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Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
MENTORSHIP AND YOUNG

ENTREPRENEURS

Dear readers, enterprise, but also, a network of women who
are like her family. Ifrah has provided food and
I have had the immense pleasure of being a mentor supplies to these underserviced areas during
and business coach to Anzisha Fellows both in a part- the COVID-19 outbreak. You can learn more
time and full-time capacity since 2016. Here are some about Ifrah here:
things I would like to share with you: https://twitter.com/SuperMom_KE
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=mLSFkCkj7dU&feature=youtu.be
1 Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey

From the offset, I have to tell you that your 4 Don’t be Afraid to Take a Risk and be Fearless
choice to be an entrepreneur is going to be
lonely. It is going to make you want to pull If you are in your twenties and pretty clever (you
your hair out some days. The challenges are are reading this publication so you must be),
going to be immense so my advice to you is to you have time to take risks and chase dreams.
find yourself a good support network of other You may regret the decisions you take or the
young entrepreneurs. Find a programme to perception of failure. But imagine the regret if
support you, either in your country, real time you didn’t even try to take a risk in the first place.
or virtually, and with others who are travelling Remember, if you are going to do something
this road. You are not alone, even if some days do it right and do it as if it is the only thing that
feel lonely. Here are some resources of events matters in the world.
https://www.andeglobal.org/events
https://www.startupgrind.com/
5 Time
2 Money, a Love-Hate Relationship There is one thing we are never getting back
in life; time. Be careful how you spend it! Make
Money is an enabler to your business sure to extend your energy onto the right things.
and your livelihood. Respect it and it will You can manage your energy levels, which is
respect you. That being said, it is important more important than time often. BUT, invest
for entrepreneurs to be sure to separate sufficient time in your business to make sure
their business and personal expenses once that you are on the right path. Don’t forget to be
they start making a profit. Good money selfish with your energy as your business grows
management will stand you in good stead. and flourishes. Your ability to sustain high levels
This is of particular importance if you are of energy and invest the right amount of time
planning to grow your business at any will be critical.
stage. You will need to prove to any funder
that you are able to manage your finances 6. Surround yourself with Good People and a
appropriately, and that even if your business Great Team
is a loss-making entity at first, you have the
records to prove you have kept financial
statements. Don’t be afraid to spend money Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know
on growing your business. everything when you hire a team. Therefore,
ensure you’re surrounded by really smart
people. On the days that you are not around
3 Start a Business YOU Really Care About and your investor calls, you want him/her to
know that you have people who are as skilled
There is nothing as soul crushing as spending and passionate about the business as you are.
your time on something that is not your Remember, skills can be trained but passion
passion. In my time as a mentor, I have had and dedication cannot.
the immense pleasure of getting to know
Ifrah Arab whom I have mentored since Good people include a mentor – sometimes you can
2016. Ifrah provides commodities to women identify someone and ask them for mentorship but often,
in Garissa, Kenya. She creates entrepreneurs really busy people won’t have time to mentor you. Do not
in a society that does not encourage women take this personally; at the right time, the right person
to flourish. The commodities she supplies will come into your life and give you advice that is lasting
are basic food supplies to these women, who and accurate. This may be a short interaction or it may be
then re-distribute them to other women in a lifelong relationship. Whichever it is, simply make the
their network. Through the empowerment most of that relationship.
of women, Ifrah has built a sustainable social

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