My Womens Business Success Blog

If you have a womens business success story you'd like to share on our site, please submit your story here.

October 19, 2006 18:43 - Kari Anderson of KariPearls.com

What motivated you to start your own business?

For years I've desired to have a business, but was busy raising, and teaching my 7 children at home...so really didn't have time for it. After they all became old enough to "tie their own shoes," well, really, older than that, I felt it was time to get started. I "fell in love" with pearls after a visit to Asia on our 30th year of marriage, so bought a small sampling to see how they would sell. My friends loved them...so off I was...with a new business.

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?
Not much. I don't like to plan....my weakness. I like to let things happen gradually and naturally. I started small with only a $100 investment, which I soon tripled, tripled again and have never borrowed any money for my business. Now that I have a large website...what I mostly do is research, research, research, but I love it! It enables me to add tons of valuable content to me site.

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was finding a website program. I'm glad to say I found the most amazing one in the whole world...a totally awesome and affordable program. Now my biggest challenge is finding time to fill orders, write content, put my jewelry designs online, etc. Time is valuable...and limited. Learning to "work smart" is the challenge and not waste time. My children are helping me more and more which is helping me overcome this problem. Our oldest daughter is doing all the cooking now and many other duties around the home, which helps tremendously.

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?
In all honesty, without my fantastic website program I would not have a business today. It is the cause of my success. Having a website has given me credibility and exposure like nothing else could do for me. I now have over 200 pages of quality content with steady traffic of happy customers.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?
Not going into debt is the best strategy for me. I don't like debt and avoid it like the plague. I like starting small and growing at my own pace. That way I'm able to grow personally as my business grows. That keeps me from being overwhelmed. Success can be overwhelming.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?
Do what you love. If you don't enjoy your business it becomes tedious work. Find what you are passionate about and follow your passion. Then your work is pleasurable and a joy to do.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business that we can include at the end of your story.

KariPearls is "All Things Pearl," including jewelry, information and images. Enjoy. Visit my Business

October 20, 2006 11:44 - Renee Lauren of Models-Fashion-Advice.com

What motivated you to start your own business?

at first to stay home with my child but as my child grew and went to preschool .. it was much more than that it was the freedom of working from home . I stayed very structed to keep one room set aside for my office always .

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?

I worked in the industry of modeling for several years.

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

I over came many of my clients merging or being bought out from the major department store chains since many of my clients are department stores. I sought out new clients and I also started my SBI site to offer consultations to models via internet.

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?

Surrounding myself with good people people who are also serious about succeeding.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?

Networking .. even online networking.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?

if you have passion for it do it ! sometimes even if you stumble get back up .. I have learned much from things that did not necessarly go my way - it is a growing experience.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business.

My business is two fold I work for a New York Modeling agency , I work from home and I have an internet business to answer questions on how to become a model what is real - what you really need to know thanks ! Visit my Business

October 21, 2006 15:01 - Sharron Williams of Work at Home Parents of Autistic Children

What motivated you to start your own business?

I have always been a Entreprenuer. After spending 4 years working as a nurse working double shifts because my employer wanted me to. I decided that I needed to be home with my autistic son more than having to work long hours for somebody else.

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?

None. I actually looked for message boards where parents who are self employed and have autistic children met. There weren't any. Sure there were message boards for parent of autistic children, but none for parents who work from home and care for their autistic child 24/7.

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Computer challenges. I'm still learning. I'm still trying to figure out this "blog" thing.

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?

God, and having a positive mind. Believing that time will help make my business grow.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?

Planning and organzing. Knowing in what direction I need to go. Have the mind of creativity.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?

Pray, think,and believe. Know what you want, and in what direction you need to go in. Think things through. And believe it will happen.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business.

Work At Home Parents of Autistic Children is for parents who work from home and have children diagnosised with a PPD/Autistic disorder or other disability. Visit my Business

October 23, 2006 11:02 - Carol Leather of Needlework Tips and Techniques.com

What motivated you to start your own business?

I've always had an entreprenuial streak. Back in my school days, I spent the lead up to Christmas making crocheted dogs to sell to my classmates. Earnt lots to spend on my own gifts that year! In later years my health started to go downhill and I was no longer able to work outside the home. So a home based business seemed ideal.

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?:

I have always enjoyed stitching and needlework so I began by trying to sell finished projects at craft fairs. However, I soon found that the would be customers much preferred to stitch themselves. I tried my hand at designing, sent a few off to the major needlework magazines and was delighted and surprised to be published. I was off and running!

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

To start with I just designed for the magazines. That was enough as they seemed to like what I did and started commissioning me for many articles each month. The number of magazines I supplied grew and I started running out of hours. I faced this challenge by "going it alone" and making my designs into kits for sale. Back to the craft and lacemaking fairs it was, with more success, followed by the major UK stitching exhibitions.

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?

In 1999 I started up a website. I designed it myself and over the years it underwent many "overhauls" to make it look better. Gradually I started taking orders online, and becoming noticed by needlework stores worldwide. I couldn't have found these outlets without the internet. In the last month I have registered a new domain name and am in the process of setting up an information website where I can share the tips and techniques I have learnt over the years.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?

My aim is to be friendly and approachable. Wether on the phone or online. I have also given many talks and held workshops around the Uk which has helped my name become known. I believe food customer service and a swift turnaround of orders helps to make the business as successful as it is.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?

Take things slowly at first. Don't rush in. As the orders start trickling in make sure you can handle them before upping the ante and tackling things from another angle. Try not to let everything happen at once.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business.

www.x-calibredesigns.co.uk goes from strength to strength offering cross stitch and blackwork kits online. www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com shares my knowledge with everyone who enjoys stitching as a hobby. Visit my Business

October 25, 2006 16:54 - Kerri Mackenzie of Small-Biz-Ideas.com

What motivated you to start your own business?

Probably the most basic motivator to start a business was the desire to gain control of my life. Working for someone else earned me a regular paycheck, but not much else. Climbing the corporate ladder was definitely not fulfilling – I wanted more!

Deep down in the pit of my being, there had always been a burning desire to use my creative talents to develop a business of my own, yet I lacked confidence. But the desire grew more intense as I grew older, until one day I could stand it no longer. The need to change the course of my life and gain the independence and freedom I craved was too powerful to ignore. I desperately wanted to make a living doing something I loved.

There were other motivating factors behind my decision, as well. My daughter was in her early teens at the time, and I understood that what I did with my life would have a dramatic and indelible impact on hers. I was her primary role model. Whatever footsteps I left behind needed to lead her to a path where she could grow and prosper. She needed to gain the confidence to follow her dreams, and I knew that by watching me do that, she would be able to do it, too.

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?:

From a very early age, I worked in my family’s business. My dad was a natural born entrepreneur and he put me to work on his car lot scrubbing whitewalls on tires and picking up trash. I eventually got promoted to answering phones, doing some bookkeeping, typing letters, and other odd jobs around the office. The experience I gained working for my dad and uncle as a kid, and later various jops in administration, accounting, sales, marketing, and management, prepared me well for self-employment.

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Lack of confidence was a huge barrier. Although I felt I had many skills, and knew my experience would serve me well, that little voice in my head kept telling me I couldn’t do it I couldn’t do it. But something more important became the driver the burning desire to gain control of my life. So, I began to ask myself What’s the worse thing that can happen? When I began to think that the worse thing that could happen was my life could pass me by and my dreams might never be fulfilled… I couldn’t stand the thought! The desire for something more… something better motivated me to act.

The other big problem was lack of capital. Leaving a fat paycheck meant a huge shortfall of cash. But I knew if I re-budgeted and re-prioritized the income from my husband’s salary, it would be enough to keep my business afloat. Thank heaven he was a patient man who was willing to let me try to make it happen!

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?:

So many things, really. Desire, determination, perseverance and the willingness to work hard are principal among them. But the love and support of my family plays an enormous role, as well. One of the things I hear most often from other women who dream of owning a business of their own is the negativity they get from friends and family. I’m so very fortunate not to have to battle on that front.

Being open to change and learning from others are additional contributing factors. I’m constantly amazed at the intelligence and creativity of others. I try to learn what other successful women are doing… and emulate them.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?

I don’t know if anyone would consider this a strategy, but plain old hard work is my strategy. I love what I do and I’m always looking for better ways of doing things by learning from other successful people. My business is intertwined with my life, so I’m nearly always at work, whether it’s thinking, planning or doing.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?

Build your business on something you love or have a passion for. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it, and then just do it. Once you start, don’t spend a lot of time second-guessing yourself, either. You’ll have good days and bad. But the most important thing is to try if you have the desire.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business.

Small-Biz-Ideas.com is an online resource for anyone who wants to start and build a successful business of their own. You’ll find ideas, information, strategies and solutions that actually work, without false promises, on very little money. Visit my Business

October 29, 2006 14:06 - Rhonda Campbell of Chistell Publishing

What motivated you to start your own business?

Passion! My love and enthusiasm for writing are the reasons I started Chistell Publishing. I wanted to share my moving stories with others and help other writers do the same. Over time, I have also supported and featured other writers, artists and business owners on my radio show "Off The Shelf" and in my literary periodical "The Book Lover's Haven".

What research or preparation did you do before opening your business?

I researched state and federal laws, effective ways to promote and market my business, how to build a brand, etc.

What kind of challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Balancing profit and loss. When money came in quickly, I had to remember I had an overhead (travel, technology, consultant fees, promotion costs). I also learned to be open to change, to see what is happening and then make wise decisions on how to proceed. I think success demands open-ness, because so much is constantly changing.

What do you feel has contributed to your business success?

Our creator 100%, My father who has owned his own business for more than 30 years, and others in my family and around me who have faced hard challenges but never gave up.

What business strategies have worked well for you and helped your business to become successful?

Having a CLEAR vision where I want to be at the end of a specific period of time (6 months, a year, 5 or 10 years, etc.), honestly reviewing P&L and making necessary changes. It's important not to be resilient to the point of continuing to move in a direction that is clearly showing "failure". It's important to do an honest review whether it's during an annual review with your board of advisors, board of directors, etc. and then make changes to steps you will take to achieve the goals of your business plan. This is an ongoing process and not something you only do once.

What advice would you share to women just starting out in business for the first time?

Have a clear vision for what you want to achieve long and short term. Be open to change. Do frequent and regular and honest reviews of your business, your P&L, etc. Regularly implement changes in your business. I have found firms that are adverse to change, often have changed FORCED upon them as much in our world is always changing. It's important to be open and comfortable with change.

Please include a short sentence or two about your business.

Chistell Publishing is a family oriented book publishing firm that focuses on books that empower readers. Visit my Business