5 Things a Woman of Business Probably Won't Tell You

two women of business — *Photo Credit: Christina Jones Photography*

Lately, terms like "Girl Boss" and "Fempreneur" have been vilified for being somewhat degrading to women. We're not “girl bosses.”

“We're just bosses,” they say.

While I agree with this sentiment to some degree, as a woman of business, I don't want to ignore the struggles we, as women, have gone through (and continue to go through).

While being a woman-owned small business has plenty of benefits, it's really difficult to get started. That's why, today, I want to talk about some things that some women entrepreneurs may not want to admit.

4 Things a Woman of Business Probably Won't Tell You

women entrepreneurs gathered at Book and Bottle in St. Pete Florida — *Photo Credit: Jessica Ann, LLC*

When I started Babe Crafted in November 2018, I didn't intend to quit my job. But just one week after launching, I did end up leaving my day job.

This isn’t some rags-to-riches story. I didn’t go viral and suddenly replace my income overnight. In fact, it was the opposite.

It wasn’t sustainable at all. I hadn't even really figured out what the business was yet. But I quit anyway and started doing freelance PR to get by until Babe Crafted became my primary source of income.

These are the stories I wish I had heard more often back then instead of the same tired advice. When women talk about starting their own business, these are always the first three steps they’ll give you:

Work on your dream career as a side hustle first
Save 6+ months' worth of money for bills
Have a marketing and business plan

Sure, this is the responsible approach. Some people take their time, save money, and then quit their job.

But you don’t have to follow the status quo. You just have to know what resources you have at your disposal. One of the reasons I was able to up and leave is because my house is paid off, and I don't have children.

And yes, in a perfect world, you should have money saved. But sometimes (like when you need to get out of a toxic work environment ASAP), it's okay to take the leap.

Here are a few more things I've learned as a woman of business that you don't hear too often.

1. Protect your intellectual property.

There is no "Oh, I'll do it later." Do it now!

Technically, your work is copyright protection from the moment of conception. According to the U.S. government website, "Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device."

But copyrights are only one way your intellectual property is protected. Your intellectual property is considered inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, images, names, and logos used in commerce.

Sometimes it's not enough to claim your domain name and social media handles and post content.

Here's how you can protect your IP in the U.S.

2. Know your numbers

I don't like math, and I don't like numbers. But you bet your ass that I know my numbers every month.

Or else I wouldn't have a business.

My advice? Get into the spreadsheets! It really takes a lot of pressure off of you if you have a tool you can use to automate your income, profit, and expenses.

3. You can't wait until everything is perfect.

If you want to get better, you have to get started.

But I know plenty of women in business who want to wait until that "perfect" time to launch. You might be waiting until:

You lose the weight
Have more money
Build your team, or
Take that course

Surprise yourself, and just go for it!

I know, I know. It’s not that easy. One trick to help you finally take that step is to find what motivates you.

Everyone is motivated by different things. Some people feel confident and empowered after listening to a song they love. For others, talking to loved ones makes them feel secure in their decisions.

It's crucial for you to find what makes you feel validated. So pump up that Beyonce song, talk to a friend, or pour that glass of wine and hit publish.

RELATED: How To Overcome Your Fears

4. Ask for help.

I'm an Enneagram 3. I'm an achiever and a helper. This means that:

A. I'm a yes person. But also,

B. I struggle to ask for help.

I'm the type of woman who (used to) say, "I'd rather just drown!" than ask someone for a life jacket.

As women, we feel we have to overcompensate to prove ourselves. Then there's the comparison game, where we assume there's a lot of judgment.

But the cold hard truth (that men have known for years) is this: you HAVE to ask for help if you want to succeed.

Benefits of Being a Woman-Owned Small Business

group of women small business owners — *Photo Credit: Jessica Ann, LLC*

The benefits of being a woman-owned small business far outweigh the downsides. My favorite part of being a woman in business is having a built-in community of women like me who just get it.

They get that women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles across industries.

Women understand that we've been conditioned not to speak up and have been punished when we try.

They get that women are twice more likely to be people pleasers, making it hard for us to set boundaries with work, clients, and life.

Being a woman of business is challenging. The self-doubt is insane. But the benefit is that we are all truly, wonderfully, and passionately in this together.

Want to feel less alone on your journey?? Join our community of 150+ women entrepreneurs!

Disclaimer: The business owners featured in this blog are members of Babe Crafted (at the time of publishing).

5 Things a Woman of Business Probably Won't Tell You