08 Feb Tips from Successful Women in Business
As a female Certified Public Accountant in a very male dominated profession here in the Asheville area of Western North Carolina, I have always sought out other women business leaders as mentors. They have helped guide my career in the ever growing and changing business landscape. In the 90’s we were all wearing shoulder padded power suits yet today women are able to approach business in a way that is more organic where we can embrace the feminine.
Recently I was reading Eric Ries book The Lean Startup. This quote in particular stood out to me…
“Successful entrepreneurs do not give up at the first sign of trouble, nor do they persevere the plane right into the ground. Instead, they possess a unique combination of perseverance and flexibility.” Eric Ries author of The Lean Startup.”
I think women are well suited to not give up and to persevere while still maintaining their flexibility. Working moms in particular are tasked with running their business while cooking dinner, cleaning house and playing the role of mom-taxi. Many of us have supportive husbands that help us shoulder the home work load but just as many are single mom’s doing it alone. Today’s blog is focusing on inspiring other fellow female business women, solo-entrepreneurs and business owners with tips to help you grow your business along with quotes of inspiration.
Kate Tayler, Entrepreneur.com staff writer, interviewed six of the best-known women in business. This interview included Bobbi Brown, Tracy Anderson, Martha Stewart and other all-star business leaders. Below are the five tips that any entrepreneur should know.
- Be open to change – change and evolve as your products and markets evolve
- Realize friends and friends of friends can help your business – network your way to success
- Be naïve…be willing to venture into uncharted territory
- …But know who you can trust – trust in business relationships will help you do more quickly without having to constantly second guess yourself
- Don’t dwell on the past – learn from it but keep moving forward
Famous Women in Business Quotes:
I admire the courage and self-reliance it takes to start your own business and make it succeed. Martha Stewart
So much of what I do is about inspiring and empowering women. Bobbi Brown
Women actually do quite well on Wall Street because much of this business is intuitive. Elizabeth Mackay
I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it. Estee Lauder
There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard. Madam CJ Walker
Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get. Ingrid Bergman
Never be ashamed? There’s some who will hold it against you, but they are not worth bothering with. JK Rowling
Links to other blog articles you might find interesting:
Alicia Sisk-Morris, CPA is a native of the Asheville area. A Certified Public Accountant since 1999, she has a diverse background in tax, financial and business consulting. She is dedicated to helping small and medium-sized companies grow profitably while helping them establish practical and sound tax and financial processes. She is committed to meeting each client’s unique business objectives. Alicia has expertise in providing comprehensive accounting services, including individual, corporate, partnership, and nonprofit income tax returns, financial statements, bookkeeping and payroll tax reports. Alicia earned a Bachelor’s in Business degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Accounting degree from University of North Carolina at Asheville. She is currently working on her master’s degree from Western Carolina University.
Pat Mills
Posted at 22:09h, 09 FebruaryVery nice article. It is amazing how much I have seen the role of women in the workplace change even in my short lifetime. It is refreshing to see that women in the business world are drifting away from the trends of trying to “fit in” with the men and no longer feel the need to act differently from who they are. Women are now respected for their intelligence, quality of work, and achievement. Not by the old (and very asinine) image of traditional business roles and what their perceived value is to the workplace. I think you hit the nail on the head with your advice about networking: “Realize friends and friends of friends can help your business – network your way to success”. As you know, taking your business to the next level is often more about “who you know” and not “what you know”. I think that is great advice for entrepreneurs as well as anyone seeking a successful professional career in anything.
asmcpa@yahoo.com
Posted at 12:12h, 11 FebruaryPat,
Thanks so much for your comments. I am glad you found it helpful. I am also glad we have moved away from women wearing power suits with shoulder pads making us feel like we were middle linebackers for the Dallas Cowboys.
Alicia
Schree Chavdarov
Posted at 02:35h, 10 FebruaryAs a feminist and fellow business woman, your Women in Business blog is very inspiring. It is always a pleasure to find like-minded women in fields that could be deemed masculine.
I also had some very influential female mentors in my life. They all were trailblazers in their respective fields. Seeing them ‘stand in their power’ really encourage me to embrace all challenges as opportunities for growth. Thanks for the uplifting read!
asmcpa@yahoo.com
Posted at 12:15h, 11 FebruarySchree,
Thanks so much for your comments. I have been blessed to have had some amazing female professional mentors in my life. Watching my mother move from the 60’s and 70’s to the 80’s and 90’s it was a real evolution in women working outside the home. It always impressed me how she maintained that balance of love of her work and clients with her ability to raise her family and care for us so well. It also helped having a husband/father who supported her dreams too.
Alicia
Mitch McDowell
Posted at 16:12h, 19 FebruaryAlicia,
Listed below are some interesting facts on woman-owned businesses in the United States. I can tell you that in my capacity as a business counselor, approximately 65% of my clients are female.
Thanks,
Mitch
• There are 7.8 million women-owned businesses in the United States. This reflects a 20.1% increase from 2002 to 2007.
• Women-owned firms make up 28.7% of all nonfarm businesses across the country and generate $1.2 trillion in total receipts.
• A full 88.3% of these firms are non-employer firms. The remaining 11.7% of the firms have paid employees, employing a total of 7.6 million people across the country with a payroll of $217.6 billion. These employer firms have average receipts of $1.1 million.
• Women-owned businesses make up more than half (52.0%) of all businesses in health care and social assistance.
• The other top industries for women include: educational services (45.9% of all businesses are women-owned), administration and support and waste management and remediation services (37.0%), retail trade (34.4%), and arts, entertainment, and recreation (30.4%).
asmcpa@yahoo.com
Posted at 17:17h, 19 FebruaryThose are some great statistics to share. Thank you!
Alicia
Maria-Elena Surprenant
Posted at 02:07h, 26 FebruaryThis is just great! Tip number 3 is a little harder for me to swallow, because I’m not sure how being naive will help one’s entrepreneurial career in any way-although it seems that it almost equates “naive” with being adventurous. If that’s the case, I’m more ok with that. The word “naive” to me has to do with a lack of education, and as entrepreneurs we must be well researched in our particular industry/target market in order to better succeed.
asmcpa@yahoo.com
Posted at 16:22h, 27 FebruaryMaria-Elena,
Being naive in this situation means that you are adventurous and have not fear of the unknown. Sometimes being experienced hurts us as we can see the pit falls (that may never happen) which makes us fearful of proceeding with you plans.
Alicia
Nadia Phillips
Posted at 11:03h, 02 MarchThis is great inspiration! I’m looking forward to contributing to it, thanks for sharing!
asmcpa@yahoo.com
Posted at 13:17h, 02 MarchThanks Nadia…so glad it has inspired you as well.