Entrepreneur Q&A – Rose Botha
Strength.
A lot of people talk about it, but the truth is that few understand what it truly means to be strong until they have no other option.
In a world that revolves around comfort, most of us manage to get through many years relatively unscathed by life.
However, eventually we all face adversity, and it is these moments that truly define us.
Do we give up and renounce the world or do we keep fighting?
We are faced with a choice, do we let life’s hardships make us bitter and broken or do we make the conscious, brave choice to keep living life with an open heart.
Wherever you look in this world, you see what you are looking for.
Strength is choosing to look beyond the pain towards hope.
The human spirit is incredible and, in some rare cases, unbreakable.
South African women are faced with a myriad of challenges every day.
Very often it feels as though the odds are stacked against us and we live in a state of constant fear and anxiety about our safety and the safety of our loved ones.
This accompanies every other fear and challenge we face in life.
Given the nature of my business and the mission we are on I often find myself thinking about inner strength and all the women in my life who encapsulate the spirit of strength for me.
Without fail there is always one woman who comes to mind, and that person is Rose Botha.
Rose is one of those rare cases.
Despite all adversity, hardship, fear, and pain Rose never fails to look for the beauty in every moment and to express a genuine gratitude for life.
It is a privilege to have known Rose for as long as I have and to have grown up with such an incredible example of strength and kindness.
If I could assign three themes to this interview it would be authenticity, passion, and strength.
I hope this interview inspires you to keep going as much as Rose has always inspired me.
Tell us about yourself and your business:
I am the owner of a very simple restaurant concept. Steak, steak, or steak. – Which I grill in an open kitchen myself. This allows me to interact with my customers and create a home from home feel. I am a woman who loves life, people, food, and wine. This concept has allowed me to embrace all the things I love whilst earning a living.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
Having been thrown back into the workplace after nearly two decades of being a stay-at-home mom, I soon realized that I needed more than “just a job” to survive. My family and friends pushed me to take a chance and buy my own steak bar in Wilderness. 10 years later and I’m still grilling steaks and what was once a men’s bar with no frills is now a beautiful, thriving restaurant that caters to the whole family.
What are the secrets to your success?
The secret to my success is firstly to do whatever you do with love and passion. I truly love people and love serving them not only a good steak but an all-round good experience, from service, to ambience and music. It’s not all about the money, it’s about the passion and the people. Money comes when you are doing the right thing with love. Making people happy is what is important to me, the money follows that.
What tips can you give for work/life balance?
I try to balance work and life by taking time off and spending it in nature. In order to give your best, you need to feel your best and nature always helps to recharge me.
What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?
My biggest challenge used to be the winter months, now its covid. It really hit the restaurant industry hard but being a small business owner means I have managed to keep my expenses low which allows me to keep rolling with the punches.
How did you persevere through the tough times?
The biggest blow was catching COVID and being hospitalized for 14 days and simultaneously losing my husband to COVID. My staff were incredible and one of them took over grilling whilst I wasn’t there to do it. They kept my doors open and did everything the same love and passion I would have.
What do you want to achieve next?
Innovation & Growth. I feel because the restaurant industry has been so badly affected by COVID is it difficult to plan for growth. We must stay positive and try to adapt to all the changes. We are also aware that people need to feel safe when they choose to eat at our restaurant. This means that we follow all the necessary protocols and safety measures to ensure we put our customers at ease. We are unfortunately not seeing our usual swallows of tourists returning and that’s why we really value and look after our locals who continue to support us during this time.
What do you do for encouragement and motivation?
I never compare myself to other restaurants and measure their success to mine. I simply focus on what I do. I know that if I do it right, I will continue to succeed.
What advice can you give to women who are afraid to start their own business?
My advice is to keep things as simple as possible to avoid wastage and to be able to do what you do 100% properly.
As you can see Rose is an incredible example of strength!
Rose makes a few really important points throughout her interview but one that struck me the most was her statement about never comparing herself to others.
Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique to them and comparing yourself to others will only limit you and slow you down.
We must remember that everyone is on their own path and moving at their own pace. Comparing yourself to someone else will only demotivate you and cause unnecessary feelings of insecurity.
It is useless to compare your business to someone else’s because no two businesses are the same. Everyone’s journey is different, so keep your focus on your business and have the courage to keep showing up every day to give 100% effort in everything you do.
Remember that wherever you look in this world, you see what you are looking for.
– Caitlin Oelofsen