A word to my South African entrepreneurs
You better believe this….
In my observation as a business coach in the South African business landscape, our government is trying its best to support small business owners. This support however doesn’t reach small business owners that needs it. There’s a lot of red tape that we go through as business owners, with the result that we end up not getting this support from government. As a result, most small business owners find themselves in “tendering”(getting contracts from government). Tendering itself is not for everybody. Contracts circulate in the hands of the few.
I was been chastised the other day in a certain Facebook group when I mentioned that “tenders” will soon be ” a thing of the past”, because they are not serving the purpose they were created for initially. Most people in that Group felt strongly that tenders will never go away.
But we’ve heard what the Premier of the Northern Cape Dr Zamani Saul, said about tenders.
A New Trend of Entrepreneurs soon to emerge……
In his speech EFF CIC Julius Malema
when celebrating their 6th Years anniversary told his supporters that South Africa should open borders for our fellow Africans to enter and stay in South Africa as Africa belongs to Africans. Now we know who we are talking about. These are determined soldiers who run after opportunities. They grew up seeing their role models hustling. They master the world of hustling. Those that are in South Africa already, have mushroomed, and they are making it in whatever they do, while we as South Africans are fighting over tenders. As South Africans, we don’t want to start from the bottom and learn the robes. At least not all of us. Here me out, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong in doing business with big organizations like government.
Most Zimbabweans are residing in South Africa, doing odd jobs like catering, caretakers, petrol attendants, security guards, cleaning jobs etc., and these are individuals who most are well educated.
I was in a restaurant served by a wonderful Zimbabwean waiter, and we ended up talking about a possibility of Zimbabweans going back home. She indicated that most Zimbabweans really are waiting for their country to pick up economically, and they will happily go back home. But what was of interest to me is that she said: “mama for the 4 years that I have been in South Africa, there’s a lot I’ve learned in the hospitality industry, to the extend that when I go back home, with the knowledge I acquired, I’m going to open my own restaurant.” WOW! I was so impressed.
The second case is that of a young Zimbabwean Uber driver. In some cases, I get Uber from one place to another. This Zimbabwean Uber driver told me that it was His car. And I thought, Oh, you must have had a good job to buy yourself a car? He said, No. We are a group of Zim brothers and we are in a stockvel where we buy each other cars. He said most of them own two cars and they are all operating under Uber and Taxify. So he has an employee already? a driver of the other car that he owns?
You better believe this…
If South Africa opens borders for all Africans to stay and work here, (which will be a good thing), there’s going to be stiff competition for a fellow South African who doesn’t want to do odd jobs and learn how the industry works. Imagine if the two people I mentioned earlier, do their businesses in South Africa? the one opening her restaurant, and the guy who already owns two cars under Uber, who do you think they are going to hire as their employees? ( I will leave you to ponder on the answer).
You better believe it. A new trend of entrepreneurs are emerging. Its only a matter of time.
Here’s a word to a South African entrepreneur who’s business is based on tenders: ” Can you step into a Ghanaian boardroom and pitch for a contract?” (or any other African country for that matter)?
You better believe it, we are getting there. That will be exciting times indeed, for those who has up skilled themselves with proper business skills.
Here’s what I am trying to say, entrepreneurs should learn how to do business. Develop the skills, acquire knowledge of how to run a profitable business. In the near future, favors won’t work. There will be stiff competition for limited resources.
Among many reasons why South African small businesses fail, as previous studies have shown, is that there are three common factors that lead to failure:
1. They get stuck
They worry a lot, and want to be perfect. What if I fail? What if people don’t buy from me? What if, What if…and they end up being trapped and do nothing. And that’s when the business goes down.
2. They don’t have goals
Who can be successful at anything without aiming for it? Set a goal, and then work towards it.
3. Lack of focus
This is a major distraction. There are lots of noise and ideas out there, and if you don’t have goals that you are aiming at, it’s easier to get lost in the noise. You will get disrupted, move in circles and will never attain any milestone in your business.
If you want to find out how we can assist you to overcome, procrastination, lack of direction and focus, not knowing how to set proper goals, or any other challenge that you are currently facing in your business, contact us at:
info@maliscoaching.com.
For Your Support Always
Bontle Mali: Business and Money Coach
