Hello, my name is Dede Nyansapo. I am an entrepreneur who also participates in Accra’s burgeoning gig economy as a Dede. My love for meeting fascinating people and my curiosity about how they think usually places me in the midst of some very entertaining conversations. Invariably, these conversations lead to some key learnings that may be useful to anyone on their business journey.
Episode 24: Orange dreams and a new nation
Today, I had the honour of carrying my nephew, Kwabena to his summer school since his mother was out of town on a work trip. As usual, Kwabena was running a few minutes late. I have consistently tried to instil the importance of timeliness in this adorable boy’s mind but his creative brain has, for now, refused to confine his life to “time blocks”, and to be honest, there is a part of me that absolutely loves that. I looked at my watch again. The time said “8:43 am”. He was 13 minutes late.
As I checked the rearview mirror, I couldn’t help but smile seeing Kwabena walk leisurely with the biggest smile on his face.
“Good morning, young man. What’s up with the smile today?” I asked the energetic boy in the back seat.
“Morning, Auntie Dede! I’ve got some ideas I want to share with you. This may be the greatest idea… ever!!” Kwabena replied with a spark in his eyes.
“Alright, Kwabena, hit me with your big ideas. What’s on your mind today?” I said, chuckling.
He leaned forward, his excitement palpable. “You know, Auntie, I’ve been thinking a lot. I hear it in the news all the time. Countries everywhere are failing. The real future is in companies… philosophy-based companies! Imagine a business where the employees are the citizens of their own nation!”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Hmm, that’s an interesting thought. How would that work, exactly?”
“Picture this: I start a company selling oranges. But it’s not just any company. We have a philosophy, a way of life. Everyone who works there lives by this philosophy. We don’t just sell oranges; We grow them, We eat them, We even dream about them!” Kwabena explained animatedly.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Dreaming about oranges? That sounds like a lot of vitamin C dreams. But seriously, how does that make it a nation?”
“Well, Auntie, we’d have our own rules and our own currency—let’s call it OrangeCoin…or AkutuSika…or AnkaaCash… I don’t know what to call it yet, Auntie…but Employees are paid in this currency, and they use them to buy everything they need within the company. We’d have our own schools teaching about oranges, our own healthcare system treating with orange juice, and even our own government!” His enthusiasm was infectious.
“AnkaaCash, you say? And orange juice healthcare? Kwabena, you might be onto something here, even if it sounds a bit fruity,” I said, amused.
“Exactly! And think about it, Auntie Dede, we’d have no corruption. Everyone would be focused on the success of the company-nation. If you do well, the nation does well. If you don’t, well, you get a few rotten oranges, I suppose,” he added, nodding eagerly.
“Rotten oranges for bad behavior, huh? That’s a new one. But what about things like freedom and personal choice?” I asked, playing along.
“Oh, we’d have that too! People can choose their roles within the company. They could be growers, sellers, researchers, whatever they want. As long as it’s related to oranges, of course,” he said confidently.
“Of course. What if someone wants to do something not related to oranges?” I asked, teasingly.
“Then they can start their own company-nation! Pineapple Place, Banana Borough, you name it. Each with its own philosophy and rules,” he replied with a grin.
I shook my head, smiling. “You really have thought this through, Kwabena. It’s a bit… out there, but I see some good points in the madness. How would you handle conflicts? You know, disputes between employees?”
“Simple! We’d have an Orange Council to mediate disputes. They’d be the wisest and most experienced orange experts. And if that fails, a squeeze-off! Whoever can squeeze the most juice from an orange wins,” he said confidently.
I laughed heartily. “A squeeze-off? Now that’s a solution I’ve never heard before! What about expanding? Would you take over other companies or nations?”
“Yes! We’d merge with other fruit companies to create a Fruit Federation. Each fruit company-nation would have its own identity but work together for a greater good,” he explained, his excitement growing.
“Sounds like you’re building an empire, Kwabena. You’re making me want to join this orange utopia of yours. But what’s in it for me?” I asked, playfully.
“Auntie Dede, you’d be our Chief Transportation Officer, making sure all our oranges get delivered safely. You’d get to drive the best orange-themed vehicles, and of course, unlimited orange juice!” he said seriously.
I laughed. “Well, that’s quite an offer. But I think I’ll stick to my taxi for now. It’s got its own kind of freedom, you know.”
He looked disappointed but understanding. “I get it. But if you ever change your mind, there’s always a place for you in the Orange Nation.”
“Thanks, Kwabena. You’ve got some wild ideas, but who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll turn them into reality. Here we are at the market,” I said as I pulled up to his destination.
“Thanks for the ride, Auntie Dede. Remember, the Orange Nation is always open for you!” he said, grinning as he got out of the taxi.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Kwabena. You have a great day at the market. And don’t forget to dream big, even if it’s about oranges!” I called after him.
“I will, Auntie! See you soon!” he waved.
I shook my head and smiled as I drove off. That boy is something else. But who knows? Maybe there’s some sense in all that orange madness after all.
