Being an entrepreneur is a tough task, especially if you’re a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry. No, the wage gap is not a myth and a female CEO is known to make about 70 percent less than her male counterpart. As an entrepreneur, however, you can overcome these odds and make your income and your success into whatever you want it to be. Sure, female entrepreneurs in Australia are in a more favorable position than their counterparts in some other regions, yet, it’s still a tough struggle. So, here are several tips to help you make it.
A work-life balance is incredibly important
One of the worst misconceptions about women in place of power is the fact that in order to achieve your goals, you have to sacrifice your private or family life. In reality, working moms are one of the carrying pillars of the present-day business world. This is why more and more businesses are establishing in-house daycares. Other than this, running an online business from home is yet another popular trend amongst female entrepreneurs. Sure, it’s not as easy to focus on the task at hand in these circumstances but it’s definitely possible with strong enough will and mental endurance.
It’s situational
There are a lot of female entrepreneurs in virtually any region of the world, however, claiming that these women are facing the same opposition regardless of their geographical location is a bit naïve. Of course, there are some places that female entrepreneurs find to be quite welcoming, especially in regions like the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union. In the majority of East Asia, the situation is rapidly improving, as well, even though the situation is far from perfect. In Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand, things are definitely up for some improvement.
Look for some help
The next thing you need to understand is the fact that, no matter how empowering it is to be self-reliant, you just can’t do it all on your own. Well, to be more precise, you can’t do it all on your own properly. This is why you need to look for some help wherever you can find it. Get an assistant and share a couple of your administrative tasks with them. Even a virtual assistant is a great idea. Other than this, you should also consider outsourcing some tasks. Finding a reliable tax accountant in Sydney is easier than it ever was, which means that you have one less reason not to do it.
Empower other women
One of the most important things you need to keep in mind is that, as a female entrepreneur, you’re not just a business owner. You’re an advocate for a worthy cause. Think about all the women you looked up to when you first started. Now think about what it would take for you to reach this same level of success. Ask yourself whether you’re sending the right message to the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Also, ask yourself, are you the kind of woman that you want your daughter to grow up to be? If she found herself in this kind of a situation, what would you advise her to do? This way, you’ll give a helping hand to those who need it.
Take care of your health
Another crucial thing that you need to bear in mind is the fact that you have to take care of your health, both mental and physical. This is something that you have to do for months, years and decades so if you can’t cope with it in the long run, you’re in a serious problem. This is also where the passion for the work that you’re doing enters the frame. Keep in mind that if you don’t like what you do, investing that extra effort might sometimes feel like torture. This is why you should make your choice of the industry as carefully as possible.
Keep learning
The best thing about living in the age of information is the fact that you can easily find an online course, webinar and a ton of research materials on any topic that you choose. This means that you have no excuse for failing to keep learning and keep expanding your worldview. One of the ways to achieve it is with Robin Sharma’s productivity rule also known as 20-20-20 rule. This is a morning routine where you spend the first hour of your day with 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of reflection on your goals and 20 minutes of learning a new skill. Remember, this skill doesn’t have to be anything major, it just needs to be something worth learning.
Avoid negative people
Lastly, the list of people who you would do well to avoid is quite long. First of all, there are the people who tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t do things that you know deep down that you should and can. Second, there are people who actively sabotage you, even when they are supposed to be your natural allies, to be on your team. Then there are the emotional vampires. These are people who aren’t necessarily trying to sway you from your path or sabotage you but people who just drain you if you spend long enough in their presence. This is a sacrifice that you can’t afford to make.
Conclusion
Different people have different objectives and criteria, which is why you need to figure out what success means to you before you start pursuing it. Keep in mind that this is not easy and it’s not definitive. As time goes by, your objectives and goals may change. This is why it’s important that you note down your original goals. By remembering how far from them you were when you wrote them down, you’ll get a substantial morale boost.