No doubt you’ve all heard that word being thrown around by women everywhere wanting the world to know that being both a boss and a babe is not only possible, but worthy of a pair of power-pumps to walk in. However which way you define this empowering declaration, I believe it serves to remind us that we can ALL be bossbabes in our respective universes. The definition is yours to make, and that’s what I truly love about this statement.
Now I’m not trying to sell this as a new thing. #bossbabes has been around for a while, yet here I am absolutely fizzing with excitement about the concept of women in business in the year 2019. And not just any women – but #bossbabes who combine forces and create magic TOGETHER.
Ah yes. THIS is the thing to watch for in 2019.
A new style of network marketing, where collaboration breeds collaboration.
This is the thing you should seriously consider getting in on if you’re a woman in business and looking to make this new year one for the records.
Again – collaboration is no new thing, in fact, I’ve seen and heard about some stunner examples of women in business collaborating in 2018, but in my professional opinion this is only the beginning.
A few years ago I designed and taught the collaborative practice paper for a local creative degree in Tauranga. There were many learnings to be had for everyone, but I’ll always remember the amount of (adult) students that would trudge into my office on a daily basis, complaining that no matter what they did they couldn’t get equal amounts of effort and action across their group. There were always a bunch of students who would either ride the coat-tails or disappear altogether, leaving the rest of the group with the lion’s share of work. These students would often turn up at the final hour and bask in undeserved glory, and expect to be given the same grades. Oh yes, there were a bucket load of strategies we would roll out to get everyone to collaborate successfully, but some people just couldn’t be forced onto the same page. On the other end of the spectrum, there was always an overwhelming and immense feeling of pride at the accomplishment of those collaborators who did pull it off. Yes, collaboration is indeed possible but there are some fundamental foundations to lay first.
This is what I love about what’s happening more and more here in the Bay.
There is a new generation of bossbabes coming together almost seamlessly, all with a clear idea about what they want to achieve and all united in that common goal. Competition has been replaced with Collaboration and the results speak for themselves. There is no dragging of the heels, shirking responsibilities, or lack of heart and effort. We all have different objectives, but hearts and intentions are on the same page. I believe this heart-centred serving attitude is the difference.
I myself was involved in multiple collaborations in 2018, either directly or indirectly so I’ve seen first-hand what these collabs are capable of.
One of my favourites was the Wardrobe Love Fashion Show, hosted by Remix Gym and supported by a large consortium of businesswomen. The event was a huge success, but one of the real bonuses for many of the bossbabes participating was the future partnerships that came out of that event.
Lillybeth from Lillybeth: A Beautiful Education was there to lend a hand with makeup and give beauty advice to the attendees. What she came away with was several partnerships that shaped some amazing events in 2018, with more to come in 2019. That’s success right there!
A few months ago I teamed up with Cloe from Cloe’s Creationz for several projects including an essential oils workshop down on the lovely edge of Kulim Park. Cloe provides ‘pop-up dinners’, with a wooden table, cushions to sit on, decorations in a chosen theme, and grazing platters or catering if needed. This combo of grazing table and workshop under the big trees overlooking the Mount was both unique and amazing.
In true bossbabe style, businesswomen are not only maximising the marketing and financial opportunities through collaboration but also joining forces for the good of community and charity.
Recently Sian from The Hair Co. put the call out to other bossbabes to come and support her fundraiser for the Meningitis Foundation. A group of businesswomen answered that call and an amazing #loveyourself pampering afternoon was had by all with over $1,000 raised for the foundation. There was makeup by Melissa, nails by Seasons Beauty Therapy, hair by The Hair Co team, doTERRA essential oils by moi, décor by Cloe’s Creationz, and lots of generous prize sponsors. Each supporting bossbabe was able, and encouraged, to promote their business, and the outcome was beneficial for all.
Kate Lovell from event planning company ‘As You Like It’ and founder of the Tauranga Women’s Networking Facebook Group, knows all about collaboration both professionally and personally. Together with a large group of collaborators, Kate put together a fundraiser to help get her best friend to Moscow for stem cell treatment so she could have a chance at living without MS.
Together this group of women were able to raise $5,180.50 for “Miracle for Amanda” but in Kate’s words, there was even more to this success than met the eye: “A lot of the businesses I collaborated with are quite new. I wanted to work with other bossbabes who are starting out as I remember what that was like. It can be hard getting your name out there. Working alongside these brilliant, generous women on this project was a fantastic experience.”
Normally I disdain bandwagons, but this is one wagon you should all consider jumping on together!
If you want to grow your brand or business, work with mature like-minded and like-hearted businesswomen, and increase your ROI in 2019, then consider linking arms with this generation of bossbabes.
See you out there!
Rebecca Tereu is a business advisor, speaker, encourager and author