Editorial
Being an entrepreneur gives me the idea that it’s probably like jumping off a cliff and having the faith your parachute is going to open − what it really sounds like from hearing the success stories of most is that it often doesn’t open quite as soon as you’d hoped. On the contrary, you feel like you’re going to hit the ground full force. But when it finally does open, which can even take a couple of years, it’s the most exhilarating and fulfilling experience ever. That’s what they say!
I remember sitting in the judging sessions of the Top-35-under-35 awards in its early days, and I was absolutely intrigued with the entrepreneurs − how they started from scratch, with some even financially supported by their girlfriends while trying to get their businesses off the ground. Abed Tau especially made me laugh in his book Searching through Dustbins (definitely worth a read) when he said at one time he was at his lowest point and sleeping on a blow-up mattress when he woke up hungry during the night, deciding to sit and eat on his air bed … His knife missed his snack, and you can imagine the ending!
But today, these guys are super successful and can laugh at these antics. And the phrases that were always repeated in these judging sessions were ‘never give up’, ‘work hard’ and ‘persevere’. Another thing they always mentioned was how their CA(SA) qualification was the ‘golden key’ and added so much value to them succeeding, as they were equipped with all the skills of how to build a business successfully.
Every entrepreneur deserves a badge of recognition, because they are the individuals who are the backbone of our economy and who are creating employment. As the CEO of Proudly SA, Eustace Mashimbye, pointed out: there are approximately three million medium, small and micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa employing around 13,4 million people. The Department of Small Business Development estimates that small and medium-sized businesses contribute 40% to the GDP and the National Development Plan (NDP) envisages that 90% of 11 million jobs will be generated by small enterprises in 2030.
In this issue you’ll meet a host of passionate entrepreneurs such as Léan Boezaart from Freedom of Movement, Daneel Steinmann from Old School, Ramond Ledwaba (who has recently published his first book), Ndia Magadagela CA(SA), CEO of Evelectric (who gives invaluable advice on fund-raising), Sanjay Soni, Lornelle the list goes on …
We celebrate you all!
LYNN GRALA
Acting Editor: Accountancy SA
