- If you don’t have your own skin in the game, you will never have accountability. Once you have your own money on the table, you are just more careful. Alpesh Patel founder of Mi-Fone (Uganda).
- The journey is forever. Do not ever let yourself feel like you have arrived, because if you do someone else will come and run right past you. You always have to keep going because you haven’t reached the mountain top yet. Kevin Ashley, founder and CEO Nairobi Java House (Kenya).
- Businesses that are spoilt with too much capital make the wrong decisions. Cinstraints are the most powerful things in business, because constraints allow you to be innovative and come up with different solutons. Michael Jordaan, founder of MonteGray Capital (South Africa).
- I have come to learn to be patient and not give up to quickly. It takes patience and persistence to bring new and innovative products and ways of doing things to a community. Bernice Dapaah, co-founder Ghana Bamboo Bikes (Ghana).
- In terms of expansion, I strongly believe in organic growth as there is nothing more motivating or satisfying. The biggest lesson I have learnt is to dream big, but start small. Zainab Ashadu, founder Ashadu Bags (Nigeria).
- Teams are crucial because they combine the differing talents of different individuals, and make the whole better than the part. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, business tycoon (Nigeria).
- Do what you are good at but do it well. If you like tuning pianos, set up a piano-tuning business. If you like baking bread, then do it, but whatever it is, do it well. Francis Grogan, co-founder and CEO, Zambeef Products (Zambia).
- It’s not an easy road. You will get people who will disappoint you, but you need to stay focused on your dream. We all learn and become better through our mistakes and challenges. Lily Alfonso, fashion designer (Malawi).
- The future of Africa depends on its young people. It is critically important for young people to study hard and get a good education in order for them to undertake whatever they want to do and to succeed on their own initiative. Gervais Djondo, co-founder Ecobank and Asky Airlines (Togo).
- Aspiring entrepreneurs have to actually do something that they feel strongly passionate about, and in most cases they should seek inspiration from their own experience, you should despie the experience to the extent that you are continuously seeking a solution for it. Best Ayiorwoth, founder of GIPOMO (Uganda).
Culled: www.howwemadeitinafrica.com
