Why I’m passionate about people development – My story.

## My story - Early life

### Origins - Marondera

#### Early life experiences

I was born to peasant farmers in Marondera under chief Chihota. My father was a soft gentleman full of love. My very loving mother was a strict disciplinarian who never spoiled in the name of love. Last born in a family of 8, I grew up immersed in rural life, just like any rural boy, save for my grade 2 year which I spent at Tsvingwe Primary
School, Penhalonga in Mutare. My elder brother and I had joined our elder sister who was on teaching practice just for a year.
Certain traits quickly characterised me in my early life. I was perceived as the least intelligent in my family according to the education system in the country then. I became known as a generally dull and slow person for which I earned nicknames both at school and at home. This eroded my self confidence almost completely. I had to repeat my grade 7 to try and get better grades for a fair chance in securing a place at a mission boarding school for form 1.

## My story - school Experiences

### From Nonentity To School Captain

#### "the love that engulfed me as I grew up"

At all times my father was unconditional in his support. He exhibited deep belief in me. I struggled to understand what he saw in a nonentity like me. He would grab every opportunity to praise me, often quite undeservedly so.
When I was in grade 7, I was the only one at home with my parents. Every day my father would heat water early in the morning and prepare the bathroom for me. He would then wake me up to bath while he polished my shoes, fixed my uniform and prepared my breakfast and lunch box. He took seriously the little things that mattered to me. In retrospect, clearly not everything made sense to him but he focused on me, not on the things. On the other hand my mother always made sure I was comfortable as a person. She was ever assuring and in her own way made me feel special. I could open up to her with my insecurities and she had a way of making me feel my worries, while legitimate, were nothing big. If I was late in coming back from school for any reason, I would be sure to meet her on the way following me to school. On the days I didn’t find anything home to take to school for lunch, the unsaid standing arrangement was that my mother would come to the nearby shops to buy a scorn for me to have for lunch. Such was the love that engulfed me as I grew up.
In my repeat year of grade 7 at a different school which was less stereotyping on me owing to the absence of my history, I was given an opportunity that changed my life. I was asked to make a wire basket for the then Minister of Education, Honourable Fay Chung, who was scheduled to visit the school. Both my father and mother stayed up with me every night as diligently worked on this project. My father gave me paint to give it a good finish – it was beautiful. I had the privilege to present the basket to Fay Chung myself in my father’s presence, and I was
allowed to make a very short speech. What excited me the most is not meeting the Minister or presenting the basket to her. I was more excited to have met a different Victor on this occasion, and I hoped this Victor would stay. For the first time in a long time, I felt I was somebody.
I went to St. Annes (Goto) High School in Hwedza. Things changed drastically. It was a new environment not corrupted by my past. I quickly became the best debater in our stream of 3 classes. I represented form ones in a
debating contest with form twos and we won. I participated in a variety show along side my friend Brian Nhanhanga (who is now a renowned musician) and we won a price. I won a price for imitating our then Deputy Headmaster the late Mr. P. Benzi. I served in the church which was prestigious, and I became part of a music group. By form two I was one of the very well behaved, smart and respected pantry boys and girls. By form three I was one of the best debaters in my school. By form four I was a school prefect and Captain of Special Rooms. The school offered me a place for my ‘A’ level studies. By form six I was the school Captain as well as Chairperson
of the Debating club.

## My story - early work life

### nothing but ATTITUDE

#### "fired for emergency calling my girlfriend'

After high school, I had the opportunity to join Anglo American Corporation as a cleaner almost soon after completing my ‘A’ level. I used my ‘O’ level results to get the job. I felt fortunate to have something to do while I waited for my ‘A’ level results. I had 7 points for my ‘A’ level, not enough to pursue my first-choice program at
university – Law. I therefore continued to work while I figured the next move. I got promoted to a clerical job in a development that got tongues wagging. It was for nothing but ATTITUDE that I landed this job. I however fell into the hands of my supervisor who made my life a living hell and succeeded in getting me fired. I thought my life
had ended. Here I was – jobless. I now had to vacate a company flat which I lived in and I had to exit the company’s medical aid. Above all I had to stomach the shame of being fired from a job. By the way I was not fired for performance failure in my job, no. I was fired for emergency calling my girlfriend (now my wife) using a fax line
which could make trunk calls. It didn’t take a month for me to lend another job at DHL International as Customer
Services Agent. I got so much exposure in this job and after a year I left to take up an opportunity in Astra Corporation. I went through four years of training in Astra as a Shipping Management Cadet. Upon completing I joined SMM Holdings and quickly rose to become General Manager for Zimbabwe in a logistics group of five companies in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

## My story - My first establishment

### M3 Communications

#### "I became aware of my creative potential during this period"

In 2008 I established my first company. The printing company did well under a very difficult economic environment in Zimbabwe at the time. To expand the business I partnered with two very talented creative entrepreneurs and together we established M3 Communications. By 2011, the company had grown to market value of almost a million US dollars. This was phenomenal given the adverse business conditions at the time. I left
M3 Communications to embark on a soul-searching journey and figure what it is that I really wanted to do with my life. In 2012 I met an extremely creative entrepreneur on the African continent, Audra Wilson Max. It didn’t take time for us to desire to collaborate and I joined Brand Africa Global as Operations Director. My experiences
between 2012 and 2016 brought so much self-awareness. I became aware of my creative potential during this period. It started off scary, got to be unbelievable and ended up comfortable as I let my creative
self be. In 2015 I answered a call to champion the founding of Vertical Momentum – and that was the best decision I made.

## My story - JCI journey

### Junior Chamber International

#### www.jci.cc

2002 – 2014

In 2002 I had a life changing opportunity to be an active member of Junior Chamber International (JCI – www.jci.cc) – a 100+ years old and largest global network of active citizens with presence in more than 5,000 communities across more than 100 countries. Some of the key roles I held in my 12-year journey
include:
National President of JCI Zimbabwe;
JCI Board Member in the capacity of Vice President for Africa and Middle East assigned to supervise 8 countries namely Zambia, Lesotho, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Lebanon;
JCI United Nations Affairs Commissioner or Africa and Middle East;
JCI Africa and Middle East DevelopmentCouncil (AMDEC) President; and
JCI Board as well as Executive Committee member in the capacity of Executive Vice President and Chairperson
of the 2014 JCI Africa and Middle East Conference in Lomé, Togo.
My leadership and diplomatic duties included supervising National Organisations’ activities, inspiring members as well as promoting the organization to different stakeholders such as Business, Governments and the Civic Society in various countries.

## My story - becoming a lawyer & vertical momentum

### I did it after all

#### "we exist to take people further"

At 41 years, I got the opportunity to study Law at the legendary University of Zimbabwe law school which is over 60 years old. I successfully completed the very demanding degree program and am now a registered legal practitioner, conveyancer and notary public. I did it after all. With all the development and experiences over the years, I successfully led the founding of Vertical Momentum with the purpose of developing people into best
versions of themselves. At Vertical Momentum we exist to take people further.

## My story - lOOKING BACK

### My belief

#### "to achieve one’s vision, one needs to help others achieve their visions too"

Looking back into my life, I realise that it is very easy to write people off because they don’t measure up to our yardsticks, which are often defective. I later understood that I was not dull, rather I process things differently and that’s where my creativity comes from. I later understood that I’m not slow, rather I am thorough and that gives
me a peculiar touch of quality in everything I do. I understood that I am not a nobody, many would benefit from my contributions. It is not what we see in people that matters, but what is in people. As humanity we need to be tolerant and give everyone a fair chance. Life is an ecosystem in which everyone has a unique role to play for the
good of humankind. It should be our collective responsibility to touch lives with one gift – a chance. That is what everyone needs – a chance. A chance to develop and be the best, a chance to make a contribution to society, a chance to live and create a legacy, a chance to touch lives and a chance to be somebody.
I believe everyone is born with the capacity to excel in whatever good and meaningful they decide to dedicate their life to, if given appropriate backing. Without the immense support I got from all the corners of my life
over time, I wouldn’t have amounted to much. I live everyday to give someone support to become better. I believe every touch counts, big or small. The greatest gift we can give to anyone is an opportunity to learn, because after all learning is the greatest opportunity in life. In honouring all who have contributed and continue to contribute to my development, I dedicate my commitment to contributing towards the betterment of lives through Coaching, Mentoring and creating helpful concepts, models, tools, programs as well as instructive literature. I believe that to achieve one’s vision, one needs to help others achieve their visions too. My vision is to see abundance of success out of the development of people is society. I will work hard to support people development and enterprise. I aim to impact at least one million people in my lifetime. I will see at least a million people visions come to pass. With that, I will have achieved my vision.

## My artistic works

### My first recording

#### I CAN, AND I WILL.

2017

I love music – it flows in my veins. I’ve written countless songs for different people and occasions. In 2017 I decided to start recording some of my music for specific purposes.
My first recording is a song called I CAN, AND I WILL.
The lyrics of this song talks about will power and the importance of what and how we think, what and how we do what we decide to do, and timing. We have the power to create anything we want to create. We have the power to succeed and if we are going to be, it is up to us.
This song was inspired by my personal experiences. I went through a time when everyone lost confidence in what I was doing and I had to find courage from within myself. I was thus literary talking to myself in the song.
I dedicated the song to Vertical Momentum. We therefore refer to it as the official Vertical Momentum song.

### My second recording

#### MOMENTUM POWER

My second recording is a song called MOMENTUM POWER. The lyrics of this song talks about the power of impetus in anything if one is to achieve desired results. The song defines life as a reflection of the decisions we commit to, the plans we make, the solutions we develop when challenges visit, the opportunities we identify in seemingly dry sand and what we do every day.
The song MOMENTUM POWER reinforces the concepts, models, tools as well as the message embodied in the legendary LEAD Momentum program. I wrote this so for Vertical Momentum dedicated to the LEAD Momentum
program.

## Skills

### Creative works

100%

### Coaching & Mentoring

100%

### Speaking – giving a different perspective to life.

100%

### Law – legal practitioner, Conveyancer & Notary Public

100%

## Business card

Victor Marawu
victor@verticalmomentum.com
my blog my life my work my contact