Tag: entrepreneurship

Let’s clear something up straight away. There is no such thing as overnight success. This is where the overnight success myth begins. It’s an impressive phrase. However, it belongs in the same category as “instant legacy” or “effortless empire”. In fact, the overnight success myth is catchy and marketable, but largely fiction.

I have spent my career watching South African Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners achieve extraordinary results with limited resources. Their resilience is well known. However, this does not remove the difficult path that entrepreneurship often entails. According to our recent Emotional Tax Return report, 95% of South African SME owners make personal sacrifices to sustain their businesses.

In an era defined by rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and institutional pressure, the need for grounded, values-driven leadership has never been more urgent. Purpose, Passion, Progress frames this urgency as a leadership imperative. In Purpose, Passion, Progress, Andrew Maringa challenges the assumption that leadership depends on titles, authority or visibility.

The 2026 National Budget Speech was delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on 25 February. He delivered the 2026 budget speech against a backdrop of complex fiscal trade-offs. South Africa continues to face high debt-servicing costs. As a result, the government’s capacity to act as the primary buffer against economic shocks has become more constrained. Therefore, the 2026 budget speech highlights the growing importance of shared responsibility across the broader economy.

As South Africa prepares for the National Budget Speech later this month, attention is turning to whether government commitments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive fiscal support and implementation details. These elements are required to unlock real economic impact.

South African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are entering 2026 under intense pressure. Rising operating costs continue to squeeze margins. At the same time, regulatory complexity weighs heavily on business confidence. Weak economic conditions further erode consumer spending power.

Old structures were built for stability. Today’s leaders need something stronger and more adaptable. The Rock Blueprint equips them to thrive in disruption, build resilient teams and create companies that outlast the founder. Traditional organisational structures come from a different era. They feel rigid and outdated. As a result, they fail to keep up with today’s fast-changing environment.

Research shows that the leap from employment to running your own business is far from a simple “quit and succeed” path. Those most likely to succeed usually take a gradual and carefully planned approach. Entrepreneurship transition strategies help guide this careful planning for long-term success.

Meet the inspiring kasipreneurs of the informal economy, from bakers to backroom rental barons, coffee innovators to goat breeders, kasi delivery people to spaza innovators, mattress makers, backroom builders, vetkoek fryers and chicken dust queens, kota franchises and backyard auto mechanics. These kasipreneurs not only sustain their communities but also drive considerable economic growth and social improvement.

Running a business is often portrayed as a path to independence and success. However, behind the scenes, many entrepreneurs quietly battle overwhelming levels of stress. In a survey of more than 400 early-stage startup founders, 72% reported that entrepreneurship has impacted their mental health. Of these, 37% suffer from anxiety.