By Dr. Wilfred Isak April
TODAY I would like to talk you through an issue, which I strongly feel hinders the entrepreneurial spirit of this country. I am definitely writing from the heart, as I have met so many unhappy and frustrated employers and employees in Namibia. Owning a business or even being put in charge of a simple project by your boss should give you a sense of inner satisfaction. Why would you do something, if you are not happy about it? Most readers will say ‘because I don’t have a choice’. Of course, we always have a choice. This brings us into today’s discussion – Namibians have developed a “strong sense of entitlement” – I call it ‘the world owes me’ attitude. People have developed this behaviour from secondary feeling and emotions of being betrayed – constant changes in the economic system and sometimes due to bitterness. However, people who are emotionally stable and focused have been taught at a very young age to work very hard for what they want, rather than assuming that someone owes them.
Think about the time you were a 7-year-old boy or a girl, we all have been disciplined not to stay away from school, to study very hard, find a good job and be the best human being you could possibly be for the development of the country. I cannot imagine a family member who could have possibly encouraged a child to become a street kid – but I am writing under correction, because you never know. One thing that I am very certain about is that hand outs are not part of the mind-set, be it from government, parents or employers.
Namibians’ sense of entitlement is only valid when it is applied to genuine rights, such as social security or compensation for work. In Namibia we see on a daily basis people think they are entitled to a particular job. At times we have the audacity to claim that the country owes us, forgetting our roles in the lives of the citizens. This is usually not received very well by those who worked very hard for their positions and got them through real experience, commitment and discipline. Where does this “Hey You Owe Me Now Syndrome,” come from? Namibians have developed a deeper inner belief that the government is not fair. These individuals feel that they deserve a better deal – because they feel they are superior and sometimes people feel they were previously disadvantaged. Let’s bring it a little bit closer to families. Parents believe that they have to give their children everything they demand, not realizing that they are doing a disservice to business and society. Readers, you have to believe me, this might sound like a joke but I had a student in one of my lectures, who told me that I don’t feel like writing notes today, because ‘my father died when I was five years old.’ Other prominent phrases are: ‘You failed me Sir!!’ or think about what people say in your community: ‘I am not going to vote in the upcoming elections’ Now, you might raise your eyebrows and think what is the big deal? Of course it is a big deal to me, since the institution, country and parents have entrusted me with the preparation of the future entrepreneurs, CEO’s and leaders of this country. Unfortunately, the blame mentality culture is very prominent in Namibia. As individuals we don’t want to raise the bar, because we are too scared to take full responsibility. Now, if you really think that the world owes you something, please take the following advice. With the current levels of unemployment in the country, the crime rate and drug and substance abuse, many people rely on the government for free hand outs. As a nation we have to ‘live to learn’ and realize that hard work is the link to success, achievement and self-confidence. Let’s teach one another to be self-sufficient, and see what the government offers us as a bonus. Start now, for example if you are employed in the retail industry and you think that you have the skills and knowledge share them with your colleagues, don’t sit on them. I learned that owners of businesses have to beg their employees for skills to be transferred to the next employee. If you are an owner and reading this column, it is high time that you roll up your sleeves and ‘live to learn’. There is no place for entitlement in the field of entrepreneurship/business. A self-sustainable Namibia requires independence, leadership and initiative. Stop behaving as if the world owes you, because you don’t know what the person you are complaining to has been through. Stop being a victim, and learn to take full responsibility for yourself!!! There is no elevator to the top, we all need to take the stairs.
Dr. Wilfred Isak April is a University of Namibia (Unam) graduate and holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship (New Zealand). He lectures in Leadership, Organizational Behaviour and Entrepreneurship at Unam.