Denis Opudo
The Hustlers Academy was founded through a partnership of DJ Sbu and 3Sixty Financial Services Group. It works on impacting the lives of many youths and families in South Africa in a positive way. The idea to come up with the academy originated from DJ Sbu. DJ Sbu says that he had the idea in 2013 when he launched Leadership 2020. He adds that at the time when they launched the initiative it operated with the goal of influencing 10 million lives by 2020.
The initial target was to impact a million individuals. But they realized that the group will, later on, help 10 million others who are close to them. He adds that they decided to carry out their goal in form of seminars. This was to happen via conferences and events, writing books and motivating individuals. Before Leadership 2020, DJ Sbu used to visit schools through his own Sbusiso Leope Foundation. His main point of focus by then was to motivate learners in township schools and offer a scholarship. Furthermore, he used to settle fees for a number of students and talk with the government to issue out bursaries to some of the students.
DJ Sbu says that he has always been motivated to put up an academy that caters for the needs of many South Africans. He adds that the education in the country does not suit the youths at 100%. According to him, the curriculum should be in a position to teach individuals how to generate money. Jonathan Ball, the author of The Mindset of an Entrepreneur and Billionaire Under Construction adds that he can show individuals how to generate income only if they are ready to take in their ego. He adds that street business calls for people to always remain polite, show customers their product. Additionally, they should be ready to educate their customers, sway them in the product, lure them to the sale and generate money.
He adds that among the 3Sixty Financial Services group of companies, one of them majors on insurance. This gives him a good opportunity to provide it with the needed services while helping him to educate youths how to sell at the same time. He is going to first direct much of his focus on the youths, giving them skills in a training that will last for one month. Thereafter, the best learners from the group will assist him to train more youths. He says that he once sold MoFaya for some years in the streets. Therefore, he will use his experience to practically show them how it is done in the streets. He is inspiring many youths who are now selling in the streets. Currently, they have more than 3,000 youths daily. He says that he was influenced by the high number to put up the academy.
Those willing to take part in the Hustlers Academy should check their website. Leaps run Massive Metro radio station is one year old and has employed more than 40 youths from campus and community radio stations. Besides, he decided to put up his own radio station after he was fired at Metro FM. He took that as an opportunity rather than bad luck and put up the Massive Metro. He encourages young people to come out of their comfort zones and work for what they want.
