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Entrepreneurial lessons from Zanzibar part 2

Having recently visited Zanzibar, Tanzania for my honeymoon, I was struck at how different it must be to run a business on an island in an African state. Here is part 2 of my observations:

Service together with product is unseen: The ability to smile and sell does not seem to coexist in the same person. Selling is done on an aggressive forced manner that just drives tourists away. We had to, on more than one occasion, ask our guide for assistance to chase a person away from harassing us. Sales is all about meeting customer’s needs with the benefits of your product or service. No one willingly buys a product that is forced on them. I know competition is high, but then a niched product with friendly service will be an overnight success.

Business in Africa is different from most other places in the world. Survival is at stake and often just one sale could mean food on the table that night. I understand this but the business moral bar is just lowered all the time to cater form the quick sale with very little consideration for long term business plans.

We did how ever find one person: Abdul who seems to have broken the mould. More on him and his business ventures in my next post.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:34+02:00June 9th, 2014|Entrepreneurship, General|0 Comments

Entrepreneurial lessons from Zanzibar part 1

Having recently visited Zanzibar, Tanzania for my honeymoon, I was struck at how different it must be to run a business on an island in an African state. Here is part 1 of my observations:

There is a huge copycat mindset in Africa when it comes to small business. If one person starts a business and is perceived to be doing well, others copy them to the letter and open their shop right next door. We observed this a lot in Zanzibar with up to 6 shoe repair shops all next to each other in the main road. Similarly in other areas are car repair shops, bed shops and second hand appliance shops all huddled together in the same street. If you need to be the same as others, then at least move your business to another part of town where you can find customers at their place of need rather than expect them to come to you and then compete with other similar businesses.

The concept of Niche is just not heard of. All businesses are the same, the signage, the layout and content of their shops. From small street vendors to larger store in Stone Town, they seem to be made in a franchise environment. By simply changing the way you do business to be different, you begin to attract a different type of customer and begin to carve out a niche for your business, this lessons the stress of fighting for the ‘share of wallet’ that copy-cat businesses do.

The idea of bartering in an age old trade mark of Africa: People just love to barter and haggle about price and quality. I have observed this to be a national past time in Holland, but it becomes a survival technique in Africa. The only problem is that they need to barter and haggle across many different language and currency barriers. Keeping the different conversion rates in your head as both business owner and customer is often just too taxing to conclude a sale and the customer walks away. The need for a fixed displayed price in both local currency and USD would make it an easier transaction. Shops that do this, rarely need sales people, the products speak for themselves and the price is what it is. As soon as you discount your price, you are actually displaying a lack of confidence in your product.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:34+02:00June 6th, 2014|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

Net Prophet 2014.

Well done to the Net Prophet team of 2014 for hosting yet another amazing and inspiring day of insights. Entrepreneurs chatting about their journeys, absolutely amazing, hearing how entrepreneurs put everything on the line for what they believe in.

As a growing start-up ourselves, we can relate to many challenges and left feeling inspired to outgrow our own expectations of our business and teams.

One speaker that stood out for me was the founder of Quirk, Rob Stocks. Great advice telling us to -Surround ourselves with people better than yourself when doing something, commit fully and to be generous with your knowledge. You need to risk something to grow your business.

By |2014-06-04T09:00:13+02:00June 4th, 2014|EI Clients, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The 5 C’s of Entrepreneurship part 5 – Confidence

Fear of failure, fear of friends and fear of success are common in our excuses to perform. We duck and dive and delay the inevitable day when we have to step out into the spotlight and announce to the world that we are either a success or just an average person who will never amount to anything.

The opposite of fear is confidence. This comes from a number of habits that we instill in our business leaders. Some of these are easy to define and practice. Issues such as the removal of clutter from our daily lives. Finding focus on our purpose. Understanding who, what and why we are. And to top it all practice. Creating a number of daily habits that include practicing for what lies ahead will overcome the fear and replace it with confidence. Even if you are unsure what to say or do, to do it with confidence will swing the odds of success in your favour. Learn to stand tall and build your self image around a positive attitude and confident mindset.

In my books confidence starts in the brain and moves to the heart and from there to the very tips of your being. Make no mistake that this is easily toppled, so a daily adjustment is required to get and keep it in shape and ready to face the world. Confidence results in attempt, and attempt results in success. Remember that you will miss every shot you do not take.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:35+02:00May 30th, 2014|Business Resources, EI Clients, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The 5 C’s of Entrepreneurship part 4 – Cooperation

Imagine that you run an illegal business and drive an unroadworthy car and employ illegal staff. Now imagine how much energy you need to consume each day to make sure you are not caught or found out. In fact this is the normal status quo of most small business owners in South Africa. How do you feel when a police car drives up behind you, or you get a call from the SARS or Labour offices. What is your initial emotion? Fear, hesitancy or panic?

How much of your business dealings are not up to scratch when it comes to regulation compliance and legislation. I am not talking about dealing in drugs or underage girls imported from some country, but in every day stuff like tax, labour, finance, banking, fair trade, paying accounts, dealing with customers, honest marketing. To Cooperate with the governing bodies and get your business complaint has to be one of the most relaxed positions we can achieve. I just love the time of month when I pay all the accounts and look at the empty in tray, it gives me a sense of achievement and confidence. And when the phone rings, I can answer it with confidence that whoever is looking for me it is not about some bad debt or pending audit. Build your business and future with an attitude of cooperation and it will be a smoother ride.

By |2014-05-28T10:37:37+02:00May 28th, 2014|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship, Leadership|0 Comments

The 5 C’s of Entrepreneurship part 3 – Collaboration.

It was not that long ago when I still believed, like so many men that if things had to be done right, it was up to me and me alone to get it done. No one else could possibly know what I needed done and it was too much hassle to try explaining it to them. And even if I could, they would stuff it up; so alone I traveled, doing everything myself. Guess what, it all came tumbling down around me.

As entrepreneurs we cannot afford to work alone. It is only through the power of collaboration and leverage that our ideas and businesses will flourish. We instill a habit in our clients of not to do the things they cannot do. To carry around a Do Not Do list is as important as the To Do list. Whenever you do something that you do not do well, it just makes you look stupid and incompetent. So why do it? Learning to build a team through collaboration, allowing others to do what they do well and finding your sweet spot is essential to the progress of both you and your business.

Take time today to list the things you do that either you are not competent at or that make you emotionally unhappy and find others to do these tasks. You will be amazed at how others just love to do the things on this list, for them it is their sweet spot. When you light another candle with yours, it does not make your flame half the size, it just makes the room twice as bright.

By |2016-11-01T10:20:35+02:00May 26th, 2014|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The 5 C’s of Entrepreneurship part 2 – Convergence.

Not being prepared for an opportunity as a business owner has to be one of the major sins of entrepreneurship. Yet every time I go to a networking meeting or conference I find people who have not got business cards, flyers or even their contact detail on them. When asked to introduce themselves they Basically ummm and ahhh their way through a bunch of made up facts that tell us nothing more than this guy is just not prepared and not able to promote his business at all.

Other people I chat to who are looking for opportunities seem to have this sit back and wait philosophy. They want to wait for something to come along and present itself to their office door. As if the approved tender is being hand delivered to them even when they did not bother to put in an application. The same goes for people looking for jobs, each week I chat to a group of people who insist that just reading the day old Cape Times job column will be enough to secure employment.

Convergence of opportunity is a short time based window that comes and goes and often never repeats itself. Becoming and being a successful entrepreneur is being able to appear always on always ready for any opportunity that may present itself, no matter how short this window remains open. Always have at least 3 elevator pitches rehearsed and ready to go. Always carry business cards or brochures. Have your web and social media sites ready and waiting with auto responders and active landing pages. Your cell and land line answering messages should encourage dialogue and represent you and your brand when you do not answer. Opportunity is lost when not prepared overrides convergence. Where are you?

By |2014-05-23T11:27:05+02:00May 23rd, 2014|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

The 5c’s of Entrepreneurship part 1 – Convenience.

Frustration amongst the general population is fast becoming a way of life and almost expected reaction to most phone calls queues or dealings with large organizations. For the small business owner is begun to be the largest blockage of doing business and scenes of head butting desks and phone slamming is just a normal part of the day. But frustration can be turned around and used as a source of a business idea and a way to profit. The opposite of Frustration is something most people will pay dearly for: Convenience. The convenience of not having to put up with delays, traffic, queues, filling in forms, waiting in endless waiting rooms and then there is the whole food and cooking thing. As an entrepreneur we need to embrace other people frustration and pause long enough to ask how this could be turned into convenience and converted into a business for profit. The people I know will often pay dearly to have their problems removed out from their lives. No I am not speaking about some cloak and dagger hit man, just simple services and products that add value to everyday life that will make my journey through life a little less frustration and a little more pleasant. So next time you see someone having a bad day, pause a little and start a new business, it just could be the beginning of your retirement plan.

By |2014-05-22T10:24:36+02:00May 22nd, 2014|Business Resources, Entrepreneurship|0 Comments

Bruce ties a new Knot.

This past weekend saw Bruce Wade, Coach and Owner at the Entrepreneur Incubator get married to Adri.

Bruce’s belief in moving on with plans and surging forward despite the circumstances apply in both business and love. This is evident in how the relationship with Adri started 2 years ago and has flourished into marriage. Focus, effort and dedicated time is key for new venture to work. It is however important to maintain balance in the focus to ensure an even distribution of effort at the right time for the right people is maintained.

Bruce is off on a 2 week break and will be back at the helm again in June, with some promising new projects and ideas for the second half of 2014.

New Picture (6)

By |2016-11-01T10:20:35+02:00May 19th, 2014|General|0 Comments
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