Zibusiso Mkhwanazi, a successful businessman, family man, and author, recently shared the incredible story behind his book, "Business by Grace," revealing how he built a "world-changing advertising business" from an initial capital of just R2,000. His journey, marked by twists and turns, offers powerful lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the unexpected paths to success.
Humble Beginnings and Early Entrepreneurial Spirit
Mkhwanazi's entrepreneurial journey began in Soweto, where he grew up in an "entrepreneurial home" with his grandmother, who sold cool drinks. He assisted her with small tasks, such as getting cool drinks for customers. After his grandmother's passing, he moved in with his mother in Mulapo, Soweto.
Faced with his mother's financial struggles to pay for his school commute, a young Mkhwanazi, described as a "rebel," decided to take action. He started selling sweets at school, initially to help his mom, but also driven by a desire for personal choice, like being able to buy KFC for lunch. His initiative quickly grew, as he enlisted friends to sell sweets for him, paying them in sweets, effectively building a "sweet empire" that eventually got banned by the school principal. This early experience, around the age of 9 or 10, taught him about the "freedom of capital" – how money provides more choices.
A Deeply Personal Motivation: The Shadow of His Father
A pivotal moment in Mkhwanazi's life was the unexpected discovery of his biological father. He learned about his father, a "Soweto tycoon," through a newspaper headline announcing his death in a car crash. Attending his father's funeral, Mkhwanazi was exposed to a life of luxury, seeing an "awesome house" and "awesome cars," and meeting people like Winnie Mandela and Ro Mayer.
However, this encounter also brought a "lot of resentment". He realized his father knew of his existence and humble living conditions but had never offered support. This realization fueled a powerful internal drive: Mkhwanazi made a promise to himself to be a "way better father," "business person," and "human being" than his dad. He openly admits that his initial venture into business was largely motivated by this "inward anger" and "competition with a memory of a guy that passed away".
Building an Empire and a Spiritual Turning Point
With his R2,000 initial capital from his mother, Mkhwanazi ventured into the world of computers. He had taught himself programming and computer repair in high school, even repairing computers for his school, which earned him the status of the "cool kid". His business evolved from computer repair to web design and eventually advertising. This drive, initially fueled by his "hatred for his dad," propelled his business to achieve its first million by the age of 21.
However, this success, built on a "very negative source," eventually led to a dramatic downfall. At 23, Mkhwanazi "lost everything" due to signing "bad deals," plummeting into significant debt. It was at this juncture, facing immense hardship, that he "found God". This spiritual transformation was his "Damascus moment". He returned to his mother's home, which had become church-focused, embracing the very environment he had once sought to avoid. This shift displaced his anger and hatred with love, infusing a new, positive purpose into his business: "making a positive difference to people's lives". Since then, his business has grown "exponentially".
The Master of Partnership: Scaling Beyond Capital
A key theme in Mkhwanazi's success story, particularly after his spiritual reckoning, is his mastery of partnership. Despite losing his first business due to bad deals that cost him ownership, he embraced new partnerships. He believes in the African saying, "we are because of others," and emphasizes that partners should complement each other's strengths rather than compete.
- Learning and Growth: His first business partner, from an accounting background, complemented Mkhwanazi's technical skills, teaching him the importance of finance.
- Opening New Doors: He learned digital marketing through his second set of partners, Crazy Boys. To work with large brands, he strategically partnered with established advertising agencies, offering his web development services through them, which significantly grew his portfolio.
Mkhwanazi strongly asserts that partnerships were crucial for his R2,000 startup to scale and become meaningful. He highlights that vision is more important than capital, as an idea's power can attract capital, which sometimes comes in the form of connections or opportunities rather than just money. He demonstrated this by using student portfolios and his charisma to "sell vision" to early clients, even when he lacked a full setup.
Selling as an Introvert: The Power of Research and Substance
Despite considering himself an introvert, Mkhwanazi became adept at pitching and winning deals. His secret? "Getting it wrong many times" and choosing to learn from each mistake. He recounts a transformative experience with his first corporate client, Angela Mazo of Mazo Securities. Initially, his pitch was a "complete disaster" because he hadn't researched the client's business. Mazo's blunt feedback led him to thoroughly research and re-pitch, focusing on how his website would "make him money and save him money." This focused, well-researched approach earned him the client, teaching him that substance, backed by research, is far more effective than a "fancy accent" or "hyped up" delivery.
The Balancing Act: A Structured Life
Mkhwanazi candidly admits to previously struggling with work-life balance, famously "messing up" his own wedding by forgetting to arrange a cameraman and invites due to a business trip. Today, his life is "very structured," with 90-95% of his yearly diary planned in advance. He views his wife, business partners, and even his nephew (who manages household logistics) as partners, each with defined roles. This rigid approach, though sometimes making it hard to maintain friendships, is the "sacrifice" he makes to create balance. He stresses the importance of finding what works uniquely for oneself, rather than comparing to others.
Peak Moments: Saving Lives and Global Impact
Beyond business success, Mkhwanazi cherishes two "peak moments" for their profound meaning and purpose:
- COVID-19 Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, his company was called upon by the "highest office in this land" – the South African Presidency – to assist during the national crisis. They were tasked with simplifying complex presidential speeches and government directives (like adjusted lockdown levels and health protocols) into easily understandable icons and graphics for all South Africans, from humble backgrounds to the elite. For Mkhwanazi, the knowledge that "our work save lives" is deeply fulfilling.
- Global Victories: His agency actively challenges dominant global advertising players. A defining moment was when a top 10 cellphone manufacturing company invited them to pitch for their global business. His South African, black-owned business won the pitch against top agencies from London, America, and Asia, reaching billions of people with their communication. This victory was a source of immense pride, proving that Africa is "very capable" and helping to save jobs. They also played a key role in helping H&M manage a global crisis stemming from a controversial t-shirt design.
A Culture of Love and Care
Mkhwanazi has intentionally built a work culture centered around "love and care". This ethos emerged from his personal transformation, where hatred turned into love, which he then infused into his business. This means having love for staff (whom they call "stars"), clients, and the work they produce. He likens the care they put into their work to a mother's cooking – you can taste the difference.
His old office even had a "care wall" where employees would put pictures of loved ones, a constant reminder of their motivation. While promoting love, he also believes in "tough love," delivering necessary feedback firmly but without rudeness, drawing inspiration from scriptures. Ultimately, his goal is for the company to be a "home away from home," fostering a conducive and supportive environment for its employees.
"Business by Grace": A Legacy of Inspiration
Mkhwanazi's book, "Business by Grace," is described as a comprehensive "tell-all" that details his journey from A to Z, including specific clients and business partners. All proceeds from the book go directly to his foundation, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs in townships. Through his story, Mkhwanazi aims to inspire countless South Africans, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by demonstrating that despite humble beginnings, achieving seemingly "impossible goals" like building a million-rand business by 21 is indeed possible through grace and perseverance. The book is available at most major bookstores and online at mwanazi.co.za.