You don’t have to look far to notice the rise of women entrepreneurs. What inspires and drives these women? There are many reasons from a great idea, to a lack of fulfillment in their current job, to the excitement of taking a risk to the need to create a work/life balance.

What about you? Are you an entrepreneur or maybe considering it? Take a look at what might be motivating you:

·         Economic necessity. Some women are working full-time and still can’t make ends meet. With the current strain on the economy having extra money coming in is not an option, it’s a necessity. Some women are laid-off so being self-employed becomes the best alternative.

·         Solving problems and sharing solutions. For some women it’s not about the money it’s about solving a problem or sharing a solution. Inventors usually design new products to solve problems. Take for instance Julie Clark, founder of The Baby Einstein Company, she wanted to provide educational videos for her own babies and saw a lack in the marketplace. Women are often drawn to direct sales—like Avon, Melaleuca or Arbonne—because they’ve found products they enjoy and naturally want to share these solutions with others.

·         Hitting the corporate glass ceiling. Some corporate women feel like they’ve taken their career as far as it will go. They’re dissatisfied by their options and want a career that will be more fulfilling. Entrepreneurship is often the answer for these driven women who enjoy being their own boss.

·         Freedom and flexibility. These are the two big reasons for moms, especially moms with young children, to start their own business. They can work from home, choose their own hours and have the flexibility to juggle their work life with their family life.

Women need to have clarity about what drives them and what they want to accomplish with their business. Thankfully with the rise of women entrepreneurs we can learn from those who have beaten the path before us.

Before You Take the Entrepreneurial Leap

I took my entrepreneurial leap ten years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. I’ve learned a lot of lessons and coached other moms as they took the entrepreneurial plunge. Before jumping into entrepreneurship I recommend women take the following steps:

1.     Take time to envision all the details of not only your business, but your entire life as an entrepreneur.

2.     Be responsible. Don’t let go of your day job too quickly. If money’s tight, carve out specific time to work on your project but keep the cash flow coming in through other sources.

3.     It’s not just your venture, it’s your families. Make sure they buy into what you’re doing and that they’re committed to being supportive.

4.        Recognize that being an entrepreneur is not just about what you’re doing is very much about who you’re being. You will need to be committed to your personal growth as a way to keep your business from stagnating.

5.     Finally, remember that your success depends on association with other entrepreneurial women with great ideas, and a broader, more creative perspective.

I encourage you to take the time to think about what inspires you. Do you wake up each morning eager to get started? If not, it might be time to reanalyze your career choices. If you feel stuck, tap into a broader community of women that are smart, savvy and successful. These women can help you breakthrough to the next level in your business so you too can be a part of the rise of women entrepreneurs.

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