Page 21 - KZN Business Sense 3.4

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council

THE HEART OF YOUR BUSINESS

David Akhona hurdle rates, and are oen What opportunities do you entrepreneur sees failure as a

White - Mahlati - forced to introduce technology believe are aorded to South learning opportunity – one not
CEO, Director, and cut jobs to maintain their African entrepreneurs that found in any text book. Such
BusinessFit BusinessFit
competitive edge in the perhaps aren’t accessible failure grows the resolve to not
marketplace. elsewhere in the world? repeat mistakes, to see potential
adversity coming and then to
e South African economy is Akhona: We believe in the either avoid it or take advantage
negotiating some heavy inherent capabilities of South of it. With this mindset, the
waters, and small businesses Africans rising to the challenges losses you refer to become
are struggling. What advice do of setting up and running a investments in the future.
you have for the small business. South African’s
business owner? through our history have learned Can you share a bit about
Akhona: Stay in the game. Find tenacity, patience and BusinessFit, and how you seek to
E ver met anyone with true South Africa’s chief challenges ways to keep your company open outstanding entrepreneurial David: As an entrepreneur
mentor entrepreneurs?
endurance, and these are
for business. e message is,
traits. Uniquely in South Africa
terror in their eyes? It’s
poverty. Why are
likely they run their own are unemployment and remember your roots, remain in we have the B-BBEE Act that development beneciary,
‘struggle mode’, watch your costs
BusinessFit helps companies plan
business. Sleepless nights about entrepreneurs important in and guard against nonessential encourages large and corporate and develop their
cash ow, getting that one combatting these? spending too early in the game. clients to purchase at least 30% transformational plans.
contract that will make all the David: It’s simple. Persevere with the old, rusty of their goods from small and BusinessFit’s success is in helping
dierence, big companies Entrepreneurs create bakkie… the SUV can come medium size companies, 40% entrepreneurs to become leaders,
muscling in on their niche… employment, and employment is later. Get better at what you do from black-owned businesses and to be more condent in
entrepreneurship is not for the the catalyst our economy needs day-by-day – and ensure that and 12% from black ensuring their business ideas will
faint of heart. Which is why to get people working to help your services are world-class. women-owned companies. grow to maturity.
people like David White and alleviate poverty. Entrepreneurs
Akhona Mahlati, CEO and are overwhelmingly good at What attributes should a Most entrepreneurs are familiar We work with both the company’s
Director of BusinessFit identifying niche opportunities successful entrepreneur have? with risk. Do you have any transformational team and the
respectively, are so important. in the market from which they David: Being an entrepreneur is advice regarding risk mitigation? entrepreneurs to ensure a
We chat to them about set up small businesses that like belonging to a unique David: ere is a measurement synergistic enterprise or supplier
entrepreneurship, and how create employment. culture – you can only really say of risk in everything we all do development relationship.
BusinessFit seeks to mentor Government cannot do this, as you are an entrepreneur if you each day. But when good Graduates that have been through
entrepreneurs and help them to by nature they are service can justify why you entrepreneurs make decisions, our Training Academy, Round
take their businesses to the facilitators and not think you are. If we they consider possible Table Meeting process, and who
next level. employers. Big had to single out outcomes and stakeholder have had one-on-one mentoring
businesses have just two attributes, expectations, and as far as are noticeably more condent,
stakeholder we would probably possible they work toward assured, and able to manage and
grow their business. It is our
say purpose and eliminating unnecessary risk. belief that there is place for many
passion.
How important is mentoring more small and medium
when it comes to growing companies to enter the economy.
the next generation of We constantly encourage
entrepreneurs? entrepreneurs to take up the
challenge of running a business,
Akhona: It’s or growing their business to the
absolutely critical. next level. e for entrepreneurs
We all need mentors is being able to contribute to the
to help and guide economy, to create employment,
our growth and and to enjoy the feeling that
development. Very comes from helping others and
few entrepreneurs are making the world a better place
gied to such a degree
that they can do everything for all. 
on their own. Mentors help us
with our initial steps, and then For more information about BusinessFit,
further down the line with contact Lindiwe Bhadi on
support, encouragement and Lindiwe@businesst.co.za or
wisdom. +27 31 767 0625
One oen hears about
successful business persons
failing multiple times. How
important is failure, and how
can business owners fail
‘successfully’?
Akhona: Failure is a step in the
greater journey. Success in
business is not the opposite of
failure. Success in business is a
way of life; it’s about the ability
to keep going. e astute

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