Famous German philosopher Friedrich Hegel said, “We learn from history that we do not learn from history," and this tends to be true. A quick scan of the daily news headlines serves as a great point in case!
Despite this, we also believe in people’s ability to change and to do better, which is why we decided to continue publishing our proposed business lessons of the past year.
While we maintain a professional demeanour and an objective perspective on things, we see many businesses triumph - but some do fail.
These failures are not necessarily a result of bad decisions or poor management; in many cases, it’s the result of critical market shifts or the introduction of new technology that leads to a major shift in consumer behaviour.
With this in mind, herewith our list of the 5 most important business lessons for 2025:
Lesson 1 -Embrace Change
Change is all around us. Despite advances in technology, shifting norms, flashy trends, and society at large, many businesses remain reluctant to embrace these changes.
How we think and interact with one another is in constant flux. Commercially, some of these changes have taken place in accounting software, legislation, financial models, and communication platforms.
WhatsApp messages and voice notes as a medium of communication have become the norm. Clients have become comfortable with virtual meetings, and some even prefer online meetings to save time. Add to this the dawn of AI tools and resources, and it becomes clear that our traditional ways are making way for new approaches.
Companies that embrace these changes remain at the forefront of their respective fields and maintain their customer base. Businesses with a sound digital presence are better positioned to inform their customers of new products, services, news, and special offers.
Lesson 2 – Small Victories
Big goals, big dreams, and bold moves are great, but they don’t move the needle. Clients who instead focus on consistency and establishing systems that create successful environments are far more likely to succeed.
Managing emotional energy instead of time is the new grind. Creating routines supporting lifestyle choices and personal preferences provides the fuel needed to move business operations forward.
Unachieved goals tend to make us feel like a failure, and once a goal is achieved, we identify a new one in its place. This creates a feeling of perpetual motion where we never truly arrive at our destination, as explained by James Clear in his world-famous book Atomic Habits.
Progress doesn’t come from dramatic changes, but rather from consistent daily actions that build momentum over time.
Lesson 3 – Compliance Matters
The global economy continues to become more complex and integrated and brings with it a greater reliance on financial and legal compliance measures. To ensure quality across the board, many companies demand compliance measures that meet international standards.
This may include statutory obligations, deadlines for finalisation of financial statements, submission of tax returns, adhering to trading policies, obtaining tax clearances etc.
Non-compliance has seen many a new business be impacted negatively, as non-compliance may lead to not being able to:
- Secure new commercial contracts.
- Conclude funding deals.
- Complete mergers & acquisitions.
- Negotiate new capital investments.
Compliance is not only the responsibility of the business owner but also a responsibility shared by all professional partners, such as legal officers, accounting officers, tax practitioners etc. Make sure to select partners that ensure you meet the compliance standards and who will be honest enough to tell you if you don’t!
Lesson 4 – Trust is Earned
It comes naturally to us to trust those close to us, including friends, family, and siblings. But the sad truth is that sometimes people will take advantage of that trust.
At the most fundamental level, it remains the responsibility of every business owner to take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against gaps in their own business processes.
A company making use of a card system to refuel delivery vehicles, for example, can take basic precautions such as installing a tracking system to capture all trip details. They must also perform monthly recons on all fuel purchases against actual mileage completed.
Another example is to separate the different duties and responsibilities within the business. The person ordering stock cannot be the same person receiving the stock, issuing the stock, and storing the stock.
Friends and family are great for parties, braais, and when the Springboks play the All Blacks; but when it comes to your business, consult with registered professionals.
Lesson 5 – Make Tough Decisions Early
Trust your gut! We tend to know when something feels off in a business relationship or transaction. One of my colleagues used to say, “There is nothing as precious as a quick no”!
We often see financial losses or a relationship turn sour just because the owner did not react or respond in time. If you see that a relationship or plan is not going to work, take action immediately.
That is not to say that you shouldn’t take the time to think something through but trust yourself and your decision once it becomes clear what’s going on, even if that decision is hurtful or unpleasant. Holding on to broken trust, a substandard product, or poor service for the sake of a relationship will only end up costing you more.
Make tough calls when they need to be made and move on to more productive things. Business owners don’t have endless time and resources, especially at the start-up phase, when everything happens simultaneously at light speed!
Closing Remarks
Getting into business is easy, but staying in business requires tenacity, a bold vision, a workable business plan, and many hours of hard work.
In this blog, we featured our most prominent lessons for 2025, but you can also read some of our previous year’s lessons. These lessons will go a long way in saving you time, money, and frustration – we can confirm that they are worth reading.
If you plan to start your business in 2026, we wish you the best of luck. May these lessons add to your success. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of value or assistance to you along this exciting journey in any way.
Contact us at +27 82 561 7024 or myrtleo@mbasa.org for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let’s ensure you are on the right track from day one.
Despite this, we also believe in people’s ability to change and to do better, which is why we decided to continue publishing our proposed business lessons of the past year.
While we maintain a professional demeanour and an objective perspective on things, we see many businesses triumph - but some do fail.
These failures are not necessarily a result of bad decisions or poor management; in many cases, it’s the result of critical market shifts or the introduction of new technology that leads to a major shift in consumer behaviour.
With this in mind, herewith our list of the 5 most important business lessons for 2025:
Lesson 1 -Embrace Change
Change is all around us. Despite advances in technology, shifting norms, flashy trends, and society at large, many businesses remain reluctant to embrace these changes.
How we think and interact with one another is in constant flux. Commercially, some of these changes have taken place in accounting software, legislation, financial models, and communication platforms.
WhatsApp messages and voice notes as a medium of communication have become the norm. Clients have become comfortable with virtual meetings, and some even prefer online meetings to save time. Add to this the dawn of AI tools and resources, and it becomes clear that our traditional ways are making way for new approaches.
Companies that embrace these changes remain at the forefront of their respective fields and maintain their customer base. Businesses with a sound digital presence are better positioned to inform their customers of new products, services, news, and special offers.
Lesson 2 – Small Victories
Big goals, big dreams, and bold moves are great, but they don’t move the needle. Clients who instead focus on consistency and establishing systems that create successful environments are far more likely to succeed.
Managing emotional energy instead of time is the new grind. Creating routines supporting lifestyle choices and personal preferences provides the fuel needed to move business operations forward.
Unachieved goals tend to make us feel like a failure, and once a goal is achieved, we identify a new one in its place. This creates a feeling of perpetual motion where we never truly arrive at our destination, as explained by James Clear in his world-famous book Atomic Habits.
Progress doesn’t come from dramatic changes, but rather from consistent daily actions that build momentum over time.
Lesson 3 – Compliance Matters
The global economy continues to become more complex and integrated and brings with it a greater reliance on financial and legal compliance measures. To ensure quality across the board, many companies demand compliance measures that meet international standards.
This may include statutory obligations, deadlines for finalisation of financial statements, submission of tax returns, adhering to trading policies, obtaining tax clearances etc.
Non-compliance has seen many a new business be impacted negatively, as non-compliance may lead to not being able to:
- Secure new commercial contracts.
- Conclude funding deals.
- Complete mergers & acquisitions.
- Negotiate new capital investments.
Compliance is not only the responsibility of the business owner but also a responsibility shared by all professional partners, such as legal officers, accounting officers, tax practitioners etc. Make sure to select partners that ensure you meet the compliance standards and who will be honest enough to tell you if you don’t!
Lesson 4 – Trust is Earned
It comes naturally to us to trust those close to us, including friends, family, and siblings. But the sad truth is that sometimes people will take advantage of that trust.
At the most fundamental level, it remains the responsibility of every business owner to take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves against gaps in their own business processes.
A company making use of a card system to refuel delivery vehicles, for example, can take basic precautions such as installing a tracking system to capture all trip details. They must also perform monthly recons on all fuel purchases against actual mileage completed.
Another example is to separate the different duties and responsibilities within the business. The person ordering stock cannot be the same person receiving the stock, issuing the stock, and storing the stock.
Friends and family are great for parties, braais, and when the Springboks play the All Blacks; but when it comes to your business, consult with registered professionals.
Lesson 5 – Make Tough Decisions Early
Trust your gut! We tend to know when something feels off in a business relationship or transaction. One of my colleagues used to say, “There is nothing as precious as a quick no”!
We often see financial losses or a relationship turn sour just because the owner did not react or respond in time. If you see that a relationship or plan is not going to work, take action immediately.
That is not to say that you shouldn’t take the time to think something through but trust yourself and your decision once it becomes clear what’s going on, even if that decision is hurtful or unpleasant. Holding on to broken trust, a substandard product, or poor service for the sake of a relationship will only end up costing you more.
Make tough calls when they need to be made and move on to more productive things. Business owners don’t have endless time and resources, especially at the start-up phase, when everything happens simultaneously at light speed!
Closing Remarks
Getting into business is easy, but staying in business requires tenacity, a bold vision, a workable business plan, and many hours of hard work.
In this blog, we featured our most prominent lessons for 2025, but you can also read some of our previous year’s lessons. These lessons will go a long way in saving you time, money, and frustration – we can confirm that they are worth reading.
If you plan to start your business in 2026, we wish you the best of luck. May these lessons add to your success. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of value or assistance to you along this exciting journey in any way.
Contact us at +27 82 561 7024 or myrtleo@mbasa.org for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let’s ensure you are on the right track from day one.
CONTACT US
Please contact us for an obligation free consultation. Our team works remotely and we are available for on-line or local in person meetings.
082 561 7024
Mon to Fri 7am to 4pm
Mon to Fri 7am to 4pm
myrtleo@mbasa.org