The plain and simple fact of the matter is that being a female entrepreneur in a still male dominated world is tough. Worse, a strong majority of people you cross paths with will actually expect you to be apologetic for having the audacity to rise to the challenge and forge out on your own. They’ll lambaste you for the very traits that have not only made you successful, but for the very qualities that also make you a woman such as your beauty, intuition and resolve.
You need to be resolute in who you are and committed to who you want to become!
1. Being Real
There’s nothing wrong with showing who you are on the inside to others. Well, at least not for most of you! If you find people accusing you of having a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease wherever you go, you may in fact need to tone it down some. For the rest of you, being aggressive, thoughtful, opinionated — even standoffish whenever you see fit, is what makes you you. It’s most often the traits that others feel jealous of that will make you successful in your life and business. The people around you can see this too, which is where the hate comes from. Don’t apologize for who you are.
2. Being Accomplished
I don’t know why the heck people who’ve realized success in business and life have to apologize for it. Maybe because as Les Brown likes to point out “It’s the bottom in life that’s crowded.” Most people, men or women, that you encounter won’t have been able to create the results you have. They’ll also have a ton of excuses why not such as raising kids, paying off student debts — the bank wouldn’t give them a loan to build their own business… Whatever! That doesn’t mean that you have to stoop down to their level and apologize because “you got lucky” and the stars aligned just right. You didn’t win the lottery, did you?
3. Being Motivated (and/or Motivational to Others)
Since when did it become a bad thing to be driven to succeed? Or to try to instill some positivism in room full of Grumpy Guses and Gertrudes? The fact is that most who don’t condone this character trait feel this way because they wish they could be more driven, more positive, more of an inspiration, but they just can’t seem to find it inside themselves. This isn’t your fault. Why are you sorry that you don’t have to watch a Tony Robbins video every morning just to get the ambition to get dressed? Cast these people aside with a wave of your hand and move on!
4. Being a Female Entrepreneur That People Actually Like
So your beautiful, vivacious, intelligent, funny, etc. Who’s to say there’s something wrong with that? Or that you’ve only reached the level of success you’re at because people like you? That’s the point. Aside from being hard-nosed and driven to get what you want, you do need to be the type of personality that people actually enjoy being around. A nice, but not too nice boss is going to be better at managing employees than one who’s a constant grump. Customers are going to be drawn to your kindness, sense of humor, beauty — and don’t forget your actual skills! Don’t apologize for these things. If you got it (ie., something people like), flaunt it girl! Whatever that something is.
5. Being Uncompromising
This trait is a double-edged sword. You need to understand how to use it or risk chopping your own head off. However, it’s still a challenge for women to usurp men in the workforce. Forget about the entrepreneurial stage! You have to be stalwart, completely committed to the outcomes you’re looking for. When someone tries to get you to change something that you don’t feel is right, you need to stand your ground. Apologizing for this only sullies your goals and your reputation!
#NEVERAPOLOGIZEFORBEINGYOU!!!
You are who you are. You’ve made — or will someday really soon. If you feel the need to apologize for the traits that make you a great female entrepreneur, perhaps the company you keep just isn’t worth keeping around anymore.
Main Image Credit: Steve Wilson/Flickr