Are you ready to be an entrepreneur [2006]
- Date : (2006-12-27)
- Author : SAIE
Are you ready to be an entrepreneur? Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business, but were too afraid to try? Have you ever longed to work from home and become financially independent? Well, the time has come to confront your fears and explore your options. In the next nine issues of Jet Club Magazine, we will introduce you to the exciting world of entrepreneurship. You will read about some of South Africa’s most enterprising business leaders. And you will find out what it takes to be your own boss.
It all starts with a vision Few children know exactly what they want to do when they grow up. Anant Singh was one of them. When he was a young boy, Anant ran a mini-cinema from the lounge of his parents’ home in Durban. He made his own pocket money by charging friends and neighbours a small fee to watch his hired reel-to-reel movies. Today, he is a world-famous movie producer with more than 50 films to his credit. His company, Videovision Entertainment, is the largest independent distributor of motion pictures in Southern Africa.
Are you ready to start your own business? Take our Readyometer Quiz to see whether you are ready to take your first leap into the world of entrepreneurship.
Readyometer Quiz 1) Do you dislike your job and long to do your own thing? a) Absolutely. b) Only sometimes. c) No, I would never dream of leaving my job!
2) Do you dislike taking orders from your boss or supervisor? a) Yes, I prefer using my own initiative. b) Sometimes, when I disagree with the orders. c) No, just tell me what I need to do!
3) Do you like to take risks? a) Yes, especially if the pay-offs are worth my while. b) Only when I know I won’t lose too much. c) No, I’ve broken into a cold sweat just thinking about it!
4) Are you ready to handle the uncertainty of giving up your salary to start your own business? a) I won’t be losing a salary; I’ll be gaining financial independence! b) I worry about losing my salary. Maybe I should start out part-time. c) Give up my salary? Are you mad?
5) Do you already have a business idea you would like to try? a) Yes, in fact I have quite a few. b) Not really, but I have a general idea. c) No, I don’t even want to think about it!
For each “a” answer, you score three points. For each “b” answer, you score two points. For each “c” answer, you score no points.
[[[Suggestion to art director: Perhaps you can design something that looks like a speedometer? It would need markings for the following ranges...]]]
If you scored 11 - 15 points, you are ready to become your own boss! If you scored 6 - 10 points, you’re almost there but have a few concerns to work through first. If you scored 0 - 5 points, you need to think more about whether starting your own business is best for you.
Five reasons to become your own boss 1) No-one can tell you what to do. 2) You can do things your own way. 3) You can work your own hours. 4) You can become financially independent. 5) Whatever you put into your business, you get out.
Many articles and books describe different reasons to start your own business. But what really counts are your own reasons: the ones you already know, or the ones you haven’t yet discovered.
