Women out of their comfort zone
Caroline Gowing
Guiding motivated self-starters to run a thriving Virtual Assistant business. Winner the EWiF Overall Woman in Franchising 2024, 5 Star Franchise Satisfaction for 9 years and listed in Elite 50 Top Franchises.
It is International National Women’s Day today.
As the co-founder of a company with 38 female franchisees, and another 30 female staff members of those franchisees (we need a man!) I thought it was a great time to examine what it takes to be successful when starting a Pink Spaghetti franchise.
It is all about “The Comfort Zone”. Our franchisees have to step out of their comfort zone very early, and it is a joy as a franchisor to see them not only do this, and do it early, but to see them fly because of it. We come across so many people with Imposter Syndrome, hugely capable women who doubt themselves, and their own capabilities, who step back instead of leaping forward, when they are amazing; competent, proficient, with a huge amount to offer, but until they step out of their comfort zone, they cannot test themselves.
Rarely does anyone fail. Instead, their comfort zone naturally expands. In our network, there is a powerful safety net for those taking this step; dozens of our franchisees who have been there, done that, and want to see each other succeed – they continually support each other to to facilitate their personal achievement and growing success. Watching this peer support develop over the years as our franchise network has grown has made us very proud.
So, where people challenge themselves, and have the focus and drive to try something new, they succeed and grow. They don’t listen to the negative voice in their head, they listen to those around them who say, “Yes, you can fly”. Boundaries are pushed, and the sense of achievement and self satisfaction is often visible on people’s faces, or in the words they use. Not only have they accomplished something for themselves, they are then joining the growing network of inspirational franchisees who can say to others, “if I can do it, you can do it – go on….try!”.
It is our annual Pink Spaghetti conference next week. Our forward-looking band of women will gather together, many of them for the first time, but most having had contact with one another as they support each other in various ways. The atmosphere is always amazing – because the group of women is amazing.
“The magic happens when you step out of your comfort zone”