By Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

We all know them…those pop stars who made it big…BUT with only one song. Right Said Fred, Los Del Rio, Vanilla Ice, and a few others. They blazed onto the stage with fire, only to vanish into thin air. Wikipedia describes it as: ”A one-hit wonder is any entity that achieves mainstream popularity and success for a very short period of time, often for only one piece of work, and becomes known among the general public solely for that momentary success”. It got me thinking of the kind of business I want to establish. Do I want a long-lasting, sustainable business that will go on long after I have gone, or am I building a fleeting one-hit wonder?

We find ourselves in a time of rush. Everything is fast-pasted and we face constant deadlines. Can we please take some time to slow-down?

In my line of business, I collect trash and transform it into a lamp or product. Just like I take care to build a product that is durable and long-lasting, so should I take care about my business for the long run. So the question is, how do we achieve that?

Firstly, write down the vision for your company or business.

Compile a vision and mission statement that really speaks to your heart.

Just as important as the above, are your values.

If you haven’t made a list of values that you stand for…do it now. These small words will safeguard you from a lot of trouble. They act like a guide on your journey.

Whatever your product or service is, make sure you deliver your absolute best to the client.

Give them service that will leave a good impression.

Invest in your employees.

Make sure to treat them well. Remember at one stage in your life, you were one too.

Constantly up-skill yourself.

Do not get left behind. I am not saying you should follow every trend, but be informed about your industry.

Keep good governance.

Get your house in order. Keep good financial records and have systems in place to safeguard your business.

I want my business to make an immediate but long-lasting impact on my family, my employees, and the world. I am trying to build more than a business… I want to leave a legacy.

Lizl Naude is the founder of Lilly Loompa in South Africa, a company that creates beautiful and usable furniture pieces made with recycled material. Lilly Loompa's “Rubbish Range” is the result of Lizl's craving to deliver pieces that are completely "green". Lizl is a self taught designer and started designing and making furniture because she couldn’t afford to buy new pieces to furnish her home. She started to scout and source for budget material and quickly realised that most people discard of very usable materials. This led to her building and designing beautiful furniture items that she used in her home.