It’s not only TV viewers who are being inspired by the exciting new Zantchito Entrepreneurship Voices (ZEV) drama series ‘Titha Kuchita’ that’s currently airing on national TV … even the actors have been infected by the entrepreneurship “bug”! Today one of the actors shares his experience and what they have learnt while “on set” and in front of the cameras.
Titha Kuchita (also titled “The Hustle Diaries”), follows the journey of Lindani, a young woman who decides to start her own business – despite anxiety and lack of experience. She is encouraged along the way by her mother, Chandiwira, and her knowledgeable friend Stanly.
25 year-old Clever Soko plays the role of Stanley, Lindani’s friend: he is a combination of trusted confidante, business mentor and marketing strategist … always ready with sensible advice, creative marketing ideas, and different ways of looking at a problem so it can be solved.
Soko says the opportunity to work with a talented cast and crew while exploring the essence of entrepreneurship was a “game-changer” for him. “I learnt so much from the focus on entrepreneurship and the real-life issues involved in getting a business off the ground, as an artist and an entrepreneur at the same time … while contributing to a meaningful EU-funded project.” he explains.
Soko says that acting in the drama series was a turning point in his professional journey, calling it “an eye-opener for me as an aspiring entrepreneur and creator”.
Before taking on his role in the series, his business – graphic design and video production – was not formally registered. He was operating informally, just handling projects as they came, with no structure or systems in place. During the filming, he saw Lindani’s fictional business being set up in a more systematic way.
“The biggest lesson I took from taking part in the drama series was the importance of having a defined business structure and image. Before, I was operating just as myself, doing projects casually as they came, with no organised processes,” Soko explains.
While acting the part of Stanley, he saw the importance of having a business plan, and systems for quoting, invoicing and time management. So, following the completion of filming, Soko officially registered his company, SS Connect, marking his transition from an informal creative to a business owner who then began to implement a marketing plan and take the first steps to set up systems.
Soko believes this will give him more credibility, and allow him to monitor his income and expenses more closely. “I feel I am a now running a proper business, managing my finances and paying taxes. Managing things more responsibly will, I am sure, also increase trust with clients because they will see me as more reliable and professional,” he says.
He says he also realised, while acting out his role as an adviser to Lindani, that he didn’t really have a business – he was just an individual with various talents taking on jobs here and there. Now he has positioned his business as a “one-stop shop” for a range of creative services – and by outsourcing work to sub-contractors, he can focus on marketing and new business development.
Running your own business in Malawi — even if it is just you — is something to be proud of. But if your business is not formally registered, you may be missing out. Formalising your business means you can have a business bank account, which means you can separate your personal and business money, build a financial track record, and start accessing credit facilities that require a registered business. It is never too late to start building your financial history, so that in future you are more likely to meet the requirements for a loan.
Being a registered business also changes how customers see you. When you have a registered name, a tax-payer identification number, and you issue proper receipts and invoices, you immediately appear more credible and professional — especially to larger clients. Many promising small business owners lose contracts not because their product or service is not good enough, but simply because they cannot work the way bigger buyers require. Registration is one of the cheapest and most effective marketing investments you can make.
