Launching a business is one thing, but making it for the long haul is another thing entirely, especially because 50% of businesses fail within 5 years. As any business owner will tell you, there's no rule book and running a business can be fulfilling, dramatic and overwhelming at the best of times.
In our business feature this week, we catch up with Shiwomeho Kalla, the owner of Shiwa The Baker. In just three years, Shiwa, as she's affectionately known built her business from the ground up, turning it into one of the most recognizable brands in Namibia. Today, she is a sought after baker who has created memorable masterpieces for individuals, corporate companies and even HE President Hage Geingob.
While she considers herself a strong woman, one for whom taking over the world doesn't seem like an unattainable feat, Shiwomeho also knows a thing or two about the challenges and sacrifices that come with running a business.
In this article, she shares her entrepreneurial experience and some of the valuable lessons she has learned so far and offers useful advice for aspirant business owners and those wishing to expand their brands.
1. There's no such thing as overnight success
We are wired to expect success and progress to come instantly but in reality, it’ll take you years of trials and setbacks before you can see any sustained growth in your business.
2. You’re going to fail along the way, and it's ok
I’ve learnt that now and I’m much more receptive to failure than I was when I first started out. See failure as a teacher and catalyst for growth.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others.
I constantly compared myself to 'successful entrepreneurs' and thought “I’m not pushing hard enough, I’m not moving fast enough, I’m not good enough” which placed tons of needless pressure on myself and heightened my anxiety. Don’t compare yourself to others. Stay in your lane, grind at your own pace, monitor your progress and learn from the greats.
4. You cannot do it alone
You cannot build a great enterprise by yourself. You need a team. Focus on your strengths, master them and hire a team that excels in the areas where you are weak. You also need a support system. Surround yourself with people that share the same passion for seeing your ideas come to life.
5. Growth happens through the process
Success is not a destination or somewhere we get to when our goals are achieved. Success lies in how much you grow in the process of working towards your goals, and that growth happens through the consistent work you put in the process. The result is simply the outcome. Enjoy the journey and grow through it — stop obsessing over the results.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Stay in your lane, grind at your own pace, monitor your progress and learn from the greats.
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