Friends’ entrepreneurship seminar a huge success

THE Friends of the Kempton Park Libraries, together with the Birchleigh Library, hosted an entrepreneurship seminar free of charge on May 20, at the Wynand Marais Community Centre, for anyone who wanted to join.

The seminar hosted 90 people and the guest speakers were Elsa Groenewald, Sipho Mngomezulu, Bulelani Thembe and Roelof Faurie.

The speakers had the task of helping people to understand how to determine between a dream and a viable enterprise, to understand that there will be obstacles and that anybody can overcome it and that there are always alternatives.

Groenewald touched on the topic of passion and said everyone should have something that determines who you are and what you want to be and then take action.

“Be careful of limiting beliefs, understand what you can offer, and work out your business plan, so that you have something to measure yourself against. Any business must be something worthwhile for yourself, otherwise why bother to do it?” she asked.

She also added that all successful people became successful with the help of others.

Mngomezulu continued Groenewald’s theme by enhancing the value of a business coach. He illustrated it as the success of well-known sportsmen, who make use of coaches.

“It is only human beings who tend to not grow to their full potential,” he said.

”Plants and animals become what they are, to their fullest. A business coach can help you to stretch and prevent complacency and help you brainstorm your brilliance.”

Thembe tackled the theme of obstacles and advised people to instruct, not obstruct.

He illustrated this humorously, with his own life experience as a boy growing up in a squatter camp, knowing there must be more to life and not even understanding all the terminology he heard.

“With determination, persistence and innovation I overcame obstacles and grew into a successful businessman and mentor. Sometimes what you are most afraid of is the very thing that will set you free!” he said.

Faurie ended the seminar with an analysis between a job, a conventional business and network marketing.

He explained how he joined a network marketing company and within three years built his part time income to exceed his full time income.

He emphasised that he treated the network he built as a part time opportunity. He dedicated part of his time to it, not only spare time.

“By choosing a reputable company and a product that I could associate with, I was able to retire at the age of 45 and pursue my dream of travelling the world.”

According to Faurie; network marketing is a low risk opportunity.

“Cost is low and you plug into a proven system with huge rewards if you do what the system requires of you.”

He ended by saying that, in today’s life, no one can afford to have one single source of income, because no one is guaranteed of that income.

In accordance with the theme of not doing it all alone, there were a few business displays of companies that can assist business owners in their business for example printers, graphic designers, coaches, training, etc.

There were also network marketers that chose reputable companies with good products to set the example of not relying on one source of income.

The next entrepreneurship seminar is on June 21, from 8.30am to 10am, at the Birchleigh Library.

Contact Linda Lombard for more information or book your seat at 082 254 8024.