Brooke Vedder’s 10 Tips for Women Entrepreneurs

As one of the founders of Vedder Holsters, I have learned so much in the 11 years since we opened our digital doors. Starting out, I knew very little about the space we were looking to enter. I didn’t have a fancy degree or a ton of experience. I had no experience in e-commerce. I had never started a business before. But I knew I had drive, and I knew I could work hard.

I am living proof that you don’t have to be the smartest, most experienced, or the most qualified to accomplish your dreams. We are all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. I wish you the absolute best on the road to making your dreams come true, whether those are in business, personal, or somewhere in between.

My Top Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

1. Create a mission and set a purpose. Determine what is important to you and stay true to that. 

2. Prioritize your priorities. You will have to make sacrifices, so without a laser focus, it may be easy to forget why you are doing this in the first place.

3. Believe in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you something is not possible. If you want something bad enough and work hard enough, you can achieve way more than even you believe.

4. Be flexible. Challenges will arrive, and setbacks will happen. Keep trying and be willing to pivot without sacrificing your end goals.

5. Start small, have patience. Rome was not built in a day.

   

6. Be your own biggest cheerleader. Practice positive self-talk. Do not ask everyone’s opinions on your life goals. They are your goals, and many others will not share your vision. Don’t let others plant seeds of doubt.

7. Surround yourself with optimists and people that lift you up. If the people in your circle are not adding to your life (and vice versa) it may be time to find a new circle.

8. Do not compare your progress with the progress or status of others. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. Learn something new, and take steps in the right direction. You are the only thing standing in the way of your dreams.

9. Bring others up as you rise. Not only is it easier when you have awesome people surrounding you, but it’s way more rewarding that way. You can go fast alone, but you can go farther together.

10. Enjoy the ride. Stop and smell the roses once in a while. Don’t be afraid to give yourself a pat on the back. It is easy to focus so much on your evolving end goal that you lose the perspective of how far you’ve already come.