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Women Entrepreneurs: Make Soul Agreements in Business
By admin | March 30, 2009
Every woman small business is run on agreements. Some of the agreements are printed and signed, like in a contract. They can be felt, seen, read and discussed.
But what isn’t always so obvious is the unspoken agreement we’re entering into. This is the one that, when everyone is in agreement, makes our work a joy to deliver and a delight for our clients to receive. And, when not in harmony, it’s the type of agreement that can cause us hours of stress, unhappiness and messy situations that we wish would just “go away.”
I call these “soul agreements,” when I’m business coaching.
A contract is a legally binding document between two or more parties that clearly spells out obligations, commitments and expectations between everyone involved.
A soul agreement is a commitment, first with yourself, that says, “the action I am about to take is in complete harmony with what is right for me. My actions are a reflection of my speaking and acting from the truth of who I am, no matter what.”
The problem is that most women entrepreneurs ignore their own soul agreement when making commitments.
How can I tell? It’s easy.
My business coaching experience tells me that if you’re doing something you don’t really want to do, if you’re ignoring that awful gnawing feeling in your gut that’s trying to tell you something, if you’re holding back from a difficult conversation because you’re afraid of losing a client or hurting someone’s feelings, then you’re breaking your soul agreement.
Likewise, women entrepreneurs break their soul agreements if they hold back from charging enough, going after a more lucrative client or launching new marketing plans.
Sure, women entrepreneurs have to do practical things like build their lists, speak, send newsletters and gather testimonials.
But if you want your woman small business to be spiritually AND financial rewarding, then you must first commit to your soul agreement, then take action.
How?
Let’s say you’re about to launch a new program. Before you start your marketing plans, let me ask you, what is the soul agreement that you know you must make with yourself for your woman small business? (Hint: it’s something deeper than just saying to yourself, “I’m willing to do what it takes to make my launch work.”)
Try asking yourself this question, “What is the bottom line truth, where I know I MUST show up, no matter what?!”
What often bubbles up is an unmistakable (and unshakeable) feeling of strength, passion and commitment for what you believe in…and an “a-ha!” of where you’ve been sacrificing that commitment to please someone else.
With your soul agreement firmly in place the marketing actions you take will be more than just mechanical tasks. They will be soul inspired actions that pull you forward powerfully, even when you’re tired, uncertain or tempted to slip into self-doubt.
My business coaching challenge to you is to keep your soul agreement, no matter what, and watch your marketing plans leapfrog forward into success!
Watch the video related to women entrepreneurs
(WWLP) – One local bank is helping to continue the trend of helping women entrepreneurs.
Help answer the question about women entrepreneurs
What type of grants can women minority entrepreneurs get?I am a 25 year old minority woman trying to open my own business. Are there any grants or government funding,other than loans, to help start up?
About Author
Award winning small business expert Kendall SummerHawk is the “Horse Whisperer for Business.” Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can brand, package and price their services to quickly move away from “dollars-for-hours work” and create more money, time, and freedom in their businesses. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for her free audio mini-seminar “7 Quick and Simple Tips to Brand, Package and Price Your Services for More Money, Time and Freedom in Your Business” visit www.KendallSummerHawk.com <http://www.KendallSummerHawk.com
Topics: Networking | 10 Comments »
March 30th, 2009 at 9:18 am
good video
March 30th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Aurora International is an international website for women in business, including entrepreneurs.
Rediff has a section profiling 21 top Indian women entrepreneurs.
There is also a Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs. They would be an interesting place to start, I would think!
Best wishes
March 30th, 2009 at 9:28 am
They frown on that there. Its a very backwards country. So there arent to many.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
In the best of times, women entrepreneurs are hard-pressed to find start-up capital. The number of venture-backed, women-led companies stands at only 6 percent, and in the third quarter venture capital funding to all start-ups fell by 23 percent.
Some $4 billion was invested in companies led by a woman chief executive officer last year, and in the last three years the percentage of venture-backed, women-led companies has increased from 2 percent to 6 percent, according to VentureOne, a research firm specializing in venture capital research.
The outlook this year is uncertain, given the struggling economy. During the year's third quarter, venture capital investing in all start-up businesses fell 23 percent, according to an October PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey with VentureOne.
Women will need to due their due diligence and pursue other creative financing measures. Doing their research on unconventional ways of funding their companies will lead with hard work to the financing they need.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Yes, they definitely have better lives because they are allowed to approach their employment in more non-traditional ways and don't have to worry about the glass ceiling. Depends on the business though. Being a small business owner, especially in retail, can be VERY stressful and you often end up putting in long hours. Every success is YOURS and every failure is YOURS. If it doesn't work out, it is a lot harder to bounce back from but overall can be a very rewarding experience.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:01 am
March 31st, 2009 at 8:53 am
March 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
profit motive trumps all "isms".
(send me your business plan, and we'll talk).
April 1st, 2009 at 5:57 am
More women are starting new businesses in 1st world nations than are men today. And, 3rd world entrepreneurship hinges on "cottage industries". All cottage industry is dominated by women initially but tend to be plundered or taken away from women by men or local governments when they become profitable.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
Contrary to what you see on late-night television, there are no grants for individuals.
The Grants that are available are, for Rural Community Development, not for personal use.
If you want to open your own business, you're on your own.