In celebration of Woman’s month in August.
In celebration of Woman’s month in August, we are focussing on some of our female owned businesses in our various Cube Workspaces. Despite the range of diverse businesses, these women do have a things in common – they are all passionate, determined and committed to turning their ideas into a reality, building successful businesses and living a fulfilled life.
I have been self-employed since 2004 and wouldn’t have it any other way! The flexibility of being your own boss, making your own rules suits my character and is something I always strived for and in May 2004 my dream turned into a reality.
As with most business, advertising that really works!
Work Hard. There truly is ‘no rest for the wicked’, when you work for yourself.
Perseverance pays, patience is key.
Seek the advice of my mentors and husband.
Taken the leap of faith and courageously forging my path in this ever challenging competitive market.
Statistics show that most small businesses do not make it past two years. If yours does, you’re doing something right. Keep going!
YouTube, you can watch and learn as you earn!
"Be the best version of yourself that you can be, everyone else is taken" – Unknown.
"Anything you choose to believe, you will find data to support" Dr. Stephen Covey.
Ever since I was a young girl I wanted to own my own business. I started selling sweets, then made bids and sold them. I used to read a lot about entrepreneurs and dreamed of owning a very successful business.
Capital was my biggest challenge but I was lucky to get investors.
Believe in yourself and that hard times pass.
Perseverance pays, patience is key.
I take some time out and think, after that I consult with my mother or business partner.
Risk it all to build my business. Business goes through lots of challenges and sometimes you have to risk everything you have to keep your business and dream alive.
Business is hard but if you really love what you do, it won’t feel like hard work.
I read other successful entrepreneurs biographies. I always learn something new or see myself in them which motivates me.
Never quit!
Founder and Owner of 33 Emeralds
www.thirtythreeemeralds.com
Co-founder of Sync the Future
www.syncthefuture.com
I wanted to do things differently, to explore what I could achieve, without some of the limitations that naturally come when working as an employee in a larger organisation. I had just returned to South Africa from almost 14 years in the UK – it seemed like the perfect time and things just fell into place.
Unpredictability - balancing the ‘too much’ and ‘too little’. In quieter months you action everything you can as you worry about your pipeline. In busier months, you’re not sure how you’re going to handle it all.
Learn how to pull yourself out of the business. That means building it in such a way that you do not need to be involved in everything all the time. At first this seems so far from reach, after all, you form relationships with people, they buy into what you do, that trust you hold means everything. After a time you learn that standing back is good for you, and for your business, it also provides space and opportunity for others to grow. One of my business goals was to create opportunities for others through the ideas we have and the work we do. That doesn’t happen in the same way if your business is mostly about you.
I’d buy myself a copy of Eric Reis’ Lean Start-Up, and read it. Then I’d read it again!
Tackle it with all I have. Often the big challenges are the best grounds for growth – personally and for the business.
Challenged organisational systems, processes and egocentric behaviours that deliver benefits for a select few, that are not sustainable, and that do not serve us as human beings. I have done this in client meetings and on the conference platform. It’s time to think about success in a world with less growth, and what that means for each of us individually, and as a collective.
Every day teaches something. Focus on learning though what doesn’t work and don’t let that eat into your vigour for crafting something new. Be humble. Be focused. It is intensely rewarding to craft work that you love do to. The hard times fade into insignificance in service of a larger ‘why’.
Use your networks! As women we do not do this enough.
Favourite? I have a long list.
Books:
Lean Start-Up – Eric Reis
Originals – Adam Grant
Start with Why – Simon Sinek
Tools:
Lego Serious Play
GC Index
"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you ought to set up a life you don't need to escape from.” Seth Godin
“Sure, ideas that spread win. But ideas that don’t get spoken always fail.” Seth Godin
Owning your own business is the essence of independence and gives you the opportunity to focus where your energy will give the most fruitful results.
Relevant information to ensure accurate decisions are made.
Work smart – do your research, take the time required to make informed decisions so not to waste time.
There’s no point – I would have followed my own head anyway.
Put it aside, then mull it over for a while, then discuss it with my husband and sometimes call my financial advisor if it is an investment challenge.
Sold my business – though it was an offer I couldn’t refuse, the thought of not going back to the office was a daunting one. In a way it is the fear of starting over that has to be overcome.
Building good and worthy relationships is essential to success – a friendly smile and greeting gets you much further than advertising will.
At the moment, I depend on banking apps, investment reports and property trends – my favourite magazine from which I learn the most and judge world science trends is BBC FOCUS magazine.
“A head filled with dreams has no room for fear.”
Strategic Director
Fuxion
When I started my company it was by pure fluke, the 9-5pm was no longer working for me and I knew no matter which company I moved to I would be faced with the same monster. I had no business plan or any clue where to start.
Where to start coming from a structured environment and suddenly you are all departments in one and you have to learn to structure the business so it can operate and start generating income.
Success is not overnight, a lot of tenacity and hard work is required, never lose faith it eventually comes together.
Breathe it’s going to be a long road ahead. Gather enough support and spend time defining the vision.
Take time and pray. The best decisions I have ever made comes from listening to the inner voice and shutting out the noise around one.
Keep walking this path despite the evidence suggest that I should quit.
Business is a game of feast and famine.
Google and Entrepreneur Magazine.
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time" – Maya Angelou
"The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free.”― Oprah Winfrey
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