Five New Year’s resolutions for entrepreneurs
The number of unused gym contracts and abandoned diets by the first week of February is enough to make anybody cynical about new-year’s resolutions, but David Morobe, Business Partners regional manager, urges entrepreneurs to think differently about it. The lives of entrepreneurs differ from those of the employed in the sense that the work is […]
Where is my business heading?
As business owners we are often so busy working in the business that we fail to work on the business. We are chasing the next transaction, dealing with a dissatisfied client, negotiating terms with a provider, or having problems trying to balance the cash flow. Over the years I have learnt that one should put […]
The 8 essential steps to building a winning company culture
Culture can make or break a company. It is incredibly important because it sets the tone for everything from how the early team interacts to the kinds of hires made to how customers are treated. One mistake can set you back months. On the other hand, you have the opportunity to set your company apart […]
SA businesses encouraged to create incubators to develop tomorrow’s entrepreneurs
“If all business owners in South Africa commit to mentoring one young entrepreneur, we have the potential to double entrepreneurship in two to three years.” This suggestion was made by a local entrepreneur at the inaugural 2015 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® Alumni Association, an entrepreneurial platform established in an effort to […]
Open communication can turn family into a valuable business asset
In a sense, almost all owner-managed businesses are family businesses. The fortunes of even those run by a single entrepreneur without the direct involvement of other family members are heavily influenced by what goes on at home. Such lone-operating business owners can turn their families into one of their greatest assets – a refuge of […]
Technology can be a business enabler
Article written by Jannie Rossouw, Head: Sanlam Business Market The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. Bill Gates Whenever I think about the application of technology […]
Good marketing leads to sales
Article written by Jannie Rossouw, Head: Sanlam Business Market In order to properly address this subject, we first need to understand the difference between marketing and sales. Marketing drives the demand for a product or service; Sales fulfil the demand and create relationships with clients. The recommended basic elements of every marketing mix are as […]
Five strategies for generating consumer demand
Generating demand for your product requires much more than simply releasing it onto the market. You need to conduct research, determine what consumers’ needs are, establish yourself as a leader in your industry and repeatedly prove your products’ worth. Industry professionals recognise that before, during and after you introduce a new product, there is a […]
What measures need to be taken to improve entrepreneurship levels in South Africa?
The latest South Africa Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2014 revealed that entrepreneurial activity in South Africa is not sufficient, and is not in line with other sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, nor the rest of the world – despite the level of activity increasing marginally over the last 10 years. While the country has a good […]
Six ways to delegate effectively
“The surest way for an executive to kill himself is to refuse to learn how, and when, and to whom to delegate work.” When you grow, you have to know when to let go. You have to know when to delegate down so you can rise up. I’ve learned that people will seldom let you […]