The 21 habits highly successful women entrepreneurs practice

Share with friends

I’ve come across a tonne of kick ass, super smart, authentic women over the years who rock their world on their own terms and take no bullshit from anyone. It’s these women I admire, the ones who are creating lives they love, being authentic, not buying into the bull of ladders and ceilings. It’s women like this who are showing up day in day out as themselves. Ready to kick butt and make their lives their own 🧡

It’s this journey that has taught me a whole heap about myself and about which habits are meaningful to me and which ones work.

Disclaimer: This post contains links, that if clicked, and you make a purchase, or start a trial, I may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I 🧡

There is a certain mindset that creates successful entrepreneurs and this mindset starts with a set of mainstay habits. Whatever success looks like to you!

Habits that are ingrained. Habits that are automatic in your daily routine.

Remember that success needn’t be the fancy house, the expensive car, or the well behaved kids! It’s a personal thing. Success means different things to different people. A peaceful, calm life, a content family environment, a second home to spend time with family, great mental health and time to enjoy the things you love are all excellent measures of success.

These 21 habits have shaped how I lead my life as a successful woman entrepreneur. They keep me sane and grounded!

21 Habits of highly successful entrepreneurs

• #1 Creating more than you consume
• #2 Being consistent
• #3 Allowing yourself to move on from feelings
• #4 Figuring out your gift or purpose and sharing it
• #5 Letting go of perfectionism
• #6 Learning a breathing technique, or two
• #7 Investing in your future
• #8 Practicing patience
• #9 Sleeping in, and letting others do the same
• #10 Being yourself, being authentic
• #11 Being of service
• #12 Practicing gratitude
• #13 Resting and napping
• #14 Taking responsibility for your own feelings and emotions
• #15 Learning how to listen
• #16 Apologising
• #17 Keeping your promises
• #18 Acknowledging and working on your flaws
• #19 Making a decision
• #20 Slowing down
• #21 Setting boundaries

1. Creating more than you consume

Write a blog, build a computer, start a business, renovate a room, paint a painting, sew something or create a meal.

Give something of yourself to your circle and the world. It feels good. And, by creating more than you consume you’re contributing something of value to others. 

2. Being consistent

Consistency for me means making decisions and carrying out practices and habits – most of the time! I know that if my mindset is to not punish myself for missing a day of blogging, or skipping my walk because I’m tired, I know I’m being kind to myself.

3. Allowing yourself to move on from feelings

It’s vital that we allow ourselves to sit in our feelings. When a feeling comes up I don’t push it away… BUT. I can also choose to allow an emotion to pass and move through it.

I can sit with my feelings, then gently move them on once I’ve experienced them. I can move on from a feeling. It doesn’t have to consume me.

4. Figuring out your gift or purpose and sharing it

The world needs you right now and your unique gift is like no one else’s! You literally have something inside you that no one else does. Figure out what this is and share it! You have no idea how valuable this is. And other women will thank you for your authenticity. If you’re struggling with figuring this one out- grab a chat with my friend Jane– she’s fab.

5. Letting go of perfectionism

From a young age we’re often taught that we get more love and acceptance if we ace the test, get the award, be picked first, be skinnier, prettier, better.

It’s not something that’s a truth. It’s something we feel. We feel like if we could only do better, try harder, reach our goals faster, we’ll be seen as worthy of the love and acceptance we all deserve.

We take it upon ourselves to believe this little lie that ultimately ends up messing with our self esteem and self worth. Over and over again.

Thing is. This level of perfectionism is unattainable. Each time we leap that stream, our interpretation of what we need to do next feels even higher, even bigger.

Perfectionism is fear. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of being imperfect, wrong, weak or flawed in some way. When we are flawed we are unworthy in our own minds. Unworthy of kindness, compassion, love. Fear is simply a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

6. Learning a breathing technique, or two

I like to draw on three techniques in a crisis or if the shit hits the fan… which it often does in the startup world!

The first is box breathing, where you breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breath out for 4, hold for 4…

The second is The Alexander technique, which teaches an undoing of muscular tension and contraction… I like to think of it as breathing into your relaxed whole torso… but also lengthening the neck and back on exhale to create space. The video explains it pretty good!

And third is Buteyko breathing, where you practice not overbreathing and breath hold for 5 seconds after a small inhale and exhale to alleviate hyperventilation. 

7. Investing in your future

Invest in yourself! Education, a course, a new hobby… invest in your mental and physical health… daily… do the small things that stack up to big changes ….

Invest in the things and people you love MOST …your passions… your family… your relationships… use your time very wisely my friends. 

8. Practicing patience

When I was a kid we anticipated Christmas for absolute months! The treats, the gifts, the holiday food and the family time spent in our favourite holiday spot camping and boating. We didn’t get random gifts or items of value through the year. Only on birthdays or Xmas.

We waited.

We waited for cake.

We waited for our dinner.

We waited for the thing we coveted sooooooo badly that it hurt.

And we loved every minute of it. The wait is exquisite. Trust me. The wait is where you will find yourself and the life you were meant to lead.

9. Sleeping in and letting others do the same

AITA for turning on the coffee machine and cranking up the washing machine on a Sunday morning?

YES! Yes you are Brad!

Don’t be like Brad. If you’re an early bird, sneak away quietly and enjoy your peaceful time alone while others in your life sleep in. Also allow yourself to indulge guilt free. A sleepin is good for the soul and can do wonders for your productivity.

10. Being yourself, being authentic

There’s a freedom and a sense of relief from allowing yourself to be the true and real human you were born to be.

We all have a filter that we apply to ourselves in order for the world to keep spinning. But, I’m here to tell you that you are doing yourself a massive disservice by not allowing your true and unique self to shine.

You were put on this planet for a reason, use it.

11. Being of service

Life is about service. How can you be of service to the world? How can you show up every single with your unique gifts and offer the world something?

Some of the ways I consider I’m being of service include raising my kids to be good humans… helping entrepreneurs… and volunteering at a local food rescue organisation where we collect and re-distribute excess food from cafes and supermarkets to people who need it. 

12. Practicing gratitude

You can’t be simultaneously grateful and wanting in the same moment. Your mind simply can’t compute that.

Sit in gratitude daily. I like to run through my bubbles… myself… my immediate security… my family… wider community, then move to the greater things like the world and life itself! 

13. Resting & napping

It’s not weak or lazy to take the time your body and mind needs to recuperate. Sometimes you don’t need any excuse at all. We get stuck in busy and forget we are human beings, not human doings!

Rest when you need to.

14. Taking responsibility for your own feelings & emotions

What other people think of you is none of your business is one of my favourite sayings. Conversely, what you think and say and feel is wholly your own responsibility.

You can choose how to react, you can choose how to respond, you have the power to choose how you face circumstances. Showing up with grace, humility and a strong sense of self awareness brings peace. 

15. Learning how to listen

We live in our own heads and minds and often when we are engaged with another special person we are so busy trying to figure out our next sentence that we forget to actively listen to those around us.

It’s a special kind of person who can listen to another. Really listen. Give them your full attention and see how special you make someone feel. 

16. Apologising

Learning to say you’re sorry means learning to let go of being right. It’s freeing. And it means you are able to move on far sooner from an argument or disagreement. It strengthens your relationships and tells others that you value them. 

17. Keeping your promises

First and foremost to yourself. And to others. It shows a great level of respect and consistency when you keep your promises. I think it keeps your mind calm and focussed and brings a level of peace.

People can trust you. And, you can trust yourself to follow though. By keeping promises to yourself you’re telling yourself that you are valuable and worthy. That’s pretty special.

18. Acknowledging and working on your flaws

You can’t continuously go through your life pointing the finger at other people and how they don’t measure up to your ideal standards. You need to take a deep breath in and do some self searching.

What are the things that you need to work on? Be honest! It’s truly liberating to acknowledge your foibles and begin to work out the kinks. 

19. Making a decision

There’s one big thing that I’ve learned recently and that’s the power in making a flocking decision.

It doesn’t matter how big or small. Just decide, then move forward with grace and purpose. This doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind! … but don’t sit in inaction or indecisiveness too long. There’s freedom in making choices.

20. Slowing down

Rushing from one thing to the next doesn’t serve you well. Allow yourself to experience life, not just endure it. Be present with your actions. Move slower, more deliberately and let yourself be in the present.

21. Setting boundaries

It’s up to you to set the parameters and boundaries of what you will and will not allow into your life. Toxic people, relationships, environments. You can build your wall and choose to lower it if and when you desire. It’s up to you to let people in- or not. On your own terms. Take hold of your power. Audit your life. 

Highly successful people, and especially highly successful women entrepreneurs have a specific list of common characteristics that help propel them forward in everyday life towards their goals. It’s not rocket science, nor is it luck. People who are successful work hard every single day to make their dream life a reality. Creating a list of habits to start you on your journey to a happier healthier life is the first step towards taking back control and living a life you love.