Rock On
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa|November 2018

In recent years there has been a slew of US musicians and actors who have built business empires, from will-i-am to Sarah Michelle Gellar. South Africa is no different. Danny K may be working on his next album, but he's also planning to dominate the business landscape. AS TOLD TO NADINE TODD

Nadine Todd
Rock On

You may know Danny K from his first hit single Hurts So Bad, or multiple chart toppers since then. If you’re a Makro shopper, you’ve probably seen a local range of electronics, Rocka, with a number of products branded with local musicians. Or perhaps you’ve seen the Sweets from Heaven retail packets, or are a fan of the Good Heart healthy snack range. Well, those are all Danny K too.

Danny K grew up in an entrepreneurial household. He watched his dad sell floor polish door-to-door, and later build the first LG importer in South Africa into a listed business. He launched his own record label and a decade later his first business. He’s known rejection and success. And he knows that if you can face failure and pick yourself up, you can ultimately succeed.

These are his lessons.

Rejection is a matter of opinion.

I only learnt this later, but looking back I can see that I didn’t let someone else’s opinion of me stop me. Opinions are highly subjective. You can’t base everything you do, or choose not to do, on what someone else thinks. I was a white kid trying to do black music at a time when the local music industry didn’t believe there was a place for South African pop and R&B musicians. I started submitting demos when I was 17, and for seven years I was rejected by all the major labels in South Africa. But that was the music I loved. That was who I was. I’m also a pretty tough-nosed person. I don’t like giving up. I had a songwriting partner, and we became the thorn in the side of the labels. We wouldn’t stop pestering them — they hated us. We were young and tenacious.

This story is from the November 2018 edition of Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2018 edition of Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE SOUTH AFRICAView All
Prepare For The Worst
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Prepare For The Worst

The stronger your business is, the more you stand to lose. Here’s how to spot hidden weaknesses within your operation and steel yourself for unexpected battles.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2018
Start Planning Today For Future Wealth
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Start Planning Today For Future Wealth

Q&A Budgeting is by far the biggest threat to wealth planning, says wealth coach Nelisiwe Masango. If you’re part of the majority of people who don’t have a monthly budget or who have one, but don’t adjust it regularly, you could be hindering your financial progress.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2018
Beyond Banal Business Travel
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Beyond Banal Business Travel

Twenty-five-year-old South African automotive drivetrain repair company Rex Diff and Gearbox found a perfect match for its business travel needs when it joined kulula work’s client base, and never looked back. Dennis McLachlan of RDG’s Consumer Affairs and Marketing division explains why.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2018
The Next Level Beckons
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

The Next Level Beckons

Rudolf Goosen is an ex-professional rugby player, entrepreneur, author, TV presenter and motivational speaker. Entrepreneur recently spoke to him about his new book, Taking Your Life to the Next Level.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2018
Diversity Drives Board Performance
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Diversity Drives Board Performance

The composition of your board of directors can help you drive your company value and increase shareholder and other stakeholder returns.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2018
Invest And Save 100% Of Your Tax Payable To SARS
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Invest And Save 100% Of Your Tax Payable To SARS

Section 12J funds were created in response to the South African Government offering tax incentives for private investors to support funds that support SME growth in South Africa. Three experts unpack the benefits of investing in 12J funds — particularly for high net worth individuals.

time-read
7 mins  |
April 2018
Following Your Dreams? Nailed It!
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Following Your Dreams? Nailed It!

Sorbet franchisee Kate Holahan went from corporate employee in 2015 to owning two franchise locations in just over two years. By September 2017, she had launched a new location, acquired new clients and was learning something new every day. It took a few learning curves and partnering with the right bank to lead her to successfully running her Sorbet and Sorbet Man stores at Benmore Shopping Centre in Sandton.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2018
How To Build A Community Around Your Brand
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

How To Build A Community Around Your Brand

There’s a way to build your market without spending a fortune on advertising and marketing — and it’s called community building. Here’s why this should be the cornerstone of your growth strategy.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2018
Sealing The Deal
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

Sealing The Deal

If you want to close more sales, you need to understand the three phases of the customer buying cycle.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2018
No Limits
Entrepreneur Magazine South Africa

No Limits

When Offlimit Communications faced its first downturn after ten profitable years in business, its leadership team didn’t even question that they would turn things around and make them better. With resilience and determination, they analysed the business, made some tough choices and took action. Within six months they took the business from massive losses back to profitability, and a year later doubled their pre-losses turnover — all in the middle of a recession.Here’s how Lisa Cohen, Jerome Cohen and Garon Bloom took lemons and made lemonade, building a R130-million sustainable business in the process.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August 2018