How to engineer your own success

5th June 2020

By: Creamer Media Reporter

     

Font size: - +

By Terrena Rathanlall

Sikhulile Nhassengo wanted to be a dentist but when he realized that he couldn’t handle the sight of blood, he chose to study engineering instead. Fast forward 20 years and he is the proud owner of Maninga Engineering.  

It would be easy to assume that the journey has been smooth, but success is seldom without sacrifice and perseverance. For Sikhulile it’s been like chipping away at a block of marble: you put in a lot of effort, but if you are persistent and consistent, over time you will create something beautiful, something that will outlast you.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. However, if starting your own business is your goal, you will definitely want to read his tips to prepare for the journey ahead.

Entrepreneurship tests your mettle, says Sikhulile. “The first few years will probably be the most difficult, especially when you are a one-man band and you are wondering why you left the stability of a full-time job with paid sick leave. Dig deep to find an internal reservoir of courage and determination and remember why you began your business in the first place. It will give you the motivation to persevere.”

Writing down your goals is good. Knowing how to achieve them is better. But the real prize is executing them. Goals are like a compass; they tell you where you are and in which direction you need to go to get to where you need to be. Smart goals make you realise that what you want can be achieved. One of Sikhulile’s goals is to create a legacy for his children. Another is to bring about change in the petroleum industry which needs transformation. He also wants to build a reputable, black-owned business that is celebrated for the quality of work they produce.

“Maninga Engineering wants to be known as a market leader in the engineering industry by providing innovative engineering solutions. Shoddy workmanship can kill a business and people. That is why the standard of work my company produces must be extremely high. I want to be able to sleep at night, knowing that Maninga has delivered the best service to its customers. This perfectionist approach means that it takes you longer to grow, but it does make you stand out.”

Most new entrepreneurs usually fall over their feet trying to be all things to all people. So, it may sound counterintuitive to learn to say no. Sikhulile remembers a time when he was grateful for any customer that walked through his door. “But not every customer is a good customer. Knowing when to say no to a client is a lesson that is often learnt the hard way. Now, I am not afraid to say no to customers whose company culture does not match ours.”

Don’t underestimate the need for a good support system. “You will need a personal and professional network as a business leader. Your personal network of family and friends to support you when you are building the business and a peer network of like-minded businessmen and women you can reach out to and share ideas with. Both will be your lifelines as you get your business off the ground or look to scale for growth.”

Sikhulile’s last two tips are keep costs low because the early years are lean, and constantly assess whether you are spending your time and money on the right things. It’s very easy to overextend your resources so knowing how to plug all the holes in your leaky bucket is vital.

Sikhulile knew he needed guidance to run his business more efficiently, so he applied to participate in the SAB Foundation Tholoana business development programme. This initiative supports over 150 high-potential entrepreneurs at any given time across SA. He received access to skills training, peer networks, brand development as well as an experienced business mentor.

The results speak volumes: his business has grown and he employs eight people. Given that by 2030, SMEs in South Africa will be employing 90% of the workforce, programmes like this are necessary to help small businesses become sustainable and drivers of job creation.

“It is extremely rewarding to run my own business,” says Sikhulile. Most people don’t start because they are not sure of the outcome. But if you work hard, learn as much as you can and never give up, you too can create something beautiful, something that will be felt by generations to come.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION