• Home
  • Work with Me
    • 4 Week Intensive
    • Pick My Brain
    • Membership
    • Planning Day
  • Freebies
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • About
    • Press
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Work with Me
    • 4 Week Intensive
    • Pick My Brain
    • Membership
    • Planning Day
  • Freebies
  • Podcast
  • Testimonials
  • About
    • Press
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact
Blog

8 Things You Need to Get Over if You Are a Woman Business Owner

9/3/2018

9 Comments

 
Picture
I work with women to untangle  how to manage their marketing and their business in a way that feels right to them as business owners, mothers, and humans.

I’ve worked with women just starting businesses and ones who have run businesses for years. With women who make no income to those making a lot of money (yes, six-figures, but I deeply dislike the way that number has become short-hand for successful). But there are some issues I see over and over again.

Being Afraid to Take Up Space

via GIPHY

​Fear of taking up space means different things to dfferent people. For some, it is talking about their business on Facebook – I’m not talking about being spammy and making every post about the business. I’m talking about never mentioning it. If you own a business, it takes up a signifigant amount of your life – why wouldn’t you mention it?

For others, fear of taking up space means not even saying “Yes, I do this thing” even when they see someone is looking for their exact service.

Or it might look like winning an award or recognition and being reluctant to tell others about it.  
Not Setting Goals Because You're Afraid You Won't Reach Them

via GIPHY

​Yeah, goals are scary. But goals are direction and your business needs a direction or it will spin around in circles.

The fun part is that YOU get to set your goals. Whether that means income, new connections, items shipped, appointments booked, or maybe something entirely different – you’re the boss of your business so set goals you’re excited to reach not just the ones everyone else is setting. 
Not charging the prices you need to charge

via GIPHY

Look, I can’t tell you what your price should be. But I can tell you that if you are charging too little you are setting yourself up for frustration and burn out. Been there, done that (more than once because sometimes lessons take time to sink in).

What does it look like to charge the price you need?

It means having time to do your work well rather than constantly rushing. It means having space to build good relationships with your clients. It means covering BOTH your expenses and your time, not just one or the other. It means not negotiating (unless that’s your thing) or finding imaginary discounts to give to potential clients because you’re worried someone will say no.
Not asking for what you want

via GIPHY

Yes, having those hard conversations is difficult. Do you know what else is difficult? Putting up with things because it feels easier than speaking out.

As women, we have so much cultural baggage telling us to quietly carry the load and keep things running smoothly – even if it is detrimental to us. Not to mention the part where asking for help is seen as a failure or inability to handle everything we’re trying to do.

When we overlay that lifelong training with running a business, we can find ourselves doing all the work of our business and then some instead of reaching out for help. Be brave – ask for what you want.
Being afraid of being “salesy” to the point of never promoting yourself

via GIPHY

This is likely the one I hear most often. There is something so fundamentally frustrating to me about the fear women have around being considered “salesy” – especially when I fall into it myself (I’m not even going to pretend to be perfect here).

Picture yourself as an average white dude named Chad – would he have any hesitation to tell someone about his new project or offer? No. He wouldn’t.

Channel your inner Chad and go for it. 
Worrying you aren’t hustling enough

via GIPHY

This is another Chad issue. There is a “hustle til it hurts” mentality that works for some (and if that’s you – awesome, own it).

Do you know what makes it hard to hustle in your business? A baby who doesn’t sleep through the night, working alternate shifts with your partner to make your dreams happen, caring for a loved one on top of everything else you do, health issues others may not see, and so many other things that Chad “I live on Red Bull and 3 hours of sleep so I can hustle harder” may never have to deal with.

If you’re feeling bad because you’re not hustling as hard as your Instagram feed tells you everyone else is hustling, just remember how many filters there are on Instagram and how much planning goes into those perfect grids. That’s their “best of” reel – you’re not even seeing the outtakes, let alone the whole picture.

Want to be inspired by someone? Great. But don’t let their life keep you from focusing on yours.
Not wanting to admit that you want success and money

via GIPHY

Repeat after me “Money is awesome.” Did you feel a little weird? That’s ok. Money can bring up all kinds of issues and baggage – even stuff we didn’t know we had buried!

Expecting to be paid for doing work, even work you love and enjoy is not a bad thing. Having money doesn’t make you a bad or selfish person. It makes you someone who can cover your bills and handle your responsibilities. In no way is that a bad thing. Hint: Its actually a really good thing!

Success and the recognition of your peers, friends, and family? Being proud of what you’ve created and how you run your business? Also not bad things.

Side note: If you are looking at other women and mentally tearing them down for having success, money, or recognition? Stop it. Stay in your own lane. We need women who build each other up and celebrate each other – be that woman for the next person you encounter and see what happens. 
Getting Stuck in Your Comfort Zone

via GIPHY

I’m a Taurus, so I’m basically terrible at getting outside my comfort zone. I like to dig in and get comfy, but that doesn’t serve me, my business, or the people I want to help.

If you find yourself pulling back from trying new things or putting yourself “out there” – try the smallest step you can take.

Or don’t think about it, and do it anyway. That’s what I did recently when I needed to walk into a new space where I wouldn’t know anyone. I just didn’t think about it until I was there (which is when I thought I was going to throw up in the elevator…but I didn’t, I had a great time, and I got outside my own comfort zone!)

​
Picture
9 Comments
Nneka
9/4/2018 05:51:36 pm

Hey Gwen!

Thanks for the motivation in this blog post! Need to hear it from time to time to just keep going!!!

Love it and I love what you do!!!

Reply
Megan Barella link
9/4/2018 08:50:52 pm

Awesome post, Gwen. Thank you!! You hit the nail on the head that's for sure. :)

Reply
Selena link
9/5/2018 06:17:25 am

This is such a great post Gwen! All of these things is relevant to most women I know. Thanks for the great reminders that MONEY IS GOOD and that we can channel our inner CHAD. Love it!

Reply
Molly Guidette link
9/5/2018 03:36:35 pm

Heck yeah sister! Love this and your work.

Reply
Delaram link
10/17/2018 12:04:52 am

Great tips Gwen! Thank you! D

Reply
Pallavi pande link
2/23/2019 08:24:42 pm

Great article. Loved all the tips and I can see myself in them . Time to break the ice and step out of my comfort zone. it feels good to have support from everyone else and realize there are so many other like me.

Reply
Cathy link
9/7/2019 10:44:44 pm

Awesome article, no matter how long a woman's been in business. Definitely worth the read, nicely done Gwen!

Reply
Olga Ward link
12/5/2019 08:43:22 pm

Great reminders! And I just love the gifs!

Reply
Rachelle link
12/5/2019 10:56:41 pm

Sometimes me 🙋: Being afraid of being “salesy” to the point of never promoting yourself

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Musings about marketing, social media, and small business.

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All
    Blogging
    Branding
    Digital Marketing
    Facebook
    Freebies
    Instagram
    Periscope
    Pricing
    SEO
    SEO Basics
    Social Media
    Video Marketing
    Websites

    RSS Feed

Get in touch - gwen@gwenmontoya.com
Listen to the podcast
Press

Picture
Hey there! You've read to the bottom of my website. Thanks for that.
As a bonus, check out the link below to my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Seriously, once you try this one, you'll always make your cookies this way!
This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe!







Photos used under Creative Commons from {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}, 8mm & Other Stuff, Genista, Jason A. Howie