Women's Business Blog

This morning as I read my email, as I always do well before dawn, I came across an article from Forbes magazine "Why Women Entrepreneurs Make Less Than Men". Immediately I became frustrated, as I always do when I read one of these types of articles. I quickly tweeted it out and commented - SO WHAT!

Just when you thought you could take a break from your small business you realize that July is here and it is time to develop your mid-year plan. Too many small businesses blow off doing any planning during the summer months, believing that they will have more time in the Fall. The problem with this strategy is that once Fall rolls around it is too late to plan for what is already happening in your business. In my experience, women businessowners tend to put off mid-year planning more than their male counterparts. Why? Well, again from my experience, it is often because family responsibilities are increased in the summer months and/or they have not surrounded themselves with competent advisors -- financial advisors, accountants, business consultants -- who initiate the conversation.

Entrepreneurs must focus attention on building the business in bad as well as good economic times. Just as the old saying goes "all politics is local" it is also true all business is local. (1) The savvy small business owner is involved in his/her community. Actually, one of women entrepreneurs' greatest strength is their long term involvement in their local community. Volunteer MOM brings valued relationships to her new role as a small business owner. As a matter of fact, a recent survey done by the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) demonstrated that during the recession nearly 39% of women business owners "increased their involvement in civic, social or school activities to increase exposure for their business."

There is a myth that men lead with their head and women lead with their heart and that the focus on emotions gets women leaders in trouble. The facts prove that just the opposite is true. The ability to be intuitive and tap into the feelings of those you are working with allows leaders to better guide the results of their teams.