Traci Des Jardins, award winning chef
Women are changing in ways that allow them to be successful. Some of the traits we have as a wife, mother, daughter and friend fit in our work and in others ways they do not. In a business we bring forth other parts of ourselves. We experience more ways we can be in the world that are different from our personal life.
Working with successful women for over 20 years I have observed ways we can be that make us more successful. Here is what I have learned from the most successful women I know.
Values: For a woman to feel good about herself in whatever role she is being (wife, mother, daughter, friend, business owner, professional) she wants to be clear about what is important to her and remember what she values. Her success must fit into her life not become her life.
A successful woman knows her values, what is important to her and expresses them in all aspects of her life.
Vision of Success: Our first challenge is to know what success is for us. This is a personal and individual decision. It requires that we step out of how we have been validated in the past and are validated at this moment then open our awareness to our personal mission. This lies deep within us. From there comes our vision of success.
Successful women do let others define their success. They decide on their own. It comes from within her.
Company Culture: When a woman owns a business she brings a uniquely feminine perspective. The gifts women use in their personal life, i.e. creating a family, shows up in her business. She wants everyone to succeed and to feel empowered. She listens to what others have to say, really listens but much like in her home she does have to agree.
A successful woman creates a healthy successful work environment for all.
Business Development Plan: Setting big enough goals for ourselves is a challenge. Research has shown that women tend not to think big enough. We get in the way of our own success by not dreaming bigger.
Successful women set BIG goals and take on the challenge of achieving them.
Intuition in Business: Women are naturally intuitive. Using our intuition along with strategic thinking gives us an edge on being successful.
Successful women trust and use their intuition along with strategic thinking.
Know You Don’t Know: We don’t have all the answers. We may even be wrong. Our thinking could be off. There may be areas that we simply don’t have the information. It is important to be constantly learning and challenging ourselves. Using a coach is an important way to be challenged. Seizing opportunities to learn (classes, workshops, etc.) is another way.
Successful women know they do not know it all and are ever learning.
Financial Intelligence: Research has shown that financial intelligence is an area of weakness for most business owners not just women. Being on top of your finances, understanding your financial reports and using them to make decisions for planned growth sets you apart from other business owners.
Successful women are financially savvy.
Contacts & Connections: Making connections with men and women of influence leads to opportunities. We cannot be successful on our own. The more we can network in different ways to make connections the more successful we become.
Successful women have connections with many people of influence.
Focus: There are so many demands on our time and attention that we can become distracted from what is important. Knowing what we value and keeping our eye on our vision of success moves us forward. We focus on what has value and are not be distracted by others interests.
Successful women are focused.
Regaining Perspective: Getting out of the energy of our business is essential. Taking time to clear our thinking helps us to be better decision makers. Daily meditation is an easy way to clear our space and our thinking so that we don’t loose our perspective. Taking time off, retreating, getting away are ways that we renew our vision and ourselves.
Successful women know how to renew themselves and regain perspective.
There you have it. Would love to hear what you would add to this list. Try these yourself and see the difference it makes.
Best wishes on your success, Kay