Secrets to Success

Having the ability to embrace diversity and incorporate change quickly is one of the greatest determining factors of success for companies today. Changes in workforce composition and the medium of conducting day-to-day business activities are two key factors that need to be fully considered and addressed by managers at all organizational levels. In particular, more women are occupying top-management positions, in part due to the proliferation of e-businesses.
According to an article published in the Journal of Leadership Studies (2000), online businesses are providing a way for more women to become top-level managers. Because e-businesses are still a fairly new frontier, they are breaking many of the “traditional” pathways to becoming CEOs or Company Directors. These positions were often handed down from one man to another via familial or social networks, creating the “glass ceiling” effect that many women encountered during the 1980s and 90s. However, since the introduction of the more egalitarian culture, strongly supported by e-businesses, such networks are largely frowned upon and women are encouraged to pursue top-level positions (Klein 2000).
However, the link between women in top-level management and the internet seems to go both ways. Not only do e-businesses facilitate the insertion of women into these positions, but women who have made it into these top- level positions in more “traditional” companies are now leading those companies toward the internet.
Ann Moore, Chairman-CEO of Time Inc., is a perfect example of a women who has taken over a very “traditional,” male-dominated company and is now spearheading an initiative to take things digital. Not only did she preside over the launch of People.com, but she is currently working towards a new health portal that should rival WebMD (Business Week 2007). Moore is trying to create a place for Time Inc. to prosper in the future by staying abreast of new technologies and remaining competitive without dragging the company down in the process.
Regardless of the particular circumstances, it is necessary for managers to make pro-active decisions that allow their companies to change with the times, be it more women in top-level management or a greater reliance on technological advances such as the internet.
Sources:
Klein, Esther E. The Impact of Information Technology on Leadership Opportunities for Women: The Leveling of the Playing Field. Journal of Leadership Studies, Vol. 7, 2000.
Moore, Ann. Edgy Days at the Top of Time Inc. Business Week, 2/12/2007. Issue 4021, p23-23, 1p, 2c.

We all have offline social networks, friends from our association, church or group, business networks that include suppliers, customers and other businesses, and now thanks to the power of web 2.0 we are building virtual business networks. People are coming together from around the world to learn, connect to each other and share their personal and professional life.
Friendships and networks are being made between a person in the USA and India, someone in the UK and Australia. There are no longer any barriers to making international connections and talk to people around the world.
I refer to this type of online connection as a virtual business network. It is particularly important for you to network in this way if you run an internet based business because you will be at home, working alone and will need a place to go when challenges hit, or just to let off some steam. Below are seven great ways to build your virtual business network to ensure you and the person/people you interact with gain the most benefit:
Remember Its not about numbers. If you think all you need to do is find a social network with a large number of people you may be missing out on some great opportunities to connect inside smaller groups and build more solid relationships.
Large sites are great if you just want to spread your business link around to get people to visit your website but you really should aim for more than this. First decide what you want to get out of a network and what you can provide in terms of skills and expertise. Once you do that whether that social network has 2 members or 2,000 you will always gain maximum benefit from taking part.
Leverage the skills. What skills will you have that you bring to a group and can share with them? Let them know your expertise and how you can help. Discover what skills other people have and how you can use them to build your business. Most people in a network group are happy to share what they know so make the most of it and also be willing to share what you know.
Give before you take. It is important that you don’t spend all of your time taking and none of your time giving. Give first, share what you know, invite people to ask you questions, volunteer information, tell people about a great resource you found. Give, give and give some more because givers gain!
Provide value before you sell. When you write your blogs or messages for people to read don’t just leave a quick few words with a link to your products/site. Provide value you in your message. If you are commenting on what someone has written let them know why you enjoyed reading it, or whether you agree/disagree and then tell them – if you are interested in that, you may also be interested in this and let them know what you offer.
Establish yourself in a few rather than spread yourself in many. There are more and more online networks available for people to make use of and it is really easy to just keep joining one after another every time you are invited. It’s great to get yourself out on the internet but it’s also a good plan to establish yourself in at least 2 or 3 groups so that people recognize you. What you are looking to do here is build your reputation within the community and help them to get to know, like and trust you.
Take part and be active. If your business network facility allows you to start groups then start one and invite other members to join, don’t just sit back and wait for them to join. If you are able to upload videos find a few on Google that the community may enjoy watching and include them. If the site has a blog include at least two a week that provide value, tips, techniques or a how to type post that will help people do something they may be unable to do. Some of the best blogs will start a discussion or debate so ask a question, or ask for comments, suggestions or ideas to get everyone talking.
Make a commitment and be willing to work at it.Raising your online visibility takes time to achieve and will need regular contributions and a commitment to being around so that regular members get to know you and new members want to connect with you. You will soon find yourself connecting to more and more people and building your virtual social network. As you meet the same members in other networks you will have an instant connection with them and that will help you where ever you are on the internet.
Building a virtual business network provides you with an opportunity to build international friendships as well as profitable business partnerships and joint venture opportunities. You cannot survive online without connecting to other people in the same industry/community and as with all relationship building it takes time but is very rewarding.
I have connected with people from the USA and when they visit the UK I meet up and show them round! So take your time, show your expertise and provide value, before you know it people will seek you out and want to connect with you.

When the first generation of women entered the workforce in earnest in the 1970s, they succeeded in the only way they could – by imitating men. Authoritarian leadership and tight control was the hallmark of that day’s businessman, and women were not exactly welcomed into the ranks of management. Well ladies, that was yesterday, and today is today!

Forget what your mama or your boss told you, because following the rules can be bad for your career. Today’s CEO/entrepreneur can no longer tap his/her company’s full potential using a “command-and-control” style. The 21st century business woman needs to be able to build a vision based on the awareness of economic transformation, then help her partners and staff fulfill that vision. She must draw on a wide range of skills to get to the top and stay there. Following are 7 Key Characteristics that are essential:

1.Sell the Vision: A leader with a fresh, independent plan for her company’s growth and future has a distinct advantage in luring and keeping great talent and investors. Vision is not some lofty ideal, but an obtainable concept that is easy to understand and will make the company grow to another level.
2.Reinvent the Rules: While women have traditionally been socialized to please others, the 21st century leader knows that good girls rarely post great returns. The strong managers/owners today not only anticipate change, they create entirely new organizations that respond to shifts and search for innovation.
3.Achieve With A Laser Focus: Go where others fear to tread! Being aggressive and ambitious has long been considered male traits, but they are key qualities for new leaders. Today’s business woman has the ability to home in on opportunities that others may simply not see, and then excel in that uncharted territory.
4.Use High-Touch in a High-Tech Era: When a number of leaders are conducting business by e-mail, voice mail, passwords, and PINs, the female entrepreneur succeeds because she guides with a strong, personal, bed-side manner. Today’s business woman is just as technologically savvy as her peers, but her skill with staff and customers is “high-touch” which gives her a critical edge and separation from the “pack”.
5.Challenge or Opportunity? – Women are great at turning a challenge into an opportunity instead of using the “slash-and-burn” approach. They are able to make bold strokes, but they also win the cooperation of others in the organization in making any transformation a success.
6.A Customer Preference Obsession: In this information age which makes it easier to shop around for the best “whatever”, businesses must work harder to give people what they want before their competitors do. There is no substitute for spending time with clients to become expert at their businesses and learn their demands. Female leaders are almost intuitively adept in doing just that, and without the client even suspecting.
7.Courage Under Fire: Show me any career woman or female entrepreneur today that isn’t able to “stand-the-heat” in any tough-call situation. Their decision-making skills are rooted in a high level of confidence, because they’ve had to weather and surpass any and all “corporate” storms they’ve encountered over time.

It takes a certain mind-set and bravado for anyone to start their own business and succeed, but it’s even more difficult for a female entrepreneur. Let’s face it, ladies! We’ve always had to be twice-as-smart and twice-as-confident as any male counterpart in the corporate world. After all, if we can bear and raise the future generation, how can running a successful business scare us?

I just finished reading an article written by a good friend of mine who coaches companies and their employees to better performance. In this particular article, he was discussing women in business and the different set of attributes they bring into the workplace. And it got me to thinking. For a long time, women in competitive careers were led to believe (and many times rightly so) that they had to “play a man’s game” in order to progress and succeed in business. And though for years, women have been successful in business playing by “man-rules”, it’s absolutely not necessary, nor good advice for today’s success. What we now know of course, is that men and women may have different perspectives and approaches to business. But either can be successful in the entrepreneurial arena without giving up or giving over their own unique abilities. Men and women have various attributes in common that are of benefit in the corporate realm, however, women are at their unquestionable best when we use the characteristics and attributes that are unique to us. And, employing those attributes to our own enterprises can make a good business an absolutely phenomenal success. Examples of the unique perspectives of female entrepreneurs can be found in niche markets such as catering, personal shopping or commercial construction cleanup just to name a few. For those of you women who are about to delve into the world of entrepreneurship and are considering the type of business enterprise that you want to develop, here are some thoughts: First, and most important for both women and men, is do what you love. There is something in you, something you’re truly passionate about. Find a way to turn that passion into a business. I’ve no doubt that you have probably heard that advice before, it’s certainly not new. But there are several reasons that it is important. One, when you’re involved in doing something you truly love, your passion is one of your greatest assets in driving your business. When you interact with others about the focus of your passion, you’re animated, interesting and convincing in ways that would take much more time to practice and develop otherwise. Passion causes you to be much more motivated, in fact you become what could be called “ultra” motivated. This is key, especially during the period before the money starts rolling in. For you to work an 8-hour day after you’ve already worked an 8-hour day for someone else (something all women know a little bit about), you have to be highly motivated. While you’re building your business (and most people start businesses while they’re still earning their grocery money from an outside employer), you have to have a powerful reason that causes you stay up working until 3:00AM, when you have to be up at 6:00AM to go to your “day job”. Another reason for developing your business from your passion is that whatever it is you’re passionate about, more than likely you’re an expert on. You’ve been reading and reviewing information on the subject for years. You’ve taken trips, visited sites, and participated in activities or events having to do with the object of your passion. You’ve already become involved in or developed some type of “network” (and ladies, we all know how to network) of other like-minded individuals who are as interested and passionate about your interest as you are. These are all excellent resources for you and for your clientele as you establish your business. It also greatly shortens or eliminates any learning curve relative to your business product or service knowledge to free you to concentrate on building the business itself. In addition to pursuing your passion, another idea to keep in mind is that in the beginning, as you brainstorm ideas for your business development, let the sky be the limit. Use your wildest imagination to explore ideas and options. Don’t begin the process of developing your enterprise by making a laundrylist of all of the reasons that you can’t do this. Find absolutely as many reasons as possible to demonstrate why you can! Last, and this is very important, be very selective about listening to the advice of friends and relatives. While they ultimately mean well (at least most of the time), the people around you are used to you and your life as it is. And, they’re comfortable with that. Whenever you contemplate change, especially the types of changes brought about through successful business ownership, people can get uncomfortable. And when people are forced out of their comfort zone, they will fight tooth and nail to get back to it. If that means discouraging you in the process, then so be it, too bad for you. Don’t fall prey to the fears and negativity of others. If you can’t seem to be around positive and encouraging people, find a new group of people to be around. And, if that’s not possible, then be your own best friend. Solitude is much sweeter than failure at the hands of selfish people. Be encouraged by your history. For hundreds, even thousands of years, women have been successful entrepreneurs. Our unique mindset, viewpoints, attitudes and skills as women have all contributed to our successes in business. Let that be your legacy to a new generation, and bring your own bit of spice and flavor to the business table.

Women continue to open businesses in the U.S. at twice the rate of men. So why don’t they have million dollar bank accounts that reflect their hard work? According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, there are 10.4 million women-owned U.S. businesses. What people aren’t talking about is that women-owned businesses aren’t doing all that well. According to the Women Presidents’ Organization (comprised of women whose businesses annually gross over $2 million):

* About 43% of all women-owned businesses have revenue of $10,000 or less per year.

* Over 70% have revenue of less than $50,000.

* Only 3% have revenue of over $1 million (compared with 6% of men-owned firms).

Today’s entrepreneurial woman wants control over whom she works for, what she does, how she spends her time, and how much money she makes. Most of all, she wants to know that what she is doing is making a difference in the world. So why aren’t women-owned businesses more successful? Often the barriers to business success for women are self-imposed.

What Women Do Wrong

1. They dismiss their intuition. They dismiss their inner knowing. They don’t take their intuition seriously. That’s not hard to do when today’s business culture scoffs at women’s intuition, makes fun of their intuitive knowing, and pooh-poohs intuitive insight. Intuition is not a hunch, a suspicion, or a guess. Intuitive knowing is deep, sure, and trustworthy. Know this!

2. They wait for approval and permission. Women have the hardest time with this. Instead of making a decision for themselves, they look to others for approval and permission before making business decisions. Wake up! You do not need anyone’s permission to do anything. Men know this much better than women do.

3. They think something is wrong with them. When something goes wrong in their businesses, men focus on the business itself, looking for things they can change, correct, and fix. For women, however, it’s just the opposite. When something goes wrong in their businesses, women look for things they can change about themselves. 4. They think other people know best. Often their inner voicewhat I like to call a woman’s Inner Samuraiis giving them a clear indication of what is for their highest good and greatest well-being. Yet, because that inner voice conflicts with the advice and information they are getting from the outer world (often from those around them), they discount their inner voice in favor of another’s voice.

What You Can Do Right

1. Look outward for support. Look inward for guidance. Surround yourself with those who support your business vision and daily business activities. Go inward for guidance. Tap into your Inner Samurai. Understand that no one knows you as well as you know yourself. What other people think is best for you and your business is only an opinionperhaps a well-informed opinion, but an opinion, nonetheless.

2. Say yes. This is one of the hardest words for women to say. Women like to keep their options open, check everything out, and test the waters before taking action. Stop hesitating. Say yes. Move ahead. You don’t have to know how something is going to turn out before saying yes. Just say yes. You can handle whatever comes up. You can even change your mind.

3. Stop with all the positive thoughts and affirmations. Being positive and saying affirmations are not enough. You have to back those positive thoughts with focused, definitive action in the direction of what you most want to be, do, and have in your business. Fortune favors the bold.

4. Cultivate relationships. Women are naturals at building relationships and connecting to others. Connect, certainly, with other businessmen. However, be intentional about cultivating relationships with other businesswomen. Forget what they say about women being catty. Sure, some are. Most aren’t. Those are the ones you will intuitively be drawn to. Connect with them to build strong, mutually beneficial business relationships.

Women have been opening businesses at twice the rate of men for many years now. However, they have not been as successful at bringing in the big bucks as men. That’s because they try to run their businesses the same way that their male counterparts do from the head down.

Women, on the other-hand, do better when they build and run their businesses from the inside out and from the heart up, firmly connected to their Inner Samurai. Running your business this way means that you are in control of your financial future, you can have the life you’ve always dreamed of, and you can be in the best place of allmaking a real difference in the world.