Star Jones tips to be a successful businesswoman

Submitted by Emily Forrest, Laforce-Stevens of New York, NY, www.laforce-stevens.com 

 Star Jones is a successful lawyer and businesswoman. A leading legal and social issues pundit, she is most well known for her national television appearances on programs such as the Today Show. Star was recently named national spokesperson for the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), a network of 300,000 female professionals, executives and entrepreneurs. She has traveled across the country offering her advice to NAPW chapter Presidents. Here are her top tips for being a successful businesswoman.  

 

• Attend seminars, conferences and events – Seminars, conferences and events provide opportunities for women to meet other like-minded professionals and listen to speakers discuss their experiences. They are great for networking as well so remember to bring business cards and copies of your resume and follow-up with everyone you meet

• Become/Find a Mentor – Mentorship programs are gratifying for both the mentors and the mentees. Younger professionals should take advantage of opportunities to connect with more experienced businesswomen. Mentors can feel rewarded by watching their mentees’ careers grow as a result of their advice and guidance  

• Embrace Your Feminine Management Style – In a world where male CEO’s outnumber female CEO’s, women should never feel the need to fit into the dominating, competitive stereotype that we often see in the media. Although gender does not define success, women are by nature excellent communicators who embrace interpersonal relationships and teamwork.

• Join a group/network such as NAPW to interact, exchange ideas, educate and empower – Professional groups, such as NAPW (National Association of Professional Women) provide working women with a platform to feel empowered. NAPW specifically is the most rapidly growing association for professional women in the United States. Members range from aspiring business students, to CEO’s of major corporations. NAPW provides these women with an opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and educate one another

·         Set Goals for yourself and Actively Pursue Them – Whether you are looking for a new job, or trying to excel within your current position, setting attainable goals for yourself and proactively pursuing them gives individuals something to strive for and ultimately provides them with determination and motivation to move up and get to the next level

• Modesty Only Goes So Far – Being modest is an important trait to have in business, but do not be afraid to be your own advocate and voice your opinion.  Nothing can change if you don’t speak up, so promoting yourself and your ideas is extremely important  

• Stay Abreast of the Latest Developments Within Your Field – Watch the news, read the newspaper and be actively engaged on social media as news today travels instantly.  Staying one step ahead by always knowing what is happening around the world and in your field is critically important and can catapult you ahead of your peers and competitors.

• Celebrate Your Success – Reward yourself to keep your professional momentum going. Celebrate not only when something major happens, like a raise or a promotion, but when you achieve something smaller like a complimentary email from a client or business associate. This is imperative to staying encouraged to reach your ultimate goal.