Be Different or be dead

May 28, 2018

6 amazing female entrepreneurs to be really listened to

6 amazing female entrepreneurs to be really listened to.

Female entrepreneurs are a rapidly-growing demographic of business owners, and their enterprises are making waves in the business world.

Modern women of all ages have started their own businesses and made their fortunes through hard work and determination. They’ve learned more than a few lessons along their path to business success — lessons we can all benefit from, such as…

▪️Amy Rees Anderson, CEO MediConnect Global
“Always do the right thing, no matter what the consequences of doing the right thing will be. At the end of the day there is nothing more valuable than your integrity, both in life and in business. Success will come and go but integrity is forever.”

This can be a tough one to stick to, especially if you’re starting out with limited capital. It can be tempting to cut corners here and there to save a little money. But a successful business that has true longevity comes from a place of integrity. Ultimately, it’s better to fail with decency than to succeed through deception.

▪️Leila Rose, designer
“The importance of building a great team has been my greatest lesson. The people that you surround yourself and your business with are extremely vital to success.”

Your team are working with you towards your business vision. As such, you need to make sure it’s made up of people who will benefit you. You will be working with these people a lot, so they need to work well together and share your vision.

Remember, you can teach virtually anyone to do virtually anything, but you can’t teach them to be a good person.

▪️JK Rowling, author
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default.”

There’s not a single person on this planet who didn’t make atleast one, if not several, mistakes on their path to success — even the creator of Harry Potter! Mistakes and failure are a natural part of the learning process. But what differentiates those who succeed from those who don’t is that they learn from their mistakes, pick themselves up and try again.

No-one gets it right first time, so embrace your mistakes and be a better entrepreneur for it.

▪️Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs Fields Bakeries
“Good enough never is.”

This knowledge bomb is short, snappy and as sweet as Debbi’s cookies. In business (indeed, in everything), there is always something you could do better. If you reach your one-year target, don’t sit on your laurels. Build on that success and use it to take your business further.

If you continually aspire for more, your enterprise will continue to grow and grow. Always be looking ahead to the next milestone in your business calendar.

▪️Aimee Song, founder of Song of Style
“My #1 biggest lesson I’ve learned was to hire people for the things I’m not good at. [...] Hiring people meant I could focus on the creative parts that I enjoyed and work more efficiently.”

You are a talented and driven — but you can’t do everything. Everyone has their Achilles’ heel. But Aimee knows the value of letting others shoulder that responsibility so she can focus on what she does well.

And so should you! Don’t let your weak points stop you from building a thriving business. Struggling with your advertising? Employ a marketer. Don’t know how to make a website yet? Hire a freelance web developer. Do what do you best, and let others do the same for you.

▪️Pippa Murray, founder of Pip & Nut
“If you’re looking at starting up a business, never be afraid to ask that stupid question or reach out to someone in the industry you admire, as the more support you can get the more your brand – and you – will flourish.”

If Mad Men or The Apprentice are anything to go by, the world of business might seem like a cutthroat, dog-eat-dog world.

But it’s actually full of people just like yourself who worked hard to get where they are today. They’ve faced the very same challenges you’re facing today, and most of them are only too happy to share their knowledge with you. If you’re struggling, go to entrepreneur networking groups to meet successful individuals, and you’ll find they’ll be only too happy to share their knowledge.

The successful female entrepreneurs above have all struggled to get where they are today. They’ve worked hard, and have learned some valuable lessons along the way. Follow their advice, and you’ll surely be amongst their ranks someday too.

— Kayleigh Alexandra is a content writer for Micro Startups — a site dedicated to giving through growth hacking. Visit their blog for your latest dose of startup, entrepreneur, and charity insights from top experts around the globe.

• Posted 5.28.18 at 04:22 am by Roy Osing
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February 3, 2018

8 simple things to do so your boss can’t live without you

Source: Pexels

8 simple things to do so your boss can’t live without you.

In the world of work, it is often easy to feel like you’re expendable. There’s so much competition in the modern world, with more and more people receiving a full and extensive education. But there are ways to ensure you’re always top dog, no matter where you work or who you work for.

Follow these simple steps to make sure you’re never first on the boss’ lips when it comes to firing people, and work your way to the top.

1. Be loyal to your company

Even if you’re working a job that you hate, loyalty to your company is extremely important. You have to show that the job means something to you if you want your boss to recognise your worth.
That means no half-hearted attempts at a job, and no sneaking off for other interviews behind your boss’ back. Stick to the job at hand, and make sure your focus isn’t drawn away from what matters.

2. Get in with your co-workers

You might despise the people you work with. They might not be your kind of person at all, but being successful at work is all about good communication.
If you want to ensure your boss could not live without you, get in a good social circle. If you’re well liked in the office, you’ll have an extra security blanket around you when it comes to making cuts in the company. No one wants to fire their friend, right?

3. Be adaptable and stay on your toes

New challenges will be presented to you at work all the time. Don’t let them worry you, or stop you from excelling. If you’re working on something new that you don’t understand, that’s fine.
You can adjust if you put your mind to it and work hard. It’s okay to ask for help, so long as you’re moving forwards and getting better all the time.

Is the day to day grind getting you down? Augmented reality is the new way to escape the nine to five life. Why live in this world when you can be a part of thousands?

4. Go the extra mile

Is the boss looking for someone to do overtime? Volunteer yourself. Is there a bunch of paperwork that needs doing after hours? Take it on. Doing the little extras for your boss shows them that you’re not just there for the nine to five slog.
It shows that you’re a valuable member of their team, and it’ll put you first in line for raises, promotions and all the best benefits of the company.

5. Keep saying yes and open doors for yourself

Take on any opportunity that you’re offered. If the company is looking for someone to go to a conference abroad, for example, take on the opportunity. Of course, you must consider your personal life before jumping in to anything, but the benefits you’ll reap from taking on anything thrown your way are astronomical. Keep in mind that opportunities don’t appear every day, and that there’s no turning back once you’ve said no.

6. Make good use of your time

8 simple things to do so your boss can’t live without you.

If you used to be one of those people desperate for a two-minute break at the coffee machine, drop that attitude. You’re better than that. Utilize your time to ensure that the work you produce is top notch. If it helps, create a timetable, and cram in as much work as you can (though quality is always the most important thing.) It’s surprising how much more you get done when you designate time for a specific task!

7. Don’t wait to be asked – just do it

There’s always something to do in a busy work environment, and often important tasks are abandoned in favour of the easy ones. These tasks are yours to take on. Find out what needs completing and do it without being asked.
You’re in control of how much you do, but even taking on a little extra work can be a really good sign for your boss that you’re not expendable.

8. Never stop trying

Each work environment is different. There are too many factors at play to give a fool proof plan to reach the top. But the one thing you can do is never stop trying. Giving up is the sign of someone who doesn’t care if they reach their goals or not. Never be that person. No matter how much work gets you down, remember the goal in sight and keep at it. Go in head strong and with your heart set on success, and you can never fall far from grace.

There will be tough times in any job, and there will be some setbacks. Don’t allow someone else getting a promotion to stop you reaching yours. Don’t focus on others – focus on your own merit, and achieve within your parameters.

The world is your oyster if you’re willing to put the hours in.

Irina Kashevskaya is a certified specialist at the Designdroide specializing in interior design, web design and graphic design.

• Posted 2.3.18 at 07:37 am by Roy Osing
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