Vusi Thembekwayo

Beyond the rant: here are the facts.

A video of my rant has gone viral. Over the past 4days I have receive over 3,000 inboxes across all my social media platforms with countless texts, WhatsApps & Telegrams of strangers that completely share my views.

I stand behind the word in that video. I am a lucid & considered thinker. I am well aware of the tone & language in the video - and think that the moment demands it.

I am angry. But frankly, we should ALL be outraged.

If you’re not angry, then you’re not paying attention.

This afternoon the legendary Jeremy Maggs interviewed me over the video. Here is the full interview.

Don’t ask me to run for President, please.
There are people far more capable than I.

Vusi Thembekwayo
- just a guy.

#vusithembekwayo

Fact: there is nothing you are going to say to somebody who is committed to hating you that will change their mind.

You need to grow beyond your need to be liked.

VT

I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) from IBM!

The lie is that winners don’t quit.

Let me confess it here. Winners quit. I have quit.
Often.

Frankly I quit everyday. I give up everyday. I question the path I have taken, the decisions made & the mistakes along the way everyday.

Everyday.

I quit. Shut my laptop. Turn off the phone. Cancel my remaining meetings & literally quit.

Then ... I get some sleep. Wake up early in the morning for a 5am appointment to pump iron.

And think to myself “let me do it again. Let me give it each one more day. Let me send one more email. Let me schedule one more meeting”.

Just one more!

That’s the distance between the life you have and the life you want.
One more: email, cold call, interview, appointment. Just one more.

So, if you’re tired. I say quit.

And then wake up tomorrow and give it ONE MORE shot.

VT

#mentalhealth #leadership #success #sleep

Confirmation:

We have just added São Paulo, Texas & Georgia to my schedule.

Details soon.

Never forget, God is good.

VT

China's rise to become a modern economy is no secret - they have done it by backing their own founders, buying Chinese goods, and building Chinese industries. But what can Africa learn from China's success story?

With over 1 billion people and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African governments now have a unique opportunity to support their own and build a thriving economy. By promoting local entrepreneurs and businesses, we can create jobs, drive innovation, and reduce our reliance on imported goods.

Here are some steps that we can take to support our own and build a prosperous Africa:

1️⃣ Buy African: Support local businesses and entrepreneurs by buying African-made products and services whenever possible. By doing so, we can help create jobs and build our local economy.

2️⃣ Invest in African founders: Back African entrepreneurs and startups by investing in their ideas and innovations. This not only helps to create successful businesses but also helps to build a culture of entrepreneurship across the continent.

3️⃣ Build African industries: Support the development of key industries in Africa such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. By building local industries, we can reduce our reliance on imported goods and create opportunities for local businesses to thrive.

At VT Club100, we believe that by empowering African entrepreneurs and supporting local businesses, we can build a brighter future for our continent. Join our community of like-minded individuals and receive mentorship from experienced leaders who can help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and business development.

Let's work together to build a prosperous Africa that can compete on a global scale. Join us today and take the first step towards success!

#BuyAfrican #InvestInAfricanFounders #BuildAfricanIndustries #JoinVTClub100 #AfricanEntrepreneurship #AfricanEconomy #AfCFTA #ProsperousAfrica #EmpoweringEntrepreneurs #BusinessDevelopment #technology #startups #innovation #work #opportunity #success #entrepreneurship #manufacturing #culture

VT

I am looking forward to speaking at one of the largest LP conferences in the USA alongside my brother Bridger Pennington

Connect with Bridger and his team to get your ticket.

See you soon.

VT

#venturecapital #limitedpartners #hedgefundmanagers

Self-sabotage is amongst the least understood responses to trauma.

Talented people find themselves underperforming against their own capabilities without due cause or justification.

And the cause, often but not always, is trauma-induced self-sabotage.

You have to remind yourself:

You are capable.
You are strong.
You deserve happiness.

VT

Things for which there is no substitute:

1. Paying attention to detail.

2. Work. There is no way around this. Just get the work done.

3. Take yourself seriously. If you take yourself seriously, society will get the memo.

4. Be impeccable with your word. If you don't mean it or can't do it, don't say it.

5. Be kind as a default. But if somebody abuses your kindness, don't be shy to be an a**hole.
Balance.

VT

The collective success of a community is the sole responsibility of that community & that community only.

Now, others may elect to help that community. They may be legislated into the helping that community. But don’t be confused. The ultimate responsibility is that community’s alone.

This is what I believe.

Stop destroying your community.
Stop destroying the builders in your community.
Stop attacking those in your community that dared to take risks.

Curious: how a members of a community want to destroy the builders of that community & then wonder why nobody from that community is building anything they readily identify.

Change your mind.
Liberate your future generations.

VT

#vusithembekwayo #vusithembekwayo #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #startup #smallbusiness #fail #bank #bankruptcy #criticism #haters #blacklove #crabs #crabsinabucket #community #future #success #change #building

If you want to step up in your corporate career, consider volunteering your time for tasks that align with the business mission, even if they don't directly impact your KPIs.

By staying late to assist the IT team with projects or contributing to initiatives outside your immediate responsibilities, you demonstrate your dedication and versatility. This voluntary effort not only broadens your skill set but also fosters strong relationships across departments.

When critical moments arise, having colleagues from other teams vouch for your character and work ethic in the presence of important decision-makers can significantly enhance your reputation.

Communication is the most valuable gift in the world. A leader's greatest influencer is communication. If you don't communicate, you can't influence - it's impossible.

Learn to communicate effectively, and you will be able to influence others.

Full video link below 👇🏻
https://lnkd.in/eAX6EWSn

#vusithembekwayo
#venturecapital
#professionalspeaker
#motivationalspeaker

Criticism is a natural part of growth, but it often stings the most when it comes from someone who appears to be doing better than us. This second critic isn’t the loud, obvious naysayer; they’re often someone whose success we admire. But why would someone more successful take the time to criticize us.

Not everyone who’s ahead of you wants to see you succeed. Sometimes, people feel threatened by your potential, even if they’re currently more accomplished. They may criticize to remind you of the gap between you and them, keeping you in “your place“ while protecting their own position.

The closer you get to someone’s level of success, the more they view you as competition. Their criticism may be a subtle tactic to slow you down or plant doubt in your mind. It’s not constructive—it’s strategic.

Criticism from someone ahead of you might feel personal, but it’s often a sign that you’re on the right path. When you start to climb, you’ll always attract attention from above. Stay focused, stay resilient, and remember—your rise doesn’t depend on their opinion, but on your actions.

Leaders don’t choose moments.

Moments choose leaders.

How we choose to respond to those moments determines the curvature of the pen that will tell the history of this moment.

This is our moment.
This is our season.
Lead.

VT ❤️

#leadership #inspiration

My Net Worth (According to Google)

…. But I receive it, in Jesus name!

Amen.

VT

Life is a easy or as hard as we make it.

If you take the hard options, life is easy.
If you take the easy options, life is hard.

It’s not black & white. But the balance of probalities bails this out.

VT

Successful entrepreneurs know the value of speed—making moves, seizing opportunities, and staying ahead by pushing forward quickly on almost everything. It’s about optimizing every second and keeping momentum high, knowing that in business, time is often as valuable as money. But when it comes to truly crucial decisions—the ones that can reshape the future of a company or impact long-term strategy—sometimes a little slowdown is wise. Taking time to analyze, weigh options, and consider the bigger picture can prevent missteps and set a stronger foundation.

So, are you the entrepreneur who believes in fast-paced action for everything? Or do you also hit pause when it counts? Let me know which type of entrepreneur you are!

I just published “African women want Opportunities, not pity!

One of the most revealing lessons l’ve learned doing business across the continent is simply this:

Don’t compare “perceived wealth” of citizens living in cash economies with those in economies with deep (or even decent) credit consumption.

Lifestyle, consumption patterns & disposable income are not wealth.

Back to your regular scheduled program.

VT

I'm back home, delivered a keynote this afternoon at #FinanceIndaba18. Signed books afterwards... again your support friends is out of this world!