Why am I sharing this?

For one very specific reason…

Sometimes we are afraid to start. You think: my idea is not good enough, it’s not ready, what if it doesn’t work, it needs more research, I don’t know if it’s the right thing.

But if you don’t ever set out on the path…

Don’t make the same mistake I did as a female corporate escapee with a dream to launch a business.

Many (many) moons ago, after I’d left my big corporate job for a tech startup in San Francisco. And after that company was (thankfully) sold…

I had the brilliant idea of opening a store, in Manhattan, a city in which I had never lived, doing work that I had never done.

As a high-achieving woman who wants to do something new, it’s not too late.

If this is a message you need to hear today, then repeat it to yourself…

It’s not too late.

I am not too old.

There is no cut-off date to start something new.

Permission to build a business and life that you truly desire.

Not long ago, I listened to an episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” with his guest, novelist Mohsin Hamid.

Having been quietly blown away by two of Mr. Hamid’s prior novels…

As a female entrepreneur, you need to make your mind work for you. When a negative thought arises in your mind, here is the question you should ask yourself:

“Is that helpful?”

It is such a simple question. But one that is powerful.

Are you charging enough for you products or service?

'“There is no mission if there is no margin.” ~Tony Robbins

A few weeks ago, I posted an Instagram Story in which I asked female entrepreneurs, “Are you charging enough for your product or service?”

80% of the women who responded said, “no.”

Even musicians make mistakes and other lessons learned from a live! concert. This is for female entrepreneurs who think they need to know everything and have it all together, all of the time.

I just got back from Toronto where, after a two-year, COVID-induced wait, I finally went to the David Gray “White Ladder: The 20th Anniversary” tour concert.

To launch and grow a successful small business, keep an open mind (and open ears).

Not long ago, while out for a morning walk in Prospect Park, I was asked to provide expert commentary for an episode of the first season of New York Life’s “Love Takes Action” podcast.

This episode would feature a female entrepreneur talking about her journey. I was intrigued… and I said yes.

Are you a female solopreneur? If so, ask yourself if it’s time to give yourself a promotion.

If you are a business owner or entrepreneur who is doing everything in and for your business, the answer may be “yes.”

And by “everything,” I mean every task that:

As a female entrepreneur, when you first launch or pivot your business - you’ve:

Thought through your approach | Done your research | Spoken to lots of people (potential clients in your target market, other entrepreneurs, financial advisors)\ | Developed your marketing strategy | And made your assumptions about what should work. Then you put it out there.

As a female entrepreneur or business owner, you need to be clear with your brand messaging to reach the people who can benefit most from what you have to offer.

Is this something you struggle with? If so, you’re not alone. So much is riding on it. Think about it.

As a female entrepreneur or business owner your mindset matters.

I recently posted in a Facebook Group asking women business owners the biggest hurdle they faced when launching or pivoting their business. The answer that jumped out at me was this:

As a female solopreneur with goals and plans for my business, this something I’ve been thinking about. When things don’t go as planned, when you don’t get what you want, it’s easy to become frustrated and discouraged. I know, I’ve been there.

I am often asked by female solopreneurs, “where do I market first, on a limited budget?”, which is a very valid and pressing question.

If this is a question you’ve been asking yourself, here is the process I suggest you follow…

As a female entrepreneur, you need to know what you don’t know when it comes to what needs to be in place in order to launch your business. I was in a Facebook group Q&A post not long ago where a female solopreneur indicated that she was stuck because she didn’t know what would get her unstuck.

When asked by a female entrepreneur, “how do I find the ideal client/customer for my business?” my reply may seem counterintuitive. I always suggest that you start with your Offering.

As a female solopreneur, are you reluctant to ask for help when you need it? Please read on to learn why this thinking is bad for your business.

Albert Einstein once said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

I believe this to be true.

You are unique. As a female solopreneur or entrepreneur, you need to own what makes you unique. This is so important as it allows you to confidently express yourself and who you are, as it pertains to your business. And I believe this is incredibly important to your growth and success, no matter they type of business you have or your vertical market.