Staying Focused on Success

A few days ago I saw an article in the business section of a major newspaper. The premise was that the slowing economy is forcing entrepreneurs to go back into the corporate world. I don’t doubt that’s happening to some of them, but I also know that entrepreneurs are not about to become extinct.

Just in the past month I’ve become a mentor to a group of young women who are part of the “entrepreneur house” at Douglass Residential College in NJ. In addition I’ve joined two new online groups for women entrepreneurs. It seems like everyone I've met lately either has a business or is thinking of starting one.

Even with the roller-coaster ride the economy is on, the business owners I've met aren’t negative. We’re sharing ideas and motivating each other to continue on in spite of what’s going on around us. What’s really exciting is how women are changing the networking landscape. Relationship building is the
“new” thing (though it’s not new to women) and the business-oriented social media is reflecting it.

Becoming an entrepreneur was a dream of mine stretching back to when I’d first graduated from college. Back then it was more about getting a good job and a pension. Now I’m in a different world. Thanks to technology I can work from home and just about anywhere else. I can connect with business women from all over the country and the world while I build relationships and alliances.

Perhaps because I love being a business owner, I’ll always embrace the positives and downplay the negatives. Having my own business has been a challenge at times, but through it all I've learned a lot about myself. Being a business owner forces you to grow and to be self-aware. If you don't believe in yourself and your product or service, you certainly won't attract many paying clients. I've had to be resourceful, creative and always willing to learn. In addition, I've had to stay positive and focused on my intention to make my business a success. Those are qualities that will support me no matter what is going on in the world.