Being the real Girl-Boss

(This is going to the females)

Hi ladies, amidst the current economic situation we have come to find ourselves, it is pertinent for us to know that it is possible to rise to the top, such that we not only become the real girl bosses but a successful one.

 It is definitely not going to be a roller coaster ride as a lot of sacrifices and perseverance would be required to make it to the table of the high and mighty.

In my home country especially (by the way I’m a Nigerian), unemployment is rife, with a large percentage of the populace not being able to ‘clinch’ the supposedly decent and seeming high waged jobs. The reason is not farfetched, there are more qualified people than the available jobs, the competition is high, working conditions are not outrightly favorable especially to us as females. 

As you so much desire to acquire or keep that decent job, it is very necessary that you are aware of the fact that you cannot really be termed ‘wealthy’, if all you came to do in life is to work a 9-5. Especially when you work to build someone else’s empire. The certifications with which you are presently earning that seeming huge salary can never be inherited by your child/ren. In other words, your job couldn't possibly be relinquished to your offspring, but your business empire (if successful) could be the lifeline onto which your generations to come could hold on to.

So when I see someone decide to opt for entrepreneurship, never wanting to live according to the dictates of someone else, they want their time, energy and intelligence channeled towards doing their own thing and not tailored to suit someone else’s profit-making venture, then trust me, girl, such individual deserves a medal.

As beautiful as a business plan or idea might sound, I must reiterate that it is obviously not going to be a cup of tea, so you’ve got to be prepared and be equal to the task.

 However, motivational speakers and supposed advocates of self-employment in times past have not effectively communicated the challenges of what to expect on the journey to being a successful entrepreneur. As a result, Many have become erstwhile bosses of businesses that have clearly gone into extinct. Because of fear of the unknown or better still paucity of funds, lots of fantastic business ideas have remained a wish, buried in the minds of people who are unable to make them a reality.

 To be the real girl boss, and be able to maintain it like the world’s renowned female bosses like Sara Blakely, Shelia Lirio Marcelo and Opray Winfrey, as many of the tips needed are, I have been able to narrow them to a few  and if you are able to religiously follow the steps quite strictly, the sky is the starting point.

Getting started

It’s hard to be a business owner by default, it is either a conceived idea from the onset of your life or that you stumbled on it much later. But whichever way, you need ideas in your chosen field of business. I intentionally did not start out on how to get funds because as far as I am concerned, that should come much later. You can’t just walk up to a financial institution to get a loan if you had not deliberated on what you want to sell. You need a business plan.

In venturing into your chosen business, I advise that you choose a field that clearly defines your personality. You have to sell what you can conveniently buy and use or render services you would patronize, as you are the first model of your product. How do you relate this, that you hate tattoos yet you have a shop that offers such a service, does that sound well?

Afterwards, you need experience from others who have been in the business before you, and to achieve this, you could either work for them so as to gather more experience or make some meaningful research. You have really got to be smart. Opray Winfrey once worked in the media {though fired}, before owning her own show. Billionaire businesswoman  Rosalia Mera, co-founder of Inditex (the parent company of discount fashion retailer Zara), who dropped out of school at age eleven, worked as a stream stress where she gathered much experience.

Can you relate now? Gather more knowledge than you think you have, plan, have a budget, map out strategies on how to kick start.

Getting funded

Your partner, friends, relatives are examples of people to consult for soft loans. And if that is not coming, cleverly get a piggy bank and give yourself a time frame. As crude as that may sound, it works wonders.  It’s better if you are presently an employee. Slip in unspecified amounts on a daily basis, deny yourself of some frivolities like buying things that are not really necessary and let the cash in into your piggy bank. Because really, if you cannot take eyes off your funds, the business will head for the rocks some day.

No one has to know you are saving in a box, let it be kept in a safe place away from prying eyes. You could do this for months or even up to a year and let's see what you have gotten. Approaching a financial institution for a business loan is not bad after all, but be sure to opt for a plan that suits your intended business venture.

Maintaining funds

It is not just about starting up but maintaining it. As an entrepreneur, you really need to stay disciplined so as to stay afloat.

Restrict the frequencies at which you dip hands into your business capital. Endeavour to make all expenses from your profit and you stand a chance to grow so well if you consider such spending a loan which must be refunded to the business as soon as you can.

 Familiarize yourself with the seasonality of your business. With the exception of very few products, sales of varying commodities fluctuate within the year, caused about by periods and maybe the weather. The good thing is that you should know how to ‘gauge’ what you offer when sales are at the lowest ebb to minimize loss. If you are starting out at a time when it is widely believed that those selling similar products or offering same services aren’t making many sales, you are bound to get discouraged. Stay determined, and consistency is key. Trust me, it won’t be rosy all through. But armed with all of these, the sky is just a starting point for us all.

Cheers
 Written by me for Passionate I am USA