Old Mutual On The Money
Old Mutual On The Money
Robot Boii on getting yourself into the right environment to catapult your dreams
It’s not easy for young South Africans to get their shot at a career they're passionate about. Our Head of Financial Education, John Manyike, sat down with musical superstar Robot Boii, who shared his tips on how to place yourself in the right environment and how that can catapult your dreams. With loads of powerful, practical insights, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
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Old Mutual 0:00
Welcome to the On The Money Podcast with John Manyike.
John Manyike 0:04
Today, we are joined by Mzi, commonly known as Robot Boii. I think he's a man who needs no introduction. I was just looking at his background. I mean, this man has got about minimum eleven income streams. And I think there's one more that I think he's going to reveal today. Mzi, how's it? . Tell us a little bit about where you grew up.
Robot Boii 0:25
I was born in Pimville, but then I was raised in the South.
John Manyike 0:30
So, you know, your dad - and I know today it's about you, but I mean, he's a legend. I mean, if you look at what he's achieved, I mean, he's been the voice.
Robot Boii 0:39
The voice of reason.
John Manyike 0:40
You know, the voice of reason indeed. How much influence did he have on you as a person?
Robot Boii 0:45
Remember, I'm still young at the time, so I'm not really cognizant of what's going on. Joy of the jazz festivals, we are backstage, you know, the crowds, the fans, the pictures. And only later it started hitting me. Oh, dad is a musician and like a big artist in the country. And then later, understanding his role and what he played and what he did for this country through music and poetry and what he fought for. So, it's an honor, it's a privilege. And of course, his DNA is also why I'm here today, you know what I mean? So, yeah, big influence to Mr Mbuli, Mr Mavinga FC.
John Manyike 1:20
Yeah. So, obviously for him, I mean, being an artist and performing, doing the kind of work that he was doing. I mean, one would expect that finances must have been a big issue. So, how did the money thing work at home? And what observations did you make in terms of how money was handled?
Robot Boii 1:39
So, I can only speak about my experience with money, but back home, I'm a kid, my mind is not asking, is there enough petrol to go back home? So, I can't like, but we were soft.
John Manyike 1:51
Yeah. You know, because at times, you know, children learn by observing, you know, what they see. If they see their parents being extravagant, it influences their perceptions and values about money.
Robot Boii 2:05
Yeah, I get what you're saying, but I was the kid that wasn't, I'm not much influenced by what I see, man. It's like now I'm in the industry of people that are extravagant. But I mean, I might drive a Polo, man, wear a jeans from Markham and just a proper t-shirt, I'm not. So, I get what you're saying. And it's like, my parents, we were standard man. We were living standard. Nothing too hectic, nothing too low, just standard and clean.
John Manyike 2:29
Okay. What sparked your interest in dancing?
Robot Boii 2:33
The Master’s era. I believe if you're a dancer or you know, of the masters era, you will know that thing changed the game. It was that wave where everybody was crumping. But over and above that, crews like Soweto's Finest, isbujwa, you know, Tom London to name him, actually. So, that's where the dancing thing came from, because obviously, as black people, it's in our blood, you know what I mean? Like, the rhythm is already there. So, it's something that you saw in the streets and in the culture. And then I found it's easier for me to implement what I see, so I don't have to learn a scratch. I see heel-toe-heel, okay, heel-toe-heel, okay. By the time I implement it, I'm like, okay, I'm good at this thing. So, that's what drew me into it. The fact that I was able to catch it quickly, and it's something I love doing and it came easy to me. And then that's how the dancing thing happened from what, grade six, seven, and then all the way into grade eight, nine, grade ten, hip hop started dancing hip hop. And then ever since, we haven't stopped.
John Manyike 3:38
Yeah. I see the moves are in your body. I mean, you do it with the greatest of ease. I mean, even when you're explaining, I see that my head was already spinning.
Robot Boii 3:48
Yeah like its rhythm, this thing is in us.
John Manyike 3:52
Did you ever think that your career in creative arts would explode the way it did?
Robot Boii 3:57
I did have that vision. I just didn't know what out of the arts would it be? So, I don't know if it would it be my hosting, emceeing, my dancing, the music? I don't know what. But I knew one of them, like, the creative. Like, what's going to take me out there is something creative.
John Manyike 4:17
Yeah. What do you attribute your success to?
Robot Boii 4:21
God, bro, like, God. The Bible says, “Seek first the kingdom, and all these things will follow.” And I believe that's what I did. I served God, I seeked God, and all my heart's desires came to path. And, you know, there's hard work and dedication, yes because faith without works is dead. You can't have the faith and not do the work. So, praying and trusting God while applying his word, like the success brings attention, and with the attention I preach Jesus. So, that's why you get the platform, and that's why God will elevate you, because you're doing his work. And if he's the one that's in charge of everything, then he's like my manager.
John Manyike 5:00
Okay, okay. So, how did your breakthrough come about? Somebody must have believed in you and said, I mean, this is a great talent. And maybe said, oh, come this way, you know, and try to contribute in some way to expose you there.
Robot Boii 5:15
The Internet believed in me. There's no gatekeepers on the Internet. Like, I say this all the time, because you can have a room full of ten people that have the power to create a decision. And if the ten people don't believe in your value, your skill, and you post something on social media, and that hits 2 million, with or without the influence or the power of the ten people in the room, it doesn't count, because the Internet says, 2 million people watch this thing. 2 million people like this thing. 2 million people. You know, so my entrance into the game and the space was through social media when I was doing the McDonald's videos, you know, as the McD guy. So, besides the little dancing, besides the emceeing, what really put me out like that was social media. People kept saying, I've seen your face somewhere. I've seen you. And through that, then I was working at Massive Metro with Dj Sbu, and then I met a lot of other industry faces that gave me other platforms to be on, platforms where other industry people are at. And that's where everything else started growing with all the other relationships.
John Manyike 6:21
I think you're saying something amazing there, because people have this thing that Internet is all bad, bad, bad. But it depends on what you get out of it. I mean, because the job of the future will be different. This thing of a nine to five, you know, for young people, when there's so much, so many opportunities on social media, the ability to create content. And actually, I mean, there's a guy, I just don't know his name, but I mean, he had millions, and he doesn't say anything. He doesn't say a word. But people like this guy.
Robot Boii 6:49
Oh, Khaby Lame?
John Manyike 6:51
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that guy.
Robot Boii 6:52
Shout out to Khaby.
John Manyike 6:52
So, I mean, imagine even when they close his, they shut down his account for some other reason. He starts from scratch. Within a week, he's got millions again. So, what would you say to young people? I mean, in terms of how they can build a career using Internet positively?
Robot Boii 7:10
So, everybody's always watching. Just because people aren't saying anything doesn't mean they're not watching. I make this example of people that work out and post their workouts on statuses. The day you stop posting a workout is when you'll get people say, haw, where's that workout? You're like, how are you asking me something you've never commented on? Because people are always watching in terms of a beneficial level. But not everybody's gonna give you, your flowers. So, it's when you give people certain things that they follow that only when you stop doing that thing is when you'll notice how many people actually noticed. And it'll come out even without them noticing. Hey, dawg, you no more post those morning verses of yours? Its like haw you used to see that. So, social media is there and the Internet is open and everybody's always watching. So, put your stuff out there like that. And a lot of times we have this battle between quality and standard. But if you think of the most viral videos, half of them are pixelations and just a random video taken by a random phone of someone doing something funny, and then the sound is taken and then everybody else jumps on that trend. But the original video of something that goes viral is not always shot in 4K HD. So, even that mentality of I'm waiting to get a better phone. Like, “Yo, do what you need to do what with what you have now and put it out.” Someone online is gonna say, this thing is dope, or this thing is fire. Because the Internet doesn't have gatekeepers, you know what I'm saying? They can, like, close you into your house and lock you in a room. And in that room, you create magic that will get you out of the country type of thing. So, the young people must just do that. Like, a lot of people are trying to get work but are sitting down. The train doesn't catch people at the station, it catch people at the next stops because it's a motion, this thing.
John Manyike 8:51
Look, in South Africa, we've got over 66% of young people are unemployed. What would you say they should be doing?
Robot Boii 8:58
That one is tricky because there's a thin line between just doing something for doing something and doing something because it will sustain your inner peace. Like, I'm against people being at a workplace that's deteriorating the character because now you're selling yourself short and for who you are. So, you at this place that's giving you a salary, but you're dying as a person versus being at a space where you're not getting much, but it's conducive to growth. And it's a space where you can at least learn something from someone every day. And it's like trying to find something that's there. Starting by volunteering, starting by being in a room where if I'm a musician and I want to do music, let me try go clean a music studio. You know what I mean? So, cleaning isn't my thing, but if I'm doing this job in this environment, I'll be closer to learning how to use fruity loops.
John Manyike 9:51
That's powerful.
Robot Boii 9:51
I'll be closer to meeting EMTEE. I'll be closer to seeing some. And then opportunity meets preparation.
John Manyike 9:57
Because you're in the 18 area.
Robot Boii 9:59
You understand. Opportunity means preparation. Then the one day, the one time you are prepared and someone comes late, it's like, “Yo, do you know how to work a camera?” Okay, let's shoot this part. And the guy that's been setting up the cameras is now shooting. Before he knows that he's part of the people that are shooting. Before he knows that he's part of the people that can be given a camera to go out, starts using his own camera, starts becoming a photographer you know. So, aligning yourself in, trying to place yourself in a space where you'd like to see yourself is an easier way to attain employment or be able to find something that can grow this talent that you want to groom in that type of space. You know what I mean? Like, before actually emceeing stages, I used to attend events and stand next to Melody Mia, you know, and watch and listen and learn, you know, and then, you know, then he’d do his thing because he's the MC for this thing. But now and then he'll just call me and say, Robot, lets show them the vosho, and now I'm dancing. I'm dancing. Then I leave, you know, and then the next event, now we co-emceeing, or he'll give me a mic and say, bro, let me go to the toilet, please hype them or please keep them entertained. Do you know what I mean? Those types of things. Now, opportunity means preparation. Had I not been there? I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to try something. I was in a space where I was working as a junior art director in an agency. So do you see how I'm trying to be in the advert? I want to be the face of an advert, but I can't yet because I don't have that yet. But now I was placed in a space where I'm sitting next to people that are pitching their ideas. So, there's a campaign for Old Mutual, and I'm in the room listening to how they pitching. Okay, let's try get someone that represents wealth. Let's try get someone. How can we work around? Now I'm sitting in a room where I want to host the SAMAS. And that's a true story. I used to do social media for the SAMAS, so we hosted, I think, two years back. Myself and Mpho Pops hosted the SAMAS. A year before that, we did social media campaign. A year before that, we did road to SAMAS. The year before that, I did a Facebook red carpet. Then the year before that, I was the guy with the phone that had the SAMAS account going to celebrities and saying, “Yo, please say, shout out to the SAMA 20.” Yo, what up? It's AKA Super Mega shout out to it. It’s cool. I like that. So, I'm trying to host it, but I started on the ground because I just needed to be in the room, you know what I mean, before getting the actual job. It's a broad conversation. It's a broad topic because, like, people are in different environments. They lack. Some people can afford to be in this environment, but they need transport to get from there to there. So, it's very detailed. But the easiest way in terms of your dream is to be around people that are where you want to see yourself, because you get to learn and grow in that space.
John Manyike 13:02
That's so powerful, man. In fact, as you were speaking there, I remembered there's a lady who was working back end, back office and doing subtitles for one of these soapies. And then after a while, she asked to be an extra. The next thing, she's an actress on Scandal. But she started by doing subtitles. I mean, to do subtitles.
Robot Boii 13:20
Is that true or is it a Scandal?
John Manyike 13:22
I saw what you did there.
Robot Boii 13:27
I'm kidding.
John Manyike 13:27
Yeah, you know, so I think what you're saying is so profound. You know, be in the 18 era, be where it matter, but find your passion. So, earlier on, I said I did a count. And I said, this guy, he's like a general dealer of all gigs. And I'm going to read all of them. And I just want us to maybe hone in on one or two.
Robot Boii 13:47
Okay.
John Manyike 13:48
So, one, you're a dancer, a rapper, actor, comedian, drummer, MC, voice-over artist, TV host, editor, photographer, brand endorsement, and now you have your own drink. That's twelve. I mean, how do you, how do you hold it down? I mean, all these things.
Robot Boii 14:11
That’s crazy. That's dope, actually. It's capacity, man. I don't have more hours than anybody else in the day. It's a battle of capacity. How are we all managing our time? How are we all structuring our day? Because if you think about it, I think the time now is like, what, ten something? Like your day can go by like this if you do nothing in it, as long as there's a blank canvas and it's creative, I’ll be able to apply myself to that. So that's what it is for me. Like, I do so many things because of time management and the fact that I'm a learner. None of the things you mentioned, I was born knowing. It's also learning. I'm a sponge to knowledge. I'll rather try something and fail to know I can't do it instead of assume I can't do it. So, it just so happens that half the stuff I've tried, I've then succeeded, then I've gone, “Oh, okay, cool.” So there's even other stuff I'm still trying that I'm still going to come out with that are going to be like, “Ah, there's another talent.” No, I'm learning, and I'm cooking in the back. The worst that can happen is you failing. And that's not a problem. Your fear of failure could lead you away from your purpose. And no one says you have to fail in public. Like, practice that backflip in your room for two months. By the time you do it on stage, it's perfect.
John Manyike 15:24
So, Mzi, making money-
Robot Boii 15:26
Let's go.
John Manyike 15:27
-is one thing. Managing it and growing it is another. So, how are you ensuring that you're building a long-term financial security for yourself?
Robot Boii 15:36
So, with money and future, long term, it's savings and investments, but also it's current lifestyle. I'm the last materialistic person, bro. And I think that's the thing. If you make money in it, it keeps being consumed by material, then of course, there won't be sustainability. So, already, if I'm not a substance person, if I don't drink, I don't smoke that substance out the way, because if you count substance, it's a large amount of money. If you count jewellry or valuables. Like, this was a gift from Mo Faya, and this was a gift from me to me. But this is like, personal stuff. That's just two items. I'm not consistently changing. I'm not consistently adding to a luxurious image. Do you know what I'm saying? So, simple dude that wears local clothes and dope drip and something dope doesn't have to be expensive. So, the lifestyle is simple, bro, the lifestyle is simple. And the money that comes in gets saved and is only used for purpose. So, purpose is if the bus needs to come out for a gig. That's petrol for the bus. If the team needs to come out, that salary for the team, the dancers are coming out. That's the dancers. There's no extra. Let's do extra what? And with the level that we're at, half the stuff we do for fun are probably bags. So, if Sun City says you'll pull up for a weekend. Now we're having fun at Sun City with activities, but it's cause of the brand alignment, and that's a bag and not an expense.
John Manyike 17:08
Yeah. Why do you think a lot of young people are trapped in materialism and instant gratification, you know, and spending money they don't have, you know, just to impress people?
Robot Boii 17:17
So, that's why I kept saying personally, and I kept mentioning me, because it's not a bad thing and to want to desire something because someone's level of, “I've done it. Well done. Congratulations, could be this chain”, which is the chain for me. I got this for my birthday. I said you happy birthday you know you worked, but someone else, it could be a car, and someone else could be a house. So, we can't really look and say, like, jurist living, because that's the personal you know, and Sibu Mabena said this very well on our podcast. She spoke about that. Like, we can't really judge someone for how they spend their money because you don't know what that's going to do for them to go. Now that I'm here, let me keep going and I'll get further. But to talk about the young people that are influenced into financial debt because of material, then that is basically a lifestyle thing where the industry almost sells this thing of saying, you're not cool if you're not wearing this brand. You're not this if you're not wearing that, you're not dope if you're not doing that. And technically, I feel like the work will speak for itself. So you can have the best dance challenges and the best hits and be the most relevant person without these things. So, here it is. Without the things, taa-daa it's possible. Then it changes the influence because there's the flossy, flossy glossy versus, but Robot, you know, so me, I can do it like Robot. Like, I can be in the industry and not drink. I can be in the industry and not, you know, mess around. I can be. So, that's where I think the template comes in, where the industry has that influence. But I think our role is to always remind the people that, “Look, with what you have, you can still do the work, because hard work beats talent when talent isn't good enough, and you can replace talent with material.”
John Manyike 19:19
Can you repeat, you hit us with the English there.
Robot Boii 19:21
Hard work beats talent when talent isn't good enough. But with that same sentence, you can place talent with material. Because if you can't drive to this venue with your big car, you can Uber to the venue and still do the work. Because hard work beats talent. So, a lot of people have the talent, but they don't have the hard work. And a lot of people have the materials or the resources, but hard work can still cover that. You know what I mean?
John Manyike 19:48
So, Mzi, we all learn by, you know, through our mistakes. What is the worst money decision you've ever made in your life?
Robot Boii 19:57
That's so hard, bro, like...
John Manyike 19:59
Or at least something that you say, you know what, I wish I could have done that differently.
Robot Boii 20:02
I don't know. Like, the thing is, I'm such an observant person, bro. Before even getting into the game, I like learned and I learned and I observed and I observe. I'm like a sponge to knowledge. A sponge doesn't ask if is this water cold, milk, juice? It just absorbs whatever liquid it is, it absorbs. So, that's what I've always done.
John Manyike 20:25
So, okay, let's switch it over then. What is the wisest money decision you've ever made?
Robot Boii 20:31
The wisest decision is investing in the image and the brand. You're not wasting money if it's going to make the brand look a certain way, because in this industry, brands are successful, careers die. So, don't build a career. Don't chase a career. You can start with a career, but with the intention to build a brand. Because what happens is, with a brand, you can change careers, but with a career, if I'm doing this and this stops, I'm done. But when you have a brand, you can have multiple careers or do multiple things because you're a brand.
John Manyike 21:11
I hear you're mentoring the young children in your church. I mean, what sort of projects are you involved in?
Robot Boii 21:17
It'll basically be a level of discipleship and a level of helping them understand where they are and who they are and how they can apply the word of God in wherever they are.
John Manyike 21:31
If you were to give a tip or two to young people about building their brand and handling the money thing. What would you say to young people?
Robot Boii 21:44
To the young people, as far as finances are concerned, there are certain things you can do without. I've heard this thing. I forgot where I heard it from. They said, “If you can't buy it twice, then you can't afford it.” And this is either with the shoe or with the car, with the house or whatever. But save the money you make and invest it in whatever is going to build you. If quality pictures make you more money, you buying a better lens isn't an expense, it's investing. Do you get what I'm saying? If Nike would only see me, if I had over 50 pairs of shoes, then every time I buy a shoe, I'm buying it to get to this point. Because after Nike, now I can go in any other room and say, by the way, “Nike, give me shoes.” What do you say? You know what I mean? If you are able to build a brand in what career you headed to, that's what needs to make sense. If you're good at sports and you playing tennis at school , and then you get money, why aren't you buying a racket and are you buying things that aren't gonna uplift what you're trying to build? I don't know if that makes sense. So, everything I used to spend money on was things that are building this thing. Like, with the drumming, the day I get my own drum kit, it's over. Because everything I've done so far was just from the basic level. But me buying a drum kit is not an expense because I'm growing this talent and I'm growing the skill. And now I can do drumming appearances or start playing for my favorite artist’s band as just like a friend. Do you know what I mean? Like, I love it. Even though I'm Robot Boii, I still want to play drums so I can grow the brand by doing sessions or teaching other people. Now, if I'm teaching other people how to play drums, that's another revenue stream of income because I've grown the skill of drumming, and now I'm at a place that I can teach because I can't try teaching you and finesse it because of my name, I need to grow my skill too. So, if I grow the skill by buying a drum kit and practicing, enough practice makes perfect. Now I'm perfect at this. Now I can teach. And that's how you build revenue streams and find ways to create certain things, you know, the day I open dance studio type of thing. So, I'm building the name by doing all these other dances, by attending every other dance studios, investing in them too with my brand. By the time I have my own, that's how it will come back to me. So, it's understanding that if you want to be a fitness model in high school and you get an income, buying those dumbbells that pull up bar is not an expense because you're slowly investing into your body. And by the time you in university, you the muscular guy, you find an agency that will cost you for modeling for agencies. And now you're modeling on TV. So, the money is there. It's just we thinking over now. So, there's money in my account. Let's go to Debonairs , Triple-Decker.
John Manyike 24:58
Wow.
Robot Boii 24:58
You know what I'm saying? Instead of the noodles that are going to last us for the whole month and we save the rest of it. Money's tricky man, because it's easier said than done. Like when it's here, even the walk changes. They say that's why at ATM gives you your card first instead of money because they say money changes a person, a person will take the money and leave their card .
John Manyike 25:22
Anyway, Mzi. Thank you so much, man. Thank you for your time.
Robot Boii 25:25
Thank you so much, John.
John Manyike 25:26
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