Four lessons for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs
In many ways, it’s fitting that we’re celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week at the end of the most uncertain year in living memory. Because if ever there was a time for an entrepreneurial mindset, it’s now.
In this crazy year of Covid-19, simply surviving has demanded new levels of entrepreneurial thinking. Companies of all sizes have discovered the ability to flex quickly, and tapped into untold reserves of human and business resilience.
The great thing about entrepreneurs is that they know about coping with uncertainty. Most humans hate it. Entrepreneurs thrive on it. They flourish in the face of adversity. They lean into obstacles. They create opportunities in places others hadn’t even thought of. It’s what made them entrepreneurs in the first place.
As a young company, we’ve always thought we were entrepreneurial. But this year has taught my business partner Kevin and I, a few valuable lessons on how to move through a time of crisis.
Focus on the things you can control
At ByDesign, we’ve been able to move through the pandemic by sticking to our values – to put people first, we’ve said no to business that doesn’t align to our values, and we have rallied as a team to seek opportunities that suit our skills set and experience best. Know who and what you are and stick to it. Instead of worrying about what might (or might not) happen, we’ve focused on what we know, and kept our eye on our goals. We’ve made sure we bring the team together daily, even at the height of the lockdown, and that’s made a massive impact on keeping us connected while working remotely.
No company is an island
Allon Raiz, the CEO of Raizcorp, often talks about the loneliness of being an entrepreneur. As many of us know all too well, the lockdown was lonely and scary. But one of the themes of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 is ecosystems. It’s critical that we keep focusing on our networks, and staying engaged with our clients, potential clients, and the industry. If Covid-19 has shown us anything, it’s that seeds planted long ago in our ecosystem bear fruit when you need them the most. This is critical in building healthy and thriving entrepreneurial communities.
Embrace the entrepreneurial mindset
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to have an entrepreneurial mindset. We’re proud to work with many entrepreneurship-minded clients, including Anglo American Zimele, Raizcorp, Merchant Capital, Ozow, LeadHome and many more, who raise the bar for entrepreneurship every day. As they foster the creativity and skills needed to grow sustainable businesses, they’re improving not only local entrepreneurial ecosystems, but also strengthening the skilled job force.
Find ways to give back
Right now, millions of South Africans are struggling. As a business, giving back starts by supporting your own people. It also means supporting local small businesses and suppliers (pay the small guy, and pay them quickly). It means sharing your blessings wherever you can. Entrepreneurs know that their livelihoods depend on their communities. Investing in those communities wherever you can means we’ll all emerge from this crisis. Here’s to entrepreneurship!
Vanessa Baard
Director of ByDesign Communications