To hit success as an entrepreneur at the age of 34 is considered “young”, and I believe it requires one key attribute, resilience.

Resilience to me is simply getting up one more time than what you get knocked down.

I grew up in South Africa, a country rife with controversy and adversary. Political unrest also fosters a sense of unease in a nation and all of this helps manifest into building stronger individuals.  Anyone who has done business with a South African will attest to this seemly inherited similarity.

I was teased at school for wearing glasses, and subsequently bullied and called “four-eyes” for a large period of my primary school years.  Bullying is a horrible thing and a toxic epidemic harming people greatly, but in hindsight, for me, it was a valuable school-fee. I call it a school fee as some lessons in life costs you something other than money.  It thought me to be resilient and it also set me up to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, to be strong in the face of confrontation and to stand for what I believe in, even when standing alone.

I had to rise above it, I had to learn that I was not what people thought of me, I didn’t have to own anyone’s opinion, I didn’t have to accept it in my perception. Although I was unable to control if bullying would or wouldn’t happen, I was in control of how it impacted me as a person. As such, I really got to know myself and the power of my choices and I emerged as an adult who knew who “Renee” was.

My multi-faceted career led me to many chances and trialing times. Working for several big corporates was more than a crash course in business management and resulted in real life skills you cannot learn at Uni. The importance of professionalism, business acumen, negotiation, and communication is relevant throughout all industries and is a skills set I treasure and ensure continuous development thereof.

Being an entrepreneur is difficult, it’s exhausting and it is certainly not for the faint-hearted. But the great reward is equal to the great effort.

Having magical ideas and dreams and desires is the seed, from there you need to nurture it and back it up with hard work and taking action. Remain fluid in your approach and just go for it.

I believe in making mistakes, and having many many goes at something until you succeed or you choose to move onto the next endeavour, but I do not believe in regret.

My top tip – preparation prevents piss poor performance

I write this blog in honour and appreciation of my recent award as Young Entrepreneur Gold Coast in the Best Startup category.