Never in a million years did I ever believe that I would be an entrepreneur.  Although, I must admit that by nature I am a very passionate, driven and determined woman, owning my own business was never something I was truly interested in. I have always been presented with business opportunities, but nothing tugged at my heart nor did it inspire me. However, I’ve always rallied behind other people, made business connections for other people and encouraged and supported people in their business endeavors.

Embracing entrepreneurship was and still is an inspired, passionate and heartfelt journey for me. For example, when I was inspired to start You Can Women in Business, I was at church one Sunday evening and deep within my soul I heard these words so clearly, “YOU CAN.” Guided by nothing but pure inspiration and passion, once I got home that evening, I created a website, hosted my first major event a year later with over one hundred women in attendance and the rest is history.

However, being an entrepreneur can sometimes be long and sometimes lonely journey. When I started You Can Women in Business I went in heart first, without a dime in my pocket, no mentor, no coach, no direction and no business plan. I wasn’t motivated by money; I was motivated by inspiration and passion.   Even to this day money is not my motivator, but all smart business people understand that as business owners, we must be compensated for our intellectual property, time, services and products. 

The Lessons That I’ve learned as an Inspired Entrepreneur:

One very important lesson for me was not to get caught up in comparing myself to other businesswomen. It is very important to understand what methods they used to succeed, but don’t paralyze yourself by comparisons. Also, take baby steps. Don’t try to operate your business on the level of someone that has been in business for ten years when you’ve only been in business for three months.

Another great lesson I learned as an Inspired Entrepreneur is not to wear my feelings on my shoulders. Inspired Entrepreneurs are passionate people, emotional people and people with big hearts. However, our greatest strengths can prove to be our greatest weaknesses. It is important to keep a well-balanced outlook on life and not make business or personal decisions based on feelings alone, because feelings and emotions change… and most definitely do not make decisions out of desperation. That could spell doom.  One has to make sound decisions that will stand when all the hype, challenges and emotionalism has subsided.

Entrepreneurship has also taught me to respect what others are doing. I’ve witnessed so many people demand nothing but the highest respect for what they do, but will blatantly disrespect or show little regard for what someone else is doing and make no apologies for it.

While there are many lessons that I have learned, a very critical lesson is asking for help, which so many women struggle with. I believe we struggle with asking for help because we believe that we are supposed to do it all. There is this perception that asking for help shows some sign of weakness. NOT TRUE!  Asking for help does not mean that you are failing; it does not mean that you are not smart or savvy enough and it sure does not mean that you are weak. The strength is in asking for help. Asking for help simply means that we need assistance and that’s okay. It is very unwise to think that we can do everything all by ourselves. Look at it this way, “Even the helper needs help! The servant should be served, the caretaker should be cared for and the leader needs someone to follow.” Allow yourself to be a client. Invest in yourself.  Entrepreneurs must continue to learn, advance and develop too, and we need people to help us.

Today, I’m still an Inspired Entrepreneur, but I am wiser, smarter and not only acting off of inspiration.

So in closing, whether you are an inspired entrepreneur, an accidental entrepreneur or an entrepreneur that had a well thought- out plan, remember You Can and You Will Succeed in Business! Never Give up… I’m in your corner with a banner held up high with the words “YOU CAN” on it in big bold letters.

To your COMPLETE and CONTINUED success!

Katina Amoah

Bloom – a state or time of high development or achievement; to mature into achievement of one’s potential; to shine out; to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree.

We have rose bushes in our front yard and I always enjoy admiring them and inhaling the aroma of the roses when they are in full bloom. One morning as I walked out of my home, to my amazement our rose bushes were displaying beautiful red blooms. I thought to myself, wow! When did that happen? I was convinced that just yesterday, there were no buds present for the roses to bloom. As I stared in admiration at the lovely roses glistening in the morning dew, it occurred to me, how our lives represent those roses.

We may feel as though the time we spend planning, developing our business ideas, planting and working effortlessly to achieve our level of success, is all a big waste of time. Just like rose bushes, we feel like our lives are covered in thorns. Sometimes we even ask ourselves, “What good is coming out of my hard work?” “What good is coming out of stretching myself?” “What good is coming out of the time I’m spending away from my family?” But one day our questions are answered when the buds of our commitment, consistency and perseverance take root and BLOOM. Then we realize that all of our work, consistency and perseverance served as the fertilizer for our success. Just like the roses unveiling their beauty in the morning dew, so will we shine and glisten in remarkable ways.

Interesting enough, some of us resist coming into full bloom. Why? I believe it is because we fear the unknown and we don’t want to deal with the thorns that prick us along the way.  Ask yourself, “What thorns am I afraid of?” A friend sent me a quote by Anais Nis, which reads: There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Can you relate to this quote? I can. There is always a battle that rages inside of us, which tries to keep us from blooming, but we must effectively arm ourselves and battle. We must refuse to settle and we must choose to BLOOM!

It’s important to point out that in order for us to bloom we must be planted and fertilized correctly. The definition of fertilize means to enrich or make fruitful. As complete businesswomen we can fertilize our lives and businesses by finding a mentor, by receiving necessary training, by caring for ourselves and by constantly seeking ways to grow and develop. After fertilization we must be pruned. The pruning process is not a pleasant process, but it is very necessary. Prune means to cut off or remove dead or living parts to improve shape or growth; to weed out unwanted or unnecessary things. Pruning requires us to be brutally honest with ourselves and pruning causes us to look at what is working in our lives and what is not working. Thus challenging us to change the way we think and change the way we conduct business as usual.

Now, take inventory of your life. What steps is it going to take for you to blossom into the complete businesswoman that you were created to be? Where do you need to plant yourself, so that you can receive the nourishment, training, education, encouragement and support that you need to BLOOM?

In closing, just as we enjoy the beauty and aroma of lovely fragrant flowers when they are in full bloom, so will we be able to enjoy the beautiful attributes that we will display when we are in full BLOOM.

To your complete and continued success,

Katina Amoah, Founder & CEO

You Can Women in Business!

“Your Authenticity Specialist”

Have you ever heard the expression, “I am not going down without a fight?” Ladies, this is the attitude we must have in the wonderful world of entrepreneurship. We must gear up, stand firm, and be prepared to punch back when life throws us blows.

As entrepreneurs, we are well aware that life will throw us experiences of every sort. However, how we respond to these experiences will determine whether we are knocked unconscious, or if we are knocked down, but able to get back up. I had the privilege of meeting a young lady that shared with me how life threw a very ugly situation her way. Already a business owner, she experienced some troubling times. However, she punched back with beauty. This young lady began to create beautiful jewelry and in the midst of her ugly trial, one business folded, but another one was formed. She could have buckled under the stress and strain of having to dissolve one business, but she chose to punch back with the internal resources that she possesses.

I must admit that life will throw us unexpected blows. We will be faced with life changing decisions, unexpected situations, and trials and tribulations.

What does tribulation mean? Tribulation means an experience that tests one’s endurance, patience or faith. As entrepreneurs, there will be many situations that test our endurance, patience and faith, but we must punch back by arming ourselves with a positive attitude, and outlook. Even when we make mistakes in our business, remember with the right attitude, we can look at the mistake as the fuel of creativity. Everyone makes mistakes. Smart entrepreneurs LEARN from their mistakes and move on.

Remember, how we respond to the blows life throws at us will determine our outcome. It is easy to buckle under pressure and to give up, but we must position ourselves to win by punching back with a strategic plan to help us get clarity and focus. Last but definitely not least, keep a Yes, I Can attitude.

To your COMPLETE and CONTINUED success!

Katina Amoah, Founder & CEO
You Can Women in Business International, Inc.
www.youcanwomeninbiz.com