I think this is one of the root causes for the dismal state of the nation. Just check out the response of these ELITISTS to the question: "What has been your worst business decision?" More than half out of the 18 business leaders that were question by Fortune failed to honestly respond to what they think is their worst business decision was. Even the once that responded, they did so in a vague and general terms that can't be considered a full acknowledgement of failure. I think this is at the heart of the problems why we Ethiopians are failed citizens and why our nation is a failed state by all measures. I think the below so-called "leaders" responses are a reflections into our society's failure to accept failure and work hard to fix those failures. It is specially troublesome when our leaders in all sectors (politics, religion, business, or otherwise) FAIL again and again to stir the public in the right direction by acknowledging their mistakes publicly and honestly and attempt to correct them.
To be fair, there are few that appear to have honestly answered this question and I have a lot of respect for such people and leaders.
Anyways, here snap shot of the responses this leaders gave to Fortune. To read the complete responses please go here.
1. Ambachew Abraha, managing director, Ethiopian Shipping Lines
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. There has not been one.
2. Begziabher Alebel, general manager, Ultimate Plan Plc
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. Nothing that I recall.
3. Biniam Berhe, general manager, Country Trading PLC
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. There is not one that I recall.
4. Berhanu Getaneh, president, United Bank
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. ----- (I don't think he even bothered to answer this one!)
5. Getu Gelete, owner, Getu Commercial Centre
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. I do not hastily make business decisions. Rather, I make decisions after careful evaluation. (This guy seems to self aggrandizing!)
6. Habte-Selassie Tafesse, general manager, International Business Plc
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. A decision the consequences of which affect negatively people other than myself.
7. Muluwork G. Hiwot, general manager, Brehanena Selam Printing Enterprise
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. It's not my worst decision, but the hardest is to discipline staff and sack them, knowing that they may not find another job easily. That part is hard.
8. Salvatore de Vita, general manager, Salvatore de Vita & Family PLC.
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. I have been lucky: I do not think I have made one.
9. Tadesse Tilahun, CEO, National Oil Company (NOC) Ethiopia
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. Though unavoidable, firing people is the decision I hesitate to take.
10. Tsegaye Abebe, general manager, Ethio Flora PLC
- Q. What has been your worst business decision?
- A. I do not have one I made and call it worst but I consider the worst kind of business decision would be entering a short-term and baseless business.
