Confident steps to building a business
According to recent research by Avon, the top five reasons women do not start their own business are:
Not having a business idea
No start up finance
Not good enough
Wouldn’t be able to do it alone with no support
No qualification or experience
A recent report by UK Domain also shows that 54 per cent of millennial mums who returned to traditional employment after maternity leave say they struggled to juggle family life with a ‘9 to 5’. Mother of two and Avon Sales Leader from Plymouth, Dawn Fazakereley, took that first confident step, reclaimed her work/life balance and is now working her business in her way.
Dawn says: “When I started my business I was looking for a job I could work around my children. I saw the opportunity to grow my business which was already working well for me and I can now give my children everything they want and I’ve massively gained in confidence. I also inspire other women to do the same”
My top business tips to other women who are considering starting out on their own:
Have the confidence! It can be daunting to take that first step but you have to remind yourself why you’re doing it. Is it for flexibility around your children? To be your own boss? Earn on your terms? To have more life in your work/life balance? Reminding yourself of this will give you the motivation to be the best you can be
- Set yourself a goal. When I first started my business I wanted to have a little pot of extra money for a rainy day and now, I’m managing a team as a Sales Leader and have bigger goals. It’s all about setting something achievable that you can proudly tick when you’ve achieved it
- Be strict with yourself and set a routine. Will working 10-4 be best for you around school drop-off/pick-up? If so, make sure you focus that time to your business and set aside those hours each day. I’m now able to also run my business online so I can work flexibly wherever I am within my strict ‘working hours’. However, if something crops up (as happens with children!) I can be adaptable as I’m my own boss
- Be prepared. Have all the tools you need ready to start your business. A computer, ‘office’ area or space you will designate to work and stationery. You want to make sure you’re ready rather than let this distract you when you’ve started
- Learn. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Brainstorm ideas with others to get obtain honest feedback and take all of that feedback on board. Every day is a learning curve and it certainly keeps you on your toes!
- Enjoy every minute and embrace everything. Take yourself back to that original motivation and remind yourself why you started your business. Every business will have ups and downs but perseverance is key. Don’t forget the skills you have that are so key to running a business. One of the best skills I bought to my business was being a mum and a very good multi-tasker!
To learn more about Sales Leadership and to set up your online Avon business today visit: www.avon.uk.com/become-a-representative
