Mary Jessen: Wellness Makes Cents

American Business Woman’s Day: September 22, 2024 Celebrating Achievements and Contributions of Women

In 1949, before women had many of the rights of today, the American Business Woman’s Association was founded. This organization supports women’s professional growth and achievements.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that women were allowed credit. Women were in the workforce, but couldn’t own the car that took them to work! (This means women today that are in their 70s, couldn’t even sign a lease for rent when they started working.)

September 22, 2024

September 22 marks a recognition of the hard work and the legacy of 68 million working women and 7.7 million woman-owned business in the United States.

If you are a woman-owned business, you might want to treat the office today! Let’s celebrate achievements of the past, present and future!

This annual “recognition date” shines a light on the need for equal opportunities and rights of women in the workplace. We are hearing too many times when these rights are being challenged or ignored. Learn what rights a woman has in business. Don’t let “authorities” tell you different or disrespect you.

Woman-owned business and women in business are still fighting for their rights and respect. Hug that gal next to you. Encourage your friends to keep working! There is much more to accomplish.

Women-owned businesses

Women own 36% of small businesses worldwide. Women in business make a significant impact on the economy and society of their countries. This number is actually growing.

A woman-owned small business is a great example for young women of today. Today’s society does not have “women in the kitchen.” The woman today is more educated and interested in improving herself and her community. She wants the world of tomorrow to be be a better place.

We need to acknowledge ourselves for the hard work and dedication in being an independent woman-owned business. What women contribute is important.

What does it take to be a successful Businesswoman today?

Embrace the Opportunity to Grow: When you are offered a chance to be challenged, take it. Focus on what’s important to you. Think about your values. Does it align with what’s important to you? If it does: Go For It!

I started out with an large community event that I was totally responsible for. This was not quite a business, but the size and scope of the event was almost like running a business.

This event had been “going on” for many years, but was in need of new leadership. I had been on the team in past years. Suddenly, the work was “thrown on me.” I did hesitate. I did realize what it all entailed.

It was almost like running a business. It took 8 months to put the whole event together. Then to be repeated for 18 years. (although at that time I did not realize how many years I would be involved.) Could I do it successfully? My family did enjoy the event every year and had a great time. But lead it? Take it over? How important was it for me to do?

Confidence:

Women need to believe that they are quite capable of running a successful business. I was quite hesitant, and I asked to think it over. I had never been “in charge” of a project of this size. I was always the team player, never the CEO.

Women need to help each other believe that they all are making valuable contributions for the working women of tomorrow. It sometimes is difficult for women to speak up with confidence. It can be difficult for a woman to stand strong in thought, appearance, and voice. Women run households every day. Why are we so hesitant to run a business? A household is a business and has all the necessary components of a successful business.

Assertiveness:

When you doubt yourself, do your knees tremble, hands shake a bit? I’ve had it happen when I was told “You can’t do it!” I was told I had no experience. Those words did rock my psyche.

This is where assertiveness comes in. I knew this event was important and my family enjoyed it. Confidence in yourself will bring out assertiveness. I decided that I would find a way to continue, to make it work, to be a success. I was going to make it even bigger! I had the creativity. I had the dream. And I wanted to do it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

Look for good backup and support. Make certain you have a mentor or coach that can help with the hurdles. Learn to listen and take advice.

I created a team from the community. I looked for volunteers. I solicited local business support. I needed people around me that would be supportive and helpful. And my team came through. I feel the team accomplished this job, not me, the individual. This event could not have happened without a good team.

The first big challenge was to find a way to finance it. I had to come up with $20,000. I decided to send out letters to the community, who wanted the event, to ask for donations. My thought was to include all of the closely-neighboring-communities. That kind of canvass had never been done before. I needed a team to help with this and I needed a place to do it!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People will step forward. Help will come. Don’t limit yourself. Don’t judge your help. Embrace them. Give them tasks to do so they can feel part of your team.

Develop Tenacity:

Become a force to be reckoned with. Sit tall at the table. The biggest hurdle can be to not take criticism harshly, and definitely not to take it personally. It is the idea that is being criticized. Stay focused. If you have to brush up on decorum, do it. Have your presence look positive and strong. Straighten that backbone: you can do this. Dress, walk, and talk for success.

Become knowledgeable:

Keeping up with education fosters confidence. Become knowledgeable with businesses in the area that can help you achieve. Look around you for resources. Be open to suggestions. Experiment to see if the thought will work. (Can you do this on a small scale?) If it doesn’t work, concede, and take a different path. Don’t be afraid of improvement and inspiration from others.

Do you need training? Is there an area of your business whereas you might not be strong? Today there are a lot of classes offered online. It is easy to study from our own homes. Don’t be afraid to look. Or perhaps look for a person of knowledge, you can trust, and ask them to be on your team.

At the time of my challenge, we only had “snail mail;” No computer help. Mass mailings were by hand. That meant composing a letter of need. We had to get 10,000 letters printed. I did enlist a local printing company for help. We had to stuff envelopes. The they needed to be labeled by hand. Stamped, and mailed. Then, of course, we opened each and every one. I learned more about the postal system. I knew the mailing was going to be a HUGE task. I got to know the staff at the printing company and the local post office quite well! I looked for help in the community. I looked for people/businesses that were doing what I needed and could help. I asked for help.

The letters went out: The money poured in, some in quarters taped to a card. I did what they thought could not be done. It was thrilling and surprising! Confidence or stubbornness? A bit of both. But it worked. (Years later, when I moved on, the event fell apart due to lack of funding and direction.)

We kept tract of the returns on our mailings. Who and where responded the best. What kind of businesses responded. For us it improved our solicitation. (Again this is where technology helps. The post office was a valuable tool.)

Create a plan:

Create clear goals and align them with the project. Do they work into your values, or your life’s purpose. (Mine was to help my community grow.) Decide objectives and deadlines that can be achievable. Create a calendar of deadlines and achievement for the time period.

A plan of action is always a good way to start any project. It doesn’t have to have details at this time, but a broad sense of time and goal.

I needed to develop a monthly plan to achieve this. First money. Then participants of the event. Money first. I made a monthly plan as this event took 8 months to finish. I was looking at a long time investment. Family support and knowledge of your goal is always important. This is especially true if the task takes months to finish and will require a lot of your time.

Get financial advice for your business. Make plans for needs of today and needs of tomorrow. Your financial budget may require saving money for a continuation of the project. You may also need a better place for your business in the future. Find a good financial advisor. You could start with your own banker. He would also have recommendations or referrals for you.

There is a famous saying: failure is NOT the opposite of success, it’s a PART of success. Everything in life has positives and negatives. We all fall before we learned to walk confidently, and especially before we ran. It takes a strong person to get up, pull up those boot-straps, and try again. There are many, many very successful people that started out with more “nos” than can be imagined. And they still succeeded.

There was no way this event was not going to happen. I had a lot of criticism in the beginning; doubts that this enormous event would succeed. Comments behind my back that it wouldn’t work. I couldn’t raise that kind of money by mail, in such a short time. Comments that I personally couldn’t do it. But, that was not going to stop me. Failure was not a choice. Determination became strong. That was the tough part of it all.

Remember Michael Jordan, Basketball Great: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.” And then he went on to the one of the greatest basketball players of all times.

Sometimes your greatest criticism from others is really not about you. Put on your “outside armor” and move on. Don’t take it personally. Learn to become your own cheerleader Think Michael Jordan!

Look for Support:

Look for good backup and support. Make certain you have a mentor or coach that can help with the hurdles. Learn to listen and take advice. I talked with my printing company, and the post office. I attended events outside of our area to gather information and help.

Learn not to take failure personally. In the business world, failure is only a thought that that idea didn’t work. Consider, think, and try another way. Remember it’s like learning to walk.

“Nothing is impossible; the words itself says I’m possible.” Audrey Hepburn.

Your team can be your greatest support. Listen to it. Cherish them.

Invest in Yourself:

Investment can be in education, and can also be in joining associations. Joining community organizations will further your presence and your neighbors will get to know you. And you will get to hear and learn about your community’s needs, wants, and desires.

Get to know the community your business will serve:

Don’t be afraid to get involved in your community. Start with volunteering in local organizations and charities. You will become more self-confident, learn about day-to-day problems, and most important, the community will begin to learn about you.

Many new business struggle as they lack network or recognition. Get financial advice. Plan ahead for your money. You need to get yourself out to be known. This is where looking at organizations and perhaps joining an organization in the area will help. Attend community board meetings when you can: Library meeting, city hall meetings.

This event encouraged me to become more involved in my city’s organizations. I spent time with people over dinners. I attended different city meetings. New friendships happened. I did join a new organization in the city. It felt strange to become more civic involved. At first I felt I had nothing to contribute, but I soon learned that I did. Community involvement can always help your project. If anything it can give you perspective.

I remember volunteering for a group. I went down the stairs of the bank where they met. I wondered, “what am I doing here?” But in that group were people I needed to meet for my later success.

Remember those who helped you achieve your goals:

For me, as this would be a continuing event, I recognized the importance of a “thank you.” I couldn’t keep asking the community and businesses every year for contributions. I needed to acknowledge their importance to the event. I also needed to thank them each year for their support.

Each individual or business received a thank you. I went back to my printing company, had them print a very nice thank-you-5×7-certificate. I sent it out by mail or I delivered it. It is important to remember who is on your team and who helped you achieve success. A thank you is important. (The certificate was displayed in local businesses even after we moved away from this city! )

In the business world, “thank yous” are a bit different. But there are ways to say thank you. Offer a sale to that client? Offer a sale for your continuing clients? or a Saturday sale? A Workshop for that client and employees for FREE. Offer a workshop at the library. Depending on size of the client there are many ways to say thank you for your support. Don’t forget to thank your team. Bring in donuts one morning for your team. Or stop by a client’s office with treats. Buy coffee for who you are meeting that day.

Just remember it is important to remember your support team and your clients. Without them, your business would not succeed.

My volunteer team were my employees. I depended on them. Many of the team were intimidated by the scale of work. Volunteers are more difficult to keep if they do not feel a part of the work. Volunteers must be valued and appreciated, perhaps more than an employee. I think back, and I had a Great Team with many of the same people each year.

This was a challenge on a scale I was unaccustomed to handling. The challenge was immense for one person. It definitely challenged me. I learned many things, and met many great people. Much of what I learned I am taking into the next business of mine: Wellness Makes Cents.

(Before we left the city, the city did reward us with a very nice “thank you!” but the event was never again as successful.)

My Advice to a new Business woman/owner:

Be certain to give yourself one good Hug often. (Remember the blog on self-hugs.) Being in charge of a business or a large city event can take it’s toll. The pressure is on to succeed. It can be harder when the public is watching and waiting for the result. The stress can be significant.

Personal time is important too.

Don’t forget your physical and mental health. The saying is: 100% when on the job; and 100% when you are at home.

Allow yourself some personal time. It is important that you can find the time for yourself. Give yourself a HUG. And give yourself a pat on the back once in a while for rising to the challenge.

This is where Self-Care comes in. Be good to yourself: Have a fun lunch, not a business lunch. Have a manicure or pedicure. Take time for recharge. Take time for yourself. Make your weekends for you and loved ones. Only by recharging, will you be ready for the next challenge.

Remember: Your business is your Career, not your life.

Women need to support each other.

It is difficult to start a business. Don’t start it in a cold market. Get to know your community first. Launch among friends and neighbors. Watch your business grow. I know I can depend on community women to help my business.

If you have a choice of a small business vs corporations when you shop, go for the small business. Greet the owner, and especially if it is a woman. Support her. Tell her how much you value her presence in your community. Consider becoming her frequent customer. And maybe, after asking, give her a Hug!

Hugs!

https://wellnessmaryjessen.com