Page 83 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

You also have to be flexible about your methods,

but obstinate about your goals.

sheer determination to buy back my life. I don’t drive, so to do things that others won’t. You can achieve whatever
Founder of The Busy Bookkeeper
I built a virtual firm. I have worked – often – more than you set your mind to if you are committed enough.
and Partners
12 hours a day, seven days a week to build a business You also have to be flexible about your methods, but
from scratch with every single free resource that I could obstinate about your goals.” And added Mags, “Try to
agdelene (Mags) van der Walt is the founder
of The Busy Bookkeeper and Partners. Her find on the internet because I had debts to pay, erratic be grateful, always. The universe will bless you with more
M company is a virtual firm that provides income, and children to feed so I couldn’t qualify for any reasons to be grateful if you foster this attitude.”
accounting, tax, payroll, and secretarial solutions, as well credit. I have often questioned my own sanity, but sheer
as advisory and finance assistance to small businesses determination and creative thinking have gotten me A safe culture
across South Africa. She has established partnerships to through every single challenge that I have faced. Failure Providing a safe culture for female entrepreneurs is a key
meet certain of clients’ needs with brands such as Rison isn’t in my vocabulary. I either win or I learn. And despite driver for The Busy Bookkeeper. “We hire young moms.
Financialist, Sage, Merchant Capital, and IronTree, to the challenges, the depression and struggling with I give them flexible hours so that they’re able to work
name a few. imposter syndrome, the hair loss, and sleepless nights, I whenever they need to around raising their children in a
wouldn’t change a single thing because it refined me.”
The Busy Bookkeeper started out as a sole proprietor back safe environment.”
in 2015 until Mags decided to formalise the business in Mags decided that the business would have a few clients, Commenting on the future, Mags says her goals are
2017 as a registered company. Mags is very proud of her and some affiliates and that she would have a blog. The to make more of an impact by expanding The Busy
company’s achievements, which include being awarded company, however, laughed Mags, had its own mind. Bookkeeper’s reach. She says, “I want to serve more
third place in the Best of Durban, Readers’ Choice Awards More and more people started coming to them, and small businesses, both local and global, and offer them
2023. She commented that this award, “Just lets me know while she said it’s just been hard work, the company has access to affordable, quality services. I have plans to start
that we’re doing something incredible; it was fantastic that continued to grow. other ventures when things settle down at The Busy
people chose to honour us.” Bookkeeper based on some current needs that I have
Immediate family
In April this year, after a near nervous breakdown due identified as well.”
to overwork, Mags reached out to her partners at Rison Her motivation to achieve success has always been her Mags added that she always wanted to be an author as a
Financialist and asked them to take on a more active immediate family. Mags said that her biggest dream child, which was realised during the Covid-19 pandemic.
role in the company. At the same time, she hired her was to own her life; to be able to fully support herself She participated in a book project with another 120
first assistant. and her family and not have to rely on anyone. “It’s a female entrepreneurs across the globe on navigating
simple dream, but simple doesn’t always mean easy,” the pandemic. Mags has also written some e-books on
Sheer determination she explained.
starting a small business in South Africa.
Mags explained that she got the business to this point by Mags added, “I only ever want them to be proud of me Relaxation for Mags is meditation, spirituality, and
sheer determination. She said, “It’s been a real challenge and to inspire them. I want them to know that they can spending time with her family. As a spiritual person, she
for me to get to where I am today; from being a teen mum achieve anything in life simply by working hard and would like to take time out to travel to sacred locations
to a high school dropout, to having to study something being committed to their goals.” across the globe, starting with Adam’s Calendar in South
that I didn’t really want to.” Africa. Mags would also like a guilt-free holiday as she
A solid why
Mags went back to school in her early 20s, stuck with her hasn’t had a holiday in over seven years.
subject choice through ups and downs, and has built a The advice that Mags would give is that you need to set
career around bookkeeping. At the point in life when yourself a real solid ‘Why’ to revisit when life gets tough. Top Business Women
she was unhappy at the company she was working for In her case, giving her family and herself a better life was In reflecting on her participation in KZN Top Business
and recovering from a divorce, Mags decided that she the driving force behind every decision she ever made, Women, Mags says it’s been absolutely amazing. “It lets
needed to ‘break up’ with every toxic thing in her life. which got her through some really dark periods. me know that despite the circumstances, if you really
She explained, “I used my final bonus from my final job “You know if you really want to get to where you want to work hard enough and you focus on being a decent
to purchase some office equipment with no capital and be in life, you’ve got to be prepared to sacrifice. You have human being, people will recognise your achievements.”

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