Wednesday, 27 July 2016, Issue #6

WE'RE TAKING OUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP MESSAGE TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

We're constantly pushing the boundaries when it comes to taking the entrepreneurship message to the youth; we really do wish to spread this message to all four corners of the country! We recently spent some time with a dynamic group of young people from The Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Newlands, Cape Town, facilitating a workshop called, 'Awaken the Giant in You'.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify a few key challenges in the workplace, and as a team, to find workable solutions which will improve staff image and optimism, as well as to give guests a pleasurable experience at the hotel…after all entrepreneurship is all about finding innovative, practical answers to improve one's immediate environment. The next round in the facilitation process is to present findings and recommendations to the management team, who will give consideration to implementation.

Important take-out: entrepreneurship principles of practical, solutions-based thinking can be applied to any work situation or environment to deliver amazing results. 

DATE TO DIARISE:
20 AUGUST - AWAKEN THE GIANT BREAKFAST

STANDING TALL:
A NEW BREED OF SA ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS

Our 3rd 'Awaken the Giant in You' breakfast for 2016 will take place on
Saturday, August 20 at The Vineyard Hotel in Newlands from 09:00 to 11:30.

Our special guest speaker is the talented and tenacious, Thulani Khoza, the entrepreneur from Mpumalanga who developed South Africa's very first locally-manufactured Smartphone. Thulani has defeated and overcome many physical and emotional barriers in his life to become one of our country's foremost innovators. You are sure to leave the event motivated and encouraged for your own entrepreneurial journey.

If you are based in Cape Town and would like to attend, kindly contact Nadia Snyders
on (t): 021 795 0566 or (e): nadia.snyders@teenentrepreneur.co.za.

DO YOU WISH TO FORM
A SOCIETY AT YOUR SCHOOL?

We're all amazed at just how quickly this year is flying by… So much so that we're already well underway with our planning for 2017!

If your school missed out on the opportunity to participate in the SA Teen Entrepreneur movement this year, please do get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we may engage with you further around how to start an Entrepreneur Society at your school in 2017.

CHECKERS LITTLE SHOPPER CAMPAIGN

We are pleased to have been able to partner with Checkers by providing content for their Little Shopper Campaign, which launched in early July. We share the view with Checkers that a passion for- and understanding of- entrepreneurship needs to be fostered from a young age. Check out this link: https://www.checkers.co.za/little-shop/business-tips-tools-downloads.html

ENTREPRENEUR REALITIES

Being an entrepreneur presents an amazing opportunity to test your innovative business ideas and see if they will work. It provides a way of bringing your passion to life as you play your part in making people's lives better. Embarking on this entrepreneurial adventure can be the most exhilarating, happy, frustrating – and profitable – journey of your life. 

YOU NEED A BUSINESS PLAN

Myth:
A number of would-be entrepreneurs have delayed starting their businesses because they believe they have to have a lengthy, formal Business Plan in place. It has long been insinuated that 'real' businesspeople do not take any kind of action without massive planning in advance. But while there is some truth to this idea, it is not fully accurate either.
Reality:
What needs to be firmly understood before committing to a venture is the basic underlying business model, i.e. who are the customers? What do they want? Can you profitably supply it? Beyond that it is a waste of time to create elaborate plans and forecasts that are likely to change later down the line.    

YOU NEED PERFECT TIMING  

Myth:
There are some entrepreneurs who are honestly able to say that the timing was right for them to go into business. Perhaps they were young, single, and not in debt – such circumstances can be more conducive to business success than others. However, they are not a baseline necessity.
Reality:
Few entrepreneurs are able to say that timing for them was perfect, and this is particularly true as you age, when deciding to start your own business usually entails a radical shift in career paths. Even younger entrepreneurs often find themselves juggling their start-ups with further studies – not an easy task, and hardly perfect timing!

YOU NEED TO SUCCEED IMMEDIATELY 

Myth:
The most celebrated people in any field tend to be those who have succeeded right from the outset. Google, for example, is a cultural icon because of how quickly it was established.
Reality:
Fortunately there is room in the business world for people who make mistakes en route to succeeding. Winston Churchill famously said that 'success consists of going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm'. Many entrepreneurs have prevailed after withstanding repeated failures and disappointments.

DATES TO DIARISE

If you’re based in Cape Town, you need to ensure that the following dates are in your diary!

Awaken the Giant Breakfast Series
20 August
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET

Entrepreneur Society Grand Finale
22 October