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Work like a man ..but with a woman's heart. ( Thanks Mary Dewey.. this reinforces my Emotional Management class!)


Do You Think Like a Man? Women Entrepreneurs Change Your Mindset
By Jaynine Howard, USMC (Ret) The First Lady Of Military Network

Listen to Jaynines interviews on Military Network Radio.

The Male Entrepreneur Men buy what they need for their business without asking permission or consulting the household budget. They often do what they need to do for their business without asking permission from their spouse. Male entrepreneurs also conduct business revenue producing activities without consulting the family schedule. They put business first. It is a priority with them. They do not worry about running a household or doing the laundry except when they cannot find what they need to wear for a business meeting.

Male entrepreneurs also move from operating a home based business to a storefront within months of starting the business. Again, they do not worry about family dynamics or the family budget. They just do it.  Male entrepreneurs adopt a business mindset from the birth of their business idea and stay focused on growing their business.  They do not let family or household pets get in their way of growing their business.

The Woman Entrepreneur Women entrepreneurs operate from a female mindset that often sabotages their efforts to be a successful business owner. Women are in charge of running the household to include laundry, house cleaning, shuffling children to activities, walking the dog etc. The majority of the time they put family first. Women business owners often consult their spouse and the family budget before scheduling out of town business trips. They also consult the family budget before buying business supplies or investing in their business. The female entrepreneur also typically consults her spouse and children before she schedules weekend or evening activities.  She puts family first.

Women entrepreneurs are easily distracted by the myriad of duties i.e. mom, pet owner, house cleaner, and banker. Women often operate their business from home so that they can save money and continue to be the house cleaner, dog walker, baker, short order chef etc. Because women operate from home and put family first they are often viewed by the spouse, children, family and friends as working on a hobby or jobby (job and hobby) instead of a business owner.  This can cause frustration for the woman business owner because she feels guilty or sees herself as being greedy.

My advice to women business owners is to adopt a new mindset, stop feeling guilty and beating you up. Run your business as if it were a storefront. Stop consulting a spouse that does not support your endeavor, find a mastermind group or a business coach.  Women business owners must establish clear boundaries for when they conduct revenue-producing activities, business-building activities, and maintain a business budget. It is imperative that a female entrepreneur have the necessary systems in place so she can grow her business. This includes establishing a time for housecleaning and laundry, which does not cut into business hours or investing in a housekeeper. Hiring a babysitter or someone to help with children and their after school activities so she can focus on business.  Women business owners also need to establish a business bank account. It is ok to fund the business with family money until the business is turning a profit.