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Smart Women Have a Good Eye

Written by: Joy Chudacoff

Article Overview: This article is about choosing collaborations that are “right” for you and your business. There will be many opportunities that come along as your business grows and knowing how to choose the right ones will position you for better business growth.

Smart Women Have a Good Eye

This past weekend, I was sitting in the bleachers at our local park watching my children play little league baseball when I heard the weekly mantra from their coach as each child took their position at bat:

"Wait for the one that's right for you!"

"Don't swing at every pitch!"

"Good Eye!"

This got me thinking about how smart women choose opportunities that are "right" for the mission and growth of their business. As your business begins to grow and you develop a following in your industry, opportunities will come your way. It's important to identify which opportunities are right for you. It's easy in the beginning to want to say "Yes!" to every opportunity that you are presented with to grow your business as quickly as possible. It's a lot like learning to play baseball. When my children first started playing a few years ago, they swung at every pitch---why? They had a one track mind-- hit the ball and get on base. When considering a joint venture or collaboration, there are several factors that you should consider:

1. You both serve the same target market - Make sure that the person you collaborate with serves your target market but in a different way. This assures that you are reaching your ideal client with a service that they need or want.

2. Aligns with your future vision - The collaboration should put you closer to your future goals. This is why being crystal clear on your vision is essential. Having a mentor or coach to help you process or work through potential opportunities will help you save time and make solid decisions.

3. If it feels "right," it probably is - When you get together with the person who you may be collaborating with, does it feel "right?" Does the conversation flow? Do you feel a sense of calm and trust with the other person? These are key indicators for me. I've been approached many times over the years to collaborate and I've declined offers because it didn't feel quite right or we didn't have the same mission or goals. Many of my readers know that I'm the Business and Life Coach for the National Association of Entrepreneur Moms and the Tenacity Jane Coach for Jane Out of the Box. These "pitches" felt "right" for me from the very beginning. Trust your intuition or as I like to call it, your "internal voice."

You will say "Yes" sometimes and it won't work out. ( believe me, I have) That's a normal part of the "growing" process. I've watched both my kids strike out more than a few times because of their excitement to hit the ball. However, I will share with you that more often than not, they are developing that "good eye" -- standing patiently at home plate, waiting for the pitch that's "right" for them.

As you become more laser clear on what your future vision is and where you're going in your business, you too, will develop a "good eye" for opportunities.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

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Article Tags: business, business growth, coach, entrepreneurs, goals, good eye, opportunity, smart women, women



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Re: History of Women in Business in the United States - Yes. Women have increasingly made positive economic contributions to society and their position is being recognized more and more as seen on the Forbes List of Executive Women. In general, women can be a bit more practical in their approach as entrepreneurs too.
A ton of Great Women - You might want to profile Teresa Cascioli of LakePort Brewery. She has an amazing story! I met her at at the celebratory luncheon for the Profit/Chatelaine Top 100 Women Business Owners. The Top 100 list is also a great resource for inspirational stories of Women Entrepreneurs.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - Women are generally more organised than men. They have good instincts more than men. Women are generally aggressive when it come to business. You don't want to mess up with them.
Re: Are entrepreneur women more organized than men? - The issue of women being more organized than men is true, start from you home, just see how messy the boys are. Women are also very cautious, unlike men who take any risk, a woman will analyze the risk first. Women are also go getter when it comes to business, once they make their mind, then they go for it.
Re: Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs? - My opinion on this (being a women, and being disabled), is; Women in general like security. Women are the caretakers, in general. In the work environment we are the one to have children. We are the ones who leave work to do this. We deal with a stigma that we are bad mothers if we work, but we are a bad mother if we do not work. I feel there is no way a man could ever understand this. Sure they can try, and some do a good job of it, however they truly do not understand. How could they?? Being a entrepreneur is throwing cation to the wind. It takes believing in yourself. It takes a women who can have someone say no, put us down or just plan old negativity and for us to turn it around. Women who can do this are called names, while men in the business world are just expected to have a thick skin. Studies show in the work environment that women are more apt to be bullies. Women are more apt to turn on each other. We expect more out of each other. Many women also use the work environment to socialize and to find a mate. Men and women are not created equal. Once we understand this and take what we are and "run" with it; the better all of us will be. Women business owners, women entrepreneurs are still considered a minority. Since there are more women then men in this world, some day this will turn around. This too is why men need to protect themselves and keep us under some kind of control. What bothers me to no end is when women give in to the mans world using sex as a selling tool. We need strong women leaders, not those who use their bodies as a step up. This is just my opinion on this subject.


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