The Its My Biz Dream

Have you ever heard of a show called ‘Its My Biz’ on eTV? Well, I am about to educate you in a very real and meaningful way!

It is a small-business reality makeover series where, every week, a new small business owner opens up his or her business to the scrutiny of the It’s My Biz panel of experts.

This season they jazzed things up a bit and they arranged for the most amazing group of Thought Leaders to spearhead conversations between the Business Owners and themselves.

I entered this competition as Nedbank are our business bankers and my business partner thought it would be an amazing opportunity. Never in a million years did we think we would be chosen to participate.

About two weeks after submitting our application documents to the organising company, we were called in for an interview, where we needed to do an eight minute presentation to a panel of judges and then a one minute to camera after a question and answer session. The excitement was palpable and we got straight onto the arduous task of a new wardrobe!

Monday morning came and we marched right in, heads held high, the first company to audition. Cameras exploded, lights caught fire – we were magnetic! We were so proud of ourselves for an amazing audition and we thought nothing more.

Two weeks later, we had a call to say that out of over 1500 applications, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL! I was incredulous that the judges had such faith in me and in our capabilities and couldn’t wait to get started. A crew of 15 arrived the next Monday at our small office in Benoni, including a makeup artist, a caterer, amazing cameramen, and a staff compliment of saints. They spent the entire day searching for my good side and I was only too willing as a participant. Eventually at around four that afternoon, it was a wrap. Exhausted and exhilarated we headed home.

Then the next Wednesday was my day in studio. Wow. My thought leaders were Amy Kleinhans-Curd, Jenna Clifford and Donna McCallum. I had a very definite Fairy Godmother watching over me that day! The insight, the nuggets of wisdom and the once in a lifetime opportunity was overwhelming and something I will never forget, as well as invaluable in lieu of transformation of our business! Since then I have been fortunate enough to be mentored by the Fabulous Ms Clifford, chatted to the Beautiful Ms Kleinhans-Curd, and am studying under the Magical Ms McCallum.

Our episode aired on 8 August 2013 at 17h30 and it was amazing. Not just because it was my thirty minutes of fame, but because it was the culmination of a long journey, something to be so proud of, and a piece of art. Also because it marked the start of a brand new journey for VCA, and for Hayley. 

This is living proof of the manifestation on wonderful things to come. Good things don’t come to those who wait, they come to those who pursue them and never ever stop! Never ever let anybody tell you that you can't. You can, and you will.

Be kind to one another.