#1. You create jobs, for your fellow citizens.
#2. When you are successful, you not only create jobs, but you provide services and products needed in your country.
#3. When you are successful, you create wealth for yourself and your country.
Let’s talk about number 3:
The other day, Apple Computers, became the most valuable company in history. Its value on the New York Stock Exchange reached a staggering $710bn. To put that in context; it is almost half the GDP of the entire African continent (estimated at $1.6 Tn)!
We all know what Apple sells: iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc., These are consumer products, manufactured by the company, mostly in China, and sold around the world. The founder of Apple computers, Steve Jobs, died in 2011. The company that he left behind, generates billions of dollars in tax revenues, for his home country, the United States. This is used to pay the salaries of civil servants, build roads and other infrastructure, build schools, hospitals,civil defense and a powerful army……This is wealth!
I could have said that about Coca Cola, Toyota, Barclays Bank, Alibaba, Dangote Cement.
Every great business, in the world, no matter how large it is today, was started by entrepreneurs.
….entrepreneurs, create wealth for themselves, and also for their countries…. Actually they do it for their fellow citizens.
Now let me, tell you another secret:
It is not just large companies like Apple, and Dangote Cement that create wealth. Even a street vendor, is creating wealth, when he is successful. Even the guy who sells a packet of sweets or airtime, is creating wealth. This is economics, 2.0, which many people do not appreciate.
As an entrepreneur it should be your dream, to create wealth not only for yourself, and your family, but also your country.
Now here is another point, which I want to close with:
As an entrepreneur its important for you to be successful and profitable, because that is how you create wealth for your country. However, if you want to consciously, BUILD your country, then you must make sure that you pay your taxes.
You will never be a nation builder, if you do not pay your taxes:
– when you import goods, pay the duties that are due, according to the law;
– when you sell goods, pay the value added taxes that are due;
– when you pay your employees collect the income tax, and give it to the government;
– when you make a profit, give the taxes due on profits, without waiting to be chased for it.
“Oh how I wish all God’s people were entrepreneurs”.
Source: Strive Masiyiwa