Poor Marge Simpson—she’s tried real estate, carpentry, pretzel sales, popsicle-stick art and the police force, but always ends up dejected. Marge has plenty of ideas but none of them ever see fruition.
Then there’s a different Marj. WCDA Business Member Marj Sawers, the dynamo of Business Connectory, started selling snack-sized cups of handpicked blueberries to train passengers when she was eight. Later, she tried wedding shows and planning, trendspotting, connecting businesses with services, website hosting, connecting neighbours online and mentoring. And she still does it all!
I bet if we took a random poll and asked women if they ever feel like the first Marge, every last one of us would raise her hand.
The secret to success
Or would we? Coaching expert Marcy Nelson-Garrison says women are often held back by fear, and that the first step to actualizing a venture is to ask for help. “The best way through fear is to do the thing you are afraid of,” she advises. “We make stuff up to keep ourselves safe. Safety’s overrated.” Marcy adds, “A lot of women have trouble asking for help. Get it. Really tap into your passion around the idea. People love to be around passionate people, and they love to help.”
Marcy overcame her “own gremlins” and realized her dream of creating a web portal of coaching products, www.coachingtoys.com. Help was all around—she got involved in business development groups, support groups and success teams. Her biggest challenge is probably the same as ours: “Being creative and service-oriented, I had to develop entrepreneurial skills, to learn about money…to research the market and identify my niche.” The happy results? Marcy’s web shop has given her more visibility and credibility as a coach and has led to consistent growth, including writing a column.
Where do you ask for help? You can start with Marj. “With the Business Connectory, I get to help small businesses, which is my real love,” she says. “I provide a safe place to do business.” The site links all kinds of services for new businesses: finance, coaches, site design, staffing. But Marj says the best way to get your idea from your head into business is to do your own research. “There’s a world of information at your fingertips,” she says of the Internet. “Take the time to research. Get to know your markets. Look at what others in your line are doing. Look things up.”
Formalize your vision
Coach Marcy says women shy away from business plans, but it’s important to get your vision down formally. You can get a plan template and samples online at www.bdc.ca, home of the Business Development Bank of Canada. Use their tools for launching new ideas and applying for financing. “Since 1995, total lending committed to women has more than doubled, representing $1.6 billion today,” the site boasts.
More great info for your start-up is at www.cdnbizwomen.com, including affordable promotion options. It might be cliché to remind you of night classes at your community college but every single continuing education program has important basics for any budget: tax workshops, marketing, brainstorming, franchising and more. Check out www.entrepreneur.com or the feisty www.ladieswholaunch.com: “entrepreneurship and creativity as a lifestyle.” Don’t overlook the basics of community support and mentorship groups and grassroots goldmine Craigslist.com: you can discuss any topic under the sun with likeminded lasses, find relevant events in your area and advertise your small business for free.
Clear away fear
Women who are stuck by natural fears or by deeper demons may find relief and inspiration by releasing the hurt and neglect. WCDA Business Member Carolyn Shannon’s www.ventingcreatively.com provides workshops that facilitate a deeper expression and help free our ideas from impasse. “I’m helping people empower themselves in fun creative ways as a preventative to negativity, illness, depression, addictions, road rage and more,” she says. Carolyn reminds women to reach out and stay informed. “Anyone can have a dream and a whole lot of faith which might ignite a new business, but knowledge is what will keep it going. For me, starting small and building a stronger foundation worked best.”
Women whose ideas turn into actualization have something in common: they persisted through frustrating dead ends or uncertainties and got the help they needed. Help is out there, but you have to ask. Start with your family, friends, heroines and community groups, and then circle into the less-personal realm of government and institution. Don’t forget to ask your mother! As Marj Sawers says, “The biggest overlooked resource? Each other.”
And, by being here at WCDA, you’ve already discovered a great online community where you can always find great ideas, advice and inspiration to help you go after what you want.
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