Kobus Wiese, Word Cup winner and entrepreneur
It takes a brave man or woman to tell ex-Springbok and World Cup winning lock Kobus Wiese that he’s heading down the wrong path. But this was the response from friends and family when he shared his vision of opening a coffee shop in Johannesburg…
But one of Wiese’s defining characteristics is tenacity – something we saw time and time again on the rugby field. In this area Kobus Wiese the sport star is much like Wiese the entrepreneur.
A shared passion
“We didn’t know anything about running a coffee shop, but my wife and I had a shared passion for the food industry, a belief in ourselves and we were willing to work hard and learn,” Wiese explains.
Today the single coffee shop has sprouted into a franchise network, Wiesenhof Coffees, with outlets across the country and its own roastery where a variety of blends are produced for all franchised stores and other coffee lovers.
Drawing parallels between sport and business
Wiese believes there are many parallels between sport and business. “The basics are really the same; what you put in is what you get out. It’s all about hard work, dedication, commitment and passion. The mindset required to perform at the highest level in sport is the same as what is required to be successful in business.
“Kitch Christie used to tell us that to be successful in life, you have to live, work and play by the four D’s – dedication, determination, discipline and desire.”
Franchising wasn’t part of the Wieses’ business blueprint when they opened their coffee shop, but when prospective franchisees came knocking they decided to tackle this new challenge. “We’ve learnt a lot along the way, a lot by trial and error. But I believe if something doesn’t work you have to look for alternative ways of getting the job done. Or if it does work, keep trying to better it. This only happens if you are actively involved in the business, understand fully how it works and are willing to learn.”
Tackling the challenges of a tough industry
There have been many challenges along the way. “The restaurant trade is one of the toughest. Working with people – not just those behind the counter and in the kitchen but also the thousands of different personalities coming through your doors every day – is incredibly hard. Satisfying customer demands, meeting their expectations and delivering constant good service is our ongoing challenge.”
Wiese advises prospective entrepreneurs to think carefully about what they want to do before diving in. “Look at lots of options, consider what suits you and what interests you. Don’t go into something just because you think you’re going to make a lot of money if it’s not really what you want to do. Life’s too short.”
Don’t be afraid to try something new Wiese advises. There may be some degree of risk involved, but what you want to do is take calculated risks by weighing up all the variables. “Don’t be afraid to try and if you don’t succeed the first time, don’t give up, try again and again.”
* This is an extract of an article that first appeared in Your Business Magazine.
No comments yet.