If you are an aspiring entrepreneur and are looking for some insights on how to run your business successfully in South Africa, you need to read South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, compiled by Moky Makura.

Published by MME Media, and in association with the Gordon Institute of Business Science, this book is a fantastic read because it differs from the usual autobiography of a leading entrepreneur, and instead one has an opportunity to read a variety of stories from 22 of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurs – all in one book.

The 500-odd pages offer great insight.

Much like seeking treasures, one will find valuable nuggets of information for one’s own ventures through the experience and wisdom of Sol Kerzner, Adrian Gore, Carrol Boyes and Anant Singh, to Pam Golding, Herman Mashaba and Whitey Basson.

What is interesting about this book, is that there is clearly no cast-in-stone blueprint on how to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Nor is everyone’s story the same.

However, there are some commonalities such as the obstacles they had to overcome – and in some cases, failed to overcome – but they continued regardless.

In the foreword, Professor Nick Binedell praises their entrepreneurial spirit: “Little commonality can be discerned between them, which perhaps opens the door to the true purpose of this book: to celebrate what entrepreneurial vision already exists in South Africa and simultaneously look to the future, hoping that others will be inspired to follow in their footsteps. In part, I suspect that is unlikely to happen. Many of the people whose drive and energy are told in these pages are unlikely to have taken anyone’s advice as they forged their own paths.”

While no one’s story is the same, they all had a dream. Coupled with an abundance of determination, courage and a large dose of chutzpah, all of which is required if one is to succeed in becoming an entrepreneur, this group of entrepreneurs faced serious odds, but still managed to rise above and succeed in their dreams.

This is not Makura’s first compilation of entrepreneurial stories. The predecessor, Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, looked at the greater continent’s successful and dynamic entrepreneurs. Clearly, it was only a matter of time before its South African counterpart became a reality.

Makura explains in a nutshell what the purpose of this book is: “South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, like its predecessor, is about inspiring and helping this and future generations of South Africans to make their business dreams a reality – if not for themselves, for their country.

“Without a doubt, South Africa needs more visionaries to create more businesses that will lead to more jobs and, ultimately, more wealth for everyone. This is the challenge that only entrepreneurs can meet, and this book plays a significant role in helping to fan the entrepreneurial flame South Africa needs to grow.”

An easy read, each story is an honest and compelling account and seems to remain in one’s thoughts for some time after reading the book.

Inspirational quotes from South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs

“I love competition because at least you can compete against somebody – it’s terrible running a race against yourself. I wanted to compete because then people would be able to see whether we had won or lost.” – Alan Knott-Craig (retired CEO of Vodacom)

“The most dangerous time for a business is when things are going well... Some of the worst messes we got into were conceived through overconfidence.” – Koos Bekker (CEO of Naspers)

“You cannot sell something unless you are passionate about it.” – Herman Mashaba (founder and non-executive of Black Like Me)

“If you, as a leader, are just working on the bottom line, you are going to miss the point because financial performance is preceded by operating performance, and operating performance is preceded by human performance. If you don’t know what the human performance is in the business, you are not in a position to shape future outcomes. If people do the right thing, financial returns will follow.” – Mark Lamberti (Transaction Capital chairperson and CEO)

“I wanted to create things that would be accessible to most people rather than an elite few. My aim was also to combine sculpture with functionality. It’s easier for people to justify buying an expensive object that they have fallen in love with if they have a practical use for it.” – Carrol Boyes (founder and CEO of Carrol Boyes Functional Art)

“Professor WH Hutt taught me that the division between caring and making profits does not exist. If profit-making becomes your whole being, you won’t be a very nice person and you won’t make profits.” – Raymond Ackerman (retired chairperson of Pick n Pay)

“Do not ever expect others to do what you cannot do for yourself. You cannot lead by saying: ‘Do as I say’; you’ve got to prove to your workforce that you can do.” – Jenna Clifford (founder of Jenna Clifford Designs)

“Surround yourself with mentors and experts in various fields you know nothing about. I am never too proud to say I don’t know something, and because of that, I am privy to many amazing people who and organisations that assist me with my business. A successful entrepreneur is not afraid to say so when they don’t know something and is humble enough to ask for help. It’s the only way to learn.” – Nkhensani Nkosi (founder and CEO of Stoned Cherrie)

“An entrepreneur is one who dares to try, who hopes to make a difference, who doesn’t know how she gets there, but is determined to do so.” – Pam Golding (founder of Pam Golding Properties)

“Value is created by the tenacious pursuit of an idea and the ability to build on it.” – Mark Shuttleworth (founder of HBD Venture Capital, the Shuttleworth Foundation and Canonical)

“Always work with people you can trust. Choosing the right partners and skills is paramount to the success of any project.” – Anant Singh (CEO of Videovision Entertainment)

“South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs” retails at R295 and is on sale in bookshops nationwide.