We all have our favorite authors, mentors and teachers that we look to for guidance on our small business learning journey. But recently, I realized that all the books I've been reading lately, have been written by women! Have you noticed an abundance of, "Let me show ya how to do it sister" books out there? Maybe it's because female owned businesses are my specialty, but I think, no, I know, women have a more natural tendency to want to help other women succeed.
If women had a mantra as a gender, it would be, "Look out for each other and make sure no one gets left behind." When you look at who leads the volunteer efforts in this country, you know it's women. When you look at who starts the majority of non-profit organizations in this country, you know it's women. Women have a natural tendency to take care of other women who are in the trenches beside them. Then, when one of us makes it out of the trenches, we make sure we leave a ladder behind for all the other women with clear directions on how to find it.
Another really great example of this, are all the books written on marketing to women. It makes sense that women are writing these books because no matter how much a man might study the subject, they just aren't hardwired the same way we are. It would serve male led businesses well to ask their female employees for input on their marketing tactics. After all, 75% of women feel that businesses are not doing a good job communicating to them.
I'm thankful for the women who have taken the time to share with me and guide me. Take Michele Miller for example, Michele is one of our marketing to women gurus in this country. She is the author of, The Natural Advantages of Women. I sent Michele an email one day with a marketing question and she emailed me right back. Now would a man have done the same? We can't know for sure, but I knew that she wouldn't leave me hanging because that's not what women do. After all, women are the ones who Make it Happen.
Till next time ladies,
Taiha Wagner
Taiha Wagner is Founder/Director of Build Her Dream, offering small business development services and marketing to women expertise. (www.BuildHerDream.com)
Upcoming events!
Tuesday, March 11th 11:30am Women In Networking Luncheon
Taiha Wagner, Founder/Director Build Her Dream, speaks on "Marketing to Women" Mpls, MN
Thursday, March 13th 6:30pm Women in Business Sip N' Swap at Major's in Bloomington, MN
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
A Woman’s Definition of Support
We all know women just do things and interpret things differently than men do. I’m not saying it’s any better or worse, just different. I couldn’t give you a more perfect example than this past holiday season when a fellow woman in business gifted my husband and me with a pair of concert tickets.
Jen was gracious enough to share an extra pair of concert tickets with us that her company had provided for her to pass on to her clients and fellow businesswomen. It was a “Thanks” to the women who had become her clients and for those who had supported her in her career. Jen told me that she was going to gather her group in the lobby before the concert so that she could introduce us to each other and spend some time socializing. I’m thinking, “Great, sounds good to me, count me in!”
That evening as my husband and I were getting ready, he asks, “What time does the concert start and what time do we need to go?” I share with him that Jen is having a little social time before the concert starts and that I’d like to go early and support her there. Now here’s where the great divide begins to get deeper. He flat out asks, “What does support her mean?”
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized this is a women thing. Showing up, being with your peers, congratulating her on her success and socializing with her clients was my way of supporting her. He, on the other hand, noted on the ticket that the concert started at 7pm and was planning a 6:59 arrival.
Relationships matter with women. They do with men too, but not to the extent in which we as women value them. Being together, deepening our relationship, sharing our feelings and experiences are all fair game in our work world too. Men typically save those for their personal lives. Why? Because men tend to compartmentalize their lives whereas women are much more holistic and can see that her work relationships can impact how she feels at home as well.
My husband is perfectly happy compartmentalizing because his brain doesn’t, and can’t, know any different. The way I see it, women have a much richer relationship experience and a greater opportunity to gain “support” from their female peers. Once again, Women Make It Happen!
Taiha Wagner is principal of BuildHerDream.com and is a local resource for marketing to women.
Jen was gracious enough to share an extra pair of concert tickets with us that her company had provided for her to pass on to her clients and fellow businesswomen. It was a “Thanks” to the women who had become her clients and for those who had supported her in her career. Jen told me that she was going to gather her group in the lobby before the concert so that she could introduce us to each other and spend some time socializing. I’m thinking, “Great, sounds good to me, count me in!”
That evening as my husband and I were getting ready, he asks, “What time does the concert start and what time do we need to go?” I share with him that Jen is having a little social time before the concert starts and that I’d like to go early and support her there. Now here’s where the great divide begins to get deeper. He flat out asks, “What does support her mean?”
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized this is a women thing. Showing up, being with your peers, congratulating her on her success and socializing with her clients was my way of supporting her. He, on the other hand, noted on the ticket that the concert started at 7pm and was planning a 6:59 arrival.
Relationships matter with women. They do with men too, but not to the extent in which we as women value them. Being together, deepening our relationship, sharing our feelings and experiences are all fair game in our work world too. Men typically save those for their personal lives. Why? Because men tend to compartmentalize their lives whereas women are much more holistic and can see that her work relationships can impact how she feels at home as well.
My husband is perfectly happy compartmentalizing because his brain doesn’t, and can’t, know any different. The way I see it, women have a much richer relationship experience and a greater opportunity to gain “support” from their female peers. Once again, Women Make It Happen!
Taiha Wagner is principal of BuildHerDream.com and is a local resource for marketing to women.
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