Connect with us

Startups

The Number 1 Reason Why Women Don’t Start Their Own Businesses

Published

on

female entrepreneurs

If you were to ask women who work full-time and want to start a business, why they haven’t done so yet, what do you think their reason would be? Is it lack of money? Contrary to popular belief, the number one reason I am given is NOT money. Instead, they mention a 4 letter word over and over again. That 4 letter word is…FEAR.

When I speak to these women about why they haven’t started the businesses they desire, they ask me questions such as:

  • What if I fail and have to go back to my 9-5? (fear of failure)
  • What if my business takes off faster than I can keep up with it? (fear of success)
  • What if I can’t balance working full-time, my family, and starting a new business? (fear of the unknown)
  • What if my family and friends don’t support my new business? (fear of not being supported)
  • What if I can’t make a consistent income?  What about benefits and a retirement fund? (fear of the unknown)

All of these questions are wrapped in fear. Have you asked any of them yourself? Have any of them kept you locked in a job in which you are not happy? If you answered “yes” to ANY of these questions, you are not alone. Unfortunately for many women, they never get to experience the incredible feeling of being their own boss.

However, this does not have to be the case! So, how do you eliminate these fears, so that you can begin the journey of owning your own business?  

Below, are 4 simple steps you can take today to kick fear to the curb for good:

1. Create a success mindset

Your mindset is the number one asset you need to have in order to have a successful business. Your thoughts determine your level of success, and therefore they must be positive and encouraging. One strategy you can use to create a success mindset is visualization. It involves you creating a mental account of a major milestone in your business (i.e. getting your first paying client, achieving your first 5 figure month, etc.).

Write out this account in very vivid detail. Include such things as what you are wearing, what you are saying, what you are doing, etc. when you experience that milestone. Play this picture over and over in your mind every single day.

“The mind is just like a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.”- Idowu Koyenikan

2. Set 3-5 business goals at the beginning of each week

This helps you set the tone for the week, and it keeps you focused on growing your business. SMART Goals are a very effective method to use to ensure you set meaningful goals. SMART Goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. An example of a SMART Goal may be: by the end of the week, I will apply for my business license. Halfway through the week, check on how you are progressing toward reaching your goals. At the end of the week, reflect on how well you did in achieving those weekly goals.

 

3. Schedule time to work on your business daily

Scheduling at least 30 minutes per day to work on your business helps you with time management. It can be extremely difficult starting a business while working full-time and balancing a family. This is why time management is extremely important to the growth and success of your business. If all you are able to do that day is post on social media about your business, that counts.

By letting even one day go by without working, can lead to multiple days going by. Before you know it, a whole week has passed.  It then becomes more difficult to work it back into your daily schedule. After a while, your business is no longer a priority. This could then lead to you giving up on it.

“This is the key to time management – to see the value of every moment.” – Menachem Mendel Schneerson

4. Create a strong support system

Surrounding yourself with people who are also on the same journey to entrepreneurship, can be very beneficial to the success of your business. They can add that extra support and motivation you may need to help you grow. Having an accountability partner, business coach, and/or mentor can also help you avoid making costly business mistakes.

Set up a plan to check in with your support system at least once a week. During that time, discuss what has gone well for you that week and also the challenges you faced. Having a sounding board can help you find solutions to those challenges.

Do not allow fear to keep you from starting your business any longer. Instead, implement these strategies so that you can be well on your way to having your own successful and profitable business.

What is a reason you have for not starting your own business? Leave your thoughts below!

Beverly Walthour, a Business Strategist & Success Coach for professional women who work full-time and want to start an online business. She empowers them with the strategies, resources, clarity and support needed to plan, launch, and grow their business. For more information, check out her website: beverlywalthour.com. Grab her FREE guide to Eliminate the Fear of Starting Your Online Business: http://bit.ly/eliminatefear.

Advertisement
11 Comments

11 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

Published

on

how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

Continue Reading

Startups

How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

Published

on

How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

Continue Reading

Startups

From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

Published

on

How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

Continue Reading

Startups

12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

Published

on

Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending