Just 20 years ago, the idea of a female entrepreneur heading up her own company would have seemed too ambitious idea. Today female entrepreneurs are leading and starting their own companies even more.

Female entrepreneurs are entering into every sector be it finance, media industry, technical field, medical equipment, and revamping the ever-evolving world of technology. They are definitely breaking that glass ceiling and climbing through.

Check out these must-read books for female entrepreneurs and get inspired to create your own entrepreneurial story!

1. The Confidence Effect: Every Woman’s Guide to the Attitude That Attracts Success.

Author- Grace Killelea

Every day many talented, hardworking women are passed over for promotion. It’s easy to blame corporate structure that we think favours men, author Grace Killelea identifies another culprit: Confidence. Men tend to overestimate their abilities and women often sell themselves short.

The Confidence Effect helps women to speak out, take a risk and assume leadership positions with assurance. And teaches women to be more confident and take one step at a time. In this book, women learn practical strategies with the 4 R’s of success- Relationship, Reputation, Results, and Resilience.

2. She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and become a wildly successful Entrepreneur.

Author- Carrie Green

Are you ready to hop on the entrepreneur train? Do you want to turn your ideas into reality and build a successful business? This is your best time to say yes! In this book, Carrie Green shows you how to face the challenges you get in running a business, and from her experience, she teaches all this. She first started her online business at the age of 20- she knows what it’s like to be an ambitious and creative woman with big dreams and determination.

This book helps you guide in moving past your fears and doubts that can get in the way. Understand your audience, so you can truly connect with them. Create a brand and build a tribe of fans, subscribers, and customers. This book provides with honest, realistic, and practical tools you need to follow and bring your vision to life.

3. Girl on Fire

Author- Cara Alwill Leyba

As the cover page says- How to choose yourself, burn the rule book, and blaze your own trail in life and business. This book truly teaches you to keep going in your toughest times too.

Entrepreneurs need constant motivation to keep going, Girl on Fire is the right book that will push you to get things started. It advises women to keep going and find their opportunities and not just keep waiting for them. It teaches women to create their own opportunities by being trailblazers and believing in their intuition.

4. Lean In

Author- Sheryl Sandberg

 If you are a woman who wants to climb a professional ladder or enter an entrepreneurship journey, Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In is best to follow. Packed with personal experiences and practical tips, the book is monumental for helping women reach their full potential.

You might have heard a few stereotypes such as either choosing your career or family. You can’t handle both at the same time. This is what the author of this book explains, that it’s possible to have both, no matter what others say.

It also throws light on gender differences in the workplace and how women can overcome them and discover possibilities.

5. Thrive

Author- Arianna Huffington

 In this book, Arianna Huffington makes a compelling case for the need to redefine what being successful means in today’s world.

Being a women entrepreneur can be exhausting, and it affects our mental health as well. This book provides research-based advice to slow down and connect with yourself in between. It is inspired by the personal health challenges faced by the author when she fell down and broke her cheekbone and had a nasty gash over her eye. This was all result of exhaustion and lack of sleep. As the cofounder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group — one of the fastest growing media companies in the world — celebrated as one of the world’s most influential women. After all this, she wondered is this what success feels like.

She has linked her drive for money and power to two legs of a three-leg stool. They might hold up for some time but in long run will collapse. We need a third leg—third metric for defining success to really thrive.

There you go a comprehensive list of 5 must-read books for female entrepreneurs to succeed regardless of challenges and obstacles. Let me know which one was your favourite.

The post 5 Must Read Books For Female Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Pink Journey.

Salons or Beauty Parlours traditionally have been run by Women. It is only in the recent times that large chains like Lakme Salon and Enrich have entered into the market.  The Beauty industry is growing at a rate of 28% per annum and is estimated at 1.89lakh crore by 2025. We women are more inclined towards beauty. And the Salon business seems to be the easiest and safest business to be in.

But here the main point is to treat it like a business. So, what are the things one should focus on?

Just because you have done the required beauty certification does not allow you to start a business. Getting started with something new is the hardest thing, but with the right preparation and planning, we can do it easily.

Do the followings:

1. Before doing anything sit down and think why you want to start your business. Who is your target audience and what problem are you going to solve for you client?
2. Have a robust business plan for your salon. With the help of a business plan, you can create a roadmap and understand how you will move further with it. Include important factors while creating your salon business plan: your available funds, monthly charges for rent and other expenses, products to use, target customers, and how to reach them.
3. The next part is your location. Don’t start it in your house because it is convenient. Find location where people will be able to see your Salon, like in a market place or anywhere there is good foot fall. It should also have a good parking arrangement as well.

4. If you are going to run the Salon alone then you will be stuck. So, I suggest you have at least one assistant who will run the Salon when you are unable to attend.
5. One of the most important features of having a profitable business is that you need a constant supply of new clients. You must look at marketing as a expense but an investment in your business. You must have a good marketing plan and good plan to retain your clients because at any given point of time 20% of your clients leave you.
6. Always have an exit plan. How much money do you want to retire with? It is a must because if that is in place we know the road we are taking and follow the path.

The modern salon industry offers considerable opportunity to generate real wealth for Women and Investors. The idea is to develop your business on the talents of your team and not depend on one person.

-Ratna Kulkarni, Profitability Coach for Salon and Spa Owners

The post ‘Beauty Salon: A Profitable Business for Women’ By Ratna Kulkarni – Profitability Coach for Salon and Spa Owners appeared first on The Pink Journey.