The marketplace is the ultimate gateway to financial freedom and success. Now, more than ever, women are stepping into it and earning millions of dollars doing it. This year alone, has been a break out year for women entrepreneurs. From the Forbes billionaire list to the feminine footprints on the economy, it’s clear women-led businesses are making powerful strides.
But don’t get too comfortable. There’s still work to be done and many more barriers to break. We can do it. I want to motivate you to keep going, challenge you to be better, and urge you to think higher to accelerate your business.
To help you do it, here are five empowering tips for women entrepreneurs:
Own Your Greatness
Knowing your greatness doesn’t mean you’re perfect. It means you’re secure in your strengths, unlimited by your weaknesses and confident in your power. Too often, we don’t value the brilliance and tenacity that lies within us. We see the best in everybody else but can’t see it in ourselves. Let today be different. You are stepping out on faith, carrying forth your vision and making things happen. You are taking ideas and implementing them into the universe. You are planting seeds towards your success and watching them grow. These are phenomenal things. Own that and use it as fuel to inspire, impact and change the world.
Be Fearless
Whenever you walk in your greatness, opposition occurs. Fear shows up to bully you, control you and lead you away from your destiny. Don’t let it. Fear is confirmation you’re moving in the right direction. Redirect that nervous energy into something phenomenal. You’ve come this far so why stop now? Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep seeking. The best thing to do with fear is to step right past it. Action is your greatest defense.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
If your to-do list looks anything like mine, you probably need more than 24 hours to complete it. You have business stuff, household stuff and don’t forget social media and Thursday night’s Scandal. But being a power woman requires efficiency and discipline with your time. Productivity is key and an indispensable part of your business DNA. Keep your eyes on the prize and be aware of your distractions. Is it too much TV? Is it social media? Is it spending all your time creating the to-do list, versus actually doing it? Remember, distractions are nothing more than roadblocks to your destiny. Be wise with your time and handle your business.
Define Your Fabulous
People often associate fabulous with how someone looks or what someone has, but it’s much broader than that. Fabulous is an expression of the uniqueness of you. It’s the confidence you carry in your personal and professional brand. Are you fabulous? Is your business fabulous? What is it about what you do and how you do it that adds value to the world? When you define your fabulous, it manifests in your confidence and the success of your company.
Go Get It
Growing up, my mother would say, “don’t chase behind people. Let people chase behind you.†I considered that sound advice, until I started a business. I was losing out on sales and great opportunities because I wanted the sales and opportunities to chase me. Many of us are selling ourselves short because we’re waiting on someone else to make things happen in our business. The “chase†is one of your most powerful tools. Don’t be passive. Go all out for opportunities you want and make sure you focus on sales. Most importantly, master the art of the follow-up. It often takes multiple points of contact to seal the deal!
These are just a few reminders to keep you pumped up along the way. It’s exciting to see women owned businesses excel year after year. Keep the momentum going and continue to open history making doors for generations to come.
Teri Nichole Harrison is an attorney, success strategist and start-up consultant for out-of-the-box entrepreneurs. She is the CEO & founder of Fearless & Fabulous Worldwide, a personal development and business consulting company in Nashville, Tennessee. Teri is also the author of Winning at Entrepreneurship: Innovative Strategies for Small Business Success. For daily empowerment and business insight, follow Teri on twitter: @_teriharrison and visit her Website: www.ffworldwide.com.