You Got This! - A short narrative on being a female entrepreneur...

Of late I’ve listened to several podcasts and interviews by female entrepreneurs- strong, determined, hard-working, basically super-women kind of women! Not that I was consciously looking for these interviews… as fate would have it, each time I logged into my LinkedIn account or on an entrepreneurial group portal there it was! Another awe-inspiring story of a girl who had made her dreams come true, another female-led venture that was giving competitors a run for their money, another single mom turned boss-lady whose business had become the beacon of new hope for her growing kids!

And then it got me thinking (time in quarantine anyways makes one ponder more I guess ;)) about my journey as an entrepreneur- as a female entrepreneur. I set up my law firm 18 months ago and I guess up until now I was so caught up doing a million things to cement the business that I never took the time to reflect on how the journey had been so far. 

As I look back at the year that was, I pen down a few thoughts that will maybe resonate with a few of you…

The Start- Well for me the start was after ages of procrastinating. For a long time, thoughts like “How will I run a business all by myself?”, “What if it fails?”, “Will I ever be able to balance a business along with my personal life?” got the better of me, and I guess that was ok! I wasn’t mentally prepared-maybe that was not my time, for, somewhere along the line there did come a moment when I felt- “I’m going to do it! I do not want the regrets of any ‘what ifs’ and unless I try, I’ll never know”. So, with that voice in my head and encouragement from my parents (my strongest support system) I took the plunge! Little did I know that what lay ahead was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride! J

The Journey- If you’re an entrepreneur you’ll know that once you hit the start button the next few months are a blur. Between getting necessary licenses, sorting out the paperwork, setting up your IT, figuring out what your workspace will be like, networking, social media marketing, insurance policies, structuring a team, more networking and marketing... endless networking and marketing, days melt into weeks and weeks into months. However, even though it feels like the early days of entrepreneurship were nothing short of pure chaos, I guess this is the period that prepares an entrepreneur to be kicked out of the nest only to soar independently! 

Days You Wanna Scream!!- Not every day can be a good day! Running your own business is a tough job. Through this journey there have been long days, days in a row when I felt I’d done everything I could but still no new work was coming in, days when there was a ton of work and the firm’s mailbox crashed (that was horrendous!!). There probably are many more such challenges to come (not even going to attempt getting into those caused by Covid-19) but it’s all part of the mix and with time we learn to take it in our stride!

Sticking To Values- Running your own business is tough no doubt but sticking to the values you stand for and that you would like your business to stand for is the real test. I’ve been fortunate to see a number of female founded businesses do just that- whether it is supporting their workforce through the financial crisis, putting the health of their team above profits, rooting for small businesses or fellow women entrepreneurs or just being there for their children and families, some of these boss ladies are killing it! Watching role models like these fills me with inspiration and the enthusiasm to follow suit.

Inspiration And Community- I’ve often read that being a female entrepreneur is lonely. Yes, it is challenging but it doesn’t necessarily have to be lonely. Along the way I’ve discovered a number of platforms and women entrepreneur groups where you’re encouraged, supported and cheered for by some pretty awesome individuals. To be honest I’ve also found encouragement within general business networks. I guess, believing in the values of your business, showing the willingness to be part of a community, i.e. collaboration rather than competition attracts just that, definitely making your own journey a lot more enjoyable and a lot less lonely J

Self-Care- I cannot emphasise the importance of self-care enough. We all need it. Even if you feel that you don’t need it, please indulge in self-care. Yoga, meditation and fitness definitely help me feel centered and if you’re still reading this, I urge you to spend some time doing an activity that makes you happy.

A happier you=A more productive business=potentially happier people around you J

Faith- Last but not the least nothing is possible without FAITH. Faith in the Universe, Faith in the Supreme and Faith in your own Capabilities for more often than not we are the only ones getting in the way of our success. 

So, without rambling on further and to sum it all up, this journey has made me realise one thing- I Got This! I’m capable of running a business, of overcoming challenges, of balancing my professional and personal life and along the way what used to be my fears have now become milestones.

Key take-aways!

-       Work at your own pace- you’ll know when you’re ready.

-        Surround yourself with positive and inspiring people.

-       Stick to your values- Your business is a reflection of you J

-       Embrace the idea of collaboration and community.

-       Indulge in self-care, stay happy, have faith and tell yourself YOU GOT THIS!