Can you be a busy mom and succeed as an entrepreneur?
Have you ever wanted to know what makes some women entrepreneurs so wildly successful? Or if, as a stay at home mom, you have what it takes to succeed as a woman in business? Can you build a business and be a great mom?
We might be biased but the skills that make women AMAZING mamas are some of the same skills that set them apart in business.
If you’re already a mama, you know that it takes all of your skills to do the job.
Let’s imagine a world where you can add things like “mother of 2” to your resume. What kinds of essential skills and competencies would that title highlight about you? You would be amazed at yourself by the time you finish listing them all. Moms have everything it takes to join the growing population of women entrepreneurs.
The Stats Tell the Story
Last year, 13 million women-owned businesses raked in over 1.9 trillion dollars. Women business owners are starting to demand a bigger slice of America’s economic pie, and the world is taking notice.
For all the moms out there wondering if you deserve a place at the entrepreneurial table, get ready to pull up your seat.
Here are five epic mom skills you use every day that have prepared you to become a female entrepreneur.
Can you build a business and be a great mom? We think heck yes!
Here are 5 mom skills that make women entrepreneurs successful.
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Moms are adaptable.
Moms are used to having a wrench thrown into the day. Children offer new challenges every day, so moms are experts at creative problem-solving.
Similarly, staying flexible in an ever-changing economic environment is crucial for successful small business owners. As markets and industries evolve, entrepreneurs have to progress their businesses strategies to keep up with the times. Adaptability is a pivotal quality if you hope to survive in the volatile global economy.
Next time your kids upend your plans, pay attention to how your inner entrepreneur manages to save the day.
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Moms know when to say no.
Excellent managers are not known for being everyone’s best friend. As moms, we’ve already figured out how to toe the line between being an authority figure and a confidante. We set boundaries and expectations for children to follow.
As children naturally grow up and push boundaries, we have to get good at saying no and standing our ground.
Whether you are managing employees or selecting business partners, knowing when to say no is a crucial business skill. Stakeholders, employees, and family members will always have requests. But they won’t always benefit your business strategy.
Unfair as it may be, the reality is that there is an added tax to being a female in business. We have to be strategic about asserting ourselves as authority figures.
Be unapologetic and confident when you say no to something that does not serve you or your business.
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Moms have communication superpowers.
The level of communication expertise moms develop is insane. We can read the body language of infants and toddlers. We can communicate ideas clearly and succinctly. We can detect meaning in the slightest shifts in tone and mannerisms.
Moms also have the power of persuasion. We convince kindergartners that their icky vegetables are scrumptious. We navigate the murky waters of influencing our teenagers to make wise choices. We learn to empathize, listen, and give sound life advice.
When it comes to business leadership, studies show that these interpersonal skills outrank any other quality in CEOs and executives. Effective communication is key to running a functional business operation.
According to Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, the downfall of most teams is faulty communication. If you are not able to exchange ideas openly, it leads to a lack of trust. A lack of trust leads to a fear of conflict and prevents productive conversations. Strong leaders know how to make communication run smoothly from top to bottom.
You can use the communication superpowers you’ve developed as a mom to run a thriving business.
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Moms know how to advocate.
Have you ever had to fight for an IEP for one of your children? Have you ever had to stand up to one of your kid’s teachers in a parent-teacher conference? Then you’ve already got some strong advocacy skills that will benefit you in business.
The same skills you use to advocate for your family can be applied to business. This key skill can help you thrive in the world of women entrepreneurs.
Between voicing concerns about operations, championing investments, and promoting products, entrepreneurs are their own biggest proponents of success.
When your employees and partners see you as a strong advocate, it increases engagement in the business. Studies also suggest that leaders who are seen as strong advocates motivate their teams to improve performance as well.
Pay attention to all the ways you advocate for your family. You’re a strong business leader in the making.
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Moms are resourceful.
There is no one in the world more creative at working with limited resources than moms. Taking care of a family brings a constant demand for creative problem-solving. Between budgeting time and money to keep the household running efficiently, moms are experts at doing more with less.
When you first start as an entrepreneur, you will likely have very limited resources. Only resource-savvy startups make it long enough to garner the attention of potential investors. As a business leader, you’re going to have to be strategic about using what you have to get the job done.
Resourcefulness is also about using your strengths and outsourcing the rest. Moms have this down to an art.
We know when it’s time to order dinner instead of cooking it ourselves. We know when to seek advice from an expert. Knowing when to find resources elsewhere can save you time and give your business a competitive edge.
The world is finally waking up to the great potential of women entrepreneurs. We have made enormous economic strides in the last three years alone. If you are ready to live out your dream as a business owner and entrepreneur, now is the time to do it.
Special Business Funding For Women
Did you know that women can get special funding to launch their businesses? Check out this helpful resource from the Small Business Administration to learn more.
Ready to Join the ‘Mompreneur’ Movement?
Are you ready to take your seat at an ever-expanding table of women that are bringing their creativity, innovation and you guessed it–all their mom skills!–to the market?
Have you always dreamed about launching a brand, building your own business or writing your first book?
If you have, you’re not alone and you have come to the right place. The Million Dollar Mama Club ™ is a brand on mission to inspire women to follow their dreams. Founded by a successful entrepreneur and single mom, the Million Dollar Mama Club ™ offers exclusive resources that equip you with easy first steps so that you can make the success you dream of reality. Too many women get stuck dreaming. They are afraid to take steps toward their dream for many reasons. They feel out of time and often out of money. Our best-selling resource The Playbook: Guide to Following Your Dreams is a quick read that will inspire you to start investing in YOU and your ideas.
If there is an idea in your heart that you always think of or want to someday pursue, why not start taking steps today so that you can start living the life that you were made for. Following your dreams, listening to your ideas gives them tremendous value AND it shows that you value yourself. Stop talk, start doing. The Playbook is a beginner level business book for women with big dreams. Bring your ideas and all your excitement to the table and get ready to change the trajectory for your future.
#dreamers that do #gettheplaybook #mompreneur
What other qualities do moms have that translate into successful business leadership skills? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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