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PROMOTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO GENERATE ECONOMIC WEALTH FOR THE SA ECONOMY
by Pam Golding
While the South African government is at the forefront of driving job creation and Black Economic Empowerment as a way of stimulating economic growth by bringing people from disadvantaged backgrounds into small, medium and large scale business, the truth is that there are still not enough jobs being created by the public and private sectors – for people of all backgrounds and all cultures, and especially for women.
This means that in reality people must create their own opportunities, by developing their own entrepreneurial skills in order to carve their own futures – by launching their own small businesses.
Small business today has a major role to play in the country’s integrated economy, and in contributing to our national gross domestic product.
Having started my own business from humble beginnings as a housewife with the sale of just one property – over 40 years ago, and during a recession at that, I can honestly say that there is nothing more rewarding than having your own business.
Women seem to appreciate instinctively the simple fact that success and achievement come from work – hard work – being dedicated. Success is also partly a result of “seeing the gap” and largely a product of your ability to take it. It takes courage, determination and passion for whatever your particular skill or area of expertise is.
Whatever the size of your business, even if it’s a one-man or one-woman operation, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction to be gained from being in control of your own destiny, making your own decisions, and achieving your own success.
We must not forget however, how important family life is in the process of achieving our dreams – after all, ‘the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world’. The family is the core, the foundation of society. Strive to achieve, but never neglect the hearth.
I have found that networking is a powerful business tool, as it provides an opportunity to interact with others and develop communication skills.
Women must learn from each other. Over the years we have turned to our mothers, our female friends and peers for advice on a variety of issues, so why should the workplace be any different? We each have our own unique strengths and skills and need to share our common experiences and difficulties in making our way through this still male-oriented world. We, as women in South Africa, need to assist each other in terms of mentoring and networking.
THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE
I feel we should all be “ambassadors” to our country. What we have done as a nation has earned us the respect of the world - it’s up to us to retain and expand on that respect by the way we PROJECT ourselves as a nation. The way we perceive our country undoubtedly influences external behaviour, such as tourism and foreign investment, so remind yourself, often, of all we have achieved. SA has turned diversity into a resource for building a tolerant and caring society. Walk tall and be proud to be South African.
As South Africa rediscovers its pride in itself, we are discovering the magic of Afrocentric rather than Eurocentric.
We must forge a new patriotism among all women to direct the talents and abilities of our young people back towards the service of our communities. We have won the political battle and brought freedom to our people; now the challenge is to build on the foundations of that victory, an economy which brings employment to the jobless, water and sanitation to the rural poor, shelter to the newly urbanized and skills to those who still labour in the menial, low-paid jobs of a declining industrial economy.
In other words, together we must make South Africa a confident, patriotic nation. One that successfully equips its people and business community with the ability to effectively cope with transition and change, where the bottom line is truly - adapt or die.
Without a sense of patriotism and national pride we cannot hope to make South Africa the winning nation it so richly deserves to be.
Pam Golding
Chairman of Pam Golding Properties
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