Making the most of networks, posses and best buds.
The African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" could
easily be modified to reflect our lives: "It takes many warm hands to
hold an entrepreneurial woman together."
This is especially true when starting a business after the age
of retirement. There is never a shortage of naysayers. Those who hold
us together fall into three categories: networks, posses and best buds.
The first two categories are fluid. The third is in a class by itself.
Networks are the result of both concerted effort and
serendipity. We attend chamber of commerce meetings, luncheons and
seminars to learn and connect; yet sometimes it's a friend's suggestion
that makes the difference. Rella Levinstein of Brain Aerobics offers a perfect example:
"I was looking for a new business opportunity to serve the well-worried
55-plus community, Dr. Susanna Goldstein was looking for a
businessperson to run a new venture of brain fitness, and a mutual
friend introduced us," Levinstein recalls. "We met in New York over
lunch, and the result is Brain Aerobics," a program designed to enhance
memory and concentration in people over age 50.Levinstein finds that
networking after 55 is easier. "Finally I can talk to males or females
and get their full attention, respect and support just because I'm
older and more experienced." When she was younger, Levinstein was one
of only a few women building a business. When she tried to network with
male entrepreneurs, she couldn't penetrate the old boys' network. The
networks we build broaden our horizons.
Posses are a much
smaller group. Remember high school, when we moved in packs? Posses are
the grown-up version of packs. These are friends and colleagues we turn
to for counsel, inspiration and perspective. If we have a close working
relationship, they can serve as a valuable sounding board. Perhaps
they're longtime friends who remind us that we've solved similar
problems in the past. These women can be network members who have stood
the test of time, members of organizations we belong to or colleagues
we've worked with in the past. Our posses add depth and dimension to
our lives.
Our best buds are our inner circle of trusted
friends. Noted speaker and author Jan Northrup of Management Training
Systems describes her four best buds as women who share her values and
her life. She says these are the women with whom she not only feels
comfortable sharing personal and business problems, but also her
successes, knowing they'll share her pride in a great presentation or
accolade.
Our best buds are the "energy givers," as Northrup
says, who help us reach our heights but also are there to share a glass
of "whine" and buck us up when the going gets tough. To have a few very
close friends who will love us, hold us together and celebrate with us
is one of life's greatest gifts.
Each circle of support is
vital to our strength and accomplishment as entrepreneurs. We share the
special "knowing" that women have, our contacts, our experience and the
laughter that makes it all so much more fun.
Bonnie Price, founder of Silver Vixen Enterprises, is a lifelong entrepreneur. She owns SilverVixens, an online membership community to connect and inform Women of a Certain Age. She also writes the After 55 blog.
