TMCnet News
Be clear about your vision in the simplest of terms [DFA (South Africa)](DFA (South Africa) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) There is no set path to success and no written rule that will help one avoid the obstacles and turns en route to achievement. In fact, most of the world's success stories tell of detours, of ways lost, and of new directions found. Because of this process it takes time to become successful. Natalie Rabson, marketing manager at Boston City Campus and Business College says that in our performance driven society the only thing young people can really do is try and learn from those who have made it to the top and hopefully be inspired by their achievements. To help young, aspiring people understand what it takes to become successful in business, Boston spoke to a few successful and reputable entrepreneurs, and asked them to share their advice on what they learnt along the way. For Shauneen Procter, MD and partner at Idea Engineers and recent nominee for businesswoman of the year, the road to success represented a mixture of good opportunities, delivery and good fortune. She also follows Gary Player's motto: "The harder I practice, the luckier I get". Procter shares the following advice for those who aspire to become successful. "Firstly be prepared to embrace discomfort and to stretch yourself; then, always deliver on time! That alone will set you apart from the herd. And, always foster humility, it will stoke empathy." But, she does caution that while this is deceptively simple it can be particularly challenging for self-starters and ambitious A-types. For Brian Herlihy, executive director at Seacom, success came because of a clear vision and persistence. "Whether it is a company or its investors, there will always be a need for a leader to create a vision and implement it," he says. "You also have to believe in yourself 110 percent. If you don't then nobody will. It comes down to the simplest of things, from body language to the way you answer a question - all this tells people whether you believe in yourself or not. "Then there has to be passion. It's impossible to sell your position or your ideas if they are not the things you are most passionate about. Also practice selling your vision in a manner that makes your audience understand the opportunity - some ideas are the best ideas, but not explained well." According to Rabson, this applies to selling yourself in a job interview, or selling a business idea to an investor. Be passionate. Be clear about your vision in the simplest of terms. And believe in yourself. Benjy Porter, the CEO of Legal and Tax has the following advice: "One's aim should always be to build and maintain a focused, ethical organisational culture, no matter how big or how small your business. It starts by always trying to surround yourself with the right people - those with the right skills, attitude and motivation." Boston believes that with the right qualifications, you will be equipping yourself to build your own business or someone else's business - thus your management skills must include finding good people to work with. "As an entrepreneur, it's also important to know yourself. If you do, you'll be able to surround yourself with people who have complementary skills in areas where you are weaker," says Porter. "Stay optimistic, even if times are tough. Don't fear failure, or the fear of not trying new things. Remember, without change and failure, your business will not grow." Rabson adds that, in line with Porters thinking, learners and employers should try and remain in touch with their communities, and contribute to them in a sincere manner - it gives you purpose and helps build better relationships with your customers. Finally, success is about action and about taking charge. Whether you're a student or you've already entered the work market. DFA (c) 2014 Independent Newspapers (Pty) Limited. All rights strictly reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |