"Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it chased it."
--South African Proverb
I know the purpose of this blog is mainly meant to talk about the entrepreneurs we help and how they are working hard to become successful.
But what about us? What about all the behind the scenes work that most people have no idea about. What about the centre?
The TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre was founded in January 2007 as part of TSiBA Education to provide entrepreneurs a place to plan, develop and grow their businesses.
Successful economies are built on small to medium-sized enterprises. Lack of resources and insufficient managerial talent has hindered the growth of these in South Africa. According to the 2008 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey, South Africa only has a new business prevalence rate of 2.1 percent which ranks it 38th out of 43 countries meaning that only 2.1 percent of new businesses survive. The TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre has created a hands-on operational assistance method including very practical skills development programme and one-on-one mentorship to solve these problems.
All entrepreneurs that go through our programme will learn how to develop their skills, create jobs for others through their businesses, become sustainable and have a positive social impact in their community. When the entrepreneurs leave our centre, they are self-sustainable and have the tools to successfully maintain and grow their businesses.
The work at the Centre is also a cornerstone of the entrepreneurship curriculum at TSiBA Education: the case studies developed at the Centre are used in the classroom and the Centre provides our students with an opportunity to cut their teeth at helping to run real businesses.
In our first two years, we have served over 100 small businesses in the surrounding communities since our founding and currently house four of those in our facilities.
So what does all that mean?
From my very brief time here so far, let me give you a few of my insights.
The centre isn’t just about helping businesses. That’s a huge misconception that I had when I came here. The centre is about helping people. Obviously those people must have a business, but it is more complex than that. If people need help with building their confidence, the centre will coach them with that. If they need help figuring out how to use a computer, we’re ready to show them. Even if it’s something as seemingly simple as the person has had a hard business week and needs to vent, we have open ears.
Each of the staff members in the centre deeply cares about the entrepreneurs that come through the centre and want to succeed with the necessary hard work. The centre is not just a place that says they are here for the people, they really are.
I feel like my eyes have been opened so widely by the entrepreneurs and staff here. There is so much determination and drive behind everyone that it makes me question myself.
You have to be willing to work extremely hard to be successful at the centre. You also must have the right attitude because without that, you will never succeed. But if you’re willing, the centre has the tools, determination, and compassion to help your business.
But what about us? What about all the behind the scenes work that most people have no idea about. What about the centre?
The TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre was founded in January 2007 as part of TSiBA Education to provide entrepreneurs a place to plan, develop and grow their businesses.
Successful economies are built on small to medium-sized enterprises. Lack of resources and insufficient managerial talent has hindered the growth of these in South Africa. According to the 2008 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey, South Africa only has a new business prevalence rate of 2.1 percent which ranks it 38th out of 43 countries meaning that only 2.1 percent of new businesses survive. The TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre has created a hands-on operational assistance method including very practical skills development programme and one-on-one mentorship to solve these problems.
All entrepreneurs that go through our programme will learn how to develop their skills, create jobs for others through their businesses, become sustainable and have a positive social impact in their community. When the entrepreneurs leave our centre, they are self-sustainable and have the tools to successfully maintain and grow their businesses.
The work at the Centre is also a cornerstone of the entrepreneurship curriculum at TSiBA Education: the case studies developed at the Centre are used in the classroom and the Centre provides our students with an opportunity to cut their teeth at helping to run real businesses.
In our first two years, we have served over 100 small businesses in the surrounding communities since our founding and currently house four of those in our facilities.
So what does all that mean?
From my very brief time here so far, let me give you a few of my insights.
The centre isn’t just about helping businesses. That’s a huge misconception that I had when I came here. The centre is about helping people. Obviously those people must have a business, but it is more complex than that. If people need help with building their confidence, the centre will coach them with that. If they need help figuring out how to use a computer, we’re ready to show them. Even if it’s something as seemingly simple as the person has had a hard business week and needs to vent, we have open ears.
Each of the staff members in the centre deeply cares about the entrepreneurs that come through the centre and want to succeed with the necessary hard work. The centre is not just a place that says they are here for the people, they really are.
I feel like my eyes have been opened so widely by the entrepreneurs and staff here. There is so much determination and drive behind everyone that it makes me question myself.
You have to be willing to work extremely hard to be successful at the centre. You also must have the right attitude because without that, you will never succeed. But if you’re willing, the centre has the tools, determination, and compassion to help your business.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment