Phila Thikazi [2/2]

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REJECTIONS

But the 49-year-old had a burning desire to succeed and persevered despite the constant rejections. Phila continued to knock on doors and word quickly spread about his car valeting service. Eventually, he landed a money making contract at Luton Airport.

“One day when I was knocking I came across a certain gentleman who I never knew, and he asked me if I was a big company. I said I was, and he said that he was looking for a huge valeting company so that they can give them a contract to wash people’s cars whilst they were on holiday,” he said.

Success came at a rapid rate. Phila now employs 10 people and valets 1,500 cars each month around the UK. Last year, his business turned over a profit of £120,000. “I am excited and very proud of what I have achieved,” he said. With a successful business and a six-figure salary, Phila decided to write a book, You live in Great Britain: why are you broke?, telling others how they too can be successful.

“There are so many other people out there who are struggling like I was. I am interested in personal development and it made me realise that I don’t need to work for anyone in life,” he explained.

POSITIVE

Phila believes that people who are poor in Britain choose to be, and he hopes the book will inspire people to take control of their future through positive thinking. “I want people to know that it doesn’t matter where you come from. Your background has nothing to do with what you want to achieve in life. After this recession, the brilliant thinkers will be so rich that it would seem that they weren’t affected by this recession, but poor thinkers will come out worse off,” he said. Despite running a successful business, motivational speaking is Phila’s real passion. He has set up a mentoring company called Positive

Impressions Coaching Academy. Phila believes he can help participants make £100,000 in a year. “You can make a fortune, and in my academy I tell people that you can make £100,000 in 12 months instead of settling for £20,000, because I have done that.

“The coaching is about upgrading your mind and not listening to the voices that are coming from outside. Just listen to the positive voice within,” he said.

Phila shares the fruits of his success with his proud family. Both of his sisters died of Aids – in 2007 and 2008 – and he helps to financially support their children.

EDUCATION

“My sisters left behind a total of six kids and in African culture we look after one another, so my sisters’ kids become my kids. The money goes towards their education and I have ended up helping 25 children go to school,” he explained. Despite the economic downturn, Phila is determined to achieve his goal of becoming a millionaire by his 50th birthday next year. “I want to concentrate on my coaching academy, where people can learn a lot and move on with their lives, because that is my passion,” he said. For more information visit Whyareyoubroke.com and www.thesuccesscoach.ws

Phila Thikazi [1/2]

A dream for Phila

 

BY Maxine Myers

How a South African migrant to the UK went from car washer to six-figure money making mentor

SEVEN YEARS ago Phila Thikazi left his native South Africa with dreams of a better life in England.

With a strong economy and currency, he believed the streets of Britain were paved with gold. However, he was soon disappointed. Phila found himself working menial jobs making less than £11,000 a year.

“I came over here to better myself financially because I thought the UK represented one of the richest nations in the world. So in my mind I thought if I could get there I can have a better life,” he explained. But working long hours at two jobs and taking home just £350 a week, Phila soon became frustrated, especially as he had made a promise to his mother when she died that he would make something of himself.

TEMPTATION

“I cried when it dawned on me that I was not only behind with my bills but also behind on the many promises I had made to my immediate and extended family. The reality was that I was deep in poverty and people couldn’t understand it,” he said. At times Phila was tempted to return home after realising his dream of making a fortune was slipping away from him.

But he decided to stay and change his situation.

“I said to myself ‘now that I’m here I think I am making a mistake. Like everyone else I am looking for jobs instead of looking for opportunities,’” he said.

It was while he was reading billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson’s book about how he became rich that Phila realised he could be as successful.

“There was one statement from that book when a reporter asked him [Richard Branson] ‘How do I become a millionaire?’ and he said, ‘It’s easy to be a millionaire these days, stop everyone and ask them for £5,’” Phila said. He believed that if he offered a service instead of asking people for money, he could be on his way to riches.

However, with no start-up capital he found himself struggling to come up with a business he could launch. Then, while at his local supermarket in Luton, a man who wanted to wash his car approached him. Phila realised that car washing could be a successful business and asked the man to teach him the ropes.

Once equipped with the relevant skills, Phila had £1.50 available to him and bought himself a bucket, sponges and washing up liquid. But he faced difficulty.

“I got so many ‘No’s on that first day I ended up washing only one car, after knocking on 50 doors. There was so much discouragement I was unwilling to go back to knocking the next day. I hated being rejected by so many people,” he said.