By Jerry More Nyazungu
A Zimbabwean company once gave three employees each a car.
“Use it for sales. Use it for office errands. Take it home if you want just do your job.”
Simple instruction, right?
But let’s talk about the three different responses.
1. Mr. Rural Background
He’d grown up where donkey carts were the Uber. It was his first time owning well, sort of a car. He loved that car. He washed it every weekend. Bought tyre polish with his own money. He dodged potholes like he was protecting a pregnant wife. He drove it with pride. With purpose. To him, it wasn’t just company property. It was a blessing.
2. The Two “Sophisticated” Bros
Came from more stable backgrounds. Treated the car like it was a toy. “Ahh, it’s not mine. Just a company car.” Burnouts. Rough driving. No servicing. One even hit a goat and kept going. “These things aren’t ours,” they’d say while speeding through CBD traffic like Vin Diesel.
Fast Forward 3 Years…
The employer called a meeting.
“I’m shutting down operations. Things have changed. The cars? They’re now yours. Part of your exit package.”
Silence. Followed by regret.
Two were now sitting on wrecks. One had a clean, roadworthy car that still smelled like dashboard spray.
Treat company property like your future depends on it because it just might.
Whether it’s:
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The laptop they give you,
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The sales territory they assign,
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Or the brand you represent…
How you handle what isn’t yours determines what you’ll one day own.
In Africa, we often say “Hazvisi zvangu” (It’s not mine) when using other people’s things.
But what if your attitude towards what isn’t yours… is the test before you receive your own?
Takeaway:
Don’t wait for ownership to start acting like an owner. Because sometimes, the company car becomes your car.
Ask Mr. Tyre Polish. He’s now the only one with Uber side-hustles on the side.
Have you ever seen someone mistreat company property only to regret it later? Tag them… joking. Or are we?
#AfricanWorkEthic #CareerGrowth #TreatItLikeYours #BusinessLessons #WorkplaceWisdom #EmployeeMindset #LeadershipInAfrica #CharteredVendorTales #EntrepreneurshipMindset #CompanyCarChronicles
