People who have ever thought about the possibility of creating their own company and have given up, generally it has been because of the fear of failing. Because they do not have a clear idea to develop or simply because they do not know how to create the company.
To help entrepreneurs on the difficult path they have decided to take, we propose some ideas that will serve as a guide for reflection, and reflection necessary to carry out the project and to which the time dedicated to it will never seem enough because there will always be corners of uncertainty.
We are going to focus on women entrepreneurs because although having initiative, desire to work, and obtain economic means does not have gender, women, in general, are going to encounter greater difficulties when it comes to entrepreneurship.
Feminine specificities
Fear Of Risk
Women entrepreneurs must learn to take risks. Women tend to take fewer risks than men. Thus, most female projects are less likely to go under completely, but they also tend not to reach their full potential. Some women see money as the biggest obstacle to the goal being achieved because the belief that managing money is “a man’s thing” still persists, but it is not true, but the majority of women entrepreneurs are in charge of the economy. America is a very good base to manage a business.
Social, Family, And Personal Change
Being self-employed and carrying out an independent work project implies a change in the social, family, and personal fields, which women will have a hard time assuming since the role assigned to them by society assumes a greater involvement in these fields; The truth is that the enterprising woman will have to commit to her work and be prepared to make all the emotional adjustments and all the sacrifices that are necessary.
Female Management Style
Women entrepreneurs have their own management style and lead more efficiently without adapting to the traditional male management model. The most common opinion “you can only succeed in business if you act like a man” is going down in history. There is a growing recognition of the need for more people-oriented qualities: a heightened sensitivity to gestures, creative problem solving, intuitive management, and participatory leadership; precisely the qualities that women have learned to cultivate since childhood.
Fields of work or elements of reflection
The basic fields on which you have to reflect in depth before venturing to start a business can be grouped into the following blocks:
Ideas
It is not necessary to be an inventor, but it is true that the starting point is to have an idea. Any woman, by observation or experience, can conceive the idea of meeting a need. The imagination will give us great help but we have to contrast it with other people so that they can confirm their dose of reality.
Take the Risk
An entrepreneur must be able to take risks, otherwise, she will never be able to develop her business activity, since she will continually find herself with the need to make decisions, and making a decision always implies taking a risk. You have to study and assess what risk you are willing to take and if it is necessary for the development of the idea.
Minimum Resources
The greatest difficulty arises in the search for financing for business projects, but nevertheless, most new entrepreneurs get their money from non-traditional sources such as friends and family, loyal customers, and trusted suppliers, without forgetting the grants or micro credits. It is necessary to calculate the necessary resources as closely as possible and not lose sight of the fact that it is easier to fall short than to oversize, since there may be expenses that were not initially considered.
Personal Qualities
It is not about being a “superwoman”, but it is necessary to be motivated to become a leader, to be willing to assume responsibilities, to have a strong survival instinct, and, ultimately, to be as indispensable to the company as the company is to her.
A list, which can guide us, on the qualities that facilitate the development of our own project can be:
- Motivation for the project and constant improvement at work. Self-confidence and personal autonomy. Ability to perform the task. Organizational capacity.
- Ease to make decisions and ability to adapt to new situations and take risks. observation capacity.
- Social skills and ability to lead and assume responsibilities. Ability to motivate. communication capacity.
Reflection on the listed fields will lead us to mature our ideas and highlight our strong points and our shortcomings or weak points, allowing us to carry out the necessary actions to improve them.
As a conclusion or guide for when things get difficult and discouragement spreads, we propose the following:
Decalogue of an enterprising woman
- You have to be independent, have a precise project, and have a lot of energy.
- Analyze the possibilities offered by the market and quantify the necessary investment.
- Compete under the same conditions as men. Do not have complexes.
- Prepare a financial economic viability plan, necessary to request credits and subsidies. It will also help you to follow the progress of your business.
- Put your family and social relationships in their proper place. Do not admit emotional blackmail
- Promote yourself and sell yourself without false modesty. What vetoes women’s access to positions of responsibility is a psychological factor.
- Do not give up the advice of specialists. They will give you the necessary clues for your project.
- Have initiative and do not expect them to solve your ballot. It is your company in every way.
- Establish contact with other colleagues. The exchange of experiences is very enriching.
- But above all, never give up your rights.
You may like to read Six recommended books for women entrepreneurs