The Tricks of the Trade

I spent the afternoon at SMG Rocks with my brother, Patrick, who is the dealer principle. I was sitting having coffee and watched my brother speaking to one of the salesmen, they spoke as if they were old friends debating their favourite soccer team.  However, they were discussing how this salesmen could confiedentially approach more potential clients that walk into showroom.  In closing the conversation, there was an action plan put in place and they both walked away smiling. I admire my brother and his effortless people skills, the way he interacts with his colleagues fosters a upbeat work environment with a great atmosphere.  This is clearly felt by all clients that enter the dealership.

In numerous subjects last semester we were taught the importance of employee satisfaction and good employer/employee relations, and this point is reiterated by one of the most successful entrepreneurs today, Richard Branson.

“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” 

I think an entrepreneur has the idea, and imagination to creates a unique and successful business but they also need to have people skills, good communication and emotional intelligence. I saw this today at SMG Rocks, and all the theory I have learnt hit home. Unless you are working solely with computers, human interaction is a crucial part of any business venture and will set you apart from your competitors.  As future entrepreneurs, it is imperative that we inspire the people that work with in order for our business to stand out and reach its full potential.

Results are out

The course Whatsapp group has been very silent since we ran out of UCT on the 10^th of June for our much needed holiday. However, today there were messages going back on forth, alerting us that marks were out. These are message I have been both waiting for and dreading at the same time. This exam period was crazy; and writing so many content heavy exams in the space of ten days was a major push. To be honest, I did not know what to expect. I knew I couldn’t study as much as I would have liked too, time was limited and I had to stretch myself across eight subjects. I couldn’t hope for the same results I did in my undergraduate, where I have fewer subjects and far more time. However, I am so passionate about the content and really believe I have grasped the general concepts, so there is a part of me that wanted to do even better than before.

I have checked my results and I am very pleased, they reflect both hard work and understanding. I think this year is designed to push us and highlight the importance of time management and prioritisation. We were faced with eight exams, and I think we had to approach them strategically, working out which ones needed more attention, while the subjects we felt confident took a back seat. It was difficult but we got through it together, I don’t think I could have done it without Sammy, my study partner, we decided what to study, when to study and how to study together. Working with someone during exams was new to both of us, but it definitely paid off and I think we will certainly be study buddies for the rest of the year.

Reflecting on my trip to Spain

I arrived back from my trip to Spain two days ago, and spending time relaxing at home and chatting about my trip with family and friends I’ve reflected on all the knowledge and understanding I gained on my trip overseas. This was a balanced trip where we explored the rich culture and history of Barcelona, relaxed on the most beautiful beaches and explored the small villages in Mallorca, and danced the night away with international friends in Ibiza.

I believe traveling broadens my mind, and this trip exposed me to new people and the way they do things and more importantly how they see the world. The tendency to work in family businesses was something I noticed in Spain. I found that local families in small villages all worked together on a particular trade, for example a café or small hotel. Moreover, all these different groups of people were passionate about the work they did on a daily basis, it appeared they wanted to work and choose to wake up assume their role, not simply to make money but because it was something they enjoyed doing.

I believe it is crucial to enjoy the work you do, if you are not passionate about your trade you will never be successful. In creativity in business, one of our electives last semester, we talked about the importance of operating in a blue ocean, and this stems from original ideas and creativity. If one follows their passions and focuses less on the return, I think people will enjoy work so much more.

The fast paced work environment of South Africa, and many other western countries results in high productivity, which is positive. However, it is important to learn from the Spanish people, ad success is different fro every individual and waking up every morning excited for work is something I consider successful.

Entrepreneurs believe travel makes you more successful

I returned home from Spain yesterday, and while I was away I applied my entrepreneurial mind becoming aware of trends, cultures, and global needs. Studies indicate that 94% of business leaders in America believe travel experience directly translates to a competitive advantage in the workplace. Those who are able to learn from the situations they’ve been in are more likely to grow as professionals and entrepreneurs in the future. I honestly, believe traveling is one of the greatest learning tools for young people today, as one can get very comfortable in their city, surrounded by people who are similar to them, and never be forced to look at the world from the perspective of others. Spanish people are incredibly different from South Africans, in terms of business they are very relaxed, operations are unhurried and it appears people are working because they enjoy their trade.

Traveling has many tangible benefits, firstly one quickly learns to adapt to the circumstances you find yourself in. It is rare that everything will run smoothly, as flights get delayed, hotels are hard to find, or no one understands English. As an entrepreneur you need to be flexible, as situations will arise where you are forced to pivot, and the hurdles you face while traveling will shape how you handle these situations in the workplace. I found myself in a marketplace where no one spoke English, which I found very surprising and frustrating. We were searching for our accommodation, which was meant to be very close by but we couldn’t get the necessary guidance. In this case there was no point in getting flustered, instead you have to apply your mind and make the most of what you have. I used the address, a map and confused facial expression to get some help and directions. This forced me to fully understand the art of communication, which includes the ability to control your body, make impressions and lead with authority.

Time management is another skill one learns to master when they are traveling; logistically traveling is all about time management and careful selection. We had a limited number of days in huge cities, that all had so much to offer, but we had to sit down, plan and select what we would spend our time doing. This is easier said than done, but we quickly learnt that trying to cut ourselves in a million different pieces and see the whole of Barcelona in four days was impossible, we had to manage and plan.

Networking, I believe, is the most valuable aspect of traveling. I have met such diverse people who all lead such different lives. I chatted to a software engineer from Brazil that is now studying at a top college in Michigan; he had just come from an internship in London and appeared to have a promising future. These networks are formed and can be utilized going forward.

Traveling has multiple upsides, and I believe that everyone should travel if they get the chance. As young entrepreneurs there are so many valuable lessons that can be learnt from going into another country, amercing yourself in the culture, and meeting new people.

Reflecting Sunday

I go to church every Sunday, which is like going to the gas station once a week and really, really filling up. – Anne Lamott

This is my last post for a while, well at least for these June vacation holidays as a University of Cape Student enrolled in the post graduate course for entrepreneurship. This week has flown by as I reflect and it has been busy one, does not feel as if I had a holiday this week which is kind of frustrating.

The activates of trying to organise the parking for our expo in the 16^th of August which was a mission but at least the process has begun on that front. The missioning of trying to contact our packaging supplier which has been hard but hopefully the company will get back to me sometime next week and we can sort that out.

The issue of the website is something I am very pleased about as this process has been completed which I am very happy about; all credit must go to Tebogo who was a trooper on this front. So happy that is out the way and you can see our website on our Facebook page. So as I leave you I would just like to leave you with some feel good quotes:

 

• “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” ― Maya Angelou
• “Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” ― Steve Maraboli,
• “It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” ― Anonymous,

 

Springbok Saturday

I was replacing Springboks with Springboks, not with schoolboys. I made the decision to substitute them because I felt we needed to inject some pace and energy into the game. In any rugby match, there is a period where players go to sleep, so you want to inject new energy.” – Peter de Villiers — Springbok coach

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to those who are reading my blog on this very cold Saturday. It’s the weekend baby and what week it has been; the schedule today will be a lot rugby and hard chilling. Today began with New Zealand vs Wales’s game that was early in the morning. New Zealand as the world best rugby team were comfortable winners, the score being 46 – 6 to New Zealand.

The second game was between Australia and England, the game was a dead rubber as England had already won the series. However, England came out tops in game that epitomised the rise of England in the game of rugby today 44 – 40.  The last game was South Africa vs Ireland in a do or die clash in Port Elizabeth. The game was characterised by “ONE MOMENT OF SHEER BRAVERY, A POT TACKLE BY SCRUMHALF FRANCOIS DE KLERK, TO SEAL a 2-1 SERIES WIN FOR SOUTH AFRICA OVER IRELAND”.

In other news the Brexit shock over the past day or two has been shocking. Never in my wildest dream would I have thought that the United Kingdom leaving the European Union but then again that is politics.

I would want the United Kingdom to stay in Europe and we have seen when doing the opposite, the economic and political consequences of that. I feel people voted to leave the euro due the fact that of the issue of Immigration and the fear that these people were taking their jobs. But I also feel that the European Union was way too powerful and arrogant for their own good. So I leave you with a list of things to watch out for:

• The pound
• Stock markets
• Bond yields
• Housing market
• Inward investment and trade

Friday Yay

We have to make sure the Good Friday Agreement works. –  Gerry Adams

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to those who are reading my blog on this beautiful Friday. Man has this week flown by or what I guess time does fly when you are having fun or when you are really busy trying to take care of certain assignments and chores in relation to the entrepreneurship course.

Today saw me get in contact with the head of traffic control at UCT about parking for our Expo event that went well and the man was very friendly. However, parking is going to be difficult due to the sheer size of VIPS we are planning to invite. I spoke to the girl who organised the event last year in respect to parking and she mentioned that people found their own parking and it is a waste to even organise parking for this year which is very reassuring.

On the subject of our product we have now paid the deposit to our manufacturer and thus begun the product ion of over a hundred bamboo laptop stands which is very exciting. In terms of packaging still waiting to hear back about our sample and the exact price if we were to order over 100 of these customised made boxes.

We do have a backup box manufacturer based closer to UCT which is nice so that adds some kind of comfort. Just the process of reliability with your manufacturers is very hard to juggle and to have a backup manufacturer is very important to avoid failing yourself, your business and your customers.

In other news David Cameron resigned and Britain left the European Union. What a shocker to the world and economic shock has been very impactful. What this will have on South Africa in terms of effect only time will tell. But the rand just got knocked out so that is a bad sign and in Britain the pound is tanking like crazy and those could affect our economy in very bad way. Here is an extract of David Cameron’s speech:

“I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination,” he said in a statement outside Downing Street.”

Thumbs up Thursday

I wish you a tolerable Thursday. That’s all any of us can hope for.  – April Winchell

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to those who are reading my blog on this beautiful but chilly Thursday. This week has flown by so fast and I love just chilling with family and friends, going for lunch at the Vineyard and Kalk Bay walking on the path along the sea. Today saw me just waiting on response on our proper measurements and cut box in terms of packaging for our laptop stand.

The laptop stand has not been given the go ahead for manufacturing which is a little worrying but I am confident that production will begin soon enough and you guys will get to see and have our laptop stand to your enjoyment. The packaging will have to come next after we have ordered the Laptop stands.

The website which will have online sales has been sorted I have given that to another member in our group to follow up with her sister and we will be in complete and consistent contact.  Furthermore I will be looking to distribute and give out our research questionnaires to lower and upper class individuals in relation to whiskey consumption and choice.

I have lined 20 people for upper class individuals to take the questionnaire. But will be looking to give out our questionnaire to lower class individuals soon enough. In addition I am part of the committee for our product expo and I am in charge of logistics specifically parking VIP members who will be attending our Expo which is going to be a challenge but as a wannabee entrepreneur you got to make things happen.

In other news besides our entrepreneurial journey this year is the sad news of Pretoria and the violence happening there. An extract from News24

“Residents and reporters in Mabopane, Pretoria, say gunshots can be heard while looting continues in the area. Reporter Alex Sweet Patrick says police have requested backup as people riot and officers have run out of rounds.”

So as I leave you I have lots to do but I hope I can get it done as soon as possible.

Wednesday already?

They didn’t want it good, they wanted it Wednesday. Robert A – Heinlein

So I hope all who are reading this are having a fabulous and amazing Wednesday. We are about half way through the week and I hope just like myself you are going strong and sturdy. Today began with me going all the way to parow, about a 30 minute drive to go pick up a sample of our packaging for our laptop stand. I have it  on my desk and it looks very promising and just another step closer to the full and completed unveiling at our expo on the 16 August 2016.

Shaft packaging is catering to our measurement and said they can include a wiper for our laptop stand and can provide the exact measurements we want. However, it will be expensive to get them to print our logo on the box so that is something we will have to figure out as a group and business. In other news today saw me go the gym and relax and chill as I will be doing this week to the max.

I have not heard about the website but we are sorted out on that front as we know what we want and need for our product. Again I have been hearing about the sad news in Pretoria where people have been protesting and burning buses. It a sign of a people who are desperate for opportunity and hope. This is where entrepreneurs can offer, that is opportunity and hope to the less fortunate. To grow a South Africa that struggling economically and physiologically from bad leadership and corruption. This is why these upcoming local government elections will be so vital. So I will leave you now so that I do not go on a tangent. But I will leave you with this on why entrepreneurs are so important:

• Entrepreneurs create businesses that hire people
• Entrepreneurs pay taxes.
• Entrepreneurs create demand for products which in turn create jobs and other businesses.
• Entrepreneurs introduce new technologies to the market
• . An entrepreneur stimulates the economy by instilling confidence in people.

Link: http://www.brighthub.com/office/entrepreneurs/articles/47092.aspx

Tuesday let’s go

I don’t want it good. I want it Tuesday. –  Jack Warner

 

So I hope whoever is reading this post is having a fantastic and fabulous Tuesday as we take our second step in a series of sevens steps this week. I have been thinking of all the violence happening in Pretoria over the government elections and seeing people angry at our government not delivering jobs. This situation in our country is such a mandate and a calling for those who want to be entrepreneurs. These crazy individuals with crazy but game changing ideas.

These crazy ideas can be life changing for so many South African that are poor, suffering and in need of job to support the family and their friends. South Africans need entrepreneurs to cure the scourge that is corruption and deceit in our public sector. This has been on my mind that we need entrepreneurs desperately to help a South African society that is broken, that is in need of selfless people and need of South Africans that want to go beyond the call of duty, entrepreneurs.

Today saw me contact our packaging supplier who has confirmed that they can make a sample which is very promising and exciting. Hopefully that will be sorted and confirmed by the end of the week. Otherwise I will be chilling and relaxing as I deserve a lot rest from the hustle and bustle of last semester.

I have been thinking about the handing out of surveys for my course Business research and communication. The surveys are all about whiskey consumption and its correlation to the amount of money earned per month by a household.  I have to hand out 40 of these surveys, 20 of them to upper class household s and 20 of them to lower class households to give a more balanced representation of our findings which could be ground breaking and exciting.

 

Let me leave you with a quote by Nelson Mandela:

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear