In my last Substack, “The Heart of Make it rAIn,” I peeled back the layers of my voice and mission, the raw drive to ignite that entrepreneurial plunge. I shared how I’ve realigned to my true north: championing self-determination through honest trade, rejecting dependency, and empowering individuals to master their destiny.
Today, let’s build on that. I’ll take you on a journey through the vision and mission that fuel me, and show how this reset is exploding into action.
Picture this: A world where people earn their freedom through honest trade, standing on their own two feet, rising against adversity, and enjoying dignity through production. That’s the vision I’ve chased since ditching the corporate ladder at Microsoft to build Blacfox and other ventures.
Honest trade isn’t just about transactions; it’s liberation. When you produce something others willingly pay for (be it a SaaS tool, a consulting service, or a handmade craft) you unlock creative power and self-worth. I’ve seen it in bootstrapped founders who claw their way from zero revenue to thriving enterprises, and in rainmakers who turn pressure into flow. This vision rejects overextended welfare that dulls ambition, or policies that punish productivity. Instead, it celebrates commerce as a force multiplier for good, where voluntary exchange builds prosperity for all.
But visions alone don’t change lives; they demand a mission. Mine? To equip rainmakers with unbreakable mindset, proven marketing methods, and transformative tech to launch enterprises and monetise value. Rainmakers aren’t just entrepreneurs; they’re anyone under revenue pressure: commission sellers, demand-gen marketers, execs owning the number. I focus on you because you’re the engines of the real economy - the ones trading actual products and services. Let’s break it down.
First, mindset: It’s the spark. I evangelise a “get up and go” attitude, echoing that there’s no entitlement, only earned success. I keep striving to shatter my own self-limiting beliefs, from exiting Microsoft amid doubts to navigating Blacfox’s early struggles. Now, I push others to take their own plunge.
Then, marketing methods: I share tried-and-tested tactics from my my own business ventures, which act as labs. No textbooks; only what I’ve done.
Finally, transformative tech: AI isn’t a buzzword; it’s your force multiplier. But I warn: it’s a tool. Focus on real-economy contributions, not gimmicks.
This journey, from mindset ignition to marketing mastery, is personal. I’ve tested it in my ventures, from the online training business teaching value creation to AMA New York uplifting marketing’s purpose. My vehicle? I build in my companies and broadcast what works, using my voice to evangelize at scale—Substacks, books, courses, events. No sensationalism; just honest observation inducing natural laws for your breakthroughs.
Now, this realignment isn’t idle talk; it’s roaring to life. First, my brand-new podcast launches this month, staying laser-true to my north. In the debut, I interview Gavriella Schuster, former Microsoft Corporate Vice President and a powerhouse in cloud transformation and AI. With over 30 years leading global teams, she’s reimagined partner ecosystems and now advises on boards, emphasizing inclusive growth. We’ll dive into mindset shifts for rainmakers, leveraging tech like AI to shatter barriers, and real stories of rising against adversity. It’s raw, actionable. Tune in to fuel your plunge.
Then, on November 13, we’re hosting a can’t-miss event at the Microsoft premises in South Africa. I’m bringing Orlando Ayala, a legendary force from Bill Gates’ senior leadership team, to connect with partners. Orlando, who retired after overseeing 40,000 people across 115 subsidiaries, transformed Microsoft’s global sales and emerging markets strategy. His journey from Colombia to Microsoft’s executive suite embodies rising against the tide. Expect insights on mindset, marketing in the AI era, and tech-driven profitability. If you’re a Microsoft partner, this is vital - register now.
Finally, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) recently launched “Partnering with AI,” an online course I co-created as a companion to my book, Age of Agency. It’s packed with practical tools to rise with AI, from mindset rewiring to tech integration for monetisation. Applications are open; check it out. As far as I know, GIBS is still offering signed copies of my book with enrolment, but spots are limited.
This is Make it rAIn in motion. If you’re ready to trade hesitation for action, join me. Let’s build a world of self-determined producers. What’s your next plunge?
Make it rAIn, KG