I reckon many people think that hitting the nail on the head in terms of nailing a ‘big idea’ is a mysterious bottomless pit of darkness and confusion.  Everyone has their own road block that makes them hesitate before taking the big step, and maybe this single step is causing you to freeze frame.

So here’s some simple help.  Take out an exam pad and across the top write “Things I Love Doing”.  Well done, that’s the first step to the light being a little less blurry at the end of the tunnel.   Now, list seven to ten things which might include “I love working with kids / numbers / reading / computers” etc.

When you’re finished, ask yourself what three to five products or services that would make your life better, and what would they be?  They might include things like “Nicer food in the tuck-shop” or “Easier way to tie my shoe laces” or “Someone to do my homework” or “A simpler way to wash dads’ car”.
Basically, the things that could make you and others more productive, efficient or simply give you more time.

So you have the list and some common ground and now you need to put them to your family and friends  – run your ideas passed them asking them things like “would you buy or use this?”

Business start-up isn’t rocket science.  It’s not easy to begin, but it’s not as complicated or as scary as many people think. It’s a step-by-step, common-sense procedure.  Figure out what you want to do.  Once you have the idea talk to people.  Assess the risk. Persevere and don’t give up.  Make this the year you’ll really do it!

These are individuals with innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.  For example, things like women’s rights, conservation, poverty, unemployment.  Rather than leaving these social needs to the government or business sectors, these often possessed (in a good way) campaigners find out what’s not working and then solve the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading entire societies to take new leaps.

Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act as change agents for society. Our model citizen, no really he’s hot and a model, is young Jamie-Thurston-Wyngaard. Currently in his final year at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Jamie was awarded the UWC Student Achiever of the Year 2011 for his involvement, in amongst others things, social entrepreneurship.

So what gets his goat and how is he effecting the change?  He is passionate about alleviating poverty and creating a safer, cleaner, greener planet.  This doesn’t mean he goes around like the Pied Piper with baskets of sweets giving them to poor children or volunteering to assist with extra murals after school (although he did at one time).  What he does do is he works with business people to create new businesses or organisations that will help change a social problem.

His current focus, in his capacity as Vice Chairperson of the international organisation Students for Free Enterprise (SIFE) is to empower communities’ education focusing on sustainability and entrepreneurships. Jamie believes in giving a hand up not a hand out.  “We go into communities and have successfully enabled growth by growing gardens, providing training and support.  In so doing fighting poverty and pollution,” he said.

This will certainly be a face to keep an eye on for his insight, passion and integrity as he brings change solutions both locally and globally.

With Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (referring to people between the ages of 18 and 64 years)  being a massive 190% greater than South Africa’s national average (by comparison Johannesburg came in at 60%) this is no wishy-washy statistic.  So why are these mountain goats any different to a similar demographic nationally?

A research paper from the University of Cape Town (UCT) suggested that Cape Town has much higher level of knowledge, innovation and opportunity than elsewhere in the country.  Furthermore, the city was also ranked as number one for having more people confident in their ability to start a business relative to the national average.

It also seems there is an intimate relationship between certain characteristics of a metropolitan city like Cape Town, the number of talented people within the city and the amount of entrepreneurial activity.  Wait a second. So it could just be fluke and how the planets are aligned?  Well not quite.

For sure, it may in some respects be a lucky break in the sense of a pooled entrepreneurial base due to Cape Town being selected by individuals as THE place to live in, with its natural beauty and lifestyle choices.  Talented people (and they seem to have arrived in truckloads in the Cape) are more creative than the rest of the population.  They are more entrepreneurial and prefer cities which embrace tolerance, economic welfare and knowledge intensity.  The city seemingly offers a great range of infrastructure which is of interest especially for younger and/or highly educated people.

Is there room for improvement? For sure – the key areas identified for improvement were: entrepreneurs must be encouraged to use the latest technology in their business ventures to allow for competition and growth at a world class level; the focus must be on growth orientated businesses for long terms success and lastly, in terms of new product development, less of a “copycat” mentality or an approach must be taken.

A risk taker, passionate about networking, an author and a public speaker, Sabirul in a relatively short space of time (ummmmm he’s currently 21!) is getting global kudos for the way in which he translates his knowledge and experience as a young entrepreneur and investor, to the teen market.

When interviewed recently by entrepreneurshipafrica.com he said, “When you are young you have nothing to lose. No responsibilities, no mortgages, no credit card bills and literally everything you do will always be a step forward rather than a step back.”

Sabirul’s most significant attribute, and a real leg up for so many budding entrepreneurs, is his desire to inspire young people by educating them about entrepreneurship and taking risks.  Not only has he published three self-help books and is a motivational speaker he also launched a board game (and this in my opinion is key for getting the message out there on the African continent) called ‘Teen-Trepreneur’. It’s a simple way to teach youngsters about business and shifting ones perspective by keeping it real and practical.

Finding it was tough at his age to get financial backing for his books as well as to get people to hear what he had to say, he remedied the situation initially by forming a venture called ‘Teen-Publishers’ which gives them a platform to get their books published; as well as ‘Teen-Speakers’ that brings together some of the world’s youngest and hottest entrepreneurs onto a single speaking platform.

This guy is rock solid and continues to show how you can get things done no matter what age, race or culture you are.  Right now, he is on a mission to inspire 1 million people to choose entrepreneurship as a career path (he’ll be in South Africa in July 2012).  As well as dashing madly around the world he will be launching his own TV show (coming to SA soon) to encourage budding entrepreneurs to get started.

Which market has been overlooked or under-served?  What can one offer that the completion hasn’t?  Primarily, to survive as an entrepreneur one has to offer the first of a kind, different from the rest or best in class.  With the ever changing landscape of emerging entrepreneurs one has to in effect minimise your maximised view; to select your niche in a very methodical and applied fashion.

So what is the reality in our local market in terms of entrepreneurial success rate?  Who has managed to find the fit and zoom in on their niche market?  It seems that South Africa have a way to go in terms of producing a sufficiently entrepreneurial economy.

We certainly have incredible pioneers like web entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth; Dr Taddy Bletcher the founder of CIDA City Campus or Dr Patrice Motsepe CEO of ARMgold. Leaving us all a little bit breathless and in awe. They spotted their niche and they serviced a need at the very high end of the scale.  The statistics however suggest in terms of the mass market that we are slower off the mark as a nation in terms of entrepreneurial credibility.

It’s about being bold and having your finger on the dial to lock and load if and when you see the gap.

Last things first. We would like to offer you the opportunity to mail us your comments, queries or suggestions so that we can keep this series of blogs alive and relevant to suit your planned venture into entrepreneurship. Simply drop us a mail @ zingonil@teenentrepreneur.co.za. We will select the most credible point(s) raised and publish them in a future blog.

Then back to the beginning (I do hope you’re with me still).

Our ‘How To’ series will cover topics such as :

• Finding the gap – literally guiding and inspiring you to explore and discover what your niche market is
• Business plans – how to make your gap a reality in a methodical practical manner
• Getting Finance – don’t get jumpy now you need a calm approach when it comes to cha-ching
• Partnerships – this doesn’t have to be a solo flight; we’ll show you the options
• Types of businesses – what to look out for
• Marketing Plans – in support of the business plan this is a vital component of your journey
• The teenage entrepreneur
• How to nurture entrepreneurial spirit in your family?
• How to nurture entrepreneurial spirit in the classroom?
• Mentoring … and more

A plan that involves thoughtful deliberation combined with a fresh perspective that could result in Meg launching for example her own entrepreneurial venture perhaps; driving into the sunset with the Mercedes and a business tucked under the hood.

With today’s savvy teenagers, who want to make pots of money; have the latest gadgets and rely on instant gratification (not all bad desires) we have to harness that “gimme-gimme’ approach positively.

It begs the question, have “we” (parents, educators, big business and government) ensured that a significant and profound footprint of entrepreneurial advantage has been laid to afford our teenagers the ability to consider a growth opportunity or niche market venture as first prize?  Are we encouraging and celebrating entrepreneurial drive?

To be able to have the educated advantage, before simply trawling the papers and job portals for employment and despite the challenges teen entrepreneurs face, to pause and reflect on the entrepreneurial role they could play in today’s economy.

Does one turn to government expecting job creation reform?  Probably not, as legislation can tend to be a sticky mire in itself.  Certainly, they can be held accountable in the classroom in ensuring that a practical entrepreneurial curriculum is a given subject afforded the same non-negotiable respect as Maths and Afrikaans perhaps?

Does one wag fingers and tut-tut at big business expecting them to right the wrongs of a shaky platform.  I’m not so sure.  They are chasing a domestic target and during these fighting times it’s all hands on deck.  Could they perform a mentor role both in terms of human capital as well as financial, absolutely.

The gap is there to be filled for our fresh generation who need to reach out and grab it with both hands.

‘Primus Inter Pares’ meaning ‘first among our peers’ is the mantra for Headboy Industries Inc and its captain, Ludwick Marishane. There is nothing more profound than being able to say entrepreneurship rocks with a real living, breathing local-is-lekka example.  And Ludwick is THE man.

This 21-year-old “opportunity obsessed” entrepreneur founded Headboy Industries in 2007 to “create products that solve the world’s most difficult problems and make them available to everyone”. Whoa, no lightweight statement!

But it’s one partnered by determination and a very real drive for success.  Take its flagship product, DryBath; the world’s only bath substitute lotion that is an affordable product that offers a no fuss alternative to bathing.  Somehow I think his peers are sitting up and taking a keen interest as we speak.

At this tender age Ludwick has gone global as a Google Zeitgeist winner; Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Champion 2011; Singapore Global Competition winner; African Leadership Academy Anzisha Prize winner and Brightest Young Minds Alumni and Cape Town Entrepreneurship Competition winner.

But how did it all start?  As a child his dad ignited his entrepreneurial passion.  That combined with his love of science allowed him to push the envelope in high school and come up with different inventions.  In Grade 9 he formulated his own biodiesel fuel and invented a healthy cigarette; and in Grade 10 he authored a mobile dictionary and attempted to publish a nationwide security magazine. You know…typical Grade 10 stuff.  I think not!

In terms of offering student entrepreneurs words of encouragement, he suggests that one finds what you love doing and put all your effort into pursuing it.  To literally do as much as you can on your own yet always ask for help when you need it.  He encourages the embracing of failure, because one will only ever experience it if you give up, not if you try and fail to succeed.
He’s quoted in the Huffington Post as saying, ”I plan to use the title of Best Student Entrepreneur in the World to start the world’s first entrepreneurship league and to roll this out globally over the next five years.  I am dedicating my life to enabling the world’s youth to follow their dreams, and I urge other entrepreneurs to do the same … by first following their dreams.”
We will certainly be tracking the growth of this intrepid innovator going forward.

A niche market is a specific group of people within a larger market. These people have specific needs and often need specialist companies to fulfil their needs. When you think of a niche market what springs to mind?

Teen Entrepreneur Foundation is a good example of a niche market (if we say so oursleves). We fall into a niche market because we are a specific group of people with a specific set of needs and cannot just be bunched with all teenagers or all entrepreneurs. We have managed to identify this need and are now looking to cater to it and provide a service, which is not provided anywhere else.

Research is the key to any successful business, no matter what industry you fall into. However, in a niche market you have to ensure that necessity for your product will continue to stay around into the near future. One of the biggest problems with marketing to a specific niche is that they become trends or fads for a little while before dying out or shrinking drastically. This could mean failure in the long term for your business.

Industries that have been identified as being niche – vintage clothing, pet accessories, and green products are red hot right now (a positive or negative, depending on what you identify as your business idea). Tourism has been around for many years but because it is a massive industry there are plenty of smaller industries within it – countries and tour operators are offering specialised tours like charity tourism, festival tourism and home stay tourism all of which could be very popular in South Africa.

Researching and conceptualising an idea, which targets specific segments of your market is well worth it. Once you have identified your product or service and its up and the running the rewards will start to flow in.

Lydia Zingoni

Founder and Director of SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation

Don’t forget to also watch the video from our Spring Academy

[View with PicLens]

12►