Hayley runs a anti-networking group for entrepreneurial/women in business on Facebook called The Conversational. This group is hugely successful with hundreds of members who are searching for success or who are already successful sharing pearls of wisdom and boosting each other.
This week Hayley started a thread titled "What's stopping you?", it turned into a heart warming honest post where women divulged their biggest fears and what is holding them back from the next level in their business or taking the plunge.
The resounding answer was lack of confidence, money and time.
In all honesty, Hayley and I read these comments and really struggled to relate. We've all been in that position, the Monday morning dread of going into a place of work we hate and the fear of spending the rest of our lives stuck in a rat race we feel no passion for. We are not saying "quit your job!" but making a plan is the key to living your passion. Writing your ideas down and figure out how you can get there. The reality is it, it is hard work, neither of us has been handed thousands of pounds to start a business on a whim. We've taken baby steps and both our businesses have organically grown. My Photography business started with a £350 camera and Hayley's Shop- Southwood Stores started on her kitchen table with a cupboard full of stock. Sheer determination, stubborn personalities and a massive dose of self belief were the driving force behind us. Whilst losing our mums young made us look at the world differently it was really just a reinforcement of who we already were, it certainly made us reject any notion of living an unhappy life, there was no longer time to waste.
It goes without saying that we are really lucky to have our supportive husbands and family but we somehow want to let you know that nothing pisses us off more than being lumped into a "ladies that lunch, playing around with the husbands money" category, because WE ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT. We, along with other small female run business owners are grafters and jugglers. Fitting in work around family life, school runs, ballet lessons and spelling homework is the norm and that can be confusing but don't let it make you think that your work isn't real. We are superheroes.
SUPERHEROES is the word! LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. You're so right - being self employed seems to suggest to some poeple lunching and an easy life but I've never worked harder than since being self employed - mainly because you're never off duty. There are always more emails to send and more social media to action, more plates to spin! I'm in awe of both of you and am constantly encouraged by you! Keep flying that flag! x
Posted by: Katy Hill | 01/26/2016 at 02:55 PM
It always astounds me that all the amazing women I work with email me at night - 10, 11 even midnight whereas the men are in office hours! I always make an effort to reply instantly as I know we all work around our children and home life - like you say, we are never of duty.
The ladies that lunch tag that I often get put into could not be further from the truth.
Thanks girls for always hitting the nail on the head and keeping us all going.
xx
Posted by: Sarah Spence | 01/26/2016 at 03:59 PM
I want to join this group! Would be great to have such great wisdom and enthusiasm as well as support from creative ladies in a similar boat to me. Is anyone allowed to join? What are the requirements? Be great to hear from you...
Thank you! xx
Posted by: [email protected] | 09/16/2016 at 01:58 PM