by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

The other day a friend and I were having a WhatsApp conversation, and we were specifically sending each other voice notes. It was a rainy day here in Cape Town and I was sitting behind my desk working. I assumed she was at her flat where she still lives in Johannesburg. As we were catching up she started venting on how difficult the road of entrepreneurship is.

She is also a Capetonian and jokingly said I should move back to Jozi. So as the two of us are bantering and chatting, I can hear in her voice that she is concerned about her business and the slow pace at which things are happening. I tried to motivate her to the best of my ability. She gave me some insight as to some leads of possible business she is pursuing but expressed concern about cash flow and bills that needed to be paid. It sounded all too familiar.

"Do you take enough time to enjoy this journey? Don’t be so busy with your business that you forget to chase your happiness!"

Having walked the road slightly longer than her, I felt it my duty to energize and motivate her. So she sends me another voice note, this time she sounds really despondent. Then I hear in the background the familiar sound of the ice cream truck and I instantly burst out laughing! The sheer comedy of the moment was just too overwhelming for me to ignore!

I immediately replied to her, laughing and apologizing at the same time. I didn’t mean to patronize her and play down her weariness, but the sound of the ice cream truck has always had that effect on me…that of happiness. She caught on and we started reminiscing on our memories of the ice cream truck. As kids, that sound was one of pure joy! At the sound of it, we would run inside the house and ask for money and chase after it to get our little piece of heaven.

I immediately got the revelation that no matter how hard this journey is, we should still make time to enjoy life and experience happiness! I felt I was there with her. I advised her to forget about her problems for a little bit, and take some time out to chase after the ice cream truck. Go and get your happiness girl!

She laughed and saw the funny side of it. I thought about it again…

I realized the importance of us having a support structure and a fellow friend in business to help motivate each other
I realized it is totally ok to make ourselves vulnerable to another, if it means you will shed a load and have the strength to continue
It is good to off-load. Talk to someone who has been through it, and can give you sound advice.
No woman is an island. Lionesses move in packs and are more effective that way
Stay away from the naysayers who will tell you to give up and get a job! Surround yourself with your pack, they’ve got your back!

The moral of this story is obvious! Eat ice cream and be happy! Do you take enough time to enjoy this journey? Don’t be so busy with your business that you forget to chase your happiness!

Lizl Naude is the founder of Lilly Loompa in South Africa, a company that creates beautiful and usable products 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 initially 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. The company manufactures a variety of products, from storage holders, lamps, to dinner table accessories, among others. All materials are carefully sourced from waste and sustainably reimagined as beautiful, yet purposeful products. Eco-friendly, handcrafted and 100% South African, each Lilly Loompa piece, once trash, is now a meaningful piece of treasure.