It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) in South Africa and entrepreneurship is trending.
One man who has never been afraid to share the realities of being an entrepreneur is Allon Raiz, founder and CEO of Raizcorp, a business incubator. Raiz hosts The Big Small Business show, a Business Day TV show focusing on giving business advice to entrepreneurs.
He is also the author of two bestselling entrepreneurial books, ‘Lose the Business Plan’ and ‘What to Do When You Want to Give Up’ and was entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.
Raiz’s Twitter has long been a source of entrepreneurial wisdom, however last week he shared a thread that was pure gold – the little mentioned harsh truths that come with being an entrepreneur.
On the pain of entrepreneurship
Losing clients is part of the #entrepreneurial game, and when it happens it hurts. But losing a client for whom you have created massive value, but wants to try something new, feels like open heart surgery without any anaesthetic.
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) November 12, 2018
On entrepreneurship being an emotional journey
No matter how logical and unemotive you might be before becoming an #entrepreneur, the moment you begin your #entrepreneurial journey you become a highly emotional individual. For better of for worse, you feel so much more than before.
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) November 11, 2018
On the dangers of failing to plan and prepare
I’m intrigued as to why it still surprises #entrepreneurs who are not prepared to do the hard yards of planning, managing, leading and preparation, that their businesses are flapping in the wind or going backwards? In today’s competitive environment that’s what it takes. #work
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) November 4, 2018
On the importance of having meetings with a purpose
An internal #business meeting without an agenda and tasks could also be called a chat. Its nice for everyone at the time but has no real impact in moving things forward.
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) October 22, 2018
On acting decisively
Don’t you hate it when you know what the right thing is to do in your business, but there are some “complexities” that prevent you from doing those things. Only to realise afterward that there were no complexities just your own fear to act decisively. Dooooh
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) October 30, 2018
On not giving up
To all the #entrepreneurs who are feeling in a desperate state where they want to give up. It’s such a normal thing to feel, we all feel that way often. The trick is to look back and count all that you have achieved so far, no matter how small. Then be proud, chin up, soldier on.
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) October 19, 2018
On getting through a crisis
There is immense #power in getting through a #crisis. It feels as if there is #energy transferred from the “problem” to yourself the moment the problem is overcome or solved. Knowing this makes you all the more focused on getting through it. #Entrepreneur push through.
— Allon Raiz (@allonraiz) October 30, 2018
