As many of you know, I spend a large amount of my time travelling around Africa and the world, hosting and speaking at events that connect women entrepreneurs with each other and with exciting new market opportunities. In between those meetings and events, as I sit working on my laptop in different global locations on planes, in airline lounges, hotel lobbies, cafes and in railway stations, I have noticed at first hand a growing global trend, particularly amongst millennials. It’s the rise of the digital nomads - entrepreneurs, particularly millennials, whose lives combine business and travel and the freedom to work connected anywhere on the road. These days, it’s possible to run a successful digital business from anywhere as long as you have a laptop, an internet connection, your network, and your digital client base with you. And, many millennial entrepreneurs are proactively choosing this digital nomadic business lifestyle - and making it work!

There is something very powerful about seeing other women entrepreneurs who have made it on their journeys. I know that from a personal perspective and after more than  three decades of being an entrepreneur, I am inspired by and still learn each and every day from my fellow women business builders around the world. So it’s always fascinating to hear from many women that they find themselves constantly monitoring and benchmarking themselves and their businesses against their peers, and getting frustrated in the process. It’s the nature of competitive spirit in business to constantly look at what others are doing, but it can also have a downside when it hampers your own progress. Success comes when you keep your eye on the ball and on your own business at all times, and not on your competitors. There is a great quote from one of our wonderful Lionesses of Africa, Ngyenzi ‘Nunu’Mugyenyi, cofounder of BOLD Kampala in Uganda, who says on the subject, "Mind your own business. Focus your energy on how you can better your business, rather than on how the businesses of others are better than yours. There are enough entrepreneurial journeys to go around." Great advice!

I read a great quote which should resonate with all those women entrepreneurs who spend their lives pitching their businesses and trying to make the next sale - it says,“You may need 100 ‘No’s' to get one 'Yes,' but that one 'Yes' will make you more successful tomorrow than you were today.” How true is that? We all know how much work and effort it takes to make that all important sale, and it can be discouraging when you seem to go through a phase when all you hear are no’s from the companies and individuals you are pitching and marketing to. It can inevitably lead to moments of self doubt - and talk to any fellow woman entrepreneur and they will tell you they have been there too. The truth is, we’ll never completely get rid of self-doubt, and we shouldn’t try to. In fact, these feelings can be good for us - they drive us to keep doing better, to change the way we do things in order to get a great result, to question ourselves in order to improve our chances of converting that sale. The trick is to immediately let go of any feelings of doubt that come with every no, and instead just focus on the way you feel when you eventually do hear that yes. It will keep you going and keep those self doubts in check.

There is a great saying that goes, ‘ Motivation without desire is hollow’, and as we all know in the world of entrepreneurship, motivation is a critical factor for success. But it can often be hard to stay motivated during those difficult, energy draining and stressful times (and we all have those in business), when we try and keep everyone around us motivated, but as founders, who does the same for us? Is there a secret to staying the course when the going gets tough? Well, according to many successful entrepreneurs out there, one of the best ways of keeping those motivation levels high is to find your desire. And it’s not necessarily a desire simply to make money, although every entrepreneur wants to have cash in the bank. It’s more about finding that inner desire that drives you - your motivation could be to give your children a secure future; or to retire young so that you can do the things you really want to do; or to leave a business legacy for your family. Remembering that inner desire that made you want to become an entrepreneur in the first place will keep you motivated through even the roughest of times.

So here’s an interesting fact! Did you know that the artisan sector is the second largest employer in the developing world, behind agriculture, worth around $32 billion every year? Millions of people, particularly women, in developing countries around the globe are key drivers of the artisan economy - and that’s certainly the case on the African continent. They are producing handcrafted goods often utilizing traditional skills of all types to build businesses that can sustain themselves, their families and their communities. The artisan sector is significant and growing - international trade in artisan goods more than doubled between 2002 and 2012. Yet ironically, these very same artisan businesses are seldom recognized as drivers of real economic growth. But it’s important to remember that countries in the developing world have a competitive advantage in the artisan sector because of their rich cultural traditions, diverse artisanal skills, and unique raw materials. And that is certainly the case on the African continent. So it’s perhaps time to start acknowledging the truly important role played by women artisan entrepreneurs in driving Africa’s future economic growth, and at the same time, ensuring that traditional craftsmanship skills are both preserved and taken to the next level.

I am a great believer in the power of collective action, and as women entrepreneurs if we each take small, daily actions that will strengthen Africa’s pride of women entrepreneurs, we can make a big difference. Have you thought about where you shop, what you buy, where those products are made, and how you are supporting other women entrepreneurs who are making products and creating services that you might need? As a collective of women entrepreneurs on the African continent, we have the power to support one another in so many ways, helping each other to thrive and grow, simply by the actions and decisions we make each day. By making conscious decisions to buy from one another, to mentor one another, to bring each other’s businesses into our own supply chains, we are individually taking one small step for women’s entrepreneurship, but collectively making one giant leap for economic change for women in Africa. 

If you are one of those women entrepreneurs who is constantly striving to be at the top of her business game, but who also underestimates her ability to succeed, or worries about not really belonging to the ‘successful entrepreneurs club’, then you could be battling Imposter Syndrome. It’s that fear of not believing you are worthy of the success you have achieved, or thinking that you have got to where you are today more by luck than management. If that resonates with you, then you are not alone. I was re-reading Valerie Young’s book, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, this past weekend which is a fascinating read on this subject which afflicts many women entrepreneurs, and many successful women in general. Did you know for example that Oscar winning actresses Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep have both experienced nagging feelings that their awards and accolades were somehow not deserved? However, it appears there is a way of looking at Imposter Syndrome from the flip side. The author suggests that our fears of being inadequate pale into insignificance when compared with our fears of being extraordinary, and that if we embrace a can-do attitude and envision success as a hard won and well-deserved badge of honor, life will look a whole lot different. 

The other day I was thinking about when I first learned to drive as a teenager, spending all those hours practicing and focusing so hard on trying to avoid the inevitable bumps in the road that had the potential to steer me and my car off course? And it got me thinking about how similar that experience was to starting up in business. You get excited at the launch phase, you make it through the first year, and then around the time between two and three years, those bumps in the road appear again - they could be in the form of a need for an injection of funding; or an expansion of capacity; or the need for a pivot to react to new market conditions. And it can be tough to navigate at the time. So that’s why it makes sense to expect the unexpected, and prepare and plan ways in advance of getting over the inevitable bumps in your entrepreneurial road when they appear.

We all need a little continuous inspiration in our lives and great role models to show us what can be achieved, particularly in business. I have a number of women entrepreneurs whose stories I continually revisit on my own entrepreneurial journey. One of those is Anita Roddick whose personal passion led her to create and build what is today a global success story, the Body Shop. She was passionate about not testing cosmetics on animals and had a firm belief in natural organic products with recyclable packaging to reduce the impact on the environment. At the time, there was nothing else in the marketplace that looked like her brand, or that was driven by such a strong ethical, passion driven story that customers could identify with and buy into. Successful women entrepreneurs build a business around what they really love to do best, or what they passionately believe in. There is a great quote from one of our Lionesses of Africa community members, Narcissi Madishi, founder of children’s clothing brand, Kameo Kids in South Africa. She says, “Passion will carry you through....If you plan to go into business, choose something that you are absolutely passionate about. The passion will carry you through when the going gets tough.”

As many of you know, I am passionate about the power of community when it comes to supporting the growth and development of Africa’s women entrepreneurs - and, it seems like I’m not alone in my thinking. A fascinating research report by Facebook found that female founders who are part of a business community are twice as likely to forecast growth compared to those who are not. Despite this, half of female founders say they are not part of such a network. The research revealed that women are aware of the benefits of tapping into business communities, with 49 per cent of those interviewed for the report believing the opportunity to connect with other like-minded people would greatly benefit their business. 31 per cent of the women surveyed said the current business environment is better set up for male business leaders. Reading these research findings reminds me once again of why we started the Lionesses of Africa community - welcome to the Pride!

I have had several conversations recently with women entrepreneurs in the Lionesses of Africa community who are going through a range of challenges right now, and one word kept coming up repeatedly - persistence. And listening to their stories and experiences, those challenges will be familiar to so many others as each day they fight to keep their businesses going, or to take their businesses to the next growth level and into unknown new territory. Starting a business in the first place takes courage, but keeping it going, keeping it relevant and ensuring it grows, takes persistence. So this morning I would like to celebrate all those women entrepreneurs who are chasing their dreams, pushing through the inevitable difficulties, and getting creative in the face of adversity. Let’s learn from each other and never underestimate the power of persistence, it is an essential trait to develop as an entrepreneur.

I was reading an interesting article this week about how women around the world are less likely than their male counterparts to become entrepreneurs because they simply don’t have enough role models around them. And it’s not a case of being able to see superstar women role models to look up to, but instead ‘everyday women role models’ that they can really feel a connection with and aspire to be like. It’s why we share the inspirational start-up stories of ordinary women entrepreneurs doing extraordinary things from our Lionesses of Africa community each and every day - to show what’s possible. The article went on to suggest that women need to see on a regular basis people just like themselves successfully building businesses and brands, creating great products and services, and become fulfilled entrepreneurs, as it shapes their view of what is possible. The bottom line is that we need more everyday, successful women entrepreneur role-models in our lives to encourage us on our own journeys. 

I was re-reading a copy of ‘All In’ by Stephanie Breedlove this past week, a great book on how women entrepreneurs can think bigger, build sustainable businesses and change the world. It’s a great read and a great reminder of what a difference it makes to your life and your business when you make the conscious decision and mindset shift to go ‘all in’. Being ‘all in’ is a key ingredient for success, it means giving all you’ve got, committing to making the big vision happen, and putting in the maximum time and effort to realize set goals and ambitions. It means having an unwavering belief in what you are doing, why you are doing it, and its value. As Stephanie says in her book: “When the entrepreneurial journey leads you to go all in to help create the economic and cultural changes the world needs, words can’t describe its worth. I wish it for every woman called to entrepreneurship.” If you are interested in knowing more about the theory of ‘All In’, read our review of Stephanie’s book here.

Can you believe it, the first quarter of the year is already over. Is it my imagination or did it go by particularly quickly this year? It’s an urgent reminder to revisit the business strategy for the year; to look at the targets we set and evaluate where progress is being made, and where possible remedial action may need to be taken to ensure those all important goals are reached. Often we get caught up in the day to day business grind, and we perhaps don’t revisit the bigger picture for our business often enough. So as we hurtle purposefully into the second quarter of the year, it could be a good idea to set daily or weekly target reviews to stay on track. Electronic reminders at the end of each day are a great way to keep us focused firmly on those goals and not distracted by the everyday challenges that inevitably creep into our productivity.

As entrepreneurs, if we sat down to think about how much time we actually spend looking ahead, planning, visualizing where we want to be in our businesses 2, 5 and 10 years into the future, we would realize we are missing something pretty fundamental. We are not actually living in the moment! We can plan all we like, but if we don’t take the time to enjoy the small things that make life so special; or to celebrate each small (or big) win that happens in our businesses; or to just have fun with like-minded people on this crazy business building journey we are on, then we are not really living our best lives. It’s about being present, taking the time to enjoy the journey instead of constantly looking at the destination ahead. It’s about seeing time differently, as a series of moments to be relished and enjoyed, rather than stressful reminders of how much there is still to be done. Life is precious, let’s live more in the moment and really enjoy it!

I was sitting on a plane this week in Europe, chatting to a fellow woman entrepreneur from the UK who was a great example of how much of a balancing act it can be, building a business, taking care of family and managing often impossible logistics. She had her laptop in front of her, her lively one year old daughter on her knee looking to be entertained on the flight, and a deadline to meet before the plane landed in Zurich. She was travelling alone, being a mom and an entrepreneur at the same time, and trying to give attention to everything simultaneously. Many of us have been in similar positions ourselves, and therefore we know what it feels like. At times like these, it’s about being supportive to one another, seeing how we can help, and reminding one another that there is really no such thing as balance in the life of a woman entrepreneur. We just do the best we can!

They say timing is everything in life, and for many people, finding the right time to take a leap of faith and start a business can be a long process. I was chatting to a wonderful creative woman entrepreneur in South Africa recently who said it had taken her until she was 50, divorced, and with her children having left home to study at university, to be brave enough to follow her passion and start a business. She is not alone - many women entrepreneurs look at entrepreneurship as a viable life choice only later in life. But the thing to remember is that there is no one perfect time to become an entrepreneur or to start a business from scratch. It’s whatever time makes best sense to you - and age is no barrier to success for encore entrepreneurs. It can actually be an advantage as you bring a wealth of life and corporate experience with you. So, if you have a business idea or a passion that could be turned into a successful business but you have been waiting for the right moment, perhaps that moment is here right now!

I never tire of reading and sharing each day the truly inspirational stories of women entrepreneurs in the Lionesses of Africa network who are building great businesses and brands across the African continent. Everyone’s story is very personal to them, but their experiences (good and bad), personal insights, challenges and solutions when shared, can benefit all of us as entrepreneurs. Building a business requires us to be open to learning new things constantly, and therefore being able to share with others who are undertaking similar entrepreneurial journeys can be invaluable. It also helps us to know that we are not alone. So this month, I encourage all of you to share your startup story and connect with the 750,000+ other women entrepreneurs in the Lionesses of Africa network who are just like you. That’s the power of sharing!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie

After speaking at a recent event in London, I had a number of audience members approach me afterwards to comment on how passionately I spoke about women’s entrepreneurship in Africa, and how it made them connect with the work we are doing at Lionesses of Africa. It was a reminder about how as entrepreneurs and founders of our businesses, our ability to communicate our passion for what we do can be a great sales tool. As the old saying goes, “people do business with people”, and often it’s easy to forget that we are our own best spokespeople for our businesses, brands and products. We can connect on an emotional level with our audiences and our customers, making our passion for what we do and what we create, resonate with the people we are trying to reach. As Oprah Winfrey says, “ Passion is energy - feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

These days, what’s the first thing people do when trying to find out more about you and your business? They check out your digital presence, of course! So, when was the last time you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and checked out your own digital presence to get that first external experience of you and your brand? We live in a 24/7 digitally connected world, so it’s important to have a strong, authentic digital presence, both personally and for your business, that works for you; that people can connect with and feel like they can trust. It should also be the first place that people can get to learn more about you and your business before they make that all important face to face connection. So if you haven’t checked out your own social media pages or your personal or corporate websites recently, then now could be a good time. After all, you never know if that next potential big client is evaluating your digital presence right now!