Century CEO shares marketing insights with entrepreneurs at Riversands

FOURWAYS – CEO of Century Property Developments inspires entrepreneurs.

June 14, 2016

Tsholofelo Mosina 1 minute read

INSPIRING: CEO of Century Property Developments, Mark Corbett.

Riversands Incubation Hub hosted a lecture by the chief executive officer of Century Property Developments, Mark Corbett.

The local businessman responsible for the establishment of the hub shared his marketing insights with entrepreneurs using examples from his experience in building a hugely successful residential property development company over a period of 12 years.

Corbett was candid and used a healthy dose of humour to drive home important aspects about marketing.

The businessman explained that marketing was the ‘how’ when it came to getting a product out there, but the underlying thing was the ‘why’ – one’s basic purpose. He said, “Your basic purpose will shine through your marketing and it’s important to relate your vision out there. You also need to look at how you consider yourself in relation to the environment around you.”

To drive his point home, Corbett urged entrepreneurs to always aim high and to be ambitious. He relayed a story about how Century Racing – a proudly South African off-road racing team of which Corbett is a member – once went to Dubai to compete with some of the biggest players in the field.

He said instead of being intimidated, he aimed high and told himself they’d win the race, and in the end, they won their first race. “In life, you’re never going to achieve higher than you aim. If you want to achieve in life, you must be ambitious – never be afraid to be ambitious.”

Corbett also explained the difference between greed and ambition, saying greed was when you wanted other people to contribute towards you, always saying, ‘I want, I want’, and never taking responsibility. However, ambition is when you take responsibility for your environment and the consequences – it’s when you have a goal and work towards it, he said.

According to him, ambitious people play the game and greedy people get played.

In conclusion, Corbett advised entrepreneurs to differentiate themselves from the rest, be professional and deliver what they promise.