Topic

In 2009 Charlotte experienced something that thousands of South Africans experience every year; she suffered a business loss.  Many of the factors that caused the loss were beyond her control, but there were certainly things that she could have done to mitigate the consequences of those events had she been more experienced or if she had the counsel of advisors.  Instead, in her own words, “Being inexperienced, naïve and fairly arrogant, I allowed the situation to continue too long until there was no chance for my small business to be redeemed or rescued and people had to be retrenched, a store had to be closed down, accounts had to remain unpaid and I personally had to go under debt review.”

Charlotte’s experience is not uncommon, but she has shared it candidly in her book called “I’m not Afraid of the ‘F’ Word.  50 Lessons Learned on the Way to Business Failure”.  The book, and the talks that she presents are intended to start a conversation to allow South African business owners and those funding them, to consider what it is that we do wrong that allows so many small business owners to fail so easily.

If we can find ways to assist small businesses earlier, come along side them with practical help in a way that does not restrict their entrepreneurial flair for independence, then we could be able to keep more businesses open, more people employed, more store fronts open and allow business confidence to improve.

Audience

Business networking groups and business funders, such as banks and NGOs.

Outcomes

Depending on the talk,

• The audience will learn some of what happens in the mind of the business owner as a business moves inevitably towards failure and what can be done to support the business owner earlier so that fewer businesses end up that way.
• Business owners will be encouraged in their attempts to keep their businesses operating and hear some of the mistakes and lessons discovered by Charlotte on her path to failure.  The talk is very honest, yet motivational and empathetic to their experiences.

Type of talk

Short talks although a keynote can be prepared for funders

Cost

R4,500 to R2,500 depending on length of talk and event, organization and destination.  Alternatively, pre-ordering a certain number of books to cover the cost of the event is also an option.  Books retail at R150 but for the purpose of talks, can be negotiated in bulk at R125 each.

Speaker

Charlotte Kemp is a professional Speaker and a member of both Toastmasters and the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa.  She owns her own training company, Niche Training and Development, and a strategy company called Social Media Solutions.  She is also a published writer and has published a book on the subject of her business failure titled “I’m not Afraid of the ‘F’ Word.  50 Lessons Learned on the Way to Business Failure.”

Contact Details

Charlotte Kemp can be contacted by clicking here or at 082 491 9252.  She is available to speak nationally, subject to timing.