Why this was my best year as an entrepreneur...
Strive Masiyiwa
Image credit: "You're not going to lose your job to AI; you will lose your job to someone who uses AI". Jensen Huang // Strive Masiyiwa Social Media (Facebook)
__And why you can't afford to stand still!
In the age of AI, the only jobs that are secure and guaranteed are for entrepreneurs. Let that soak in.
For me, this was my best year as an entrepreneur... and it was because of AI. For the first time in years, I went back to work with our teams as de facto “Chief AI Officer“ and not just “entrepreneur in residence” [as our group CEO likes to say].
I cut back meetings and speaking engagements and did what I like best, strategising on how to develop new AI businesses or how to “AI-it” in our business.
Setting up our first AI Factory in Cape Town, South Africa, and actually seeing the GPUs being installed by NVIDIA engineers, reminded me of the time Ericsson shipped my first mobile system in 1996; it was an exhilarating experience.
I travelled and met with some of the leading global players in AI including Sir Demis Hassabis, James Manyika, Josh Woodward, Thomas Kurian, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, Dario and Daniela Amodei, Larry Ellison, and so many others. I even met up with my hero, Fei-Fei Li.
It was just amazing! With a shared vision for the future at this exciting time, we have some great #Partners. Some of them include you!
The best part of my time was spent studying and reading, including some of your insightful comments here on the platform. I made sure that 90% of my daily reading was on AI. I spent more time on YouTube than at any time in my life. Because of AI, I listened to hours of podcasts. I soaked myself in it, just to build up #Actionable knowledge.
Systematically, I found myself able to drive change to engage AI within our businesses. I wanted what I call “AI infusion". This has begun and will accelerate dramatically. Then I wanted new AI-driven businesses, and that too has started.
The best compliment I received this year was from the great man himself, Jensen Huang: “Strive, you have made sure that Africa is at the table in this new technology; we are all at ground zero together".
I think the best part of what I have tried to do will come from the platform we are creating for African entrepreneurs. By creating GPU-as-a-Service, we have lowered the barrier of access to #Compute, which is what AI entrepreneurs in Africa need to develop their own AI-driven entrepreneurial ventures.
However, this is, of course, only possible if those entrepreneurs start by using at least part of my own playbook... starting with #SkillingUp!
These GPUs for the African continent will mean nothing if you have only casual knowledge of AI. You have to commit yourself to “sacrificial” learning.
By “sacrificial" I mean that it must #Cost you something. To start, it must cost you in #Time, starting NOW.
If you are not able to set aside three hours a day to go back to school or online, on a course you pay for... you are not really #Serious.
If you need to borrow money, then it must be to help you learn about AI. I am being very serious here.
It must cost you in money because your success depends on YOU. No one owes you a living, and no one is thinking about you [except your own family].
Don’t buy this myth that the government or donors will do something for you. Policies can help, yes, but even the best policy will not help you if you don’t #SkillUp to the needs of the day.
If need be, you can sell something valuable to you... a TV, a sofa, whatever!
As it is the season of #Giving though, in my next post I will give you a little "present" put together by my team, a list of some courses and #Knowledge they compiled that are mostly free that you can study as you #Prepare for the New Year ahead. The rest is up to you.
I want to inspire you “TO DO”... not to watch or even admire. Every time I post, I want you to drop what you are doing, take out a notebook, and list some #Actionable things you can DO!
And if this leads you to an AI-powered business idea, great! But shhh... Don't share it here.
Just DO!
3 Key Business Lessons
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, particularly with the rise of AI, entrepreneurs must embrace constant learning and adaptation. Dedicating time to enhance your knowledge and skills in emerging technologies is no longer optional; it's a necessity. Set aside significant hours each day for purposeful learning, whether through formal courses or self-study. The investment of time and resources in your own education will empower you to drive innovation within your business.
Creating a supportive ecosystem for fellow entrepreneurs is vital for community growth, especially in sectors like AI. By sharing resources, such as accessible GPU services, you can lower the barriers for new ventures. This collective effort not only fosters a culture of collaboration but also ensures that local entrepreneurs can leverage cutting-edge technologies to compete on a global stage, inviting the possibility of diverse and groundbreaking ideas.
Finally, dispel the myth that assistance will come from outside sources like government or financial institutions. True success lies in your hands, and accountability starts with you. If necessary, make sacrifices to invest in your education and skills. This could mean cutting back on non-essential expenses or selling personal possessions. The key is to prioritize your development and take actionable steps now, laying the groundwork for future success in an AI-driven economy.
Afterthoughts
"There has never been a moment in human history when the distance between having an idea and building it has been smaller". - Andrew Ng
I used to be a great golfer who practiced almost every day and every weekend.
Then I got married, and one day, when my wife was pregnant with our first child, something happened when I was away playing, and she was alone.
I put away those clubs and asked her what we could do together instead. Now I am not saying don’t play golf. “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, for which He was prepared to die”.
Until you are willing to make sacrifices in your own personal needs for your wife, as a man, then you are just that, a man, not a husband.
Merry Christmas.
“The man who puts on armor should not boast like the man who is taking off armor".
Never declare war against someone who is battle-hardened, lest you get mauled. King Ahab to King Ben-Hadad
One of the most remarkable things about AI is the fact that it is creating "AI workers" who are smarter in some tasks, and less costly than human workers. Think about it.
A year ago, I attended a meeting in which the presenters showed that within 10 years, most factory work will be done by robots and AI.
Now this is either going to strike fear in you, or it is going to spur you to action, remembering that you can’t stop it from happening!
As I was being taken to a meeting in San Francisco in a Waymo [self-driving car], it suddenly struck me that if I owned such a car personally, I would not need a driver or anyone to do my errands. I could even send it to pick up children from school or collect shopping.
I mentioned it to a friend, and he laughed: “We already do that! My wife and I send a Waymo to pick up our kids from school and take them to football practice!”
“What does that even mean?“ I asked.
“Well, for my wife and me, that means more time to do other things. And besides, Waymo is safer than a human driver; that is just fact”.
In the end, we all adjust and move on!
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