Entrepreneurship is not a fools-errand but a journey that requires certain skills and dedication that if applied earnestly will catapult you to the extraordinary success of a lifetime. As a woman in business (entrepreneur), you should be enthusiastic about a particular word; Freedom. You should always be eager to pursue your dream irrespective of the failures and hardships you encounter. Sequel to the fact that Entrepreneurship is an ART, there is a process or method on which it operates. Therefore if as a woman you want to become a successful entrepreneur, then you must not focus on only a set of skills because it might turn out to be an impediment to your success.
According to Denis Waitley, the author of The Psychology of Winning says, “Constant learning is the least yardstick for success in any field.” Master multiple skills and your impeccable success will follow. There are a few skills possessed by great entrepreneurs that may surprise you. The eagerness to put your best entrepreneur foot forward is just the first of many. In fact, you can “fake it until you make it” (until those entrepreneurial skills are mastered)
Every woman should understand that they are not alone in the quest for success. According to a Cox Business study, reported that over sixty (60) percent of women entrepreneurs started a business to be their own chief executive, and over 50 percent became entrepreneurs to become masters of their own fate and future.
It is pertinent for women who intend to become entrepreneurs to leave their comfort zone and take a bold step into being the architects of their own greatness. So any woman who yearns to achieve the feats of trailblazers like, Sara Breedlove (Madam C.J Walker) and Oprah Winfrey should master these skills as an ART of business survival and indelible success. The skills include curiosity, productivity, and the capability to ease stress.
Curiosity is a pertinent trait to an Entrepreneur
Curiosity is one of the most sacrosanct arts (skill) successful entrepreneurs make use of every day. Those who take the risk of asking the question “what if” are the women that succeed. So if you just want to make do with what is already in existence, then your whiteboard may stay blank forever.
Women entrepreneurs who have made their marks and achieved greatness in entrepreneurship thrived on innovations. They push themselves through new ideas, methods, and technology. They take ‘Risk more than others think is safe’; Nancy de Fays CEO of Linedock said “The thing I am the proudest of is making the shift to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. I think we all have dreams, ideals, and aspirations that keep us alive. It’s probably the hardest yet the most fantastic thing to be fully devoted to nurturing, shaping and making sure these come true. Curiosity will keep you on the cutting edge, and success will follow”. Curiosity will make you master more skills and remember, curiosity never kills an entrepreneur cat.
Every woman should stick to their personal Vision
Every successful woman entrepreneur possesses their own vision. Oprah Winfrey and Sara Breedlove had their own unique vision which took them to the heights they got to in life. Gail Blanke, CEO of LifeDesigns stated “Walt Disney told his crew to ‘build the castle first’ when constructing Disney World, knowing that vision would continue to serve as motivation throughout the project. Oftentimes when people fail to achieve what they want in life, it’s because their vision isn’t strong enough”. Your personal vision can make you become pro-active and innovative hence, a successful entrepreneur.
A successful woman understands the Power of COMMUNICATION
We live in a world where technology has become very dominant and has introduced a lot of ways to enhance communication. This development (technological advancement) has made one-on-one communication or interaction very minimal. Women entrepreneurs, who master the ART of communication, communicate efficiently.
When you take a preview of women entrepreneurs who have achieved great success especially in the twenty-first (21) century then you will behold charismatic goal-getters. To be effective and efficient in your business, you need a proper channel of communication and not an indiscriminate use of social media or sending e-mails.
As a woman in business, you need to take cognizance of all available communication techniques. Efficient online presence and communication are paramount for effective message delivery. This is key to business thriving and survival.
According to Paul Meyer, “Communication-the Human connection- Is the key to personal and career success” You can spend less time with someone in a conversation but deliver a clear message.
Speak and make sure People Listen
The importance of ‘communication’ cannot be overemphasized but it is pertinent to know that when you speak, people should always listen. The watchword is ‘speaking’ and not ‘talking’. Every entrepreneurial woman needs to master the ART of speaking (persuasion).
Mastering the ART of speaking is very sacrosanct because with it you will achieve extraordinary success. Hilary Clinton got to where she today owes to the fact that she has a voice. Melinda Gates said “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”
To be a successful woman entrepreneur, you must try as much as possible to be impactful in your talks every now and then. Mastering the ART of speaking and making people listen when you speak will enhance your relevance in entrepreneurship.
In the words of Joseph Conrad “He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.” Therefore speaking deliberately, succinctly, and in a calculative manner are key aspects to being heard as well.
Master the ART of easing entrepreneurial stress
Every woman in business (entrepreneurs) should understand that stress is inevitable. Therefore understanding how to ease that stress is key to the healthy flow of ideas and innovations. Engaging in business or even a new one is like having a newborn child and a newborn child comes with a lot of stress.
As an entrepreneur, you are sure to experience some form of stress and if you don’t find a lasting solution to it, it might become a big obstacle to growing your business. According to Roy Lawrence Ash, the co-founder of Litton industries, “An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he’ll quickly learn how to chew it”. So if you engage yourself in a business enterprise that is too demanding and stressful, device a way to cool off those steams of stress and stay healthy to keep booming your business.
Success is sure when you Master the ART of Negotiation
Women in Business must understand that conceiving an idea is one thing and make it a success depends on your power of negotiation.
Negotiation is many times disregarded by some women entrepreneurs which are not a good trait for a successful business. Every woman entrepreneur needs to possess the power to be able to negotiate with both her clients and employees to have good productivity- hence success in business. Growth or expansion in business means more negotiations for the entrepreneur. So brace and equip yourself with that power if you wish to become one of the greatest entrepreneurs of your time.
The reality is a great success in business stems from just one a small idea. There is no ‘success wand’ that catapults you from your comfort zone to that extraordinary success you dream of but success comes as a result of mastering the ARTs of business survival listed above. Mastering and adopting those skills will lift you up and place you in the league of those extraordinary women who thrived in Entrepreneurship.
By Charles Emekpo
