A recent research study by professors at Stanford Graduate School and George Mason University suggests that women who are able to leverage both traditionally male AND traditionally female communication styles are among the most successful businesspeople of all.

This study corroborates Jane Out of the Box research which shows that one group of female entrepreneurs, the group we call Jane Dough, grow the largest overall companies. Jane Doughs are five times more likely to build businesses with revenues of over $1MM than the average female entrepreneur – and in my interviews they often say they “do business like a man.”

By this, they mean they aggressively pursue their goals and communicate their needs very directly. The Stanford research shows that women who have the ability to be aggressive when called for, while also having the ability to show compassion and caring, are our stronger business leaders. Read more in this article by Joseph Conway, writer for BNET who recently interviewed me about this topic.

In a nutshell, a woman’s ability to be adaptable to the situation will serve her well – in business and in life.

A recent article by Danielle Kucera of Bloomberg News demonstrates that female entrepreneurs are bringing a fresh perspective to e-commerce, starting companies that appeal to women by creating email and online experiences that heighten the sense of adventure we sometimes crave while shopping in the real world.

Historically, women have been seriously under-represented in technology entrepreneurship but it appears that in e-commerce at least, the number of female entrepreneurs is on the rise. As these women blaze the trail, creating great online retail concepts like Gilt and Zipcar, they make it more likely that others will follow in their shoes.

Mande has since started her own successful solopreneur business helping other women business owners take the best of these techniques and tweak them to work for women who are interested in building businesses that are truly built on relationships.

She’s invited me to participate in a free tele-summit from June 1-8 where she’s once again recruited some amazing speakers (16 to be exact!) to talk about how to build a sustainable and profitable business online. Other speakers include:

• Cindy Hillsey
• Michele DeKinder-Smith
• Alicia Forest
• Diane Conklin
• Jeanna Pool
• Shelley Ellis
• Donna Gunter
• Jonathan Mizel
• Robert Skrob
• Kate Buck
• Mara Glazer
• Kristina Jaramillo
• Charles, Ethan & Jonathan Denney

You can listen to each of these speakers for free by registering now at:

http://nanacast.com/vp/101681/169123/

I hope you’re able to join me as Mande and I talk about the Janes and she reveals her own Jane type, as well as how she’s happily growing a solo-preneur’s dream business.

Michele

When asked to share why she started her business, Sasha told us about her personal journey: “People who know me best helped me realize that I will always work hard no matter who I work for. I started my business because I realized I wanted to work hard…for me! I chose image consulting after my own realization that it was more important to work with what I have and quit dressing defensively. Once I did that, things started to happen in my career and life. I want huge success for other women because we have a lot more potential than we give ourselves credit for, I want more women and diversity at leadership levels because we’ve earned it!”

Rather than focusing on challenges, Sasha opted to talk about the BEST part about running her business: “The greatest reward has been the amazing network of women I have met. They keep me going, help me get unstuck, inspire me and are my biggest cheerleaders. While I had a lot of acquaintances and professional peers before, I have now met women I can truly call friends.”

After taking the free Which Jane Are You? assessment at www.JaneOutoftheBox.com, Sasha discovered that she is a Tenacity Jane to which she replied: “The description fits me to a tee! A couple of months after starting my business, someone asked me what my back-up plan was. I replied, ‘There is no back-up plan…this is going to happen.’ While it can be hard to recover from hitting a brick wall with an idea or a request, I am someone who will find another way to the other side of the wall. I don’t create a lot of noise about it, but I will do it.”

When asked to share her advice for other Janes, Sasha shared sage advice about surrounding ourselves with positive energy: “One thing I have done is to surround myself with the right people and focus on them. When I am thinking negatively, I’m reacting to something someone else did or said. If it becomes a common thing with a certain individual, I move away from them because it is a waste of time to continually derail myself.”

You can learn more about Sasha and Fabuliss by visiting www.fabuliss.com.

DeKinder-Smith, whose multi-million-dollar businesses and Chudacoff, a very successful business coach with a thriving business, have partnered together to create a mastermind program like no other.  Interested participants are interviewed and placed in groups based on fit and stage of the business.  Educational content and group activities center around each group’s overall business goals, developed after research with over 4,000 women business owners.

Currently groups are being formed for women who may be working too hard and not achieving the financial results they desire, as well as groups for highly successful women business owners who are looking to expand to the next stage of growth using systems, teams, and proven business models.

Interested in learning more?  Get details here:  www.janeoutofthebox.com/janemastermind

There were times in my past when I would have let this experience cause huge upset. I’d feel outraged, offended, or even seek ways to blame myself for what had happened. As my businesses have grown, though, I’ve realized that so little is outside of my control. What I CAN do is create a vision, create goals, take actions toward those goals – and roll with the punches when they come. The decision to take change in stride is critical to maintaining my piece of mind. When I got the news, I quickly said, “We’ll have a great event anyway” and moved on with my plans.

There is a Zen story that goes like this:

Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Maybe,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Maybe,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Maybe,” said the farmer.

Here’s what I’ve seen of life – sometimes what looks like bad luck, actually brings more good than you can imagine. The reverse can also be true. As humans, many of us are very quick to assign meaning to the events in our lives, but doing so sometimes brings more pain than is necessary.

Consider what recently happened to my friend, Karen. She’d been bidding on a large consulting contract and felt she had formed a powerful relationship with the new customer. They’d talked extensively and she knew exactly how to serve this client and she was uniquely qualified to do so. But in the end, the client made a decision to go with Karen’s competitor. During the call, the client said, “I’ve really enjoyed thinking through this project with you, but Company X is just offering so many added features, I feel we really have to go with them to make a responsible decision.”

Karen was devastated. She’d put a lot of hope into this new relationship and saw it as a potential turning point in her business. She questioned herself and her value. Eventually, she mentally moved on, thinking the story was over.

Far from over, however, the client returned four months later, apologetically. All those added features offered by the competitor were “overpromises” that never materialized. Karen got the client back – and more importantly, the client, having had a bad experience, appreciated Karen’s commitment and diligence all the more.

We never know what twist of fate or spot of luck is coming around the next corner, so our best bet is to accept what happens and keep moving forward. If you experience a setback, the worst outcome is to let it stop you, because then you never get a chance to see what’s coming around the next bend.

In my own case, a miracle happened. Watch how fate conspired on our behalf:

1. Dot Ward was attending See Jane Succeed: LIVE! – I didn’t know she was a photographer. Dot didn’t know I’d planned to have a photographer.
2. Valencia Ray was also attending and knew we didn’t have a photographer, but she didn’t know her good friend Dot was coming.
3. Valencia was having problems with internet access and saw Dot at the event and asked to borrow her computer. Somehow the photography issue came up.
4. Dot, who “never” carries her equipment with her had been shooting an event late the evening before and just so happened to have her equipment in her car.
5. After a 3-minute conversation, unbeknownst to me, these two women had their heads together and Dot began taking photos at our event! You can see her amazing work and the fantastic pictures she took on Dot’s website at http://dotwardphotography.com/. Many are on Facebook already as well.

Long story short, I went with the flow, and a miracle happened. As luck would have it, Dot is not only a photographer, but she is a PHOTOGRAPHER! When you visit her website, the first picture you’ll see is one she took of the Obamas. Dig deeper and you’ll see so many celebrities and community leaders she’s photographed, including Oprah, Gayle King, Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name a few. And now the beautiful ladies (and one gentleman) of See Jane Succeed: LIVE! are right there on her site among them.

Every day, life events occur that we can experience as roadblocks. Or we can simply accept them for what they are and determinedly keep moving forward, trusting the universe to take care of the details. Check in on your own history and see if it’s true – that the times you kept moving toward your dreams, even when circumstances didn’t seem to be going your way … those were times when miracles showed up. Gifts come from unexpected directions, but they do come, if you allow and if you receive.

My thanks go out to Valencia for making the connection and especially to Dot, for her amazing generosity of spirit and the gift of her time and talent in helping us create a beautiful archive of the event. Dot, thank you for being one of my miracles!

When asked to share why she started her businesses, Sylvia replied: “In 2000, I launched my first business: a commercial cleaning service in San Diego, CA and I feel that starting a business was the best decision I could have made professionally.” Because she was a small business owner, Sylvia received a unique opportunity which led her on a path to her current businesses: “In 2004, I was invited to be a SCORE counselor to advise and assist people with starting and growing their businesses. It was then that I realized that this counseling others was my true passion. I was recruited, hired and currently work as Project Director and Business Consultant for the Women’s Business Center in southern Alabama. I decided last year to start Browder Consulting Group to further help women business owners. I love being able to virtually work with clients all over the US.”

In addition to The Browder Group, Sylvia recruited 10 expert women entrepreneurs who provide professional services in core areas to members of her organization National Association of Women on the Rise: “NAWR is proactive in its approach and we focus our initiatives around “five pillars”:  beauty, financial wealth, health and wellness, spirituality and entrepreneurship. The mission of NAWR is to provide professional and personal resources while uplifting and empowering women entrepreneurs through collaboration, education, mentoring, spiritual and peer support, leadership and networking.”

Sylvia’s favorite part about being a business owner is: “Both of my businesses are designed so that I am able to run them no matter where I am – I am not confined to brick and mortar! I can be in Hawaii on the beach and still provide services to my clients and members. I absolutely love the Internet, social networking and all the tools available that enable people to run a thriving business without being confined to a location.”

Sylvia continued: “To be a business owner is having the freedom and flexibility to choose your working hours and design your idea company. This means moving your business in any direction you see fit or working on projects you’ve always wanted to do.

“I am extremely passionate about both of my business as it allows me to connect and provide resources to women which allow them to create balance in their lives.”

Regarding challenges as a business owner, Sylvia had this to share: “My greatest challenge is trusting myself as an entrepreneur to build a stable business foundation to be able to work full time as a business owner. That way, I can invest fully in my passion work and not divide my time with working as an employee.”

After taking the free Which Jane Are You? assessment at www.JaneOutoftheBox.com, Sylvia discovered that she is a Jane Dough: “I had the pleasure of meeting Michele DeKinder-Smith at the NAWBO Conference in DC last year. After chatting for a few minutes, Michele revealed to me that my personality type was ‘Jane Dough.’ I read her book, See Jane Succeed: Five Types of Female Entrepreneurs Reveal What it Takes to Win in Business and in Life‘ from cover to cover on my flight back home and then took the assessment.  Michele was correct in her observation of me as I am a Jane Dough!”

Sylvia agrees with the assessment and describes herself in the following way: “It is important for me that I build my businesses where I leverage the expertise of others and create win-win partnerships. I am also big on streamlining processes and creating ways to balance work and life. I take the time to create systems that help me manage market and run my business even when I am sleeping, on vacation or just away from my virtual office. I am in touch with potential clients or members 24/7.”

When asked to share her advice for other Janes, Sylvia shared: “A few important nuggets that I share with my clients, mentees, members in my association or other women in business is to collaborate with other women in business for support, encouragement and best practices; connect with women you admire for mentorship and above all else, pay it forward. There is power in unity!”

You can learn more about Sylvia by following her blog www.sylviabrowder.com, and visiting www.nawomenrise.com

“I started my business on February 1, 2009 after my best friend looked at me and said:  “With the amount of makeup you have bought from me you could have bought your starter kit for $100.00+ and received all of your supplies for half price!” I talked to my husband and he thought it would be a great idea.”

Nancy serves women in her community not only with product orders, but also by educating them about healthy skin care and body image: “My business serves women although we carry a men’s line too! I will meet women at their home, my home or at our Mary Kay training center. I teach my clients how to properly take care of their skin based on their skin type. I also teach my clients how to apply makeup based on facial features (eye color, face shape) and how to choose the proper foundation color based on their skin color.”

Nancy says that her favorite part of being a business owner is the flexibility, meeting new people, and in particular meeting, helping and spending time with other women. Regarding challenges associated with running a business, Nancy had this to share: “I’m very shy so it takes a lot of self affirmations to get me going and once I start I feel so much better.”

After taking the free Which Jane Are You? assessment at www.JaneOutoftheBox.com, Nancy discovered that she is a Merry Jane. Nancy agrees that she is a Merry Jane and loves it: “I love that I am able to spend time with my family without worrying about my business.” Nancy also feels that she is able to give her clients the best service possible because she only works at times that she feels her best. With this in mind, Nancy has this to share with her fellow Merry Janes: “Always strive to be organized and make sure that you take time for yourself in your life.” We feel this is sound advice for ALL of our Janes!

You can learn more about Nancy and her Mary Kay business by visiting www.marykay.com/nkucmierz.

When I first started researching the concept of being stuck, I was lead by one burning question, “Why do people get stuck?” The more I fed my curiosity, the more a bigger, more pronounced question seemed both obvious and intriguing. As I studied the dynamics of behavior and the concept of “human will”, the sheer force of a person’s mental connection with self, the more I realized that the newly emerged question was actually, “Why is it that in the moment of stuck, some people breakthrough while others breakdown?” Admittedly, I was caught off-guard by both the question and the answer, but equally fascinated about where these questions, and ultimately its answers would lead me.

In order to get to the heart of what’s getting you stuck, let’s get on the same page of perspective. For example, understanding thoughts and feelings is paramount to understanding beliefs and truths. It’s as simple as this:

What you think drives how you feel. How you feel drives what you believe. What you believe drives your truths.

When you get stuck, it generally means that you are holding onto a false truth that is keeping you from seeing the absolute truth that exists in order to take forward-moving action. In fact, most people get stuck because they are unable to discern the difference between what they think and how they feel. To illustrate how to get unstuck, I’ll use a concept that I call “views”.

What you think drives how you feel. This is your 30,000 foot view.

Look at your life (or business, depending on which area you are experiencing “stuck” in) from a 30,000 foot view. Think of it as an aerial shot representing all that is going on in your life or business. What do you see at 30,000 feet? What do you think about what you see in your life (or business) at 30,000 feet? You should see a lot of images, but nothing with any detail. This is the big picture view that you need in order to regain your sense of clarity. This is actually your highest level of thinking.

How you feel drives what you believe. This is your 3,000 foot view.

When you look at your life (or business) from a 3,000 foot view, there’s a lot more detail isn’t there? You’re just high enough to see the details of your life (or business) but not quite high enough to get the full panoramic view to appreciate the landscape. You’re so close it seems like you can touch it all. Being that close is intense, that’s why this “view” represents your feelings. How do you feel about what you see at this view?

What you believe drives your truths. This is your 3-foot view.

At 3 feet, the view is limited isn’t it? At this view, you lack both the aerial advantage and the tactical advantage in the previous views. Beliefs are just like that. Beliefs are limited by the obstructive landscape where everything is a blur. You only know what’s right in front of you and have no real concept of what else exists. From this view you must guide yourself through the terrain of living and working believing only what’s right in front of you. Is it possible that there are other truths that exist outside of your view? What beliefs are you holding onto that could be driving false truths in your life and business?

Learning how to unstuck yourself requires both a desire to do so and the courage to believe something different. By using the concept of “views” whenever you get stuck, you’ll quickly realize that your life and business can only be as brilliant as you allow yourself to be.

Cadi launched her business with a health and wellness focus about a year ago: “I started my business to create the life I wanted. I wanted to have flexibility, work less, work specifically in my areas of interest and have time with my young family.”

When we asked Cadi what her favorite part of running her own business is she shared a couple of reasons: “I love the flexibility and wide range of people that I get to work with and of course being my own boss!”

Regarding challenges in her business, Cadi shared a bit of her journey as a business owner: “I started as a general Virtual Assistant and while working through my first year realized that I needed to tap into my passion for the Spa, Health & Wellness Industry not to mention my 10 years of experience in the industry.” Cadi went on to share that focus is what has allowed her to successfully shift into a niche for which she has true passion.

After taking the free Which Jane Are You? assessment at www.JaneOutoftheBox.com, Cadi discovered that she is a Go Jane Go. While Cadi shared that would love a little more Jane Dough-ness in her life from time to time, she enjoys being a Go Jane Go: “I really just “go” for everything in all areas of my life!” Cadi acknowledges that being a Go Jane Go puts her (and her fellow Go’s) at risk of taking on too much and not always making time for self care. She recommends scheduling all personal and professional commitments as much as possible to ensure everything gets taken care of on time.

You can learn more about Cadi and her consulting company by visiting www.cadijordan.com