Brought to you by AdvancePoint Capital:
As a woman entrepreneur, you know you’re up against some fierce competitors. Not only are you trying to launch a new business but you’re doing so in a very competitive market. If this is your first venture, you may be feeling the pressure and wondering where to turn to for much-needed advice.
One thing you should know right here and now is that you are not alone. Even entrepreneurs who have launched business after business feel the same pressure, so take a step back and look at how they survived the stress of it all.
Is It Really a Man’s World?
For too many years, women entrepreneurs felt they had to fight longer and struggle harder because they were trying to compete in a man’s world. However, is it really a man’s world after all?
Just look at all the successful women in business and politics and you’ll see that being female will not preclude you from being successful. Within your lifetime you have seen the first woman Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton), the first female Vice President (Kamala Harris), and successful women entrepreneurs from Beyonce to Germany’s Angela Merkel.
So, if you feel like you’re competing in a man’s world, it’s time to think again!
Don’t Let Money Slow You Down
While you shouldn’t go overboard thinking you need the best of everything, there are just some things you can’t do without.
If you find that your projected startup capital is being depleted faster than you had anticipated, remember there are loans for women-owned businesses that will help you get off to a running start.
It takes having a good business plan in which a lender can see how you expect to make a profit, but the money is out there. Whether you seek investors or a small business loan, don’t let a lack of funding slow you down.
Find a Mentor
There are just some things that no amount of reading or advance planning can prepare you for. It helps to be aware of the fact that you will run into stumbling blocks along the way, but that’s only to be expected. Those are the very things that will make you stronger if you learn to work through or around them.
Finding a mentor who can guide you forward in your path can give you just the support you need. Whether you choose a woman or a man to mentor you, the key prerequisite is that you find someone who is a successful entrepreneur in their own right.
Women entrepreneurs are launching successful businesses every day all around the world. It will take hard work and a willingness to face a few obstacles that will almost certainly get in your path, but with a positive mindset, the help of a mentor, and some good old-fashioned work ethics, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.
With all that being said, here’s what every woman should know when launching a business: You can do it, so go for it!
