This Entrepreneur Has a Lesson About Career Growth for All of Us

This Entrepreneur Has a Lesson About Career Growth for All of UsThis Entrepreneur Has a Lesson About Career Growth for All of UsHard work. Determination. A willingness to take feedback. A desire to keep learning and improving. These are career-boosting traits we talk about all the time at The Muse. And sometimes, were lucky enough to see them in action. Last month, I visited Soweto, a township in Johannesburg, South Africa, and met women who had started businesses in their community. Its one of the poorest parts of the country, with unemployment rates of more than 30%. One of those women was Gape, the 28-year-old owner of a fast food stand. She wakes up at 2 AM, seven days a week, to bake 150 loaves of bread and prepare the days food for her regular customers, mainly men who work at a nearby steel plant during the week. Their wives are at home, and I like feeding them so they dont go out and find new wives, she tells me with a smile.Her recipe for success is continuing to learn and g row. In the spare time she does have, shes taken business classes through Coca-Colas 5by20 program to improve her skills in inventory management, accounting, and marketing. Theyve helped her business so much that shes hired three employees and is contemplating a second location. She also makes a point to listen to her customers. Shes not afraid of hearing their feedback- instead, she uses it to become a better cook and a smarter business owner. Its a lesson for anyone who wants to grow Be humble enough to seek advice from those around you. Even if youre the woman with the best bread in town, theres always more to learn. (It really was the best bread. But that recipe, she wouldnt give me.)