Open for business. Open to learn.

Scared. Excited. Nervous. Worried.  Sound like you?

Yes there is a real thrill about stepping out on your own, being your own boss and in control of your life (or so you think).  

But it is quickly coupled with a nervousness about whether this bold step you have taken is going to work out; that it’s going to pay your bills and ultimately lead to business success.

The challenge is that often you feel alone with your fears and that no one else can possibly be feeling the same way.  And yet that assumption would be wrong.

It was one of the reasons I started Company of Women as I found it lonely working at home and desperately wanted to connect with like-minded women who were on the same entrepreneurial path as me.

I often compare starting a business with having a baby, in that despite any homework you may do, nothing really prepares you for reality.  Also the emotions that stir up within you range from pure joy and excitement, rapidly followed by self doubt and anxiety that you are perhaps not cut out for this new job – be it as a parent or a business owner.

I have been in the entrepreneurial trenches for sixteen years now but earlier this year started a brand new venture.  Quickly I was reminded of what it feels like when you don’t know what you don’t know.   When you are used to being competent and knowledgeable, it is humbling to be back in the novice seat again.

And maybe that is why I am reflecting on what it is like to be in start up mode and why I’d like to see us – us being Company of Women – offer something concrete to help you get your business off the ground.

In the past I have run groups for newbies and at the beginning I’d often find that there was a group sigh of relief when they discovered that they were not alone with their emotional roller coaster.   I always remember one woman confessing that often when she got up in the morning she didn’t have a clue as to what she should be doing to further her business.  Around the table everyone was nodding in agreement.

The other interesting commonality that I observed is that while at the start of the group, the women were starting a certain business, by the end of the six months, their focus had changed and evolved as their concept of their business became clearer.

All of this to say that starting January 2017, we are launching a Start Up Club with a special membership rate for those at the beginning of their entrepreneurial venture or those about to embark on this journey, as well as webinars and online resources to help you focus, build your business and most important, establish your own support network.

We have a wealth of expertise within Company of Women, and these women are generously sharing their knowledge with you. 

As I have said in the past, you don’t have to be alone when you own.

Community works

Some recent research has shown that in times of strife, such as 9/11, the number of suicides, people diagnosed with depression and incidents of violence, actually goes down.  It drops, when logically you would think it would increase under the pressure everyone is facing.

Why does this happen?  What they have found is that acts of terror, war or other life-changing community incidents tend to bring people together to form a united front. It is through that sense of community that the feelings of isolation dissipate and people feel needed and wanted.

Interesting.   It was a sense of isolation that spurred me on to start Company of Women over thirteen years ago.  I had a successful consulting practice at the time  and was working from home.  But I missed the camaraderie and conversations with peers. 

I also wanted to meet some like-minded women who were on the same path as myself. I was the only one of my friends, at the time, to have her own business and while I was at  home, everyone thought I could just down tools and have coffee with them.  Er… no.  They didn’t get the time and commitment involved in starting a small business.

 What I have discovered through Company of Women is that no matter what business you are in, the issues are often the same – finding customers, retaining customers, cash flow, human resources, etc… and yes, those feelings of self-doubt that creep in from time to time.  

It therefore makes sense to problem solve together.  It makes sense to ‘fess up that all is not as rosy as we’d like it to be, because when we “do vulnerable” we can be surprised at how people rally round to help you, give advice and provide support.  And more, that you are not alone.

And what we are doing fits the definition of  community- “Self-organized network of people with a common agenda, cause, interest, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information and other resources.”

In other words, we are not just looking out for ourselves, we are invested in learning and helping others succeed and in doing so, it would appear that we are also keeping depression at bay.

  

It is through authentic, genuine dialogue that we become community.  Thank you for being part of mine.

Don’t be alone when you own

So often, women who start their own businesses, no matter how small, find themselves isolated in their decision.  Family and friends don’t seem to understand the time, commitment and all-consuming passion that is needed to succeed in the world of commerce and feel that pursuing a profession would be a much more honorable and financially beneficial undertaking.

That can make your business choices somewhat lonely and for those determined to succeed, means you must be even more focused on achieving your goals, despite the opposition you may feel or worse, total denial by loved ones of the path you have chosen for yourself. It is hard when those nearest and dearest don’t get what you have decided to do and where you have chosen to focus your energies.

Not only does it make it difficult to share your challenges, but there seems little interest in anything to do with your business, to the point that you don’t talk about it, which is hard when that is where you spend all your time and energy. It is almost as if you don’t exist.  Bottom line, you have to rely on yourself – which is not necessarily a bad thing -  because at the end of the day, the only person who truly cares about what you do, should be you.

Here’s a few pointers to overcome that sense that you are alone.

• ·      Surround yourself with people who do believe in you.
• ·      Connect with other women who are on similar paths, as you can support each other.
• ·      Stay focused on what you want to achieve.
• ·      Build a network of business owners with whom you can work and form business alliances.
• ·      Develop affirmations and repeat them daily so you start to believe in your own potential.

Because, if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to do so?  All of us have times of self-doubt when we question our sanity and ability to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves. 

But you don’t have to go it alone.