“Men enter this world entitled and ready to take big risks. Women walk into the world flawed and hold back.” – Barbara Stanny
Me enjoying a joint after speaking on stage for several hours.
How to Use Cannabis Personally
You may know about THC’s short-term memory effects but you may not know that new research is showing it also assists in forgetting painful memories. (This is especially important to victims of assault with PTSD as you would imagine. Support PTSD research!) My job is HARD. You would think that no one would oppose empowering women after 5,000 years of patriarchy. You would be wrong.
I’ve had some of the most important men (and a few women) tell me that Women Grow was unnecessary. One of the most influential people in the cannabis industry told me that groups that focused on gender first were never effective at drug policy change. He called groups like mine “genital groups”. I let him know that I was glad that his organization changed drug policies and I taught women entrepreneurship to create a more ethical industry.
For cannabis to win national legalization, it must gain national acceptance, and women are the swing vote in these decisions. In order to engage women voters we need to engage female consumers. I know when women lead companies they create the products that women want to buy in the shopping environments designed with women in mind. For example, topicals and high CBD edibles are two product lines that attract female customers that many male-owned dispensaries don’t carry.
Cannabis allows me to relax at the end of long day and release any remaining stress about going 20 rounds convincing a CEO on how hiring women affects his business. But on the other side of that coin, cannabis can allow me to not hold someone accountable because their failure bothers me less. My solution has been to only hire people who hold themselves to a high bar. I’m here to lead my co-workers, not supervise them.
Sue Taylor Giving Advice…I love listening to her
How to Take Advice NOT Personally
“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.”
- Thank everyone for their advice: but only take the advice that you agree with. Don’t make any big changes to your plans based on a two-minute party conversation. Take the advice back home and think through if it aligns with your goals and values. Let you intuition guide you for judgment calls. For fact-based calls, get multiple opinions.
- No one knows your business better than you: remember that when your Uncle Vinnie wants to tell you how he would build a cannabis business based on his landscaping experience.
- No one is more invested in your business than you: be especially cautious accepting advice from people who don’t care about you. Advice given after they don’t know anything about your business more than your name and state is probably not thought-out.
- The rules of business have shifted dramatically: one of the reasons why business school went from de facto to unnecessary is that the way we’ve run businesses since the industrial revolution is dying. Old business was about how to make a widget as cheaply as possible. New business is about activating a tribe and serving them.
- Everyone is an “expert”: especially in a new industry where newcomers become expert consultants within 6 months, everyone seems like an expert. Read Hillary Bricken’s excellent piece on warning signs that you are not dealing with an expert.
- Take the advice of your customers first: especially if you are doing something new, the existing advice may not serve you. Align with your core paying customers first, and then figure out how to serve them with industry advice. Knowing exactly who your target customer is and what they want will make sure you stand strong for their needs.
- If the advice doesn’t serve you: don’t listen to it! Great businesses will be built by breaking all the rules. If you are one of those new business models, the people following the rules will have a tough time catching up with you. Forge on with or without him.
The Only Thing You Can Control is Your Thoughts
Any woman who is sure of her own wits, is a match, at any time, for a man who is not sure of his own temper. ― Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White, 1859
You will face challenges, disappointments, disasters and more on your journey. The only thing you have control over is how you think about these events. Through whatever practice floats your boat (I use meditation), find techniques to guide your thinking and reframe “negative” events. I put “negative” in quotes because you can reframe every challenge into an opportunity. Remember the path to success is nowhere close to straight.
By Babs Rangaiah of Unilever (@babs26)
It’s Not About Being Perfect, It’s About Being Persistent
“First you jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury
Truly a wonderful article reminding us how important it is to forge ahead with our values tightly in hand. Great job. And you definitely made founding a company look easy 🙂
could you please tell me what you learnt about founding a biz in the cannabis biz thank you helen
I am doing something that has never been done before in Negril Jamaica. I am opening/creating a destination spa that will be revolving around cannabis. I will make all the topicals,edibles, and soaps. would love a mentor to listen and advise.
I’ve worked with many women starting-up companies over the years and would be happy to serve as a resource. Feel free to contact me, if interested.
could you give me any advice on how to get funding or help in starting a canabis biz thank you Helen
I’m so interested in starting a business in this field will you be willing to give me some advice as how I can get started? I’m a mother of four beautiful children and need a change for the better.
Thank you!
Fatima
Karen, I am a Cancer survivor and it’s been difficult getting a hold on my medication. Doing some research on how to be my own caregiver, I came across the Women Grow organization and have been touched by the “becoming a cannabis entrepreneur” bug, and even though cannabis is only medically approved in Michigan, I am willing to take a chance and would love to be a “mentee” to you as I open my own business!!! Please, I need help!!! My email is [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help!!!
I am interested in operating my own business but I’m located on the east coast and it is not legal here yet I’m just outside of Washington dc and hoping that VA. will legalize marijuana soon I should I relocate , I think its a great opportunity for a fifty -something woman to get into I’ve been a great consumer and I need a second income if I’m going to still live ,need your input
Hi Karen,, my name is Danielle and I was involved in a start up in CA and have experienced the positive and negative of the cannabis industry. Now, I am in Florida and want to get a business started. Would love your input.
505-469-3147
I already am in love with the group and the forward thinking advice. Being a physician for 20 yrs in a definitely male dominant world with no female support was more than a challenge in pursuing my dream and career. Very excited to be part of the field of Cannabis, this is what medicine is about.
Bending the mold to do something different is full of challenges and risks. But, the growth, insight, and sense of accomplishment, even if you fail, is priceless. I’ve mentored women business owners for years and love helping others rise above even their expectations.
Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
Thank you for this. Excited about all WG is doing and excited to be part of history and the community in cannabis. BTW Oregon Women Grow is KILLING IT out here. Represent! JL
I am a self-taught hobby grower and my goal and 4 year dream has been to learn how to put my hobby to work for me financially I will be following Women Grow closely until my dream becomes a reality thank you
Hi Daniella, I have a wealth of knowledge , positive a negative from my own cannabis start up in CA. Now I am in Fl. and would love to share any knowledge that can benefit you.
Danielle 505-469-3147
What an amazing inspirational article. It is an exciting time to be in this business! I would love to read more about your experiences. Are you based in Colorado?