Are you a woman who owns a business, or who wants to? Hang on to your latte. This statistic may infuriate you.
A Nasty Small Business Truth
Women own about 40 percent of all businesses in the U.S.. We receive only 2.3 percent of the available equity capital needed for growth. Male-owned companies receive the other 97.7 percent. I'm on a mission to change that statistic. I hope you'll join me. Women's business mentor, Ali Brown overcame those odds and is teaching other women to do the same.
In my last column I gave women tools to begin to solve one of the major stumbling blocks to making more money. This week I wanted to inspire you to put that information into action. Ali Brown's success has made her the woman who is called "The Entrepreneurial Guru for Women" by Business News Daily.
$18.56 And No Plan B
In 1998 Ali quit her job. Without a mentor or coach to guide her, Ali dove in books on marketing and success. Like so many women she funded her business on credit cards. "I remember one night going to the ATM," Ali said. "I was meeting some friends for drinks, and I couldn't even take out a $20 bill. My balance was $18.56. I will never forget that number. I had to call them and cancel and go home. I had maxed out my credit cards. I had been putting all I had into my little start-up business."
Since Ali had no Plan B, she had to forge on. She developed her internet marketing business and was a self-made millionaire by the age of 35. Ali now mentors 50,000 women in business. She is deeply committed to her philanthropic efforts. She gave away $100,000 on the 2011 ABC prime time show, Secret Millionaire. It is no wonder that she inspires so many women to shine.
Ali's beautiful personality and wisdom sure shone through in a personal interview I recently got to enjoy with her. I would like to share some of the insights I gained from this special lady:
You look like you have everything together. Some women may look at you and think that they can never do what you do. Are you ever scared?
There's never a day that I'm not scared. There's never a day that I feel deep down that I don't have all the pieces lined up or I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what I'll be doing next year. People are always asking, "Do you have a 5 year plan?" I don't have a 3 year plan. Sometimes, I don't have the 6 month plan. That may shock people in business, but I navigate with my intuition and my heart.
I also navigate by listening to my clients and my customers. I respond to what they want. I see this as a beautiful ride that we're all on together. That is not taught in any business school and it's something that's hard to teach. It's more a way of being than a prescription of doing.
It sounds like you are comfortable with uncertainty. Do you have a Plan B?
I've kind of always done my business this way, and this isn't for everyone. It sure as hell works. I don't have a plan B. I put myself in situations where I have to do things that make me step up. I do things that I know I want to do. It may be very uncomfortable. Once you start doing what you know is the right path and you realize that you're safe.
I got to a point that I couldn't stand being there and it was more painful to stay where I was than to move forward. Sometimes not having a Plan B is a better motivator. I'm not saying, "Ali told me to quit my job and have no money!" [Laughter]. But not having a plan B is actually a really great motivator. I had no choice. I had to get out there.
I see that when a woman goes after a goal she comes up against her own issues. What do you see in mentoring women business owners?
Whether you're starting a business or you want to be a superstar in business, you've got to be prepared for all kinds of your personal issues to surface. You need to be ready to move through things that you may not have been prepared to move through before. Self-esteem issues, confidence issues, self-image issues, all this stuff will bubble up to the surface to be dealt with whenever you're ready to move up to the next level. I'm sure anyone reading this will know what I'm talking about. When you're moving into the next level, typical stuff has to be dealt with. Maybe it's a boyfriend that's ready to get the boot [Laughter] or it could be something personal with you that you need to address and you need to get better habits or become more self-disciplined.
That is so important for women to understand. Success requires both inner and outer work and decisive action. I find that some women sit on the side lines and ponder their future instead of implementing what they know they need to do. How do you find your next steps?
For me throughout my career "next steps" has only appeared through space and silence. You will not get the next big idea sitting at your desk surrounded by a bunch of papers and projects. You're going to get your best ideas when you're walking on the beach, when you're taking a vacation, when you're in the park, where you're actually getting enough sleep everyday, and this is something that I have to get really good at. In fact, I have two full weekdays every week of unscheduled time, which is typically unheard of.
Two focus days a week - I call those focus days because they're good days to focus on particular projects or maybe challenges. I'm not a sit still meditator or that's not when I do prayer. It's usually when I'm walking on the beach that is when I'm talking to God. That's what I do and that's when I'm asking for help. I'm saying here's what I'm dealing with and can you show me the clue, give me a clue, and show me next steps. Create that space. It is so helpful to your business. You have to have the faith. Growing your business, this is where faith comes into play. That's probably a whole other conversation. But you have to be comfortable with the unknown to let things happen.
It is terrific for women to hear how much space you give yourself. How do you overcome your own obstacles?
If you want to be a business owner, you will come up against some stuff you don't like. You have to be ready to put on your big girl panties and deal with it. Not all women are. It's okay but you need to be aware of that. And like you said that's another call. Stand up tall. Go put on those Big Girl Panties and go rock it!
To get your hands on business advice from Ali Brown go to her website at www.alibrown.com.
You can receive an email notice when Eli's blogs are published by clicking "Fan" at the top of this page. Ask Eli a question at info@elidavidson.com. Go to www.elidavidson.com. Get your free report, How To Get Where You Want To Go Faster.
--
Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and executive coach. Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped" (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Check out her blog at funkytofabulous.blogspot.com.
Follow Eli Davidson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/elidavidsonf2f
Women Business Owner Resources for Money, Marketing and Success ...
One thing that struck me while reading is an old saying that took me a long time to 'get': "don't judge your insides by other people's outsides." There will always be people who appear to have it altogether when you feel like things are coming apart and you don't have what it takes. Their success is not your success - and as Ali points out, even her level of success today is accompanied by some uncertainty and fear. Everybody puts their pants on one leg at a time.
Building our own success is indeed an inside job - inner work that allows us to befriend discomfort and take a step forward anyway. We just have to get the support and guidance we each need to take that next step ... because there are many more to come. Each of us has a contribution only we can make for the people, places and things we care about most. May they be big, bold and positively enduring for generations that follow!
Cheers, Dolly
Kristen White
www.facebook.com/InstantCelebritySuccess
"Our work is our love made visible." Following Spirit's lead is the only real success anyway.
YOU rock and are such a rock star!!!
Be Your Fabulous,
Eli Davidson
Ali, thank you for the legacy you have created and for the indirect impact it has had on my life and business.
Eli, thank you for this interview.
Thank you for all the encouragement and inspiration you have given me.
love and blessings - Taylore
http://www.SensualSage.com
Thank you so much for acknowledging the impact that Ali has had on your life and your success through her work. You bring up such an important point. Often a mentor reaches even further than they know. In this time of women stepping up and into the spotlight it is so key to have women that stand tall in who they are.
I got to see your wonderful website.
It looks like you are a powerful leader for corporate women looking to rediscover their "juice." Boy, as I am working with these women as VIP clients, I see that they need your work desperately.
Brava for the wonderful work you do!!!
I'm also very excited about my work with corporate women who are just too burnt out to even think about doing anything. It's time for them to get their juice back, and I intend to help them do that in a loving and nurturing way, which will breathe new live into their mind, body and soul.
It was a delight to connect with you in person last week. Thank you so much for your brilliant masterminding. I would not have my new tag line without you. You are a gift to us all, Eli.
much love and blessings
Taylore
National Association of Women Business Owners has 65 chapters-Each chapter has its own web site as well as Nationals. .
Women Who Launch with networking, resources and promotion.
WBENC-Women's Business Enterprise National Council is to help women business owners become certified as official Women Business Enterprises. The certification is needed to obtain contracts from major corporations within the supplier diversity programs of corporations.
There are certifications for minority and disabled business owners.
Count Me In with its Make Mine A Million Program is women who want to build a business to break $1M mark.
Women Presidents' Organization is for women business owners with companies over $1M--it's very peer oriented with mentoring and focused on growth and solving challenges.
Springboard Enterprises is for women with businesses posed for VC funding.
Astia is about accelerating the growth of high-potential, high-growth women owned businesses
Women 2.0 is for young Females founders and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and globally-they rock.
I began the Girl's CEO Connection and the Realizing a Vision conference to bring teen girls into seeing themselves as entrepreneurs while in high school and college.
I profoundly appreciate you being an advocate for women in business,
Eli
Thank you for sharing!
Eli
@juliefogg
You are such an inspiration to so many women. You mentor people to follow in your wildly successful footsteps of starting and growing a business. I love getting your tweets!
Women do have such a key role to play in every arena, and speaking as someone whose business model is to inspire entrepreneurs to greatness, it's no surprise to me how enterprising we are!
With excitement,
Barbara Holden, Boost Biz With Video
What is one tip you would offer women to build their businesses...since there is no Plan B?
Well, there's something Kiyla Fenell shares, that's simple but profound, in her segment for the Summit -- How important it is to be single-focused in your business. Choose what the focus of your business will be, what it is you do for people, and stay true to it.
It's too easy to try to be all things to all people (especially for us women!), but that won't make for a successful business. Find your focus, stay with it and you'll become known for it!
Your readers can find out more and register here (Free): http://bit.ly/jTwM65
- Barbara
"The Million Dollar Secrets of The Savvy Online Entrepreneur" Video Summit
Truly Inspiring! There is so much to learn from people like Ali Brown, firstly it inspires everyone a great deal, secondly, it shows how important dedication is. Doing what you love doing and having the belief that you'll do well is so important for the success of any business. It's really sad to see the figures so low for women. I hope this figure changes in the future. Great post. Thanks for sharing!
Riya Sam
Training for Entrepreneurs.com
Ali is such an incredible role model! It looks like you have wonderful tools to share with entrepreneurs.
What is one tip you would share with women business owners?
You Go Girl!
Eli
I love this! Thank you. Just think how the world economy will evolve as more women get their act in gear. This is so exciting to me!
With love and appreciation,
Anne
Also, glad to hear about someone else who doesn't plan too far into the future so is able to take advantage of new opportunities as they develop. The key is to stop thinking about the opportunities and take them! Have suggestions about discernment to go with this?
Thanks again for insightful leadership.
What is the key is to stop thinking about the opportunities and take them?
This is usually more challenging for women than men. Studies show that women have a greater level of negative thinking than men. So, it is essential that you get a clear picture of the successful outcome. See yourself enjoying the success clearly. Then take a small step toward it.
The next tip is having a mentor that can show you how to get to your success easier and faster.
You go goddess!
Eli
Monica
It's great to hear from you. What action step are you taking to create your future?
Let me know so I can support you!
Eli
I am not as ambitious as you are and pursuing to start my own business, but I'm working my hardest to do well in school and pursuing a future career at a company I would enjoy working with. I'm really glad you wrote this article because it inspired me to stop just sulking and do something to make my dream a reality. This summer, I'm working on improving my skills to prepare me for the workforce in the future. It was funny because I stumped upon this article and I thought the Ali in this article was the same one as the one you interviewed.
http://www.teenvoices.com/2010/07/15/teen-entrepreneur-makes-jewelry-for-great-causes/
I really do hope you keep writing! I look forward to reading more articles by you.