Last week I interviewed Dee Poku, a woman who has multiple businesses oriented around the theme of helping and empowering women. Dee is a kinetic ball of energy who tirelessly and successfully brings women together on so many levels, I am constantly in awe. I cannot wait to share her story (which is coming next month before one of her projects launches). But one thing she said to me last week keeps playing over in my mind, and I didn’t want to wait to share.
I asked her what has she found to be the best way women entrepreneurs can help other women. Her answer? To ask more often. Ask for help. Ask for advice. Ask for a ten minute coffee. Ask for favors. Ask for funding. She believes, and I think she’s right, that women don’t ask often enough. Whether you’re asking for something from a peer or someone you look up to, the worst that can happen is you get a ‘no’. And to not take ‘nos’ personally and move on and ask the next. More often than not, you might be surprised. I believe The Flair Index is only as good as the women I ask who agree to share their stories on my site. Because I want to start implementing other ideas I have to grow TFI in different ways (stay tuned!), I am getting better at uncomfortable asks. There have been a few times where I’ve gotten the silent treatment. But I have had many more overwhelmingly positive responses that have opened doors I didn’t know I could walk through. I believe the majority of women want to help other women. But it’s hard to get help if no one knows you are looking for it. And if you ever feel as if you’re asking for too much too often, your time to give back will come. I have a few big asks I’m working on. What are you asking for?
image courtesy Vanity Fair
I am so happy you wrote this. As someone who recently started a handbag line I have had to ask a lot. It is definitively something I am not comfortable with but knowing others feel this way makes me feel a little
better.