Savvy Mompreneurs Blog

Why 75% of Women Struggle to Succeed in Business

MaryPat Kavanagh — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:13:12 +0000

When you look at the list of what women ‘do’ in their businesses it looks something like this:

General administration
Email
Website maintenance
Phone calls
Marketing
Social Networking
Client work
Bookkeeping
Running errands

plus much, much more.

Of course this ‘to do’ list is similar to what men ‘do’ in business, however the woman in business is also responsible for the personal side of life. Having children and partners plus take care of the household can consume your day without even going anywhere near their business!

The biggest barrier to their success is they often try to ‘do’ everything themselves, which is impossible. While they are ‘doing’ the day-day basics, there’s no time to work ‘on’ the business. There’s no time to look after their no. 1 asset… themselves.

That’s why getting help is essential. If you’re a woman in business, you need to look at letting go and asking for help. ‘Superwoman’ is a myth.

I recall one lady who had three pre-school children who was spending every possible minute working on her business. Well she really wasn’t working ‘on’ it, she was working ‘in it’. Mary did everything including packaging orders, bookkeeping, delivery of orders and all the paperwork. She wanted to make more money but she was very reluctant to let go of anything.

She also had the mentality that she couldn’t ’spend’ money on the business, until she made some first. If Mary outsourced the menial tasks, she would have easily freed up her time and tripled her current income, and been much more happier. The business was a heavy noose around her neck. She was a perfectionist and felt that if she didn’t play the part of Superwoman, she would have failed.

Freeing up your time is crucial, however what do you do with that free time? You see most women in business (and also a lot of men) are unsure of what to do next and that’s why they keep themselves busy buried in paperwork and general daily busyness.

Identifying what type of help you need is also vital. I recently came across a woman who was struggling to keep her holistic health centre viable. She thought by investing in a special machine for an additional $25,000 which can diagnose various ailments she’d make more money. A new machine wasn’t the solution.

The truth was she had no idea how to run her business. She needed a business coach. And it wasn’t all about marketing that she needed. Her self-esteem and personal image needed to be addressed for her to be seen as credible.

Lisa thought it would be a ‘good idea’ to start a small retail store. That way she and her friend could be in business together. So thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of blood, sweat and tears later she was left with:

a. Her friendship destroyed.
b. A nervous breakdown
c. Her marriage broken up
d. $75,000 of additional debt
e. No chance of having the baby she so desperately wanted

The pretty brochures, advertising costs and flashy website didn’t bring in the business. And unfortunately a lot of women in business ‘fluff’ around and spend time and money in the wrong areas.

So if you want to stop struggling, find out what successful women in business do. Every successful business woman I know continuously gets help through coaching, attending seminars, reading, finding mentors etc. They are on a constant personal and professional development journey.

They also outsource their weaknesses and use their strengths. There is always help available and depending on your needs you can access the help you need very inexpensively. If the assistance you require can be done without being in your office or premises, there are many very affordable options.

So what can you do to change your situation? If you want to achieve different results in your business, you need to do something else.

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Lorraine Pirihi, The Productivity Queen, is founder of ProductivityQueen.com and creator of “The Productivity and Profit System ™” … the proven step-by- step program that shows you exactly how to work less and earn more!

To receive your F.R.E.E. CD “10 Habits of Highly Productive and Profitable People” valued at $47 by mail and weekly how-to articles to increase your productivity and your profits visit http://www.productivityqueen.com

Is working easier than being a mom?

queenmarypat — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:45:50 +0000

Do you ever feel like losing yourself is easier than dealing with all the demands of being a mom? Do you ever admit that to yourself?

I have. And I was especially impressed with Alexis Neely’s blog post today that shared her story about this as well.

See, the truth of the matter is that I’ve found it is much, much, much easier to work than to be really present with my kids. So, yes, my work over the past years has been a matter of necessity, but I’ve also done it because escaping into my work was so much easier than being really present with my kids. And then the more I worked, the less I knew how to be with them.

This is a great quick read about how to deal with your kids when you feel like you can’t! And don’t miss this comments (I posted one). Elizabeth Potts Weinstein also commented and talked about a great book called “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. He also has a version about teenagers and a version about children which I have but have not yet read. I HAVE read the first one and it is a MUST-READ for anyone interested in having relationships.

The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate

Let me know what you think!

Freedom Based Businesses ROCK as a mompreneur!

Guest Blogger — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:26:25 +0000

Guest Blog Post
by Katrina Sawa

What do the moms do who actually have to juggle kids, school, dance or practices, after school activities, homework and more…and also go to and work at their J.O.B. all day???

Oh my goodness. As a new S.M.I.T. (Step Mom in Training), I’m finding out first hand how cool it is to have the freedom of owning and running my own business! It’s the best thing since sliced bread!

I always knew how lucky I was when I would talk to my friends who ‘worked somewhere’ at their J.O.B. and they told me all the insider drama, politics, etc. that went on and how they can hardly get their work done. They’re miserable, work long hours and all for someone else.

Not to mention those of them who are moms also had to do daycare where most of the money they brought in helped pay for that but the worst part being they had to be away from their kids during the most important times of their lives.

I didn’t realize all this until I finally now live with my honey Scott and his two daughters, Brittani who’s 14 and just started high school and Madelyn who’s 10 and in 5th grade (not to mention has slight Autism to boot!). I get the privelege of driving them to school or picking them up on occasion and I’m always thanking the Universe for allowing me the opportunity to do that and giving me the skills and talents that I provide to others so in return I can live a prosperous, freedom-based life full of love.

Let’s just thank our lucky stars that life can be this grand! ;0)

I’d love to invite you to listen in on my FREE 5-Part Teleseries on Love and Money…How to Finally Have it All. On this series I’ll share all kinds of practical ways to build your business but also to transform your personal life and finally achieve the balanced, freedom-based AND money-making business that you desire. Register now at http://www.LoveandMoneyTeleseries.com and I’ll see you there!

Bio:
Katrina is the founder and CEO of K. Sawa Marketing International and the creator of The JumpStart Your Marketing™ System and the Love and Money Business Summit happening this Nov, 2009 in San Francisco. Katrina is a regular Business Expert on News10 in Sacramento, California and she speaks to groups of all sizes on how to start, build, grow and market your business. She is also one of the happiest people you will ever know living in Roseville, CA with her honey Scott and his two daughters, Kat calls herself a S.M.I.T. (Step Mom in Training). You can download her Free Entrepreneur’s Success Kit at http://www.JumpStartYourMarketing.com. You can also get access to her FREE Love & Money Teleseries happening right now (recordings too) at http://www.LoveandMoneyTeleseries.com. © Copyright 2009

Connect with Kat online too:
Twitter - @KatrinaSawa
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/KatrinaSawa
Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/JumpstartYourMarketingFans
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/katmarketingexpert

Mom Entrepreneurs, what would you change about your business if you started over?

MaryPat Kavanagh — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:45:25 +0000

In perusing my Google Alerts today for some client research, I came across this blog post by Heather Allard that caught my attention for the 2nd time (the first time I was just too busy to stop and ready it through).

Heather has compiled a list of 5 things she would do differently if she was starting her business today instead of 5 years ago. And she lists a ton of low-cost and no-cost (free) resources to get you going in your business for under $1000. (Her 1st business cost over $54K to get going!)

Click here to read her article on TheMogulMom.com.

What would you do differently if you were starting your business today? Let’s follow Heather’s lead and share our wisdom for those who are just starting now.

Let’s Put Your Marketing on Autopilot!

Guest Blogger — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:37:02 +0000

Guest Blog Post
by Katrina Sawa

As a busy mompreneur you’re probably running in multiple different directions all the time and at the end of the day maybe haven’t even gotten some of the critical marketing or follow up tasks done that you should have in order to successful continue to grow your business.

Sound familiar?

So, are you ready to finally figure out how to put your marketing and other business tasks on autopilot? Did you know that by doing this ONE simple thing (and doing it the right way!) could literally DOUBLE OR TRIPLE your revenues??

Imagine if you did this, you could serve more people, give more back or spoil yourself or your family more.

So, what’s missing in your business to be able to do this?

• You’re way too busy….I see this one all the time. Are you too busy working IN your business too much and not enough ON it which is where the additional streams of money come from?
• Have you designed your business around the type of lifestyle you want to live?
• You keep saying you’ll get to it….but will you? Or will you continue to keep procrastinating and putting off GOOD, valuable opportunities that come your way that can get you to your future goals much faster?

I realize that these or some other excuse is preventing you from learning more about how to better your life with this information. But why are you letting this happen?
You do realize that only YOU create your future and your own reality right?

It’s YOU who can DECIDE to have a better life, make a million dollars, travel around the world if you want to, enjoy endless time with your family, give 10% back to charity or more….but it’s also YOU who can get STUCK working IN your business too much, listening to the news, letting the media and economic stories or negative people around you affect you and your own thinking.

It’s also you who let in the worry, fear and stress about not hitting your goals (business, revenues or personal goals) or wondering if you’re going to make it this month or ever have that vacation you want with your family….and simply not getting out of your own way!

I say take charge today of your own life. Learn some new strategies and techniques of how to do business a little easier, how to implement systems to make your life easier and to also make you more money in the process.

Some systems you’ll want to implement include:
• Simple follow up tasks like sending initial email responses
• Sending direct mail notes, cards, letters and sales promotions
• Data entry of all the new contacts you get and people you meet
• Shopping carts and automated ways to take ccard payments on your website
• Automated opt in boxes on your website, for teleclass signups, etc. to build your list
• Writing of autoresponders for any list or product you have or sell
• Social networking daily tasks and maintenance

That’s just a start…. it takes more than just the right marketing you know….it takes a shift in your mindset around love and money, systems, the right business model and a great, supportive team. And I show you how this all works together and how to build YOUR 6, 7 or 8 figure business on my FREE 5 part teleseries about Love and Money and I want you to be there to reap in the rewards.

Register for the Free Love and Money 5 part Teleseries…How to Finally Have it All by going to www.LoveandMoneyTeleseries.com now and taking that next step towards your goals and dreams!