Over the years, many women have been attracted to the mortgage brokerage business and many have been very successful at it.
With the upheaval in the industry, one might not think it is time to open their own shop.
But Barbara Rosenzweig, who recently was named Emerging Women Business Owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners - Minnesota Chapter, had a message to those women who are considering taking the plunge: "Never give up, because it's never, ever too late."
It was just three years ago that her husband presented her with an unusual gift for Mother's Day - her own staffing business. The business was stagnant when she took it over, but after creating a business plan, marketing plan and sale program, revenues have increased to $500,000 a year; for this year, the company is projected to have $1 million in revenue.
Ms. Rosenzweig has five tips for success for women looking to start or acquire a business:
1) It is never too late.
2) If you think you can you are right. If you think you can't you are also right.
3) Use whatever strengths you have to succeed. All of us have something unique.
4) Achieve success by forming habits of doing things that unsuccessful people will not do.
5) Support others and they will gravitate towards you, elevating you to new heights.
Josephine Nicholas, the chief operating officer of Published Daily, a technology company that helps professionals better communicate and market to their networks, has three reasons why women make great entrepreneurs.
1) Women have natural people skills. "Women have a tendency to ask the most personal of questions in a natural way, and this sets the stage for relationship building," she said. "True relationships with clients, vendors, and peers, are the foundation of any successful business; and relationship building is an essential skill for an entrepreneur. Women seem to have an affinity towards putting at ease those they come across in business, and this will help them in any venture they undertake."
2) Women are natural multi-taskers. "You have to be able to wear many hats when you're an entrepreneur," said Ms. Nicholas. "It's not that men don't have the ability or aren't able to multi-task, it's just that most women seem to have a natural affinity towards doing more than one thing at once; and, they do them all well."
3) Women don't shy away from risk. "According to studies, women entrepreneurs showcase that, contrary to popular opinion, women are not averse to taking risks," she continued. "In fact, when they are free of external structure, they gladly take the risk. They see the risk as their responsibility, and they find the most creative way to carry that risk out. This is exactly what entrepreneurs do well."
