With Joy Chudacoff, Leading Expert on Business Success and Lifestyle Design For Women
There’s one mistake I see happening consistently by women entrepreneurs when they are at a point where they need to scale their business. I talk about this, along with my business turning points in my 28+ years as an entrepreneur, on Eleanor Beaton’s, Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast: The Success Podcast for Ambitious Women in Business. I also shared simple ‘power’ moves
While it’s true that some industries are experiencing market saturation, there is a gigantic opportunity for business owners who have a proven track record and are recognized by their followers as an expert in their field. Plus, IF you’re targeting industries that haven’t been hit over the head every minute of the day with some newfangled “no effort on your part, just sit back and watch the money roll in” gimmick, these people will welcome your expertise with open arms and pay you very well for your expert knowledge.
Case in point: I have a client who is definitely perceived as an expert in her industry that sent this email a few days ago: “Joy! I made $10K today!” By following a simple plan and staying consistent in preparation leading up to the event (which was a webinar by the way), she was rewarded for her efforts in a big way financially and I suspect a feeling of accomplishment.
Here are a few key pieces that made her online event successful:
The number #1 barrier to getting a business off the ground is fear and I’ve shared tips and solutions on fear of failure and how to overcome this barrier for years. Today, I want to focus on the second biggest barrier to getting a business off the ground. What do you think it is? Money. Entrepreneurs struggle with access to enough money to stay in business until it becomes profitable. According to the US Small Business Administration, at any given time, there are roughly 27 million US businesses in need of capital.
In the past, access to money to build a business has been limited by a very small pool of people that we know or come in contact with. Reaching out to friends and family is how most entrepreneurs get started or maybe you bankrolled yourself initially by using a credit card (like me!). These tactics present a very narrow path to securing the much needed capital entrepreneurs need for expansion.
Enter Crowdfunding.
I struggled this week on what I wanted to share with you. I actually had one article written and another in draft mode, but neither were hitting the mark for me instinctually.
This morning I woke with a rush of energy and intense passion. I knew exactly what my message needed to be. Read on if you are ready to be inspired and at the same time feel a little uncomfortable.
We, as women in leadership (by the way, that’s you), need to persist in having our voices heard. You need to speak up for other women who may not for varying reasons (i.e. fear, physical abuse) cannot in their current situation. You need to speak up for your mothers, daughters, sons, grandchildren and next door neighbors.
As recent as this week, a prominent, high profile female leader in our government was silenced… like a lamb. You cannot convince me that our beloved suffragettes who persisted for hours, days, weeks and years to blow the door wide open for our ability to express our opinions and views would accept what’s happening.
To download my audio article, 8 Ways to Develop Breakthrough Relationships and Inspire Confidence , click on the button below:
To listen to my audio article, click on the audio player arrow below:
Today, when I was out taking my morning walk, my mind wandered to a Women’s Business luncheon I recently attended where I overheard someone giving another businesswoman advice about a subject she was obviously not qualified to give. The advice she was sharing was actually scary. I thought, “Geez, I sure hope this woman doesn’t do what she’s being advised to do.”
I then thought, while I really wanted to, it was not my place to save either of these women but I wanted to make sure I share some very important information I learned from my own experiences, with the businesswomen I can and do support.
For some sound advice, listen to my four minute audio:
When I think back to ALL the BIG leaps in success & income I’ve had over the years, I realize that a combination of two important things were present:
Did you know that only 2% of women entrepreneurs break the million-dollar mark?
When you think about the work you put in, that’s a hard pill to swallow. So, why the big gap between our efforts and earnings?
I believe what stops women from breaking their income ceiling is not a lack of drive or determination.
What stops you is letting the same old systems and routines RUN you and your business, which keeps you satisfactorily underperforming, year after year.
Deep down you know that what got you here today is not all you need to accomplish your bigger vision.
