Flight of the Woman Entrepreneur

Hello, for those who follow my blog, please know that I have moved to a new site. I will post duplicates for a time so others can find me. This is a blog from my new location

Narrated Video Version

Dedicated to daring women entrepreneurs everywhere

Silently, from within, she notices it

She observes her surroundings at home, socially, professionally ~ in life

No one thinks like her, no one fantasizes as she does

She’s different

Everyone around her seems content with the status quo

This is the way it IS and the way it always HAS been

Follow in the footsteps of those who walked before you, they say

Even if it’s not you. Even if it hurts. Even if you feel something else with every fiber of your being

No one can support her. They live in fear of her failure – or maybe their own

~

She feels alone

She vacillates from not wanting to settle to avoid disrupting the norm

The pull is way too great to ignore

The road ahead is vague but palpable

There is an obvious path waiting for her

It requires tapping into every ounce of blind faith

She chooses the path

~

Constant unfolding

Change

Sacrifice

Resistance – theirs

Fears and challenges

Resistance – hers

She must continue to trust that place

The place that inspired her

~

She begins to receive direction

Opportunities start to arise

She can feel the rightness of her decision

She fully embraces the obstacles

Because she knows from the deepest place within

That she was given a gift

She wears the badge of honor

She knows … even with every wave she conquers … she knows this path is hers

~

She commits to mastery

Listening and defining

Listening and growing

Seeking and listening

Learning and listening

Touching highs – Touching lows

Trusting, trusting, trusting

~

Suddenly the sun rises

It was inevitable

She chose well

She followed her inner guidance

She trusted

And received the wise woman reward

She takes flight

She and the world will never be the same

~

Flight of the Woman Entrepreneur

Written and Narrated by Fran Asaro

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Face it, I’m Older and I Have More Insurance! TAWANDA!!

A love letter to the Boomers

If you’ve ever seen and related to this iconic moment in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes you will want to keep reading.

This scene is where Kathy Bates’ character gathers up every ounce of her power and refuses to be taken advantage of any more! The declaration TAWANDA that she yells out has been in my vocabulary ever since, whenever I connect to my inner strength or WANT to.

So why am I sharing this with you? Because as we get older, we often feel a little ‘less than’ our younger counterparts. We may feel as though we can’t keep up or that we are having trouble coming to terms with our age at some level. Some of us feel less attractive than the young’uns (and this goes for men as well as women), while others long for the good old days when they were unstoppable. I’m here to declare that we Boomers still have it. We are still millions strong and we still carry a lot of weight (don’t say it ).

I want to take a few moments to acknowledge those of us who are older and wiser. We are a community and I would like to keep it that way. We don’t even know each other and yet… we KNOW each other. No matter where we are from, chances are that we’ve watched the same TV shows, seen the same movies and had a similar upbringing. Our history is different than anyone else’s and only we can relate to it.

We know what it’s like to be older than a lot of todays technology and yet, if you are reading this or writing your own blog, you are probably doing OK in that area.

We have become so much younger than our parents were at this age. Young enough to stay active, start businesses and be incredible role models for other generations. Even the movie industry is catering to our age group because we STILL have buying power. We still OWN this country. Our music is timeless. We had the Beatles and Woodstock for goodness sake. What can ever compare to that?

I’ve always loved being a boomer, we were ‘it’. I am proud to be a part of a community that is so diverse yet so connected. You are my family at some level. You are my people and I’m so happy to grow older with you.

I want to take this moment to appreciate us and to honor us. We are seasoned individuals, thirsty for the future while still basking in and appreciating our past. If you are feeling the same way, if you love being a boomer and proud to be in a world of people who survived much, thrived even more and continue to live until there’s no life left in us, then I want to hear from you. Share with me how you feel connected to other boomers. What makes you proud to be one? And if you are not a Boomer, what about us makes a difference in your life. Thank you for being my ‘tribe’

 

Fran Asaro is a Virtual Partner for 50 and over entrepreneurs. What’s a Virtual Partner you ask? Not a coach… find out more

 

Bringing Crazy Back – 7 Ways to Lighten up You and Your Business

This message is for anyone, any age who can use a refreshing new way to do business by bringing Crazy Back!

My father used to call me Elsa Maxwell. Apparently, she was huge party giver back in the day. He said I would throw a party at the drop of a hat. Work would come second to fun. ALWAYS. Having fun has never been an issue for me. Taking life seriously well, that’s another story. When my sister observes me during my workday she often comments ‘You’re not working, Fran, you’re playing’. My response is almost always the same. Thank You, that’s my goal and to help others do the same. Since this seems to be a gift, it’s my duty to help others tap into their fun selves. I’m not talking about being a goofball necessarily, but a genuine ball of light.

Somewhere it was taught to us to ‘behave’ in business. If you are naturally a serious person then this may be the way for you. But how many of you out there were crazy at one time or another and have ‘straightened up’ for the sake of being professional or worst yet, ‘appropriate’?

I know I will get some comments from those who do believe in being serious when it comes to business and I guess a Funeral Director should. But hey, didn’t you used to laugh more? Play more? Sing more? Why can’t you implement more play into your workday? Could that change the way you feel? Think? Perform?

When I was a Realtor, I perceived the Realtors in my area as straight-laced and serious. I was often intimidated by them and thought I would never succeed because I wasn’t like them. Then one day my broker turned the music up in her office, came back to our work area and began dancing with all of us. I was so relieved that she was being human and playful. I changed that very day and was no longer cautious or quiet. I began to play while I worked. It was a life-saver.

Don’t get me wrong, I know when it’s time to be serious. I know there are certain times to ‘behave’. But the other times, well, that’s MY time to let go.

I have to tell you, just writing about this topic has me feel more bouncy and authentic. I write blogs all the time, and some convey my sense of humor. Those seem to be the ones that get the most attention.

I think this world, especially during these times, could use more joy and laughter. Are you someone who can raise the bar in that area?

Some of you are already tapped into your ‘crazy’. Congratulations! It sets you apart and certainly lightens up the room. Others, well, not so much. So, I put together a few suggestions to help you when you think you are being too somber.

1. Decide – Yes, deciding that you want to bring crazy back is probably a good first step. Once you make that connection, you will begin to find ways to do this. Maybe you can create a mantra or declaration that would help – ‘Today is the day I bring my crazy back!’
2. Honor Your Own Level of Crazy – Yes, crazy may be a hard word to swallow, maybe you don’t really WANT to be crazy. Maybe I should have called this ‘tapping into your full self-expression’, but then I think you would have held back a little. I want you to BURST. With that said, on a scale from 1-10 where are you now and where would you like to be? That will give you a good idea of where to begin.
3. Dress or move differently – Do your best to shift completely into the new fun-loving you. That would include possibly dressing with a lighter touch or walking with a little more bounce in your step. Sometimes doing this first will allow for the ideas to flow and the changes happen more easily.
4. Create your list – It doesn’t have to be a real list, but, begin taking mental notes of what bringing crazy back into your life would look and feel like. Do you see someone who enjoys their day more than most? What do they do that you can do. Would you like to play more music, sing, dance, have contests, parties, create fun things for you and your clients? If you notice something that appeals to you and you feel a bit scared, take a look at it, that may very well be the thing that will take you over the bridge.
5. Start slow – Don’t scare those around you by making drastic changes – they may not recognize you. Don’t force yourself to do anything that feels too uncomfortable. A little discomfort is OK though. Start out with a few moments a day where you make yourself laugh a little. Then build upon that.
6. Tap into your past – We all have those memories where we were a bit wild, playful and daring. Often we say ‘those were the days’. You know, those don’t have to be the days, today can be the day – The day you create something better. Try this, bring some of your past craziness forward to meet the present you and design how you want them to blend. Marry the two and recreate your future.
7. Help others do the same – You must know other people who may be too business-like. Check in with them and see if they could use a little lightening up as well. It’s possible they’ve been hoping for a break in seriousness and you may have a partner in crime! You may even consider starting a group of contemporaries, where you can do fun, non-business events together.

The old cliché, life is too short comes into ‘play’ here. How do you want to spend your days or years in business? Don’t wait for retirement, until business is better or something else. Crack yourself open today and see what’s inside! Then call me. I’d love to meet the new you!

If this message resonated with you, I’m glad. If you feel stimulated by it, even better. If it motivates you to take action, then I applaud you for being daring.

 

Fran Asaro is a Virtual Partner supporting entrepreneurs who don’t want to do it all alone

The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed as told by Bill Gross

As a life-long entrepreneur and a Business Coach for Entrepreneurs, the question comes up often as to what makes your business a success or a failure? Is it start-up funding? Is it having the best business plan? You’d be surprised to find out that those two are not at the top of the list of success factors.

Here’s Bill Gross on Ted Talk discussing what the single biggest reason why startups succeed.  I was pleasantly surprised AND it will make a difference in my future endeavors.

Below, comment on what you think were your top reasons for success or failure in business.

Looking for leadership support in growing your Business? Watch this 1-minute video