To my fellow women entrepreneurs – let’s make some BIG failures.
Yup, I said it. BIG failures.
Because if you are making (notice I said making – not planning) big failures in your business, it means that you are taking big leaps in your business. Ideally these are strategic and focused big leaps that will help gain visibility for your brand, better systems for how you run the business, and overall a larger revenue in the long run.
And you just gotta get comfortable that along the way of taking those leaps – that mistakes are going to happen.
I find that many women entrepreneurs are not comfortable taking those big leaps. We gather information like we gather our favorite belongings – stack ’em up and have a ton of selections. We talk with other entrepreneurs and plan ideas for what we are going to do to maintain our lifestyle and run our business.
But far too often, we remain in our comfort zone. And I’m not here pointing fingers – I can look at my own business for numerous examples of “living in the all TOO comfortable zone”.
So I’m challenging myself to stay connected to other entrepreneurs taking big risks in 2013. And knowing that with the big asks come the big “Oops”. But like watching my daughter fall a gazillion times as she is learning to walk – you get up again and just keep trying.
I had two examples recently that inspired me:
One of my entrepreneurship buddies told me about the success she is having pitching her workshops to sponsors. She was shocked at how receptive everyone has been. All she had to do was ask. She has been working on nurturing contacts and relationships in this market for the past three years – without a clear revenue model. Just delivering quality and developing her brand. But even she was surprised at how well received her ideas were when she took the big risk and asked for the sponsorship dollars. I’m super confident this will yield her a great return in the long run.
Many would have probably given up a long time ago. When they weren’t earning the dollars immediately – they would have changed course or stopped the business altogether. She kept looking for ways to distinguish her brand and name and is now doing what many don’t – asking for the sponsorship.
Another entrepreneurship buddy has recently published a book about his advice on running on a business. In my opinion he is well qualified to share advice as he has been landing large contracts all while he was working on his book.
What blew me away about his book though was the list of reviewers he had listed. I wasn’t surprised by the comments because I have been RTing and reading his info for a few years now – it’s excellent. But I was touched by the long list of well known names in his industry and in the mainstream that also had great things to say about his work. How did he get their support? He asked. And asked. And asked. And asked.
Again, he had many who didn’t support or share a review. But he was willing to ask – and hear no. Until he found his yeses.
So I’m challenging you to find some entrepreneurship friends who willing to make the big asks in 2013 – willing to deal with the failures and disappointments that come along with it until you get to the yeses.
My pleasure! I look forward to hearing more about your big leaps in 2013!!
I totally agree with you. It’s important to move forward and “ask” even with the possibility of someone saying, “No.”
After all, “no” is just a word. It’s up to us to make the decision to not let it stop us.
I also agree that, as entrepreneurs, we do need to get comfortable with getting out of our comfort zones and taking those big leaps.
Thanks for a great article!
Stacey
Great start Malla…but the world seems to redefine failure as a good thing only for some or in some circumstances. Not saying big risks aren’t needed, but like cholesterol, not all failures are (or should be) judged alike, especially by those holding the purse strings. Perhaps in the new year, you explore the topic more, especially how men and women (or male dominated vs. female dominated environments) are conditioned to view their mistakes and misteps.
Your Mama is a wise woman and I can only imagine the success you’ve had since you started asking!! Whoo hoo!
Well my mama said, “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” If you want something just ask. The worse they can say is ‘No.’ Besides that no only leads to a better yes.