It’s no secret that COVID-19 has upended our sense of normalcy. Now more than ever we need coping mechanisms that can help carry us through to the finish line. The silver lining is that there is no need for us to go at it alone. Female entrepreneurs have been paving the way for decades and five boss ladies share useful tips on getting through the hard times.
Gail Federici – Serial Entrepreneur, Launched John Freida and Founder of Color Wow
Gail Federici didn’t hesitate when she moved her family to London for work. She knows good things come with a price and she’s not one to shy away from hard work. Her ethic has paid off, one of Federici’s inventions, Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, sells 2.1 units every minute. It acquired a cult-like following counting Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Blake Lively as fans. After that endeavor with John Freida she went on to found a few more brands. Most recently, her brand Color WOW has received over 40 beauty awards since its inception just a few short years ago.
Federici’s advice for staying afloat during hard times is actually counterintuitive. Instead of looking for a quick exit, she leans in. As crazy as it may sound, she admits to functioning better when the going gets tough. “It brings out the fighter in me,” she confesses. She attributes hard times to helping her avoid complacency.
Take a tip from this entrepreneur and instead of ruminating or looking for a way out, reframe the issue at hand. If you frame your current problem as a challenge, you will certainly experience growth. Find lessons in every hard chapter, this will guarantee you thrive under uncertain circumstances.
Nikki Nelms- Guru Behind Zoe Kravitz’ Amazing Mane
If you’ve ever watched an Oscars or awards show red carpet, chances are you’ve admired Nikki Nelms’ handiwork. The hair guru was born with an entrepreneurial spirit. In her home state of Florida, she would barter class time for hairstyles with her teachers. Traveling the world with the likes of Zoe Kravitz and Janelle Monae is no easy feat, but Nikki Nelms has a foolproof way of keeping her cool when the going gets tough.
Her top tip to keep cool amidst hard times? “I pray,” she humbly admits. She also gets on the phone with her grandmother or another one of her mentors to talk it out.
Keeping connected with those you trust and love is of utmost importance during hard times like this pandemic. Make your check-ins with these important people in your life systematic and pencil in phone or video chats.
Cassandra Thurswell – Founder of Global Accessories Brand Kitsch
Going from making 15,000 hair ties on your apartment floor to accessorizing Kylie Jenner, Kerry Washington, and Ariana Grande is no easy feat. Cassandra Thurswell knows that building a global company requires grit and she has that in spades.
It’s not all sunshine and roses for this entrepreneur but she has a few tricks up her sleeve when times are less than ideal. She doesn’t internalize challenges and hardships as cues to slow down or stop. Instead, she perceives them as opportunities for change. She welcomes challenges with an open heart and a realization that current obstacles are a way of acquiring strength. Thurswell also sees hard moments as educational.
When finding yourself in hard predicaments, ask yourself why type of lesson can be learned from your current situation. Make a list of character attributes you are sharpening as you go through your plight and refer back to that list constantly. This will help you find a silver lining during your darkest hours.