Building Small Business Communities

SA BUSINESS HUB in association with Majestic has launched Coffee Groups around the country. These are small groups of business owners that meet regularly to solve each others problems and WORK TOGETHER to help each other become financially sustainable. The business tools and services supplied by SA BUSINESS HUB (including a very nifty bartering system) combined with Majestic's software and referral marketing / database communication technique with will be of enormous benefit to your company. To set you up with a group in your area, please complete the following form . Attendance is free.

Our western culture has only been around about 200 years, yet in this time we have almost destroyed ourselves in multiple world wars, practically obliterated our natural resources and as we speak we are sending around 30 species of plants or animals into extinction every day.

Now compare our "intelligence" to that of other cultures that lasted thousands of years: what were they doing that we are not? The difference is they worked together in communities. In a community there are six linking institutions: a sense of art and culture, stories of adventure and overcoming adversity, specific technical skills, rules for sharing and distribution, a mutual philosophy (or intention) and a shared history from which to learn and improve. These linking institutions are NOT all found in large corporations, but they ARE found within the small business sector! All we need to do is come together in the same geographic location with a shared intention: to work together and grow the small business sector.

Within these ancient communities there was no centralised control: no central banking system, no central government and no centralised food, water and energy distribution. As centralised control sought to dominate the masses, this is when the trouble came. Before that, small groups of manageable communities worked together for the good of all.

If you are a small business owner, you should be spending at least five hours a week working with your community, building each person as they build you. You need to surround yourself with other business owners that you trust and who you can work with. So let's start forming real world communities again. Let's stop using the excuse "I don't have time" and start saying "I'll make time" for others. Start leveraging a community by joining one using the following link: http://www.majesticinteractive.co.za/bf.php?fid=861

It is for this reason that I created SA BUSINESS HUB and now we're starting Coffee Groups around the country. In association with Scott Cundill from Majestic, you can join and participate in a localised group in your area free of charge. Among others, the purpose of these Coffee Groups are to:

• Provide technical support for the Majestic software / technique and SA Business Hub workings
• Share your business problems in confidence and find a solution
• Send each other referrals using the Majestic database marketing system
• Learn about business tools and services offered by SA Business Hub
• Learn about bartering and how to get things done with a cash free online exchange

Investing in yourself

If there is one investment that ALWAYS returns a generous profit, it is your investment in yourself. When you invest in your skills, in your attitudes, or in your personal growth, you always win and the investment benefits you as long as you are in business!

The fact that people think that an investment in themselves is too much to pay means only one thing. The person is refusing to commit to their future.

Never stop investing in yourself and ensure that you commit to yourself and your business none less than 100%. Specifically, what kinds of investments do I suggest? Here are three key areas:

1. Personal Growth. Read for the fun of it. Go to workshops and listen to tapes. Learn to play bridge or chess or backgammon. Rent and watch the great movies of the past 100 years. Join a club or group, or take up a new hobby. Do a personal retreat or attend workshops. It doesn't take time; it expands your life.
2. Social Effectiveness. Yes, I'm talking about classes on communication, parenting, and leadership. Be the best parent you can be. Be the best lover, the best friend, the best manager. Volunteer for committees in your club or house of worship. The more people you know, and the better your social skills, the bigger your world will become.
3. Professional Skills. I remember working at a clinic when budget cuts reduced funds for continuing education, and some of my colleagues decided that if the County wouldn't pay for them, they just wouldn't go. How short- sighted and foolish! Invest in your business, in your skills, in technology and in your future.
   Learn all you can. Grow, expand, and stretch. Attend seminars, learn from experts, read, listen, and get involved!

The Real Entrepreneur workshops will give you the perfect opportunity to catch up with the latest entrepreneurial thinking. We have launched the new dates for The Real Entrepreneur full day seminar. Over 400 people (in January and February alone) have already had their lives changed through this event so do not hesitate.

Go to www.entrepreneur.co.za/real/realone.htm. Book your seat now