This past week I had the opportunity to work with a group of women business owners from Chile, who had come to the US to learn the way businesses are created here. Meeting with them was one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve had in a while.
These are focused determined women creating a range of businesses including boutique hotels in resort towns, a video production company, florist, law firm, doll maker and more.
Though our countries are different the issues faced by women in their country are not a great deal different from in the US, and there are some differences. Most of these women are the primary breadwinner and caretaker for their family. Creating a business to serve their lives is important. They can not imagine how that is possible, so they wanted that answer. More women in the US are becoming the primary income for their family. This is a shift that is creating changes in how women view themselves and their businesses.
Managing finances was a challenge. When we presented how to create a business plan, and financial plan their eyes glazed over. A response not unique to these women. This is a common reaction of business owners. In their world personal and business finances are one. As I spoke about separating business finances from personal, I saw invalidation in their spaces. They are in the energy of living day-to-day from the income their make. Seeing their business finances as separate would be a challenge for them and frightening. Regardless of the fear they wanted to learn to take this step. They knew this was a change they had to make if they were to be successful.
While I presented several ways in which they needed to change their perspective on themselves as a business owner and their business one of the most important was to dream bigger. Most of the women do the work of the business themselves. To grow their businesses they needed to see themselves as a leader in their business and have a vision for its growth.
Their first step is to change how they see themselves. Rather than seeing themselves as working hard to make a living, they are ready to see themselves as business owners, as leaders in business and having a vision that is bigger than where they are now. They are scared but willing to be uncomfortable. For this group it means taking ownership of their finances, a painful point for each of them.
Though these women from Chile are doing well enough to get by they want so much more. During our time with them they found the inspiration to dream bigger and see themselves as more than hard workers or working hard to get by. Spending this time together we found that women around the women are very similar in how we get in our own way. We are also willing to change and are inspired to dream bigger.
Finally, these women are in support of each other, push each other and part of an organization supporting women business owners to grow successful businesses in Chile.
Kay