FEATURES
with small businesses can be seen as high risk . If a business is small and black-owned , the perception of risk can be even higher . Property Point strives to overcome this challenge .
Few people know more about overcoming obstacles , both real and perceived , than professional mountaineer and businesswoman Deshun Deysel . She chose to tackle the highest obstacle in the world – twice . As the first black woman to climb Mount Everest in the South African team that planted our country ’ s new flag on the summit of Mount Everest , Deysel fulfilled her childhood dream – and went on to scale five of the seven summits .
She musters the passion and perseverance , that she applied to pull herself up to unthinkable heights , to help others do the same . Today , she sees climbing mountains as a metaphor for making the impossible possible .
As an entrepreneur and businesswoman , Deysel knows first-hand that building a business can be one of the toughest mountains to climb . And she has unique and exciting guidance for the entrepreneurship ‘ To the Point ’ audience to help them along on their own business journeys .
Deshun Deysel ’ s five ways that perceptions can help you reach new heights as an entrepreneur :
" We have to teach the world how to treat us and that starts with our own perception of ourselves ." Deshun Deysel .
2 . Don ’ t let others ’ perceptions become your truth When Deysel still only had the tiniest inkling that climbing a mountain was something she could do , many perceptions around her said she couldn ’ t , with messages like ‘ people like you don ’ t do that ’ or ‘ girls don ’ t do that ’. She cautions , “ Others ’ perceptions become your truth if you hang onto them , and that truth will stop you from reaching your vision . Mute out the voices that tell you it ’ s not going to happen . If you want to accomplish something but there is no evidence of its possibility around you , people may laugh at you and it can make you look ridiculous . Your dream isn ’ t going to fall into your lap ; go out and find it . In the absence of evidence follow the clues . Be hungry for it . Hunger is the essence of entrepreneurship . Pull yourself to your own vision ; we are capable of the most incredible things .”
3 . Learn to manage your own perceptions and thoughts Reaching our goals is often no walk in the park , but they ’ re also not impossible to achieve . However , one of the biggest obstacles along the way is how you manage your thoughts and perceptions when things go wrong – the panic , doubt and negative voices . Deysel believes it is important to slow down mentally , see the obstacle for what it really is and then tackle it , even if that means going back to go forward . She encourages entrepreneurs to challenge their own perceptions by having high-impact conversations and choosing who they listen to carefully . “ Tune out the negative voices and make time for truthful mentors and guides .”
1 . Believe in yourself , the world perceives you as you perceive yourself Often , we need to change our own perception of what we are , who we are , and what we can do , before we can change the way the world sees us . You have to teach the world how to treat you and that starts with your own perception of yourself . Believe in yourself . Regardless of the support and resources you have , no one is going to get you to do something if you don ’ t have self-belief . The success or failure of an entrepreneur can rest on this alone .
4 . Teach others how to perceive and treat you “ I have had to teach the world to treat me as a mountaineer ,” she confesses . “ When the journey gets hard , if you give up , you are also giving up opportunities . People are watching how you come through the storm , how you make it through when there are no resources . Dig deep when the storm comes . Your actions teach people how to perceive you . The better we become at our businesses , the more we are able to show people how to treat us .” For Deysel ’ s first Everest expedition , she had to qualify for the team . The second time round she was invited .
PIXABAY
5 . Extend your perception of success beyond the summit When scaling the world ’ s highest peak , getting to the top doesn ’ t make you the best . “ You need to be the best at the bottom , or else how will you get to the top ? When you reach the pinnacle , you only get to enjoy a matter of minutes there before descending , so if you are only focused on the summit , what happens after the goal is achieved ?”
Most accidents on Everest happen on the way down . Many climbers don ’ t see the goal of getting back home safely , only getting to the top . People collapse on the finish line of the marathon . It used to be that sprinters ran for the finish line , now they run beyond it . Set your goals beyond getting to the top .
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