What Can I Do To Help YOU Today?

I was surprised to find in the opening pages of Donald Trump’s book “How to Get Rich” these quotes:

The Mother of All Advice

Trust in God and be true to yourself.

-  Mary Trump, my (Donald’s) Mother

When I look back, that was great advice, concise and wise at once. I didn’t really get it at first, but because it sounded good, I stuck to it. Later I realized how comprehensive this is-how to keep your bases covered while thinking about the picture. It’s good advice no matter what your business or lifestyle.

- DJT

The quote I enjoy most from the biography I just read (George Washington Carver) told how his students at the University where he taught most of his latter years, asked him what time he wakes and how did he start his days. He said, he would wake each day at 4am, go somewhere quiet and spend time talking with God. Most of us have a shopping list of requests, needs, prayers requiring answers. George Washington Carver said all he did was ask God: Lord, what can I do to help you Today? George would then wait for the answer. And do it. 

I like that. A lot.

One of History's Most Remarkable Men..

I am being inspired by the biography of George Washington Carver at the moment, an American Scientist, Botanist, Educator and Inventor who invented and promoted over 100 products made from peanuts including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline (petrol), and nitroglycerin. Born to slave parents, he was orphaned before he could walk. In his youth he fought poverty and throughout his life he battled prejudice. Yet he emerged as one of history's most remarkable men! It is an incredible story.

Photograph of George Washington Carver taken by Frances Benjamin Johnson in 1906

Another person whose biography inspired me earlier this year was that of Steve Jobs. I think what I remember most is that Steve had a sense of destiny. He knew from early on in his life (as a premonition) that he was not going to live long, so he had a sense of urgency to fulfil his life's purpose in a hurry. He was a perfectionist and one of the amazing things to me is that if he hadn't got involved in the computing industry you wouldn't be reading this Blog Post in a pretty type face. One of the elective courses Steve took after "dropping out" of university as a full time student was "Calligraphy". Hence the designer fonts we all have to choose from. Great, I love it when art and science meet in business.

I would encourage you, if you aren't already, to read the biographies of successful people. This is one of the places I gain very useful tips and information on how to run my own businesses and grow successful in them.

Disaster Creates Opportunities

Valley of Desolation, Camdeboo National Park (Source: www.southafrica.net)

I really believe the best online businesses that will be the big names within the next 5 years are probably business ideas or concepts that no-one has even thought of up till now. As new situations arise and develop, and things happen that have never happened before, entire new industries will develop (at one time the internet was an “event” that had never happened before and now some of us depend on it for our livelihoods).There have been some amazing ideas even in South Africa that have sprung up.

Businesses can happen out of situations of great distress. For example, the AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa has (sadly) been a massive source of prosperity for new (and old) businesses in South Africa. Some of the “old” business ideas have been the funeral parlours. AVBOB is probably the best known of them, established in Bloemfontein in 1921, it is probably a little known fact that the company is now one of the most successful in South Africa, with net income in the tax year 2011/12 posted at R820million (an increase from R456,6million in the previous year) whilst total assets increased over the same period by 19.5% to R6.2billion (see Chairman’s Report). I was actually shocked by these figures, particularly the increase year on year which indicates that the AIDS pandemic is far from being “under control” which our Government is very quiet about. I cannot imagine another reason for the doubling in turnover of a funeral service business, since South Africa has not had a sudden outbreak of War or other major catastrophe. Scary.

Another business in South Africa which was probably much needed previously, but became a viable business as a result of the sheer numbers of deaths due to the AIDS pandemic. I heard (from a reliable source, I once interviewed the Founder's Personal Assistant many years ago when she was looking for a career move!) this business was started as a result of a conversation between two people in a pub. One of them had a relative who’d passed away (around 1998) and was lamenting that he needed to repatriate the body to another country bordering South Africa for a burial according to local traditions but was struggling with the logistics, being unable to find anyone who could help. This birthed a new business where the founder secured deals with all the local insurance companies providing insurance policies, and started the first specialized business handling all the logistics for people who needed this service. It is a thriving business with its head office in Midrand, 21^st Century Life, now with 25 branches across the country.

If you don’t ask, you won’t receive: Ask God for a new business idea, but when you get it, don’t speak about it: ACT swiftly and DO it!

Re-Seller Opportunities

In some countries (USA for one), you need to ensure you have the necessary permits:a Re-seller's Licence or Permit. I can't find anything like that in South Africa nor have I ever heard of it, if anyone has please let me know! The reason is that the VAT portion is removed for parts of the transaction. That isn't really applicable in this case since the VAT registration threshold in South Africa is R1million of taxable supplies per annum (2012). Beautiful Bracelets will be thrilled when it reaches that level!

I had been looking at other ways to sell Beautiful Bracelets, which included Re-Sellers, when people started approaching me directly to Re-sell Beautiful Bracelets, even from overseas! (Australia). The ones I am most excited about are the students, who at the moment in South Africa have their summer break of 2-3 months over December/January. Today I met one of them, who had listened to the entire Money Show Challenge and had been inspired by it to create her own small business on the side whilst she continues to complete the final year of her IT degree next year. I find this very exciting, because this is really the best way to solve the unemployment situation in South Africa in my view: Students need to be thinking about business already whilst working on their studies.. The long vacations are the perfection opportunity to practice starting a small business, and if you or someone you know is in that scenario, why not use the model given in the Radio 702 Challenge, and make a decision to work as hard as you can and see if you can make a go of it? The worst case scenario is you used R1000 and got no return. Or R50. Or, you could generate a profit of R3,750 or R4,850 or R12,000 or, like the incredible Pavlo Phitidis maybe you also have a brilliant idea and with a whole lot of hard work can multiply it into nearly R70,000 in just 6 weeks! 

It was truly gratifying today to be told by this Student that she had been inspired by the R1000 Money Show Challenge to do it herself which is why she contacted me to start her own small business, using her social networks to sell Beautiful Bracelets!

Inspiration from Others

I really enjoy hearing from people who get in touch with me and tell me they heard the Radio 702/ Cape Talk R1000 Money Show Challenge, some of whom were avid listeners, they didn't miss a single show that focused on the Challenge. Earlier this week I received an unexpected call from a couple whom I knew very well but hadn't spoken to for a number of years, they now have an olive farm in a remote spot in the Cape, so remote it doesn't even have cellphone reception, but the farmer listens daily to the Money Show..! A fascinating re-connection.

And then last night, someone who'd been listening to every broadcast of the Money Show especially the section focusing on the R1000 Challenge, introduced himself at the Midrand Moonlight Christmas Market and bought a Beautiful Bracelet for his wife! I find these moments very encouraging, it seems that many people were inspired by the R1000 Money Show Challenge.. and are all amazed at Pavlo Phitidis.

Bought my wife a Beautiful Bracelet from @1000bracelets. Contact Val and get yours. Thanks Val, lovely meeting you. twitter.com/drivability/st…
— Graeme McCormack (@drivability) December 1, 2012

Brilliant Business Blogs

I believe it is important to gain inspiration and wisdom by continuing personal education through reading books, blogs, websites, and keeping oneself updated in whatever your chosen field by continuing to attend seminars, conferences and possibly continued further studies.

One of the people I am inspired by is Peter J Daniels, a billionaire Australian who made most of his money before 1990 in property. At that time he owned more property and employed more people in Australia than any other individual. He is now a philanthropist. I heard he never borrows money, he LENDS money to banks! He has written a number of books, the one I enjoy the most is "How to be Happy though Rich".

Here are a few Brilliant Blogs written by women entrepreneurs that are inspirational and have great tips for small business:

The Suitcase Entrepreneur Natalie leads an inspiring business, generously gives practical tips and travels the world, while continuing to be a motivated ambassador for women around the world

She Takes On the World An award winning blog written, named by Forbes.com as one of the Twenty Best Marketing and Social Media Blogs by Women. This blog is written by a team of women who do an amazing job of supporting and inspiring women entrepreneurs. It features interviews with fabulous women entrepreneurs, business resources, and a free directory for women-owned businesses.

Women on Business Reading Women On Business is a like having your own personal mentor. It is written by powerhouse entrepreneur and author, Susan Gunelius, along with other guest contributors.

The Boss of You Co-written by successful entrepreneur duo, Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears, The Boss of You is all about learning to run a business doing what you love.

Successful Blog Liz Strauss delves into one of the most important parts of building a business –building a base of loyal customers. This woman has heart and reaches out to people in amazing ways.

Market Like A Chick Coree Silvera, tells it like it is and examines marketing from a female perspective. Great tips on social media marketing although the last post was in 2010 and the info may be a little out of date (things change so rapidly in the social media spectrum!) She focuses on internet marketing but also writes about business and interviews top women in the marketing industry.

The Barefoot Executive's Blog Carrie Wilkerson has built several successful businesses and now coaches others to do the same. Her blog is a must read for work-from-home women.

I am inspired by these writers and I hope some of them help you too! Although it isn't easy to find time in a busy schedule to read, if you can, they could be a source of great advice, humour, learning, help you grow your business and may provide you with a wonderful network of entrepreneurs.