You don’t have to be perfect to do well in life

Thandiswa Nobatana | HSSCO

I am a medical doctor by profession. I had extensive experience in occupational health, coupled with a passion for the industry, and was retrenched by the company that I worked for. As the breadwinner and mother to two children, I knew that I needed to continue providing for my family. I wanted to make a living doing what I was passionate about while also having time to spend with my girls.

I took something I had been working on prior to being retrenched, tweaked it somewhat and then kicked off with HSSCO.

I was fortunate enough to have put some money aside before I was retrenched, so I didn’t battle too much with start-up capital. My bigger challenge was that I was a new entrant in the market, a market where trust is key. It took a while for me to get my own clients and reputation going. I spent a lot of time sitting and waiting for clients to come through the doors but realised I had to get out and find them myself.

I did initially have a business partner but due to differing visions and work ethics, we parted ways. It was a lonely journey and I felt very alone at times, but I stuck with it. It was during these lonely, quiet days that I came across Raizcorp and decided to apply for their programme.

It has been great to have people who are willing to walk this journey with me and who speak and understand my language and issues. I have always been self-sufficient but it was good to feel a part of something.

My business quickly became less about the funding for me and more about the learning and growth. I also needed to know more about how to handle the money efficiently.

I became more confident and began to really understand the services which I provide from the client’s perspective. I needed to speak their language and tone down my technical jargon and thinking. Solving an actual problem for a client goes much further than merely throwing facts at them.

I have realised that you don’t have to be perfect to do well in life. Being imperfectly perfect, if you will, will get you further and you will stay true to yourself.

Our business has grown as we have gained new clients and I have up-staffed as well. I have also begun consulting at the mines which has opened many doors. We are rolling out a mobile unit which we can take to sites and clients.

To Joy Global, I would like to say a very big thank you for the opportunity and support. So many doors have opened to me and I am eternally grateful. The Raizcorp programme is different from any other I have experienced because it is practical and hands-on and those learnings are invaluable.