Inc. and Fast Company want to hear from female entrepreneurs for their 2019 survey on the State of Women and Entrepreneurship. Last year 279 female founders shared their experiences and opinions about financing, business culture, identity, politics, personal sacrifices, and more. And the results of the joint survey revealed some surprising findings. The results of the new 2019 survey will be featured in the October print issues of both magazines, as well as appearing online, and participants can...

A great mentoring relationship is a two-way street, with benefits for those doing the mentoring as well as those being mentored. Being able to learn from someone who has the experience they've yet to acquire can save first-time entrepreneurs a lot of time, stress and money. And having a great business mentor who understands the challenges can have a significant impact on their success. While becoming a mentor requires time and effort, the rewards will be reflected in your own business and charac...

  Failure is an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey and even the most successful entrepreneurs experience failure at some point. While having a positive attitude towards failure is a good indicator of future success, the advice we often hear about embracing failure can be counterproductive as it conflicts with our natural, emotional response. Here, Gwen Moran shares some top tips from executive coaches and leadership experts on the steps you can take to manage your emot...

The secret to success is to set the right goals. And to set the right goals you need to pursue the right definition of success. In a society that glamorizes wealth and power, it's easy to lose sight of your true mission as an entrepreneur. "For years, my only metric of success was building a billion-dollar company. Now, I realize that was a terrible goal," says founder Sahil Lavingia. Here, he shares how redefining his definition of success and realigning his goals helped him salvage his failing...

The greatest opportunities in life come from taking risks. Not all risks will pay off yet allowing fear to keep you in your comfort zone rather than embracing risk as an opportunity to succeed means you're probably sabotaging your best chances of success. Here, Amy Vetter shares three TED talks that explore risk taking and how celebrating failure, accepting rejection, and gaining the confidence to take on bigger and bolder risks will help you "seize opportunities when they arise and perhaps...

Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles to success and to overcome your fear, you need to change how you perceive failure. What one person considers a crushing defeat, another sees as a minor setback and a learning opportunity. "The chips aren't always going to fall where you want them to — but if you understand that reality going in, you can be prepared to wring the most value out of the experience, no matter the outcome," writes executive career transition coach Susan Peppercorn. ...

Becoming an entrepreneur is less of a risk than women might think. Our commitment to meeting our responsibilities at home and at work—and a tendency to put the needs of others first—may account, at least in part, for why there are fewer female than male entrepreneurs. Yet our strong sense of values and commitment to honoring "any promise we make or goal we set" are also the "marks of the best entrepreneurs." And rather than letting them hold us back, we should embrace these traits and make them ...

Starting your own business can be a daunting prospect and you need to carefully weigh up the pros and cons, especially if it means having to give up the security of regular employment and a steady income. People start businesses for a variety of reasons. You may have an idea for a product or service that will help solve a problem or a passion you want to turn into a thriving business. Or maybe you just want to be your own boss. Starting a business isn't the right move for everyone however. To he...

Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone. It often involves a lot of hard work, long hours, multiple roles and responsibilities, and making decisions on a daily basis that may have important consequences for the business. And the uncertainty, frustration and stress that come with it can be emotionally draining. However, you can avoid burning out "by approaching entrepreneurship realistically," writes Jaime Faulkner. In this blog post, Faulkner explores some of the factors that contribute to burnout a...

While starting a business may be the toughest challenge you'll ever face, it can also be the most exciting and rewarding. A lot of myths and misconceptions have grown up around entrepreneurship, however. So before investing "time and money in an idea based on what you think you know, it's wise to get a clear idea of what to expect," writes Casey Kelly-Barton. In this blog post, she debunks some of the most common myths to set the record straight about entrepreneurship and "arm you with realistic...