All you need to succeed: Rhonda Abrams speaks on why she supports female entrepreneurs and what start- ups must do to be successful
By Kelly Dolan I
recently met USA Today Columnist Rhonda Abrams at the DWEN conference in India and sat down with the entrepreneur, author and consultant to discuss her understanding of the challenges SME’s face, as well as why she gives her full support to female entrepreneurs.
After reading your column and having a look at some of your books I have noticed that you have a very positive approach and I think us Brits are guilty of being pessimistic in terms of setting up a business. How can there be a change of attitude?
It happens in the US as well, and with entrepreneurs there tends to be two extremes. There is the camp who think they’re going to get rich quick and then there’s the really pessimistic bunch who believe in stats like ‘50% of businesses fail’ and that you’ll work 125 hours a week and won’t make enough to survive on. I’ve been talking to entrepreneurs for 20 years and my approach is to be ‘positively realistic.’ What that means is we are reality based on what the challenges are and there are challenges, but there is the opportunity to succeed, and to fail, as well as fail and succeed again. I think the issue is how do you tell the true story, that’s it challenging but its possible? That’s the message I try to give out, as well as giving entrepreneurs the tools to be the success story.
How does Dell supporting female entrepreneurs tie into your philosophy?
One thing I’ve realised about many female entrepreneurs is that they want to feel that their product or service is
44 entrepreneurcountry Rhonda and I at the DWEN conference in Idia
intrinsically satisfying. I also think women can be more willing than men to challenge their ability to succeed. It comes down to the fact that in our society women have had to be better to succeed at the same level as men. I also appreciate that there can be a few more work/life balancing issues with women than there is with men, especially when you’re starting your own businesses and your income isn’t secure.
I’ve been talking to entrepreneurs for 20 years and my approach is to be positively realistic
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