Author: ZaibaaHoosen

When I was in my final year of university, I decided to start applying for jobs in the software development space. I prepared my CV and began sending it out to companies. In those days, there was no such thing as LinkedIn, so all you had was your CV. Unfortunately, the answer that I got back from all the companies I had applied to, was almost the same: “Unfortunately, you do not have enough experience for this position.” Most wanted two years’ experience, minimum. One day, in frustration, I asked one of the recruiters, “Where do you expect me to get experience from, if I don’t have a job?” I explained to him that I was still in university, and could not get any experience without a job. Because that’s the place where you get experience, right? The guy just shrugged his shoulders. It was pointless. I hated this vicious cycle that I was caught up in – what I call the “vicious unemployment cycle”. I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have experience, and I couldn’t get experience because I didn’t have a job. As much as I hated it, there was no way I would let that stop me, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I began reaching out to computer programmers for advice, and finally got in touch with a guy who I had known from my school days, who became a top-notch computer programmer. He was happy to help. I took his advice on the matter, and he gave me some valuable guidelines as to what should be my course of action, and what skills I should learn, in order to get a job in the software development space. He strongly suggested that I learn those skills, and to demonstrate them by building actual software projects of my own. Dummy projects. I jumped to it without haste. I bought tons of books and started to teach myself those skills. In the meantime, I had to keep my family going. I was married with three kids time, and I had to keep the wheels turning. So, I took up teaching part-time. In my spare time I applied myself diligently to learning the required software development skills. It was tough, but I kept my motivation up by looking at software development job postings, and paying particular attention to the salaries they offered. Don’t get me wrong – I wasn’t doing this just for the money. I was truly passionate about computer programming – I’d been doing it since 10 years old – and I would have done it for free if I didn’t have to work for a living. When I had built up some skills, I offered my services pro bono to a non-profit organization. I offered to build and maintain a website for them, to which they gladly agreed. I got to it with all the passion I had. It was a very important project for me, because in building that website, it gave me a real-world pet project to work on – a place where I could apply the skills that I was learning from the books. That was so much better than a dummy project. But more importantly, there were two other benefits: one, the website would become my portfolio piece, which I would reference on CV; and secondly, I would be able to get a recommendation from the non-profit. The website turned out beautifully, and exceeded my expectations. To show their appreciation for my work, the non-profit began to pay me a monthly stipend for my work, which was an unexpected blessing – things were tight. Better still, that website is what finally landed me my first interview. That was all it took. I aced the interview, and got my dream job in the software development space, and my life was never the same since then. By my unpleasant experience with the “vicious unemployment cycle” left me very, very bitter. I could not stop thinking about the millions of people out there who experience the same unpleasant thing. I knew there was a solution. I couldn’t stop thinking about it – how can I help people to break that vicious cycle by giving them the experience without a job? How can I transfer my skills to others? I decided to open up a little school in my backyard, where I would teach people the skills that they would need to get into jobs – a finishing school of sorts. I would take people with degrees in computer science, and then I would teach them practical skills to secure a job. I worked for a few weeks researching and putting together a curriculum. I borrowed R25k from my dad, and fitted out our granny flat with computers and desks. Finally, I put out an advert in the local papers. I was quite sure no one would come. But people came. Dozens of people came. I was busy every evening, and on Saturday mornings too. My little business took off almost overnight! Eventually, I was making more money in my backyard coding school than I was at work. Added to that, I found the pressure of working full time and running the school was a bit too much, and it was becoming difficult to juggle the two. I had to make an important decision. Decision I made was the right one: I left my full-time job to focus full time on my business. My little business was on its way. With more time on my hands, I was able to offer more classes, attract more clients, and to basically grow my business. Eventually, I started to get more and more people who were school leavers, people who didn’t have degrees, requesting that I teach them because my fame and popularity started to grow. While that was great, it posed a new challenge, because to accommodate school leavers, my school needed to accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority as an institute. As long as I had people with qualifications, I didn’t have to worry about accreditation because they already had the piece of paper. But this new market wanted that piece of paper, in addition to the skills and the job readiness. And so, I got my business accredited, and I named it IT varsity. With a lower case “v”. IT varsity grew and grew and grew, and it became a success. And today, when I look back at all the decisions that I made, all the right moves that I made to get to this point where I am, I feel very grateful. I feel grateful because I am doing what I love to do. I look forward to coming to work every day. I look forward to working with the people in my team. And most importantly, I sense a deep feeling of gratification when I see my  students graduating and going out and getting jobs or starting businesses. And so, when you analyse my business in the light of the 6 Power Skills – and I’m going to leave this for you to do – you can see that in the story that I told you, that there were not one but at least three cycles of going through the six skills. Remember, the 6 skills is cyclic. It is not one and done. It is not something you do once and all the problems are solved. It’s something that you go through around and around with each iteration of the problem, with each new problem that emerges, and you solve those problems. I went through that cycle many times, for example, when I was trying to get my first job; then, when I tried to solve the problem of this vicious unemployment cycle; then when I was setting up my business; and then, when my business started to grow and we started to attract school leavers. So that, my friends, is my story, and how I used the 6 Power Skills to make a success of my business. I wish I had this book back then. Previous Chapter | Table of Contents

Did you know that Airbnb almost failed as a company? Yes, at one point, they were making just $200 a week – just about enough to cover a week’s expenses. They had a great idea, but it seemed like no one was noticing, and very few were actually booking the properties listed on their website. Consequently, their revenue remained stagnant, showing no signs of growth. In a last-ditch effort to save their business, the founders decided to come together and analyze what was going wrong and how they could fix it. They embarked on a comprehensive examination of every aspect of their operation. What they discovered was quite surprising. After speaking to people and conducting surveys, they realized that one of the major problems was the poor quality of the pictures on their website. The images failed to inspire confidence in the properties, even if the properties themselves were excellent. Some showed cluttered rooms with unnecessary items scattered around, creating a negative impression. It’s a bit like those food outlets where you see a mouthwatering picture of a perfectly crafted burger versus one with a sad, flattened burger in a dull, yellowed image. Even if you were hungry, the latter wouldn’t tempt you. So, Airbnb’s main issue was identified: bad pictures. To address this, the founders took a bold step. They bought a digital camera and personally visited each property listed on their site. Since they were only operating in the New York region at the time, this was feasible. But they didn’t just take photos; they cleaned and spruced up the rooms, rearranging furniture as needed. Then, they captured high-quality pictures and replaced the old ones. Almost miraculously, people began booking Airbnb properties almost overnight, and the business started to turn around and grow. By 2022 the company was generating $8 billion dollars in annual revenue. That’s quite a remarkable transformation, from barely scraping by to reaching such substantial revenue figures. It is remarkable how simple their solution was. So simple, that it might have seemed unlikely to make any difference. But any entrepreneur knows never to underestimate even the smallest aspects of the business. Now, let’s examine how Airbnb’s journey aligns with the six skills outlined in my book. Certainly, let’s expand on the analysis of the Airbnb story in the context of the six skills outlined in your book: Step 1 – Critical Thinking: Airbnb’s founders exhibited critical thinking by recognizing that their business was on the brink of failure when they were making only enough to cover a week’s expenses. They accurately assessed the precarious situation they were in, and understood that change was necessary. **2. Change Mindset:** Instead of giving in to despair and the “paralysis of fear”, Airbnb’s founders embraced a change mindset. They exhibited immense courage to confront the crisis head-on. They refused to accept defeat and committed themselves to finding a solution, thereby demonstrating the resilience needed to pivot in times of adversity. As an entrepreneur I know this is never easy. Step 3 – Complex Problem Solving: The founders embarked on a complex problem-solving journey. They meticulously analyzed every facet of their business, from the ground up. This involved breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts, such as examining their marketing, user experience, and customer feedback. Step 4 – Creativity: This particular problem needed creativity on multiple levels to solve. Firstly, they needed to be creative to find a solution, and then they needed to be creative to implement it. They basically had to become interior decorators and photographers to produce the kind of photos that would be appealing to their market. This would have definitely entailed some sort of learning. Step 5 – Collaboration: Collaboration within the founding team played a significant role. They worked together to brainstorm ideas, analyze data, and formulate a strategy. This internal collaboration brought the team together towards a common goal which likely gave the team the encouragement it needed, but was also ultimately the key to finding a solution. Beyond their team, they collaborated with property owners to improve the quality of listings. This external collaboration strengthened the company’s relationships with the hosts and likely went a long way towards enhancing the overall customer experience. Step 6 – Communication: Your company’s website is a communication tool, designed to present your products and services in a way that will be appealing to your target audience. Many organisations tend to forget this, either neglecting their websites or choosing form over function and missing the point. Ultimately, Airbnb’s website was discovered to be the root cause of their problems, and had to undergo a major transformation as a communicator. It went from displaying unattractive, uninviting property photos to showcasing high-quality, appealing images. This seemingly small visual change made a huge difference: it effectively communicated to the potential customers that the properties listed were worth renting, and built up their trust and confidence encouraging them to make bookings. It is mind-boggling how such a small change can make such a huge difference! The Airbnb story is perfect example of how the application of the 6 power skills can lead to the successful revival of a struggling business. There is a lot that entrepreneurs and business leaders can learn from this case study, but to me the most important lesson that stands out, is that there is no detail too small! Can you replicate this level of success? Absolutely! But it calls for courage, unwavering determination, and the application of the 6 power skills. Previous Chapter | Table of Contents

Let’s revisit the story of Kaby Lame, mentioned earlier in this book, but this time analyzing his success through the lens of the 6 Power Skills. Starting on TikTok, as in any content creation platform, is a multifaceted endeavor. It involves a blend of creativity, research, adaptability, and problem solving skills to navigate the complexities of the platform successfully. Kaby Lame’s ability to tackle these challenges contributed significantly to his rise as a top TikTok influencer. Step 1 – Critical Thinking: Kaby Lame likely took stock of his situation, analysing his situation, his limited prospects, his education and his abilities. He would have done a market analysis, identified all the opportunities available to him, and recognized the opportunity presented by TikTok as a platform for content creation. He critically assessed the platform’s potential reach and impact. Step 2 – Change Mindset: Facing unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaby adopted a change mindset by adapting to his circumstances. Instead of dwelling on his job loss, and his plight, he embraced the idea of exploring a new path through content creation. Step 3 – Complex Problem Solving: Take it from me: starting a successful TikTok presence is more than just posting random videos. It involves intricate problem-solving due to the multifaceted nature of content creation: You have to consider so many things before you start, like determining your niche, understanding you target audience, how you will script your content, and how you will record your videos. Additionally, you have to consider the business aspect of your content, such as how you will monetise. Creating engaging and humorous content on TikTok is a complex problem. Kaby had to come up with unique ideas, scripts, and execution strategies to make his videos stand out and resonate with viewers. Step 4 – Creativity: Creativity is key to anyone’s social media success, and Kaby was no different. He likely continuously brainstormed innovative video concepts, humorously addressing relatable topics that appealed to a broad audience. Step 5 – Collaboration: Social media experts continuously emphasise the importance of collaboration on a number of different levels: with other creators in building an audience, with your audience to get their feedback, and with the business community to monetise, among others. It is inconceivable that Kaby achieved his success without these types of collab. Step 6 – Communication: Social media is about communication, and nothing else; and Kaby found success because he could effectively communicate with his audience. Instinctively he used some of the key elements of effective communication in his videos, such as humor, relatability, and authenticity, to connect with viewers emotionally, building a loyal fan base. In other words, effective communication was central to Kaby’s success. Effective communication is a skill that can be learned and improved over time. By paying attention to these key elements, you too can enhance your ability to convey messages clearly, build positive relationships, and achieve your goals. Starting on TikTok, as in any content creation platform, is a challenging task and a multifaceted endeavor. There are so many angles to consider. It involves a blend of creativity, research, adaptability, and problem-solving skills to really come to grips with all these aspects, and to succeed. . Kaby Lame’s ability to tackle these challenges contributed significantly to his rise as a top TikTok influencer. Previous Chapter | Table of Contents

Once upon a time, there was a bird that needed to fly south for the winter, but it procrastinated until it was very late into the cold season. Eventually it decided to start its migration, and after some time flying, the weather got so cold that the bird’s wings froze and it couldn’t fly any longer. It dropped from the sky like a stone, and it lay there on the floor, slowly freezing to death. The bird would have almost certainly frozen to death, but its life was saved by a most unlikely hero: a passing cow who accidentally dropped a pile of dung directly on top of it. The cowpat was steaming hot, and naturally started to warm up the bird’s body until it began to feel comfortable and happy again. The bird began to sing. Sadly, the bird’s happiness was short lived. A little while later, a cat came sniffing by, found the bird, killed it and ate it. The bird in this story is the perfect analogy for people who find themselves in a comfort zone, people who find themselves in a crappy situation, a crappy job or a crappy life, but choose to remain there because it makes them feel safe. But their sense of safety is delusional. Because soon enough, something will undoubtedly come along which will force them out of their comfort zones, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Why am I telling you this story here? This story is relevant here because as I go into the chapter of people who enjoyed success by implementing the 6 power skills, I need you to understand well that you will not be able to join their ranks if you stubbornly cling to your comfort zone. You will not be able to practice on the 6 skills, you will not take the next steps, and you will find yourself stuck in misery. Get out of your comfort zone. The one thing that is common between all of these people you will be introduced to in this section, is that they stepped out of their comfort zones and took brave steps into the great unknown. They went beyond complaining about where their lives were, and they decided to adopt that change mindset and do something about it. Down with the comfort zone! Long live the Revolution! Previous Chapter | Table of Contents

At this point, you’re probably saying to yourself, “I wish I had more information on each of these six skills. I wish that the author would have gone into more details about them.” If you are, then I think we both deserve congratulations: me, for piquing your interest and igniting a desire in you to learn more; and you, being interested in learning more, and taking your first steps towards a new future. But the idea of this book is not to go and describe each of these skills in detail. Doing that would entail writing an entire encyclopedia! Instead, tidea is to tell you what these skills are, how they fit together, and how you can leverage them for your future success. Detailed studies have been done in these 6 skills, and entire books have been written on each of them. You can also register for courses where they teach you these skills. But the problem I found, was that nobody showed you how put them all together into a structured framework. Nobody told you that here are the 6 skills, and here is how they work together as a framework for future success. They left it for you to firstly discover what skills you will need, and then to learn each one separately, and then somehow figure out how to apply them. It’s a lot of work. What I’ve done here, is to show you what these skills are, why they are important, how to apply them, and how they all fit together into a success framework. I’ve drawn a detailed map for you. X marks the spot. Now go find it. I leave it to you to go and delve into each one of them further. Do whatever it takes to get there. Now let’s look at a few more interesting and inspirational case studies. Previous Chapter | Table of Contents