The Power of Waiting as a Female Entrepreneur

For female entrepreneurs, there’s a feeling like we are making up for lost time and lost opportunities–especially in the last few years. We feel the weight of the responsibility to make progress and to create a better future. We want to see more female entrepreneurs breaking through barriers and achieving success. But we also know that progress takes time. Remember, Rome was not built in a day as I confirmed during my trip to Italy.

 Like growing a garden or waiting for bread to bake, waiting for the next sale requires patience. As female entrepreneurs, we find ourselves attached to the adrenalin of staying busy. The shiny object syndrome is a vicious cycle. Keeping up with the ever-changing world of business is not easy. But it’s really important.

There’s a disconnect with knowing you’ve done everything possible and waiting for the strategy to work. There is the temptation of looking for something new or looking for the next solution to solve. I  can see that happening with some people who are frustrated because their strategy isn’t working as fast or efficiently than they would like…or maybe even too slow for comfort levels; still waiting on an answer while feeling vulnerable or unprepared.

Are entrepreneurs the real adrenaline junkies? 

This adrenaline puts more pressure on us, as we start second-guessing all the effort already put in place. It’s easy to let our emotions get the best of us when things aren’t moving fast enough. If you’re not sure if you’re acting out of emotion or logic, it’s a good time to notice. In most cases, your emotions will begin to settle and you’ll be able to think more clearly about what’s best for your business.

My experience with growing zinnias has been a lesson in patience. Once the seeds are in the ground, it’s usually time for me to overthink–or worry. Did I plant theme seeds too close to each other? Did I plant them too deep? Is it too early to seed them? Am I too late? And then on Day 2…. Why aren’t they growing? Are they too dry? Are they too wet?, etc., but when you take away all of that stress and just let nature take its course, things usually work themselves out without much hassle! Overthinking the process of germination doesn’t serve anyone. You plant the seed, they will grow.

If you have a solution to a problem, you have a business. With your well-defined strategy, your sales will show up. Just like seeding flowers, it’s deliberate action. Once everything is in place, trust the process, and give yourself permission to wait. You just need to find the right balance between making your solutions known and waiting for people who are ready!

Waiting is a test of character. Here are three reasons why every woman entrepreneur should embrace the wait.

1. Patience is a Virtue

The first reason why waiting is important is because it allows you to develop patience. As a woman entrepreneur, there will be times when you are met with delays and setbacks. It’s important to remember that these delays do not define you or your business. Instead, they are simply opportunities for you to practice patience. By learning to be patient, you will become better equipped to handle more difficult situations and overcome obstacles in the future.

2. Reflect on Your Goals

The second reason why waiting is important is because it gives you time to reflect on your goals. When you’re in the thick of things, it can be difficult to take a step back and assess your progress. However, taking a break from the hustle and bustle can be incredibly beneficial. Use this time to reflect on your goals and determine whether or not you’re on track to achieve them. If you’re not where you want to be, use this time to brainstorm new strategies for reaching your goals–without jumping into the next shiny object.

3. Reassess Your Priorities

The third reason why waiting is important is because it gives you time to reassess your priorities. When we’re constantly moving forward, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s truly important in life. However, taking a break can help you regain perspective and refocus your attention on what matters most. Use this time to reassess your priorities and make sure that your daily actions align with your long-term goals.

Waiting is often seen as a test of character. But in reality, it’s so much more than that. Waiting is an opportunity for growth, reflection, and reevaluation. By embracing the wait, women entrepreneurs can learn patience, assess their progress, and refocus their attention on what matters most. We are consistently inundated with messages telling us that we need to hustle, grind and go, go, go! And while there is no doubt that hard work is an important part of success, there is also tremendous power in learning how to be patient.

Another example is the infamous waiting-line system. Have you ever stood hours in a line at an amusement park for a ride that lasts less than a minute? Or maybe, you have bypassed a line at a restaurant by making reservations in advance. Then there are those times you might find yourself putting extra items in your basket at checkout. Well, you might want to know about the economics behind when and how to make a customer wait in line. It’s a strategy of having a goal of creating the optimal waiting experience to increase sales, while pleasing customers.

There is always something more. There is always the next level for you. It doesn’t matter where you currently are in the life of your business. There is more. There is always more for you. Don’t let uncertainty get in your way. There is a better way. If in the past, maybe your answer has been to hustle and work until you succeeded. You read book after book and attend weekend seminars to get yourself motivated. There is no question that you are determined. But, you are frustrated because it seems like you have hit a glass ceiling or can’t keep up the working around-the-clock routine. Not much is changing. 

Here is the truth: Your results are tied up with your self-image, unless and until you change how you see yourself. This is the true transformation to the next level in your business. You will only create results that are a reflection of how you see yourself.  Because how you see and think about yourself, is what the world that will reflect back to you.

We are always being tested and the question is…”do you have what it takes to commit, show up, and stay humble?” “Are you comfortable waiting?”  It may take walking through some mud and pulling weeds first to overcome loud doubt and fear, but the end result is much lighter, easier, and free.

Like so many of us, I was conditioned to believe that the only way to find success was to work very, VERY hard. I believed that the only way to be successful was to keep doing, doing, doing. I subconsciously paid the price by poisoning my success and my ability to receive abundance. And I didn’t even realize I was doing it.

How do you become better equipped to address the constant changes? It’s about noticing. We can shift our paradigms, and stop the patterns of worry and self-doubt.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

If you want to understand more about the power of patience as a female entrepreneur, check out my recent article on… waiting for results can be tough, but it is an unavoidable part of being an entrepreneur.

Lisa Carmichael ~ Owner & Creator of EPIK Mastermind https://lisarcarmichael.com