I often chuckle at headlines like ‘self-made multimillionaire’ because there aren’t really ‘self-made’ millionaires or billionaires. Sure, as an entrepreneur, you do most of the grinding by yourself until you hire the right people. But so many people help you along the way, from the support of your family to people who buy into your idea; for you to succeed as an entrepreneur, you need a lot of cheering and support along the way.
So these are some of the lessons I’ve learned so far:
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. When the going gets tough, because it will, you need to remember why you started.
You will need all the support you can get. This might be from family, friends, mentors and even your customers.
When starting a business, you might have a good idea of what service or product you will provide but 7/10 times, you will adjust your offering or how you offer it based on the feedback you are getting from your clients. So don’t be rigid.
Don’t be afraid of failure! I think its human nature to want to do the tried and tested method because there’s a level of safety in it. We know that it worked before and we think it will continue to work, but I have found that you can never grow if you don’t expand yourself.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I think it takes an entire tribe (family, friends, mentors etc) to become a thriving entrepreneur. Learn to lean in on your support system.
Have fun! Celebrate the small and the big wins.
Will you celebrate your journey as an entrepreneur by entering the 2019 EOY Awards? Do so on www.eoy.co.za
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