According to ABC News, more women are starting a business in the U.S. than ever before. A study of Census Bureau figures has indicated that, between 1997 and 2014, the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. rose by an incredible 68%, an impressive figure by any standard.
“Women are becoming more aware of the opportunities for entrepreneurship in their lives. It’s becoming more of an option for a career move,” explains Susan Duffy, who works at the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College. It doesn’t hurt that many prominent women in the spotlight today are themselves entrepreneurs, such as Oprah Winfrey.
Girls and women thinking about their future careers are no longer seeing the role of “boss” as something reserved for the ranks of men. The statistics of women’s success in business are especially compelling giving some of the additional challenges they need to overcome — women have less access to financial backing as well as new opportunities than men.
In an interesting study, when given a business idea and asked if they would consider financing it, investors were more likely to say “yes” if they were told the entrepreneur was a man, suggesting that there are still ingrained beliefs about women’s potential competency in leadership positions.
What steps can women take to be successful despite some of the odds against them? Here are three tips worth keeping in mind — for any emerging entrepreneur.
1. Better Information Storage and Sharing is the Way Forward
If you want your company to continue to grow, investing in cloud hosting isn’t a bad idea. Why? Many businesses have trouble predicting the route of their future growth, and this can impact the amount of server space they have available, as well as the type of software or hardware they invest in. When you use cloud hosting services, you don’t need to worry about running out of space. About 80% of businesses switching to cloud report saving money — it can be a cost-saving solution for new companies. Use cloud business phone systems to keep in communication with your employees and clients.
2. Don’t be Afraid to be the Boss
Although there is a negative association in society regarding “bossy women,” it pays to be the boss — literally. It’s easy to buy into the cultural framework that women are emotional and soft when it comes to business. Your company is your money, though. If someone or something needs to be cut from your business model, don’t feel bad about doing it.
3. Failure Isn’t a Dead End
There will always be pitfalls to business — sooner or later, something you try out that you’re sure will launch your company to the next step instead crashes and burns. This isn’t the end of everything, though. Consider this: J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was first rejected by 12 publishers before someone finally picked it up.
Would you use cloud hosting for your business? Let us know in the comments. Helpful info also found here: local.cbeyond.com