Preface: Alex soared to success, with a business built around solving iPhone problems quickly. His business promises and guarantees to fix customer iPhones in one hour. Just like “Big Brother”, his customers need their phones working too, and they’re willing to pay.
The “Michael Process” – A Case Study (Segment V)
Credit: Donald J. Sauder, CPA, CVA
Let’s consider for a moment the “Michael Process” on the last frontier of business in the world – Africa. Entrepreneurial endeavors and opportunity abound in Africa. Looking beyond the market shops and newsboys, the Africa of 2018 needs every industry as it develops, e.g. food, technology, apparel, etc.
The next generation of business leaders on the continent will also adhere to the “Michael Process” just like their older siblings, and will have the opportunity to support a deeper purpose, as they continue to learn from them how to create vibrant entrepreneurial ventures. As the continent emerges from a “wild west” marketplace, it will present huge business opportunities for those entrepreneurs who have both the patience and perseverance. Here’s two African entrepreneurs who are following the “Michael Process” today, towards respectable and fantastic business success.
“Working long hours from his dorm room, he has built his business into a chain of eight stores in South Africa, employing 85 people.”
Alex Fourie is driven and ambitious. Having endeavored sincerely on several business ventures that never reached the runway as a college student, he is soaring with iFix. When he was told his trusty iPhone could not be repaired, his creative mind lead him to browse onto uTube to discover a solution. After watching some helpful videos, followed up with his successful repair of his iPhone snafu, he quickly advertised his expertise in the local newspaper.
“This level of problem solving and entrepreneurial ambition lead Alex to be featured in Forbes Magazine in 2014 as “one of the 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa.”
Working long hours from his dorm room, he has built his business into a chain of eight stores in South Africa, employing 85 people. His entrepreneurial success is built around solving iPhone problems quickly. His business promises and guarantees eash customers iPhones fixed in one hour. His customers need their phones working, just like everyone else, and they’re willing to pay. This level of problem solving and entrepreneurial ambition lead Alex to be featured in Forbes Magazine in 2014 as “one of the 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa.”
Since that time Alex has launched RiCharge, a packaged mobile phone accessories and charging devices manufacturer, selling products in 12 countries. His next plan is develop a solar powered charger for the mobile phone industry.
Alex, a passionate entrepreneur, followed his on path, lifted with a successful definition of a problem, i.e. keeping his customer connected to the works with their iPhones, and the effective solution, i.e. one-hour iPhone repairs.
“All within six years, Anna had a fortuitous opportunity with her successful venture – a business contract for 100 pigs per week. When she endorsed that deal, is was worth north of $2.5m US dollars.”
Starting in 2004, Anna Phosa invested $100 in her business, an agricultural pig farm venture in Soweto, South Africa. Her business started adhering to the “Michael Process” with purchases of four pigs, after a close friend guided her decision towards pig farming. [The UN Food and Agricultural Organization estimates the annual growth rate of meat consumption on the continent to surpass every other region of the globe. It is estimated to increase 145% in the next decades.]
Within a few years, Pick ‘n Pay, a South African supermarket, say similar to US based Food Lion, contacted her to supply 10 pigs per week for their local store. Then, with successful supply chain service, that contract soon increased to 20 pigs per week. All within six years, Anna had a fortuitous opportunity with her successful venture – a business contract for 100 pigs per week. When she endorsed the 100 deal, is was worth north of $2.5m US dollars.
Although Anna didn’t have the land for the 100 pigs per week contract, as an experienced entrepreneur she obtained a loan from ABSA Bank and USAID, to acquire 350 hectares with 4,000 pigs. With 20 employees to manage today, Anna is certainly flourishing, supplying the developing continent with the proteins of bacon and pork chops.
As Africa’s fast rising middle-class adopts a Western works eating habit, Anna happily and effectively applies the “Michel Process” supplying food for the developing continents menu.