by Brigette Mashile
I have been running a business since 2014 and I can confirm it feels like I have been studying towards a masters of sorts. There are so many things I have discovered, learned and realized in the past 9 years. Some of which I wonder if I would have learned had I been in another industry or type of career. I also suspect each business owner has their own learning based on the industry they are in. Here is a list of the top 3 things I think are most important…
Networking
There was a time in my business where I knew someone for anything anyone asked me about. I had a someone who could do that, this and whatever you needed. This could be due to the fact that the business was based at an entrepreneur hub in Midrand, South Africa. Every client who walked in and had a query about anything, I had a phone number, a unit number or an email address for. It could be for an accountant, event coordinator, logistics, pastry chef, detergent sales, leather works, steel works, wood furniture or just a nail technician; I had a go-to person.
The other reason for this could be the organizations I have been part of since starting the company. First, I started my career in Edcon and moved to Avon. These two companies on their own are huge networks; I still am in contact with many of them. From these corporate giants I did Shanduka, Awethu, Lioness of Africa; and lately I have done online programmes including the Cherie Blair Mentoring Programme. My network is changing, and now if I cannot think of a go to person, I know someone who can direct me to a person. The biggest given with incubators, accelerators, and the like is that you will meet people who can help you or link you with others.
Another big contributor to my network circle is my list of clients. In a year on average, we have 200-300 custom clients. All these people are in different careers. They are all doing something I might need one day. Lucky for me I talk a lot, I have asked all my clients about their passions in life. I have met lawyers, nurses, doctors, scholars, TV personalities, singers, moms, teachers, etc. I simply know a lot of people; it is thanks to my journey.
Problem solving
A lot of the careers in the world are about solving problems. In corporate, in school and in business as well, we spend our day finding solutions to problems. There is though, an edge in solving problems in your own business. There is something harder but more challenging. Look, I do not administer lifesaving medication like a nurse. But I do make people’s days happier.
Running my business has taught me that anything can be solved, and if it cannot then there has to be another option. It has also taught me that you should find the solution as fast as you can, do not waste too much time trying to fix, and find an alternative if fixing is impossible. Every day I face different situations like load-shedding, stores running out of fabric, running out of operative cash. This is all in a day’s work. I have learned to not panic, because I used to panic first in my early days of business.
In corporate there is a hierarchy. If I cannot solve something, I can just escalate it. I must just know how to communicate the issue with records, options and posed limitations. In your company, THERE IS YOU. And that is it. You can have a support group, but the decision is yours; also, it depends on whether your support group is available at the time of the emergency. This is the edge I speak of. Running your own business will sharpen your solution skills and decision-making skills.
Prioritize Yourself
A lot of business owners are faced with a couple of issues when dealing with challenging business offers. For example, a lady communicating on a Tuesday that they need a dress for Friday. I believe I can do it if it’s the only order I have. But once I sit down and check our deadlines, I will realize that there is no space. This is why I prefer text; text gives me time to look at my schedule, think and decide. Versus if the client calls me or is standing in front of me pleading.
The next issue I must ponder is do we need the sale? This is a big one for many businesses. I am here to tell you I did not need all of them. Even when you have R0.00, you do not need an order that must happen in 2 days, unless you have a team of 3-5 people. Even then, be careful not to shift the already planned strategy for one dress. Many of us want to take the order because we believe we NEED the revenue. The truth is the effort to achieve the dress in 2 days will make that money non-existent.
In both these examples I have learned to put me first. For the simple reason that there is no business without me. Furthermore, I need to be at my best to run the business. Do not do more than you can, do not let your business eat into your personal life, do not work 7 days a week, do not skip your friend’s lunch date for the business, and absolutely do not take an order on Tuesday for Friday!
I thank you and good luck. What have you learned in your respective career?
Brigette Mashile is the founder and creative force behind Roka Roko, a custom fashion design business based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company passionately delivers quality tailored and trendy fashion to make their customers happy, and specializes in styling women by creating unusual combinations with fabric, culture and style. Brigette has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Witwatersrand and a Fashion Diploma from Studio5 School of Fashion. She’s a former fashion buyer for a major retailer in South Africa, and an international direct selling company. She’s been passionate about fashion since the age of 10 and gained invaluable experience in the fashion world running informal fashion creation businesses until the day her own Roka Roko brand was born. Find out more by visiting the Roka Roko website www.rokaroko.co.za
More articles by Brigette
