Women's Business Blog

Women in America continue to start twice as many businesses each year than their male counterparts. As new entrepreneurs, they decide to do it their way and combine their experience with their skills and launch, not only a business but, an adventure.

The busiest time of year is headed our way. One doesn't have to be in retail to experience the stress of the fourth quarter. Every businesswoman, and man, understands the need to either get product out the door or sign up new clients before the end of the fiscal year. Entrepreneurs doing business with large companies should understand that if potential customer 2012 budgets have not already been exhausted there is always an opportunity to get a slice of what is left. (This was a strategy I used when I owned my newspaper to get in the door of many large companies - make them a deal they just couldn't refuse!).

Are you running your business or is your business running you?

I love emails from women entrepreneurs with new ideas for small businesses. So many of them evolve from dreams of living a life with more control -- more purpose -- more satisfaction.

Ask any woman entrepreneur what keeps her up at night and she will tell you that there are three major reasons that she is wide awake at 2 a.m. and still watching the clock at 4 a.m.

'Workin 9 to 5
What a way to make a livin
Barely gettin by
Its all takin
And no givin
They just use you mind
And they never give you credit
Its enough to drive you
Crazy if you let it...'Dolly Parton

Studies show that women in business are much more likely to fear the unknown than men in business. Perhaps it is because traditionally women are  brought up to be the caretakers and therefore must be the anticipators of danger. Men (the hunters), are nurtured to go out and look for trouble and, in too many instances be the cause of it.

As Oprah Winfrey wraps up her time as the queen of (and there is no king) of TV talk shows, women in business should be watching her every move. Oprah is the most successful businesswoman on the planet and therefore she is a role model for every woman.

Women entrepreneurs must learn that speaking up and speaking out is critical to their business success. You may have been told as a young child that "making too much noise" was what boys did and that a young lady, like yourself, was meant to look pretty and keep quiet. But that advice will not get you ahead in business and if you haven't started already to find your voice this blog will get you started. Learning how to speak well whether to one person, a group or to an audience of hundreds is something every businesswoman must master. When I was about five years old my Dad would ask me to get up and speak to whatever crowd was gathered. I never understood why everyone wanting to hear from me, but if my Dad wanted me to speak I did. Regardless of what I said I always got applause and learned at an early age I had something others wanted to hear. What a great lesson to learn at an early age. As I got older I continue to speak out and spent more time perfecting my message. I learned to speak with authority and conviction and others would take away substance from my talks. Now, I know what you are thinking - speaking in front of an audience is at the top of the list of most people's greatest fears. But you are never too old to learn how to do it well and particularly how to use speaking as a method of getting business. People like to do business with people who aren't afraid to speak out about what they believe - of course, in business you want to stay away from the controversial subjects of religion and politics. Start today by speaking to yourself in the mirror and expressing the reasons your business separates itself from the competition. Watch how your expressions can put an accent on the important points you want potential customers to pay attention to. Yes, how you are perceived when you speak is what separates the successful credible speakers from the "what the heck is she talking about" speakers. Finally, start speaking up at every event you attend. Ask questions of the speaker or make comments about the topics. Let others know that you have a voice and know how to use it. It won't take long before you will be seen as a person of substance. You see the majority still believes that they have nothing to say or that someone else can say something better than they can. You must, and will, become that someone and take the floor. Speak up. Speak out. People WILL listen.

Women entrepreneurs have a particularly difficult time delegating responsibility in their business. Before reading further, ask yourself,