{"id":69304,"date":"2021-12-07T11:11:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T09:11:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=69304"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:50:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:50:42","slug":"the-journey-to-financial-freedom-is-a-series-of-small-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/the-journey-to-financial-freedom-is-a-series-of-small-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"The journey to financial freedom is a series of small steps"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoney Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe journey to financial freedom is a series of small steps\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tInge Barry<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has felt like walking in the dark. I have stumbled multiple times, but I have learnt to fail forward. The best decisions I\u2019ve made have stemmed from lessons I learnt from past mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thandolwethu Ndlovu isn\u2019t scared of failure. She takes the wins and losses as they come and uses them to her advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an entrepreneur, Thando understands the challenges of managing business finances \u2013 especially for the younger generation. That is why her mission is to coach and inspire young adults to take control of their finances early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Thando doesn\u2019t just use entrepreneurial and financial experiences to better herself. She founded Small Steps to Freedom to teach others about financial independence and early retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Small Steps to Freedom online platform is filled with videos, tutorials, and advisory nuggets that educate and inspire those who want more control over their finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI want to help young adults discover the freedom they can gain from controlling their finances and intentionally pursuing financial independence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Picking up the pieces \u2013 A post-pandemic reboot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thando\u2019s had her fair share of obstacles in her career and understands the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and professionals. She says job creation is vital to the survival of many who\u2019ve had to close their doors or who were retrenched \u2013 especially in a country where 34.9% of the population is unemployed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cOne of the biggest ways entrepreneurs can help is through job creation and with the support from the public and private sector in terms of funding. As a result, small businesses will be able to grow to an extent where they can continue employing more and more people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology meets finances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although Thando is a mentor for managing finances, she hasn\u2019t always been savvy with her own. Managing her finances used to be one of the biggest challenges of running her own business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really struggled to learn how to manage my business finances effectively,\u201d she says. \u201cWith a lot of learning and investing in Sage Business Cloud Accounting software<\/a>, I can better manage my business finances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thando also believes that cloud accounting is vital to any business\u2019s growth \u2013 especially because companies can access their financials from any device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe way we make money has changed<\/a>, and so has the way we manage it. Making money online used to be rare; now it\u2019s normal. The same goes for how we manage our money. We used to have to do our accounting manually, but now we use cloud accounting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take risks, step out of your comfort zone, create value<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thando believes that time is the one thing we can never get back, which is why retirement planning is a core focus for her. One of her most rewarding moments was when she pitched a campaign idea to a brand focused on planning for retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was able to bring this brand on board as a sponsor, and I managed to reach thousands of people with the content \u2013 helping them understand retirement planning better,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the prospect of pitching an idea<\/a> might seem overwhelming, it\u2019s a risk you need to make to jumpstart your career. If you fail, you learn from it. If you succeed, you\u2019ve accomplished something. Either way, you\u2019re moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether or not you need a business plan<\/a> to start your business is debatable based on the type of business it is. But what you definitely need are goals and targets to aim for<\/a> and measure the growth of your business against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\tDownload your free business plan template<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

But succeeding in your career isn\u2019t just about the big stuff. Thando\u2019s top productivity trick is waking up early. \u201cAs a morning person, I can get a lot more done before the world wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked what book she\u2019d recommend, Thando chose The Lean Startup<\/em><\/a> by Eric Ries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a great guide to lean thinking and building products and businesses with what you have now rather than waiting to have it all before starting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Thando\u2019s top advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n