I was speaking with a member of my team last night. She was one of the first to join my network marketing downline and she went after it with all she had. Before long, she was making more money than I was! Last night, she called to tell me she had hit a slump and she thought maybe she had taken this business as far as it could go. Of course, she is wrong. She has just hit that stage in her business life that I call the "dry spell."
If you have been in any kind of business of your own then you know what I'm talking about. You will go through stages while you get things up and running and then find your equilibrium. There are typically four stages to the life of any business and what you do during each of them can dramatically impact the life of your business.
The first is the "new business excitement" stage. You have just joined a great opportunity or launched your first product or put up your first site and you are jazzed! You are have the best deal out there and you are going to whip the world. You are going to make so much money that no one will even believe you when you tell them. You are full of energy and new ideas and can't wait to do them all. Unfortunately, that's the problem at this stage. You may have a tendency to scatter your time and resources among so many different things that nothing gets accomplished and you get discouraged. You are so busy building your business that you forget about the rest of your life. As resources dwindle and energy drops, you begin to worry more and more about your decisions until - you quit, thinking your business idea was a bad one or the network marketing opportunity was just a scam.
How to you make it through this stage? Focus. If you have joined a network marketing business, concentrate on finding customers for your products and team members for your downline. Decide how many prospects you can talk to effectively each day. That's your goal. If you don't gain a customer or recruit a team member that day, don't keep pushing out of desperation. Panic shows! Just set it aside and start fresh tomorrow. And don't spend all your money buying the videos or trying the products or going to the meetings. You will need to budget for these things while you grow your business. When I first joined Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, it was just a few months before the annual meeting. Everyone was talking about it and asking me if I was planning to attend. I almost got caught up in all of the excitement and was just about to spend LOTS of money on plane fare and hotel rooms when someone in my upline stopped me. He asked me how much money I was making and I told him I had just started. Then he said if I wasn't making enough from my business to pay for my trip, I should reconsider. There were probably other more important uses for that money and my time could probably be better spent at home building my business. It made sense, so while everyone else was in Las Vegas, I stayed home and recruited enough people to promote myself to the next level.
Stage two is the "dry spell." You have been working as hard as you can and yet you just aren't growing like you did in the beginning. You have run out of people to tell about your business opportunity. The initial excitement for your product has worn off. Your site just isn't getting the hits it used to. You're wondering "does this thing really work?" Don't panic. This just means it may be time for some changes. If you are in network marketing, it may be time to stop concentrate on building your own downline and focus on helping your team build their businesses. After all, if they are successful, it impacts you as well. Or perhaps it's time to look at some new marketing techniques or different markets for your products. Now is the time to learn some new ways to do things. Talk to your mentor. Read some of the books and newsletters published by the experts in your field. Brainstorm. And then make the changes necessary to move you past this stage.
Stage three is the "Wow - maybe this REALLY does work stage." You made it through stages one and two and you are seeing your business gain some new life. You feel a sense of hope that perhaps you can make this happen after all. You have new energy and a new outlook and a new optimism. Keep it going by concentrating on doing the things that helped you make it this far to begin with. This is where you want to really take a look at what held you back and what moved you forward. Discard the actions that limited you and focus on those that help you grow.
The last stage is the "I DID it!" stage. Your business is flourishing. You are making money. You have learned to balance your business life with your personal life. Don't lose it by becoming complacent. Always keep learning. No matter how long you been in business, there is still something you can learn. Always stick to the basic plan that got you here in the first place. When things slow down, take a good look at what's happening and don't be afraid to make changes if necessary.
You can do this. Look at me. Just when I was thinking about retirement and wondering how I was going to afford it, a whole new world opened up for me! I'm doing things with my business now that just a few months ago I would not have dreamed of. And it's all because I refocused my resources, listened to the experts, made some changes to my business plan, and DID it!
Showing posts with label entrepreneurial skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entrepreneurial skills. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Have You Checked Your Alignment Lately?
It's Wednesday and I've accomplished absolutely nothing this week. I just can't seem to get motivated. I guess it's time to check my alignment once again.
What's that? Check my alignment? Why whatever do you mean?
Let me explain. About eight years ago, I was in the same situation. I had lost all motivation. I just couldn't find the excitement and the passion for my work that I'd had in the past. I actually dreaded having to go to work each day. Then I read an amazing article. It said that just as your car will squeak and make unpleasant sounds when it is not in alignment, so too will your soul when your business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values.
Before investing more time and efforts to take your business or organization to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you, and, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.
For example, eight years ago my father, who had Alzheimer's, moved in with me. At the time, I used to travel quite a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market the business for the company I worked for. To be successful and get promoted, I needed to travel and speak and network more frequently. There were lots of late nights and long weeks and too many weekends when I was not at home.
But, family life is on the very top of my priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever my work required that I travel for an extensive amount of time, my inner self experienced a misalignment. I still went ahead and did what my “head” told me I was supposed to do, but my heart was centered to my values. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don’t make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions. And that is exactly what happened. Whereas I once enjoyed traveling and meeting with our clients, now I simply wanted to get the trip over with so I could get home. I started making excuses to cut trips short or to send someone else. And when I had to go I was sick and depressed most of the time. I did not give clients the attention they had come to expect. I knew I had to do something or instead of getting that promotion, I would be looking for a different job!
In the article, it said that one of the easiest ways to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a “Desire List.” Ask yourself , “What do you want?” Then, begin to jot down your list of answers. Don’t judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don’t be ashamed to say, “I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat.” Or, “I want to be the most influential leader and the expert of experts of my field.” Or, “I want to be a famous dancer!” Just let things flow. Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial “wants” are really saying, “I want to be recognized.” “I want to be trusted and respected.” “I wanted to be loved by my family members.’ “I want to be understood and loved for the real me.” “I want to make a difference in this world.”
Your wants and desires express your values.
Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignment:
1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?
2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?
3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar? For me, the answer was fairly simple - and terribly scary! I decided to quit my job and start a business that I could run from home at least part time.
If you are a busy business owner or organizational leader, you will have many activities and to-do’s everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get your alignment checked periodically. It's the best way to keep yourself headed for success. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Starbucks for a lube job with a Grande White Chocolate Mocha and an alignment. Once I get myself straightened out, I'll run much more efficiently!
What's that? Check my alignment? Why whatever do you mean?
Let me explain. About eight years ago, I was in the same situation. I had lost all motivation. I just couldn't find the excitement and the passion for my work that I'd had in the past. I actually dreaded having to go to work each day. Then I read an amazing article. It said that just as your car will squeak and make unpleasant sounds when it is not in alignment, so too will your soul when your business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values.
Before investing more time and efforts to take your business or organization to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you, and, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.
For example, eight years ago my father, who had Alzheimer's, moved in with me. At the time, I used to travel quite a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market the business for the company I worked for. To be successful and get promoted, I needed to travel and speak and network more frequently. There were lots of late nights and long weeks and too many weekends when I was not at home.
But, family life is on the very top of my priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever my work required that I travel for an extensive amount of time, my inner self experienced a misalignment. I still went ahead and did what my “head” told me I was supposed to do, but my heart was centered to my values. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don’t make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions. And that is exactly what happened. Whereas I once enjoyed traveling and meeting with our clients, now I simply wanted to get the trip over with so I could get home. I started making excuses to cut trips short or to send someone else. And when I had to go I was sick and depressed most of the time. I did not give clients the attention they had come to expect. I knew I had to do something or instead of getting that promotion, I would be looking for a different job!
In the article, it said that one of the easiest ways to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a “Desire List.” Ask yourself , “What do you want?” Then, begin to jot down your list of answers. Don’t judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don’t be ashamed to say, “I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat.” Or, “I want to be the most influential leader and the expert of experts of my field.” Or, “I want to be a famous dancer!” Just let things flow. Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial “wants” are really saying, “I want to be recognized.” “I want to be trusted and respected.” “I wanted to be loved by my family members.’ “I want to be understood and loved for the real me.” “I want to make a difference in this world.”
Your wants and desires express your values.
Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignment:
1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?
2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?
3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar? For me, the answer was fairly simple - and terribly scary! I decided to quit my job and start a business that I could run from home at least part time.
If you are a busy business owner or organizational leader, you will have many activities and to-do’s everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get your alignment checked periodically. It's the best way to keep yourself headed for success. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Starbucks for a lube job with a Grande White Chocolate Mocha and an alignment. Once I get myself straightened out, I'll run much more efficiently!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Build A Team of Experts
My husband and I are getting ready to file our taxes and as usual, the discussion comes up - do we need to make some changes for next year? As business owners, we are faced with the fact that we make all the decisions concerning our business. The choices are endless! Is it time to incorporate? If so, should I become an LLC or is an S Corporation better?
Should I let Dearl talk me into using the Blackberry he bought me for Christmas (which is still in the box) or stick with my trusty system of Day Planner and Post-It notes?
Where should I focus my marketing this year? With all of the dire warnings about the economy, will some methods work better than others?
We desperately need a new computer. I want another PC. Dearl wants a Mac. Who is right?
Is it time to hire an assistant? If so, should we use a virtual service or actually hire someone to come to our office?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. AAAGGGHHH!!! It's enough to make you crazy! Especially when the wrong choice can have drastic consequences for your business.
If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to these or other business questions, it's time to build yourself a team. My team consists of personal friends and professional acquaintences whose advice I trust. I simply need to pick up the phone or dash off a quick email or text message for all of the support and answers I need.
To build your team, simply make a list of all the questions you have. List all of the professional services you need or may need in the future. Then start thinking of all the people you know that can fill one or more of these needs or answer one or more of your questions. My team consists of my accountant (I hate numbers!), a lawyer (always good to have someone whose up to speed on legalities), my daughter the computer geek, my friend Ken the marketing guru, and my friend Karin who is also an entrepreneur and is a good one to turn to when I have questions about communication. (She's the one who keeps me from blasting off emails I may regret later!). I also have friends who keep me up to date with the latest Alzheimer's research and the current services available for my dad (they work for the area Agency on Aging), a nurse and a holisitc health practioner that provide me with the latest health news (Dearl's heart), and two grandchildren who remind me when I'm not taking enough time for the important things in life ("Nee-Nee, why haven't you been by to see us lately? We miss you!")
How do you find the people for your team? You probably already know many of them so just ask. Tell them you are forming a team of advisors for your business and would like them to be part of it. Lay out the ground rules for their participation such as how to contact them, when to contact them, will they be compensated for their services, etc. Once you have them in place, ask them for referrals to people who may fill other needs for you. If they can't make any recommendations, then get out and network. I met my lawyer through the Girl Scouts and the nurse at a women's networking luncheon. And I have a whole network of internet marketers I can turn to for advice just from attending the jvAlert events. And of course, there is the wonderful group of ladies that make up the Baby Boomer Divas. They are a never ending source of support and advice!
"Solopreneur" - it's just a word. It doesn't mean you have to go through the business experience alone. Build your team. Use your team. And one day when someone who is just starting out on their own asks you to be on their team, remember where you came from and say yes!
P.S. The general consensus from my team of experts has been to ditch the Day Planner, burn the Post-It notes, and USE THE BLACKBERRY. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I trust their advice so here goes. Wish me luck!
Should I let Dearl talk me into using the Blackberry he bought me for Christmas (which is still in the box) or stick with my trusty system of Day Planner and Post-It notes?
Where should I focus my marketing this year? With all of the dire warnings about the economy, will some methods work better than others?
We desperately need a new computer. I want another PC. Dearl wants a Mac. Who is right?
Is it time to hire an assistant? If so, should we use a virtual service or actually hire someone to come to our office?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. AAAGGGHHH!!! It's enough to make you crazy! Especially when the wrong choice can have drastic consequences for your business.
If you are lying awake at night struggling with the answers to these or other business questions, it's time to build yourself a team. My team consists of personal friends and professional acquaintences whose advice I trust. I simply need to pick up the phone or dash off a quick email or text message for all of the support and answers I need.
To build your team, simply make a list of all the questions you have. List all of the professional services you need or may need in the future. Then start thinking of all the people you know that can fill one or more of these needs or answer one or more of your questions. My team consists of my accountant (I hate numbers!), a lawyer (always good to have someone whose up to speed on legalities), my daughter the computer geek, my friend Ken the marketing guru, and my friend Karin who is also an entrepreneur and is a good one to turn to when I have questions about communication. (She's the one who keeps me from blasting off emails I may regret later!). I also have friends who keep me up to date with the latest Alzheimer's research and the current services available for my dad (they work for the area Agency on Aging), a nurse and a holisitc health practioner that provide me with the latest health news (Dearl's heart), and two grandchildren who remind me when I'm not taking enough time for the important things in life ("Nee-Nee, why haven't you been by to see us lately? We miss you!")
How do you find the people for your team? You probably already know many of them so just ask. Tell them you are forming a team of advisors for your business and would like them to be part of it. Lay out the ground rules for their participation such as how to contact them, when to contact them, will they be compensated for their services, etc. Once you have them in place, ask them for referrals to people who may fill other needs for you. If they can't make any recommendations, then get out and network. I met my lawyer through the Girl Scouts and the nurse at a women's networking luncheon. And I have a whole network of internet marketers I can turn to for advice just from attending the jvAlert events. And of course, there is the wonderful group of ladies that make up the Baby Boomer Divas. They are a never ending source of support and advice!
"Solopreneur" - it's just a word. It doesn't mean you have to go through the business experience alone. Build your team. Use your team. And one day when someone who is just starting out on their own asks you to be on their team, remember where you came from and say yes!
P.S. The general consensus from my team of experts has been to ditch the Day Planner, burn the Post-It notes, and USE THE BLACKBERRY. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I trust their advice so here goes. Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Give It Just a Little Bit More....
What's the difference between the very successful business person and the mediocre one? The successful ones always give just a little bit more. That little bit of extra effort can separate the superstars from the rest of the pack. They make that one more sales call, the extra follow-up call. They do the presentation when they wish they were out with their friends. They never forget the thank you note or the birthday card. They give their clients and customers the extra attention that says "you're special" and turns prospects into buyers and buyers into loyal customers.
Ask yourself today - what little bit extra can you do that will take your business to the top?
Ask yourself today - what little bit extra can you do that will take your business to the top?
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
I Asked Some Women Business Owner Friends of Mine
I can give you all the tools in the world and some of you will still not be as successful as you like. Why? What will make the difference between you and another reader of this blog? I recently participated in a program for Girl Scouts that taught girls business skills and how to become an entrepreneur. During that program we looked at being a business owner from many different aspects.
What does it take to be a successful business owner? What skills and personality traits are necessary? I asked some friends of mine who are all women business owners this question, so I could share them with the girls in the Girl Scout program. Their answers were very enlightening. Valuable enough, in fact, that I thought I'd also share them with you.
My friend Anna Campbell founded and runs Women Business Owners, http://www.womenbizowners.org, a non-profit that works with you to make your business work. She says you need to be confident, understanding, responsible, willing to learn, willing to fail, willing to learn again. You need to understand that you spend money to make money. You need to know how to communicate with others and how to delegate. Confidence, understanding, responsibility - these were mentioned by several of the women. I've heard "fake it till you make it" repeatedly. That phrase always bothered me until I understood that what they meant was to exhibit confidence when dealing with customers and clients. How can you expect them to have faith in your abilities if you don't have faith in yourself?
Caryn Isaacs expresses this need for confidence another way. Caryn is a patient advocate at Resource Evaluation Leaders, Inc. http://reli.com/. She says that belief in your dream is key. You can be afraid that you don't have what it takes, but the dream should be bigger than you. Once you take the first step, the business develops a life of its own. You just need to jump on for the ride. She states that she has never known anyone who succeded, if the goal was just to make money. The driving force is finding your passion, learning everything you can about the history of that field and then just get up and do at least one thing everyday, make a call, read an article or just think about your next move. Finally, reward yourself for a job well done.
Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Assistant/Owner of Admin Services, http://www.admnsrvcs.com, also lists belief as a key factor. Persistence, determination, ambition, honesty, courage and belief in yourself as well as your abilities - these are all part of Gazelle's list of necessary traits.
According to Ingrid Gonzalez, you need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Now what exactly is that? How about all of the factors we already listed! According to Ingrid, you must be willing to take risks, be organized, be a leader, learn how to handle rejections as it's part of the package, work well under pressure, be a decision-maker, be up to date with technology. She should know. She successfully runs two business: Alco Consultants, LLC http://www.alcoconsultants.com and Dainty Beads http://www.daintybeads.com.
Kristine Sheehan, The Merry Bird, http://www.themerrybird.com, listed many of the same traits - sanity, patience, kindness, perserverance, and desire to succeed.
I really like the way my friend Dawna Jones put it. Dawna calls herself an Evolutionary Provocateur and her company is InSight Out Consulting, Inc. http://www.frominsighttoaction.com/. As you can see, Dawna looks at things in a more unique and creative fashion. When asked what personality traits were needed for business success, she stated "heart of a wolf; strength of a bear; self-discipline (is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people); see like a spider...the interconnections and relationship between everything you do and its impact on others: suppliers, customers, key relations. Wolves are family; Bear is introspection and goals ..the capacity to focus...oh and a great sense of humor helps. There is no such thing as failure. "
Do you see a common theme here? It's not just about the money. If that's all you're focusing on, you're doomed to be less successful than you could be. In order to really succeed you have to have passion for your work. Then be willing to learn all you can about your chosen business. If you stumble (notice I did not say fail. As Dawna said, there is no such thing as failure), learn from the mistake and keep going. Have courage! Take a risk and be prepared to spend a little money to make money. Anyone who tells you that you can start a business for free is dreaming or a scam artist. You make not have to spend $1000s but you will have to spend some. Be responsible. Remember, everything you do will impact your business either positively or negatively. Be disciplined. You can't work two hours a week and expect to have a prosperous business. Just because many of these women work from their homes does not mean they do not work as many hours or more than you do. If you can, set aside some space that is solely dedicated to your business. If you have a room you can turn into an office, that's great. But even a corner of the kitchen will work. Then every morning, get up, get dressed, and go to work. While you are at work, don't let anything else interfere. Dishes can wait. Tape your favorite soap. Don't answer the door. You are at work. Set a goal for what you want to accomplish that day before you can "go home." I was taught to use a point system. I must earn 4 points each day before I can stop working. Each of the activities I do that are business related have been assigned a point value. When I have 4 points, I can stop. Of course, once I've earned my 4 points for the day, I'm usually so excited about my work that I stay a little longer.
I think I'll end by sharing what my friend Marilyn Jenet, founder of Feel Free to Prosper, http://www.FeelFreetoProsper.com, said when she responded to the question.
"These great minds said it best (these are from my memoir, "Feel Free to Prosper: an Entrepreneurial Memoir of Synchronicity and Guidance")
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Haven’t you heard of the "entrepreneur’s creed?" It was drafted by Patrick Henry in 1775…
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
~ Patrick Henry
Okay, I know he wasn’t referring to entrepreneurship, but it’s still the same idea to those of us who listen to our own drummer. So maybe Thoreau was a bit closer to the truth."
~ Marilyn
What does it take to be a successful business owner? What skills and personality traits are necessary? I asked some friends of mine who are all women business owners this question, so I could share them with the girls in the Girl Scout program. Their answers were very enlightening. Valuable enough, in fact, that I thought I'd also share them with you.
My friend Anna Campbell founded and runs Women Business Owners, http://www.womenbizowners.org, a non-profit that works with you to make your business work. She says you need to be confident, understanding, responsible, willing to learn, willing to fail, willing to learn again. You need to understand that you spend money to make money. You need to know how to communicate with others and how to delegate. Confidence, understanding, responsibility - these were mentioned by several of the women. I've heard "fake it till you make it" repeatedly. That phrase always bothered me until I understood that what they meant was to exhibit confidence when dealing with customers and clients. How can you expect them to have faith in your abilities if you don't have faith in yourself?
Caryn Isaacs expresses this need for confidence another way. Caryn is a patient advocate at Resource Evaluation Leaders, Inc. http://reli.com/. She says that belief in your dream is key. You can be afraid that you don't have what it takes, but the dream should be bigger than you. Once you take the first step, the business develops a life of its own. You just need to jump on for the ride. She states that she has never known anyone who succeded, if the goal was just to make money. The driving force is finding your passion, learning everything you can about the history of that field and then just get up and do at least one thing everyday, make a call, read an article or just think about your next move. Finally, reward yourself for a job well done.
Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Assistant/Owner of Admin Services, http://www.admnsrvcs.com, also lists belief as a key factor. Persistence, determination, ambition, honesty, courage and belief in yourself as well as your abilities - these are all part of Gazelle's list of necessary traits.
According to Ingrid Gonzalez, you need to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Now what exactly is that? How about all of the factors we already listed! According to Ingrid, you must be willing to take risks, be organized, be a leader, learn how to handle rejections as it's part of the package, work well under pressure, be a decision-maker, be up to date with technology. She should know. She successfully runs two business: Alco Consultants, LLC http://www.alcoconsultants.com and Dainty Beads http://www.daintybeads.com.
Kristine Sheehan, The Merry Bird, http://www.themerrybird.com, listed many of the same traits - sanity, patience, kindness, perserverance, and desire to succeed.
I really like the way my friend Dawna Jones put it. Dawna calls herself an Evolutionary Provocateur and her company is InSight Out Consulting, Inc. http://www.frominsighttoaction.com/. As you can see, Dawna looks at things in a more unique and creative fashion. When asked what personality traits were needed for business success, she stated "heart of a wolf; strength of a bear; self-discipline (is what horses have that keeps them from betting on people); see like a spider...the interconnections and relationship between everything you do and its impact on others: suppliers, customers, key relations. Wolves are family; Bear is introspection and goals ..the capacity to focus...oh and a great sense of humor helps. There is no such thing as failure. "
Do you see a common theme here? It's not just about the money. If that's all you're focusing on, you're doomed to be less successful than you could be. In order to really succeed you have to have passion for your work. Then be willing to learn all you can about your chosen business. If you stumble (notice I did not say fail. As Dawna said, there is no such thing as failure), learn from the mistake and keep going. Have courage! Take a risk and be prepared to spend a little money to make money. Anyone who tells you that you can start a business for free is dreaming or a scam artist. You make not have to spend $1000s but you will have to spend some. Be responsible. Remember, everything you do will impact your business either positively or negatively. Be disciplined. You can't work two hours a week and expect to have a prosperous business. Just because many of these women work from their homes does not mean they do not work as many hours or more than you do. If you can, set aside some space that is solely dedicated to your business. If you have a room you can turn into an office, that's great. But even a corner of the kitchen will work. Then every morning, get up, get dressed, and go to work. While you are at work, don't let anything else interfere. Dishes can wait. Tape your favorite soap. Don't answer the door. You are at work. Set a goal for what you want to accomplish that day before you can "go home." I was taught to use a point system. I must earn 4 points each day before I can stop working. Each of the activities I do that are business related have been assigned a point value. When I have 4 points, I can stop. Of course, once I've earned my 4 points for the day, I'm usually so excited about my work that I stay a little longer.
I think I'll end by sharing what my friend Marilyn Jenet, founder of Feel Free to Prosper, http://www.FeelFreetoProsper.com, said when she responded to the question.
"These great minds said it best (these are from my memoir, "Feel Free to Prosper: an Entrepreneurial Memoir of Synchronicity and Guidance")
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Haven’t you heard of the "entrepreneur’s creed?" It was drafted by Patrick Henry in 1775…
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
~ Patrick Henry
Okay, I know he wasn’t referring to entrepreneurship, but it’s still the same idea to those of us who listen to our own drummer. So maybe Thoreau was a bit closer to the truth."
~ Marilyn
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