deborah_tutnauerAccording to Wikipedia, an entrepreneur is, “a person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome.”

In the world of entrepreneurial ventures, there are many women but far more men. In the specific arenas of internet marketing and inter – network marketing most of the people you see at the top are men. What is that about? Are men more capable than women in this area?

I think think not. In fact in this article I am going to make the case that women in general have a better grasp on the fundamental skill sets that are needed by entrepreneurs, than they are generally given credit for.

Again from Wikipedia: “Entrepreneurs choose a level of personal, professional or financial risk to pursue opportunity.

Entrepreneurs tend to identify a market opportunity and exploit it by organizing their resources effectively to accomplish an outcome that changes existing interactions within a given sector.”

My hypothesis is that men are more visibly particularly in the internet entrepreneur world due to a number of factors. The most visible internet marketing men dove into the industry in their 20’s and have spent countless hours obsessively immersed in the mind-set and technological minutia of online marketing. Many (though not all) of those that are most familiar to many, were able to do this because their other responsibilities at the time were not great. Specifically no families and no children to care for on a daily basis. Those who did have children and families also had a wife.

I am not trying to be sexist here. There is a reality that is just fact. But here is the flip side. The fortitude, multitasking abilities and communication skills that are necessary to succeed at the highest levels of entrepreneurship and to sustain it for the long-term, are those that women are particularly well suited for.

Sticking with the world of online marketing in the network marketing arena, women have what it takes to be on top of this world. Technological knowledge is important, but more important is the ability to interact well with others. Network marketing is a people business and many people in the industry need and benefit from an understanding mentor to hear their needs and respond with a mixture of compassion and action oriented education. In my experience with my team, women grasp this manner of relating more easily than men. The men I work with want to focus on the hard skills, while the women enjoy the casual conversations and the consultative method of developing relationships.

Women first entering the network marketing and internet marketing world, might be overwhelmed by the prevalence of men at the very top levels and wonder if in fact they have what it takes. In my humble opinion, women have what it takes in multiples. Throughout history, women have been the strength, the rock, the person who held the family together through great hardship and trials. Women are uniquely qualified to create a vision and then see it through every step of the way, from birth to maturity. Isn’t that what we do as mother’s throughout our lives?

In the definition above, entrepreneurs succeed “by organizing their resources effectively to accomplish an outcome”. As women and mothers our lives are spent organizing resources..many resources for many people all at one time. We have the ability to herd 4 children into the car all equipped with lunches, water and sunscreen within just a few minutes, all while holding a crying baby and cleaning dirt off the cat’s feet. Some men can do this as well – of course they can – but many (like my husband) prefer to steer clear of that type of situation and arrive after everyone is buckled in and happy.

Women do not need to posture and be the “alpha” in the same way as men. The competitiveness is not as much in our nature, thus making powerful collaborative efforts, that much more productive and sustainable. Working collaboratively in this 21st century economy is the keynote to success. Do women entrepreneurs have what it takes? Absolutely!!

Share your powerful woman story in the comments below!!

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