The Instinct Driven Entrepreneur

According to Dr Cobus Oosthuizen, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Leadership at the Milpark Business School, an instinct is an inborn pattern of behaviour that occurs in response to specific stimuli. In the case of entrepreneurship, this would mean an inborn pattern of behaviour that a person exhibits in response to specific stimuli from the environment. Is there an instinct that triggers, in an entrepreneur, the recognition of an opportunity? Is there an instinct that enables the entrepreneur with the energy needed to initiate a concept and realise a value-creating venture? Humanity instinctively desires to ‘make meaning’, to ‘create value’, and to ‘satisfy needs and wants’ in response to stimuli from our physical environment. We can see this as clearly in the invention of the wheel around 8 000 BC as we can see it in the advent of the Internet. But is this instinct more acute, more ‘awake’ in some people than in others?

 

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Empowering Entrepreneurship

South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN) is a forum for individuals and organisations committed to the promotion and advancement of female entrepreneurs. It is a Department of Trade and Industry (dti) project for the representation and articulation of the aspirations of women entrepreneurs in the small, medium and micro-enterprise (SMME) sectors. In its 11th year of existence, SAWEN has board members who are totally committed to the values of the organisation and give of their free time to empower others. Nana Ditodi, President of SAWEN and Gail Downing, Chairperson of SAWEN believe the desire, willingness and ability to learn new skills and habits can contribute to any woman’s success.

 

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The Rise of the Technical Female

In the past, the global workforce was largely made up of men. As the global landscape evolves, socially and economically, the work environment is expanding to accommodate more individuals and to ensure that women are able to step in, even if it means that they end up in roles traditionally reserved for men. A case in point is Jane Trembath, airline captain and motivational speaker. According to Jane, the reason there is an increase in the number of women in technical jobs is due to two factors: exposure and opportunity. “In the past, women simply did not realise that such jobs were an option. Today, more women witness other women breaking ground everywhere and, suddenly, they realise that anything is possible – they grasp the fact that any individual can do anything that is suited to their interests and capabilities, irrespective of gender.”

 

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What to Ask Your Mentor

We need a mentor in literally every aspect of our lives – personal/family; health; career; spiritual; and even in friendships. You’ve done your research and found a suitable mentor, and now it’s time to get mentored, but, since it’s a two-way process, you don’t know where to start asking, do you? Vicki Hamilton advises mentees to take a tour of introspection before all else. Ask yourself: “What do I want to gain from this person?” What you gain from an individual is truly the area of expertise that you desire. Is it lifestyle/appearance; how they handle being a single mother; how they handle travel with a career and family; or do you want to understand their personal career journey; want a thorough layout of skills to gain; or want to know what organisations to be a part of?

 

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