All Or Nothing - The Zeb Tsikira Story

By Zeb Tsikira

Real estate mogul Zeb Tsikira shares his inspirational life story in this revealing debut book. The Canadian based serial entrepreneur traces his life story and humble beginnings in Zimbabwe all the way to his breakthrough abroad. Captivating, fast-paced and filled with some previously unshared experiences, Tsikira presents a practical colourful account that is incredible without being larger than life. Follow the footsteps, upsets and triumph's in a story that took him to the other side of the world to redefine the underdog immigrant's narrative. Armed with a conviction that he was destined for better things Tsikira defied the odds to become the epitome of the new school thought leaders. He presents his thoughts on building generational wealth and rising from the ashes of despair to being a hope and example for other entrepreneurs. Blending a biographical take with motivational nuggets, (All Or Nothing: The Zeb Tsikira Story) shines a light on the makings of Zeb Tsikira; serial entrepreneur and real estate mogul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Canvestus Group LTD
• Release date: Feb 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781777385156

Book preview

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zeb Tsikira is an award -winning Zimbabwean serial entrepreneur, real estate investor, and mentor based in Canada. Over the last decade, Tsikira has risen from being a dreamer with multiple income streams to become a serial entrepreneur with a booming business empire.

Zeb is a focused achiever of high standing within community and business circles. He dropped out of university and walked the less-traveled path to find success. With a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio, it is easy to understate some of his other activities.

He is a passionate community builder involved in mentorship programs, philanthropy, and community initiatives. He swears by the motto that ‘the best investment you can make is in yourself. Zeb is passionate about creating generational wealth and empowering communities.

Social Media

https://www.instagram .com/ztsikira

https://www.facebook.com/ZebTsikira

https://twitter.com/zebtsikira

Mentorship

https://www.16weekinvestor.com

Table of Contents

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Social Media

CHAPTER ONE - ZIMBABWE: THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER TWO - CANADA: THE EARLY YEARS

CHAPTER THREE - MY OWN MAN

CHAPTER FOUR - WELCOME TO YELLOWKNIFE

CHAPTER FIVE - HELLO WORLD, WE ARE THE TSIKIRAS

CHAPTER SIX - INCOME STREAMS

CHAPTER SEVEN - EARLY CHALLENGES

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE FIRST INVESTMENT PROPERTY

CHAPTER NINE - SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR

CHAPTER TEN - REFLECTIONS

CHAPTER ELEVEN - LEGACY & PASSION FOR PHILANTHROPY

CHAPTER ONE - ZIMBABWE: THE BEGINNING

My story begins in the familiar comforts of the motherland, back home in Zimbabwe. I love hearing other people's stories as they give me a perspective on whomever I interact with. My curiosity is often inspired by how colorful my own life has been. I introduce myself to people by my name and describe myself as a self-made millionaire, real estate investor, entrepreneur, husband, father, and friend, depending on what the occasion demands.

There is a whole story to the person I am today. It carries a narrative that I enjoy sharing in the hope to inspire and lend my voice to the story of empowerment. After all, what would we be without our past? How can we secure the future without learning from our past? Looking back and sharing my story reflects my experiences and lessons I have learned in an eventful lifespan.

I grew up hearing popular phrases such as the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, still waters run deep and behind every successful man is a woman, among others. As such I naturally developed an interest in hearing stories told from the beginning as the formative stages are always packed with detail.

My own story as Zeb Tsikira somewhat starts in the middle but I will do my best to roll it as far back to the beginning as possible. I will throw it back to the time before I was born, according to my mother's narration.

My mother was a traditional healer, and the story goes that her meeting with my father was written in the stars. My mother had a dream or a vision where she was told about the man she was to marry. My mother said it was such a detailed vision down to the exact place and what she would say to my father. As fantastic as it sounds, everything came to pass, and my parents married.

Soon after, my parents tried to raise a family and experienced a painful period to conceive as they lost two babies before my birth. It seems the third time proved to be a charm as I entered the world and today, I will share the story. I became the firstborn male child in a family of 8, with an even distribution of four girls and boys.

I remember growing up and experiencing the incomparable vibes of childhood in Zimbabwe's second-largest city Bulawayo, known as the City of Kings and Queens, among other names. We stayed in a sprawling suburb called Nketa 7 in my early childhood. As another kid growing up in the city also known as 'Skies', I harbored dreams of taking to the skies one day and going to England. My dream was to play for my favorite soccer team Liverpool.

In stark contrast to my parents who were very jovial people, I was somewhat of a quieter disposition but easily made friends. My favorite soccer team Liverpool lives by a motto which says You’ll Never Walk Alone. Like the mighty Reds, I also never walked alone as I made several friends, despite being borderline timid.

My parents were always the life of the party and could light up any gathering with their hosting skills. Almost every weekend they would host parties at our home and our friends and relatives would come through for some fun times. I was never one for the spotlight then and would observe from the fringes as the party roared on, fuelled by classic songs of yesteryear. This was a time when the extended family would turn up and dance the night away with good music, food, and good cheer.

Being an ambivert, I would be content with just being part of the scene without taking center stage. Most African families often comprise extended family units. My mother's younger sisters were schooling in Bulawayo and staying with us at the time. I remember many times they would often tell me off for being quiet and letting my younger brother get away with a lot of mischief at my expense.

They always urged me to speak up for myself and were probably worried that I would turn out to be a pushover. No one quite knows how to press your buttons like your siblings when you are young, and my brother soon mastered the art of being an instigator. I rarely called him out much to my aunts' frustration. I preferred to let my single-mindedness speak out in other ways.

I was an average student and inwardly nurtured soccer aspirations as I was quite good at the game. My soccer activities were often the bone of contention with my parents whilst growing up. Typically, as with most African parents at the time, the sport was hardly a career path my parents envisioned for me. It would turn out to be a sticking point in parts of my childhood. They preferred that I direct focus on my studies and aspire to be a doctor, nurse, or lawyer, among other careers as opposed to professional sport. Those were the days when I unwittingly started showing a rebellious streak and inclination towards following my own will.

My love for soccer would soon bring my more free-spirited side to the fore. I was in love with the sport, and this often got me into trouble at home. Almost every time I got sent on an errand, I would end up taking a detour with my friends for some football. A 'few minutes' of football would inevitably turn into a marathon of competitive sporting fun as we lost track of time. I would usually remember my errands hours later and go back home to certain reprimands and punishment for my wayward ways.

Life in Nketa 7 was fun for a young boy growing up surrounded by friends and family. We stayed there for the longest time in my childhood, and I carry mostly fond memories of the place. I recall the warm African sun beating on my skin back in the day, the chilly winds of August, and the biting winter cold as well as frighteningly awesome thunderstorms during summer.

I also cherish memories of primary schooling as an era that, in retrospect, shaped my attitude in adulthood. I was fond of going my own way and not very keen on being a conformist, especially if I felt strongly about something. My small clashes with my parents over soccer brought out what seemed to be a rebellious streak in me. However, I managed to morph that single-mindedness into determination and benefitted from that in business.

The business was hardly my dominant thought from childhood, but I was always enterprising and finding small ways to make income. My entry into entrepreneurship started and peaked through buying and selling in high school. I used to save whatever money I got and buy what I wanted for myself. Sometimes my parents were unable to get me what I