Eve Incorporated: Tips For Women Wannabe-Entrepreneurs

Welcome to EveIncorporated.org, the place for women to find quick and concise information about becoming an entrepreneur. While many people say there is no difference between male and female roles in the workplace and the business world, there are indeed, obstacles and issues particular to the female gender. In reality, women are still discouraged from achieving great heights, and studies have proven that the glass ceiling continues to hinder a woman's success and income.

Consequently, I decided to launch this small website to discuss a few points that might inspire women to take charge of their entrepreneurial spirits. We can all reach for something more if we have the tools to do so.

To begin the discussion, I have chosen my Top Five Tips for Women Wannabe-Entrepreneurs.

Do not be afraid

I find one of the biggest obstacles for women is the discouragement and negativity imposed by family and friends. I am not sure why others believe it is acceptable to berate and belittle those who are trying to excel, but this common practice is damming for most women. Women wannabe-entrepreneurs generally start out quite excited and hopeful, but those feelings are quickly squelched. The naysayers have all the answers and they basically talk women out of their goals and aspirations. The first thing that you must understand is that people are going to criticize regardless of what you do, so you must have the courage to ignore the negativity. Do not be afraid of either real or imagined scenarios. You will work out the issues as you progress. It is not necessary to know everything at the beginning.

Do not pigeonhole yourself

Often, when starting out, women seek out others with similar backgrounds and goals. While this might give you a sense of moral support and security, it is not always productive. On the contrary, you want to align yourself with successful people and those who are in positions to help you. For example, if you decide that being an online entrepreneur is your forte, then frequent forums where you see all kinds of people participating. Limiting yourself to all-female wannabe-entrepreneurs can hinder your progress. Learn from others, both male and female, who have achieved specific goals, and who can ultimately provide valuable information. Remember that online, people cannot see you nor are they judging you by past performances, race, looks, gender or age.

Further, women tend to be pigeonholed in specific types of entrepreneurial efforts. Typically, people see them as selling candles, jewelry and clothing to their friends and family. They are not viewed as leaders or experts in any particular field. But, the truth is, especially with online businesses, women can, and should forge specific paths that allow them to become dominant players in a field, niche, or business model.

Set aside blocks of time and focus

Not all women have children, but they certainly have obligations that make it difficult to focus on entrepreneurial projects. Whether you work full-time, tend to small children, or have other commitments that expend your energy, to become an entrepreneur, it is crucial to partition out specific times of the day or week to work on your goals. Just a few focused hours per week can create something significant.

Look for opportunities and not interests

I know this comment is going to stir up some controversy because if you ever read advice about starting a business, many people say that you should think about your hobby or an area in which you are passionate, and build a business around that. I disagree. While, it is true that when something is fun, it is easier to build, the reality is there may be no need or no market for that business venture. You can quickly waste time, money and effort on something that should not have been started in the first place. Contrarily, conduct research by reviewing trends, ferreting out untapped markets, and looking for opportunities that complement your interests and strengthen your goals.

Risk is inevitable

When speaking about risk, I am not taking about spending inordinate amounts of money. But, to become an entrepreneur, it is necessary to take some risk. Just the fact that you want to branch out and try something new is a risk. The key is to find the right balance between being cautious and forging ahead.