WHY BUSINESS AND ROMANCE DON'T MIX — ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA Let’s be honest: if there’s one thing that can finish your company faster than the economy or ZESA cuts — it’s mjolo at work (love relationships). Workplace relationships are the silent saboteurs of productivity. And if you’re a business owner, manager, or even the office tea lady, this is your reminder: “Your company is not a dating site. It’s not Tinder. It’s not Netflix & Chill Inc. This is a business. Respect it.” Your House, Your Rules – And Mjolo Must Stay Outside There’s a powerful book by Danny Kennedy called “No B.S. Ruthless Management of People and Profits.” In that book, he basically says: “If it’s your company, then it’s your house. Your house, your rules!” So if you want to declare that “No mjolo in my company,” guess what? You’re within your rights. In fact, put it in writing: No dating coworkers. No flirting in the storeroom. No side-eyes during lunch break. Why? Because mjolo messes things up — big time. Why Mjolo and Business Don't Mix – African Edition Let’s break it down. You're running a small but growing business in Lusaka, Harare, Nairobi, or Lagos. Everything is fine... until: One employee starts dating the other. The breakups begin. Suddenly, people are not talking, messages are being ignored. “I’m not working with him today.” “She left the cash drawer open on purpose!” Productivity goes from 100 to my uncle’s network at the border: zero bars. And worse, if YOU as the boss start dating your employees? My brother, my sister — pack your bags. You are digging your own grave... with a love letter. Don’t Turn the Office Into a Soap Opera Let’s face it — we’re already stressed in Africa. We don’t have time to be dodging glances and hearing “He broke my heart” in the HR office. We want to grow the business, pay salaries, and maybe, just maybe, afford chicken during the month (not just December). So when you allow mjolo at work: Your staff splits into “Team Sheila” and “Team Brian” WhatsApp groups become love battlegrounds. Lunch breaks become therapy sessions. And next thing, you’re losing clients because someone didn’t deliver — because “they were heartbroken.” Bosses, Keep It Professional Dear CEO, Founder, Manager — if you see a beautiful lady working for you and you start catching feelings, release her. Literally. Help her find a job somewhere else, and date her from there. Because the moment you start calling her “babe” in the office, your authority drops to the floor. And trust me, once other employees see the boss dating a junior staff member, you’ve lost control. Now every Friday turns into Kiss Friday, and KPIs start meaning Kissing People Inside. Keep the Love, Not the Drama We’re not saying don’t love. We’re just saying love wisely. In Africa, where businesses are already pushing against power cuts, forex issues, potholes, and load shedding — the last thing we need is “emotional load shedding” at the workplace. So repeat after me: No mjolo at work. If you love her, let her work somewhere else. Let the office stay clean, professional, and full of productivity — not pregnancy rumors, side eyes, and emotional damage. #thecharteredvendor #sellinglikeavendor #entreprenuership #mentorship