Page 6 - JCCI Business Focus Vol.1.3

DEVELOPMENT THROUGH FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE AND NOT

JUST IN MONETARY TERMS!

Hein van Spaendonck, see that start-up optimism and that they can take real advantage businesses lying awake at night qualify for funding. Some banks
Principal Consultant, enthusiasm of new or even of their passion. wondering if they will survive took the trouble – even in the
Thyme-Workshop existing entrepreneurs crushed another year, or how they will medium business market – to
by business failure. It is often lonely to meet cover their expenses if their sales send in an expert to save these
business challenges on your own, are stagnating. Standing still is businesses. Today they only do
o, ‘Passion’ In the beginning of a business, and many teams start to drift running backwards… that for very large companies.
– whether everything is everybody’s job, but apart after a few years. On many There are organisations – like
Sfor as soon as the business grows, occasions, I have sat in front of What all these businesses Thyme-Workshop – that are
a product, entrepreneurs need structure a team of business owners and need is a sparring partner to successfully implementing
invention and organisational assistance. asked them about their five or give honest and independent business turnaround and growth
or just This is not something everyone ten-year goals and I get three or feedback, to resolve nagging strategies for small and medium
issues, to assist in making
more different answers. Without
delivering has learned or is taught at the this alignment, how can the difficult paradigm decisions and enterprises. But we need many
a great University or Technikon’s Law or business progress? to apply tried and tested practical more small consulting firms
service – Engineering faculties. business solutions. They require delivering services in this space,
will get an And so many entrepreneurs find When a business stagnates or an experienced entrepreneurial and they should be supported
by business funders. In the long
themselves in trouble – either starts to fail, the 2 am in the outsider looking in to take run, this is a much cheaper
entrepreneur on his way. But they face the prospect of going morning daily worry by the their business forward. They alternative to watching so many
even experts who are passionate out of business, or they cannot owners starts. On top of sleepless need a simple, but tailormade enterprises going out of business
about their profession and get a grow beyond the initial start-up nights, the business fatigue is programme to instil a fresh and costing jobs so badly needed in
business up and going, will have phase or sustain growth over devastating to entrepreneurs and new vision with ‘traction’, and South Africa. 
a 55 to 70% failure rate within the years. The real problem is starts to affect their personnel, support to implement practical
the first 18 to 24 months. This often that they do not have the customers and families. It isn’t action steps to get to that vision.
is true not just in South Africa, experience or skill to set up a just new business owners that It is a great pity that banks, Hein van Spaendonck is the Principal
Consultant at Thyme-Workshop, and
have this problem. In the current
but all around the world. There ‘sustainable’ business structure economic climate, there are investors and funders alike readily admits to being addicted to
is nothing more disappointing and model to make the business many owners of established do not appoint an external helping businesses succeed. He can be
and soul destroying than to run effectively and efficiently, so business implementer as part contacted on 082 905 5509 and
of the initial funding costs or hein@thymeworkshop.com. More
information at www.thymeworkshop.com
to intervene when businesses
“IF WE ARE COSTING YOU get into trouble. This would
save them millions otherwise
MONEY, WE ARE NOT DOING lost through high business
failure rates. In prior years, if
OUR JOB” funding came from the SBDC
(Small Business Development
Corporation) it was mandatory
to appoint a business mentor to

THE 2017 JCCI ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Chamber
Where to from here? ■ Shawn Theunissen – Property project challenges, success factors of the country and its people, as a thanks its
he 2017 JCCI Annual Point Development Projects and outcomes. Participants were united nation can be reached.
Conference heard several ■ Bob Williamson President Jacoba Schutte (EY project), Simon Grech-Cumbo said, “The goals founder member,
Tillustrious speakers of International Special Gardner (Sun International), Ravi going forward should be to
presenting their success stories and Tooling Machining Association Naidoo Bluefields Group, and harness these methodologies and Standard Bank,
challenges for the future on various (ISTMA) and Executive Jayshree Naidoo (Standard Bank replicate them in all sectors, with for its support over
topics. Presenters included: Chairman of INTSIMB National Incubator). government and private sector
■ Gauteng Premier, Honourable Tooling Initiative In his summation, Aurelio facilitation and implementation by the 127 years and
David Makhura – Keynote address ■ Dirk van Dyk CEO of the Grech-Cumbo said that the experts, in cost effective projects
■ Willie Chavalala – Standard National Tooling Initiative successes of all these projects are with sustainable outcomes.” its sponsorship
Bank Head of Business Banking / Programme the result of the passion and drive He concluded, “Let’s embrace of the JCCI Annual
Bongani Khuluse – Chair, JCCI
Gauteng ■ Youth Commission these entrepreneurs have had to these successes and go forward
■ High Commissioner of Namibia, identify critical needs required for with enthusiasm to face the new Conference
H.E Mr. Veiccoh K. Nghiwete ■ Martin Sanne – CSIR (4th economic development and growth. challenges in united private
■ Samantha Ngcolomba, Industrial Revolution – how Through the joining of hands by the public partnerships.”
South Africa needs to plan)
government and the private sector,
Enterprise Development
Academy (Overview of Private A panel discussion was chaired and by ensuring the development The 2017 JCCI Annual
Sector Development Projects) by Samantha Ngcolomba to review of sustainable methodologies, Conference was sponsored by
economic growth for the benefit
Standard Bank. 

Namibian High Commissioner, Willie Chavalala, Head of Business Samantha N. Ngcolomba - Associate Shawn Theunissen - Head Corporate Adv. Fay Mukaddam – CEO, 4Africa
H.E. Mr Nghiwete Banking, Gauteng for sponsor Standard Director: Enterprise Development Social Responsibility, Growthpoint Exchange
Bank Academy Properties

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