its about doing it yourself

1. 10 STEPS TO BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR
Succeeding as an entrepreneur takes hard work and persistence because, unfortunately, there are no
formulae or business-startup fairy who magically bestows success on small businesses and their owners.
Many people, motivational speakers, entrepreneurship coaches claim to know the secret of success in
business, but for the most part, they boil down to the same major points , which is hard work and
persistence.
Passion, perseverance and a positive attitude tend to set successful entrepreneurs apart. Cultivating
these attributes requires an innate skill set and some tips to get started.
According to “Larry Alton –a freelance writer” there are ten (10) main items to take into consideration if
you are trying to develop a business platform. These elements constitute will support a smart strategy
for any new enterprise:
 Love what you do.
No matter what business you are in, be it selling eggs, kugocha chibage etc. love what you do .Passion is
key to keeping a business strategy moving. Half-heartedness in an entrepreneurial endeavor will chip
away at your drive to succeed. Perseverance is the one thing that has guaranteed to move anything over
time, whether it is a person, a job or an entire company. The Zimbabwean liberation fighters failed at
most of their efforts until late in the years, but they never gave up.
 Take baby steps.
Jumping all in is rarely ever successful. There are success stories about people who invested everything
once and came out winners after six months or a couple years, but those are rare cases. Risk
management is an essential factor in any startup, and balance is vital. You can absorb losses more easily
if you take smaller risks in the beginning. Those will provide essential and productive lessons. Step by
step, bit by bit.
 Learn from others.
Do not be a Mr. knows it all kind of a person or Miss little goody two- shoes. Yes, you are smart and you
know many things but hey! Hello! You do not know everything.
Successful entrepreneurs often worked for others in their field of choice before striking out on their
own. Spending a few years in the industry under an excellent mentor will provide a good launching pad.
Learn from your predecessors’ mistakes and brainstorm about how to improve upon their model. Find
someone willing to teach you, and think about starting your business elsewhere when you leave.

2.  Learn how to self-promote.
Confidence and a good elevator speech can take any pitch to the next level. The first marketing any
company experiences comes from its founder. Spend time learning how to share your vision without
coming across as “salesy.” Do not be afraid to ask for the sale, but remember: the client is always the
focus.
 Constantly take action.
Entrepreneurs are movers and shakers. They cannot afford to analyze every detail or they would never
get anywhere. There is no place for procrastination in a startup. It is a 24/7, no-vacation-or-sick-days
kind of that demands constant forward momentum job “wotosunga dzisimbe shasha, ndimi makazvida”.
Make a brief assessment at every step and move on it. Trust your instincts.
 Make a plan.
Read about successful businesses, there are many successful people in Zimbabwe. Take in the wealth of
knowledge that has been provided by successful entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs, Chamu Chiwanza
and Strive Masiiwa amongst other personalities. A successful business plan does not have to be a book,
no. A 10-page plan is digestible and yet longs enough to include everything you need to start.
 Build a reputation.
According to Tsungi Chiwara – A motivational author and has a website www.tsungichiwara.com
“maintaining a blog on a well-hosted website”, or volunteering your time and skills, shows instead of
tells the community, and thereby builds expertise and trust.
 Understanding business fundamentals
Understanding business fundamentals will help the founder keep proper books of accounts; the founder
should be able to interpret profit and losses to his business. Always keep a record of every thing that
happens to your business.
 It is never too late to start.
Many successful entrepreneurs started later in life. J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter author) and Sam Walton
(Wal-Mart) all started their wildly successful brands after they were comfortably along in their lives.
Having the experience that comes with age can give you a unique outlook on your business. Life
experiences bring depth that the most educated young adult, by his or her nature, is less able to
foresee.
 Be mindful of your attitude.
The attitude of the founder will set the tone for the business. Negativity, laziness and entitlement waste
time and money while they tarnish your reputation. Success largely depends on making mistakes and

3. accepting blame in stride. Owning up to and facing challenges head-on is what makes a mere business
owner a leader.
Starting a business can wreak havoc on the owner’s personal life. While all the above tips are necessary
for success, taking care of yourself mentally and physically is also imperative. Exercise, sleep and diet
play a central role in ensuring you implement these policies successfully. All of them drive attitude,
motivation and relationships.
Striking a balance may take a while, but working toward this list as a goal for starting your company will
make the difference.