How to Get a Good Night's Rest As a Business Owner During Tough Times

One of the key questions I always ask business owners:  what keeps you up at night?

Being a small business owner and a formally trained facilitator (e.g., Women Presidents' Organization Chicago Chapter Chair since 2003), I decided to take a different approach and asked 20 presidents of small businesses in marketing, interior design, insurance and a variety of other industries what’s allowing them to get a good night’s rest.

Here are the highlights of what they shared. 

Savvy Women Entrepreneurs Don't Work Alone

Our friend and awesome reporter Geri Stengel at Forbes says:

The most successful entrepreneurs don’t do it alone. That holds true for men and for women but particularly for women. 

She goes on to say:

Only other women see, hear and feel what women do. Women face different challenges than men: their access to capital and markets is restricted. What do you get when you problem solve with a group of women entrepreneurs? 

Take a look at what members of  the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), a peer advisory group, and organization I am extensively involved since 2003 as the Chicago Chapter Chapter chair, found.

The #1 Secret to Success Women Entrepreneurs Need to Share

To Grow, Find Good Mentors

Three out of 10 small businesses are owned by women nationally.  About two percent of them have broken the $1 million mark in revenues.  Why is it so hard to break into the million-dollar plus revenue range?  Many think it is because women lack good outside advisors.

But the people problems run far deeper than not having outside experts. About six in 10 of the [Kaufman Foundation] survey respondents said they lacked a strong support structure within their businesses.

Learn more:  Female business owners say they need mentors, marketing help

Note:  A good peer-to-peer advisory group is the Women Presidents' Organization.  (Disclosure:  I manage the Chicago market for WPO.)

Whether Pittsburgh or Shanghai, Women Business Owners Struggle Between Work and Family Life

Near Nanjing University (Shanghai)

Seven American women business owners traveled to the University of Nanjing (Shanghai) last month with the Greensburg chapter of the Women Presidents' Organization based at Seton Hill University (Pittsburgh).

Lee Ann Munger, director of [Seton Hill University's] e-Magnify's PowerLink program, said women from both countries struggle with the balance between work and family life as they advance in every field.

With flexibility, determination and passion, some are inspired to start their own businesses so they can raise a family and advance in their industry, Munger said.

Read the entire article:  Chinese female business owners not so different, Seton Hill group finds

Alicia Morga, Look No Further: Women Entrepreneurs Can Be Found Right Here!

Hi, Alicia,

In response to your commentary, "Where Are the Women Entrepreneurs?," over at the Huffington Post, you can find women entrepreneurs right here and at the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO)!  You and VCs just need to look harder.

Thanks for your interest.

Best,
Laurel Delaney

Illustration credit here.
Note:  Full disclosure:  I serve as the Chicago Chapter Chair for WPO.

Women Business Owners Spend BIG Bucks

The 2010 Buying Behavior Survey from the Women Presidents’ Organization -- a global peer advisory organization connecting top women entrepreneurs who own multimillion dollar companies -- show women business owners will spend more than half a million U.S. dollars each on business expenses this year.

The survey reflects the power of women-owned businesses through their buying behavior. The majority of respondents obtained all of the credit they wanted last year and indicated that the amount of credit currently available to them is about the same as was available before the recession.

Read more here.

Full disclosure: I serve as the Chicago Chapter Chair for the Women Presidents' Organization.

Think BIG

Theresa Daytner (pictured) is running her third business, Daytner Construction Group, a Mt. Airy, Md. construction management firm that had 2009 revenue of $3.5 million. She credits much of her success to her willingness to seek out business relationships with entrepreneurs who think big.

Read the entire article here.

She is missing out on one important peer-to-peer learning organization: Women Presidents' Organization.

Full disclosure: I serve as the Chicago Chapter Chair for WPO.

Women Can Grow a Million Dollar Baby

According to Michelle Stockman who works with Little Rock-based Arkansas Capital Corp. to promote entrepreneurship development around the state, women may not be as active in entrepreneurship as men but they sure know how to grow a business to a million dollar+ baby.

Read more here.

You might also appreciate this related piece.

Posted by: Escape From Corporate America blog

For Women Entrepreneurs Who Just Stepped Out of a Cave and Established An Internet Connection

Hello world. Well my goodness me-oh-my, look at this fantastic new idea. It's a blog for and about women who own businesses (gee, think there's more than one out there already on the Internet?). And this brilliant idea is the brainchild of ... drum roll please ... The New York Times.

They finally get it. Let's bring our hands together and applaud them for their incredible foresight :-) that women want to read about and learn from fellow women business owners.

Pay a visit:

She Owns It

And while you are at it, you might also enjoy learning about the Women Presidents' Organization -- they've been supporting women business owners for more than a decade. WPO blog established 2004 is here.

Posted by: The Official Escape From Corporate America blog

Women Presidents' Organization

During these tough economic times, there are no better mentors than your peers. And one of my favorite global peer-to-peer advisory groups is the Women Presidents' Organization (full disclosure: I serve as the Chapter Chair for the WPO Chicago market).

The WPO is the elite global peer advisory organization connecting top women entrepreneurs who own multi-million dollar companies.

In monthly meetings across North America, Peru, the UK and South Africa, chapters composed of 20 accomplished women presidents, from diverse industries and backgrounds, invest their time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive them to the next level.

Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential and collaborative setting. It's an ideal way to grow your operation and develop solutions to your most fundamental business challenges.

To inquire about membership and to find out if there is a chapter in your neighborhood, give WPO a ring at 212-688-4114 or visit their site at: www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

Task for the day? Drive a business breakthrough.

50 Fastest: Is That You?

Entrepreneur magazine, in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), is launching the 2nd annual list of the 50 fastest-growing women-led companies across the nation and Canada.

That's gotta be you! Apply here. And good luck!