Johannes Shikongo's workshop in the Wanaheda area of Windhoek does not look like the headquarters of a business that started from unemployment just four years ago. Today, five full-time employees work from a converted shipping container turned electrical supply depot, and the company handles residential, commercial, and industrial contracts across central Namibia.
From Job Hunting to Business Building
In 2021, Johannes was 34 years old and had been unemployed for eight months. He held a Red Seal electrical certificate from Namibian Training Authority and had worked on construction sites in Walvis Bay, but contract work dried up when the project ended. Day after day, he visited job centers and dropped off CVs at building supply stores. Nothing materialized.
"I remember sitting at home one Tuesday and thinking, I have tools. I have skills. I have a phone. Why am I waiting for someone else to give me a job?" Johannes recalls. That afternoon, he called five people he had worked with before and asked if they knew anyone who needed electrical work. One of them — a site supervisor at a housing development — said yes.
The First Gig and the Breakthrough
Johannes wired three houses in the Pionierspark extension for N$4,200 total. It took him five days. The developer was impressed, and word spread to another developer, then a shop owner, then a church committee. Within three months, Johannes was working six days a week and turning down jobs because he could not handle the volume alone.
"The problem was not finding work anymore. The problem was managing it. I had notes on paper, appointments in my head, and customers calling at all hours. I lost two big jobs because I double-booked myself and had to cancel."
Finding the Right Platform
A cousin told Johannes about PositivePro in late 2021. At first, Johannes was skeptical. "I thought, this is for young people who do computer things. I fix wires." But he created a profile anyway, uploaded photos of completed wiring jobs, listed his certifications, and set his service areas to Windhoek and Rehoboth.
The first booking came within two weeks — a homeowner in Klein Windhoek who needed a distribution board upgrade. The customer found him through the platform, read his reviews from earlier customers, and booked without haggling over price. "That was when I understood. The platform does the selling for you. Your work speaks for itself."
Building a Team
By mid-2022, Johannes could no longer work alone. He hired his first apprentice — a young man from the neighborhood who had completed his electrical theory but lacked practical experience. Johannes trained him on-site while they worked together. Today, that apprentice is a qualified assistant who manages residential jobs independently.
The team grew to five people: two qualified electricians, two apprentices, and an administrator who handles scheduling, invoicing, and customer communication. "I made a rule early on," Johannes says. "Everyone who works for me must treat every house like it is their mother's house. Respect the property, explain what you are doing, and clean up after. That is why our reviews are the way they are."
Lessons from the Journey
Johannes shares three pieces of advice for professionals starting out:
- Start before you are ready. "I did not have a business plan or a company registration when I took that first job. I had skills and willingness. The formal structure came later, when I could afford it."
- Document everything. "Take photos of your work. Keep receipts. Record customer details. I only started doing this properly after I lost track of a big invoice. Now, our admin handles it all digitally."
- Invest in your online reputation. "Every customer who leaves a review is doing you a favor that keeps giving. I always ask, and I always say thank you. On PositivePro, our rating is our billboard."
What Is Next
Johannes plans to expand to Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo within the next two years. He is also exploring solar installation certifications to tap into Namibia's growing renewable energy market. "The country is changing. More people want solar. More businesses need reliable electricians. I want to be the name they think of first."
From unemployment to employer, Johannes Shikongo's story is proof that with skill, persistence, and the right tools, Namibian professionals can build businesses that change not only their own lives but the lives of everyone they hire along the way.