October is National Women’s Small Business Month
Did you know that the US has 12.3 million women-owned businesses? Starting and running business takes courage–isn’t that what Goddess Durga symbolizes too? How do you support women entrepreneurs as they continue to find courage to look beyond families and communities, and break barriers to pursue their dreams, and to add value to our economy? We all can support women-owned small businesses.
Stop Asking For Free Stuff
As an Ayurvedic practitioner and author, I am constantly hit for advice. I have had doctors ask for FREE copies of my books. MBAs expect free writing coaching, and millionaires bother me for health advice without offering anything in return.
The underlying assumption is that as a woman, I don’t need to get paid. As a wellness practitioner, I am expected to help without bringing money into the conversation. With a job, PhD, business, business, and caregiving across the continents, I had such little time to navigate this exploitation that I would either grumble or do it anyway.
The best advice that I received over summer from a fellow female entrepreneur was to stop offering free products or services. She made me see that people don’t take anything free seriously while you waste your time and energy helping them. It can impact your confidence as you see folks NOT follow through with what they promised, or you expected.
Share Dependable Advice
One of the best ways to support women in business, as a fellow female entrepreneur, is to share your knowledge and pay it forward. Women carry the guilt of neglecting families or pursuing their dreams or even charging others. This social conditioning needs to be rewritten. We weren’t put on this planet just to serve and please others.
I recently reminded a fellow woman business owner and friend that your real friends and family will want you to succeed. If you’d like, offer them a family and friends discount. But nothing for free because your time is money. If you have a bleeding heart (like mine), clearly define your pro bono work, and find a cause close to your heart. I reminded her to ask for help because no one can do it alone. But offer to buy chai, coffee or lunch as you seek an expert’s help and ask for their time.
Promote Local Women-Owned Businesses
When my husband and I travel, we look up woman-owned cafes, restaurants, galleries, and other small businesses. I also buy gifts (like a bottle of truffle olive oil or a handmade candle) for our women friends and cousins back home. I share our experiences and the business’s website, so others can support them as well.
For the upcoming holiday season, make a pledge to buy gifts from female entrepreneurs and women owned small businesses.
Leave Reviews And Write Testimonials
We live in a world where social proof and reviews can make a significant difference. Most small businesses have lean teams and tiny budgets for marketing. Promote small businesses owned by women on social media. Tag them in your stories and share why you love the brand. Leave them reviews online. Increase the business’s visibility by leaving a review and writing a testimonial.
Mentor And Make Introductions
Being a small business owner can feel isolating and overwhelming. If you are an entrepreneur or have business experience, you can perhaps mentor four or five women. Host monthly coffee gatherings and offer safe space for brainstorming, exchange of ideas, and feedback. If you see a good fit, introduce a woman business owner to someone in your networks and see if they can collaborate or create sustainable partnerships.
If you run a successful business, you can help pay it forward by helping in a female-owned company. If you know someone with big bucks wanting to invest in a woman-owned business, make the introductions.
Supporting and celebrating women entrepreneurs isn’t something we should do just one month of a year. But we must start somewhere. This week, many of us are also celebrating Navratri, and I think of this festival as the time for honoring women, including the goddess within each one of us. This Women’s Small Business Month, do your bit to help women entrepreneurs because even simple gestures can make a huge impact!
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” ~ Sara Blakely
