If you own a business in the Boston area you know what I mean when I say it has been a tough year for business. The snow keeps falling and the last thing anyone is doing is spending money. I believe that women entrepreneurs are even better at understanding how to navigate the rough waters of business than men --- and this is why....

First, in my experience as a business coach, women entrepreneurs expect their businesses to have cycles. Everything in their life leading up to starting a business was not as straight a path as their male counterparts. From the time they entered the business world, work has been more challenging than expected. Listen carefully here: I am not suggesting that every woman hits her head on a glass ceiling or is held back at every turn by male chauvinism. But, what I am saying is that every woman I know, young and old, has, at one time or another, experienced a time in her work life where she was told she would have to wait her turn, or need to move on to advance, or that her dreams were just a little unrealistic. In other words, women are more likely to come in contact with difficult times early on then men.

I also believe that physiology plays a part in this hypothesis that women understand business cycles better than men. Whether it is the biology itself or the clarity of the cycles that women have that makes work life more challenging is a question for another blog. But, the fact is women move from childhood to womanhood when menstruation begins and into middle age when menopause starts. I have often wondered why the word "men" is in both of those words, but I digress. The point is women have cycles and they learn this early on as does the rest of the world. Therefore, women are expected to deal with cycles as it is part of their life experience. The fact that only women can give birth is just another reminder of the cycle only woman experience.

Of course, in history these cycles have perhaps caused more of a burden than a boost in women's business lives, but I believe that is changing rapidly as women embrace their experiences and build upon them.

But let's get back to the winter from hell in the Boston area and the need to shore up your strength for the months ahead. First, worrying about the business that hasn't happened in the past six weeks is wasted energy. Truth be told, the majority of businesses, particularly retail, have slow winter month sales. The professional business service companies must prepare to counter attack the slow period with an aggressive sales campaign in the spring, understanding that even a higher than normal spring profit will not necessarily make up for the miserable winter loss.

Second, please don't react by launching something totally out-of-the-box and unplanned due to the fact MAYBE it will raise sales. If there were a magic bullet for every business losing revenues right now I would be selling it and this blog would be just about getting you to call me so I could offer you a discount.

Third, as a woman entrepreneur and hopefully as someone who has been reading this blog for a long time, go back and read your journal from a period in your business life when things really got slow. Learn from your own experience how your business can and will flourish again. Learn what it took from you to make it happen. I know that you have the answers to getting your business back on track once this cycle changes. After all, you are a master of cycles.

Finally, I hate to say that misery loves company, but I have been observing too many of you (you know who you are) spending time commiserating with others in the same boat. What may feel safe at the moment only puts you further behind in the long run. Please be the woman business owner in the room that stands up and declares a cease and desist and the doom and gloom. The horizon is bright for women in business and for every business person ready, willing and able to get tough and get going. The future of your business is in your hands. Mother Nature may strike a blow from time to time and, I can guarantee you, other equally difficult challenges WILL come your way. But, you have what it takes to move forward. You are the one that launched this business and you will be the one to keep it growing. But only if you admit your powerlessness against acts of nature and your determination to work harder to rise above whatever gets in your way.