Even though U.S. women tend to be higher in terms of capabilities perception, they are still a lot lower than men. What we might be seeing is that women need to work on their confidence and their perceived abilities. Look at the role models we see: Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson – they're all male. Entrepreneurship has to feel accessible to women. There need to be local role models that say to women, I can do this.
I fear failure above almost all else. It makes me work harder and smarter and longer than almost anyone else I know.
I am a woman entrepreneur. I want to be a role model for other women, and that makes me better not only at my business, but as a person. I have role models – either from afar or in the form of close friends – both women and men. What I 'get' from each is different. I need a well-rounded selection of peers and idols to help me be well-rounded.
Here's the rub – I'm not sure I know exactly what I serve as a role model for, just that I have been told that I do from many people. Is it important that I (we) know why we lead or just that we do?
What's your take?
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Women Entrepreneurs Fear Failure More Than Men: Study
(Reuters – By Deborah L. Cohen ) – Babson College and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor recently released the results of a comprehensive 2010 study about women's entrepreneurship around the world. T…
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I believe that when you are passionate about life and helping others through your talents, it sets the perfect example for others. That's a role model — one that lives life to the fullest exemplifying passion, purpose and power. I see those qualities shining through your posts. =)
Fearing failure is probably a bad thing. It makes one chase down blind alleys, and does not make them understand when they should pivot. The fear of failure in some ways holds people back, it makes them risk averse.
You may be working harder and longer, but if a fear of failure underpins it, you may not necessarily be working smarter.
People often learn a great deal more from their failures than they do from their successes. The ability to recognize failure, to recognize when something is not working is key. I think the problem with a fear of failure is often there is some degree of blindness that accompanies it.
I have learned that the ability to pivot is key, to understand when something is not going to work out and to move onto another idea with the insight one obtained from the previous effort. I do not fear failure, it is part of being entrepreneurial. I fear not recognizing failure until it is far to late to effectively change directions.
+Christine Paluch I agree with you, fear of failure is a bad thing, but even worse is how I/we react to failure. It is by far my Achilles heel. I have failed a lot more than succeeded. I hope it's a testament to my 'push the envelope' style – or it's my admittance of ignorance 😉
I'm guilty of watching failures of others and backpedaling like crazy to avoid it myself, but in the meantime I miss opportunities because I'm playing it safe. My fear of falling face first on the pavement exists because I feel I have a lot at stake – my family. Failing at business is failing at providing for my family. This has been the brick wall of my existence the past few weeks. The article was timely for me in that aspect.
Interesting. Maybe a little off topic, but I'm drawing parallells to my observations in music. Since I run a music blog, which presents new Swedish music, i get a fair view of the Swedish music scene, since artists and bands send me their recordings continuously. If I say that one out of ten artists or bands have a female member I'm probably exaggerating, which is quite remarkable.
On an educational level I don't think there's any difference in interest, it could even be the other way around with more women playing music, and on a professional level of successful artists, there are no lack of role models. But what happens in between? There is no obvious reason today why a woman wouldn't pursue a music interest just like young men do and create and record their own work, but still, most of them don't. Probably a complex question, but I'm thinking that unwillingness to take risks is an important factor.
This also deeply resonates with me. Finally, as I approach 40, I'm settling into the belief that not only am I capable, I have been all along, but have singularly allowed doubt to squander my potential. When I think of how many other women are also living small, it pisses me off. What a waste! Not only for ourselves, but for the world.
I think the connotation behind the word failure needs to be removed. Failure, is such a negative word – but in the end, it is actually positive. Failure, is what allows us to find the road to success. Without failure, we have nothing to learn from. It is our mistakes (failure) that allow us to grow, and gain insight into how not to fail. So, maybe it is simply the "meaning" of failure that needs to be touched on. It's much like the trying is not failing statement I use. "Trying is not failing. Failing to try, is failing. To try, and fail, is learning. Keep trying, and sooner or later I believe you will succeed, and overall you will believe it as well."