Group Discussions

What is Your Best Advice to a New Entrepreneur Mom

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  I am really interested in knowing what you think is the most challenging part of starting or running your own business as an entrepreneur mom - and how you handled it? I read through a lot of your profiles and what gals do is amazing! I own www.motherhoodincorporated.com and I started it less than a year ago and I am realizing that there is so much to learn. Any advice?

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by sandra beck on 14th April 2008
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  My two cents:
  
  
  
  Focus, focus, focus -- pick your target audience, your core product, your core message and stick to it -- it takes time but I think focusing is key.
  
  
  
  Don't get down on yourself -- I've found that it's really hard to not take things personally when the business is not going as well as you'd like. But you have to try. Starting a business is really really really hard, and it's going to involve tough times -- what I find challenging and what I work on is to separately my business and my personal reaction to it.
  
  
  
  Network -- and be really open about networking. Meaning -- offer advice and help to others even if you're not sure if they can help you. I've found this so valuable.
  
  
  
  I hope this helps -- and I think your business idea is great and LOVE your site design.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 17th April 2008
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  I agree with Nataly. When you are managing your own business you are wearing many hats..its easy to loose focus and try to do everything yourself. But I have learned that sometimes its more feasible to pay someone to do a job that needs to get done rather then you spending hours learning to do something new and doing a mediocre job on it.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Zak on 5th October 2008
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  Looks like the original post was more than a year ago, so you're probably no longer a new entrepreneur! I just joined today because I wanted to respond to your post. One of the books that helped give me focus and direction when I first started was "Book Yourself Solid" by Michael Port. If you're in any sort of services industry, it really helps ask you those tough questions that you'll need to set direction for your business. Wishing you much success!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Katherine Huang, Private Jeweler on 21st October 2009