< Previous39SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINE40SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEFor the 21st Century female entrepreneur, there are particular skill sets which will give you the boost you’ll need to rise above the competition and move you towards success. These are just a few:SOCIAL MEDIA LITERACYTrust is a valuable commodity –those who earn it find iteasier to achieve consistentbusiness success.The rise of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have given consumers a platform to assess the trustworthiness of brands – approach them intelligently, and you can cultivate a positive reputation for your business.Superwoman entrepreneurs don’t just know how to position their business on social media –they use these sites to havean ongoing conversation withtheir customers. They are aware of the wants of theirtribe because they listen totheir comments and privatemessages.Because they are well-versed in social media, they can Entrepreneur, Author, TV Presenter, Video Coach and Unstoppable Force. Dedicated to helping women with a message to succeed. Tracy is here to encourage women in business to dream big and then put the steps in place to achieve these dreams through making smart choices that suit your budget and circumstances.also respond to a controversy before it blows up into a public relations fiasco. By keeping lines of communication open (e.g. responding to affected parties, posting regular updates, etc), they can show their business cares. EMPATHYFolks have gotten wise to companies out to make a quick buck. This is wonderful news for superwomen, as their ability to emphasise with the needs of others has allowed them to attract growing numbers of loyal customers.THE 21ST CENTURY SUPERWOMAN – POWERS YOU NEED TO SURVIVE IN BUSINESS IN 2018by Tracy Walsh41SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINESuperwomen entrepreneurs take the time to really listen to these folks, making it easy to imagine themselves in their shoes. This permits them to create products or services which actually solve the problems faced by those in their niche. They don’t just treat customers gently, though – they act the same way towards their employees and contractors as well. Superwomen realise these folks are the backbone of their business, so they act in a respectful manner towards them. Rather than lash out at those behind in their work, they work with them to get to the root of the problem (e.g. struggling to juggle work with the responsibilities of being a new parent). Because of this approach, they find it easier to retain the ‘A’ level talent needed to push their company to the next level.VIDEOGRAPHY SKILLSIn case you’re just joining us, everybody is moving to video. By 2021, 82% of bandwidth transmitted over the internet will be visual content.Superwomen understand this, as they have been busy building and honing their videography skills recently. They know people flock to video because it provides the human connection which is sorely lacking in text and sound-based media.42SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEHow do these platforms accomplish this? Videos provide non-verbal cues, allowing their creators to be understood more readily and make points with greater enthusiasm. It is also the only medium where all forms of communication (i.e. text, sound, and video) can be present at the same time. Given the flexibility video provides, it is any wonder so many smart businesswomen have been starting channels lately?If you are looking to do the same but lack the confidence to press play on your camera, you need to learn how to be authentic on video, write compelling scripts, edit clips professionally, then you will nail it. Use these tips on your entrepreneurial journey, and you will already be way ahead of most other business owners.43SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINESimplify your life - chic vintage-inspired dresses44SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEHOW I MADE A CAREER OUT OF BEING A SINGLE MUM by Lucy GoodLucy is the founder of Beanstalk. She sits at the centre of the think-tank of modern-day single motherhood and is a sought after social commentator on single parent issues. She’s appeared several times on national television, speaks regularly on national radio and writes articles for online and print parenting and business communities.45SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEFew of us aspire to be a single mother. It was not part of my carefully laid life plans. And yet, sometimes the most difficult parts of our lives can result in the most unexpected and wonderful results.Becoming a single mum is a unique journey with challenges that only another single mum will understand. It is like starting over. It is daunting but exciting. And like everything in life, it is what we make it.I went through the motions and slowly adjusted to my shiny new status of ‘single mum’. The biggest lessons were learning to co-parent and coping financially. The practicalities of life had got a whole lot harder. There was no-where to turn for support. I was tired, I was stressed and, as I watched my friends winning in married-life, I was lonely.It’s at breaking-point that the most wonderful things happen in our lives. I think of the phoenix rising. Bit dramatic maybe, but hey, I’m a woman, I love a bit of drama.46SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEWe get one life and I felt as though I had a second-chance at mine. I became fuelled with passion to create a space that provided everything I had reached for as a single mother but had been unable to find. The seed that was Beanstalk was plantedI would love to tell you it was easy, but instead I’ll be honest. I was working full-time whilst I created the foundations of my business. For six-months bedtime was a strict 1am. Coffee was my best friend. And I reached deep inside my soul for the desire to succeed that fuelled me every day.My daughters, then six and nine, were (and still are) an integral part of my journey. I explained to them what I was doing from the beginning. They are my biggest fans and are the first people I share my business wins with, even today. I believe I have taught them to follow your dream; that hard work pays off; and that when mummy’s eyes are glazed with tiredness at 7am don’t ask for sugar on your Coco Pops.47SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEMISTAKESThere were many. Never get too disheartened by them. Wasn’t it Sir Richard Branson’s failures that made him a multibillionaire? My lowest point was leaving work with the belief that my business would support us, only to return to the same job with my tail between my legs a year later. Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to return to work. When I left the next time, it was for good!I spin many plates, and I do it with skills and tricks that I use daily. Some are obvious, but I’d like to share some that are not so:1.The power of organisationis under-rated. If you areorganised everything else willfall into place. I promise.2.Compartmentalising outweighs multitasking everytime. Concentrate on one taskat a time. Do it properly. Thenmove on.3.Minimalism will changeyour life and excel yourbusiness. A clear work placecreates a clear mind. Mybusiness is 100% paper freeand the advantages are huge.4.Perfection is your worseenemy. Don’t waste time making everything ‘just so’. Get your idea out there and use the response to adapt.The most pleasantly surprising part of having my own business is all the wonderful, like-minded business women I work with daily. These are ladies who have taken an idea and run with it. We connect. We collaborate. We care. And by pulling together we are reaching further and wider. I am honoured to be amongst them. Now, when I think of my pre-single-mother-life, I can’t believe how far I have come. I would never have started my own business in my married days. I would never have believed I had the strength or the ability. But I did. It is almost scary to think that if I hadn’t become a single mother, I would have never have discovered these attributes hidden deep within me.It doesn’t matter what life throws at us. We will overcome it. And as we do, we learn. Never be limited by circumstance, instead embrace it and live your very best life. 48SMART HEALTHY WOMEN MAGAZINEIt may not be the life you envisaged ... but the chances are, it will be even better. Next >