South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
In search of financial stability, Kisinger Henry Joseph, a former teacher at Yei Day Secondary School, left his low-paying teaching job to pursue a more vibrant and creative path.
Driven by a desire for financial freedom, Henry ventured into a retail mixed goods shop, which now serves as his primary source of income.
In 2018, Henry Kisinger quit teaching to establish his business in Yei River County, starting with just 100,000 South Sudanese pounds.
His shop is located on Soba Street, the oldest market in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State.
“I started my business back in 2018, inspired by the need to achieve financial independence,” said Henry.
“I wanted to have enough to meet life’s necessities, so I began my retail mixed goods shop with just 100,000 South Sudanese pounds.”
Henry explained that he left teaching to break the tradition of remaining in a single job.
“I quit teaching to pursue this venture and disrupt the notion of clinging to a job as a means of survival,” he said.
“I’m not saying a job is bad, but one shouldn’t hold on to it for a lifetime. By the age of 35 to 40, we should consider starting our own businesses rather than worrying about unemployment.”
He noted that his business has led to multiple streams of income, contributing to his financial freedom.
“My goal was to establish a business that creates diverse income sources to achieve financial independence, and I am making progress towards that, as I have already begun implementing these plans.”
He mentioned that his business enables him to support a family of about ten people, fulfilling all their basic needs.
“My main advantage is that since starting this business, I have not run out of money, and this venture is a significant step towards prosperity.”
He expressed his enjoyment in running the business after dedicating himself to it.
“What I enjoy most is the freedom of managing my own investment and the assurance of a secure future. In fact, I can’t say there’s anything I dislike about business, as it’s what I have chosen to commit myself to,” he said.
Looking ahead, he hopes to achieve wealth and complete financial independence within the next five years.
“If you have a strong financial mindset, even with limited resources, you can reach your goals through hard work, patience, sacrifice, and delaying gratification to protect your initial capital,” he said.
He encouraged young people to start businesses with the small capital they have and nurture them into successful enterprises.
“My message to the youth is to NEVER wait for jobs if they are unavailable; just start businesses with what you have and where you are,” he urged.
“For those already in salaried positions, you can keep your job but consider starting a side business to secure your future.”
He concluded, “A job can be a trap; don’t find yourself unprepared if you lose your job or retire without having anything to fall back on.”
Kisinger Henry Joseph, once a dedicated educator at Yei Day Secondary School, spent years shaping young minds in the classroom.
Despite his passion for teaching, he struggled to find financial security. Realizing the limitations of his salary, he made the bold decision to transition into business.
With creativity and determination, Kisinger built a new path that offered both personal fulfillment and financial independence proving that with the right mindset, it’s possible to reinvent oneself without looking back.
