The blog this week is a short one! Here are 5 tips and tricks that you can use as you set out on the path to either exploring being an entrepreneur (anyone can use these) or as you build your business. 

  1. Keep a journal ready to fill with ideas and concepts.
    • I find it helps to keep a compact notebook with me all the time. You never know when the best idea ever will pop into your head!
    • Mine is a purple hardcover one with an awesome quote by Edgar Allen Poe etched on it. It sits in my purse, and I write everything in it, including snippets of conversations I’ve had with people, and ideas that pop into my head at random times (incl. YBE’s name and the idea for turning it into a blog). 
  2. Network, network, network! 
    • Talk to people who have been in your position or done something similar to you. Having a mentor who can provide you with insights, advice, guidance, and be a sounding board is invaluable. Trust me on this one, my Mentors have been a great avenue of support and encouragement. 
    • Talk with your peer group and fellow young(er) entrepreneurs. They are going through the same thing you are. Talk to them and establish a relationship with them. Who knows what could come of it!
  3. Keep on learning.
    • Easier said than done, I get it. Aside from the time you spend at school and doing your homework, aim to learn one new thing a day.
    • It can be something about your business, something about a family member, an interesting fact about your community, or even something about yourself.
  4. Don’t give up! 
    • Heads up (WAY UP), there will be days and moments where you feel like throwing in the towel. That’s when it is time to ask for advice, take a break, and talk to someone (mentor, family, friend, who ever). 
    • Been there, done that. I almost brought everything to a grinding halt in November 2015 when I was told by another organisation “We’ve already tried to do what you’re trying to do, and it didn’t work. So don’t bother.” Devastating, to say the least, because I am so passionate about what I do and the incredible young(er) entrepreneurs I work with. 
  5. Ask for a hand when you need it.
    • No one ever gets to where they are without a little help from their friends (and family).
    • A big mistake entrepreneurs make is thinking that they need to have all of the answers and be able to handle everything on their own in order to be viewed as successful. That’s far from the truth. You do need to check the ego and pride every now and then and ask for some assistance. That is how you grow, learn new things, and earn some respect along the way. You never know what could come from asking, and it never hurts.