Without faith no amount funding or rhetoric can help entrepreneurs succeed in their enterprises.
This is the belief of the Acts Business Institute which was launched at the Sanlam Building in Bellville last Friday.
This faith based organisation aims to support small business owners through developing them into professional entrepreneurs.
Xolisa Aubrey Mcetywa, chief executive officer and co-founder, said that the institute aims to ensure that the members have access to basic building blocks for any small business.
“These building blocks consist of training, funding, preferential support as well as the positive attitude. We are faith based organisation because religion is part of communities and it’s extremely important because as an entrepreneur if you don’t believe in yourself you will never be successful,” he told the attendants with a majority of them business owners.
The organisation is set to initiate mentorship networks, motivational workshops as well as one on one professional support that will deal with confidence, self-esteem, self-belief, a culture of celebrating success and mental strength to deal with pressure.
In line with this importance of self beliefs, communication mogul and public speak Bonke Shipalana invited to be the guest speaker.
Shipalana is a PR and marketing guru who among other counts the inception of television show “So You Think Are Funny” and running the PR campaign for the launch of the Mandela notes.
He is the Founder and Chairman of Power of 1 (Leadership Agency) and CEO of The Communications Firm.
“One of the biggest mistakes is to lie to yourself, never do that. If you promised yourself that you will do something, do it. Don’t be afraid of failure because it is through failure that you learn to succeed,” he said.
Another inspirational speaker, Lebo Gunguluza, was the youngest self made millionaires in the 90s after starting an entertainment company. He is now the chairman of GEM Holdings. Gem is a parent company of 32 successful companies.
The Port Elizabeth businessman told the entrepreneurs that one’s background should not determine their destiny.
“I was raised in a shack behind a funeral parlour. When I went to Durban to study I had R60 in my pocket and spent the first few nights sleeping at a service station. However, I was determined to gain education and I succeeded in that as well as in business,” he said.
Entrepreneurs can contact the institute via email info@actsbi.co.za
