Over the last decade the growth and sustainability of women
owned businesses and female entrepreneurs has grown exponentially. However, while it is a fact that women
dominate small business ownership, it is also evident that it is time for us to
take our business out of the micro markets we have successfully dominated and
to the next level of growth; we need to start thinking big. Yet of the 10million + women owned UK
businesses, many of us will take the circuitous route through the sustainable business
growth stages that may or may not eventually lead to reaching that next level
of growth.
Wealth
Creation Is Or Should Be A Key Driver To Success
Perhaps you fell into your business accidentally or it is the
result of a lifelong passion that you turned into a business, or you created
the business as a result of a financial or personal need; no matter why you started
the business, wealth creation is or should be a key driver. After all, why are
you in business if not to make money? As
someone once said, ‘if your business is not making money, then it’s just a
hobby’.
Are you on the path to
wealth creation?
Do you have passion and enjoy what you are doing?
Do you have a plan?
Do you have an exit strategy?
Do you work on your business versus in the business?
Are you constantly aligned with your target market both
internally and externally?
Do you maintain a competitive edge?
Do you continually innovate and differentiate?
Do you continuously monitor your competition?
Have you harnessed that entrepreneurial spirit that started it
all?
Your business plan is your road map; do you keep it constantly
updated?
Do you network, network, network?
Victims
of repetitive paralysis
As women business owners and female entrepreneurs we do face some
unique challenges and issues more than our male counterparts. That elusive work
life balance we constantly try to achieve (unfortunately to the detriment of
the business) as well as the inadequate financial resources available to us due
to the lack of investor confidence in women owned businesses. We may protest that
it’s not fair but it’s a fact: many [male] investors still believe that a
business needs a male presence for the business to be truly successful.
However, the main obstacle to taking our business to the next
level is ourselves. We habitually and intentionally stand in our own way; we buy
into our own limiting beliefs and as a result we get stuck in the never ending
cycle of destructive repetitive paralysis; the business stagnates and we languish
in the surreal world of self-sabotage and self-prophesising failure. It’s a
painful process and totally unnecessary and preventable.
So strap
on those high heels and keep moving forward.
Believe in yourself and what you are doing. Don’t compromise.
Whatever
you do should resonate with your values and principles.
Give
back to the community and society. Be it time, money or services.
By leveraging the power you have of being a woman in business,
you can break free of the destructive repetitive paralysis cycle; you can
achieve the greatness you know you are capable of; and yes you can enjoy a
work/life balance while creating wealth;
and you can do it all in high heels.
Luciana
Cousin. March 1, 2012
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