Ideas That Matter Podcast by Vusi Thembekwayo

Episode: “I borrowed $35 to take my kids to the movies: Ideas That Matter Plus Sneak Peek”

Date: November 5, 2024
Host: Vusi Thembekwayo
Guest: Kasim Walker

Episode Overview

In this inaugural episode of “Ideas That Matter Plus,” Vusi Thembekwayo explores the power of struggle, resilience, and finding purpose (“the why”) in entrepreneurship and life. The conversation centers on the personal journey of Kasim Walker, a St. Kitts-born, New York-raised entrepreneur whose life story exemplifies the power of perseverance and adaptability. Through open, intimate dialogue, Vusi and Kasim tackle themes like generational struggle, sacrifices for family, the immigrant experience, entrepreneurship, and the hidden costs—and rewards—of chasing your dreams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Impact and Global Reach

• The episode begins with audio messages from listeners Lakson (Zimbabwe/US) and Patrick Zinkamban (Malawi), both expressing how Vusi’s teachings have tangibly impacted their lives and businesses.
• [00:01] Lakson: Shares his story of being inspired and mentored by Vusi, leading to significant progress and membership in the Club100 platform.
• [02:01] Patrick: Describes how, with Vusi’s guidance, he built a successful agricultural business before graduating college, asking for advice on maintaining consistent results.

2. Genesis of 'Ideas That Matter Plus'

• Vusi gives a brief history of the podcast and explains the vision behind expanding from audio to video—bringing not just “famous” people but everyday individuals with potent, relatable stories.
• [04:00] Vusi: “Everything we hold to be true was once an idea...Some ideas matter because they move us forward and some ideas that don’t.”

3. Kasim Walker’s Early Life: The Struggle as Foundation

• Caribbean Childhood & Family Roots
  • Kasim recalls growing up in St. Kitts, migrating at 12 to New York City, and highlights his diverse heritage via an ancestry test (Nigerian, German, Scottish).
  • [11:34] Kasim: "Most times we're not aware of where we come from and what makes up our DNA."
• Raised by a Village
  • The absence of his mother (who migrated early for work) and the absence of his father meant the village “raised” him in St. Kitts, experiencing support, love, and hardships.

4. Immigrant Adjustment & Values in New York

• Vusi and Kasim discuss the contrast between Caribbean village life and New York’s “concrete jungle.”
• [16:31] Kasim: “As an island boy, you learn to appreciate hardships...city life—it's embrace your struggles. It’s do or die. Sink or swim.”
• Kasim reflects on how these dual experiences shaped his grit, adaptability, and appreciation for struggle.

5. Challenges, Family Sacrifice, and the Immigrant Parent’s Perspective

• Vusi touches on immigrant parents' primary aspiration: raising “good children” and avoiding drawing attention as outsiders.
• Kasim recalls humorous yet telling stories about challenging authority, breaking parental rules, and how his mom’s lack of pressure became a blessing.
• [20:20] Kasim: “Everything I tried, she supported it, not even knowing what it is.”

6. Choosing an Unconventional Path: Wall Street Without College

• Kasim describes the defining moment in high school that pushed him toward Wall Street: a fake stock trading challenge.
• [22:18] Kasim: “Wait – your money can make money?... Went online... Wall Street—what is Wall Street? That’s where I’m going. My friends went to college. I told them, ‘I’m going to work twice as hard as them.’”
• He earns a Wall Street job through hustle and hunger, not credentials: cold calling 2,000 people per day; he learns the art of persistence and dealing with “unfairness.”

7. Resilience in the Face of Unfairness

• Kasim shares the story of losing a client $300,000 and being told to ask for more investment despite this—a test of nerve and persuasion.
• [25:02] Kasim (on sales rebounding): “The timing was wrong, but the path was right.”
• Vusi draws the lesson: “It’s unfair. But somebody has to make that call.”
  [27:01] Vusi: “Do you feel like a big part of your life has been just understanding that you don’t always get dealt fair?”

8. Corporate Hustle, Setbacks, and Pivoting

• After a fallout at the brokerage, Kasim transitions to FedEx, moving up quickly—but faces recurring unfairness (being moved just before major accolade, undercompensated for high performance).
• [34:47] Kasim: “It’s unfair that I’ve done so many things to be here. And now that I’m about to reach this level, it’s now stripped from me…”

9. Entrepreneurial Leap Amid Uncertainty

• Vusi outlines three entrepreneurial archetypes: DNA entrepreneurs, default entrepreneurs (thrust into entrepreneurship), and intentional designers.
• Kasim identifies as a blend, having been forced by circumstance after being let go from FedEx and motivated by under-recognition rather than complaint.
• He starts a cleaning business (“Clean Right”) in St. Kitts—not in the crowded US, but in a smaller market where he could dominate.
  • [41:31] Kasim: “Why not go down to a pond where I’m playing in the sandbox by myself?... Bring that skill, that competitiveness... to a place where it’s more relaxed.”

10. Surviving the Startup: Red Ink, Doubt, and “The Why”

• The emotional core: Kasim recounts struggling to keep the business afloat, pouring in personal savings, borrowing from friends and credit cards, even hiding his car from repossession.
• Expanded on the “$35 Movies” moment:
  • [48:32] Kasim: “Take them to the movies... you’re so absent as a father, so you try to cling on to anything that can make them feel your presence. But how do you go from having a little something... to now fighting for $30?...You’re sharing popcorn between three of you.”
• Friends, family, even his mother beg him to stop, fearing the toll. But Kasim clings to hope, conviction, and the small signs of progress.

11. Breakthrough and Redemption

• Against all warnings, with everything on the line, Kasim takes “just one more bet” with borrowed money. The risk pays off—his business finally turns around.
• [54:07] Kasim: "That bet changed everything... the best feeling, when you saw your account went from negatives... and you have a couple hundred thousand dollars. I went to a restaurant on my own... Lobster and shrimps... just me."

12. Defining the Real 'Why'

• The episode climaxes with a meditation on purpose:
  • [57:40] Vusi: “In all of these struggles... what is the idea at the back of your mind that keeps you going when the world says don’t?”
  • [59:14] Kasim: “The one word I’m going to give you is: why?... My why is my family and my friends... I had to be that example for them to now be able to believe that they can do the things that they probably want to do... the why was bigger than me.”
• The “why” transcends self—he positions himself as an example for friends, family, his children, and his Caribbean community.

13. Reflection and Gratitude

• Kasim credits Vusi’s YouTube videos for providing much-needed comfort, perspective, and practical guidance during his most trying entrepreneurial phases.
• Vusi notes the fulfillment of seeing his “seed” land on real lives, more important than mere social media metrics.
  • [64:24] Vusi: “Behind the metric is the meaning of the person whose life has changed.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Embrace your struggles... don’t complain about it, don’t rebuke it, but make it a part of you.”
  — Kasim Walker, [17:29]

• “It’s unfair. But somebody has to make that call.”
  — Vusi Thembekwayo, [27:01]

• “The timing was wrong, but the path was right.”
  — Kasim Walker, [25:02]

• “As an entrepreneur, if you could identify your why and hold that close to you, I think you could overcome many situations.”
  — Kasim Walker, [60:52]

• “I told my mom, you know, forget about college, I’m going to Wall Street...My friends who went to college, they all did. And I told them, I’m going to work twice as hard as them.”
  — Kasim Walker, [22:18]

• “There are thousands of podcasts where you can watch [famous people]... I want guests to help my community members grow.”
  — Vusi Thembekwayo, [06:00]

• “You weren’t the dad that was missing and out playing. You were the dad that was missing and out building.”
  — Kasim Walker, [61:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01 – 02:50] | Listener messages from Lakson and Patrick: Real-world impact of Vusi’s work
• [03:58 – 08:24] | Introduction: Podcast vision & shifting to “Ideas That Matter Plus”
• [08:24 – 12:53] | Kasim’s upbringing in St. Kitts, migration to NYC, and family context
• [13:30 – 15:55] | Culture shock: Caribbean village to New York hustle
• [16:31 – 19:08] | Values learned, resilience, and blending struggle with hustle
• [21:11 – 25:45] | Wall Street without a degree: “Money makes money,” learning sales through adversity
• [27:01 – 29:44] | Life lessons: Fairness, entrepreneurship, and Mission Impossible attitudes
• [32:26 – 35:32] | FedEx journey: Fast-track promotions, setbacks, and lessons in patience
• [36:53 – 39:57] | Transition to entrepreneurship: Getting “pushed” into business after retrenchment
• [41:10 – 44:37] | Launching Clean Right: Choosing a small market, focusing on reliability, the limits of business plans
• [47:55 – 50:38] | The “$35 Movie” story: Borrowing just to share a moment with his children—defining personal lows
• [53:22 – 54:51] | Going “all in” on one last business bet: Taking risks, ignoring pleas to stop, and finally winning
• [57:40 – 61:59] | The significance of “Why”: Family, example, breaking community conditioning
• [62:49 – End] | Vusi & Kasim’s mutual gratitude, reflection on inspiration, and aspirations for the show’s tone and impact

Tone and Language

The dialogue is direct, motivational, empathetic, and often humorous—marked by humility, honesty, and a shared recognition of hardship and possibility. Vusi’s questions are probing but warm; Kasim’s storytelling is vulnerable, sometimes raw, and always geared toward helping listeners find purpose in their own struggles.

Summary Takeaways

• Struggle and unfairness are not only inevitable—they’re actually essential to extraordinary growth.
• Knowing your “why” can anchor you through every season, especially when support is scarce and struggle seems endless.
• Entrepreneurship often isn't a heroic leap but a gritty, reluctant pivot—survival, learning, and relentless adaptation.
• Leadership and inspiration can ripple outward from the most ordinary of backgrounds.
• Personal stories, honestly told, resonate more deeply and instructively than any theory.

This first “Ideas That Matter Plus” episode is both a powerful, practical meditation on resilience and a call to examine your own “why.”