Johannesburg - Entrepreneurs and traders have a lot in common, and one of the major similarities is that they both need to find systems which work for them.
This is according to Greg Secker, a world-renowned forex trader and founder of Knowledge to Action.
Secker told Fin24: "The quickest way to get successful is to copy and work around a formula or strategy that has been proven. Be smart enough to reproduce it and execute it well."
As a forex trader, Secker enjoyed an illustrious career, racing through the ranks at various companies and reaching the status of vice-president at Mellon Financial Corporation at the age of 25.
Apart from being an active trader within the bank, he was involved in establishing the Virtual Trading Desk, the world's first internet-based forex trading platform, among other high-profile projects.
The platform allowed treasury departments across the globe to transact in foreign exchange at the click of a mouse.
"I witnessed billions of dollars being dealt and millions being made, and I fell in love with forex trading right there and then."
However, Secker was not content with just being part of corporate top brass.
The Londoner gave up his plum position and decided to venture into the world as a solo act, with the dream of establishing the UK's number one trader coaching company.
Already a multimillionaire, he had ambitions of running his own trading floor and so his company, Knowledge to Action, was born.
Now just 35 years old, Secker has a company which is the leading trader coaching business in the world.
The business was a finalist at the 2010 London Excellence Awards and also came in 49th on the 2010 Sunday Times Fast Track 100, which recognises the UK's fastest-growing companies.
Knowledge to Action is looking to expand, and Secker says he has developed an interest in the local market after being invited to speak at a wealth seminar in South Africa a few weeks ago.
Secker, who has offices in London and Sydney and partners in Singapore and America, says he is eager to teach forex trading to South Africans. He has plans to set up two trading floors in the country.
"People in South Africa are keen on learning and making a difference," he says. "They are hungry for knowledge and opportunities, and these are the sort of people you want to be around in business.
He says people often wonder how you can successfully engage in an over-the-counter market in which buyers and sellers conduct foreign exchange transactions without being professional traders.
"To some, the idea of trading foreign currencies from your living room may sound rather eccentric.
"In any business you run, people need proof - otherwise they are going to be sceptical," he says, arguing that people will happily put down millions on a mortgage for a house and sit with it rather than trade it.
"That's why I trade live, so they get to see what forex is all about," he says.
From his interactions with aspiring local entrepreneurs, Secker pinpoints cash flow and growth opportunities as some of the major challenges of the day.
"During the economic crisis I knew that it (growth opportunities) could not be ignored. We had to foster growth during hard times, so I opened offices in Australia. We also hedged by selling resources to China and this positioned us well for the recovery," he says.
Secker advises entrepreneurs to avoid being under-capitalised, and to mould their business to be more responsive to what clients want. Be a customer of the product or service you are selling, he adds.
"There are always opportunities out there. Learn to reduce costs and at the same time add value to your customers."
Any parting thoughts for entrepreneurs?
"Start with where you want to end up in mind - and then walk back, assessing the steps it takes to get there. Be clear about what you are prepared to do to make it happen," he concludes.
- Fin24