Baby Boomers and Seniors (or women of any age) can benefit from the advice in this article:

The way we act and react to our business contacts should be no different from the way we do to our friends and family. Generosity in business, just like in life, it will come back to you. Run your business with the morals and ethics that you run your personal life.

I was anxious to become part of some of the groups I joined and volunteering was just a natural extension. Volunteering has led to some good business contacts and even a couple of new clients, but the main reason for volunteering is that we all need to give back to the community that supports us.

Take time to mentor others – I don’t mean coaching for money, but simply mentoring to be of help. During my company’s five years, I’ve met many women who were just starting out. And I’ve eagerly supplied them with contacts and resources that might help them. Mentoring is a warm fuzzy – you feel good doing it and if you enrich your colleagues, they’ll always remember your kindness.

It’s also important to do freebies – whether this involves a product or a service. Freebies are especially important if they expose you to a new group of prospects, but because it’s a generous thing to do, even groups who can’t afford you will benefit and they’ll be so very grateful of your generosity.

Keep your competition close – close enough to make them your allies When you meet another person whose company
supplies the same products or services as you, don’t think of her as a threat. Remember always that you’re the only one who has your own personal style. Others might have the same product, but they don’t have the same product with your special twist. And becoming close with your competition can result in a joint endeavor that would benefit both of you.
Often, you can help your competition by taking over her excess business from time to time. And you’ll both always have a wonderful commonality to help you discuss and plan future activities.

Build a support network.  One of the biggest changes that have occurred in my life as an entrepreneur is going from being a very social person, constantly in the public eye, to becoming a home-based business owner. The perils of being home-based are vast, primarily because of your isolation. You sit there in front of your computer and discover you have little idea of how others are managing.

I found that changing lifestyles from social to private was a huge adjustment. I felt I was on totally new ground without many resources to help myself along the way. This may happen to you also – know that thisstage will pass and you’ll learn how to adapt a new lifestyle that includes who you were with who you are now.

When I’d been in business for about six months, I started to run into a funk – a period lacking in confidence of my ability. ‘What am I doing here?’ became my mantra, followed quickly by ‘Whatever made me think I could make a success at this?’ and ending with the terror of ‘What if they find out how inept I am?’ This was not just a temporary attack – I’d often not even turn my computer on for two weeks. And I’d continue to spiral down the vortex of self-pity and self-doubt. Then I connected with two women who supported and encouraged me. One always managed to give me a pep talk about my abilities to prosper, which led me back to my computer and to my efforts to run my company.

Eventually, after quite a few talks from her, I became able to give those pep talks to myself and the more I did, the less often it was needed. The other, one of the most nurturing women I know, whenever I had a small victory, would always say “Good for you – I knew you’d do well at that.” After a while, I started to believe her and then believe in myself.

Form a mastermind group. These two women are now very close friends and we’ve now formed a kind of mastermind of three. We meet monthly for lunch and we each take our turn talking about the past month’s challenges and upcoming plans and hopes. We each give honest feedback and suggestions to each other and we value each other’s advice so much simply because we trust each other so much. When you form a mastermind group, only do it with women you admire, trust and feel totally comfortable. Share everything with them – your good moments as well as your bad ones and really listen to their advice. Their caring will guarantee suggestions that will benefit you.

I was unaccustomed to relying on others for support and advice. It was a massive shift in approach and attitude for me. When I did learn to accept other’s advice, my life was suddenly easier, partly because I felt so much less alone.

Note from editor: if you are a boomer woman or senior woman and have not had the experience of being a mentor or having one, now is the perfect time to begin! It’s never too late to be what you are destined to become!