Ready to start a business? Here’s some advice from women who’ve done it before.
When I thought about putting this article together, I reached out to my network on LinkedIn which is filled to the brim with successful women in business.
I asked the question:
“What is your #1 piece of advice for a woman starting a business for the first time?”
I expected a handful of comments that I could screen shot and turn into an article. Instead we got a book! haha! 57 comments later and 10k views… clearly we’ve got an opinion on this topic!
So here are my personal Top 20, linked to the awesome business owner and her business.
But go check out the original post over on LinkedIn for more awesome tips, and connect with me while you are at it! (Mention this post so I know where you came from!)
1 Set up your business in a way that gives you the income AND the lifestyle you want.
Crunch the numbers, look at the time it will take you to serve that many clients, see if it’s viable and then tweak as necessary. Most new business owners don’t look at their product range closely enough, particularly in consulting or coaching, they just go from a job trading dollars for hours and do the same in their business.
You’ve gone into your own business for a reason, be it more money, more flexibility, more purpose, whatever your reason, you need to ensure that your product range gives you that, and a regular stream of people coming through that product range is key to managing your stress levels.
Working to a plan, having a strategy, these are all key to building a business that works for you.
Racquel Collard, Marketing Launchpad
2 Be very clear on your WHY and your own values. Find your tribe early.
Those who encourage you, those who challenge you (from a place of love and abundance). Be very aware of the voices (often the uninvited feedback ) from those who are not in the arena.
The amount of times in my first 12 months I was thrown a comments, feedback or suggestions about why what I was doing would not work or why I needed to do things differently was frequent. And often not helpful.
It really rocked my confidence and had me questioning myself.
Don’t get me wrong, I am open to listening and perspectives but every time I’d ask myself… are they in the arena too?
Do I respect and value this persons perspective on this topic?
Where is this advice stemming from?
What limiting beliefs do they have that are now being passed onto me?
I was glad to discover the people who would still challenge me and give feedback (that was honest and sometimes hard) that helped me grow.
But it became clear which voices to block out that simply came from a place of fear or their own issues or insecurities.
Always ask your customers for their feedback..always!!
❤️Find your tribe (and keep growing it!)
❤️Know your values and purpose and always listen to your inner knowing.
Cherie Canning, Luminate Leadership
3 Stop comparing yourself with others.
You are your own unique self and on your own journey. There’s no such thing as an ‘overnight success’. Keep a ‘wins’ jar or folder on your desktop to help you get through those tough times as there’ll be plenty! Most importantly, have fun and don’t be so hard on yourself.
Alicent Wong, The Women of Colour Founders Network
4 Back yourself.
Don’t listen to the people who discourage you or make small of your dreams.
Find the people who believe in you, support you and encourage success.
There is enough business for everyone, so be generous, make friends with your competition.
Best thing I did was join a community of professionals.
Rebecca Cofranseco, Marketing Goodness
5 Don't frame what you're doing with the word "just".
It's "just" a hobby, it's "just" a small business. Treat it like a proper business and talk about it like that. Don't undermine yourself and play it down. Running a business comes with a huge learning curve so don't be scared to ask for help.
6 Find decent mentors and do a forward cashflow forecast.
Sharon Williams, Taurus Marketing
7 Connect with other business owners that you can use as sounding boards, bounce ideas off and get and give mutual support.
Because this is a very up and down experience in all aspects including emotionally because your own business is personal because it is you and it is yours. Knowing you are not the only person feeling these highs and lows and that this is all part of the process and normal is really key. Plus having these trusted and mutually generous relationships gives you different perspectives and ideas.
Rebecca Muirhead, The Great Work Lab
8 To scale, you have to learn to silence the voice of the critic.
Still working on this, but wish I’d started this sooner.
Stephanie Horstkoetter, SH Creative Consulting
9 Give yourself as much runway as possible so you can take the risks entrepreneurship will require.
It’s easy to feel the excitement and passion of a new idea, but it’s very hard to make bold moves if you’re feeling the strain. It’s so much easier to make a side project into a new career when you can work through those early, slow stages with consistent income and benefits!
Kelsey Gilbert-Kreiling, Week of the Website
10 So, dream, feel and believe in your full potential. 😊❣️
If we don't give ourselves permission to dream, If we don't give ourselves permission to feel what we really want, If we don't give ourselves permission to believe that we are worthy and that we can succeed despite all the obstacles, we end up limiting ourselves and remaining in status quo.
Preeti Boler, Empowered By Design
11 Always do “the right thing”.
Sometimes that hurts financially and doesn’t seem like the smartest option but at least you can live with yourself. Plus, do what’s right and the money stuff will sort itself out…
Amy Sutton, We Are Anthonologie
12 When it feels uncomfortable, keep going.
When every article you read says there’s a recession coming, keep going
When people tell you “it’s never going to work”, keep going.
When your inner critic says “I never should have started this business” KEEP GOING….
Jennifer McMahon, Modern People
13 Get scrappy!!
Get a product or service out in beta mode. Go hard in feedback and iterate so you can trust that your audience desires what you provide!! Never trust only your own opinion— be OPEN to making changes and tweaks to get on the profit train ASAP 🚀🔥👯♀️
Lucille Loveday Milne, Haus of Pleasure
14 Mindset is everything.
Believing in yourself and imperfect action will keep you moving forward!
Don't be scared to ask for help - we don't have it all figured out on day 1 (and we can't do it all).
Don't be scared to invest in yourself and your business - it will help you move faster towards achieving your goals.
Don't be tough on yourself, it's all part of the journey!
Everything is easier said than done, I know it, but having a support network in business, really helps.
Laia Sastre, Elevate Business Management
15 Save yourself time, money and heartache down the road - seek expert advice. And then actually listen to it 🤪
1. Legal advice
2. Accounting advice
3. Business coaching advice
Have a business plan and your team of business advisors in place before you hit go.
Pay yourself and don't work for anyone for free!
Christine Lusher CFP, Lush Wealth
16 My advice would be to lean into your story.
From the beginning tell a compelling one. Most people start a business because it solves a compelling problem that they personally encountered. Use that to your advantage to get traction in media and organic reach. That’s what I’ve done for both my businesses because a good story not only sells for you but also helps you remain true to your vision.
Ofcourse on a more practical level my advice would be to buy Canva Pro and a Notion membership from day 1 so you can document and templatise l all your work as you go. That way when you’re ready to hire your documentation acts as a springboard of information.
Perzen Patel, Dolly Mumma
17 Be comfortable being uncomfortable and enjoy swimming in the deep end.
That's where the growth, impact and magic happens.
And of course underpinning everything - love what you do, and keep your "why" at the core of why you're on the journey. ❤️
Lisa S, HR Attract
18 Lean into your core strengths initially there will be many hard & soft skills you may not have.
Put that aside & focus on what you can bring to the table for your business. Get obsessed with communicating your why & purpose. Also be completely obsessed with your customers, your product Market fit will evolve & that's ok. Learn as much as you can by people who have built a successful business & have similar values to you. Finally believe in yourself, it sounds cheesy but in the beginning of building your business it will be daunting, many unknowns, many people will give you advice. You need to back yourself & believe you can do it. Sorry for so much advice. I started HIRE HER with a baby & toddler with no knowledge about business hence why I'm sharing everything I can.
Priscilla Chand, Hire Her
19 Take the time to identify your ideal client.
Sure there are a lot of things you “could” do but that’s not where the magic is. If you try and speak to everyone you will end up speaking to no one. Be really specific whose problem you are solving and speak directly to them.
Michelle Kvello, Lantern Partners
20 Solve a real and painful problem.
Test that people are trying to solve it - so they’ll happily pay for your solution. And a sneaky #2 is to back yourself and think big.
Kristen Lunman, Powrsuit
