Year to all blueberry enthusiasts. May 2016 bring lots of growth and many berries. 

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 1

I love walking through orchards. They are beautiful. An orchard seems to be a place where a heart finds rest. I know very few people who don't love the beautiful rolling hills with vineyards, or the pleasing sweet smell of an orange orchard in full bloom.

From a business point of view, orchading poses exciting opportunities. The economics of most orchards are really good. The farmers I have met all admit that returns on orchading in South Africa have been incredible in the past couple of years.

My personal involvement in the orchard industry, focuses mainly on the pollination of several crops. I run a highly specialized bee pollination business. www.urbanbeekeeper.co.za

 

I long to be more involved in orchading, but it is nearly impossible due to the high costs of purchasing an orchard. A second option, is to plant a new orchard, knowing a return will take years. On citrus, nothing under 3 years, but on macadamia nuts it might take up to 7 years to break even. Plus, setting up an orchard from scratch is still pricey.

I also understand that farming is not a hobby, but a highly challenging skilled job. Training and experience are vital.

After looking at many different options, I decided to run a trial blueberry 'orchard'. I got my hands on 7 different varieties of blueberries.

1. Sharpblue

2. Dixi

3. Powderblue

4. Misty

5. Centurion

6. Brightwell

7. Chandler

In my next Blueberry blog I will look at some of the challenges and opportunities I see for blueberries in South Africa.

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The story of our heart

We study degrees. Get engaged. Get married. Go to school. Find a religion. Have children. Buy a car. Open bank accounts. Invest money. Buy houses. Get jobs. Change jobs.

I have done many things in my life. Not good nor bad. Not right nor wrong. I just did them. Lately I wonder out loud why I do what I do.

I have done a lot because it was the cultural, had religious approval or met my family's expectations. I supposedly 'pleased' them (them we refer to when we are not too sure who). The truth however is that none of those 'them's' are pleased. They are all on their own life journey.

I realize that finding freedom has to start with finding the 'I' within me. Who am I? What do I want in life? What do I want from life?

This might all sound very selfish. It might be selfish, but life is too short to only go through the motions without stopping from time to time to questions the why's and what's in life.

The fear of change and the comfort of what I have hold me back.

I am trying to slow down to hear the story that is unfolding in my heart. What is the unfolding story in your heart?

Our hearts are not evil of deceitful. Our hearts are the place where we connect more and deeper with the meaning of life - YWH.

Our stories should not be about meeting other people's expectations, but they need to be about us being us. It needs to be about playing - (we should play more) - fulfilling our part in the bigger story of the universe. It doesn't have to be grande for the world, but it needs to be deep and real for our hearts. It needs to unlock passions and bring life.

My story in search of freedom is only just starting.

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Where do you start fundraising?

Finding investors for you next world changing idea is not easy. Yes we have all heard the story of the guy doing a fundraising round in Silicon Valley and getting 50 Million dollars in 1 session That story leaves out the hard work that was put in the fundraising project in the years beforehand.

We never hear the stories of the businesses which failed to raise any money - because you guessed it right: They failed. Nobody likes a failing story.

So where do you start?

Firstly: Put your own neck on the line. Don't expect other people to invest in your business if you are not willing to put everything in it.

I don't like this. I like having a safety net. But the truth is that if you are not willing to put everything in you clearly aren't too sure this is going to work.

Secondly: 3 F's - Family, friends and fools

You should go and ask your family and friends for money. Most of your friends and family will love your startup idea. Until you ask them for money. You will clearly see if they still think it's such a great idea.

Beware however with loaning money from friends and family. Make sure if your business fails you find a way to pay the money back. There is nothing worse than going to the next Christmas meal and feel nothing but dislike.

These investments will probably be smallish, but they hopefully get you going.

Thirdly: Angels

Angels are people who have extra cash and are looking to invest in businesses. Angels are investing their own money so they can be very hands on. Often angels bring more than just money to the table - contact, experience... Before you go and approach a angel group know what they are about. Don't go with a oil drilling project to an angel group which specialize in green energy investments. You will look like a fool.

Angels might invest substantial amount. Anything from 250000$ to 1.5mil. $.

Fourthly: Venture capital

These guys will probably only come in at a later stage and come in with large amounts of money. They use other people's money.

Funding can be anything from 1mil $ to 10's of Millions.

My one word of advice: Remember to be wise in bringing other people's money on board. Most people want something back. Make sure you get a good deal and you give your investors a good deal.

Also follow you gut.

Good luck in growing your baby.

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What is a fair salary?

I started two businesses in the past seven months. I employ seven people. These people depend on my businesses to feed their families. In African terms this means that 70 people depend approximately on my businesses. A big responsibility.

Deciding on a salary has been a real challenge. My social side wants to pay as much as possible, but my entrepreneurial side wants to pay as lot less to keep costs down.

Is paying the minimum wage enough? Legally it is, but is paying the minimum wage right?

I pay my staff R200 per day which is about 60% over the minimum wage. I want to pay them more, but the cash flow of the business doesn't allow this atm (or maybe these are just excuses?!?!). I make sure my staff can do one day a week overtime so they can bring their total earnings to just over R5000 a month.

A good friend of mine posted a link to http://living-wage.co.za/ - twitter: @code4sa

These guys build a basic calculator to work out how much we should pay our domestic workers in South Africa.

I followed their guideline by giving my staff R5000 per month in possible earnings. I don't know if this enough.

I find this an interesting topic and something to think about for everyone who employs somebody. I don't have the answers just more questions.

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Square One

July first is less than a week away. Halfway 2015

Hard to believe.

My main New Year's resolution was to look better after myself. It hasn't really worked out the way I intended it to go.

I started anti-depressants just before the turn of the New Year. I needed to take the edge a bit of my border case living. I needed to find some peace and space in my head. I wanted to create a place where I could start dealing with some of the challenges in my life rather than fight the symptoms. 

It worked for a couple of months. Afterwards, my weeks seemed to become very monotonous. I don't function in the grey. I need colour.

I need passion in my life.

In April I slowly weaned myself off the antidepressants. One quarter a week.

It worked. I coped well for a couple of weeks. 

I thought. 

Often the people around us see our depression quicker than we do. While I was on Meds I didn't want to make the changes I need to make to find peace between my emotions, thinking and living. I thought people would not believe me. The problem with not making the necessary changes is that I ended up living with all the same ingredients still in my bowl of life.

The result: I turned in another depressive cupcake.

I haven't been kind to myself. I still believe I need to fight my own fights all the time. I still see antidepressants as something for the weak and needy. I feel ashamed that I am starting meds again.

I am running two startups in a notoriously difficult country to get anything done. I live in the midst of rocky and shaky relationships. I live in a country which isn't home. I have no family near...

I need to give myself a break. Do you need to give yourself a break?

Half way in the year I am back at square one. Back in a place I don't want to be.

Try to enjoy the journey and worry less about the outcome.

What's next? Changes - slowly and non impulsive.

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'Failing'

Last week I wrote a blog about trying to live for a month on the South African minimum wage.

I failed. I lasted for about 24 hours.

I thought this would not be too hard.

I have completed some challenges:

I did abstain from chocolate for a whole year during 2014.

I finished my degree correspondence.

I lost 30kg's in 6 months.

I spend nights sleeping on the streets with the homeless.

Polony...

I did not realize how hard it would be to cut all pleasure out of eating. With living on the minimum wage there is very little space for the little extra's - in food and in life.

Living on the minimum wage is hard. Cheap food sucks. I started my budget living with a typical workers meal: White bread and polony. I nearly vomited. I would rather eat care tyres than ever have to eat cheap polony again. It was horrible!!!

I might have another attempt at this challenge, but I will need to change my living circumstances.

Two lessons for me - maybe for you: 
1. It's okay to fail.

2. Do not eat polony!!! Ever!!!

No risks, no rewards. 

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