Sharing knowledge must become our culture!
__”We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”
When I was a young entrepreneur just beginning to enjoy success, I began to give interviews in the local media about business, giving tips and sharing knowledge — just like I do now. Then one day an uncle of mine came to see me with some advice…
“I’m very proud of your success, as are many other elders from the family,” he said, “but we are concerned that you are sharing the secrets of your gift to everyone. That is not how it is done in Africa; you will provoke people to jealousy, and you can even get killed. Please don’t do it.”
Without disrespecting him, I told him that hiding knowledge does not help the country, adding it will never take anything away from me. We argued and ultimately he left, frustrated. I continued, even as I do to this very day!
Freely, I was given this knowledge and I, too, must freely share it!
#Sharing Knowledge is critical to the development of an entrepreneur and the success of your own business. This is why we join associations where we meet other business people.
If you think you have developed a unique product, you can register a local patent and through it, eventually share the knowledge of how it works. As an #entrepreneur, most of you know by now that it is your responsibility to take the legal steps required to protect your “Intellectual Property” (IP). The #Process can be time-consuming but take note!! It’s important.
I have talked to you here before about copyrights, trademarks, patents; these are all forms of legal protections for innovative/inventive/original knowledge. Whether you are a scientist, inventor or songwriter, any kind of original creator, if in doubt, get legal advice!
Now as I’ve said before, I just love it when people go on the Internet and upload “How To” videos about things they themselves have mastered. I have no time for people who want to be secretive and mysterious about how they became successful as entrepreneurs. The more knowledge we share, the more knowledgeable we ourselves become [unless it’s a lie]. It is just a law of life.
You here all know that 60% of Africa’s population today is age 25 or under, and the numbers are set to grow exponentially. That’s both a challenge for the continent and an opportunity for you as #Entrepreneurs!
__Take a look at the kids in this photo for instance. What do YOU see? I see potential visionaries, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future. To build up their skills and knowledge for that future though, we must EACH do our own part, whatever our own situation may be [even more important since the pandemic disrupted schooling]. I know many of you are working to do this, and I salute you.
Recalling the words of my friend Kofi Annan some years ago: “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress in every society, in every family”.
#Share Some Knowledge Today, Everyday: You know something about something, that only YOU know. All you need is confidence. You can do it!
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