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My name is Johan Horak. Elmarie, my wife, and I have been married for more than 20 years. We have a beautiful daughter Nandi. What a delight......
You will find us a family that has a lot of fun with our friends. Our friends seem to enjoy our company.
We decided to cut all our ties with corporate business more than 7 years ago. We had it all. A beautiful home designed by an artistic architect, we owed the bank a serious amount of money to cover the bond, we had two company cars, we had the pension fund and the best medical aid. Our friends thought we had it all.
We realise now that we had a lot of security and no freedom.
Elmarie was running a semi successful boutique. According to my boss I was average to reasonable at my corporate job. He was right. I hated it.
Studying many years at various universities did not help me to share my boss's goals.
The guy from Rich Dad Poor Dad said the corporate view is aways the same: "As you go up the corporate ladder you always see a big fat bud of your boss in front of you"
It was however very clear to everyone including my boss that I was getting fed up with the system. How do you focus on your boss’s goals when you have a different plan? I did not listen to my real voice or gut feel or what ever you call it.
You do something about it or you wait for the "string to snap". We were able to leave just before the big snap.
It was very difficult to give up all our "privileges" and security. Elmarie found it especially difficult, as she is the one that keeps the books. She does not enjoy taking risks.
After lots deliberations, discussions and investigations we decided on a franchise.
A very simple decision to make: A franchise gives you your own business while you have to take a lot less risk. At that time 90% of franchises succeeded and was still going after the first year. While less than 10% of new independent business succeeded in their first year.
We decided on a Cash Converters in Sunnyside Pretoria. We had to borrow lots of money, we had to cover large overheads and we had little capital to invest.
When you want freedom you become very determined. We could not afford a home and moved into the Sunnyside store: Elmarie, Nandi, our home-keeper and the pet white rat. (Our dogs where with friends)
I am the calculating type and my initial forecast during the first two months indicated that we would be bankrupt in less than 6 months.
I wanted to buy a gun to relieve myself - fortunately I could not afford a gun ;-0)
Due to various reasons the dogs died and the pet rat ate poison.
The family was in tears and we had to buy a home - immediately! Even though I wanted to invest all the cash back into the business.
Emotion is a powerful force and more so when your wife, daughter and house keeper team up against you- logic have no place against the power of emotion.
The Sunnyside store became the best store in less than 4 months. We were "on the map". We bought a second store with Elmarie's brother and later sold our share to him. We purchase another store and are mature franchisees by now.
We have tasted freedom. We have not allowed the coward or our coward friends to win over the courages powers. We share our goals and success with our courages friends who want us to succeed.
Why did we purchase Coffee News if we have two successful Cash Converter stores?
The major issues are:
- You need to make a significant investment to start a Cash Converters or a Steers or a Kentucky.
- Your relationship with your bank manager is critical with these expensive franchises.
- With Coffee News you get the bank manager to come to you.
- With these franchises you are stuck with a site and a landlord.
- You have lots of staff with these expensive franchises.
- You can make as much money with Coffee News from your home if you want to.
- When the store opens and closes you must be there.
When you want freedom badly enough you will become independent.
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