Despite the current gloomy economy, small businesses can be optimistic since there are opportunities to help them grow. According to Stephen Timm, over the coming year and those to follow, business owners are likely to find a number of opportunities. Here are some: Favourable policy for small businesses include a promised 30% set-aside of state […]
Many entrepreneurs fail to give sufficient thought to the name they choose for their business. Remember that the name you choose has a direct impact on the branding. One needs to take account of the following critical points when selecting the name of your business: 1. Check that the company domain name is available before […]
Once you have a company registered at the CIPC, remember that you have to register your company with the various statutory bodies for income tax and withholding taxes such as PAYE, SDL and UIF. Income tax: A tax that governments impose on financial income generated by all entities within their jurisdiction. By law, businesses and individuals must file an income […]
One of the first things successful people realize is the old adage, "If it is to be, it is up to me."
For you, that means that your success, your course is up to you. This doesn't mean that you do it all alone. It simply means that you take responsibility for your life and your career.
Too many people today look at opportunity and figure it is up to someone else to make sure they get it. They wait and wait, figuring that it is up to someone else. And then the wait is over, and it is too late to do anything. Their life is over and they are filled with regret.
But this isn’t true for you. You know that you must take responsibility for your life.It is up to you.
The fact is, nobody else is going to do it for you. You must do it yourself.
Now, some people might think, That's a lot of responsibility. But here's what I think: That is the best news you can ever hear. You get to choose your life. Hundreds of millions of people all around the world would give anything to live in the situation you do—to have the opportunity to take control of their destiny. "It is up to you" is a great blessing!
Here’s why:
1. You get to chart your own destiny.
Maybe you want to start a small business and stay there. That's great because you can choose that. Maybe you want to create a small chain of stores. Maybe you want to have a net worth of $100 million. That's OK, too. The point is that you get to choose. You can do whatever you like. Different people have different dreams and they should live them accordingly.
2. You reap what you sow.
Sleep in and go to work late and reap the return. Or get up early and outwork the others and earn a greater return. Place your capital at risk and earn a return. Place your capital at greater risk and perhaps reap a greater return. You decide what you will sow and thus what you will reap.
3. No one else can stop you from achieving your dream.
Yes, there will always be obstacles that come up and people who may not like what you are doing, but you can just move on and chart your own course. There is great freedom in that.
4. You experience the joy of self-determination.
There is no greater pride than knowing you set your mind on something and accomplished it. Those who live with a victim mentality never get to experience the joy of accomplishment because they are always waiting for someone else to come to the rescue. Those who take responsibility get to live the joy of seeing a job well done.
Let me ask you a question: Where will you be in five years? Ten years? Twenty-five years? Do you know? Do you have an idea? Have you ever dreamed about it or set a goal for it? Are you willing to take responsibility and recognize that it is up to you?
You will be wherever you decide to be at that point. You decide. It is up to you.
And that is very exciting!
by Jim Rohn
It is small businesses that keep the economy growing by creating employment and innovation. Remember that small businesses do not always remain small and have the potential to grow to become large corporations. Many believe that the climate for entrepreneurship in South Africa is unsustainable. On the contrary, since South Africa is plagued by many […]
South Africa’s Small Business Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, recently announced the launch of Startup Nations South Africa Initative. The aim of the initative is to build a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem and vibrant sustainable entrepreneurship culture. Minister Zulu said, “The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2012 annual survey reminds us that entrepreneurship levels in our country are the […]