Entrepreneurship - Get Your Head In The Game

Think it's easy being a black female entrepreneur, an Enterprising Black Woman?

Ask any EBW, whether she's just starting out or a seasoned entrepreneur, and she will probably answer you with a resounding NO!

But as hard as it may be for EBWs to tackle becoming entrepreneurs, as many obstacles, both typical and manufactured, that they must overcome, the singularly most important thing that an EBW can do to insure success as an entrepreneur is to get her head in the game.

The road to becoming a successful entrepreneur is by no means an easy one - for any individual. It is fraught with risks and unforeseen setbacks, and requires an inexhaustible capacity for coping with recurring, unexpected roadblocks and dealing with not always cooperative individuals.

For black women who embark on the journey to becoming successful entrepreneurs, each hurdle is magnified two-fold, by race and gender.

Not only must women of color contend with the "normal" drama of starting a new business, they are often forced to prove their competency as a woman and, as if that were not enough hoops to jump through, they are often forced to prove that their ethnicity is not a hindrance of their ability to compete within all levels the marketplace.

Yes, deciding to become an EBW is without a doubt a risky, exhilirating, liberating move. But EBWs are, by virtue of their rich cultural history and heritage, a resilient group.

The very same traits that are sometimes viewed by others as reasons why EBWs will fail as entrepreneurs, are the same qualities that make them a force to be reckoned with in business and beyond.

EBWs are a smart, savvy, resourceful group who will sail over hurdles and topple walls to overcome stereotypes, pursue their dreams and drown out the negativity of naysayers.

To achive the numerous rewards and priviliges that owning a business and dealing with all the bumps in the road will bring, the first and most important step for an EBW is to become 100% mentally committed.

That's more than half the battle - getting your head in the game - preparing your mind for the adventure ahead. Yes, adventure - because for all the headaches, joys, risks, highs and lows, this journey will be nothing if not an adventure.

Before you can achieve your entrepreneurial dreams, you must first envision it. You must see it clearly in your minds eye.

See yourself doing the research, contacting the people who can steer you in the right direction, accepting the rewards for the products and services you offer - see yourself fully living your dream.

You must see these things clearly and believe, without a shadow of a doubt that they will come to pass. This practice of mental visualization is not only effective, it is a vital component to entrepreneurial success. Before ever stepping onto the playing field, you have to first get your head into the game.

It sounds easy, but some women have a hard time envisioning their own success. It's sometimes difficult for them to even begin to imagine a life in which they are the master of their own destinies, the captain of their own ships. Their minds are filled with doubts and fears that prevent them from even mentally stepping into their success.

To every potential EBW I offer this often quoted piece of wisdom: "What you think about most is what will become real for you."

The mind is a powerful tool - the most powerful tool for any entrepreneur. If you cannot see it with your mind's eye and believe unconditionally that it will come to pass, your dream of entrepreneurship will most likely never become a reality.

Believe in yourself. Close your eyes and SEE every detail of your pending success. Get your head in the game and before you know it, regardless of the obstacles in your path, everything that you envision will become real.