Tips to Succeed as a Woman in Business in 2018

Starting a business is an exciting time. It is also a challenging one. This can be especially true for women, even in 2018. Women are still faced with the pressures of getting married and raising a family. So when a woman wants to start her own business, it can lead to a few raised eyebrows and heavy criticism. Just because it might be difficult though, it’s not impossible.

Shannon Mouser the Co-owner of Viva Day Spa explains, “Create a plan and get at it. You don’t need to be an expert in the field to get started. Surround yourself with smart people in the industry and learn as you go. Hard work and grit are the true keys to success.”

Below are a few tips on how to succeed as a woman in business in 2018.

Seek Mentors

You can do all kinds of research on your own. There are plenty of websites devoted to helping you to get your business up and running. While these resources are great, your best resources are those business owners who have already been there. The perspectives of female business owners who have once been in your shoes can be a valuable tool.

Don’t Go It Alone

Starting and running a business is a lot of work. You don’t have to do it alone, nor should you try to. If you have others working with you, or for you, don’t be afraid to delegate. It can also be exceptionally helpful to have people around who aren’t afraid to be honest with you. Rely on these people to help you find blind spots and evaluate how well you’re managing your business and your personal life.

Be Curious and Creative

Sure, starting a business requires a good idea and a plan. You need a certain amount of passion, confidence, and determination. But in order to remain ahead of your competition and catch the attention of your clientele, you need to be both curious and creative. Ask yourself questions about your business. What do your clients need or want that you’re not currently offering? Where are you trying to go and how do you plan on getting there? Do you need to bring in additional help? Finding solutions to these questions allows you to better serve your current clients, create new products, and bring in new customers.

Turn to the Pros for Capital

One of the biggest challenges that women business owners face, even today, is raising capital. While it might be tempting to turn to friends and family when you need money, it is imperative that you go to the professionals. The professionals might be a bit tougher on you, but they can provide you with a bit of market validation as well as some early feedback. Getting this feedback early will help you to avoid receiving it when it’s already too late.

Be Involved in All Aspects of Your Business

As a business owner, it’s essential that you know about every part of your business, even the ones that might not interest you very much. You should know every aspect of your business and how they work. This provides you with a really good understanding of your business. You don’t have to do all of the work yourself, it’s important to ask for help if you need it, but it is important to know your company inside and out.

Get Out of Your Own Way

At a young age, women are often taught that they need to be kind and nice, but they’re not often taught just how important that they need to believe in themselves to succeed (although this is changing). Giving yourself positive pep-talks is important, but so is embracing rejection and disappointment. Give yourself permission to fail. These are all great opportunities to learn and grow.

Succeeding in business can be a real struggle from time to time. The pressure to perform, especially as a woman, can be overwhelming, and it may occasionally feel unbearable. When you find yourself getting rundown, or faced with criticism, questions, and raised eyebrows, it is important make sure that you take the time to take care of yourself. Remind yourself why you started your business in the first place and what you want to achieve. Then take a deep breath, or several, and keep going.  

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