Onyinyechi Anne Udoh's Blog

It’s important to look critically at your business idea when determining if it is worth investing your time and money. A feasibility study covering a particular aspect of business can help to reveal if your idea has a good chance of success.

These include:

Market feasibility
Commercial feasibility
Other considerations

Your feasibility study should include an assessment of the market and commercial viability.

Market Feasibility

You need to have a clear idea of the market in which you will be operating your business. Your market feasibility should cover the following:

What is the demand for your products or services?

What type of customers will buy your products or services?

The number of potential customers, who they are and their location.

Why will your products or services appeal to potential customers?

How do you intend to sell your products or services?

Who are your competitors?

Do your products or services fill a need not already met by your competition?

How do your products or services rate in terms of price and quality compared to your competitors?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of your main competitors?

What is your unique selling proposition?

Are there any barriers to entering the market?

Commercial Feasibility

Once you have determined that there is a market for your products or services you need to consider the financial requirements to make it viable. Your commercial feasibility should cover the following:

How much money do you need to make to meet your living expenses?

How long do you expect to be in business before you make your first sale?

How much money do you need to start up?

How do you intend to fund the business during the start up phase?

Estimate your fixed and variable costs.

What price would your customers pay for your products and services?

What is your sales forecast?

What is your breakeven point?

How long will it take to reach breakeven sales volume?

How much working capital will you need to sustain operations?

Return on investment

Cash flow analysis

Other Considerations

You should also consider the following as part of your feasibility:

Are there any regulatory requirements you must satisfy?

Do you need to obtain protection for your intellectual property?

What factors could potentially delay your business?

Do you have the required skills to get the product or service to market?

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If you are feeling challenged by what is going on in your life right now, it might sound a ridiculous suggestion that the present moment is the answer to feeling happier. Paying attention to the present moment – carefully noticing what is happening not just around you but also within you, in the form of your thoughts and emotions –  has become a practical tool for lowering stress and increasing productivity.

Ever walk to a destination only to ‘come to’ when you get there, not having noticed any of the journey?  This is the way we tend to lead our lives, so caught up with worries about the future and judgements on the past that we cannot even notice what is passing us by.

Here are ways in which present moment awareness can help your moods:

It Gives You The Power To Change Your Thoughts

Without present moment awareness it’s very easy to walk around not knowing what you really think or feel about things, or convincing yourself you think and feel like those around you you want to impress (sometimes called codependency). Of course you can’t change what you don’t know or understand. Bringing awareness to how you really think and feel, while potentially overwhelming at first, ultimately gives you the power to then choose to change those thoughts and feelings.

It can help you see good things you were missing

Often we are so distracted that we miss the good things going on around us or happening to us. We might not notice someone smiling at us, or that our gardens have flowered, or that our children have learned something new. Awareness of these little things can bring flashes of happiness, and these little moments can add up to a persistent better mood.

Your Relationships Can Improve

Being in the present moment doesn’t just make you available to your own thoughts and feelings, it means you notice those of others around you too. You aren’t busy thinking of your work project as they talk to you, or what they said or did a year ago, but are more capable of listening and understanding. This means you can connect better, develop greater intimacy, and even have a better sex life (you won’t be thinking about tomorrow’s shopping). Good relationships make us feel more supported and confident – it’s harder to feel in a bad mood when we feel accepted and loved.

Your Confidence Grows

When we learn to notice the present moment, we learn how we really think and feel. And knowing what our own thoughts and emotions are brings with it a confidence in who we are and what we want. As for big projects at work, if you are in the present moment you are more likely to put one foot in front of the other and get things done, as opposed to being so panicked worried about the future outcome of the project you lose your self-esteem or procrastinate and fulfill your own self-defeating prophecy.

You Become Less Over reactive

This one isn’t instant. But reacting strongly all the time is usually because we are not paying attention to what is happening, until we suddenly sense a peripheral danger (something that might hurt us emotionally) and overreact as a fail-safe. When we are in the present moment we are more likely to see situations clearly and be able to think through whether something really is a threat or not.

You Tend To Be More Physically Relaxed

Present moment awareness includes paying attention to how our bodies feel, and this means you will notice things like muscle tension when it begins and choose to relax or otherwise deal with it, not only paying attention when you suddenly throw your back out. Another benefit of present moment awareness is that anxious habits like nail biting and skin picking tend to abate.

You Can Spot Stress Earlier And Choose To Deal With It

The funny thing about stress is how easy it is to deny it – until we are so stressed we are panicking or a mess. But if you develop your present moment awareness you are more likely to spot exactly when the stress starts, and be able to choose to deal with it effectively before it takes over.

Conclusively, It’s recommended to have a time set aside each day to practice mindfulness. Even just ten minutes daily is thought to go a long way to help create the ‘now habit’. See present moment awareness as not an instant fix, but as a good long-term plan for better wellbeing.

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Do you regularly feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed at work? You’re not alone. Common causes of work-related stress include excessive workloads, little or no opportunities for career advancement, a lower salary and work that isn’t engaging. Also, not having much control over the decisions made at work and unclear performance expectations also can contribute to stress.

What is the Effect?

Work-related stress typically doesn’t clear up at the end of the workday. If the stress you’re experiencing at work becomes long term, it can take a toll on your health and emotional well-being.

In the short term, a stressful work environment can contribute to problems such as headache, stomachache, sleep disturbances, short temper and difficulty concentrating. Chronic stress can also result in anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.

In extreme cases of stress, depression, obesity and heart disease may occur. Workers who experience excessive stress often deal with it by eating unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking alcohol or abusing drugs.

How Can You Manage/Cope With Work Related Stress?

Keep track of your stressors

Do this by writing them down for a few weeks to help you identify what events caused you to feel stressed at work. Then, write down how you responded to the events, including how you felt in the moment, who was involved and how you reacted. Once you know this information, you can look for patterns among your stressors and anticipate your reactions to them.

Create healthy responses to your stressors

When you’re stressed, do you turn to food or alcohol for comfort? Instead, find a healthier alternative. Exercise can be a great stress reliever, as can reading a book. Also, get plenty of sleep.

Establish boundaries

Do you feel pressure to be “on call” for your work 24/7? If so, create some work-life boundaries, such as not answering your phone during dinner or not checking your email in the evening.

Take time for yourself. Don’t let your vacation days go unused. When possible, take time off to relax and unwind, so you come back to work feeling reinvigorated and ready to perform at your best.

Practice relaxing

Learn a new technique to relax, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises or mindfulness.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or are coming out of a tense meeting and need to clear your head, a few minutes of deep breathing will restore balance. Simply inhale for five seconds, hold and exhale in equal counts through the nose.

Reach out to your supervisor or manager

Explain that you’ve been feeling stressed out. The purpose of this isn’t to lay out a list of complaints, but rather to come up with an effective plan for managing the stressors you’ve identified, so you can perform at your best on the job.

Get support

Does your workplace have an employee assistance program? If so, utilize it and get help. If you still feel overwhelmed after trying these options, you may need to speak to a psychologist.

Schedule Your Day For Energy And Focus

Most of us go through the day using a “push, push, push” approach, thinking if we work the full eight to 10 hours, we’ll get more done. Instead, productivity goes down, stress levels go up and you have very little energy left over for your family.

Finally, eating badly will stress your system. You should eat a low-sugar food and high-protein diet. And when you’re not sleeping well, you’re not getting the rejuvenating effects. If racing thoughts keep you from falling asleep or you wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep, I suggest you cover your right nostril and breathe through your left for three to five minutes.

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What can a mom do to do help her kid stay focused on one thing at a time when so much of her young life is spent multitasking and getting pulled in 83 directions?

What’s most important for parents to understand is that helping your child increase his or her level of focus and attention is not about fixing it in the moment, but rather approaching it as a process that can be mastered.

Exercising The Body Means Exercising That Focus

The mind-body connection is true for attention spans. Lack of physical activity in early childhood is actually the biggest single problem that will hurt the growth and development of the brain. Getting children to move is the most important thing of all that a parent can do.

Doing exercises that improve the timing and synchronization of muscles is good for all kids and will help improve their concentration, social development, and intelligence.

You Are (And Your Attention Span Is) What You Eat

We strive to give our kids the healthiest meals to grow those little bodies, but their diet also directly affects how they focus throughout the day.

Kids have a natural affinity for sweets and carbs. Do not let your child start the day with a breakfast of sugary cereal or a nutrition bar. A high protein breakfast of eggs, sausage, fish, or Greek yogurt is necessary.

Turn off the electronics to turn on that focus

It may be obvious, but limiting screen time is one of the best ways you can help your child increase her attention span. The technology that our children use on a regular basis, such as video games, smartphones, tablets, and computers, condition us for immediate results.

Limit use of electronics by setting aside family time for a family meeting, or have a family book reading time where all members of the family will quietly read for a period of time, preferably in the same room.

Use Play To Bolster Attention Span

Letting your kid be a kid and run around outside, or just goof around (think riding their bikes or climbing trees) allows them to build important brain functions. Playing with other children, and communicating with others are the best ways for kids to build their IQ.

Pick Focus-Strengthening Activities And Games

Reading a book is a great activity to increase your child’s focus, as are crossword and picture puzzles – anything that forces children to search for details and unusual patterns and cues. Memory and concentration games, where you remember certain pictures, patterns, and where objects are located, are great memory games for tots.

Relaxation And Positive Imagery Games Are Helpful

Reading a book is a great activity to increase your child’s focus, as are crossword and picture puzzles – anything that forces children to search for details and unusual patterns and cues. Memory and concentration games, where you remember certain pictures, patterns, and where objects are located, are great memory games for tots too.

Have your child close their eyes and describe a fun place and provide details about what they ‘see.’ You can also let them look at a favorite book or picture, close their eyes, and describe it to you.

Sleep Is A Wonder Pill For Attention Spans

Having your child get enough sleep is one of the most important ways you can help him/her focus. To help your child’s attention span, try having your child get 30 minutes more sleep a night and see if it helps.

Limit The Time Required To Focus

When it comes to homework and school, a child’s focus may be disrupted because they may think certain things are too hard, or they need more specific instructions and strategies. When doing homework, some children work best if they know that the time to pay attention is limited. Set an egg timer, and help the child learn to expand the amount of time they can pay attention. Start with two or three or four minutes, whatever they can tolerate, and work up from there.

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Many managers are finding it more and more difficult to continue motivating employees – especially with many employee perks being cut out to lower costs. As a manager, what can you do to keep employees motivated, even when times are tough? Try these 5 tips:

Act as a role model and help inspire employees to identify what they are passionate about at work; then provide them with some projects in their area of passion or interest – a happy employee is a motivated employee!

 

Clearly define the organization’s vision, mission and strategy as well as the goals and objectives of each employee (and include your employees in the crafting of things). Make sure everyone on your team understands the key role they play in contributing to the success of the department. Ensure each employee is in alignment toward the overall strategy so your group can work as a team and help each other out. Positive team energy will help motivate everyone.

 

Empower your employees to succeed and delegate challenging and meaningful work – in general, people want to succeed and they want to continue learning and growing, so provide them with opportunities.

 

Work with each employee to create their own personal development plan. Then, provide them with coaching and mentoring and help them increase their skills and their sense of competence and accomplishment.

 

Monitor the progress of your employees towards accomplishing their goals and objectives – then provide rewards to reinforce positive behavior, increase their sense of progress and keep them motivated. This can include recognition in front of peers and other rewards that don’t cost a lot of money but are meaningful to the person.

 

Stay connected. Frequently keep in touch with your employees. Thanks to the proliferation of email, texting, social media, and apps like Slack communication has never been easier.

Staying connected with your team allows you to offer training and tips that can improve their work. It also lets you share relevant and timely information like the latest updates on the business. Just don’t cross the line by communicating with them 24/7.

 

Offer flexibility. Offering flexible work schedules allows your employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This is because it allows them to meet family needs, personal obligations, and life responsibilities. Additionally, it lets them avoid commuting to work, reduces stress, and gives them a chance to work when they’re most productive.

 

Provide perks and privileges. Again, work-life quality is important to employees. When healthy, they’ll work harder and smarter because their workdays are more pleasurable and rewarding. If flexible schedules aren’t working for everyone, then give them a chance to earn work-from-home days.

Besides flexibility, provide preferred parking spots, longer lunches, or the opportunity to spend time on passion projects or tasks they enjoy. Remember, when employees enjoy their work, they’re more productive – and that’s great for your bottom line.

Motivating employees to learn, to grow, to try challenging new assignments, and to work together as a team can be incredibly fulfilling. Seeing the look on someone’s face when they’ve succeeded at something they never thought was possible is a gift itself.

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A business plan is a formal statement of business goals that are attainable, and plans for reaching them. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.

Certain details should be included in a business plan for it to be complete. These include an executive summary, business description, employee section, operations information, marketing strategy and financial statements. But beyond these rigid components, the business plan must also consist of well-researched information that can clearly communicate your business’s strengths and mission.

Here are elements of a business plan

Finance

The business plan’s financial statements should include a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. The information should be accurate and verifiable. In addition to these statements, the financial section should explain your business’s accounting method (accrual or cash) and recording practices.

The business plan must also show how your business will support itself, through its own income and the support of its owners. To complete the financial portions of your business plan, you must ascertain the individual costs of inventory, equipment, payroll, licensing and other overhead costs of the business.

Website

Today’s businesses need a virtual presence in order to compete. Not only is the website a hard-working marketing tool, it is a resource of credibility and answers for your customers. The website can provide nonstop sales and service and capture customers that your business would otherwise be unable to. Modernized business plans provide details on the business’s website. The information should include information about the products and services that will be listed on the site and explain how these transactions will be completed. The website information must also explain how your business will maintain the customer’s privacy, and how you will generate and retain those online customers.

Research

First and foremost, the business should consist of well-researched information. A thoroughly researched business plan does not have to be long and extensive. However, it should provide a detailed review of key aspects of the business, from inventory to marketing. The information should answer the reader’s questions before they arise and settle any concerns.

Marketing

The marketing section of your business plan is actually a plan within the plan. The marketing section captures everything from price points and target markets to advertising and customer retention. Solid marketing plans, again, are well-researched. The information within the marketing section must take a close look at the trends within the industry, as well as the competition. The marketing section explains how your business will counteract competition and take advantage of industry trends.

Considerations

The business plan should always include supporting information in the appendix of the plan. Your supporting information could include bank statements, cost estimates, established contracts, insurance declaration pages and any other document that can prove the information within the plan.

Conclusively, you shouldn’t start your business plan if you have yet to research your business’ industry. Although the research can, at times, be tedious, the findings of your market research will help you to define your businesses potential opportunities, customer market, industry demands and growth trends. A complete marketing plan not only identifies your business’ advertisement methods and product line, it explains how your business will deal with external forces, such as competing business, industry demands and government restrictions.

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Success is the achievement of something you have wanted to achieve. It is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.

Here are 37 quotes that will inspire success in your life and in your business.

“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”

— Jim Rohn

 

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”

— Albert Einstein

 

“Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

— Winston Churchill

 

“Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion.”

— Tony Hsieh

 

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

— Winston Churchill

 

“I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.”

— G. K. Chesterton

 

“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”

— Thomas J. Watson

 

“If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”

– Jim Rohn

 

“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.”

— Anonymous

 

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

— Anonymous

 

“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.”

— Michael John Bobak

 

“People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

— Tony Robbins

 

“Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.”

— Robert Kiyosaki

 

“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”

— Steve Jobs

 

“The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.”

— Barack Obama

 

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

— Helen Keller

 

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

— Walt Disney

 

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”

— Bruce Lee

 

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

— Colin Powell

 

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

— Conrad Hilton

 

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”

— Jim Rohn

 

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure–It is: Try to please everybody.”

— Herbert Bayard Swope

 

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

— Albert Schweitzer

 

“Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do.”

— Unknown

 

“Fall seven times and stand up eight.”

— Japanese Proverb

 

“Some people dream of success while others wake up and work.”

— Unknown

 

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

— Walt Disney

 

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.”

— Unknown

 

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that other throw at him.”

— David Brinkley

 

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

— Bill Cosby

 

“In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.”

— Nikos Kazantzakis

 

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

— Thomas Edison

“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember–the only taste of success some people get is to take a bite out of you.”

— Zig Ziglar

 

“The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well.”

— John D. Rockefeller Jr.

 

“You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.”

— Oprah Winfrey

 

“There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.Thots

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HOW TO KNOW YOUR CHILD IS DEPRESSED?

Depression and mental health challenges are not just for adults. Most people think children are usually carefree and happy; that they don’t suffer depression. 1 in 10 children suffer a mental health condition, and at least 4% of this number suffers anxiety and depression.

Children can be more emotional than adults, and a certain amount of mood swings is part of being a kid. So how can a parent tell if their child is depressed?

Here are signs your child might be going through depression

Your Child Is Exhibiting Emotional Responses That Are Not Usual For Him Or Her

They become more irritable than you’ve seen them? Moping about and not wanting to play with their toys?

Their Moods Are Lasting Much Longer Than Usual Or Are Changing Far Too Quickly

If they were always the sort to have a quick temper tantrum but be fine an hour later, but suddenly seem stroppy for entire afternoons, it can be a sign your child is suffering anxiety or depression. So can incessant rapid changes in mood.

Don’t think that just because your kid isn’t sad he or she isn’t depressed. While adults tend to be down when depressed, children can instead become more frustrated and irritable than usual, perhaps because they don’t have the experience or understanding to describe how they are feeling.

Their Behaviour Doesn’t Seem Connected To Circumstance

If they are sad and weepy but tell you they don’t know why, or if they are angry with a sibling who has depression in children who has done nothing wrong, it might be a red flag. While normal grumpiness relates to an obvious incident, depression and anxiety can cause irrational emotional swings and outbursts that don’t seem based on anything.

Your Child Is Exhibiting Regressed Behaviour

Are they suddenly whining, clinging, or otherwise acting less independent than usual? Are they sucking their thumb again, or even using babytalk? Wetting the bed again for the first time in years?

They Are Using A Depressed Perspective And Phrases Of Doom And Gloom

Children can be dramatic, naturally. But pay attention for changes in what your child talks about. For starters, does it match what is really happening to them? Are they telling you that nobody likes them even when their friends are calling them? Then look for expressions of low confidence, such as ‘I am not good at anything’, or ‘nothing good ever happens to me’. And like adults, kids, too, can have thoughts around death when depressed, saying things like ‘I wish I had never been born’.

Is He/She Exhibiting Regressed Behavior?

Are they suddenly whining, clinging, or otherwise acting less independent than usual? Are they sucking their thumb again, or even using babytalk? Wetting the bed again for the first time in years?

Your Child’s Emotions Are Affecting Their Functioning On A Daily Basis

Have teachers reported changes in their focus or ability? Do they seem uninterested in their hobbies or friends, are they socially withdrawing? Seem oversensitive to rejection? Depression in children, like for adults, often causes one to struggle with things they once enjoyed and to feel oversensitive around others.

In conclusion, signs of depression in children include:

changes in moods and behaviour that are unusual for them
moods that go on far longer than they used to
emotional outbursts with no apparent cause
sharing a depressed viewpoint or dark thoughts they are having
lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed
struggling with day-to-day functioning
not wanting to be around other children

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Most women develop depression at some point of their life. Women are twice as likely to develop the disorder more than men. Although depression can happen at any time in a woman’s life, it is more likely to occur between the ages of 40 and 59.

Normal hormonal changes are responsible for some level of depression in those who suffer from it, but these normal fluctuations are not the only reason for increased levels of the disorder in women.

This page outlines four factors why women are more liable to suffer depression more than men.

Brain Chemistry and Hormones

People who suffer from depression have different brain chemistry than those who do not. A woman’s brain chemistry is also impacted by regular hormonal fluctuations, especially during certain times in her life, like after childbirth or during menopause. The hormonal fluctuations can be so severe during these times that medication is sometimes necessary to normalize brain chemistry and protect against severe depression.

Puberty

When a girl begins puberty, hormonal changes and changes in her body often bring on depression. Body image, peer pressure and a young girl’s general sense of self-esteem can also play a role in whether or not she will develop depression during this time of great change. A teen girl’s general attitude about puberty and the journey to womanhood can also affect how she feels about herself, and these changes can increase or decrease her risk of depression. As this is a time of great change and depression can often take place.

Stress

When a woman’s stress level is high, her risk of depression is also increased. Although stress is common enough in society, women are particularly susceptible to its effects due in part to the other factors previously mentioned. When stress comes from so many demands on a woman’s time from so many places, it can result in extreme fatigue, which makes it easier to slip into depression. Increases in stress over long periods of time can dramatically increase a woman’s risk of depression, including severe (clinical) depression that requires medication, therapy and sometimes hospitalization.

Menstrual Problems

Along with puberty, pregnancy and menopause, many women suffer from menstrual problems. Menstrual issues can begin with puberty and continue throughout a woman’s life until menopause. Heavy bleeding with each period, fibroid tumors, endometriosis and missing periods can cause extreme fatigue, mood swings and a general sense of despair that leads to depression. With the right medical intervention, women with menstrual issues can lead normal, healthy lives. But getting the right diagnosis and treatment can take time, increasing the risk of a woman developing depression.

Symptoms of Depression in Women

Depression can be severe and debilitating for women, but, with the right treatment, women who suffer from it can find relief and hope. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic feelings of sadness and you think it is as a result of depression, then you should look out for this symptoms.

Ongoing feelings of sadness, hopelessness and guilt

Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed

Significant changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping too much

Fatigue or other physical symptoms, like pain, with no apparent cause

Changes in appetite that lead to significant weight gain or loss

Feeling as though life is not worth living or having thoughts of suicide

Depression is a mental illness that can cause extreme feelings of sadness and even thoughts of suicide. Getting appropriate treatment for depression can help you lead a normal and happy life.

Back in the days, entrepreneurship was seen as a profession that should be done for only men. People viewed entrepreneurship as a man’s profession. Presently things have changed, women are now dominating the business industry as most companies and firms out there are been owned and managed by women.

Although most women are going into entrepreneurship, they encounter challenges in the business world unlike men. That is why I have come up with this page in other to enlighten us about most challenges the female entrepreneur faces and how to overcome them.

Acting Contrary to Social Expectations

Most female entrepreneurs can relate to this. You attend a business seminar in which the male folks out numbers the women, and you are supposed to give a speech, most male may not give a listening ear. Especially male CEO’s, they view women as amateurs.

In a situation like this, women begin to feel as though they need to adopt a stereotypically “male” attitude toward business (competitive, aggressive and sometimes overly harsh). But successful female CEOs believe that remaining true to yourself and finding your own voice are the keys to rising above preconceived expectations.

If you are a female entrepreneur, you’ve got to be yourself and believe in who you are. Your present level is as a result of hard work and perseverance so you shouldn’t give it up for anything. You don’t have to agree to a man’s idea of what a good leader should look like or who a good leader should be.

As a female entrepreneur, you shouldn’t think you are too aggressive. You need to be clear and outspoken because whether you are a woman or not your business will fail if you refuse to fight for it.

Lack of Financial Assistance

Most startup founders who go to investors to help get their business off the ground, knows how difficult the pitching process can be. For female entrepreneurs, raising capital is more difficult. This is because investors often look for business that they can benefit from. Women should think about building their confidence and giving investors reasons to invest with them, to do this, think of bringing in experts into your team, investors will have confidence in those people.

Being a Leader in a Male Dominated Industry

As a female entrepreneur, it’s very challenging being a leader in an industry dominated by male. When you are a female and you begin to give directions to male, especially to men much older than you are they may not want to take directions from you. Most men in the business world are more experienced and believe they have the capacity and all it takes to make the business thrive, hence they may not welcome your ideas.

Such men are preventing you from reaching your full potential. To overcome this, you need to join an association or group of women entrepreneurs; a group that encourage and empower women to thrive in entrepreneurship.

Balancing Business and Family Life

Work-life balance is a goal of many entrepreneurs regardless of their gender, but mothers who have businesses have to simultaneously run their families and their companies. And in this area, traditional gender expectations often still prevail.

Being a mother while running a business is very challenging. There are ways to balance your time, but the perception is that you could be more effective running your business if you didn’t have to deal with kids.

Mompreneurs have dual responsibilities to their businesses and to their families, and finding ways to devote time to both is key to truly achieving that elusive work-life balance.

Fear of Failure

The fear of failing is the most concern for most start up female entrepreneurs. Failure is bound to occur in any business. Women shouldn’t see it as a problem or look out for it. It’s better to concentrate on where you are going to, because with massive failure comes massive success.

Every business owner faces failure; to overcome this you need to stop negative self talk, stop worrying about how people will treat you because of your gender, stop comparing yourself to others especially men. The point is if you become successful no one cares whether you are a man or a woman.

Finally, to be a female entrepreneur you need to be strong and hand working. Don’t conform to social standards of entrepreneurship. And as you keep going your business will thrive and your hard work will pay off someday.