Some of the most difficult things about working one’s way to good, if not great entrepreneurship, has to be getting access to sufficient information at the right time, for the right sources and for the right reasons. Being female often brings up difficulties that one can’t get away form like – being female for one. There is always a judgement issue – Are you capable of doing the job? Shouldn’t she be at home looking after the kids? She’s in the wrong place. She’s doing it all wrong, or being taken advantage of, for being perceived as: innocent, weak, knowledgeless or just an easy walk over. You will come across a few more I am sure, but don’t let this stop you. Getting your feet wet in the world of the entrepreneur can be no easy feat, but if you look hard enough, there is a place in the world for what you offer and the world is keen to step out of the way to help you bring your gifts to the tree, for easy picking. However, one of the best suggestions I have used over the years, is absolutely and utterly get yourself a visible and accessible mentor. Now, given it is said, your net worth ends up the sum of the five people you hang around with most – you’d better seriously evaluate your list of contacts and ask yourself – Are they going, where I want to go? Do they help or impede my progress? Are they negative or positive sources of energy? …Picking yourself a mentor is just as, if not more important! This person doesn’t have to be a person who sits down with you every day – though it would be nice – this individual can be someone you spend a good deal of time with from afar. In that, you spend time finding out who they; how they got to where they are; what were the tools they used to get there? Read up on every piece of literature, you can get your hands on and find out all the facts to their successes and emulate – big time! I have a collection of a few that I pool for ideas, methodologies, wisdom and problems that have occurred at a similar time to my own and have found out how they overcame the challenges. After all, the cycle of life and business is just that – cyclic. It has seasons – ebbs and flows – peaks and troughs and not all of them will be pleasurable, but they won’t last and soon your spring will hit summer and your tree will bare luscious fruit. Get yourself a few good friends of similar goals and values who you can bounce ideas off; test your theories; back you up when the seas of entrepreneurship get rough. Don’t take just their suggestions as the be all, end all. Go away - mull over the ideas that came to the platter and see if they fit for what you are trying to achieve. Either way, two heads are better than one and problems are often resolved far quicker over a good cup of tea or wine – whichever your vice. It will lighten the burden and recharge you for another bout in the ring. Have at hand some great, networking sites that you either access for information & ideas or with whom you meet up with on a regular basis for a chat & connections. And P.S. you have to give this a good go. For the busy woman or quiet mum this is an indispensable allocation on your business-working calendar an puts fresh eyes on your situation. Tap into business apps/sites that will not only save you time, but money. Remember, you don’t have to do everything yourself. I am still struggling with the idea of delegation and outsourcing, but if you truly want to make your mark on the world and grow your business, this is the way to go. Long gone are the frowns, on handing the menial tasks over to someone else who can do them more cost-effectively than yourself. If you plan on scaling up your business, try to cut costs by starting at home in your living room or family garage. You can get into an office of your delight, once the $$$ start pouring in. If you have kids under five, you can always give them grandma days or bring in a struggling Uni student willing to accept a few dollars to help you out – they have great minds you can bounce ideas off, too. If they appear really keen about what you are trying to achieve, offer them an opportunity to learn with a business internship. These will contribute to their lives, as much as your own.
Australian Fem’preneurs have been popping up all over the world in the last five years. Many of whom, you might not realise have played a substantial part in the growth of our nation. They have become household names in their own right. We have come to adore their brands; and the goods and services they present to the marketplace. Ten movers and shakers have caught our attention due to their established business presence, recent growth over the last few years and their average earning capacity in a year. Of course, there are many wonderful women out there, who have made or are making their presence known. They too, will soon be listed here! Fem’preneur - Katie Page Business – 1983 - Harvey Norman, Joyce Mayne & Domayne Worth - $2.71 billion Annual Earnings -$79.7 million IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Gina Rinehart Business – 1955 Hancock prospecting – mining Worth – $14.02 billion Annual Earnings – Approximately $33.5 million IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Vicky Teoh Business – 1992 TPG – computer hardware (TPS, iiNet) Worth – $2.6 billion Annual Earnings – Approximately –52/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Lesley Gillespie Business – 1980 bakers delight – bakery Worth – Est' $619 million Annual Earnings – Approximately –17/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Maxine Horne Business – 1995 vita group – Fone zone (telecom & technology) Worth – Est' $601.4 million Annual Earnings – Approximately –28/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Janine Allis Business – 2000 retail zoon – parent co to boost juice Worth – Est' $350 million Annual Earnings – Approximately –21/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Sue Hollis
Business – 2000 Travel edge – travel – air Worth – Est' $250 million Annual Earnings – Approximately – 15.6/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Gillian Franklin Business – The heat group – coffee & cosmetics Worth – Est' $130 million Annual Earnings – Approximately 8.1/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Nicole Kidman Business – Film and TV Worth – Est' $329 million Annual Earnings – Approximately –28/1 IN THE NEWS Fem’preneur – Michelle Bridges Business – 2010 Michelle bridges – 12 weeks body transform Worth – Est' $60 million Annual Earnings – Approximately – 10/1 IN THE NEWS Life really is, what you make.
Get out there - be brave, live new experiences, find undiscovered places, enjoy being with new friends and find you. It is sometimes easier said than done. For some of us, the task will be a real challenge because we all have begun to lose that natural knack of just saying ‘hi’; lost that inquisitive nature that once sparked our dreams and desires. Life, responsibilities and what the world expects from their trustworthy, reliable citizens always seems to come first. The model citizen does have its draw backs. One tends to stay in the same job, respond in the same way the population would expect and you find yourself caught up in a dull, uneventful world of being proper. So I declare, starting today - an entire week of new discoveries; where reporting back is obligatory - telling the world just how, what and with whom you spent this new period of discovery! :) Type - ‘I’m in!’ and we can keep each other accountable. :) Can wait to hear your tales! If there was ever a prefix, by which a day should start; a world should be built; a life should be grown - it would have to be that of - 're'. There are so many words, prefixes and suffixes from which the English language has grown, that we take for granted. Many of which have lost their meaning. Some have mutated, to construct entirely new words. Worse still, some have been so ill or disused, they have been dropped from the English language all together. Photo: Sketa Oz Images Yes, that is the function and progress of change, you say and language definitely sees that change. Yet the prefix 're', in any language, holds particular worth and meaning - not because it is small, insignificant or because in our language it is attached to the front of words. It is because it bears witness and purpose, to the possibility of 'change' or 'to make new'. We often disregard how important, helpful and effective this simple prefix can be. ...And for a life to be built on such a premise, we would truly begin to understand the meaning and importance of 'a life'. Over the years, I have come to believe this simple prefix - used everyday, just as we use 'a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down' - can truly 'change' lives. I try to implement 're' at every given moment of my day. I'm sure, one you start, you won't be able to stop. You'll be surprise how helpful this little 're', can be. Here are just a few to get you started: So here is the world according to 'Re'
'Re-invest... in yourself' You're worth it! ...Sketa 1. Find out who you are. 2. Define your purpose, goals & mission. 3. Get off the couch & get a coach. 4. Believe in the power of you! 5. Limit screen time; increase network time. 6. Say goodbye to negative people; hello to positive. 7. Mingle with people that help you grow & move you closer to your goals. 8. Write your list of things to do in the evening . 9. Define & write down tasks before turning on all electronic communication devices! 10. Complete the hard tasks early in your day. 11. Work in 10, 20 or 30 minute blocks to utilise your time well. 12. Use a timer to regulate your time & keep you accountable. 13. Check e-mail boxes while you eat lunch in the fresh air & sunshine. 14. Use the last 10 minutes of lunch to walk, run... 15. Answer pressing e-mails after lunch 16. Complete 3 active tasks @ day |
AboutChallenges women face as entrepreneurs in the business world. Popular Topics
All
|