Konnected Minds Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: Why Dropping Out Was His Best Decision: From House Boy to Owning A Business
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Felix Efutu, Founder of McPathy (Plantain Chips Business)
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Konnected Minds explores the journey of Felix Efutu, who went from living as a house boy to building his own successful plantain chips business, McPathy. Host Derrick Abaitey delves deep into Felix's humble beginnings, the realities of entrepreneurship in Ghana, and how dropping out of university turned out to be his best decision. The episode offers candid insights into resilience, mindset, and the importance of giving back, aimed at inspiring young entrepreneurs, particularly those who start with very limited resources.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Background and Early Hardship

• No Academic Precedent in Family ([00:00])
  • Felix starts by revealing no one from his extended family had ever graduated from school. He is the first, having completed high school.
  • Quote: “There has never been any graduating the family. And then by the grace of God, I've completed high school and I started on my tabletop. I have a lot, I've been through a lot and I've experienced a lot. And that is what has really developed me to become who I am today.” – Felix [00:00]
• Felix describes missteps in managing early business growth, notably misappropriating funds and the dangers of assuming success can be easily replicated.
  • Quote: “I opened the branches, but disloyalty broke the branches. And that was when I learned my biggest lesson… Success comes from your experience.” – Felix [00:21]

2. Entrepreneurship in Ghana: The Real Picture

• Derrick asks Felix about the truth of doing business in Ghana ([00:44]).
• Felix admits the journey is grueling, but his purpose goes beyond profit.
  • Quote: “I'm not into business for money or profit. I want to impact life.” – Felix [00:49]
• Entrepreneurship is presented as both challenging and exciting due to the unique opportunities for learning in Ghana.
  • Quote: “It's very hard in this country, but it's also more enjoyable here. Like, there's a lot of fun doing business in Ghana.” – Felix [01:54]

3. Starting From Scratch & Overcoming Adversity

• Felix's business, focused on plantain products, began with a tabletop start-up ([02:08]).
• The journey was filled with emotional and practical hardship, including nights of crying and moments of gratitude that the vision persevered.
  • Quote: “There have been times I cry, there have been times I get overwhelmed and there are times I just have to be in the moment. I think such is life.” – Felix [02:15]
• Derrick highlights Felix’s reputation for supporting other entrepreneurs and celebrating their work, not just focusing on his own.
  • Quote: “You've literally just gone there to support other people who are building their businesses… Where do you find the joy to do that?” – Derrick [03:01]

4. Motivation for Giving and Supporting Others

• Felix shares that the desire to help comes from an internal sense of abundance.
  • Quote: “If you don't have abundance in you, you can also give up. So before you would think of helping someone or being in support of something, it has to come naturally for me.” – Felix [03:28]
• He stresses giving must come from a genuine, effortless place.

5. Educational Path and Family Upbringing

• Felix did not attend university ([04:02]).
• He provides a vivid narrative of a challenging upbringing in a broken home, bouncing between relatives across the city due to extreme poverty.
  • Quote: “I grew up from a broken home, from a very basic family where even feeding 3 square meal a day is always a challenge. And unfortunately, my parents couldn't really cater for my education.” – Felix [04:15]

6. Living as a House Boy and Learning Resilience

• Felix describes being “like a houseboy” to relatives who weren't direct family ([05:45]).
• These experiences, especially with an entrepreneurial aunt, instilled core values of discipline, hard work, and early business exposure.
  • Quote: “It was impactful because that was what has built my resilience and my confidence to where I am today.” – Felix [07:13]
• Daily routine included helping in a busy market shop before and after school, coupled with high expectations for academic, moral, and household performance.
  • Quote: “So I needed to sit up academically, I needed to sit up with my house choices and also I needed to also sit up with my morals.” – Felix [07:22]

7. Formative Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Felix credits his resilience and entrepreneurial mindset to a combination of strict discipline, adapting to drastically different environments (from Jamestown to East Legon), and practical business training from chores and shop work ([08:23]).
• The morning routine (listening for the radio segment as a cue to get ready) reinforced discipline essential for business success.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I didn't really misuse my money, but I misappropriated my money... disloyalty broke the branches. And that was when I learned my biggest lesson...” – Felix [00:16]
• “I'm not into business for money or profit. I want to impact life.” – Felix [00:49]
• “There have been times I cry, there have been times I get overwhelmed and there are times I just have to be in the moment. I think such is life.” – Felix [02:15]
• “If you don't have abundance in you, you can also give up… you have to have it in abundance in you and then you can freely give up. So it is something that I have in me. It's a natural gift.” – Felix [03:28]
• “I grew up from a broken home… even feeding three square meal a day is always a challenge.” – Felix [04:15]
• “It was impactful because that was what has built my resilience and my confidence.” – Felix [07:13]

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Felix on being the first in his family to finish high school and starting his tabletop business.
• 00:44 – The real truth about entrepreneurship in Ghana.
• 02:08 – Beginning the plantain chips business and facing early adversity.
• 03:01 – Discussion on Felix’s supportive role in other entrepreneurs’ success.
• 04:02 – Confirmation that Felix never attended university.
• 04:15 – Description of turbulent upbringing and frequent relocation.
• 05:45 – Becoming a “houseboy” and learning business from an entrepreneurial aunt.
• 07:13 – The impact of household discipline and early work on Felix’s resilience and confidence.
• 08:23 – How strict routines and chores cultivated his entrepreneurial mindset.

Tone & Language

Felix is honest, humble, and reflective throughout the discussion, often emphasizing gratitude despite hardships. Derrick is warm, supportive, and curious, drawing out Felix’s lessons for listeners seeking motivation and tangible guidance.

Summary Takeaways

• Resilience often grows from adversity. Felix’s journey underscores that hardship and strict discipline can forge entrepreneurial spirit.
• Success is not copy-pasteable; each context teaches its own lessons.
• True impact comes from purpose, not just profit.
• Building a business from nothing is possible, even without higher education or foreign support, if one develops grit and a mindset of service and learning.