“It’s Because I’m a Woman…”

Summary

• When I started my business at 23, I had never built one before and faced numerous challenges.
• It's easy to blame outside factors, like being a woman, for why people might not respect you.
• Blaming things you can't control, like gender, isn't useful or productive.
• Instead, focus on what you can control to earn respect, such as improving your skills and experience.
• Owning my shortcomings, whether in management, communication, or setting boundaries, led to personal growth.
• Sometimes, the reason people don't respect you isn't your gender; you might need more experience or skills.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing a mindset shift to help you focus on what you can control. Start each day by identifying one skill you want to improve. This could be as simple as learning a new software tool, improving your communication skills, or setting better boundaries.

A good way of doing this is by setting small, achievable goals. If you're an entrepreneur facing challenges in management, look for free online resources or webinars focused on management skills. Many platforms offer high-quality content for free.

Owning your shortcomings is another crucial step. Write down the areas you struggle with, whether it’s management, communication, or boundary-setting. By acknowledging these, you can actively work on them. For example, if you have trouble setting boundaries, practice saying no in low-risk situations to build confidence.

Track your progress. Keep a journal where you note what you've worked on and the improvements you've seen. This helps you stay motivated and provides a clear picture of your development over time.

Seek feedback from those around you. Ask your team, friends, or mentors for constructive criticism. This will give you insights that you might not have considered and help you grow faster.

Lastly, don’t let things you can't control, like outside perceptions, hold you back. Focus your energy on actions that are within your control. This approach not only boosts your skill level but also naturally earns you the respect you're seeking.

Full Transcript

when I was first starting off in business I was 23 I'd never built a business before when I hired people there were a lot of times where I could have pointed to me being a woman as the reason that maybe they weren't listening to me and as humans we love to point to something that's outside of our control and the reason that I am not a fan of this belief because I'm a woman people don't respect me is because of two things one is it useful even if people don't respect you because you're a woman what can you do about that nothing the second piece of that is which belief will lead you down a path where you learn more about yourself I only learn when I take complete ownership over the fact that somebody doesn't respect me because the only thing I can actually do is what's within my control but I can control that if they don't respect me because I'm inexperienced because I lack management skills because I lack ability to communicate to stand up for myself to say no to set boundaries sometimes it's not that you a woman as to why people don't respect you it's because you're not good enough yet