Entrepreneurship requires extensive planning, the right team and partners, a solution to a real problem, and resilience in the face of challenges. Your idea must have a viable market and you need to start small with friends and family funding before pursuing larger investors. Hire smart, talented people who can deliver and develop systems to scale the business as it grows. Maintain a good work life balance and focus on customers to fuel business growth through referrals.

4. Aim for the mountains!

5. Most start-ups fail within the first year of business – more so 2 to 5 years later.

6. Your idea is not exclusive – get help.

7. Networking is essential.

8. Plan, plan and plan more than needed.

10. Start small (friends and family) and then build that to larger funding prospects (Angels/VCs/Incubation)

11. Having a working prototype/model – its much easier to sell the real deal!

12. Talk to everyone and anyone – funding can come from anywhere.

14. Mentorship from seasoned investors/board/advisors/colleagues is invaluable.

15. Can be rough! Just like marriage – make it work! Focus on the end game

16. If its not working, look at plan B!

17. Can change direction at anytime.

19. Hire people based on their ability to deliver, on quality, on expectations, on time, with integrity.

20. Great talent is often shy – really look hard, you'll be surprised!

21. Learn more than you need to about leadership – its an endless journey!

23. Long hours, small pay – just another day at working on your dream!

24. Your passion to realize your dream will keep you going.

25. Be humble, driven and focussed – Entrepreneurship is not for everyone!

26. Keep learning, it never ends!

28. Cashflow is king! Get paid.

29. Spend more and more time with other successful entrepreneurs – they will show you what works.

30. Competition – always be on the edge! Stay relevant

31. Employees will leave – live with it!

33. A 2 person operation is very different from a 20 person business – develop systems and processes.

34. People run the systems – the systems run the business!

35. Delegate or go mad, literally!

36. Cashflow, again, is king to go to the next level! Get funding if needed.

38. Do the math – it has to add up!

39. Not all customers are equal – its a fact, 80/20 rule (pareto's principal).

40. Branding creates differentiation – whats your brand story?

41. Build strategic partnerships.

42. Credentials matter – customers buyin

44. Do more than you have to – customers fuel your business.

45. Apply the 80/20 rule – you'll be surprised!

46. Choose them, once established.

47. Referrals are key, ask for them.

48. Fix loopholes with systems.

50. Solutions to BIG Problems yield the biggest returns – what needs fixing?

51. Work harder than ever, really hard!

52. Maintain a work/life “separation”.

53. Change is the only constant!

54. Your health and longevity is more important than the business!

55. Thanks! Questions? Moses Kemibaro Dotsavvy Limited email: [email_address] tel: www.twitter.com/moseskemibaro web: www.dotsavvyafrica.com blog: www.moseskemibaro.com