I read a book a while ago called ‘Wealth Secrets of the 1%.’ The book analyses historically wealthy people and suggests how this knowledge can be applied today. The one point made by the author really struck home.

Firstly – I suggest you check that book out – it’s quite a fun read.

Here’s a little blurb to set the wheels in motion:

Discover how the superwealthy made it to the top (and you can too!)

From the richest Romans to the robber barons to today’s bankers and tech billionaires, Sam Wilkin offers Freakonomics-esque insights into what it really takes to make a fortune. These stories of larger-than-life characters, strategies, and sacrifices reveal how the wealthiest did it, usually by a passion for finding loopholes, working around bureaucratic systems, and creating obstacles to competitors.

So at the end of the book Wilkin gives a bunch of pointers, suggesting how one can become “fabulously wealthy” in today’s world. He admits that it isn’t easy, and the opportunities are unobtainable for “most”.

He is, of course, assuming he is talking to a US or European reader, because the opportunities he suggests are to do with developed nations. He assumes the readers’ proximity rules them out of the running, but forgets that some readers (you and me) are in the hot seat, sitting in South Africa.

Much like the Malawi Cane business I started in 2013, my proximity to Malawi (and indeed a shipping port) meant that I could deal with the ‘dirty work’ others in developed countries are unable to.

Not that I know much about it (I rely on Berry & Donaldson to do the ‘dirty work’ for me), but I do need to handle product in some respects.

It needs to get delivered from Malawi to my warehouse in Paarden Eiland, where it is tidied up and painted, before it goes on a container to various customers around the world.

All of that said, I stumbled upon this article today, detailing business opportunities for developing countries. See there how it talks about importation and exportation? A lot of the stuff you will think is obvious, but do some snooping around and you’ll spot an opening.

Have you ever visited some of our neighbouring nations? Have a look at our partner, sustainable.co.za – you don’t think those kind of solar products are required in rural Mozambique or Nigeria?

I heard a story a while back of a guy running a successful rural barbershop with a solar-powered battery – magic.

And look at this article, detailing all the non-oil potential exports from Nigeria alone. Sure, some people might already be trading those products, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what a bad job they’re doing (especially online) or how much they are over-charging.

It’s not hard to spot, and take, a gap online.

A lot of this kind of stuff seems daunting, but I assure you the likes of Berry & Donaldson make it a cake walk. Find some suppliers online, get a quote from them crunch the numbers and give it a bash.

And no, you don’t have to spend a fortune setting up a website. You can get that done for a couple hundred bucks – seriously.

We look forward to seeing the designs for your first yacht.