Whispers of an entrepreneur

I have never really been dismissed from things that mattered to me - I may have had a dismissal from a relationship of two (being dumped), but nothing really concrete. So - it always affects me when I have to dismiss a person that is not fullfilling their end of the bargain - it's like your bank not working for you, when the time comes, you have to part ways. Sitting and preparing for a dismissal - I find a lot of questions coming to mind, questions I think the dismissee may want answers to.  As always a victim during these sort of transactions - the dismissee would want clarity on how they have gotten to this point and how it was my fault (to my experience, it's never their doing - no act is a heinous as this) So I have a few things that make it comfortable for me - for as much as the dismissee is a victim, I too, am a victim of their actions, actions that have led to this point.  I almost always try to do this on a Friday or towards the end of a work week. I ...

Classic entrepreneurial education theory outlines key elements or traits of an entrepreneur – various qualities that can lead to success in entrepreneurship. The one I have grappled with the most, while studying was: Tolerance of Ambiguity. At the time of learning this, I did not fully understand what it means, sure the words are easy to decipher and I had gotten the definition, but understanding this key trait seemed to allude me. One explanation of this was; this trait is the definition of risk-taking—the ability to withstand the fear of uncertainty and potential failure. “It all boils down to being able to successfully manage fear,” notes Michael Sherrod, entrepreneur-in-residence at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University. In my experience – I have come to understand this trait requirement, for this is a really required trait if you want to become successful in the long run. If you take the example of changing lanes when driving – the safe thing...

Over the past few months I have been thinking at length on the appropriateness of the name of my blog. Initially, being called “ My thoughts, ravings and ideals ” was apt, for it was just ideas and thoughts I had and wanted to pen down. Like a sort of diary that I can one day look back at and reminisce. As I am growing up, and maturing, I have realized that I would like to write more on issues I have a passion for – though I claim not to like politics, it does interest me and I will continue to write a little about it, from my perspective. My essential focus will be on entrepreneurship and its effect on communities – my experiences and lessons learnt. And due to this narrow focus, a requirement for name change. After pondering for some time, the most appropriate name for the blog, I could find is: “ Whispers of an entrepreneur ”. Reason for name These are essentially anecdotes from my life, on subjects I have researched, experienced or debated about. These are my w...

Having made it to the end of the work week, after a very interesting and fulfilling week, I cannot but help feel warm inside – thinking of some of the things that happened this week. At the Developer Factory we have Appies (Apprentices), which I try to have an interaction with on a weekly basis, largely to see how they are doing on the programme and if the mentorship is going well for them. During one of these interactions, the Appie I was speaking with, comments to me that he was not aware that he would be getting a stipend for his Apprenticeship, he was just happy to be here and enhancing his skills. The opportunity itself was payment enough – I thought that was arguably one of the best things I have heard in my life. How many of us, in this day and age, would be willing to get up every morning and do a solid days work as an investment for your future – WITHOUT PAY or any short term benefit? This young person taught me something about passion and living your passion...

South Africa is a very peculiar place – the only country with affirmative action legislation to allow the MAJORITY to reap benefit in the economy. The only country in BRICS without a real growth rate (at 2% we are pitiful, as an emerging economy). Nkandla on the hillside (Picture Marianne Thamm) -     As stolen online by me We are the only country having a liberation movement at the helm with two ex-presidents to speak of. We are a country that does not fully understand its place in the world – 15% of our population lives under first world conditions while the rest endure life under third world conditions. Well poverty and stark contrasts are nothing  new,  we have that all over the world – from Rio De Janeiro with its Favelas, right up next to a world city. We have  Sandton  (the richest square mile in Africa) across the road from Alexandra, one of the most impoverished areas in our country. Politicians and politically al...

Now. . . I was not instructed in the art of business at dinner table – though we had a dinner table, it was rare for us to sit as a family around it. My mother, a teacher, would arrive in the afternoon and after food was made would go and sleep, I knew that the shop closed at 20:30 and would expect her husband by 21:15. After a full day with school and extramural activities, by supper time I was tired and would sit in front of the television to have my supper. I am sure many folks shared this sort of family life, as I am sure many had a very different family life. This was mine, and despite all that - an entrepreneur was born. Reason 1: Authoritarian view It needs to be borne in mind that traditionally; black families are run in a particular manner – where the father as the head is the be all and end all of all things in the family. A unique standing that is bequeath to him irrespective of ability and conduct within the family business – fundamentally there is nothing wrong...

South African Flag Daily I am inundated with emails to apply for our Apprenticeship – applications from as remote and as far as the villages of Kwa Zulu, to Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. All these applicants have a few things in common – irrespective of race, they are all mostly young, between 17 and 30 years of age and looking for an opportunity to get a jump-start on life and career building.  The unsuccessful ones as applicants – the ones that touch me the most, are the ones who have no form of tertiary education. No further education and training – just a matric and passion to make it one day and live the proverbial “South African dream”. These young people having been born between 1984 and 1996 have largely lived in a society free of Apartheid, been afforded all the freedoms of democracy and grew up an era of opportunities for all. Yet this is not the case. We are arguably worse off as a country now - with an increased population size, cent...