Xtraordinary Woman of the Month
"I am an entrepreneurial activist who loves to grow businesses and help others to grow successful businesses too. I am a professional speaker, an award winning author and contributing author to the double best-selling youth leadership book spearheaded by DJ Sbu (Sbusiso Leope) published in 2013.
My books include The Little Book of Declarations for African Entrepreneurs (completed this month!), African Entrepreneur Rising, Put The I Back In Team (an award winning teamwork leadership book published in 2013) and towards the end of 2014
I will release my new book for women leaders, Six Inch Heals."
Suzanne styles: co-founder
Makes you think
Are you busy with any projects at the moment?
Yes I am. My flagship project is Mind Power Safari for Women, an executive leadership experience like none other http://www.mindpowersafari.com/Women-Executive-Leadership taught at one of the 5-star Thornybush Collection game lodges.
What inspired you to write the double best-selling book, Leadership 2020: The Beginning?.
My late mom was also a fashion seamstress and curtain maker. DEEVA FAB is mainly about VINTAGE unique designs with 3 ranges (Vintage, Rennaisance and Couture). Vintage says you are unique, one of a kind. Since fashion is cyclical there is always some pieces of styles from past eras (1950s, 60s,70s and early 80s). The good thing about vintage is that most items are limited or cannot be found at every chain store. Selling Vintage clothes started as a fund–raising project for the “Walk to School Project” but now, with the couture ranges, we design and make new clothes as per customers requirements, although we still prefer vintage or retro inspired patterns and designs.
What are you passionate about?
My absolute passion is growing businesses and helping individuals and couples with how to start their business right, or with how to expand their existing successful business. I’ve experienced some very tough times in business especially when a business venture of mine was failing and simultaneously I was being judged by absolutely everyone around me. What a lonely place that was but how thankful I am for that experience as it made me a much-improved businesswomen. Nothing excites me more than to see a business grow and succeed and given the job creation demands in South Africa right now, the only way this will be achieved is through driving small business success and expansion.
Please share your top 3 tips every entrepreneur should know:
There are so many resources available to entrepreneurs with reams and reams of success tips, what to and how to do things. I have found that sometimes, knowing what not to do is just as important. I have 3 simple tips to help drive your entrepreneurial success and they are:
1. Set a clear goal which inspires you to take action daily and fall in love with this goal. Make sure that know that you are following your passion, that your goal is aligned with your beautiful dream.
2. The goal never changes, the plan to achieve it can! When you are following your passion, you will find your purpose. If you keep changing the goal, you have found neither.
3. Never, ever give up – just as a rocket fails its way to the moon, so be at peace, enjoy the journey, have fun and just fail your way to success with a smile on your face!
Who or as your inspiration and why?
A lot of people inspire me differently but I must say any woman who has made it in life, against all odds. Single mothers who raise their kids in the fear of the Lord, run their homes single handedly and still shake things in the business world, have my outmost respect.
What advise would you give women wanting to follow their dreams?
If you can dream it, you can achieve it. The sky is the limit for anybody who doesnt JUST dream but moves towards achieving it.
Your favourite quote?
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” by David Visgott
What advice would you give your younger self?
That nothing is impossible with God, that if you can put your faith in Him. He is able to abundantly provide for us beyond what we can even ask for.
Read more on www.XtraordinaryWomen.co.za
What advise would you give women wanting to follow their dreams?
If you can dream it, you can achieve it. The sky is the limit for anybody who doesnt JUST dream but moves towards achieving it.
Your favourite quote?
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” by David Visgott