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25 April 2019 | Story Igno van Niekerk | Photo Igno van Niekerk
Allon Raiz
Entrepreneurship is the future: Allon Raiz provides tools for tomorrow at recent UFS Business School guest lecture.

Allon Raiz treated staff and students to an entertaining, insightful and thought-provoking session on Lose the business plan: what they don’t teach you about being an entrepreneur on Thursday 10 April 2019 at the Bloemfontein Campus. The University of the Free State (UFS) Business School hosted Raiz for a guest lecture on going beyond the business plan.

Raiz, the founder and CEO of Raizcorp is the host of The Big Small Business Show on Business Day TV. He is also the author of two best-selling entrepreneurial books, and he literally gets down to earth about talking business issues when he takes off his shoes as he takes the stage to deliver a talk.

What they don’t teach you

Raiz started the session by sharing the fact that 96% of small businesses fail within 10 years. From his research and experience, he shared the three main attributes always found when studying successful entrepreneurs: “They see opportunities, take risks and add value.”

He was however clear on the fact that there is no such thing as a typical entrepreneur. “It is not about a set of characteristics, it is about a set of probabilities.”

Effective entrepreneurship education

After sharing his personal journey to entrepreneurial success, Raiz explained that entrepreneurs had different expectations in terms of how much they wanted to earn, and how big they wanted to grow their businesses. Although entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, there are some generic tools which all entrepreneurs can use. These include finding role models, being resilient, and having an internal locus of control. 

The essence of Raiz’s message was that no matter what you want to do, don’t wait and make plans – take action. In short, lose the business plan – start working on the business.

News Archive

Meet the person behind the new #FaceOfFacebook
2016-05-19

Reuben “R” Davids

The votes have been counted, and we have a winner! After much excitement and a fairly close contest, Reuben “R” Davids emerged victorious from the top five contestants selected by our panel of judges. We chatted with the vibrant and enthusiastic Mr Davids to get a sense of the person who will be our Facebook ambassador for the next year.

What does the “R” stand for?

“Interestingly, some also know me as Vuyo. It's not a name on my birth certificate or anything; I just really like it. And I also coincidentally found out that it means “joy/happiness”, and I do enjoy being happy.”

What is your field of study, and how far along are you?

“I am pursuing a career in the economics field as a third-year BCom Accounting student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences here at the University of the Free State.”

Are you originally from Bloemfontein?

“Yes, born and bred. I've been a Bloem Kid since day one.”

How is it that you ended up here, studying at the UFS?

“The UFS has always been one of my favourite universities. During my high school period, I was constantly exposed to people from my neighbourhood as well as schoolmates who performing excellently here at UFS, and it didn't go unnoticed. So I have always been drawn to the prestige that UFS carries.”

Which residence are you in, and what do you enjoy most about res life?

“I currently stay at home with the family, but for my first 2 years of study I resided at ConLaurês. What I enjoyed the most about res life is the freedom and independence that you get. It also enables one to participate in campus life much easier. It actually helps one grow and mature into the adult you're supposed to become with all the challenges and responsibilities that you're faced with.”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as the #FaceOfFacebook?

“I enjoy the art of presenting (as well as being an MC), and being the #FaceOfFacebook will enable me to exercise that skill. Also, my interaction skills will be exercised. That being said, I would like to have those skills developed further by the end of my term as #FaceOfFacebook.”

What is your motivation in your studies, in taking part in this contest, and in life?

“I am an adrenaline junkie. I like taking on challenge; so what I normally do is I set a certain goal for myself and then take on the challenge to achieve that goal. That's my number one motivating factor. And I think I'm also inspired by the failures and successes of myself and of those around me.”

Reuben has already been featured in a #PeopleOfKovsies post on Facebook, and appeared in his first Facebook video covering the Open Day on our Bloemfontein Campus.

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