Get out of bed. Make a difference. Repeat.

Ask someone who King Price is, and they will probably be able to tell you. But ever heard of Brandbunny.com? No? How about Salvage City, or 13th Floor Logistics? 30Thirty Carriers? Still no? Frankly, I’m not surprised. They’re among the less-successful ventures on my entrepreneurial journey. Car wrecks dotted along the road to success.

And still, people think entrepreneurship is glamorous. They don’t see the hard work, the skinned knees, the effort it takes to get up and try again after you’ve fallen.

King Price started off back in 2012 as a 13-person business, in my garage, with big dreams of changing the world of insurance. Nobody gave us a chance. But here we are, a R5.7 billion business, with 1,000+ employees and global plans. What people don’t know is that I had to self-fund the dream to a large extent, even selling my home and my car. My friends and family (especially my wife!) thought I was crazy.

I had to knock on the doors of 43 different investors. You ever walk into someone’s office, and the meeting’s over before you even get a chance to drink your coffee? 10/10 would not recommend. But it’s a feeling entrepreneurs learn to live with.

So, to celebrate Entrepreneur’s Month, here are my top 6 learnings. I hope they help someone make their dreams happen.

Give before you take

Give back. Start small, with 1 person, 1 charity, 1 bursary. And if you can’t give money, give time. Talk to young people. Tell them entrepreneurship is hard but worth it, and the future depends on them.

Have values, and stick to them

Who are you? What do you stand for? What makes you get out of bed in the morning? What’s your bigger purpose? (And no, making money doesn’t count as a purpose.)

Review your strategies regularly

Re-negotiate your contracts. Re-think your organogram. Re-set your goals. Right now, we’re in ‘business unusual’ – and the biggest risk is doing nothing.

Debt is a viable option

Debt is scary, especially if your idea isn't a sure bet. But almost every entrepreneur took a loan at some point. As long as you have a plan to pay it back, debt can be a valuable tool.

Invest in yourself

Read. Listen to TED talks and podcasts. Surround yourself with game-changing people. Just never stop learning.

Nothing turns out like the original plan

Life happens. Be flexible and adapt. Problems give rise not only to solutions, but also to improvements. Embrace these hurdles, learn from them – but don’t make the same mistake twice.

Fact is, if I knew back in 2012 what I know now, chances are we wouldn’t have got out of bed and started this business. But we did. Now I can’t wait to get out of bed every morning and continue #MakingADifference – to our clients, staff, business partners, shareholders and communities. And ultimately, that’s what it’s all about. Get out of bed. Make a difference. Repeat.

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