As entrepreneurial women, we often prioritize others over ourselves—our partners, parents, children, friends and employees. The Hawaiian word mālama means “to care for, protect and preserve.” We often don’t think about having mālama for ourselves as we tend to invest in everyone else. Yet if we do invest in ourselves, our businesses and families will thrive more easily.
Perhaps we do it because it’s a learned behavior, the cultural norm or for emotional reasons. Regardless of why, investing in ourselves and our businesses is vitally important and worth devoting the time, energy and financial resources. It’s how we’ll find balance and fulfillment while we experience the cycles and challenges of our businesses and life in general.
Think of yourself like a pitcher of water. If you are constantly pouring out into the areas of life you care about, you’ll need to replenish so you can keep giving without running empty. As women business owners, we can “fill back up” in many ways, including:
- Balance and Self-care: Prioritize your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in a way that works for you. Sometimes you may just need to lay in bed all day. Healthy entrepreneurs understand how to balance their needs with having high levels of energy and commitment to think more strategically and see projects through. As a result, they are also more creative and resilient. Getting enough sleep is a big factor in healing our brains and bodies and feeling energized on a daily basis. It’s not an easy task in this day and age of having so many responsibilities.
- Continuous Learning: Take courses, workshops and seminars to enhance skills and knowledge—especially if those are on things you are passionate about or that bring out your creativity or focuses on wellness. So many virtual opportunities are available today and there is a wealth of information out there. Or just go “old school” and pick up a good book or magazine to read outside at the beach or in your garden.
- Community: Build a supportive community of like-minded women who understand the journey you are on and want to see and help you succeed. The best relationships are reciprocal, where the more you put in, the more you get out. NAWBO is a one-of-a-kind community to be a part of…our supportive sisterhood across the country is why I’m here!
- Coaching and Mentorship: Find coaches and mentors who have similar values to help you grow personally and professionally. They can offer valuable support, perspective and accountability and be a safe space for you to candidly share your thoughts and feelings.
- Financial Literacy: A strong foundation of financial literacy can support all your life goals. Create a budget that includes money for personal and business endeavors. Track spending, manage debt and plan for retirement…all in effort to minimize financial stress.
- Technology and Innovation: Stay on top of rapidly changing advancements in areas like software, artificial intelligence and social media. Understanding and embracing innovation can help you streamline operations, reach wider audiences and remain relevant. It can also help you grow and scale your business more easily than ever.