The biggest change ever in entrepreneurship is occurring right now. For centuries men have led the entrepreneurial frontier. But, for a multitude of reasons it is changing. It's now the women's turn to be the leaders of entrepreneurship. Here are just few (yes, just a few) reasons why:
1. Only Women Bleed!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: We were born with it. Our bodies train us to be attentive to details. Only women bleed (by the way, I got this from the title of a song by Alice Cooper). From then on we are forced to become very attentive to the calendar, Each trimester new details, when to push when not to push. Details all details. Raise a family details.
It's our ability to embrace and be attentive to the details that propels us to succeed today. We are born leaders and the more we evolve the more we realize being a success fits like and old shoe. It just feels RIGHT!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs are becoming more and more successful because they are natural collaborators and love doing project together. When we find like minded women who we like and think we can accomplish something with by combining our talents we do it.
A collaborative spirit and attitude reigns with women a competitive attitude is rarely seen and considered unsavory when witnessed.
Women do work they love to do and they feel great when they can do it with other women.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Accepting that it’s okay to say NO when people ask me to do something I can’t or don’t want to do was not easy. My saying YES to others often means a NO to myself. Women are taught to think of others before thinking of ourselves. We buy into the belief that to put ourselves first is selfish and wrong. We feel guilty when we say NO, so we agree to requests in spite of the costs to our lives. Say YES to you! You’ll be amazed of how much more you can give to others when you when you do.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women know how to clobber overwhelm. Clobbering overwhelm happens because women can accept the things they cannot change, change the things they can, and find humor in everything else!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are very passionate,determined, strong and dedicated individuals. Is it any wonder we seek meaningful,empowering,fulfilling careers?
What happens when women struggle to find joy in mindless employment? When we see a need for a particular product or service? When we feel torn about leaving our families to pad someone else's pocket? When we long for work that excites and challenges us? We don't sit back and whine about the fact that something is missing, we take action...WE MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: I believe that women are searching for alternatives to the normal 9-5 grind. We have so many other life responsibilities, commitments and time constraints that sometimes entrepreneurial ventures becomes a best-fit situation for women and their families.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: In a networked economy, which is what we are evolving into, women entrepreneurs possess the innate collaborative and communication skills that lead to success in building a business. Women get the balance between collaboration and competition; and entrepreneurs in today’s environment need both. In addition, the essence of effective communication is being open and authentic; women are more prone to allow vulnerabilities to show through, engendering trust.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: As a female entrepreneur myself, I think one of the most crucial traits we can have is adaptability. Many of us are bootstrapping our businesses, which requires a certain flexibility: if you can't slap down the money for a big marketing campaign or the equipment you need to make your product, that doesn't mean you're out of the game. Instead, it's time to start thinking about how to get access to that stuff without the putting down money. And who better to adapt to news ways then women.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are a natural at networking. They're using it to their advantage to connect with other women entrepreneurs to collaborate, help each other, and refer business to those who can serve the customer best. The result? Women-owned businesses that are becoming national, have far-reaching goals that they're achieving. The collective minds of women, when working together, are a powerful force.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs have dreams/passions and fulfill them by starting businesses.Women often are relegated to roles of lesser authority in the corporate world.Starting a business is a way to get ahead, fulfill ambition.I am the daughter of an entrepreneurial father.He taught me that having a dream is not an option but a responsibility. Fulfilling it is my destiny.Women work harder and juggle more to get what we want.We work together to share hardships and support. Have a dream to get ahead.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women - whether by nature or by cultural conditioning - are generally more social creatures than their male counterparts. We congregate in groups more often for work, for familial duties, and for pleasure (heck, we even go to the bathroom in pairs!).
This behavior predisposes women to be more adept at building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships that aren't solely based on the idea of, "what's in it for me?" but instead, "what's going on with you, and how can I help?"
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs may be in the forefront because being an entrepreneur demands relationship thinking, not competitive thinking. They form relationships with
marketing people, distributors, manufacturers, and their colleagues, even those who seem to compete with them. Through these relationships, women have more people recommending them for jobs, supporting them, cheering them on. If you're the only one up the ladder, there's no one to help you at the top, or to catch you when you fall.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women make perfect entrepreneurs because:
1. We already know how to multitask.
2. Since many of us are parents with kids at home, we have the incentive to make it work. We don't want our kids growing up without us.
3. We're used to making every minute count. Women are used to doing three, four, even seven things at time. We're not always perfect at it, but we often pull of a high percentage of the attempted task.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women now understand that flexibility, creativity and balance are the keys to a successful career and a healthy lifestyle. We now understand that it's ok to think outside the box. We no longer have to mimic men in order to be successful. We can now approach our career choices with authenticity and courage.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: The single best attribute women bring to entrepreneurship is their relationship skills. Business is all about people and relationships – and women are natural networkers. We are innately inclined to nurture and encourage others. We're superb collaborators. We readily reach out and ask for help when we need to learn something. We thrive on mutual interdependence. Under stress, men's reaction is "fight or flight" – women's reaction is "tend and befriend."
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are leading the entrepreneurial movement because they are creating new business models. They aren't finding meaning or fulfillment in the old economic paradigm-the individualism, competition, status and excess (like the corner office and power suit, soon to be symbols of a bygone era)--so they are creating their own opportunities and forming businesses that speak more to their values: community, collaboration, integrity and purpose, all while supporting one another. And it's working.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs are at the forefront now even more than before because we have what it takes. With many women juggling work and raising a family at the same time, we know how to get things done quickly and efficiently. Plus, we are good negotiators (think broccoli and children) and know what it takes to get the job done right.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are willing to put it all on the line when we are passionate about something! I think this especially true after becoming a mom. We want now more than ever to be able to contribute to the income of the family, but yet have a more flexible schedule and maintain an identity of our very own. Sometimes to have it all you've got to be willing to risk it all and that's what we are doing!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women have a distinct advantage when it comes to entrepreneurial ventures: the “R” factor, or their ability to build RELATIONSHIPS. Generally speaking, I think the cooperative nature of women lends itself nicely to entrepreneurial success. Never has this been more apparent than since the dawn of social media. Women can connect and assist each other today in ways that were not possible in other generations. Women have networked and built relationships with others for ages... and now it is turning into entrepreneurial leadership.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women have to wear many hats. By wearing many hats, I mean they are constantly multitasking and functioning in various roles at any given time.
A woman can function as a wife, nurse, teacher, sister, mom, etc. simultaneously. All of these roles require the use of various resources.
The same holds true for a CEO. A CEO will have to function as a manager, accountant, marketing executive, etc. again requiring them to multitask.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the largest growing groups of women entrepreneurs is the mompreneur. This is due to necessity. Mom's are on the front lines and know what is needed to do their job best and when there is a gap in the market place, mompreneurs are there to fill it. Driven by the need to balance the household budget and spending more time with their kids, moms are developing innovative products and unique solutions to common household issues. Necessity is a great motivator.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: "As Leaders, Women Rule" was the cover story for BusinessWeek a while ago. The story: while women outperform men on leadership skills and attributes in study after study, we aren't represented in proportionate numbers in corporations. Where to give free rein to all that untapped leadership talent? In our own businesses! This explains the exponentially increasing numbers of women starting their own businesses and the significant numbers of people employed by woman-owned businesses.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women understand that to be successful we need to connect beyond the traditional 'power lunch/chamber networking' event. Of the many women I have worked with over the years those who are willing to share resources and life stories usually end up being the most successful.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are empathetic and focus on team-building.
Typically, women do not indulge in fault-finding or blame games. They celebrate small successes and appreciate team members, a quality which ensures everyone is working toward the same goal(s).
Women are better than men at being the coach rather than the star player! They clearly communicate roles and expectations to team members and also appreciate and acknowledge positive behaviors so that they turn into consistent practices.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: No GPS on your business plan? No problem! Women will ask for directions or help. Seek out like-minded women who are more likely to be collaborative then competitive. There are many women's networking and business support groups, both nationally and regionally, which provide education and tools to start or grow a business. Explore new ground. Learn from your competitors- keep an eye on their marketing and develop a plan to differentiate your business. Big sandbox, plenty of room to play nicely.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: In my opinion, I think that women have finally discovered that they can pursue the family + work balance.
Speaking from my own experience, the power of technology and the ability to communicate globally have played a large part in keeping my company alive for the past nine years.
Conversely (and sadly) the male-dominated business world has been shattered as more women serve in C-suite positions, make million dollar companies from their kitchen, et al.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women tend to be more intuitive than men, and so much about running a successful business depends on trusting your gut. From sensing when something’s not right with a client; to having an intuitive feeling you’ve found the right hire; to having a hunch that the numbers you’re looking at are somehow off, that little voice in the back of your head is a powerful business asset.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: I think women are on the forefront of entrepreneurship because starting your own business gives women flexibility to manage their careers while raising a family. The growth of the Internet over the past 10-15 years has made it possible to do business via email at any time of day, which makes it easier to fit work around a family's schedule. Many successful women-owned businesses were started from home,and continue to operate there because it's easier to manage home and work from one office.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: As a female entrepreneur, I've noticed my male clients feel a higher level of trust and comfort when working with women. Men often have adversarial interactions with other men. With women, there's no concern that this person is competing against me, plotting to take advantage of me or trying to "one up" me.
I work with pro athletes & many view older women as mother figures and younger women more like a sister. It's an inherent trust and familiarity from the start.
Above all else, women know how to streamline--their family's functions, their multi-tasking lives, their obligations to others. This ability to remain focused while playing an entrepreneurial role explains the rise of small businesses headed by women.
How do they streamline? They, for example, become "information ecologists"--absorbing only the data they need, discarding the rest. They streamline, too, by prioritizing and by delegating.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Cooperation/Teambuilding. Women are more likely than men to seek help. (What percentage of men read instruction manuals or ask for directions?) Creating support networks allows women to learn from one another's successes and failures. Just as I've seen a number of women who work with coaches or who join networks like Ladies Who Launch, I've seen several male entrepreneurs who refuse to seek help because they already have all the answers. (Of course, both genders have their exceptions.)
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women tend to be more aware of "why to" and not just "how to" in decision-making. When choosing a business concept, they must feel passionately about it. It has to resonate with them, and many involve a charitable component and/or overarching societal value, making the lives of others better, easier, etc. Generally, women also place high value on balancing work and family life, and usually do whatever they can to make that possible for their teams.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: We're seeing a surge in women-owned businesses because more than ever, women want control over their schedules and lives. From spending time with family to simply rejecting the confines of corporate life, they want to build passion-based businesses with unlimited revenue potential, and they want to do it on their own terms. Women do best when they aren't stuck; when they can go to a yoga class, drop off a child at pre-school and kick into work gear in the car in-between.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are into service. They serve everyone in their lives. Let them serve you from that place of elevation. Serve and be Served.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are at the forefront of the entrepreneurial movement today because they have A BELIEF THAT WE CAN CREATE A BETTER WORLD. Women have long been second-class in the world of business, which has reduced their ability to shape the bigger systems that run our nation and our world. With old systems crumbling, women see the opportunity for creating businesses and systems that reflect a more collaborative and humane way of being in the world - ones that look after the well-being of all people.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are taking the entrepreneurial mountain by storm in large part because they are not afraid to collaborate and surround themselves with an entourage of supportive and smart girlfriends who fiercely protect them. They are not too proud to ask each other for help, ideas, and guidance....And they know there's a lot to be said for never allowing themselves to be THE smartest one in the room.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are natural entrepreneurs because they are wired to be innovative, always seeking better ways of doing things. Men evolved relying on physical strength; women had to use their wits to survive. Whereas men focused on the big target such as killing the mammoth, women had to care for children and multi-task. Women also see connections that men often miss.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: As mothers, many women manage household budgets. They need to recognize good value in order to make every dollar count, not waste limited resources, and get a good return on their investments. The same is true for entrepreneurs.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Tenacity---- Able to stick with something
Women have a longer view of life and how they want to live. The keep their eye on balancing every aspect of their lives and ask for help along the way. When stuck they are not afraid to reach out for others, garner support, learn along the way, and enjoy the ride.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the main reason women are creating, running and succeeding at their own businesses is the need for connection. Social by nature, women naturally want to help others and to connect. By solving a client's problem through a product or a service, women create a connection to the client. I believe this is why you see so many women-owned companies that excel in customer service or are service based. They don't see their customers as a nameless client but as a friend they can help.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Guts/Balls/Cojones - Women have 'em. Being an entrepreneur is about managing risk but a lot of people are not willing to take any risks, even manageable ones. The recession has emboldened women, who are less prone to layoffs than men because of the hits to the male-dominated industries of manufacturing and finance.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: I find that women tend to make excellent entrepreneurs. They apply their relationship building skills to building an authentic business network. Also many of my female clients have the ability to articulate their product's truly practical benefits for their target market.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: I believe the attribute as to why women may be in the forefront of the entrepreneurial movement is this: Because they can.
Society, the family, the reason why women work and why they want to work, has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Once upon a time women hit the workplace because they had to. Now they are doing it because they want to.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One small piece of the puzzle that can help so much is a solid network. There are more opportunities today for women movers and shakers to connect with others going through the same experiences - or having been through the same experiences - by coming together via networking and mentoring. Discussing goals and holding each other accountable has helped push me as a businessperson.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs are at the forefront because they are extraordinary at building relationships, solving uncommon problems, and creating value with every move they make.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: The attribute is patience. Women have extraordinary practical experience in this regard. Women learn this from a young age. If we have to pee-pee, it is very difficult to do so just by jumping behind a tree. We also contend with monthly “changes,” then 9 months of extraordinary girth, then nursing and pumping and some years later, hot flashes just when you want to be “cool.” So, waiting for a stimulus check or a bank loan to come through, or rewriting the business plan for the 10th time ain't that big of a deal.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are generally better equipped to manage multi-tasking on the fly.
It is an accepted notion that men tend to focus their attention on one specific issue at a time, working from start to completion. Women, on the other hand, tend to work in the "gestalt,” managing a myriad of matters simultaneously to get the job done.
A successful entrepreneur gets all the ducks in line to work efficiently in a simultaneous manner. This is what women do best.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Most people will say that women are intuitive and sensitive which gives them an edge in business because they can interpret nonverbal ques and are perceived as genuine and sincere. Truth be told, women are multi-taskers and have had to be so for all of time. This is their true advantage. Men sometimes seem to advance more quickly because they are one track focused and move that track faster than women at times. But women have the advantage in a society that needs many things simultaneously.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Entrepreneurs now have to be engaged in social media to be successful. By nature, women are social. We can leverage social media in ways that can help jumpstart new businesses quickly and cheaply. Whether it is engaging customers via Twitter, blog, forum, or Facebook, we are good at gathering people and starting conversations.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are natural-born multitaskers and when starting a business, this is a critical skill. Whether it's marketing, customer service, design or project management that's required to get a company off the ground, women excel in the juggling act and can wear different hats. They're ideally suited for these lean times when there's little to no funds to go around.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women’s brains are hard-wired for empathy. Men’s brains are predominately hard-wired for understand and building systems. The empathy difference between women and men helps to explain why both men and women report friendships with women to be more intimate, enjoyable and nurturing than with men. When seeking empathy and understanding, both men and women usually turn to women.
"The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy." ~~ Meryl Streep
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: There are a growing number of work-at-home moms starting a business from their homes while taking care of their families. Most do it to augment the income of their families, without leaving their homes. Others want to do something economically and financially productive with their time if a corporate career is out of the question at this point. Still others have stumbled upon an opportunity that can be done while staying at home to be with their children.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: More often than not, women can find a way to get a business up and running on a shoestring budget without the concerns and constraints of a heavy debt burden. This gives them the flexibility and freedom that is so important for small businesses which must be able to move and change quickly.
Since they’re usually juggling many different roles, they will often start out small, utilizing their own available time and resources rather than looking for outside funding and staff. And that is the recipe for success.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: The attribute that helped me most when I was starting my business is the ability to multi-task and to multi-task well. That came from my skills as a mother of four (triplets plus one). I planned and was prepared to get things done while I was doing something else. For example, my van became an office with books and business papers. I could research or design while I waited for my kids to be done with lessons, sporting events, etc. Now in my business, I keep multitasking working for me.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: The role of an entrepreneur is multifaceted - much like the plethora of tasks juggled at any one time. From managing projects to motivating employees to collaborating with suppliers, an entrepreneur is asked to do it all and, asked to do it all well.
Women are at the forefront of entrepreneurism due to their natural capacity and capability at juggling multiple tasks and projects while giving each project her undivided attention.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Necessity is the mother of invention, and for women, it has been the mother of entrepreneurship! Most of the female entrepreneurs I know got into it because they simply had to. We could not find the flexibility we needed to balance family needs and successful, rewarding work, until we went out on our own. What allows women to excel at entrepreneurship is our ability to keep going amid distractions and disappointments, just keep going even when outside interests seem to take over.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women help each other and can rely on a network of friends for support, motivation and a hug (when needed). When I started my business, I was amazed at how caring and generous other women were with their time and advice. I would meet complete strangers and tell them about my company and they would promise to pass the word on to their friends/family.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women's brains, with more fluidity between left and right hemispheres, allow them to have both creative vision and the ability to focus on detail for
follow-through. Women are natural multi-taskers, another critical entrepreneurial attribute.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: While the cave-gents were out spearing big game, women kept the community running. They organized, resolved conflicts, nurtured. Women bring a collaborative relationship-centric style, eschewing the me-centric, command and control style typically favored by fellas.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: The Internet is a key reason for the entrepreneurial movement for women. First, social networking sites have enabled women to network with other women-owned business - women are finding that there's strength and power in numbers. Second, thanks to the Internet, women can start and run a successful company from the comforts of their homes. The set their own schedules and can plug into the working world at any time while still enjoying their kids' after school soccer game or mid-day recital!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Whether it's Liz Lange's incredibly profitable decision to boost her business by taking her maternity wear designs "downtown" and signing a deal with Target or Bobbi Brown's decision to invest her nest egg of $5,000 to pursue her dream of creating natural-looking lipsticks, women entrepreneurs attach enormous value their
instincts. They are courageous and outrageous enough to "buck the trend" or bypass conventional business wisdom.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are for the most part: “Creative, determined, demanding yet very nurturing and very tolerant. They are also likely to be Solution Providers, rather than Problem Finders” – all of which are essentials for being successful entrepreneurs and fantastic moms!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Entrepreneurs solve problems. This could be by entering into a new and untapped market; or, an industry where key players have yet to realize a feature/element which adds value to their target market. As women have become more prominent in business & entrepreneurship (what has historically been a male dominated industry)there is an increasing opportunity and demand for product/services designed by women. There are tons of problems, solutions, and niche industries for woman yet to be explored.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women notoriously receive lower pay and less respect in the corporate environment. Seen as trying so hard to please, some men believe it is then okay to take advantage or manipulate female employees. Quitting corporate has become a fashion statement for many women. They now choose to become entrepreneurs, learn what they must for business to succeed, and have stepped into their own greatness. We have banded together (the new collaboration) to launch the new women's movement.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women's ability to nurture the whole relationship is what makes us great as entrepreneurs. We naturally listen to understand, so we can connect across business boundaries to give solid integrity to relationships. Whether we are talking to a major account, negotiating with a vendor or coaching an employee, it's more than just about that one issue. The want of making a wide and deep relationship is one thing of many that makes us great entrepreneurs.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are leading entrepreneurship because they can always find a new path. For example, many women learn to manage money under very difficult circumstances. My mom knew 40 ways to use ground meat.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: I think the biggest reason that women entrepreneurs are now in the forefront is that we have had to invent our own systems, methods, concepts after hearing from the "old boys' network" that our ideas would never work. We have gone ahead and proven them wrong. So, instead of working outside the box, we've trained ourselves to disregard the box altogether and come up with something completely new.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One big reason that so many women have become entrepreneurs is that they got sick and tired of working for men. Not that ALL men are insensitive, condescending sexists; but enough are to make women decide that being on their own is better than putting up with the nonsense that is so ubiquitous in large as well as small companies. It's interesting to see how successful so many women have become on their own; I wonder how the managers who underestimated them before comprehend it.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Banging your head on the glass ceiling hurts. Getting hired to be a senior level executive interacting with clients is fulfilling. Being bestowed with the task of updating weekly activities on a spreadsheet for yourself and all the other men in your department; a bit less so. Team playing is one thing; but no one with external reproductive organs was asked to do this sort of task.
So, in order to truly "have it all" , many women are creating their own opportunities. They are taking the bull by the horns.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Many women entrepreneurs are also moms and as a mom, we can multi-task like we have 4 eyes, 2 heads and 18 arms. Personally, I’ve nursed an infant, while potty training a 2 year old, while on the phone with sautéed mushrooms on the stove, a roast in the oven and 2 loads of laundry going. Those organizational and multitasking skills are what women entrepreneurs channel into their business as well.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women don't have the same level of expectations that a man does in the workplace which presents them with freedom to think outside the box and be a bit more flexible in finding solutions that work for your brand. Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is a great example of this. She went into Neiman Marcus stores and personally changed the displays around to better promote her products. Sometimes a distracting, pretty smile and a savvy idea is the X factor needed to get the job done.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Many women have learned to take authority in all aspects of their lives and entrepreneurship is not off-limits. Some women are both mother and father to their children as well as their own plumbers, electricians, and even their own romancers-- treating themselves to a nice dinner from time to time. A strong sense of independence with a no-fail attitude empowers women to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: To be a successful female entrepreneur, you must be calm, cool and composed under fire. Women are great at dealing with everyday stress and juggling many tasks at once. Both essential for any entrepreneur.
As an entrepreneur, you must wear many hats. In order to be a successful manager, strategist, boss, mentor, accountant and business owner, time and stress management are key. Owning a successful business is, above all, a balancing act and no one is better at finding balance than women.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are not afraid to ask for help when it comes to their own business. Women can admit when they are not sure how to accomplish a certain task and will ask for help; where men at times have a problem admitting they need help. You can't be an expert on everything so developing a network of trusted business partners on whom you can rely quality and timely assistance will make you more successful in you business endeavors.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are natural leaders especially in the 21st century. Leadership is changing and women naturally fit that bill. Women are more confident than ever before. Women use thier intuition for business. Women know how to influence rather than be an authority. Women know how to balance many plates well.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: What is the old adage? If you want something badly enough: you’ll get it. Desire can fuel anything. For me, and a lot of the women entrepreneurs I know, the desire to succeed in business relates to succeeding with our children. And there is nothing women want more than to be a good mother. The desire to succeed pushes us to educate ourselves and pushes us to go against the odds. Once this desire takes hold, it eventually pushes us to the forefront, no matter how long it may take.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Studies show that women naturally use conversation to build relationships & collaborate, while men often view conversation as a contest, a way to show dominance and one-upmanship. Women are hip to the idea that talking with their customers— rather than AT them— yields mutually beneficial results. Today's consumers are looking to be heard by businesses, and to feel involved in creating solutions. So women have the upper-hand when it comes to creating those resonant messages. Sorry, guys!
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: In my experience the biggest attribute that drive women entrepreneurs is to control their own destiny. I believe that many women are disillusioned with corporate America and they want to plan their own schedules (a more holistic work/life balance) to suit their lifestyle and family dynamic. They want their ideas to be heard and their businesses to flourish under their own direction. In essence, women entrepreneurs want to be successful on their own terms.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the best ways women can take charge of their career and be in control of their own success is to start a business. I myself was frustrated with corporate America, so I started my own business. Many female entrepreneurs feel the same way. Many companies are too beholden to bureaucracy, tradition and stereotypes, and the best way for women to get away from that culture is to start their own business. It's stressful and hectic, but I believe women are well equipped to handle that stress.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women entrepreneurs are soooo great because they usually are ready to express themselves. The subjective part of their nature is to be creative and intuitive. Their nurturing side is never hidden and they will give it all the effort and energy. Heck.... nature talks back and maybe even the cat,
so listen up!!!!! And we just try harder...... LOL
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women lead the entrepreneurial field because of their knowledge, confidence and ability to multi-task. Starting a business means you complete an extensive list of activities while maintaining your personal, family and community ties. This ability begins at home when growing up and is nurtured and refined as your business grows. To that end you understand hard work, easily deal with administrative needs, are optimistic, prudent and ambitious and do not see failure as an option.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women can follow a recipe, ie, women are more willing to take small business classes, attend training workshops and participate in microenterprise development programs than men. This gives them a leg up on business start ups in the US and helps them to build stronger foundations for their enterprises.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: As I am a work-at-home mom myself with a start-up company and two sets of twins under age 5, I can say from personal experience that the availability of technology has been the biggest reason why female entrepreneurs are now at the forefront. Social media outlets allow former stay-at-home moms to easily create a loyal following of customers and colleagues to help promote their businesses.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: WOW! Is this ever right up my alley?! The number one attribute that women have going for them as entrepreneurs is ATTITUDE. When you've been lying in the gutter so long, EVERYTHING looks up! It's a woman's NEVER SAY DIE attitude that she gives to whatever she creates - food, babies, friendships, business - that makes her bound for success. She will learn what needs to be learned and call on others for support.
Venus is rising (at last!) in the entrepreneurial sky.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Conflict is a part of life and a part of business. Women know it’s important to notice when your antennae sense that a conflict is becoming destructive and then to do something about it. It's smart business to try – hard – to understand the perspective of the other person (or people.) Not because it’s nice, but because you will have an easier time resolving a conflict if you understand what makes someone tick. And the sooner that the conflict is resolved, the better it is for your business.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the biggest reasons women entrepreneurs are so successful is, we are more conscious of our customers’ needs. Men for the most part are not customers they’re consumers. A big difference. As a woman I shop for price of course, but what is just as important is the buying experience. If the service is poor or I can’t relate to the employees than it doesn’t matter what it costs. It’s all about word of mouth and customer loyalty. My customers are my best supporters.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Very often an idea for a product or service comes out of a "there-has-to-be-an-easier-way" situation. Women are not afraid to ask for help or directions, so they can be in a position to hear or think of ways to make things easier.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the biggest reasons women entreprenuers are now in the forefront is their desire to blend career and life ambitions. Our personal goals are oftentimes meshed with career goals. We put our
passions into practice and it shines through in entreprenuerial endeavors. For us it's not just a job, it's a significant part of who we are.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: No doubt about it, women are finally being rewarded for being tenacious. We have learned to trust our gut-feelings and stick it out until we get where we want to go. Support from family and friends makes things easier, but we will hang in there one way or another if we think it worth it.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Our current financial crisis is all about lack of business integrity and ego gone wild. It's time for change led by the great Feminine Energy which has been dormant for so long. Intuitiveness, listening skills, sensitivity, and love will be the attributes of the modern leader, of course, exemplified so well by many women.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: One of the primary drivers is a structural shift. Women are now a greater part of the economic make-up of society; there are more women in the workforce. They are resourceful, leaving the workforce to stay home & raise a family, re-entering when the kids are grown or working a flex schedule when their kids go to school.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading: Women are natural-born collaborators. If you don’t believe me, check the research on the “tend and befriend” response, which shows that even in times of stress, women reach out to others while men typically react with the “fight or flight” response. When women use their collaborative skills strategically, they can be great networkers, problem solvers, mentors, and leaders.
WOW – Mike another amazing post…sad I missed out on this one while at our business convention – but I wanted to say that you have represented WISDOM, GRACE, and abundance of KNOWLEDGE with the women in this blog!
Congratulations to all of you women that shared why we are becoming successful in your entrepreneurial journey!
I heard from a good friend that “It is more than just business it is a LIFESTYLE!”
My passion as an Entrepreneur started when I had a deep desire to provide a wonderful LIFESTYLE for my family…the only way I saw that happening was starting my own business.
Now I am creating that lifestyle but blessed to enjoy the journey with women like the ones you have represented here!
Great Post Mike -
Cheryl Hill
http://www.startercards.com Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin
Fantastic post! Love number 3 from Lizzette Pirtle. Lizette, I want to send you my latest book called “Hell Yes!” It’s really all about saying Hell No.
@Cheryl – Thank you! I missed having your blog contribution for this one… but very appreciative of your sharing your tip in the comments!
Mike Michalowicz
@Elizabeth – Thanks! “You grow by saying no”
- Mike
http://www.ChicGemsEtc.com Sarah of Chic Gems
Great post! Cheers everyone!
http://www.socialmediamarketing.com Jane Reyes of Social Media Marketing
I gotta love this article. Haha. Before, men took the lead when it came to entrepreneurship. But as the world and business evolved, the word of mouth marketing started in the industry, women took over and carried it all out. It is very obvious that women absolutely empower the ‘word of mouth’.
http://www.thenewuswoman.com Rosanne Ferreri-Feske, CEO, The New US Woman.com
“They are courageous and outrageous enough to “buck the trend” or bypass conventional business wisdom” is true. As is “The growth of the Internet over the past 10-15 years has made it possible to do business via email at any time of day…” I would simply encourage women not to hide their information on a password protected, women’s only site, when they have the entire internet as their artist canvas. That seems to be the trend, but it works against women and contributes to sexism. If men can’t find you, they can’t hire you!
I have also found that women are better at combining their business with philanthropy than men; perhaps its because we see ourselves as PART of a larger society and want to make a bigger impact than our own pocketbooks alone. When women put their mind to it, they can do great things.
http://intlnat.com Linda Smith
This is awesome. What great responses. If asked my own would be that women make great entrepreneurs because we have an inborn sense of curiosity and wonder…and for the most part we love to nourish things. Women by nature must be creative thinkers and quick thinkers…problem solvers at the speed of light…great qualifications for an entrepreneur.
http://www.jesgraphicdesignco.com Jana Schweiss
Yeah Women! I feel so empowered after reading this post! I am a new business owner, and can say thanks to 90% of the reasons listed above! I also have two young children, and now I have the flexibility to be there for them when I’m needed. http://www.jesgraphicdesignco.com
Wow, this is one of the greatest things I read in a while… Very inspiring and enlightening. Thank you!
Anonymous
Thanks Jerry!
Krishna
wow … it helps us a lot .. in mking ur assiments n to beat boys in ur debate compition .. thank u so much . n really its vry inspiring… thank u so much …
Anonymous
No need to beat the boys, just lead the boys little.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrea-Lucas-Managing-Director-of-Club-Asteria/181099888600243 Andrea Lucas
Its
interesting seeing how women are finally getting their shot at leading the
entrepreneurial frontier. Thanks for
discussing this.
Anonymous
Yes, it is interesting. I think like everything in life, things go in cycles. I think the change needs to be embraced by everyone…. because there is opportunity for everyone.
http://twitter.com/athenanetwork Zsa Zsa
Love all the answers — very inspiring, and very true! It’s wonderful to know that in this day and age women are making a difference and taking the lead!
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