She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Why right now is the best time to start your online coaching business, and 5 steps to get you started

by 1 Comment

by Rakel Chafir

With everything that’s going on in the world, starting a new business may sound counter intuitive. However, if we give ourselves permission to place our anxiety on hold just long enough to take a deep breath, we might be able to recognize this moment as an excellent opportunity to both reflect and take action.

With millions of people confined to their homes in the effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Internet today offers the only option to continue working, learning, and connecting with the outside world. Figures show an increase in global Internet traffic up to 50% in the last three months alone. More people than ever before are spending more time on a variety of websites and social media apps that share your potential target market.

And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to start thinking that maybe this might be a great time to give your dream of being a successful online coach some serious thoughts, think about the other undeniable phenomenon that is happening at this moment. People are struggling to cope with fear and confinement, and whether you want to be a life coach, an online fitness trainer, or a wellness guru, they can really use your help.

While economic uncertainty is never a desirable situation, the inherent agility of an online coaching business will allow you to get started and come out on top.

 

Here are the first 5 steps to get you on your way:

 

 

Step 1: Define your ideal customer avatar:

Your Ideal customer avatar represents either an existing or potential customer who wants and needs your content, your product, or your services. This person may be one of your current clients, a friend you have been helping pro bono, or even yourself. Get clear on your ICA’s likes, aspirations, fears, and daily challenges. For example, Is your ideal client a single millennial or a new mom over 40? An Introvert or an extrovert? An overwhelmed business owner or a full-time employee? The more you know about your ICAs, the more you’ll be able to create solutions to their wants and needs.

Step 2: Define your message: 

Rather than compare yourself to other online entrepreneurs, and feel like you need to have the same offers and qualifications they do, think about what makes you unique. You might have a personal success story that got you started on your wellness journey, and now you may feel called to share it with others. Or perhaps, you are an executive who has found balance and joy in life after years of burn out, so now you can other corporate leaders get there as well. Whatever it may be, your unique story will fuel your desire to make a difference in another person’s life and enable you to establish an authentic connection with prospective clients.

STEP 3: Initiate authentic connections:

The great thing about the Internet is that your audience is already there, congregating in existing websites, reading blogs, meeting in Facebook groups. Once you know who your ICA is (Step 1), you can research the online platforms where she/he interacts and join them yourself. You want to spend time studying these platforms, getting familiar with the conversations that are taking place there, and initiating authentic communication aimed at building trust and connection with your ideal customers.

STEP 4: Change your inner dialogue:

Go from “who am I to do this?” to “who am I to doubt my heart-felt desires?”.  If you have been raised to find value in hard work, you might resist the idea that you can take ownership of what you want without first having to prove you have enough credentials and accomplishments. However, the simple fact that you wholeheartedly desire to start your online coaching business and have an impact in the world is enough of a reason to give yourself permission to go for it.

STEP 5: Make wise investments:

One of the biggest mistakes I see coaches make is investing in expensive programs at the beginning of their careers. I am not knocking down any particular one here, but unless you are looking into a specific coaching field that requires certification, you don’t need that piece of paper to get started. Instead, begin by hiring a coach or a mentor who can help you set up weekly and monthly objectives, and offer you a first-hand experience of the very support you wish to offer others.

The five steps above will help you get the clarity you need to identify your path and initiate interactions with your prospective clients. There are many other things you’ll need to do next, but none of them will work unless you first get clear and give yourself permission to honor your desire fully.

 

 

Rakel Chafir is a body confidence expert and success coach who teaches women how to heal their relationship with their body so they can reach their full potential in life. Her signature approach combines physical movement, resilience training and spiritual principles to help clients let go of unwanted weight, eliminate addictive behaviors, and more. Rakel has worked in some of New York City’s most elite studios as a certified personal trainer and also has an extensive background in health and wellness that includes being a Precision Nutrition Certified Coach, a Master Expert in Hypopressive Abdominal Method and more. Her expertise has been featured on Thrive Global, Addicted2Success and CEOWorld Magazine. Rakel is the author of the forthcoming Free Your Body: 7 Steps To Get The Freedom You Deserve and the Body You Desire (November 2020).

Working From Home? 3 Easy Ways to Level Up Your Loungewear by Sandra Martinelli of @shopdelicora

by Leave a Comment

by Sandra Martinelli

Calling all quaran-queens: It’s time to level up your loungewear. We’ve all heard it before… “Dressing up makes you feel better.” I agree. However, if you are one of the millions currently working from home during the shelter in place, you know how difficult it is to get out of your yoga pants. If you haven’t put on a pair of jeans in weeks, I’m here to say “that’s okay!” This is coming from someone who struts into the office in her cheetah print Giuseppe Zanotti stilettos on a random Tuesday. I’ll never knock dressing up, but a happy medium exists!

Here are 3 easy ways to level up your loungewear and become the athleisure boss I know you are.

1. Adopt a long sweater

Find a long sweater to pull together to your everyday top and yoga pants. Not only will the perfect sweater keep you cozy, but playing around with different lengths will add dimension to your whole look. I found my long sweater through a local boutique currently making deliveries.

If you have a favorite local boutique, I’d highly recommend giving them a follow via Instagram or Facebook and supporting them in any way you can. Chances are that they are experiencing challenges due to COVID-19. This is especially true if they don’t have an e-commerce presence, so be sure to reach out if possible! If you’d prefer to shop online, here are some online retailers I absolutely love.
Choosy
Poshmark (I love shopping consignment!)
Vici Dolls
Nordstrom
Lulus
Asos

 

 

2. Keep your jewelry game on point

As a jewelry designer, I simply believe jewelry gives you superpowers. Have you ever felt naked without earrings or your favorite necklace? Have you ever put on your jewelry ensemble and your reflection does a double take? Of course you have! It is time to layer, sister girl. Lay out your collection and start wearing your go to pieces. In the mood to treat yourself? Head to Delicora and find your next favorite piece of jewelry. I founded Delicora to offer fun, unique, lightweight, and high quality jewelry at fair prices. I have incredibly sensitive skin with an aggressive allergic reaction to nickel, so I built a line that is 100% nickel free. You’ll find 14k gold filled, sterling silver, and gold vermeil options throughout the site.

These are the pieces I’m rocking in this leveled up loungewear look.
Laguna Hoops ($48)
Sandra Necklace ($48)
Lanikai Looped Lariat ($98)

Starting June 2019, we began a partnership with the Feeding America non-profit supporting children and families suffering from food scarcity. Every Delicora item sold also contributes 20 meals to Feeding America. During this time of sheltering in place, families will be depending on local food banks more than ever. Consider making a donation to Feeding America and learn about the programs set to help those in need during this time.

3. Bring on the lipstick

Someone once told me, “All a girl ever really needs is a great pair of earrings and her lipstick.” This strikes a chord. I completely agree! Top your entire look off by wearing a little lipstick! Many of you may be giving your skin some breathing time, and I think that is simply fabulous. I believe great skin starts with a discipline routine and going light on your foundation. While you let your skin breathe, add just a touch of lip color to brighten your face. I personally love Nars Cosmetics. I’m wearing the Nars Lipstick in Tolede and the Nars Precision Lip Liner in Vence.

I also love Nars:
Satin Lip Pencils (I have 8 different colors I play around with!)
Afterglow Lip Balm (for the ladies who don’t do lipstick)

I hope you found this helpful, and level up your look without compromising comfort! Just remember, there’s a happy medium out there and you and strike the perfect balance.

 

 

 

Processed with MOLDIV

Sandra Martinelli is the founder and designer of Delicora Jewelry based in Northern California who has been featured in PopSugar, Reader’s Digest, and more. Delicora is dedicated to offering high quality jewelry keeping sensitive skin in mind. ​Sign up​ for Delicora’s VIP list and be the first to find out about new releases and receive special promos

Demonstrating Persistence And Consistency In The New Global Culture by @coachlorimcneil

by 1 Comment

by Lori McNeil

There are a few times in a women’s life that make such a substantial impact on them to which they will never forget. Your wedding day. Your first child. Your first love. Your first break up. The list could go on. However, as it relates to business there is one day that no one will forget. The day that the world changed globally. 2020 has begun with some amazing changes in how businesses are showing up for their clients, but more importantly, themselves and their families.

One of the greatest asset’s female entrepreneurs have is utilizing our natural ability to multi-task life into the business world. This new global culture is paying attention more intently than ever before, and women business owners have never been better positioned to lead this new economy.

Two concepts come to the forefront in order to accomplish this: Persistence and Consistency.

 

Persistence is Power

Persistence in its simplest terms is sustained action. Action creates movement. Momentum moves mountains. That movement is powerful. Alongside of that power comes influence. One of the purest emotions is influence because no one knows just how deep their influence goes. Because of that there is a sustained humility that often comes with persistency. Every entrepreneur knows the importance of influence and women take that emotion to heart in every moment.

For persistence to gain traction and momentum one must first show up. Remembering next to never give up. Accepting the fact that laziness is nothing more than manifested excuses and the end result of persistency is in how it blesses others, is a great leveling and positioning tool. Operating in the global culture demands for sustained action. This action fuels consistency.

 

Consistency Carries the Control

Showing up and pushing through challenges (there are always challenges along the way) is the fruit of persistence. In other words, is consistency lets others know your serious. The rhyme and reason for your consistency is your own. Whether you show up once a month, once a week, or once a day is not as important as just showing up. Consistency is like visiting your great grandmothers house knowing that each time you do she has hot, homemade cookies ready for you to devour.

Consistency says that you value other people enough to give of your time for them. As others see the value you bring, they will reciprocate. This is where the control is. Not a control as in power but a control that brings people into alignment. That alignment allows for relationships to grow and prosper.

 

The Voice Of Reason And Truth

The new global culture is screaming for authenticity and honesty from all four directions. What sets a person apart from another is their calling card. The stronger your foundation is, the easier it is to maintain the momentum of persistence.

 

Allow consistency to be your calling card.

Would you like to learn how to maintain persistence or create consistency? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.

 

 

International Educator, Speaker, Author, and Business Coach, Lori helps entrepreneurs and organizations focus on foundational tools needed for sustained success. As a Curriculum Designer and Business Professor, Lori has helped grow hundreds of organizations organically to build a true, long-lasting purpose. Lori has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, & various regional markets. She has authored / co-authored several books and works globally to support literacy, cancer research, young entrepreneurship, and military programs. Helping raise over three million dollars for literacy, Lori was awarded the Lifetime Presidential Service Award for her work. For more info visit www.lorimcneil.com.

Women Entrepreneurs Debunk Sustainable Business Myths by Claudia Nikolova of @enterpriseleag1

by Leave a Comment

by Claudia Nikolova

Sustainability has become a true buzz word in recent years.”

Sustainability has become a true buzz word in recent years. Even large corporations with foundations well built on traditional (read unsustainable) practices have started to proclaim themselves green. Instead of greenwashing, they’re brainwashing consumers.

However, that doesn’t mean sustainability is the wrong path to take. We had the chance to talk to four incredible women entrepreneurs running revolutionary conscious fashion brands: Sabinna, Flair Atelier, Fabric for Freedom, Conscious House London. Each of them spoke openly about their experience with sustainability. And all of them agreed there are certain myths that hurt the reputation of green business.

 

Sustainability is budget-friendly

One thing is for sure: certificates cost a lot. Small companies can hardly afford them. The owner can go above and beyond to make the supply chain sustainable but without the certificates it’s virtually pointless. Additionally, the initial costs for eco-friendly technology and materials are higher compared to non-green alternatives.

Nonetheless, research shows that ROI is also higher. All things considered, it’s expensive to found a sustainable business but once you survive the critical period benefits will start to show.

 

Your business can be 100% sustainable

Like one of the ladies put it “You have to choose your battles.” In order to stay open and profitable you have to play the sustainability cards wisely. Fairness of labor, CO2 pollution, equality, plastic pollution, transparency etc. – you can’t win them all. You must priorities depending on your brand identity, mission, budget and goals.

Businesses claiming to be completely green and ethical are simply deluding their customers and the public. It’s not rare that sustainability is used for marketing purposes.

 

Vegan fashion is sustainable

Sabinna’s founder, a vegan, declared she’d rather wear leather than vegan clothes. We know how vegans are hard-core in their beliefs so when a vegan admits that vegan fashion is bad for the environment, you have to take it seriously. The main problem lies in fabrics used for production, which are often non biodegradable. Even when fabrics are plant-based, the means and methods for their production are rarely environmentally friendly or ethical.

 

Each myth can be an article in itself. Would you like to learn more about debunking sustainable business myths? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Claudia Nikolova A Millennial with an old soul who was born with a passion to make a difference in the world. Currently working for a revolutionary startup because its founders recognized a potential in me I wasn’t aware of. Jumping from content creation, to marketing, selling and what else, I’ve learned versatility suits my character.

 

 

Transitioning From Entrepreneurial Business To Company: Why You Need Leadership Development Now by @jenlongmore

by 1 Comment

by Jennifer Longmore

The difference between running an entrepreneurial business and a company is significant. When you’re in the entrepreneurial stage, you’re working predominantly with contractors, you may or may not have run a team before, and your systems are likely lacking or nonexistent. A company is run differently. The systems, policies, procedures, and protocols are in place (even if they’re consistently being revamped or added to). The teams have clear leadership, and there’s a lot more structure to what you’re building.

This transition takes time, and while there’s a lot to do to make the transition successful, this is the time to put an emphasis on leadership development. Because becoming a great leader and CEO will require you to think differently, and you can either learn by trial under fire (where the burns are real) or you can learn through intentionally developing the skills you need. Here’s what leadership development will help you accomplish when you explore it intentionally.

 

Set The Tone

How your leadership team acts sets the tone for the culture and the company. Even if your leadership team is just you right now, it’s important to know exactly what makes a strong, respected leader and how to lead a conscious company into the future. The problem with putting leadership development off is it is much more difficult to change a company culture than it is to start off strong. So by diving into leadership development now and maintaining it from here on out, you’re heading off problems before they can rear their ugly heads (basically it’s the difference between playing whack-a-mole or hitting the bullseye).

 

Create Loyalty With Your Employees

If you’ve ever been afraid that your employees will run away with your secrets to a competitor or start their own business, then leadership development is something you should dive into. Leadership isn’t about effectively telling people what to do, how to do it, or getting them in line. That’s old school thinking that can make it hard to keep people on your team. When you learn effective leadership skills, you develop an understanding of what behaviors, policies, and practices keep your employees motivated and productive, while earning their loyalty. Much like trust, loyalty is something you earn from an employee—it’s not something freely given. The best leaders are the ones who hold their boundaries, while remembering that their power comes from the faith, trust, and loyalty of their people. Without it, they fall. In business, it’s no different.

 

Create a Space of Fulfillment For Your Employees

Leadership development, at its core, is about understanding and delivering on the needs of your people so that everyone is working together for a common goal or mission. When you immerse yourself in developing your leadership abilities, you learn how to become more in tune with your employees. Your emotional intelligence matures, and you create ways to check in with your team to ensure their needs are being met, pre-empting potential upsets. This allows you to create a culture that fosters inclusion, collaboration, and commitment, so that your people choose to stay and grow with the company.

 

Communicate & Make Decisions as the Leader

Leaders hold the vision, stay on mission, and emotionally enroll employees into their cause. The way you communicate and make decisions as a leader is different than when you’re in the trenches. You’re responsible for taking the information your team is sharing with you, and playing out the potential outcomes so you can make the strongest decisions for the company, with the mission in mind. For example, if there’s a choice to make an immediately profitable decision that could hurt the team or a choice to put the team first and have more of a slow burn, it’s the leader’s job to make the right decision that upholds the vision, values, and legacy of the company. Strong leaders will put their team (and clients) first consistently, showing the team that their loyalty is well placed. As the leader, you’re responsible for the legacy of the company. How you think through each challenge and decision will shape that legacy.

 

 

 

Jennifer is a high performance leadership consultant, working with organizations to create loyal, innovative, creative, and productive cultures that increase profits, using the Forensic Transformation Method™.

Jennifer’s over 15 years of experience in forensic investigation, emotional intelligence development, and team dynamics helps her create innovative solutions that organizations need to become 21st century change agents and increase their profitability.

Her genius has been featured in media outlets such as Fox News, ABC, Global News, Bustle, the LA Times, and more.

Competition vs collaboration: survival of the fairest? by @NiaFaraway

by 1 Comment

How the Move towards Better Business is Part of an Evolutionary Species Milestone

by Nia Davies

The Long-term health of free enterprise capitalism will depend on delivering profit with purpose. Companies will come to understand that this combination serves their self-interest, as well as their customers and employees… At times, as the historian and politician Thomas Babington Macaulay wisely noted, it is necessary to reform in order to persevere. Today, the world has reached that moment. It is time for a reset’ – Lionel Barber of the Financial Times

They say that nature can be as cruel as it is kind. In a ‘dog-eat-dog world’, where survival of the fittest mentality prevails, outdoing the competition at all costs can often mean that those willing to morally bend the rules have come out on top. The result is a zero-sum game in which we have all lost, with people and planet affected by a system that can no longer sustain itself.

It’s no exaggeration to say that a pressing challenge facing our species if we are to survive the threat of climate change and mass extinction, is to evolve beyond our most basic survival instincts, and to develop a wider empathy and altruism that has the power to create change from the roots up.

Competition can be healthy, but science shows it’s co-operation, not struggle for survival that allows a species to truly flourish. Darwin understood that evolution is the story of how different species developed increasingly better methods of collaborating. However it is a perspective that has become slightly lost amongst the cut-throat ethos of a competitive market place, corrupt political landscape, and a culture that worships individual success.

If humans are the most advanced species, it’s because we have the most advanced means of collaborating. We have been able to blunt nature’s fangs by increasingly trying to care for the most vulnerable, the sick, the elderly and impoverished. Although it may not always seem like it according to the news, 2019 was the best decade in human history. Extreme poverty has fallen below 10% of the world’s population for the first time, global inequality has been plunging and child mortality has also fallen to record low levels.

There’s no denying that technological advancement has vastly improved our overall standards of living, but somewhere along the way, we have forgotten, and become increasingly disconnected from our roots. Hippie-talk aside, the fact is that we do not exist in isolation as a species, biologically sharing a symbiotic relationship with the wider world, from the bacteria that inhabit our gut, to the constant air exchange with the foliage around us.

Symbiotic relationships take 3 main forms: Mutualism where both parties benefit, Commensalism where only one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, and Parasitism where one organism gains while the host is suffers.

Humans are arguably at a stage where our symbiosis with the environment, and occasionally each-other, has become Parasitic, we have reduced mortality not just with antibiotics (which microbes eventually develop resistance against), but also by drawing down on natural resources at rates exceeding those of natural replenishment.

Resilience theorists would say we are entering the ‘release phase’ of the adaptive cycle that characterises systemic development: ‘a rapid, chaotic period during which capitals (natural, human, socials, built and financial) tend to be lost and novelty can succeed.’ Forgoing out-dated systems that no longer serve us and switching to models of better business and innovation can benefit us, but we need to act fast.

One of the main challenges to this restructure and the relatively slow pace of change, considering that such suggestions have been on the table for over a decade, is overcoming the powerful interests of groups that benefit from the status quo, along with the scale of the problem.

‘Meanwhile, the populace seems incapable of raising the alarm or responding to it, consisting as it does, of a large under-class that is overfed but undernourished, extensively entertained but misinformed, over-indebted and under-skilled. Ruled by a much smaller elite that often practice financial predation.’ – Richard Heinberg

Laying the groundwork for reorganisation will require building resilience and purpose into all our social structures and infrastructures in the decades ahead. Re-designing how we do business requires placing a common goal before our individual needs and becoming a part of something greater than ourselves. This mind-set shift is described in ‘The Infinite Game’ by Simon Sinek, which details the need to define the cause, build trusting teams, and continually make courageous decisions as part of this process.

Spaces like x+why in London, find themselves at the forefront of such change, by nurturing an environment that brings like-minded spirits and enterprise under one roof, inspiring and enhancing creativity, as well as legitimising efforts to adhere to strong social and environmental standards through programmes like Why B and B Corporation certification.

Changes at the individual level are of equal importance. When there are two main means of survival on the collaboration-competition spectrum: to react with fear, separation, malice and selfishness in times of scarcity, or to get to know our neighbours, share the sacrifice, remember our place as organisms that are part of a larger whole, and to collectively work towards a better future for all, the choice is ours to make.

We have the potential to be a regenerative presence in ecosystems and the biosphere, but should we chose not to evolve and adapt, then planet earth need not worry, she has the capacity to carry on without us…

‘Profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive, if you choose to do it right.’ – Rupert Dean, CEO at x+why, City AM

 

 

Nia studied medical science at Imperial College London and is the founder of holistic CBD wellness brand Yugenial, which seeks to contribute to a movement changing perceptions around integrative health, plant medicines and drug law.

Dear Mom Juggling a Business and Young Kids…. by @Sarah_Strunk57

by 1 Comment

Image courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/simplysarahshop

by Sarah Strunk

For the past 5 years I have been trying to run my business with small toddlers at home, a deployed spouse, moving 4 times (yes 4 times in 5 years). I often felt like I was either rocking my business and failing my family or rocking my family life and letting my business suffer. The guilt was out of control!

I can’t tell you how many times I felt like everyone was having their careers take off and here I was changing diapers and losing my mind all wishing I could be them. I cried on the floor of my office many times, and decided to throw in the towel even more than that. I can’t tell you how many times I posted on my Facebook “I quit! I’m done, I can’t do it!”

I tried everything, from hiring help, to folders and binders, all sorts of organizational programs and even accountability partners. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t make it all work. What IS wrong with me? I thought. I’m just not good at this, I guess I’m just not wired to get the laundry done and make dinner. I fed my family dino nuggets 5 nights this week and yet I still am drowning? What gives?!

Every now and then I’d have good weeks, I’d get on kick and feel like I was on a rolling and then bam- a kid would get sick, my hubby’s schedule would change and It would throw me off again.

I was constantly apologizing to everyone; to my customers for not getting their orders out on time, to my husband for being grumpy, to my kids for snapping at them. I felt like I spent more time apologizing than anything else

I wanted to ENJOY my kids and this season but truly I wasn’t. I wanted to ENJOY running a business. I was hesitant to open my inbox because it was someone asking where their order was or requesting something else.

I was so annoyed because people wanted to buy things from me? HA who does that? Then I’d feel like a huge jerk for complaining. “Gosh, It’s just SO hard when people want to pay you money for things”. I mean really…. it was bad folks.

SO If this is you, if you feel pulled in 20 directions and find yourself not enjoying much of this season in your life, listen to the follow statement…

“Honor the Season you are in”..That means give it your all!!! There are times where we have to choose what we’re going to place on the top of our list, and for a season, it may be a step back.

It resonated so deeply with me, and I instantly realized what I needed to do. My season was being a mom to my young kids. That was my purpose. God gave me these beautiful blessings and all I kept thinking was how can I get them to leave me along long enough to finish and order. How awful was that?

I realized I was going to miss this brief moment in time it if I didn’t pull myself out of it and take a step back. I decided right then to give myself grace and allow myself to take a step back. I didn’t need to do it all and prove anything to anyone. I disabled my Facebook business page for several months. It was challenging but I felt a HUGE weight lifted as soon as I hit “unpublish”.

We didn’t require the money, though yes things got tighter. You’re kids are only young once, they only will want you to sing them 12 songs, and kiss their boo boo’s, and read them “Goodnight Moon” 5 times every night for so long. Look at every mom of teens or adult kids what do they say when you’re fighting your toddler in the aisle of Target- “oooh they grow up so fast!” “Don’t Blink” “I miss those days”. What?! You miss this?! You can HAVE this lady because I am SO DONE! Haha.

But I also know that I it’s alright to feel that way, I can be confident in sending him off into the world because I took my step back, I decided to devote my time to him. I enjoyed or mostly enjoyed every little moment (minus those tantrums), I took the time to love and kiss and cuddle and waste 3 hours watching cartoos together instead of working on orders.

There were plenty of random ice cream trips after school, or park days and adventures with him too. Look, you will NEVER regret making time for your kids, ever. You’ll never look back on their little years and think “Man I wish I would have worked more.

If you HAVE to work then by all means, go for it, I’m not saying to give up your job completely but if you are STRUGGLING with kid time or work time, just give yourself grace. Know that your work will still be there, people will still want your one of a kind creations. You, my dear, are a creative genius, you WILL come up with more ideas and life will NOT pass you by, you will end up being blessed beyond your wildest dreams!!

 

 

Sarah Strunk is a military spoud, Boy mom and creative entrepreneur. Starting a business shorting after delivery her second son, she fought through sleepness newborn nights, deployments, and everything else young motherhood throws at us in todays world!

Today she is a multiple six figure earner and is proud that she perserved through every trial and has a booming career today. She wants you to know you too, young mom, you CAN do this!

Why are Women Not Receiving the Funding Needed for their Startup to Thrive

by 1 Comment

by Tegan Fitzpatrick

Only 2.2% of all venture capital investments were given to women founded startups this past year. 2.2%. Let that number sink in. Are investors not confident in the return of investment for women entrepreneurs? Are women not pitching their businesses and products? This may be a part of the problem as only 22% of all startups had women as the founders or co-founders. It is not only that investors are not backing female founded companies- it is also the fact that less than a quarter of all entrepreneurs are women!

Perhaps female founded companies do not perform as well as male founded startups. This is not the case. In fact, according to data from Pitchbook, women founded startups have had a higher average Return on Investment at 30%.

 

So Why are Women Not Receiving the Funding?

Why are women founded startups struggling to get the venture capital investments needed for their businesses to thrive? Because 93% of VC investors and partners are males. This is not to say that the male investors are bias against female CEOs- but because they don’t have a passion or understanding for many of the products pitched. Much like founding your own company- you must have the passion for the product or service. The same goes for an investor. They need to not only see positive financials, but get excited about what they are investing in. Because if an investor cannot relate to a product- like feminine hygiene or bras- they may not fully understand the need for products such as Thinx underwear or the Diva Cup.

 

How do female funded companies get the funding?

  • More women need to be in Venture Capital. This is not an easy solution, but with the increase of professional women in the workplace and the increase in women in executive roles- we will hopefully be seeing more women in the VC investment world.
  • Network. Use the women around you that have begun their own businesses- ask for introductions to possible investors. Getting an introduction will increase your chances of obtaining the investment.
  • Companies like Femalefunders.com are excellent platforms that will give you the tools to get investments for your company. This specific site includes seminars, introduction to experts in your industry as well as investors that specialize in funding female founded companies.
  • Find other sources for investing. SheEO is a platform created by Vicki Saunders that funds female founded start-ups as well as creating a support system and mentorship for women entrepreneurs. To date, 53 ventures have been funded through SheEO- totalling $4.0 million in funding.
  • Create a company or product with male co-founders. Having both males and females on your executive team has led to better financials, creativity, and a higher chance of getting investments.

The playing field between males and female’s business owners is still greatly skewed. However, the number of female founded startups is slowly increasing. This is through women utilizing the tools they are given. Network, reach out to industry experts, take advantage of platforms that specialize in helping women entrepreneurs. This will lead to much more success then going with the traditional ways of funding your company.

 

 

Tegan Fitzpatrick is a business analyst, business writer, and human resource expert. With a degree in Business specializing in Human Resources and Strategic Business Management, Tegan has built a career around assessing companies and guiding them to success.

 

3 Limiting Beliefs You Need to Crush Right Now to Start a Successful Business by @thekatiesully_

by Leave a Comment

by Katie Sullivan

Ah, good ‘ol limiting beliefs. We all know them well, whether we’re aware of it or not, especially as women entrepreneurs. From day one we’re taught that business is for boys, and sadly, too many of us grew up believing that was true.

But there’s one thing all successful business women must do before they reach success: they must reckon with these limiting beliefs. Success in business can only come after you become who you need to be to help others and yourself.

And as an extra-special cool bonus, when you rid yourself of these thoughts that hold you back, not only do you soar in business, but in other areas of your life too!

 

Here’s 3 limiting beliefs you need to crush for success in business, and in life:

 

  1. I don’t have any talents

I used to be an opera singer (yeah, for real). After performances, audience members would always tell me, “You’re soooo talented! I wish I had talent, but I could never do that!” I would always reply, “You absolutely DO have talents! They may not look like mine, but I promise you they’re there.”

Look – singing opera is a SKILL. I did not wake up one day with an innate ability to sing a high C. I practiced and honed the skill over many years. Through this process, I learned the value of education, mentorship and practice to develop other skills that have served me in my business.

If you look hard enough, I am positive you have gifts of your own. Maybe it’s your magnetic personality and networking capabilities. Perhaps it’s your impeccable eye for sleek, modern, unique design. Or maybe you’re a totally badass sales person and incredible leader!

All of those things are skills that you’ve learned and honed over time to get really good at them. Those count! Start giving yourself credit and recognizing your gifts for what they are.

 

  1. It’s not worth the risk

People always say it’s not worth the risk to start your own business. Better to get a stable job with a steady paycheck. Who wants all that headache anyway?

Why do we believe them? Fear. We’re afraid of failing – of ruining our lives to an irrecoverable extent.

But here’s the part people don’t consider: what am I risking by not starting my business? A comfortable, but barely tolerable existence where I’ll always know I could’ve done so much more? Now that is a special kind of torture.

The best way to crush this limiting belief is to counter it by asking, “what’s the worst that could happen?” Maybe you have to get a side job to cover the bills. Or maybe you have to move in with your parents while things get started.

If that’s all it is, what’s really at stake is your pride. If your pride is more important than your dreams, then by all means, carry on! But if you’re willing to take a bet on yourself, the results will absolutely be worth it.

 

  1. It’ll never happen for me

Here I come again with my rebuttal: Why won’t it happen for you? Are you not willing to do the work? Do you just suck that bad that the universe doesn’t care if you sink or swim?

Most people can’t answer those questions, because they know that the original thought never had any clout to begin with.

Legendary business figure Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are correct.” If you think you’re not talented, or lucky, or smart enough to start a successful business, you will (unknowingly) find ways to prove yourself correct.

But if you take that bet on yourself that maybe, just maybe it can happen for you, your entire life can change.

 

Katie Sullivan is a mindset & creativity coach who helps entrepreneurial-minded creatives turn their passions into a lifestyle. If you’re ready to get inspired, sign up to grab her free Burnout Breakthrough guide, and check out her podcast, Rise Through Strife.

 

The Courage to Listen to Your Own Voice by @LouisaActually

by Leave a Comment

by Louisa Liska

When I first started the journey of entrepreneurship, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had been working in business for many years so felt confident with a lot of my skills and business knowledge. But as soon as the Google gods recognized I was looking at starting my own blog, a tidal wave of information rushed over me. There was course after course, product after product, best practices and more that all promised the secret to being successful in business. When you don’t know exactly what you are doing, everything seems equally viable and the pressure to “do it all” can be exhausting and debilitating.

About a month in I was feeling extremely overwhelmed. I had listened to a new training and was feeling anxious and paralyzed about what steps to take. Should I follow the advice of the person giving the training? Did I need to incorporate one more thing into my strategy? I was talking over how I was feeling with a friend and they asked me the following question:

“Fast-forward two years and imagine that you have a successful business. How would you feel about the training at that point?”

To which my answer was, “I would probably listen to it, take the information as one piece of input, and then make a decision about what would work best for me”.

That simple shift from “I have to do this or else I am going to fail” to recognizing advice as simply one path to consider completely released the anxiety I had been feeling. With this pressure released, I was able to refocus all my scattered energy onto actions that actually supported the work I was trying to create.

Trainings and education can have an essential role in learning to build a business. But to create something unique and meaningful, access to your own internal wisdom will always be your most strategic asset. When you are trying to do something new, it can be easy to ignore that internal voice in place of outside experts. But the problem with this is that it can often be debilitating and keep you from taking action. And without action, you are not going to get anywhere any time fast.

If you find yourself overwhelmed and hesitant to take action, I encourage you to ask yourself the same question my friend asked me:

“Fast-forward two years and imagine that you have a successful business. How would you feel about [insert whatever is stressing you out] at that point?”

The current version of you doesn’t have all the answers. But future you does. So when you’re not sure what to do, asking your future self can help you see things more clearly and tap into your own internal wisdom. This helps you stay focused on your own path and not get distracted by all of the noise. When you are focused you can direct your energy towards the most important activities for your business. You might not get it right 100% of the time, but by taking action you can keep learning and adapting and ultimately create something that you are proud of.

I hear so many people get trapped in indecision and information overload, and I feel tons of empathy because I have been there myself many times. If you are feeling that way, I encourage you to try this exercise and see how it can help you become unstuck and focused on moving forward.

 

Louisa is a productivity coach who believes that your value is based on more than just your productivity. Visit her at theactually.com for her free guide to creating an organization system that supports a balanced life in order to avoid burnout and feel more calm and joy. Louisa is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and the General Manager of a major regional theater.