Becoming Your Own Boss As a Woman at Mid-Career
Wall Street Journal
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By DANA MATTIOLI
A mentor's advice can be an asset to those starting their own business. V. Cheryl Womack, chairperson of the nonprofit organization Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World, encourages women business owners to provide guidance to others aspiring to entrepreneurial goals. Ms. Womack, who founded and sold five businesses in the trucking industry, joined the Kansas City, Mo., organization in 2002.
CareerJournal.com asked Ms. Womack, a former school teacher, to share some tips for women seeking to start a solo business at midcareer.
1. View problems as opportunities.
"Women are nurturers. When I went to conferences about our products, men heard problems, and 'Woe is me.' I heard opportunities of businesses to start. I heard: 'Oh, that's a problem for you? What can we do about that?' So I loved conferences, because that's where I'd go get all of my great business ideas."
2. Network with successful entrepreneurs.
"Even before you think you want to be in a business, go to a group of business peoples' meetings, some organization, and talk to some people who have taken the challenge on...The world will tell you what you can't do. You need people around who are doing what couldn't be done."
