Becoming
an Entrepreneur and the
Challenges
We Face
By Sherry Thacker
As
the founder of WENS, The Women’s Entrepreneurial Networking System, I have the extraordinary opportunity to meet and
talk to hundreds of women entrepreneurs every year. It's fascinating to listen to the stories of how women entrepreneurs blossom
into confident successful business women. The inspiring tales of the trials and tribulations these women faced during the
early start-up years are what inspires me and motivates me with passion to create a strong support network for women.
If
you are considering becoming an entrepreneur, you are probably going to encounter many of the following challenges: finding
the idea for your business, ignoring the naysayers --usually well-meaning friends and family!-- and facing your inner fears.
Here are some simple solutions that us fairer sex face in the early start up phase.
Finding
the Idea?
Many women
who are looking to start their own company often say to me, "I'd love to operate my own business - I just don't know where
to start." There is a world of ideas out there and with a little fine tuning you can turn any idea into a very interesting
niche specialized to your unique talent.
For example,
a woman I knew asked
me how to get started in the pet industry, something I had experience in. She didn't quite know what she wanted to do, but
she knew she wanted to have a service based around animals that was also an e-based business. Together we came up with the
idea of an online directory for pet grooming centers, where site visitors could
read profiles of each company, and if the prospective customer was referred by
her site, she would receive a commission. Pretty innovative, wouldn't you say? How'd we come up with it? We look at her criteria
for her company, brainstormed, and researched the idea on the Web. Brainstorming and follow-up research are key when it comes
to settling on an idea for your new venture.
Forgetting
the Naysayers!
So, you've
got your innovative idea and you are ready to take on the world. You call your best friend to tell them all about your brilliant
idea, and just when you are expecting to hear enthusiastic endorsement comes, "Are
you sure it's a good idea. You've never run a business before, how do you know you can do it?" It's enough to knock the wind
out of your sails. Friends and family are just trying to look out for our best interests; however, their concern can sometimes
come across as pessimism about your new venture. If you want to start a business you are going to have to expect this. Time to start growing a thick skin! To help
assuage their concerns, take a good look at your strengths and weaknesses and see if entrepreneurship is indeed for you. It's
a long hard road, and not for the faint of heart!
Facing
Your Fears!
Finally,
one of the biggest deterrents a future entrepreneur will face is their own fear. You might not admit to it, but we all have
that horrible little voice that tells us we shouldn't try because we can't do it. Low self esteem and lack of confidence is
a main culprit impeding action and there is only one way to fight that battle.
JUST FACE THE FEAR. Where does fear originate from? Lack of knowledge! Fear of the unknown! So, there is only one answer.
Learn everything you possibly can on any subject, event, situation, crisis, problem,
dilemma, challenge, and question that you fear. Knowledge is power and is essential if you wish to become successful. I guarantee
you that the more you know, understand and can identify with any situation, the less you will fear it.
Sherry Thacker:
Montrealer
Sherry Thacker was born an entrepreneur! Having successfully owned, operated and
sold her first retail store at the age of 22, she moved on to bigger projects in
the automobile industry. After attending an entrepreneurial conference in 2003, she realized that there was a demand to help
women find the resources and contacts needed to grow their business into a successful
enterprise.
Sherry founded
a phenomenal networking environment that focuses on helping women make solid relationships, gain new skills,
and increase their business exposure to further boost their sales. For more information click on www.wenscentral.com or call 1-866-936-WENS.
