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4 Reasons Women Start Businesses by Monika Beck @SuccessHarbor

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by Monika Beck | Featured Contributor

What are the reasons women start businesses? Women start businesses for many reasons. For some women, entrepreneurship is a necessity, and for others, it is an adventure. Though, it is only fair to mention that entrepreneurship among women has been relatively common through history. In recent times, every sector ranging from health to educational industries and even the industrial and creative space is witnessing a crescendo of women entrepreneurs.

Recently, we have seen women entrepreneurs start businesses as web designers, consultants, engineers, copywriters, real estate brokers, health and beauty professionals and more. Women are starting businesses for many reasons which may range from individual, local and even matrimonial factors. Matrimonial factors like divorce may push a woman to start a business to provide for herself and her children.

Women ventured into business for various reasons, and this article will touch some of the most critical reasons many women are in business. Many women start freelance businesses in an attempt to take care of their homes and babies while earning an income. However, women start businesses for many different reasons such as dissatisfaction with a job, building wealth on their own terms, desire or necessity for flexible work-hours, desire to control their own destiny, a better home-work balance and more.

With that in mind, what are those things that push most women to start their businesses? Have a look.

1. The Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is tough. Women have the spirit of enterprise in them. If you take a look at the women around you, they have homes, husbands, children, jobs and many more responsibilities. They are busy. They are strong. They are not afraid to work hard. This makes entrepreneurship seem quite natural to many of them. Unlike some men, women focus less on the financial gains. They are more focused on the work and the joy of using their skills to make the world a better place where things can become readily available to others.

2. Flexibility and Freedom

Most women are multi-tasking, handling one responsibility or the other simultaneously — caring for children, for parents and their husbands. The constraints of fulfilling these duties may drive a woman to seek flexibility and freedom. Hence, having her own business means she can be a mother while earning a substantial income, most importantly, on her own terms.

3. Survival

As we live in a world of “survival of the fittest,” those who adapt will live abundantly, while those who can’t will find things somewhat tricky. The rate of increase in failed marriages and divorce means women need to stand on their own, putting less dependence on men. The competition involved in gaining employment is another issue of survival. The search for inner-satisfaction also drives women into business. These issues have pushed women into entrepreneurship.

4. Innovation and Execution

Some women tilt towards executing their innovative ideas, thus developing plans to implement such ideas and create a new market or a unique product or service. In this manner, if working in a company as plan A didn’t work out, moving into the realm of their dreams plan B might work out. Today, women are telling the world that they can be as effective as men when it comes to executing ideas and innovating.

Conclusion

As the question keeps coming, “Why are more women in business today?” this can be attributed to many reasons, some of them outlined above. Although there are countless reasons for an increase in entrepreneurship among women, the above-stated reasons are some of the most common.

10 Steps to Achieve Any Goal by Monika Beck @SuccessHarbor

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by Monika Beck | Featured Contributor

Does it ever seem that everyone else is lucky when it comes to their personal and professional lives? Do you ever wonder if there is some magic formula so that you can be that lucky? Guess what? It’s not luck.

Success is not something that happens. It is not an accidental destination.  Even with all the talent, skills, and education, attaining your goals requires a roadmap. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” The difference is that results don’t come from wishing. These steps will benefit you regardless of your career. Whether you are a web designer, a writer, an attorney, or something entirely different, you can adopt these guidelines to find success in anything you do.

1. Be Accountable

You have to make a plan. Your plan needs to include measurable and attainable goals. If they aren’t achievable,  you will get frustrated. Write down all the steps and check them off as you do them. Being accountable to yourself will boost your confidence while maintaining momentum as you move down the list of actions.

2. Reframe Your Mindset

Approach every task as if it is the most important. Hold yourself to the highest standard with each step — even the seemingly meaningless ones. This will retrain your mind to put forth 100% effort every single time. Successful people are the ones who have a mindset of success.

3. Take Control

Focus on one step at a time. Think of what happens when you are driving and following the directions. If you start worrying about the next instructions, you will likely miss the exit. Your roadmap to success works the same way. While you want to keep your goal in mind, do not try to multitask. Channel your energy in one step. Blast through one step at a time. What if something cataclysmic happens?  The Greek philosopher, Epictetus, wrote, “People are disturbed, not by things [that happen to them], but by the principles and opinions which they form concerning [those] things.” If you come up against a roadblock, whether large or small, pause. Take a breath. Regroup, and keep moving forward.

4. Desire It

If you want to achieve a goal, you are going to have to work hard.  You need to make sure that goal is worth the hard work. Otherwise, you will have trouble sticking to your plan when things get difficult. Or you get tired of putting forth the effort. Or you’d rather binge on Netflix. You have to want this more than anything else that is going on in your life.

5. Don’t Give Up

If reaching goals was easy, everyone would be successful. This is hard work. Stick with it even when you feel as though it’s impossible. If a step in your plan seems insurmountable, break it down into smaller steps. Do not set your roadmap in stone. Keep refining it so that you will be successful. And continue to think of yourself as successful.

6. Be Bold!

How do you set yourself apart from other talented and hardworking folks? Be bold in your choices and your decision-making. Reaching goals requires risks. Calculated risks. Do your research and forge ahead. It is those who are willing to take the first step that are successful.

7. Squad Goals

Surround yourself with a few trustworthy people. Not your grandmother. Or your Aunt Susie,  Or any other friend or family member who will love everything you do because they love you. You need to have people who will give you honest, and sometimes harsh, critique. Think of them as the sand in the oyster. It’s the sand that makes the pearl possible.

8. Own It

A lot of people think that outcome is what defines a person’s success. That’s a false definition. It is how a person approaches a task that is the best indicator of success. You want people to see you as a determined, committed individual who dedicates him-or-herself to the task at hand. When you set out to reach a goal, own it. Don’t visit it.

9. Dig In

You need to be willing to get your hands dirty to be successful. Not in an ethically-questionable way. You need to pursue your goal relentlessly, no matter how much time and effort it takes. Be prepared to stick with this roadmap for as long as it takes to attain your goal.

10. Just Do It

Nike was onto something when it coined their motto. You are going to have moments when you feel discouraged. You might feel like a failure, and you might even feel like giving up. These feelings are normal. It’s how you handle these moments that matter. Just do it. Look back at your roadmap. Celebrate the small successes you have had along the way. And keep moving forward through the doubts and fears.

Ultimately, the only person responsible for your achievement is you. It is your planning, your commitment, and your attitude that will determine your success.

15 Characteristics Of Exceptional Women Entrepreneurs by Monika Beck @SuccessHarbor

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by Monika Beck | Featured Contributor

Women can be extraordinary. There are several anecdotal statements surrounding the power women hold in the world. In today’s society, women can do everything, and are often found in positions of authority. Female entrepreneurs do everything from being web designers to owning their own alarm companies and everything in between. What makes female entrepreneurs exceptional? These are the top 15 traits of successful women.

1. Positivity

Keeping a positive outlook on life is a key factor to any successful person. Women however in positions of authority tend to have sunshiny outlooks on everything. These women always see the bright side of the situation and embrace it full force

2. Ambitious

Entrepreneurs in today’s world won’t get far without ambition, female entrepreneurs have to have it even more so. These women don’t sit in a 9-5 daydreaming about what could be, they get out into the world and make those dreams a reality.

3. Know Their Strengths

The only way to be a successful woman is to be a strong woman; know your strengths and play to them. For example, divorce attorneys don’t go into the courtroom with a list of concessions, they go in with a solid game plan. Successful female entrepreneurs view life in much the same way. Knowing their strengths allows them to maximize their efforts.

4. Confidence

Confidence creates a sense that you know what you’re doing. You wouldn’t trust a person who was stammering and second guessing their own words and ideologies. Powerful women don’t second guess themselves. They carry themselves and speak with authority.

5. Organization

As with anyone successful, organization is a must. Life is messy and can be hectic, but when you have organization down to an art, peace can be created in the midst of chaos. Keeping a calendar which you actually consult is a great way to keep track of what is going on in your life, it’s how those ambitious women accomplish all the things they need to be done.

6. Self Growth

Effective women entrepreneurs are always improving themselves. They are always learning new things and creating personal growth. Many have life coaches, read constantly, and are always looking for new ways to broaden their own mental horizons.

7. Failure is Not the End

Failure is not something that defeats a strong woman. A divorce attorney will loose every now and again, a web designer’s pitch will be rejected, and sometimes the alarm company loses the bid. These types of things don’t stop successful women from picking themselves back up and going on with life. Because the next pitch could bring success.

You cannot succeed if you never try.

8. Hardworking

Everyone knows that success does not come without hard work. Successful women don’t just work hard part of the time, they work hard all of the time. They are dedicated individuals, which is much harder in practice.

9. Let it Go

Effective female entrepreneurs don’t hold on to every little thing, and they don’t worry over any of it either. Some things in life are trivial, and these women know not to hold on to the trivial. They also know when something does need their time and attention and how to tell the difference.

10. Thankfulness

Finding contentment in all things in life is something everyone should work on. Successful women know to find contentment in even the smallest of successes. They remain thankful for every opportunity, every person who’s helped, and every minute thing that they are privileged to have.

11. Support System

People do not become successful by themselves. Strong women have people around them who are encouraging and uplifting. Exceptional women know not to surround themselves with negativity. Instead, they build a network of other strong women, in whom they can confide.

12. Not Easily Provoked

Powerful female entrepreneurs know when to fight, and when to keep their peace. They will not be goaded into an argument. They don’t nitpick, but when the need arises for a battle, they are unashamed to have it.

13. Belief

Successful females are passionate about what they do. Their belief in what they do creates a driving passion. That driving passion is inspiring and will help carry her endeavors through thick and thin times.

14. Vision

No successful person became successful by happenstance, nor did they stay that way without vision. Successful women are no different. They have a vision for where their entrepreneurial dreams will take them. They have plans to achieve those goals, and they have the dedication to see it through.

15. Never Surrender

While they may experience success by the boatload, their work is never finished. Exceptional female entrepreneurs have a determination and a drive to always be pushing toward the next mark or the next great thing. They never feel as though they’ve gone far enough.

No matter what you want to do in life there are lessons to be learned from the people who’ve gone before you. Take a note from these characteristics of successful female entrepreneurs, and let it propel you to achieve your dreams.

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