{"id":11865,"date":"2017-11-20T09:13:54","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T09:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/?p=11865"},"modified":"2023-07-27T13:26:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T11:26:14","slug":"ceo-advice-on-defining-your-start-ups-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/ceo-advice-on-defining-your-start-ups-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Define Your Purpose: Advice From GetSmarter’s CEO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Heavy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 22 May 2017, GetSmarter CEO, Sam Paddock, and the executive committee gathered at NASDAQ stock exchange to ring the closing bell. While acknowledging the great sense of achievement that came with this moment – describing it as nothing short of surreal – Sam used this as an opportunity to reflect on the underlying developments that allowed this to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To have a successful business, you need to start with why<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Starting out in 2008, GetSmarter was born out of a family-based business. Brothers, Sam and Rob were keen to understand the experience of what it would be like to study online, embracing the future of educational technology<\/strong>. This led to a relationship with UCT and by 2012 the company of 70 plus people had created a portfolio of 40 fully-online and part time short courses. Growth was imminent and the organisation had already seen great success at its four-year mark, but in between the frenzy that comes with a start-up, Sam stopped in his tracks when arriving at a realisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had no idea who we were. We were doing things everyday without understanding why we were doing them, and we were completely falling over. Our strategy lived in the corridors, we didn’t write anything down, and we had no idea what had truly lead to the success we were experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great business leader knows when to ask for help<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

At the Heavy Chef event, with a collection of close-to 300 entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and working professionals gathered to hear how he was able to build a global success, Sam spoke of this key reflection point both in his life and the company, ultimately leading to the global seat GetSmarter currently occupies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now soon approaching their 10th year in business, Sam talks not of growth strategy or capital investment, but rather brings the entrepreneur\u2019s attention back to reality by honing in on purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n \n \n \"Heavy\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

In the midst of their 2012 dilemma, Sam began to seek mentorship both locally and globally to discover the authentic purpose of GetSmarter and its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of these mentors suggested I read Verne Harnish\u2019s Mastering the Rockefeller Habits<\/em> and do 90% of what it said. It serves as a practical guide for doing your work based on solid theory, and in the centre of this book is a one-page strategic plan for understanding yourself.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inspiring talk by @sampaddock<\/a> #Heavychef<\/a>, to paraphrase: Know who you are & define your values. When reflecting, ask yourself if the decisions you made were inline with your values. @heavychef<\/a> @Workshop17CT<\/a> #GetSmarter<\/a> \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Lebogang Madise (@LeboMadise) November 13, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n