The Old Girls' Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man's World PDF
Preview The Old Girls' Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man's World
THE OLD GIRLS' NETWORK This page intentionally left blank THE OLD GIRLS' N E T W O RK Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man's World Sharon Whiteley Kathy Elliott Connie Duckworth A Member of the Perseus Books Group New York Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Basic Books was aware of a trademark claim, those designations have been printed with initial capital letters. Copyright 2003 © by Sharon Whiteley, Kathy Elliott, and Connie Duckworth All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The old girls' network : insider advice for women building businesses in a man's world / Sharon Whiteley . . . [et al.]. p. cm. ISBN 0-7382-0806-X 1. Women-owned business enterprises. 2. Businesswomen. I. Whiteley, Sharon. HD2341.O426 2003 658.4'21'082—dc21 2003011635 Basic Books is a member of the Perseus Books Group Text design by Brent Wilcox Set in 11-point Sabon Visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.perseusbooks.com Basic books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, or call (617) 252-5298. To our families and dear friends whose love and unconditional support helps fuel our passions in life: to Richard for your unconditional love and support, to Sheila my mirror and Terry and Henry for my life. —SHARON to Ann, my mother Peg, Margaret, Mary and Bob. —KATHY to my girls, Elizabeth and Caroline, and my boys, Andrew, William, and Tom. —CONNIE This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS 1 A Business of One's Own Setting the Stage 1 2 Passion Turning What You Love Into a Real Business 9 3 Vision Bringing Your Idea Into the World 21 4 Pioneering Spirit Discovering New Frontiers 43 5 Tenacity Passion's Bulldog 59 6 Raising Capital Translating Your Vision Into Dollars and Sense 79 7 Focus, Feedback, and Flexibility Jill Be Nimble, Jill Be Quick 113 8 Leadership Lessons People Build Companies 133 vii viii CONTENTS 9 Life After the Survival Stage Managing Onward 151 Acknowledgments 171 Tool Kit 173 Resource Guide 231 Meet the Entrepreneurs 233 Index 239 A Business of One's Own SETTING THE STAGE A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things. Admiral Grace Hooper I t was called the "Breakfast for Champions," the annual fundraiser to benefit the Commonwealth Institute, a non-profit organization that helps women develop entrepreneurial skills and expertise. On this particular June morning in 2001, more than 1,000 women gathered in the grand ballroom of Boston's Fairmont Copley Hotel to network and to honor women entrepreneurs. Virtually the entire "who's who" of the women's business community was there, as well as investors, lawyers, and others who work with and support women-led businesses. And there was a contingent of aspiring entrepreneurs, eager to make new contacts and expand their networks or to meet potential in- vestors for their enterprises. As the program ended, people left their tables and collected in loose, swirling groups: greeting old friends, making new ones. We were just getting up from our table. Individually, we each have successful track records as top executives working in fi- 1
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