When you
are first starting out in business your thoughts of living the dream can
quickly turn to “Help, how am I going to survive!” You most likely are working
alone and doing everything yourself while worried if you will ever make a
profit.
Being a
business owner can be very daunting and exhausting and can prove to be very
lonely and isolating. Like the saying goes, ‘It’s lonely at the top.” Finding
others who are walking in your shoes and finding those who have made it to the
other side will be an important part of your success.
It is
important for you to connect with like-minded businesswomen or men in your
community. Support, friendships and mentorships will be a major gain and can
launch your success.
1.
Find
Several Role Models
a)
Identify
several role models in the groups you are a part of. Get to know them, watch
how they handle their business and situations, ask questions about how they do
things.
2.
Get
Organized
a)
You
can waste a lot of time when you are not organized. Cut down on your
frustration levels and start operating effectively and efficiently.
3.
Take
the Steps
a)
The
first must if you are a business owner is to be BRAVE! Jump in, get started, go
for that goal! You do not have to be perfect, nor does everything have to be
perfect before you begin! Fear is not an option in business! Now Go!
4.
Ask
for HELP!
a)
It
is important to get more people involved in what you are doing! Do not be
afraid to ask for help. Allow yourself to get freed up to home in on your
mission and steer the boat ahead!
5.
Build
a community!
a)
This
is so important for your business and for your sanity! Join network groups, go
to business mixers, look for online business leader communities, use social
media to connect with likeminded folks.
6.
Own
Your Success!
a) I
am giving you permission to do this! As women we tend to hide our
accomplishments. I remember when I owned my first business, I was embarrassed
and felt guilty about how much money I was bringing in. A good friend gave me
permission to own my success! Keep great records of your accomplishments so you
can’t easily dismiss them!
7.
Be
Flexible.
a) Being
a business owner will teach you how to be flexible! And it will teach you that
lesson very quickly! If you cannot be flexible, you will sink. You cannot have
everything set in stone; you must be able to pivot on a moment’s notice. Ideas
will need to change, parts of your business plan will need to be re-written,
you might even have to re-do a bit of the mission if you want to survive. One
business I worked for was afraid to do anything different from when it had
started 60+ years earlier. They were afraid they would fail at trying something
new, like keeping up with the times. Because of their inflexibility, they lost
the business.
8.
Learn
to Let Go
a)
Whatever
picture you have in your head about how glorious it will be to own your own
business, let it go. It is hard work. You must roll up your sleeves, get dirty,
strap it to your body and soul like a girdle and go after it. Learn how to
multitask, delegate, organize, prioritize, and execute!
THE BOTTOM
LINE: Build relationships with like-minded business owners and learn from them.
Do not reinvent the wheel if you do not have to! Listen and learn from other’s
mistakes and successes. There is no need to walk down the lane of shameful
failures because you decided to go it alone and learn the hard way.
Debra Lee, Author & Keynote Speaker, Biz & Life Coach
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