"Nearly 10 million businesses in the United States are majority-owned by women," writes Michele Markey, vice president of Kauffman FastTrac. These are women who find "doing what they love, creating their own thing" to be uniquely rewarding. They are "solid strategic thinkers, focused decisions makers, and above all, true to themselves and their vision."
If you’ve ever felt the entrepreneurial tug on your heartstrings, Markey identifies four ways to enhance your success:
- Have a Mindset for Success—Evidence shows women are better at evaluating risks and display greater ambition to become serial entrepreneurs.When facing challenges, find the people and resources you need to conquer the problems. Remember that you are the one who wants to start the business; push forward with your business plan.
- Be Your Own Biggest Champion—Focus on where you are, the market you wish to serve and especially your own unique strengths. … And be sure to talk about your plans. There is no better way to hold yourself accountable than to let others know what you are doing. Plus, you'll be amazed at the people who will join you and support you on your journey
- Engage with the Community—Get out and meet others who are active in the entrepreneurial space. … Explore broad-based business groups – and those focusing on women. Examples include the American Business Women's Association, the Association for Women's Business Centers and the National Association of Women Business Owners. You may also find strictly local groups.Networking in entrepreneurial groups and seeking individuals who can lend a hand is worth the effort. You will discover an entire community of people, events, resources, seminars, meetings, talks, etc., who speak the language of business startups. Perhaps most importantly, you will learn that most business people see networking as an opportunity to give back to the communities that have given so freely to them.
- Make it All Work—Focus on work-life balance. According to the Kauffman Index of Startup Activity, a quarter of new entrepreneurs are between the ages of 20 and 34. Nearly three-quarters of moms of newborns are in this age range, putting them in a position to have to manage both priorities at the same time. While the challenge is real, it is not insurmountable. There will be the inevitable give and take and a certain amount of juggling to make things work. Launching a new endeavor takes a great deal of time, work and effort – it can be all-consuming. There are plenty of unknowns to be discovered, decisions to be made and relationships to be built. So you must make deliberate choices and let go of those things that are not priorities and that take up valuable time and mental energy. They simply don't have a place at the table.
“The bottom line is this — you can make it happen,” writes Markey.
You can be that person who succeeds as an entrepreneur. There has never been a better time to consider business ownership especially as a female entrepreneur. What are you waiting for? Let your someday be today.
Source: 4 Ways Women Can Break Entrepreneurship's Glass Ceiling, Michele Markey, Forbes.com