Female entrepreneurs deal with more hurdles compared to men. Here’s how to overcome them by becoming your own #1 cheerleader.
Are you a female entrepreneur finding it difficult to fund your startup business? The business world has always been perceived to be a man’s arena.
Women still experience discrimination in almost every industry due to their gender and female entrepreneurs are no exception.
They often face various challenges in business because of gender disparities. Entrepreneurship is viewed as a male-dominated field, but more women are venturing into business today.
Over the years, women have been shifting the tide by venturing into entrepreneurship. Despite the various obstacles women face, there are many women entrepreneurs who have succeeded in business by overcoming these challenges.
Research shows that female entrepreneurs deal with more hurdles compared to men. However, it is also claimed that women are more likely to be successful in business than their male counterparts.
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10 Problems Female Entrepreneurs Face When Setting Up A Business
In this article, I’ve listed 10 challenges you may face as a female entrepreneur and how you can overcome them by becoming your own #1 cheerleader.
1. Funding (Or Lack of It)
When starting your business, you might face great challenges especially when it comes to accessing funds.
This makes it difficult for you to operate your business efficiently and may result in difficulties in hiring employees, renting office space and also setting up sensible working hours.
The #1 reason businesses fail is that they run out of cash. You can overcome this challenge by seeking advice from professionals, taking a small business loan or approaching your family members for support. Whatever you do, don’t do it alone.
2. Indecisiveness
A successful entrepreneur is decisive. In order to be viewed as a leader, you need to sharpen your decision-making abilities and make sound judgments with less information.
Don’t over-analyze facts because promptness is a key factor in entrepreneurship or else, you might lose business opportunities.
3. Emotions
You are naturally emotional and nurturing as a woman, and this may pose challenges in running your business.
You can easily get emotionally connected to situations or employees and therefore this may derail you in making and executing tough situations.
It is advisable not to mix business with friends or the pleasures of life if you want to succeed in business.
4. Networking
This is one of the major challenges you may encounter in entrepreneurship because it is important to have powerful networks in business.
If you fail to understand the significance of being connected to people who have the resources to help you in your business endeavours, then you might hit a dead end.
You must be willing to develop strong networks since these relationships are strategic contributors to the success of your business.
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5. Lack of support
It may not be easy for you to find support from other women leaders in business despite the rising numbers of female business owners. Don’t fret, you are not alone; there are many women entrepreneurs facing the same challenge.
Find a reliable support system; it can be your family, friends or mentors, or an online counsellor who will be your cheerleaders on this incredible journey.
You can get online business coaching to launch your dream business, create a stellar business plan, an amazing financial plan and more.
6. Fear
The fear of failure or success might keep you from achieving your full potential in business. With each level of success, comes different responsibilities and this fact might hinder you from taking risks and moving forward.
Equally, you may fear to fail in your start-up and hence fail to start your business. Learn to overcome your fears by facing them as they come. Let your fear become a stepping stone in your entrepreneurial journey.
7. Social expectations
Society has a high expectation from women as compared to men. In today’s world, women still need to work twice as hard to gain recognition from their male counterparts.
Despite the fact that women are still fighting for gender equality, they have achieved significant success in bridging the gap.
You need to defy society’s expectations of what you are meant to achieve. You should walk into that business meeting dominated by men, with total confidence in your abilities.
The secret is to find your own voice while staying true to yourself. If you have to defend or fight for your business, do it without fear or shame and rise above the expectations.
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8. Being Too Modest
You do not have to be modest in entrepreneurship because your competitors are not. Downplaying your own worth can be perceived as a sign of weakness by the male counterparts.
Confidence is paramount when pitching to your investors, or when talking about your company. Use your accomplishments to set yourself apart as a leader and achieve your business goals.
You need to stop measuring yourself by other people’s expectations and accept yourself fully and completely for who you are and choose to be.
9. Work-Life Balance
This is probably one of the major challenges you will encounter as a woman entrepreneur. Although this affects many entrepreneurs regardless of gender, the conventional expectation placed on women still exists.
You have to simultaneously run your family and your company without falling short on either. Truth be told, there will be shortcomings. You might miss your child’s recital or the school game, relax, it is not the end of the world.
So, accept that you have more on your plate, and find other fulfilling ways to devote extra time to your family without compromising your business.
Also, if you are pursuing further studies and need career guidance, you can connect with a career counsellor online. If you need urgent essay help, do not hesitate to contact writing agencies.
10. Lack of self-belief
You may feel discouraged with the numerous challenges eagerly waiting for you, and this may cause you to limit your thinking and actions.
Remember your potential is untapped, and develop a belief in yourself and break the barrier of self-doubt. Challenge yourself to face the obstacles that come your way because success is on the other side of your fear.
Develop your entrepreneurial spirit
You are not taught or born with this spirit, you develop and nurture it. Therefore, venture into a business that you are passionate about.
Your passion will energize you to conquer all the challenges because all you want is to be a successful businesswoman and have a successful business that is fulfilling.
The following are characteristics of entrepreneurial spirit:
- You are passionate about your business.
- You are always curious about how to improve your products or services
- You are always positive and open to possibilities.
- You take calculated risks.
- You execute all your ideas.
Women entrepreneurs need to overcome all these challenges and forge a path to their own success story. Develop key entrepreneurial skills with online entrepreneurship courses from top universities and business schools.
Learn how to write a business plan and create a brand online. The hardest part of starting your own business is taking the first step.
Upgrade your business skills with these online MBA courses from top business schools in India and abroad. You need to become your own #1 cheerleader.
As an entrepreneur, you need to have confidence and focus on your abilities, furthermore, use your sharp intuition and motivate yourself to the finish line.
About the author:
Priya Florence Shah is the Group Editor at SHEROES and author of Devi2Diva, an emotional self-care book for women.
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate or sponsored links. For more information, read our disclosure.
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