A Recipe for Rapid Job Creation that is Proven and Affordable

According to a world bank blog post, it costs around $30,000 to create one job in sectors like trade, wood, or construction. In my opinion, this is not affordable for Africa or any other third world economy. 

Also, most job/business creation programs take between 6 to 12 months, too long if you are hungry now.

At The Human Entrepreneur, we aimed to reduce job creation cost down to less than $3,000 per job and in a matter of weeks.

The Rapid Job Creation Program achieved this for the first time in November 2020. It is a brilliant program to rapidly and cost-effectively recover the jobs lost due to the pandemic.  

We took 50 people from previously disadvantaged communities and created 30 jobs in 21 days at the cost of 10 - 20% of a 12-month program.

The Rapid Job Creation Program:

1. De-Risks longer term, 6 to 12-month Incubator, other job creation programs
2. Fosters Resilience and Adaptability in Candidates
3. Rapid, Focused, Economic Stimulus Tool For Small to Medium-Sized Communities

Below I discuss the process, results and how this program is a game-changer.

“Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” - Nelson Mandela

The challenge of rising unemployment

As a result of the worldwide 2020 pandemic, the world is facing unprecedented levels of unemployment. 

We must find a way to replace these lost jobs quickly and affordably. The Rapid Job Creation Program might just be the most cost-effective and quickest way to achieve this.

The program works in two parts. The first part of the program, The Entrepreneurial Awakening Course, helps candidates make an informed choice between following a career or becoming an entrepreneur. The course gives those who choose a career to better plan and prepare while instilling entrepreneurial thinking also giving the entrepreneurs enough knowledge to start. 

The second part, the Business Creator Pre-Incubator, helps people create businesses in weeks, making a profit to support the founder and create a job.

“Progress is a choice. Job creation is a choice. Whether we give our children a future or more or a future of less - this too, is a choice” - Martin O’ Malley

Getting people to want to start businesses

Between August to November 2020, close to 1,700 candidates completed The Entrepreneurial Awakening Course. 

At the end of the course, candidates had to make the actual decision between following a career or becoming an entrepreneur. The results were surprising. 

29% said they want to become entrepreneurs, 36% said they want to follow a career, and 35% indicated they want to do both, to have a job and build a business on the side. 

I spoke to many candidates who chose to do both (get a job and build a business on the side). I found the chief reason for this choice was driven by the belief that you need money to start a business, which is a myth. 

Thus, after completing The Entrepreneurial Awakening Course, 64% showed an active or delayed intention towards entrepreneurship and starting a business.

The Entrepreneurial Awakening Course is an affordable tool to identify people with a desire and drive to start a business while being a great work readiness tool for those who want to follow a career.

“Don’t stop until you are proud.”

Starting businesses in record time

As mentioned before, the first part of the program helps to identify potential entrepreneurs and business owners. In contrast, the second part, the Business Creator Pre-Incubator, helps people create working businesses in record time. 

Desired outcomes of the Pre-Incubator Program

Candidates have to build a business with actual paying customers in 21 days. The aim is to generate enough profits to replace the salary they receive as part of a work experience program.

Achieving this will give people self-determination and economic empowerment.

“Anyone has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” - James Baldwin

A solution for effective job creation in Africa and the world

60% of candidates in the Business Creator Pre-Incubator replaced their salary while the remainder is well on their way. Some achieved it in 7 days. 

The Business Creator Pre-Incubator created 30 new businesses in 21 days, all with customers, generating turnover, and many being profitable past the desired outcomes. 30 Businesses means 30 new jobs created in 21 days.

“The only limits in life are those we impose on ourselves.” - Bob Proctor

Types of businesses created

Most of these businesses are low tech or no tech. Here are some examples: hairdressers, food businesses, car mechanics, clothing brands, simple trading businesses, mobile phone repairs, social media marketing, events and more. 

These are the types of jobs that Africa needs right now.

All of these businesses ended up serving the communities they were founded in and is an excellent way to stimulate the local economy. Thus this program can be used as a targeted economic stimulus tool for struggling communities.

“... The best way to help the poor is to promote economic growth and job creation.” - Myron Magnet

But are they sustainable?

We left these new business owners alone for 90 days, with no support, coaching or mentoring. We could reach 26 of the 30 businesses.

What we found was astonishing.

All the businesses we reached were still trading; in fact, these business owners created 8 new businesses to serve as additional revenue streams for the owners.

The photographer could not see clients due to tightened lockdown rules and then started a laundry service for students. The window washing business was hit with more than 4 weeks of rain and then proceeded to start a cleaning chemical supply company.

It shows resilience and adaptability, which in my opinion, is an entrepreneurial trait in people who would traditionally not be viewed as entrepreneurial material.

“The saddest thing in life is to see people suffer from hunger and poverty in a world of plenty” - Mouloud Benzadi

Interesting mindset shifts

Here are some interesting mindset shifts the candidates experienced on The Human Entrepreneur Pre-Incubator Program.

#1. No External Money Required to Start

In South Africa, we suffer from a major problem; most people believe that they require a lot of money to start a business. This belief is hampering the development of new businesses.

However, 100% of the businesses created on this program were started with the limited money the candidates had. Some business owners needed money to buy stock and dealt with that hurdle by asking customers for 50% deposits, and it worked. It is about finding creative solutions to problems and working with your customers. 

“Let new adventures begin”

#2. Start Today, Make Money Today

Some candidates got their first customers in 1 day, another added 13 new customers to his business in 24 hours after being stuck on 10 customers since the inception of the business. 

One candidate had an idea at the start of the program, and 7 days later, they made 1,5 times their monthly salary in profit.

People are hungry, they have direct financial needs now, and I feel this is where 6 or 12-month programs fail because why would anyone be motivated to build a business over 6 or 12 months when they need money to care for themselves and their families now. 

The Human Entrepreneur Incubation Program is a cost-effective feeder for longer-term incubation programs because we provide real businesses, with customers, making money making sure you sit with the right people with the right mindsets before investing a lot of time and resources into them on a 6 to 12-month program.

“You can make a life out of what you have, not what you are missing.” - Kate Morton

#3. Many Started, Closed and Started Another New Businesses during the 21 Days

Many new businesses were started in week 1; some were closed down in the same week, and different businesses started instead. 

I have worked on other incubation programs, and even though people were working on businesses that were going nowhere, they simply could not let go of it. Their sunk cost was too high.

With The Human Entrepreneur Pre-Incubator Program, the timeframe is so short; there is little or no sunk cost. They created and destroyed businesses based on actual performance and the businesses' ability to generate an income NOW.

“Every new beginning comes from the other beginning’s end” - Seneca

#4. Real Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Nguni term meaning: "I am because we are" and it very powerful. However, in my experience, it is something people like to throw around to create a feeling of unity.

What inspired me was that candidates in the pre-incubator program helped each other freely. They gave each other new business ideas (without asking for a cut or a profit share) and even encouraged each other to copy each other's business ideas that already worked. 

Because of this, the group as a whole moved forward faster and performed better. Think of how this would play out in a community and the long term benefits of such thinking and working. This is ubuntu in action.

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work” - Aristotle

#5. Some Started in Week 3, and Still Succeeded

One person started the program in the third and last week. On the first day, they came up with 6 ideas to make money and had their first paying customer by the end of that day.

The results are truly inspirational in a year filled with despair and disappointment. 

“Keep looking up. That is the secret to life.” - Charlie Brown

Let’s create 10,000 jobs in 2021. Can You Help?

I am looking for assistance. I want to use this program and create 10,000 new jobs in Africa or anywhere else in the world during 2021. That would require me to run this program many times through the course of 2021, and I require funding to do so. 

If you are in this field, please reach out to me.

If you do not actively work in this field but might know someone who does, please arrange an introduction.

Please contact me [email protected] 

“Stay positive, better days are on their way.” - Unknown

Video testimonials

Other testimonials

"I started my business last year in June. When I started this business I thought I would get 10 customers at the same time but I only got a few customers. I started to lose hope in my business. Since I started the human entrepreneur pre-incubator program I realised that I have to work hard and I don’t need funding for my business. All I have to do is work hard look for customers because customers can’t look for me if I don’t work hard.

Now I’m happy because my business is running smoothly and I have more than 100 paying customers. I would like to thank the human entrepreneur pre-incubator program for pushing me, I really appreciate that." - MPHAHLELE MGIBA

"I am grateful for the human entrepreneur pre-incubator program. I always wanted to start a business but I always wanted to ask for funding. This program taught me that I don’t need funding to start the business.

I’ve learned that to get customers I need to speak to customers. I don’t need to rely on social media only. During this pre-incubator program, I learned from my colleagues and classmates that it doesn’t matter the business idea but that you can make it.

I started my cleaning business two weeks ago and I’ve made money and I have 10 paying customers. I am very grateful to the human entrepreneur pre-incubator program because I now have registered and working business." - JERMINA THAGISHA

"I started my intrapreneurial training two weeks ago and learned how to make money and be able to start a business. It was an easy thing to do, but I never thought I could open a business and operated in one day. The human entrepreneur pre-incubator program made this possible.

In just two weeks I have 16 paying customers which I charge R90 per customer once a month. I am happy that I am making money.

What is interesting is that I was able to register my business and I got the knowledge of that there is no need for a business plan and funding. If you want to start your business start now.

I’m very grateful for the great opportunity that I got." - LINDIWE MOSEA

"It was a great opportunity to learn to become an entrepreneur through the human Entrepreneur pre-incubator program.

I learned many things like you don’t need funding to start a business.

My business is transporting school children and in two weeks of this program, I have six customers.

I was planning to start my business only next year January but luckily from those six customers two customers will start on 1 December.

My colleague who is one of my classmates suggested that I can keep my business going getting the festive season by transporting people who work in restaurants or shops in the mall near my community. So luckily next week I will have more customers.

The pre-incubator program gave me the opportunity to start my own business and it’s really going well. My target is eight customers and I already have six customers. Thank you to the pre-incubator program." - NANETHI KOKETSO MNCUBE