As a serial movie buff, I can't miss any opportunity to make an analogy about the most recent movie release and women entrepreneurs. If you haven't seen J. Edgar I hope you will dismiss the poor reviews and go to see it just for the pure joy of learning about this fascinating historical character.

J. Edgar Hoover was the first director of the FBI and is credited with building it into an efficient crime-fighting agency. He developing innovative technologies that led to the establishment of a centralized database for fingerprints and forensics.

So what does this have to do with women entrepreneurs, you ask? Stay with me here.

Hoover built his agency (the FBI) without seeking or receiving permission for his tactics from any one in the government, including, who might have been perceived as his boss, the attorney general. As a matter of fact, he spent most of his career collecting data, or you might call it evidence, on his critics. His secret files are the main reason he was able to stay in his job until his death in 1972.

Again, you ask, so what message does this have for women entrepreneurs? The answer is simple. Too often women are brought up to believe that everyone they meet and do business with is supportive of their mission. Unfortunately, this is far from true. As a business coach, I spend time pointing out where blind faith has taken over for best practices for many of my clients.

Women entrepreneurs, like all small business owners, must carefully evaluate every opportunity fwhen doing business. Not all well-intentioned people and/or competitors have your back. As a matter of fact, the more you show your hand the more likelihood you get it bitten off.

I am not suggesting that you begin to collect evidence against your critics, but I am advising you to be aware of what is going on around you. If you don't, you won't have the ability to develop a strategy to stay ahead. Women may be better relationship builders, but not every relationship is worth building.

J. Edgar Hoover may not be a character women in business want to emulate, but his style was more challenger than relationship builder - an approach that the Harvard Business Review praises for today's sales professionals.

As an entrepreneur you are a leader, but there will always be those that want to take you  So, remember what J. Edgar Hoover teaches us...."keep your friends close and your enemies closer."