Salary no guarantee for comfortable life

IN the old days, when one thought of writing a book, it was often a work of fiction.

However, inspirational and motivational writing seems to have taken the mantle.

The educational system that was created by colonialists conditioned learners to sell their labour, which suited imperialism’s political and economic needs.

This is beginning to change. Through the new curriculum, the knowledge learners now get is skills-based.

Even when one gets a job, the thinking is that they have mastered a particular skill that can take care of them postemployment.

Tawanda Collins Muzamwese’s book, “How to Grow A Side-hustle into a Viable Business: Overcome Salary Dependency”, assumes one has accepted that they cannot survive on a salary.

That way, one develops a side-hustle that will take care of their other needs.

The tone of the 153-page book is instructive.

It tells the reader that the side-hustle will eventually eradicate salary dependency, a tendency that leads to working people always looking forward to the next payday.

The author is in no way exhorting people to leave their jobs, but rather to consider taking up a side-hustle that can ensure their families are safe when they leave employment.

The currency of the book makes it a useful manual for those in employment, but sadly still pinned to desks, manufacturing plants and other jobbing places from 8am to 5pm. It talks about the Covid-19 pandemic and its ramifications.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that many people are vulnerable to job losses and lay-offs.

“Pensions are not enough to sustain retirees in many countries.” (p1)

The author emphasises the transformational thrust of the book.

“This book will transform your way of thinking from being a docile employee waiting for the next payday to an active entrepreneur who is raking in income through a side-hustle. With a side-hustle, you can make every day a payday.” (p1)

In other words, the writer advocates for action-oriented transformation.

He also takes a dig at those who bask in the glory of academic qualifications, arguing that these should never make one believe that a salary is the ultimate saviour.

“Degrees don’t pay bills! I challenge the perception that you always need a degree to start a business. Every person on mother earth can be successful if there is effort, passion and dedication to the business idea.” (p2)

The tragic predicament that Naison faces in Chapter 1 is universal.

“Naison took three steps forward and staggered as he received a wheelbarrow as a token of appreciation after serving a construction firm for over 35 years. The salaries he had received had since vanished into thin air. Later on, as he sipped coffee at the farewell dinner, he knew that his retirement was to be littered with financial difficulties.” (p4)

The wheelbarrow here is symbolic of toiling.

But then, tragically though, he has to continue toiling, and the employer — after squeezing him of all the juice — shunts him off into desperate retirement.

One lesson the invaluable manual — which is published by Toxiconsol Consulting Group — gives is: “Incomegenerating projects should be implemented by everyone, whether they are employed or not.

“Circumstances vary from retrenchment, resignation or even getting sacked. As long as you don’t own shares of a company and are a mere employee, the salary is a temporary ticket to financial success.” (p9)

Muzamwese is very bold and forthright, and shows that even if you rise to become a chief executive officer or managing director, as long as the company is not yours, you must have a backup plan in the event that you leave the job, something which is very certain.

Starting off at Chitakatira School in rural Mutare, Zimunya communal lands, Muzamwese proceeded to David Livingstone Junior School in Harare and spent six years at St Augustine’s Mission in Penhalonga for his high school.

This was before he proceeded to the University of Zimbabwe, where he obtained a BSc in Applied Environmental Science.

He then enrolled with the University of Twente in The Netherlands for a Master’s of Environment and Energy Management and is currently a PhD student with the same institution.

Currently, Muzamwese is an international consultant in sustainable business development, with massive experience in training, consulting and auditing.

He is the editor-in-chief of the Green Business Gazette Magazine.