Time management is how you organize and divide up your time between different activities. Good time management strategies increase your productivity and efficiency. 

Effective time management is important for anyone, but it’s absolutely crucial for entrepreneurs.

Because entrepreneurs are ultimately responsible for every aspect of their business, allocating the right amount of time to the right tasks is critical to keeping your business running smoothly.

Better time management isn’t just about working harder, it’s about working smarter. We asked productivity experts to share their best time management tips. Use this list of techniques to experiment and find the strategies that make the most sense for you.

Effective time management tips

Table of contents:

1.Do a time audit

2.Create a daily schedule

3.Prioritize and delegate

4.Group related tasks together

5.Try not to multitask

6.Set time limits for tasks

7.Take breaks regularly

8.Eliminate distractions

9.Pace yourself

10.Do the most important tasks in the morning

11.Do the simplest tasks first

12.Start your day earlier than everyone else

1. Do a time audit

To better spend your time, start by understanding where your time is spent. There are great time management apps out there to track time, but in all honesty, I prefer to keep it lightweight—Marc Andreessen’s notecard system has always worked for me.

On a simple three-by-five notecard, keep track of your main to-dos for the day. On the back of the card, you’re supposed to write things you got done that you didn’t initially plan to get done the night before—the workday always likes to sneak in plenty of extras.

By looking at your three-by-five card at the end of the day, you’ll see what you prioritized (and if you got it done) and what work was added to your plate. Extra work is fine, but if you’re not clearing off your main tasks day after day, something is wrong. 

—Adam Rogers, Content Manager at Shopify

2. Create a daily schedule

For me, if it doesn’t get scheduled it doesn’t get done! So scheduling every hour of my work day is critical to staying focused and productive. Even “free time” to pursue side interests is put on the calendar.

If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done! I accomplish goals by breaking them down into very small projects that I can achieve on a daily basis. 

Each step should take no longer than one hour per day to accomplish. If I find it’s going to take longer than an hour to do that step, I haven’t broken it down enough.

Even if I finish that day’s steps early, I keep myself from doing the next step. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but doing so keeps me from getting burned out, and I’m more motivated for the next day’s hour of work. This strategy also keeps me from getting a step “half done,” which doesn’t feel as good as getting everything done that was planned for that day.

Managing my time means planning it in advance. The last 30 minutes of my day is always set aside to schedule the following work day.

—Tim Bourquin, Entrepreneur

3. Prioritize and delegate

Know your personal and professional priorities and plan your priorities in your calendar. Everything else needs to fit around them or be dropped.

Get a great assistant you can delegate scheduling and other routine activities to. This person can be one of your biggest productivity boosters and stress reducers. 

—Elizabeth Grace Saunders, Time Management Coach

4. Group related tasks together

Rather than starting at the top of your list and working your way down, take a few minutes and review the entire list. Then batch similar tasks together. You may have categories like phone calls, finances, networking, paperwork, or creative activities.

By grouping (or batching) activities together that are similar in nature, your brain does not have to jump from one type of thinking to another. The transitions become smoother. You gain momentum as you perform related tasks, and in some instances actually speed up! 

—Stephanie L.H. Calahan, founder of Calahan Solutions Inc.

5. Try not to multitask

These days, it seems like all of us have less time than we’d like to accomplish the things we want to do. The internet and social media have sped up how you get your news, how you stay in contact with people, and how you communicate with your customers. It has also caused all of us to create some bad habits—one of which is multitasking.

According to research done by the American Psychological Association, multitasking doesn’t save you time. In fact, it clogs up your workflow, increases your stress levels, and ends up hindering your overall functionality. 

Stanford’s study reports that multitasking even affects your long-term and short-term memory. Chronic everyday multitasking actually affects your ability to hold and use information in your mind and your ability to retrieve information. 

Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin says, “All that switching across tasks comes with a neurobiological cost. It depletes resources, so after an hour or two of attempting to multitask, if we find that we’re tired and can’t focus, it’s because those very neuro chemicals we needed to focus are now gone.”

6. Set time limits for tasks

Now take that project or that work product and break it down into smaller sub tasks and set up some time tracking, or time-block how long it will take to do each of those tasks—even if they’re five minutes apiece. 

So actually scope out what you want to accomplish very, very clearly so that you know when you’re actually done—when you’re successful—and you can check that off the list and get that hit of dopamine that will keep you energized, motivated, and happy to continue doing work. 

Otherwise we have a tendency to wake up and jump into work without intentionality, and then we work for hours and hours and hours without really feeling like we’ve accomplished what we set out to accomplish. 

—Dr. Sahar Yousef, cognitive neuroscientist

7. Take breaks regularly

Taking breaks makes you more productive. In fact, William S. Helton, a professor of human factors and applied cognition at George Mason University, showed that short breaks can improve attention. 

He and some colleagues conducted an experiment that tested two groups of university students who had to monitor a series of railway lines on a screen. One group wasn’t given a break for the entire forty-five minutes, while the other group was given a five minute break halfway through the task. 

The second group was given a variety of activities they were allowed to perform during that five minutes. Regardless of the activity, the second group showed a measurable improvement in their performance. 

The research also shows that the type of breaks you take are important. Psychology Today reports that it’s important to get away from the notifications, the text messages, and your devices in general. Go take a walk in nature, doodle, or work out—something that won’t strain your brain or your eyes. 

If you want to continue to work at optimum levels, keep this time management tool in your toolbox and make sure to make it a priority. 

8. Eliminate distractions

How you manage your time is only relevant to the extent that you also control your attention on the task at hand. This is because if you allocate time to a task, but spend that time switching among several different tasks, the end result will likely be different than what you intended. Controlling your attention means effectively managing internal and external distractions, and single-tasking for higher quality work done faster.

—Maura Thomas, Productivity Trainer

9. Pace yourself

As an entrepreneur, you’re in over-performance mode a lot of time because you’re all in. Pace yourself. There will be time. You’ll need the time, energy, and attention though; and when you go full throttle right out of the gate, you’ll exhaust yourself.

Do you know what good enough is for each of the projects on your list? This is good enough for the organization and good enough for you. Overthinking, over editing and over tweaking wastes valuable time and is not necessary. Do good work, and then stop.

—Carson Tate, Author of Work Simply

10. Do the most important tasks in the morning

Take your time to do “right things.” Working in constant pressure is not OK. Feeling anxious and overwhelmed is not OK. Do you regret making a decision? Stop.

You shouldn’t judge your success based on outcomes by themselves. The most positive results can be from things that you don’t have to do. Do the most important things in the morning—studies show that after using your willpower later in a day people start making bad decisions.

—Kamil Rudnicki, CEO of TimeCamp

11. Do the simplest tasks first

My high school math teacher once told me that if you’re stuck on a problem, start writing down numbers and you’ll be amazed how often you figure out the solution as you write. I’ve found this true in all of life, not just math.

Whenever I get stuck on something, don’t know how to start a project, get anxious or start procrastinating, I force myself to do the simplest and smallest part of the task. I lower my expectations from completing the whole project to doing the simplest, most achievable component—I’ll write the first sentence, put in the first line of code, create the first line in the spreadsheet. 

And what invariably happens is that you finish that first thing and it spills into the next, and then the next, and like a snowball, hours later you’re charging miles downhill and you don’t even remember why it was hard to start out in the first place.

—Mark Manson, three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author

12. Start your day earlier than everyone else

Start your day earlier than everyone else. If you read the biographies and autobiographies of successful men and women, almost all of them have one thing in common and that is the habit of going to bed at a reasonable hour and rising early.

By waking before the rest of the world, you have time to plan your day in advance and get a head start on some tasks that may be looming over your head before others are awake to interrupt you.

—Brian Tracy, motivational speaker and author

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/register/business

This article originates from: https://www.shopify.com/blog/120436229-time-management-tips

Having the freedom and flexibility to start your own business is tempting for entrepreneurial-minded folk. It can mean setting your own schedule, working on projects you love, and opening up infinite earning potential. 

While the term “entrepreneur” refers to people who create multiple streams of revenue through businesses and other money-making activities, not all entrepreneurs are the same. 

Here are the most common types of entrepreneurs, what they do best, and how they approach starting a business. 

10 most common types of entrepreneur 

1. The hustler

Hustlers are willing to work hard with little capital to grow a business they think has potential. Usually, a hustler’s plans will start small and build up over time, but the term can also refer to people who start up a hobby business on the side of their 9-to-5. This might be an Etsy store to sell their crochet art or a freelance writing business to top up their monthly income. 

The hustler isn’t always on the hunt for more money. They’re not even necessarily looking for a whole new career or a new day job, but a business that fits into their life and brings in some cash. The tricky part for a hustler is founding a business that doesn’t take over their week and doesn’t need too much hands-on attention. Having a successful side hustle means striking a balance between your work commitments, passions, and home life.

Examples of businesses a hustler can start: 

• Selling art online
• Ridesharing
• Grocery delivery 
• Transcription services
• Dropshipping
• Dog walking or pet sitting
• Freelance services like writing, design or video editing

2. The small business entrepreneur 

A small business entrepreneur is someone who creates a business idea by themselves but plans to expand or franchise in the future. This term often refers to local business owners, like hairdressers, florists, or food trucks operators, but can also mean ecommerce operators. The starting goal is often launching a single store, but when the business starts to flourish, the entrepreneur can then start thinking about what’s next. 

The businesses these entrepreneurs create are often born out of a passion for food, beauty, flowers, or whatever else they’re selling, in the hopes the entrepreneur can start a new career in something they love. 

That dream came true for Sonja Detrinidad, founder of Partly Sunny Projects. She started selling plants online to relieve stress from her job in the mortgage industry. Her knack for plants allowed her to quit her job. During the pandemic, the California-based plant business exploded, helped greatly by TikTok, where she shares advice to more than 450,000 followers.

Examples of small businesses an entrepreneur can start: 

• Nail or hair salon
• Flower shop 
• Bakery 
• Vintage store
• Café or restaurant 

3. The scalable startup entrepreneur 

Scalable startup entrepreneurs aim to build a business model that’s expandable. Unlike small business entrepreneurs, scalable startup owners have growth in mind from the very start, even if they come from very humble beginnings. Think of world-famous brands like Amazon, Google, and Shopify that all started small with the intention of changing the world. 

Examples of businesses a scalable startup entrepreneur can start: 

• SaaS products
• App
• Digital products or tools
• Online boutique 

4. The large company entrepreneur 

The large company entrepreneur is usually an advanced professional with a lot of business experience. The goal is to create or maintain a company that has multiple lifecycles with the idea of turning existing ideas and products into innovative new offerings. Large company entrepreneurs are constantly creating new services and products based on market demands and are focused on consistent growth. 

Brands like Microsoft and Disney fall under this type of entrepreneurship, but small business entrepreneurs can also reach this level if their company grows particularly fast. 

Examples of businesses a large company entrepreneur can start: 

• Selling products or services acquired from existing brands
• New branches of a company, like a learning hub or an online shop
• Incubation programs to find fresh talent 

5. The innovative entrepreneur 

Innovative entrepreneurs are all about finding the next big thing. 

Their hope is to come up with a groundbreaking idea that will solve a huge pain point or change an entire industry. Take Uber and Airbnb, for example. The innovator actively seeks out an opportunity to fill a gap in the market and be the first to offer something newer and better. 

The Herbivorous Butcher is a completely vegan butcher in Minneapolis. Siblings Aubry and Kale Walch founded the company after finding faux-meat options at the grocery store to be lacking. They first tested their idea at a farmers market, found high demand for their meats and cheeses, and were eventually able to get funding for a brick-and-mortar operation, complemented by online sales. 

Examples of businesses innovative entrepreneurs can start: 

• An app to make an existing process easier 
• A new take on an existing business model
• An alcohol-free bar 
• A new piece of wearable technology 

6. The social entrepreneur 

Social entrepreneurship is focused on solving social problems and making the world a better place, whether it’s through sustainable products, community initiatives, or charity endeavors. This type of entrepreneur isn’t concerned about big profits or untethered wealth. Instead, they’re committed to working toward social good. 

For example, the Grameen Foundation’s founder, Muhammad Yunus, won a Nobel Prize for his business idea. The company is a microfinance organization that helps women get out of poverty through low-interest loans. 

Examples of businesses a social entrepreneur can start: 

• Educational services
• Eco-friendly products
• High-speed internet for remote communities
• Apps for local alerts

7. The buyer entrepreneur 

Instead of starting their own business or side hustle from scratch, a buyer entrepreneur will invest in other businesses. They’ll either purchase a well-established company and reap the rewards or help develop an existing company to help them thrive. 

Don’t confuse this type of entrepreneur with investors or venture capitalists. Buyer entrepreneurship means getting involved in a business both financially and personally. It involves being an active part of growing the bought businesses. When a business is making a healthy profit, the buyer might hand over leadership to someone else while they work on their next investment, or they will remain an active part of the business.

Examples of businesses a buyer entrepreneur can start: 

• Acquiring existing physical companies
• Creating an umbrella company with multiple subdivisions
• Property investing
• App or software acquisition

8. The imitator entrepreneur

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and this is the motivation behind imitator entrepreneurship. 

Instead of coming up with new ideas, imitator entrepreneurs take inspiration from existing businesses. They don’t completely rip off the idea—they’ll work hard to improve the idea and fill any glaring gaps in the market. Imitators are good at learning from other people’s mistakes to ensure their businesses thrive, and they can come in all shapes and sizes, from a side hustle imitator to a large company imitator. 

Kickstarter, for example, took inspiration from Indiegogo a year before it launched. It’s now one of the biggest crowdfunding sites in the world. 

Examples of businesses an imitator entrepreneur can start: 

• White labeling an existing well-known brand
• Replicating an existing product but with extra features
• Creating a copycat brand with better marketing

9. The cautious entrepreneur 

Also known as researcher entrepreneurs, cautious entrepreneurs take their time when starting and growing a business. They do their due diligence, carry out research, and only go ahead with their plans when they’re certain they’ll succeed. 

Cautious entrepreneurs rely on facts, data, and logic and will often create detailed business plans before getting started. 

Examples of businesses a cautious entrepreneur can start can vary wildly—the differentiation is in the process they use to get started. Instead of diving in headfirst, this type of entrepreneur will spend months or years researching their market, product fit, and game plan. 

10. The digital nomad 

While many of the entrepreneurs listed here have the luxury of working from wherever they want, digital nomads make it a critical part of their business plan. They create businesses that they can work on anywhere, anytime, from a beach in Barbados to the bustling city streets of Tokyo. 

The goal is the freedom to travel as much as possible. Most digital nomads run businesses from their laptops and often use skills like copywriting, designing, coaching, and teaching to earn money. 

Chris Cage, founder of Greenbelly Meals, started his business as a digital nomad in Thailand and grew it while traveling the world. An avid hiker and cyclist, Chris saw a hole in the camping and hiking food market, and seized the opportunity to create nutritious, convenient meals. 

As a digital nomad, he wanted to start a business that would allow him to travel.

“There are a lot of cities across the globe that have great set ups to work on your business,” Chris told the Shopify Masters podcast. 

Examples of businesses a digital nomad can start: 

• Copywriting 
• Design
• Web development
• Teaching 
• Course creation
• Coaching
• Ecommerce brand 

What type of entrepreneur are you? 

As you can see, the type of entrepreneurs running businesses varies greatly. Innovative entrepreneurship? Large company entrepreneurship? Scalable startup entrepreneurship? Small business entrepreneurship? Which one is best for you? 

The entrepreneurs you relate to the most will ultimately depend on your skills, passions, and goals, both in business and in life. If you want to create purpose-driven initiatives, then you might align better with social entrepreneurs, but if you want to create the next big thing, you probably skew more toward innovative entrepreneurship. 

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

The article originates from: https://www.shopify.com/blog/types-of-entrepreneurs-motivations

Gender has less to do with success in business than other factors, like your natural entrepreneurial traits, your tolerance for risk, and the amount of privilege and access you’ve received. But women are blazing trails in a number of fields, outperforming men in some categories—even when they typically receive less funding.

One study on gender’s impact on success and attitudes around running a business found women showed more ambition and were better calculated risk-takers than men. These attitudes seem to play out in the numbers. The average earnings of women-owned businesses climbed 27% between 2021 and 2022—a 5% higher jump than their male counterparts.

While the pandemic was particularly hard on caregiving women with careers, in the aftermath, more moms were turning to entrepreneurship for its flexibility.

Who are these women, foregoing traditional career paths to have ownership and flexibility and to create generational wealth? Ahead, nine successful women entrepreneurs share how they found their business idea, started their own companies, and the inspiration they drew from to get there.

8 inspiring women in business

These incredible women founded companies that not only succeeded but also paved the way for other women entrepreneurs in their industries. Many even dedicate some of their profits to organizations that support and recognize women and their achievements. The efforts from these inspiring female entrepreneurs contribute to more women entrepreneurs and business leaders. And that’s a good thing.

1. Christine Chau

Co-founder, Charley Chau

“We’re accidental entrepreneurs,” Christine says. Charley Chau was born from a side hustle when sisters Christine and Jenny Chau began designing and sewing their Snuggle Bed—now their best selling product—from the floor of their living room. The business grew beyond their expectations. 

The two eventually made the scary decision to give up job security and dive full-time into Charley Chau. Eighteen-hour days, shaky financial periods, and legal battles all paid off. The sisters are now shipping beautiful pet products to more than 30 countries worldwide.

Christine and Jenny were inspired by their mother, who left Hong Kong at 18 to move to a country where she didn’t speak the language and enter an arranged marriage. “Growing up we saw Mum work full time with our dad, helping to make their business a success, and at the same time, she was a mother to four children,” says Christine. “Mum set a great example to us at a time when most of our friends’ mothers stayed at home.” The daughters poured that learned work ethic into their business—in honor of their mother.

2. Jenny Bird

Designer and founder, Jenny Bird

Self-taught Jenny founded her jewelry line as a reaction to the “soulless, short-lived fashion” she was seeing everywhere. She designed each piece as an extension of herself, with the intention of injecting meaning and purpose into every piece. 

Jenny’s namesake company was born in 2008, and in 2011, she added her husband as president. The two have grown the company to the mammoth it is today, selling in hundreds of retailers worldwide. Jenny has received multiple awards, and the brand has been featured in publications such as Vogue and Rolling Stone. The brand’s impact fund, the Possibilities Project, directs 1% of sales to organizations that uplift women.

Jenny counts fellow entrepreneur and Powered by People founder Hedvig Alexander among her main inspirations. “There’s so much that inspires me about her—first, and foremost, her dedication to effective development work that is built around sustainable solutions.” In 2016, Jenny worked on a collection for Far & Wide, one of Hedvig’s former ventures.

🍊 This Skin Care Founder Blended Her Personal Story with Her Brand

In this guide to brand storytelling, founder Charlotte Cho explains how her personal story and that of her culture were critical to building two skin care brands. As a popular beauty blogger first, she was able to build credibility when she eventually launched.

3. Emmanuela Okon

Founder, E’s Element

Emmanuela started her foray into fashion by blogging about personal style in her hometown Toronto. After amassing a devoted following, she took the next step and launched her brand of small batch apparel under the name E’s Element. “I knew I always wanted to start a business after I graduated from university,” she says. 

Emmanuela finds inspiration from other Black founders in her industry. “The support we’ve received from absolute strangers, online marketplaces, and other businesses has been absolutely amazing,” she says. In turn, she hopes to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. “At the center of what I do is my drive to uplift and empower people like myself.”

4. Paula Barbosa

Founder, My Sweet

When Paula moved from Brazil to New York to study fashion, she began making brigadeiros—a traditional Brazilian treat—based on her grandmother’s recipe. The sweets became such a hit at parties that friends began to request them. That’s when Paula decided to become a business owner. My Sweet is now a decade-long favorite in Paula’s Brooklyn neighborhood.

“I think that having a sixth sense about something and following it is part of my story,” Paula says. “My business started as a gesture of love for others.” She owes her success to following her instincts and pursuing a business that aligned with her love for sweets and her homeland. “I believe that women tend to have more guts to follow their senses, instead of needing solid confirmation,” she says. 

Naturally it was the founder’s Grandma Lucila who inspired her journey (and recipes). “I’m very proud to be spreading to the world something I learned with her,” Paula says.

5. Heather McDougall

Social entrepreneur, yoga teacher, co-founder of Bogobrush (acquired in 2022)

Heather pursued law, working in venture finance and non-profit lobbying before her foray into entrepreneurship. When she and her designer brother put their heads together to create a beautiful and eco-friendly product, they looked no further than the family business. Though they didn’t pursue their dentist father’s line of work, they paid homage with Bogobrush, a toothbrush with heart.

“The first source of outside funding we received for Bogobrush was from the Michigan Women’s Foundation,” Heather says. She tapped into the mentors within that network to help her succeed. “It’s been great for me to engage with so many women who’ve paved the way before me in business, and it’s a reminder for me to do the same for other women along the way.”

In 2022, Bogobrush was acquired, leaving Heather to refocus on her work in yoga, speaking, and performing. She has been finding inspiration lately in books written by women. “I read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and loved all the research that sheds light on so many things I’ve experienced—consciously or not—as a woman in this world.”

6. Jaswant Kular

Co founder, Jaswant’s Kitchen

When Jaswant’s daughters moved away from home, they hadn’t absorbed their mother’s natural gift for cooking authentic Indian cuisine. Jaswant looked for products to help her daughters cook more easily and found that many contained fillers and artificial ingredients. Jaswant’s Kitchen, a food business selling spice blends and simplified takes on traditional recipes, had its start at a food show, where positive response urged the family to forge ahead. 

“Working together with my daughters as women entrepreneurs gives me a great sense of pride and personal satisfaction,” Jaswant says. “I tried to instill the idea in my children that you can do anything you set your mind to and that nothing is impossible.”

Daughter Nimi is delighted by the response to her mother’s business. “The food industry has been traditionally pretty male dominated,” she says. “It’s refreshing to see the amount of support and encouragement we get for being a women-led team and also for being a family run business!”

Jaswant is inspired by ClassPass founder Payal Kadakia. “She radiates positivity and gets a ton of media attention,” she says. “She also happens to have the same ethnic background, which helps me relate to her.”

7. Rachel Mielke

Founder, Hillberg & Berk

Rachel stands out among successful female entrepreneurs for her work in empowering other women. She founded her jewelry line Hillberg & Berk in 2007 with this clear goal in mind. In 2022 alone, the brand contributed $250,000 to its charity partners, Dress for Success Canada Foundation, The Native Women’s Association of Canada, and The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. Today, 95% of Hillberg & Berk employees and 88% of its leadership team identify as women or non-binary.

Rachel has won several honors and awards for her entrepreneurial achievements, and counts Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and Olympic gold medalist Tessa Virtue among her famous clients. Her advice to other women? Be brave and take risks. “Betting it all in business can seem irresponsible, but without large bets there are no large returns,” she says.

Finding inspiration is easy for Rachel—she needs only look to her own staff. “It is amazing to work alongside women who not only believe passionately in the mission of our company, but also who live with intense positivity and resilience,” she says.

8. Angie Kim

Founder and creative director, AYK

After an eye-opening seven months in India, Angie returned to her hometown of San Francisco looking for a career change. She was impacted by the country’s makers and craftspeople, and the intimacy of their work. 

Leaving her decade of work in industrial design behind her, she enrolled in pattern making and leather tooling classes, while developing her brand’s freshman collection. AYK launched officially in 2014, and had steady growth after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

“As a designer, I feel grateful to be in a position where I’m able to express my perspective and hopefully add some joy, usefulness, and flow to a woman’s life,” says Angie. Her mom, a South Korean immigrant, is one of her biggest inspirations. “She had an impeccable work ethic and a positive attitude,” she says. “I feel lucky to have had her as an example of what being a leader is about.”

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

The article originates from: https://www.shopify.com/blog/122698373-13-inspiring-women-entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Jim Rohn famously said we’re the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Those you choose to hang out and share advice with have a huge impact on both your personal and business growth. Given a choice, we’d all surround ourselves with the kindest, smartest, and most inspiring people, but it can be tricky to find the right community.

If you’re ready to find your network, below you’ll learn what a mastermind group is, how to form one and why it can help transform your business.

What is a mastermind group? 

A mastermind group is made up of peers who meet on a regular basis (in person or virtually) to offer advice and support. They push each other to work to their highest potential and hold each other accountable. Mastermind groups can revolve around your personal or professional life. 

There is a regular meetup or a retreat, as well as ongoing support through Slack channels, email, and private forums. 

These focused, supportive communities have stood the test of time, with the likes of Bill Gates, MrBeast, and Pat Flynn attributing their success to mastermind groups. Even J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were part of the most famous mastermind group of all time, the Inklings. 

How to find a mastermind group 

Masterminds hinge on the people involved. This is why it’s critical to research your options and choose a mastermind group that is relevant to your needs and made up of inspiring, motivated people. 

Start with the people you know

Look around you—what you’re looking for might be right under your nose. Ask colleagues, friends, and those in your professional network if they know or are part of a mastermind group. Use social media to seek out people who are on a similar path as you and reach out to your most successful connections. 

You might find you have the right people in your immediate circle—in which case, why not start your own mastermind? 

Find online or offline resources

Google is your friend. Run a simple search for relevant mastermind groups. There are lots of mastermind groups online, so you don’t have to find a local one. You can also try networking sites like Meetup, dedicated industry forums, or Facebook groups designed for entrepreneurs and ecommerce owners.

Don’t settle for a group that isn’t right

In an ideal world, the mastermind group you join should be full of motivated entrepreneurs you admire. It’s easy to settle for a group of peers, but try to aim higher. Look for mastermind groups made up of people who are further along in growing their business. Their experience will be valuable when you’re seeking advice or making decisions about your business.

Mastermind group online for remote collaboration

Meeting in person helps provide a human connection, but you can also find mastermind groups online. Virtual tools make it possible to connect, chat, and work with entrepreneurs from all over the world—perfect if you live in a small town or have exhausted your local resources. 

Online groups are more flexible, which means they are likely to be more successful and engaging. It allows for members to meet when they are traveling and can be recorded, so you can rewatch a meeting or catch up later. 

There’s also the added benefit of learning from business owners in different markets, and unique challenges, giving you a wider breadth of experience and advice to draw from. 

Why join a mastermind group? 

Accountability 

Mastermind groups will hold you accountable for doing the things you say you will and moving your business forward. It’s helpful to have people on your side who are rooting for you to succeed and who can offer advice and tips. 

It’s harder to let someone down than it is to let yourself down, which means you’re more likely to do the tasks you promised. 

Feedback 

A mastermind group provides feedback from people who are trying to build a business just like you. They have insight and a mindset that is hard to find. Like-minded entrepreneurs will tell you what’s wrong or right about your ideas with no bias. They aren’t your customers and they aren’t your competitors, which means you can trust their mentorship and guidance.

Collaboration

Not only does your mastermind group allow you to collaborate on ideas, but you can also ask group members to help you with projects or tasks. This isn’t the main function of a peer-mentoring group, but you might find opportunities to work with other members of your mastermind group.

There’s also an opportunity for you to cross-promote your brand with other brands. Most members use social media and might even have a blog you can cross-promote on. 

Networking

Mastermind groups are also a great way to network in your industry. When you connect with people, you gain access to their network. They may know people who could help you with a project or growth strategy. The more you expand your network, the more doors open up for you.

Having connections in various industries can come in handy when you least expect it.

Resources

The members of your mastermind group will have different specialties and areas of expertise. You may have knowledge in marketing but need help with design. You and a group member may be able to help each other out.

The blending of different backgrounds, skills, and knowledge creates an environment for you to learn, play to your strengths, and address your weaknesses. 

Support

Your mastermind is a support group to encourage you and keep you going when you encounter hard times in your business. It can also be a place to get your questions answered and find solutions. If you have a problem, chances are a member has dealt with the same thing already. You can learn from their experiences and discuss next steps with your group.

How to run a mastermind group in 7 steps 

If you can’t find a group that works for you, start your own. Here are the main steps to gett you going.

1. Decide what your mastermind group is about

Pick a topic that your mastermind revolves around. It could be broad, like ecommerce, or narrow, like creating subscriptions. 

2. Pick your partners

You want your mastermind group members to be committed. Choose people who have the drive and a diverse set of skills, and who are problem solvers. Seek people who are committed to learning and sharing with the community they are part of.

3. Establish some ground rules

Decide how you’ll run each session and what boundaries will be in place. For example, while you can seek support for your business problems, you might create a rule that conversations should be solutions-focused.

4. Meet regularly

Maintain consistency by meeting regularly, whether that’s virtually or in person. Ensure you have enough time to cover everything you need to. An agenda or schedule can make sure everyone is getting the support and time they need.

5. Include a mastermind group facilitator

It can help to have someone to facilitate mastermind groups. They can share the meeting agenda, keep people on track, and document the outcomes of each session. This can help keep members accountable for their actions and know what their next steps are.

6. Take (and share) notes of each meeting

Capture what goes on at each meetup, including challenges, wins, questions, and goals for next time. This will help keep everyone accountable and ensure you have a written document of the session. Remember to share the notes or a recording with other members. 

7. Gather feedback from members of the group

Make sure your mastermind continues to deliver value by regularly checking in with group members to determine what works and what could be improved. Consider the meeting time, the experience, the conversation, and the format as features that can evolve to meet the group’s needs.

Mastermind group examples 

Creatives, entrepreneurs, and everyday people benefit from having a supportive group of peers. Let’s explore how successful mastermind groups have brought their members to the next level.

The Indie Brand Builder

The Indie Brand Builder mastermind was designed to help consumer product entrepreneurs grow faster and learn processes to sell their products. It’s made up of small ecommerce owners from all over the world who want to stop feeling overwhelmed and better understand their businesses. There is a weekly training session, interviews with successful entrepreneurs, and ongoing support from the community. 

The Human Gathering Network

Unlike many masterminds hyper-focused on growing revenue, The Human Gathering Network is all about building long-lasting relationships. Entrepreneurs are invited to support other members’ ambitions and find ways to get along with business owners from all walks of life. The network provides a private safe space that fosters curated connections, behind-the-scenes conversations, and exclusive content from today’s most prominent leaders. 

Entrepreneurs’ Organization 

Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is one of the most famous masterminds for business owners. It has more than 13,000 like-minded entrepreneurs from all over the world.There’s just one caveat: Members’ businesses must generate over $1 million in revenue. If you qualify, you can access in-person meetings and conversations, as well as ongoing online support. 

Find or create your mastermind group 

Mastermind groups are a great way to meet like-minded people and get support as you grow and develop your business. It’s important to choose the right mastermind. Decide what your main goals are and ask around to see if anyone in your network can recommend the right group. You can start a mastermind group yourself. Pick your people, choose a topic, and decide on a meeting cadence that works for everyone. 

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

The article originates from: https://www.shopify.com/blog/34508933-why-a-mastermind-group-can-accelerate-your-success-and-how-to-form-one

It’s 4:30 p.m. on a Friday, wrapping up another long work week. You close your eyes and wonder: what would it be like to be your own boss? Maybe running a little beachside bar or taking that leather-tooling hobby to the next level? 

Ahh, the impossible dream! Or is it? Plenty of successful entrepreneurs had no formal training, no college degree. These seem like unconventional résumés for people who now run a company single-handedly. But maybe not.

Ahead, meet 11 entrepreneurs who found their start in the most unlikely of places. Discover how they used skills learned on the job to help them launch their new careers. And, get inspired to uncover your own superpower and take the leap.

On-the-job skill building for aspiring entrepreneurs

What is an entrepreneur? What’s the required skill set? A pinch of fearlessness, a heap of drive, and the ability to self-start are the basic ingredients. While a lot of entrepreneur traits are innate, many business owners gleaned their knowledge through experiences, trial and error, and skills picked up from past jobs.

Can your day job help you kick start your dream career? Consider the following:

• Does your company have a program to help subsidize the cost of additional training like workshops, courses, or conferences?
• Are there promotion opportunities that let you gain experience in people or project management?
• Can you identify anyone with mentor potential within your organization?
• Is it possible to take risk-free, unpaid leave or negotiate reduced hours while you work on building your business?
• Does your day job relate to the business you intend to build? What would you change about your company if it was you in charge?
• Are there tasks outside your primary duties that could develop your skills in areas like sales, social media, or public relations?
• What other skills can you learn and what resources are available to you?

Your current job may not be your life plan, but reframing it as a step toward entrepreneurship can help you get the most out of it. 

11 unlikely jobs for entrepreneurs

We found 11 real jobs—from beekeeper to marketing manager—successful entrepreneurs held before they made the leap. In each example, the business owner shares how these roles prepared them for entrepreneurship.

1. Director of engineering

Steven Michael Thomas was working as an engineering director in tech when he launched his brand Super Magic Taste. “While making chili crisp is very different from making software, you are still met with a seemingly endless sea of choices of where to focus your efforts next,” he says. “My software career did a decent job in preparing me for navigating and building systems to help keep the business moving forward!”

Steven’s former employer served millions of customers, meaning scale was always top of mind. “While our business is still small, considering scale has been helpful to prepare us even for the earliest parts of growth,” he says. He draws on this learned skill when deciding how and when to increase production.

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Systematic thinking
• Building for scale

2. Fashion model

Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart transitioned from modeling to founding her own sustainable clothing brand. The experience she picked up on set and on the runway prepared her to take on a new challenge in the fashion industry. “I know how to run a casting. I know how to run a photoshoot. I know what clothes look like on and off a person,” she says. “And that’s the online marketing version of fashion.”

Leanne offers hard-earned advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “What are the tools you’ve been given that no one else has? Add those up to a strategy where you win.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Photography
• Styling
• Marketing

3. Film set decorator

Sophia Pierro’s set decorating role involved sourcing very specific props for film scenes. She familiarized herself with every corner of her city, learning about what each store had for sale. “I have a fairly good visual memory because of that, and it comes in handy now,” she says. 

The skills learned on-set helped Sophia build her curated gift box business, Present Day Gifts. Her boxes are filled with handmade and locally sourced small-batched goodies. 

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Sourcing
• Curation
• Networking

4. Social development case worker

“My job as a case worker was to find a solution to people’s problems. At times, these were life and death situations,” says Gustavia Lui. The role taught her to work fast under pressure while providing excellent customer service. “My time in that job was the biggest training ground for me, as I never had any formal education in business.” 

Gustavia was able to port many of the skills to her business, fashion brand Staavias. Learning to spend more time listening than talking prepared her for getting in tune with her customers’ needs and feedback. Most importantly, Gustavia thrives as an entrepreneur because of her learned adaptability. “In my previous job, things were never black and white, so I was forced to think of different ways to solve problems,” she says. “In business you will need to get out of your comfort zone.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Listening
• Customer service
• Versatility
• Problem solving

5. Financial analyst

Melissa Butler dreamed of a career on Wall Street. After achieving it, she realized it wasn’t the right path for her. She started dabbling with lipsticks in her kitchen before quitting her finance job to launch The Lip Bar. 

Melissa’s former career gave her a foundation that helped her make the transition. The confidence of reaching her goals was a motivating force. “Confidence is the key to being a small business owner simply because you’re going to be told no all the time,” she says. “If you’re confident, you’ll be able to keep going in those trials.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Confidence
• Financial literacy
• Researching
• Business development

6. Beekeeper

Simon Cavill has been keeping bees since 2005. A few years into the hobby, he experimented with turning the yield into products to sell. The couple started their skin care business Bee Good as a side gig—and antidote to stress from Simon’s 9-to-5 job. “The main lesson I learned from my previous life was one of patience, and probably stubbornness,” he says. 

“There’s a thin line between stubbornness and stupidity,” Simon says. “Nothing comes easy, but if you stick it out long enough, and if the product is ‘right,’ you will eventually succeed.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Patience
• Perseverance

7. Army colonel

When Carl Churchill left his army career, working for a startup was an obvious next move. “Because I had been in small, highly specialized units where you were really close—literally your lives depended on people to your left and right—I was drawn to startup companies.”

After buying into a startup, Carl lost everything when the company folded during the recession. 

“It was a financial ambush,” he says. “In the military, if you’re in an ambush, you’ve got to move. If you get pinned down and just lay there, you’re going to die eventually.” To ensure his family’s survival, Carl cashed out his 401(k) and started his own business, Alpha Coffee. 

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Teamwork
• Thriving under pressure
• Finding perspective

8. Brand marketing manager

Diane Danforth draws from skills learned in her past careers in both banking and health care marketing to help grow her own business, Pawdentify. “Even though the industries were totally different from pet products, the fundamentals are similar,” she says. “My prior career has been invaluable in teaching me many skills.” 

Her brand management and marketing role taught her the skills she needed to build her brand and attract customers. “To run a small business, you need to know a little bit about everything,” says Diane. “You also need to understand how the different parts of the business work together.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Branding
• Networking
• Negotiation
• Communication
• Forecasting

9. Social media influencer

Bryan Reisberg began Instagramming cute photos of his corgi, Maxine—and then the account took off. With his newfound side gig as an online creator, Bryan had an audience he could monetize. He and partner Scott Dunn developed a dog backpack as an alternative to the subpar versions on the market. Little Chonk resonated with his fans.

When developing the new brand, Bryan looked no further than his own past. He built his audience with care and authenticity, and brought that same passion to selling products. “How do you break through the noise? People care about people,” says Scott. “And Bryan is really serving them and representing this community to do something that no one’s really done before.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Audience building
• Content creation
• Social listening

10. Broadcasting script editor

Before branching out on her own, Virginia Sorrells worked for a major TV broadcaster as a news and documentary script editor. “My training in strategic planning helps me envision the big picture and identify goals and the steps needed to get there,” she says. 

When running her own agency, Virginia Sorrells Communications, Virginia constantly draws on her valuable storytelling expertise. “The experience helped me learn how to write concise, compelling stories,” she says. “It taught me that I always need to view what I’m creating through the eyes of the audience.”

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Storytelling
• Strategy
• Goal setting
• Audience building

11. Zookeeper

Taylor Scarboro jumped around in her career, starting as a zookeeper before launching a number of different businesses. She’s still thankful for her experience working at the zoo. “I gained a lot of my customer service skills and experience in that profession,” she says. “I learned how to make customers happy with compromise—‘No, you can’t pet this bird, but I can give you a feather to take home.’” 

Taylor also credits her time at the zoo with learning to juggle multiple tasks while working atypical hours. This lifestyle helped her transition into entrepreneurship—a career path with a similar working style.

Entrepreneurial skills acquired 

• Multitasking
• Juggling irregular hours
• Customer service

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

The article reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/120467397-10-entrepreneurs-with-surprising-resumes

“Moms do whatever it takes to get things done. But we live in a constant state of guilt. Balancing it all—it’s tough,” says Pina Romolo, founder of Piccola Cucina and mother of two. 

Pina isn’t alone. The pandemic exposed the impossible balancing act that society demands of working mothers—and how incompatible our ideals of the “good mother” and the “career woman” are. More than that, it’s shown us how unsustainable the nature of work has been for women with children.

The data is clear that the pandemic drove mothers out of the workforce, but what’s less clear is how they will continue professionally in this post-pandemic world. 

Based on research, we think mothers may be seeking a healthier work-life balance as mom entrepreneurs, also known as “mompreneurs.”

In a survey of 1,532 parents, 62% of mothers said they were interested in supplementing their income, with more than half of moms reporting at least some interest in starting their own business. And the women who bared the brunt of the public-health emergency—mothers of color and single moms—reported the highest levels of interest in entrepreneurship.

Maybe the pandemic laid bare how broken the system was. Or maybe it started a shift in the way working moms participate in the labor force—away from rigid work arrangements and toward a more flexible model. Through research and interviews with women founders, we explore the current attitudes moms hold about entrepreneurship and the future of work.

More than half of women with children are interested in entrepreneurship

Of the mothers surveyed who are not already business owners, 44% said they’re either slightly or moderately interested in starting a business and becoming entrepreneurs. One in six mothers indicated they’re very interested in starting a business. 

What our research shows

• 16% of women with children are “very interested” in starting a business.
• 44% of women with children are “slightly/moderately interested” in starting a business.
• 40% of women with children are “not interested” in starting a business.

Why it matters 

While these results suggest most women with children are interested in starting their own business, there are still many moms who find entrepreneurship altogether unappealing.

When talking to several women founders and mothers, we quickly understood why: entrepreneurship has a bad rap. The word “entrepreneur” conjures images of 80-hour weeks and sleepless nights. And while this is certainly a reality for some, it’s also a choice.

“My perception of the business world was very negative. I thought it was all about making a buck no matter what and constantly hustling. Wolf of Wall Street stuff,” says Patrice Mousseau, founder of Satya Organic. “But it’s not really like that. We’ve all been fed this lie about business.” 

But beyond perception, current circumstances also play a prominent role in women’s interest in entrepreneurship, in particular, current employment status and income. Employed moms in the highest income bracket—earning $85K or more—were significantly more likely to cite having “no interest” in starting their own business. 

For the moms who have lost their jobs or voluntarily downshifted their careers because of increased domestic responsibilities, the pandemic was an opportunity to explore alternative ways to work. But for women who have fought to secure high-earning jobs and were lucky enough to keep them during the pandemic, upending their career (and life) to pursue a new venture may seem like an unnecessary risk.

Moms are “leaning out” as they opt for part-time entrepreneurship 

Women with children are very interested in supplementing their income—but want to do so on a part-time basis. Men with children, on the other hand, were more likely to report wanting to supplement their income full-time (58%) compared to part-time (42%). 

What our research shows

• 62% of women with children are interested in supplementing their income.
• Of the women who are interested in supplementing their income, 70% of them only want to do so on a part-time basis.   

Why it matters 

Decades of research show women do significantly more housework and childcare than men—so much so that working moms are often said to be working a double shift. And while more women have joined the paid labor force, men aren’t joining the unpaid labor force at the same rate. “It’s all work, but no pay,” says Therese.

It’s unsurprising, then, that most mothers are interested in running a business, but only as a side hustle or part-time gig. 

“As mothers, we have so much responsibility on our shoulders. We have to meal-plan, make sure everything is clean, and maintain our own jobs or businesses,” says Pina. “We need more hours in the day.”  

Too often, it’s the American working mom’s reflex to think she’s failed if she can’t “do it all”—if she can’t be totally devoted to her family and her work. And though there are practical solutions that would improve moms’ work-life conditions—such as more affordable daycare and flexible work policies—there’s also a psychological aspect that needs to be addressed. Through our interviews and research, we’ve found that women feel pressured to “do it all”, but many just want the work-life balance that part-time work offers. 

For the women who want to (and can afford to) work part-time, business ownership is particularly appealing. It allows them to prioritize their own obligations—guilt-free. Becoming a mom entrepreneur is the only work arrangement that doesn’t need to be binary: all in or all out. In fact, for most independent business owners on Shopify’s platform, a part-time commitment is sufficient to run a successful operation.

“I think there’s this idea that if you’re not doing it all the way, you’re not doing it at all,” says Joana Fraser, founder of mom-owned business LittleMore Organics. She launched her business in April of 2020, at the start of the pandemic, and temporarily scaled back to only sell locally. “I can manage it part time,” she says. “I’m still seeing patients a few days a week and running my business every other day, so it hasn’t been a sudden transition. You can ease into it.”

Black and Latina moms want control over their livelihoods 

No one suffered more during the pandemic than women of color. The job losses from December 2020 are a stark illustration of these trends: Black, Latina, and Asian women accounted for all of women’s job losses that month, with 154,000 Black women dropping out of the labor force entirely.

Not only are women of color more likely to be working in lower-paying jobs with no benefits or paid leave, they’re also doing more at home, too. Latina mothers are 1.6 times more likely to be responsible for all childcare and housework, and Black mothers are twice as likely to be handling all of caregiving responsibilities for their families. 

And yet, our study found that Black and Latina mothers were two times as likely to report wanting to start their own business compared to White and Asian mothers.*

What our research shows 

• 33% of Black women with children said they’re “very interested” in starting a business.
• 29% of Latina women with children said they’re “very interested” in starting a business. 
• 13% of Asian women with children said they’re “very interested” in starting a business. 
• 13% of White women with children said they’re “very interested” in starting a business. 

Why it matters 

Unemployment was a disproportionate reality for women of color long before the pandemic intensified job losses. “We’ve lost faith in the system and in traditional employment a long time ago—all the pandemic did is remind us that we can’t put our future or our children’s well-being in anyone else’s hands,” says Therese Dozier, founder of LUVSPUN and mother of two. “The pandemic was a breaking point.”

And systemic inequalities don’t just affect the individual—they’re intergenerational. For Therese, providing her children with financial security was the main motivator for starting her business. “I started a business to provide some generational wealth for my children. Leaving something for them was my greatest inspiration,” she says.

For the women of color who experienced layoffs and who have less access to job opportunities, the overwhelming message is they have no control over their own livelihood. Working for themselves finally puts them in the driver’s seat. “I’m so grateful I can create opportunity out of nothing,” says Therese.

As more women-led households in communities of color pursue economic freedom, we have a chance as a society to close the generational wealth gap, strengthen communities, and create more job opportunities for everyone. At Shopify, we’re working to ensure women of color have access to the resources they need to make these dreams a reality.

Flexibility is currency for moms

Among women who weren’t current business owners, single mothers, and mothers with younger children were significantly more likely to show interest in starting their own business.

What our research shows 

• 22% of single women with children said they are “very interested” in starting a business, compared to 14% of married women with children. 
• Women with younger children (5 years old or younger) are more likely to want to start their own business compared to women with older children. 

Why it matters 

Patrice isn’t surprised by this at all. “As a single mom, you’re already doing everything on your own. You learn to not rely on anybody else. And you realize how much you’re capable of doing,” says Patrice, who launched her own business when her daughter was only eight months old.

Becoming a mom entrepreneur offers the flexibility to make and manage your own schedule. “I’m so grateful that I get to make my own hours. That if my kid gets sick at school, I can pick them up and take care of them, without getting penalized for it,” says Therese.

Although norms around flexibility are changing in the workplace, there’s often a stigma attached to taking advantage of flexible work arrangements—especially among mothers, who are more likely to suffer negative career consequences for doing so. Wage penalties, worse performance evaluations, or being “mommy tracked” into lower-level roles are common biases working moms face everyday. And that’s just for the privileged few women with full-time office jobs.

For the many women who work in less traditional roles, who don’t have the option to work from home and can’t afford child care, the question of continued child care obligations becomes especially unsustainable.

Simply put, a mom entrepreneur who makes money from home is able to earn an income while also taking care of her kids. And in today’s connected world, where technology affords flexibility in how and where we work, almost any business can be a home-based business.

The real (and perceived) challenges associated with starting a business 

There are some very real barriers to entrepreneurship for moms—not having the time, energy, financial resources, or care infrastructure in place are chief among them. But there are also some perceived barriers that are weighing heavily on mothers’ minds.

We found women with children were significantly more likely than their men counterparts to cite “not knowing where to start” as a top challenge associated with starting a business.

What our research shows 

Top 3 challenges associated with starting a business: 

• 55% of women with children cite “finding the money for initial expenses” as a challenge associated with starting a business, compared to 41% of men. 
• 45% of women with children cite “not knowing where to start” as a challenge associated with starting a business, compared to 29% of men with children. 
• 23% of women with children cite “overall business strategy” as a challenge associated with starting a business, compared to 24% of men. 

Why it matters 

You’ve probably heard the following trend: men apply for a job when they meet only some of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet all of them. Turns out, this applies to starting a business as well.

Too often, women put pressure on themselves to have everything figured out before they get started. But the truth is, most entrepreneurs end up pivoting their business several times over the course of its lifespan. And while planning is good, necessary even, the future is impossible to predict. The only way to figure out what you want to do is to just try something—and be willing to adapt when necessary. 

“We set up these barriers for ourselves because we think things aren’t going to work. I used to tell myself ‘I’m a journalist, not a business woman.’ But that doesn’t mean anything. We’re all just learning as we go. The business world is constantly being reinvented. There are no rules,” says Patrice.

For moms, getting started is taking a leap of faith—in themselves. And that thought itself can be disquieting for women who are used to putting everyone else’s needs before their own.

“Women have these restrictions that are unspoken. These voices in our head. Men can do whatever they want. They’ve been raised to feel that way. We haven’t,” says Therese. “And we’re already bringing in less money than our male counterparts from our corporate gigs. I get why it seems risky to give up whatever financial security we have to start a business full time.” 

And while these financial concerns are valid—women make less money on average and have a harder time accessing capital than men do—there are some misconceptions around the costs of starting a business. There are many business models, such as print on demand and dropshipping, that require little to no upfront investment. And when it comes to funding, Shopify Capital is accessible to both male and female entrepreneurs.

Finding balance through entrepreneurship

The crisis exposed how broken the nature of work has been, and the unfair burden it’s placed on mothers. But for many moms, the pandemic was also an opportunity to reset the terms of their careers.

For women who hold 9-to-5 jobs, starting a business represents a chance to reach for independence and escape the glass ceiling. And for the millions of moms who work hourly jobs, often without benefits like health insurance and paid sick leave, starting a business is a chance to gain control of their own lives.

Looking forward, our research suggests mothers will be quicker to choose quality of life when making career decisions—valuing the flexibility, control, and independence entrepreneurship offers. And while starting a business isn’t without its challenges, it offers a promising alternative for moms who are grappling with their return to an unjust workforce.

Perhaps the crisis was the impetus professional mothers needed to redefine the meaning of work; a chance to re-enter the labor force on their own terms—as mom entrepreneurs. Patrice agrees, adding,“I think more women are finally realizing that business can be a vehicle for change. It can be something you do to not only support yourself but to have positive change in the world and set a good example for your kids. It’s a new frontier for women.”

This data is based on survey data collected in February 2021 from 1,532 parents in the US. All values are rounded averages. All data is unaudited and subject to adjustment. All financial figures are in USD unless otherwise indicated. Due to the size of our sample, our data unfortunately only reflects the realities of cis gendered parents, but we know that non-binary parents were equally impacted by the pandemic. Also due to our sample size, we were not able to report on all ethnic and racial groups with statistical significance. 

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Reference : https://www.shopify.com/blog/mom-entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is a growing trend among those aiming for financial independence or early retirement. But what about when retirement happens right on schedule? Older people, too, are turning to entrepreneurship to fill idle time, pursue a passion, or increase savings. 

While 30 under 30 lists and sensationalized tech startup stories dominate the media, the truth is, more than half of those running small businesses in the US are over the age of 55. And, the likelihood of entrepreneurial success only increases with age. A 50-year-old founder is twice as likely as a 30-year-old to build a company that goes public or gets acquired.

Meet 11 older entrepreneurs and learn how their years of experience—both in life and at work—have created a great foundation for starting a business from scratch.

11 inspiring entrepreneurs over 50

From roasting coffee beans to raising alpacas to developing inclusive skincare, these inspiring founders over 50 pursued entrepreneurship over retirement, building companies on nothing more than a great idea and decades of life experience.

1. Carl Churchill

Carl Churchill became an entrepreneur later in life, after serving many years in the army and working for other startups. When the 2008 recession hit and Carl lost his job, his family lived on dwindling emergency savings, selling their possessions to stay afloat. Then, they changed their plan: they’d cash out their 401(k) and sell coffee beans. 

Now, Carl works alongside his wife, Lori, on their business, Alpha Coffee. The Churchills slowly grew the brand out of their basement and into two physical storefronts. They’ve recovered much of their old lifestyle, too—and Carl and Lori hustle seven days a week to keep it that way.

“We feel really good about where we are now,” says Carl. “We’re paying off our mortgage. We’re adding benefits for our employees. We’re doing good for the community. Our kids look up to us and are very proud of the business that we’ve built as a family.”

2. Trisha Trout

In 2008, Trisha turned 50 and she and her husband, Timothy, had just built a new home, where they were living with their two teenage sons. But by June Timothy was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away later that fall.

As the breadwinner, Timothy had been responsible for managing the finances of the household. Now, Trisha was on her own. The economy was crashing, forcing the family to sell everything they had—including their home.

As Trisha realized the life insurance payments would eventually run out, she turned to a favorite hobby as a way to earn income. Now she runs Prairie Sage Soap Co., a business she built by learning everything from scratch. “Having a small business requires focus,” she says. “which is just what a grieving person needs to carry on.”

Now 64 and a grandmother, Trisha is thankful for the little things. “I’m thankful for small pleasures like feeding the birds and squirrels, and for the fact that I can afford to go to Starbucks almost every day!”

3. Katonya Breaux

Katonya Breaux noticed the lack of clean and effective sunscreen options for people of color. In 2014, she was moved to create her own. After two years of experimenting, she founded Unsun Cosmetics, an editor-favorite brand of mineral-based, tinted sunscreen products sold online and through more than 5,000 CVS locations in the US. 

“If you’re going to start a business, start something that really matters, start something that generates buzz, something that people want to talk about. Don’t just make another thing that’s already on the market, make it something special,” Katonya says.

4. Rob Urry

After retiring at the age of 52, Rob Urry bought a 40-foot fifth-wheel trailer to travel through his home state of Utah and beyond. While outfitting the trailer with necessary lighting—headlamps, lanterns, flashlights—he was disappointed with the options on the market. So he decided to design his own.

Rob emerged from retirement to start Kogalla, a high-performance lighting brand for adventure and travel. “After the romance of retirement wore off, I found myself needing to create and build something, so I jumped back into the business world,” he says. “I had always wanted to start my own business, but I just had a hard time breaking free.”

While his career as a music exec prepared him for many aspects of being an entrepreneur, there was still a learning curve. “My advice to other other entrepreneurs is that if you don’t want to jump headfirst into social media, SEO, email, and web design, take on a business partner who does.”

5. Nonna Nerino

For several years, Nonna Nerina was hosting intimate cooking classes from her home in a small Italian village. Then the pandemic hit. The popular tourist attraction suddenly had no clients. A friend of the family suggested moving to a virtual format, and Nonna Live was born.

Now, with the help of her grandaughter Chiara Nicolanti, 86-year-old Nonna broadcasts her cooking workshops to fans all over the world. The business has even evolved into physical products, working with a partner to bottle the unique gold olive oil that’s native to her region.

Learning the technology was the hardest part of the transition for Nonna. “She is a strong spirit,” Chiara says. “She doesn’t listen to me. She goes her own way.”

6. Rowena Montoya

Rowena and Frank Montoya lived a comfortable life that allowed them to travel, raise five children, and help less fortunate family members get back on their feet. During their heyday, Rowena often joined her husband on business trips, making her homemade caramels to give to his clients. But in 2009, the US financial crisis forced Frank to close his own business’ doors. 

While Frank was rebuilding, Rowena discovered that her caramels might have a market of their own. She bootstrapped to turn her candy hobby into her own company while the couple lived on a fraction of their former income. JulieAnn Caramels are now carried in stores across the US and have even been featured on the Home Shopping Network.

“I’m not a quitter,” says Rowena. “I’ve taught this principle to my children, and so now the roles are reversed, and they cheer me on. And I can’t give up, because that’s not what I taught them to do.”

7. Sonja Detrinidad

After investing 16 years in a successful career as a mortgage professional, Sonja Detrinidad saw the industry change—and the stress was piling up. 

As a distraction, Sonja challenged herself to update her home’s landscaping on a $0 budget, blogging about her misadventures. Soon, others were seeking out her plant-sourcing skills. After positioning herself as a personal plant shopper, taking requests through WhatsApp, Sonja quit her job to sell plants full time. 

Sonja soon switched her business model, launching Partly Sunny Projects as an ecommerce store in March 2020. “I thought, ‘Who’s going to want to buy plants during a pandemic?’” she says. “And the answer was: everyone.”

Partly Sunny is now pulling in more orders than Sonja can manage on her own. Her husband steps in to help where he can, and she recently brought on employees. Much of her success comes from her popular TikTok account, where she is known for her candid plant content. “I’m a woman in my 50s and in menopause,” says Sonja. “I don’t have the energy to put on a facade of somebody that I’m not.”

8. Jaswant Kular

Jaswant Kular wanted an easy way to teach her daughters the art of traditional Indian cooking. She found that many products on the market contained fillers, artificial ingredients, and lots of fat. At 60, she began preparing her own spice blends. 

Urged on by the positive response from friends and family, Jaswant exhibited at a food festival— and completely sold out. Jaswant’s Kitchen, a company she runs with her daughters, now sells products online and in more than 100 stores.

Jaswant logged many hours in the kitchen to refine her recipes, but it was pure life experience that she credits with her success as an entrepreneur. “There is no way I could have done this business when I was younger,” says Jaswant. “I did not know what the world around me needed. I had to have the experience of all these years to get where I am today.”

To other aspiring entrepreneurs her age, Jaswant tells them to overcome fear. “You are about to have the best time of your life,” she says. “It is finally your turn to live your life the way you want. It is a lot of work, but the reward is also that much greater.”

9. Colleen and Jim Seiler

Colleen and Jim Seiler had more than 25 years’ experience selling odor control products to customers. In 2011, a friend was diagnosed with cancer and was prescribed medical cannabis to ease her symptoms. She wanted to mask the smell of the smoke, and came to Colleen and Jim for help.

In 2013, the couple (both over 50) deferred their retirement plans and started Kushley, a line of organic consumer products to eliminate smoke smell. They grew the brand by “pounding the pavement,” Colleen says, and introducing the brand at trade shows and conferences.

While technology has been the most challenging aspect of running the business, Colleen says the key is “embracing and hiring the young minds affluent in today’s technology.” To others in her shoes, she offers, “Make sure it is a passion at this age. This is a time to enjoy what you are about to embark upon.”

10. Carole Baskin

Carole Baskin has had a long career as a serial entrepreneur, long before she became a household name when she was prominently featured on the hit series Tiger King.

Carole’s primary business, Big Cat Rescue—a non-profit sanctuary aiming to help end the abuse of wild cats bred and raised in cages—was founded in 1992. At 55, Carole opened a second for-profit store to support legislative work to protect exotic cats. 

The business isn’t a retirement project or even Carole’s full-time job. She’s been a real estate investor since she was 19 (and still is). Carole says that her age is an asset because she’s learned over time what’s really important. “The success of serial entrepreneurs comes from trying and failing,” she says. “Every time you succeed, you learn a little. Every time you fail, you learn a lot!” 

And what does Carole have to say to other aspiring entrepreneurs over the age of 50? “Do it! The kids are out of the nest. Now is the time to really dig in and change the world.”

11. Bernie Rothrock

When Bernie Rothrock retired after 30 years of teaching, he accepted his brother-in-law Tom’s offer to manage his alpaca ranch. When Tom passed away, much of the herd was sold and the ranch was purchased by new owners who allowed Bernie to keep 11 alpacas on the property. Bernie continued to care for them as pets, with no intention to breed them for profit. “Alpacas are just really nice, neat little animals,” Bernie says. “And our grandkids love them.”

Bernie’s son Drew suggested to his Dad that he should start a small business with his newfound free time. Since alpacas need to be shorn for the hot summer months, Bernie decided to turn the output into usable products. He built Maximus & Penelope, named for two of the animals, selling alpaca wool socks through an online store.

At this stage of life, Bernie is happy breaking even and having a little extra money to travel and enjoy a peaceful retirement. Growth isn’t on his radar at the moment, but he’s still a new business owner, after all. “I really did not have that entrepreneurial bug, if you will,” he says. “It was happenstance. Things just worked out.”

Wrapping Up:

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, over 1,000,000 SKU and more. With a successful track record of over 100,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements.

Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses! If you would like to know more details about us, please contact us:  blog.shopshipshake.com. If you are interested in cooperating with us. Please register on: https://shop.shopshipshake.com/shop/register/business

Reference : https://www.shopify.com/blog/entrepreneurs-over-50