How women can refresh their careers by becoming entrepreneurs
Could your career use a shot in the arm? Are you considering a venture of your very own? For women who feel they have climbed as high as they can in their current role, who aspire to be “more,” or who are simply ready for a change, entrepreneurialism can be an ideal solution.
Options abound
Do you have a clear vision you hope to pursue? For instance, maybe you have unique expertise to offer and could work as a consultant to other businesses, or maybe you have a thriving side gig and it’s time to transition to full-time.
On the other hand, maybe your path isn’t so clearly defined. Perhaps you have abundant leadership qualities, but you don’t have a certain place to exercise them. People with ample confidence, who love to learn, and who believe in shaking things up often make the best entrepreneurs.
Narrowing choices
Determining a clear path for your business can feel pretty daunting, but sorting out your strengths and interests can help. For example, do you love doing work that makes the world a better place? There are several service-oriented careers to consider and by sorting out your interests, you can lay the groundwork to achieve your goals. Here are some ideas:
Coaching: You could become a career coach, helping others pursue their hopes and dreams. In this case, unless you currently work in human resources, in an academic advising role, or another related field, you might want to start a side gig to gain experience before you quit your current position.
Continuing Education: Perhaps you have a knack for listening and communication. A career in speech pathology could be the perfect fit, and you can enroll in a master’s program with a bachelor’s degree in another field. By taking online courses, you can complete the bulk of your schooling while you’re still at your current job, which just leaves clinical work to do in person.
Combine Your Skills & Interests: If you love crunching numbers, perhaps you would enjoy freelance bookkeeping. In the role of bookkeeper, you help others not only with tallying their routine accounts, but you can help them find ways to stay on budget, identify places to cut costs, and avoid overspending. It’s easy to become established through platforms that connect freelancers and clients.
Grow Your Own Business: Do you love the idea of doing something research-oriented and creating your own business from that idea? Perhaps becoming a paralegal would be your ideal choice. There are several routes you can take, from earning a certificate to attending a four-year degree program. Once complete, Chron explains you can hang your own shingle as a freelance paralegal.
Identify barriers
There are many things that can hold us back from making a major career change. Do some thinking about what barriers could be keeping you from making the transition you desire.
For many women, financing can be a crucial hurdle to overcome. Thankfully, Hiscox points out there are numerous grants available designed specifically to help women entrepreneurs in their pursuit of success.
Do you lack both funds and an appropriate education? Explore grants and scholarships that are available to women who are returning to school.
Maybe the one thing you lack is connections or customers. If you need contacts with other professionals or need to develop a customer base, grab some solid networking strategies to build your business. Participate in events for founders, establish yourself on social media, attend industry conferences, and go to local events for business owners so others get to know you and what you offer.
There are many great options out there for women interested in starting their own businesses. Think about what you have to offer and what drives you, and narrow your focus so you can develop clear goals. With a set path, you can refresh your career with a satisfying entrepreneurial venture.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
