Perseverance is key

The workload might not get any easier but Andreas Haitota enjoys every moment of his job.
Evany van Wyk
Evany van Wyk

Deciding to become an entrepreneur is a huge step in anybody’s life. You take responsibility for your own future and that of others, not to mention the strain it may have on money matters, as well as your family. But, if it works out, being your own boss will definitely be worth it.

It’s true what they say, not everyone is made to follow, some have to lead, and Andreas Haitota is one of those people. At 29 he is a sole trader trying to build a better future for himself and his family. He was born in the North, but grew up in Soweto, Windhoek. Andreas’s business is called Tarzan Investments cc and it specialises in selling and delivering meat to Windhoek residents.

Tarzan Investments was started as a means of bringing in more income on the side, apart from the business he had started two years ago. Haitota does not have any formal business qualifications, but is looking at studying financial management.

“It is very important to know how to manage your finances as an entrepreneur,” says Haitota. He would like to learn more about investments and how to make his money work for him. Haitota says he puts in a full shift every day even if the workload is not that much, because it is always hectic starting a new business. ”It doesn't get any easier but I enjoy every moment of my job because I'm building something that will outlive me. Something for the generation after me.”

He wants to change the way black people look at entrepreneurship and make people realise that anyone with a dream can make it a reality.

“I have a PhD in Hunger and Drive,” Haitota says jokingly.

One superpower that he feels an entrepreneur needs is the desire and passion to be different and make a difference. As an entrepreneur, one has to be able to overcome challenges, including an initial lack of customers. One needs to know who one’s target market is and where to find them.

If you are planning to start your own business, weigh your pros and cons and be prepared to put in some hard work, because nobody ever said success was easy to achieve, Haitota says.