As a child, do you remember reading the story of the tortoise and the hare? A tortoise and hare decide to have a race, an unmatched competitive duo on the face of it. As the hare speeds out of the starting blocks so confident in his lead, he decides to take a nap along the route whilst the tortoise keeps going at his own pace, eventually crossing the line before the hare. The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race. I was thinking about this story in the context of women’s entrepreneurship and musing over some of the key factors that lead to women building successful businesses steadily over time. While their male entrepreneur counterparts are likely to take greater risks to grow their businesses quickly and then find a quick exit route, women typically aim for controlled growth for the long game and avoid taking gambles. This ultimately leads to them building sustainable businesses that go the distance. It’s something to think about the next time someone asks you why you are building your business at a slower and more measured pace.
Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie