The myth of the entrepreneur lone wolf.

Let’s do a quick exercise.?

Try and picture?Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, at work.?

Close your eyes for a few seconds, then open them again.?

Back??

Right, then. What did you see??

Dr Carol Dweck, author of the book?Mindset, asked this question of her psychology students at Columbia University. Nearly always, they said things like this: “He’s alone, standing in a white lab coat in a dark room leaning over a lightbulb.”?

I’m guessing you imagined something similar, right??

In your own picture, was Thomas Edison?alone??

Here’s the thing: Edison was?not?a loner. When he was conducting his famous experiments, the inventor of the lightbulb had over 30 assistants, including well-trained scientists in a state-funded laboratory.?

Edison was part of a tribe of similarly hard-working academics, entrepreneurs and scientists. They hung out together, told dirty jokes and spoke about rugby and loadshedding.?

Okay, so maybe not that last bit - but, the lightbulb has become the symbol of that single moment, when inspiration strikes the lone wolf entrepreneur, pondering how to change the world.?

Dweck’s research, as well as the research at?Heavy Chef Foundation, reveals a fascinating, and very different, insight into the circumstances of entrepreneurs.?

In short, entrepreneurs generally do start out alone, but they desperately want to work in community. The ones that do forge a successful team are the ones that forge a successful business.?

Last week I wrote about?my own story, trying to work out the financial accounts of my previous business, but failing dismally. The company only succeeded once I found the right tribe.?

At the time, Mike Perk the co-founder of our marketing agency was working in the UK. Louis, my other business partner and long-time collaborator, had not joined the team yet. Sometimes, I scratch my head in amazement at the remarkable individuals I’ve been lucky enough to work with. Many of our former team members at the business that was run by Mike, Louis and I, have gone on to great achievements with other great companies.?

Now, at Heavy Chef, we have a network of extraordinary individuals, from local SME entrepreneurs to captains of industry. In the academic world, Heavy Chef is fostering great friendships with like-minded teachers who are helping us direct our thinking with our entrepreneur learning platform.?

It’s obvious, of course, but our network is crucial to success. “It’s who you know,” as they say.?

This does not mean we have to cozy up to well-known people. It means we have to surround ourselves with?good?people.?

It also does not mean we have to engage with ‘experts’ who want to dispense advice all the time. Henry Ford?said 100 years ago:?

“All the so called ‘wise people’ demonstrated conclusively that the internal combustion engine could not compete with steam. That is the way with wise people. That is why I never employ an expert in full bloom. If ever I’d want to kill opposition by unfair means, I would endow the opposition with ‘experts’. They would have so much good advice, you could be sure they would do little work.”

Perhaps the best perspective on this tenet was conducted by Jim Collins when he concluded, get the?right people on the bus.?

Inside our businesses, it means engaging people who are aligned with our values. Outside our businesses, it means engaging people who are smart and trustworthy and experienced - and who are willing to disagree with us.?

Most importantly, it’s about engaging with people who?do.?

Hard work is the most crucial element to success. We see it every week in?the recipes on the Heavy Chef learning platform.?

It is true of the technologists we’ve featured. Startup technicians who faced enormous challenges to build disruptive startups. Yuppiechef’s Andrew Smith. SweepSouth’s Aisha Pandor. Mama Money’s Matt Coquillon. PayFast’s Jonathan Smit. Snapscan’s Kobus Ehlers.?

It is true of leaders. Nowhere is this more evident than in the sporting world, from Gary Kirsten, to Bryan Habana, to Faf du Plessis, to Roxy Davis, to Siya Kolisi - all of whom overcame significant setbacks to achieve sporting greatness. They were not necessarily endowed with notable natural talent . Instead it was the hard work that set them apart.?

It is also true of the creatives. Zolani Mahola. DJ Sbu. Dan Mace. Mzukisi Mbane. All of whom not only overcame their challenges with relentless hard work, but used those challenges as fuel for their output.?

However, all that hard work doesn’t amount to anything without community, team, togetherness.?

At Heavy Chef, we’re currently experimenting on ways to bring people together in small groups. We have our learning programmes, currently focusing on e-commerce together with PayFast. We have our monthly events, where entrepreneurs can engage with authorities on various topics (our next one is in three weeks, and you’re invited?- use the promo code HC2022-JUL26 to get your tickets free).?

Through the Heavy Chef Foundation, we’re conducting more research of our community (both our own as well as the communities of our partners). We believe this community aspect of entrepreneurship is crucial to uplifting this sector.?

Who do?you?bounce ideas off??

Who has?your?back??

Who are the wolves in?your?pack??

Peace -

Fred Roed

CEO, Heavy Chef

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