The other day, someone said to me:
“Jerry, I’m failing at my job because the economy is bad.”
I paused and replied,
“Wait… have you ever considered that maybe… just maybe… the only reason you even have that job is because the economy is bad?”
Sounds strange, right? But let’s unpack that.
1. Fuel Stations on Every Corner
In Zimbabwe, fuel stations are sprouting faster than maize after the first rains.
Every corner, every suburb, even next to boreholes there’s a fuel station being built.
In some cases, the stations outnumber the cars on the road! You drive into a neighborhood, and you’ll find three fuel stations across the road from each other all open, all selling, and all powered by the same “hope” of supply.
But go to Zambia it’s different. You can drive for kilometers without seeing a single new service station. There, fuel stations are strategically located, not emotionally built.
In Zimbabwe, the fragmented fuel system and inconsistent supply chains created a gap and private players jumped in. So yes, you got your fuel station job not because the economy is good but because it isn’t.
2. The Boutique Boom
Let’s talk fashion.
Our streets are now catwalks for hustlers. Thousands of boutiques, flea markets, and stalls line the roads — all selling clothes: thrifted, imported, and custom-branded.
But ask yourself: If we had a strong economy and formal retail was thriving if brands like Mr Price, Markham, PEP, Game, or Jet had outlets in every city would we have this many small clothing shops?
Unlikely.
The boutique boom is a reflection of a gap in the formal market. People found opportunity where big brands didn’t or couldn’t operate. Again, opportunity was born out of absence.
3. Even My Business Business Consulting
Let me bring it home.
Even my own company as a business consultant is a product of the current economy.
If Zimbabwe had a flood of global giants like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, EY, PwC, or Accenture with affordable, accessible offices in every city…
Would companies be calling Jerry from The Chartered Vendor to come help them with strategy, sales, HR, or systems?
Maybe not.
But because many of these multinationals aren’t operating at scale locally, entrepreneurs like me had to step in. We created alternatives that are affordable, relatable, and practical for African businesses. In short we made a way where there wasn’t one.
So yes, even my business exists because there was a gap in the market a problem looking for a local solution.
4. The Pharmacy Example (The Most Misunderstood One)
Now let me clear the air on this one.
When I mentioned pharmacies in one of my videos, some people thought I was attacking them. Let me be clear:
I have nothing but respect for the pharmacy sector. Many of these businesses are saving lives every day.
What I was saying is this:
If public hospitals had all the medication we needed, available and accessible, would we still have this huge growth of pharmacies on every street?
The answer is probably not as many.
This is not a criticism it’s a business reality. Where there’s a gap, entrepreneurs step in. And that’s how thousands of jobs have been created in the health sector not because the system is perfect, but because it is not.
So What’s the Point?
If you’re blaming the economy for your failure, pause and look again.
That same economy is the reason your hustle, your job, or your company even exists.
You’re not a victim you’re a product of pressure. You didn’t rise because conditions were smooth you rose because you refused to sink.
We’re not saying we want a bad econom far from it. We pray, we work, and we hope for a better Africa every single day.
But don’t sit around waiting for perfection.
**Sell umbrellas while it’s raining. ** **Start the business while the lights are off. ** Build while it’s still broken.
That’s what we do.
In Africa, your biggest opportunities won’t come dressed in a suit and tie. They often show up wearing overalls, carrying dust, chaos, and uncertainty.
Don’t run from them build something from them.
