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Q: How did being a broker lead to you starting a panelbeating business?Ī: I deal mostly with taxi businesses in Durban and was frustrated with other panelbeaters that were overcharging my clients. He can advise on things like that because he’s been through similar challenges, so he knows what he’s talking about. For example, with my panelbeating business, I wanted to buy a property and he suggested that I invest in land and build my own shop according to my specifications. This is what will happen – but you are going to succeed.” He’d give me practical examples. At no point did Dave ever say, “Sbu, you’ve got this problem, here’s the money.” I’d tell him that things are tough and that I can’t cope and then he’d say, “I’ve been through this. Most of the time, you’ll find that your expenses are bigger than your income. Q: How did Dave help you solve some of the challenges you faced along the way?Ī: I always say being a business person is a very lonely journey. Just talking to someone who understands what you are going through, because they went through it too, that’s what kept me going. I’d tell him things are tough, that they are bad, and he’d say, “Just keep your eyes on the goal.” At the first meeting he told me that it was not going to be easy. Q: What kept you going during the rocky stages?Ī: Speaking to Dave was all the motivation I needed to keep going. Now I’ve got a house that is fully paid – and it’s a better house than the one I lost! So, I’m happy that I stuck with the advice he gave me. I lost a house I lost everything, but I kept pursuing the vision.

It was so difficult that I almost gave up. What happened was that I was doing life insurance and getting paid a lump sum of commission upfront, but when I changed to short-term insurance, it took time for me to build the income. It’s very important to have proper mentorship when it comes to transformation because in business, it’s a journey.Ī: When I first met Dave, I took his advice and ended up losing my house. But having Dave as a role model has meant that if I come across some challenges in business, I have someone who has already been through it and can guide me. They are going to abuse it because the only role model they know is the guy who become rich overnight through tenders. You can’t just give a person money and call it transformation. When it comes to business, in the township, your perception is that once you have a business you become rich overnight because you see the people who get tenders and then buy a big Mercedez-Benz. Q: From your experience, how can mentorship play a role in transformation?Ī: I grew up in a township where our role models were those guys who stole cars or that guy who broke into places.

I wanted to build my business so I would go to him and say I’ve got this idea, how can we do it?

For me, it was just that I was encountering problems and would turn to him for help. Q: How did that first meeting lead to Dave becoming your mentor?Ī: You know what, I never realised that he was my mentor until recently when it was pointed out to me.

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Dave explained short-term insurance and how to build income with it, and it made a lot of sense. I had started experiencing the downside of selling life insurance, so I went to see him that Monday to get a view of another business. I’m the type of person who’s curious and always willing to learn.

TODAY’S FARMERS HAVE TO KNOW MORE THAN JUST FARMING.Ĭlaims Blog Tools Get a quote Find a broker Risk & Calculators Information Contact Santam Drive in centresĪ: We were sitting at the same table at the gala dinner of the golf day – which was the first event I’d ever attended like this – and Dave invited me to meet with him the following Monday, where he’d explain what short-term insurance was all about and the opportunities in the taxi industry.

Combined building and home contents insurance.

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