Owning your own business is likely something that you think about from time to time. For many people, they only stick to the dream aspect and never attempt to pursue it. However, several female entrepreneurs will show you that with a dream, you can build an empire when you take advantage of the right advice. All you have to do is look at successful business women, such as Oprah and Suzzanne Uhland to see that this is true.
Take a Leap
It will not be easy to start a business and it will never be the right time. Because of this, you just have to dive in feet first and learn from any mistakes that you make along the way. You can start smaller, so that your investment of time and money is not as significant.
For example, if you wish to create and sell your own makeup, instead of immediately looking for mass production opportunities and stores to host your products, create your own store on a marketplace online. Some of the most successful cosmetic’s companies, for example, have started out as small indie brands on marketplace websites.
Pursue a Mentor
One of the biggest pieces of advice from Suzzanne Uhland is to seek out a mentor that operates as a sponsor. This gives you a chance to meet new people and network. You often hear that part of being successful involves the people that you know and this is true. When you have contacts in the industry that you are looking to build a business in, it is simply easier to find your footing.
Start off by looking for a mentor that can help to get you into the in crowd in your chosen industry. From there, heed their advice and start looking for ways to network and meet more people. The more you can make yourself visible, the more people will be talking about you and your brand. Remember that positive comments from word of mouth have a major impact on the success of a business.
Work on Your Communication Skills
Part of being successful is knowing how to communicate with people from all walks of life. When you are communicating, those you are talking to need to be able to trust your word and believe what you are saying. You also need to be able to keep them interested and make them feel like they have your undivided attention. Communication is a skill and you can master it.
Part of communicating is being responsive. For example, if someone emails you or leave a message, get back to them as soon as possible. Do not make them wait a day or longer for a response. Make sure that when you are communicating that you are authentic and that you truly listen to what the other person is saying.
Consider the Big Picture
When you go into business for yourself, there are going to be some bumps in the road and nothing will ever be perfect. However, you have to think of the big picture and remember that the good is constantly outweighing the bad. For example, your sales might have been down in July, but between January and June, they were climbing steadily. This means that you can work a little harder to make up for the lost sales in July in the coming months since overall, you are doing better with each coming month.
Get Personal With Your Contacts
When you go into business, you want to develop relationships with people in your industry, as well as your client base. When you take a personalized approach to your business, those who utilize your products or services will trust you more and feel as though you genuinely value your business. Getting personal can be as simple and posting a regular blog, interacting with customers on social media and sending out a personalized “thank you” card with every order.
Look for a Market Gap or Deficiency
You know what your passion is and you can tailor it and still be satisfied with creating a business around it. When you can introduce a service or a product that is different from the others available, this is an easy way to quickly attract a customer base. For example, if you create skincare products, consider utilizing a main ingredient that is not already saturated on the market. This makes you different and it sets you apart from the other products available.
If you are ready to make the transition from working for someone to working for yourself, make note of this advice. It is not easy becoming an entrepreneur, but it is incredibly rewarding once you break free from the shackles that bind you to working for someone else. The advice presented here is sound and it is given by business women who have taken their passion and turned it into success.
