This document provides tips for staying alive and kicking as an entrepreneur. It discusses that the first five years of a business are the hardest, with most mistakes made and wisdom gained in that period. While research shows breaking even in year one is good, most businesses are not actually breaking even that early. The tips include being passionate about your product or service, starting small, identifying mentors, keeping ideas private until defended, having a belief system, making promises to stay motivated, focusing on customer needs over money, having a clear revenue model, developing credibility with suppliers, and developing business skills like sales, management, and bookkeeping. Sustaining a business long-term requires hiring the right team with the necessary skills. Education is also

1. Tips on staying alive and kicking
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2. The act of continuing to live
despite difficult
circumstances
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3. The sale of goods/services
to make a profit
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4. 1) To meet a NEED
2) To make MONEY
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5.  You will most likely fail in the first five years
 Year TWO is your hardest year
 All possible mistakes are made in the first
five years
 Most wisdom is gathered in the first five
years
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6. Research shows that if you
are breaking even in YEAR
ONE you are actually doing
really good.
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7. Nobody is honestly ever
breaking even in year one
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8. 1. Be passionate about something
You must love what you do: You must believe in the product or service you are providing. This is the only
way you can sell it to anyone else
2. Start small
Do not incur huge costs in the beginning like an office, car, stationery if you can do without. Start from
your home, make enough money to afford these other necessities before you start acquiring them.
3. Identify mentors and value your support system
There is always someone who has already done the business you are venturing into. There is an older person
or a more experienced person doing business. Tap into their resources, ask questions and avoid pitfalls by
asking the right questions. These mentors must not be people you know, you can look into international
mentors too.
4. Keep the oven closed during baking
No need discussing an idea with anyone when you are not even sure of how it is going to play out. When a
business idea is at the first stage, think it through before you share it with anyone. Be able to defend it
before you ask for others opinions. This will ensure that you are not swayed easily by the first critic.
5. Have a belief system
Have values and things you believe in when doing business. This is the only way you can stay rooted and not
change your mind easily. Let your belief system be engraved in you and even visibly in your office so your
clients and suppliers can see it. Values can be : integrity, honesty etc.
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9. Make a promise to yourself
Decide that you are not going to give up just because things appear difficult. Decide by making a
promise to yourself you will achieve something or buy something. You could set goals as simple as: “I
will buy an SUV by end of Q4.” This enables you close enough deals to allow you the opportunity to
make this purchase.
Do not be driven by money
Yes! You got into business to make money. But in your attempt to succeed in business, let this not be
your key objective. Strive to meet a need. Strive to listen to a client and provide what he/she needs.
A client will pay your price if you are meeting his/her need and making them happy.
Have a clear way to make money
In your business model know exactly your cost of production, determine your margin and add it to
your cost of production. A business is not a charity, you need to make enough today to exist
tomorrow. Do not overlook any steps in your production process. For example if you are a free
lance graphic designer and you print at third parties for your clients, do not forget to include
your taxi fare from your home if you design from home to the printers and later on to the
client. If you need to call the printer and client from time to time include this in your cost. Then
determine a fair profit for all the work you do for your client. Your skill is what you market!
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10. Be credit worthy
Let your creditors be able to trust you. If you are an event planner for example,
most times your clients pay you just before the event or in some cases after the
event. Be reliable so that your suppliers let you use their supplies even if you have
not paid. As soon as your client pays you do well to pay your suppliers first. A good
turn deserves another.
Develop yourself
 Sales : take sales training
 Management : learn about leaders in business and find out how they managed their
businesses
 Book keeping : Basic finance principles are vital for any business owner. If you do not
master it, your business will crumble soon.
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11.  Your PASSION gets you to:
 Start the business
 Wake up every morning with a spring in your step
 Go to bed in the wee hours of the morning
 Keeps you motivated
 Sustaining the business comes from:
 Hiring the right team
 Getting the required skills
 Sales
 Negotiation
 Book keeping
 Management
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12.  Ralph Lauren
 He had just a high school diploma
 His CFO - Robert Madore
 Summa Cum Laude from a renowned US university
 Tony Elumelu – Heirs Holdings
 His Director of Strategy – Wieber Boer is a Yale
Graduate
 His PA – Harvard Business School graduate
 Virgin Group
 Richard Branson – High School Dropout
 His COO – Mark Parker (Very highly eduated)
Education is very vital for sustaining your business. Some top companies may be run by school drop outs but
here is what you did not know about the education levels of their staff…
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13.  As an entrepreneur always be on a journey
for continuous growth and improvement
 Educate yourself through:
 Online classes
 Classroom sessions
 MBAs
 Masters degree
 PhD
 Audio Messages
 Business books
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14.  Etonde Martin
 sheraizdelightz
 www.sipec.co.uk
 Entrepreneur
 Mentor / Coach
 Investor
 www.sheraizdelightz.com
 Events
 Public Relations
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