My biggest fear in what i do in Africa

When someone is asked what is his biggest fear in his job, the most common answers are failure, not being recognized, not given enough opportunities, not being able to sell etc.

My biggest fear in my job is SAFETY. And not in the meaning of health & safety, but actual safety where you are not KILLED.

You guest it right! Especially the ones knowing me or following me in LinkedIn and know that a large part of my job is doing business development in Africa. Well, that involves safety issues, at least when you want to do it right, not hiding behind computers, phones, business delegations, armed guards and fancy hotels.

I operate in a very raw way, so wherever i am i usually go solo on a commando mode. I travel light, i don't carry expensive stuff, i don't wear fancy jewelry, i don't drive fancy cars and i mix with the crowd. At least as much this is possible being a white person that i am .

I had the fear of my safety being compromised many years ago when i started doing this job. I am self taught in this job more or less and i had so many things to loose leaving my comfort zone. But the passion of doing what i love in the continent that i love led me to find ways to do my job but stay safe. So, i started creating a routine before travelling somewhere. Very thorough research of the place, the people, the social-economic situation, habits, neighborhoods, tendencies, likes, looks, and so many others. So before going somewhere, i already felt that i had been there before. So when i was in a new place i was taking many safety measures but above all common sense. The key is to be proactive but not in fear, because that will lead you in poor performance.

BUT ALL THESE WERE NOT ENOUGH

There have been cases that i was seriously in danger!

That time that i was mugged. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. I once was in one of the safest capitals of Africa. Walking at night with a good friend of mine to go to a restaurant. A bunch of street kids, approached me fast acting like they wanted to sell me something and in only some seconds my wallet was gone from my pocket. Being experienced and ready, i instantly had to decide my strategy based on the situation. I was in a safe environment, and opted to try to get it back. In other places, i would just vanish and never look back. So after some real drama, i managed to retrieve my wallet with all my papers inside with only some dollars missing. I paid for dinner, as my friend helped me A LOT.

That time when i was almost shot. TRY THIS AT HOME. Well, i was unlucky enough to face something very similar to the picture above. Again, in a relatively safe country, late in the evening as i was returning from my office, i was approached by a gunman before getting in my car. He was drunk and cocked the AK-47 in front of me. He requested for my valuables, and immediately i realized the situation and told him he can take them. He left, with me realizing that my trip to Africa, and in life maybe, could just have ended there.

Africa might be the most beautiful place on earth, with the most business opportunities at the moment and the next 50-100 years, but it does not come easy. The key is to not be afraid to be there and operate. You need to take calculated risks, do your research and evaluate every situation that may arise.

Good luck with your journeys and i would be glad to hear your stories. See you out there.