For most women, entrepreneurship offers an opportunity to create an alternative work life of creativity and financial independence that remains elusive in corporate America.  However, after the initial excitement wanes, you’ll quickly realize that starting a business requires more than a great idea and heartfelt passion.

In addition to writing your business plan, deciding on the colors for your Web site, and designing your logo, you must also determine how you will live without the comfort of a steady paycheck and employee health benefits. The keys to making a successful transition from employee to entrepreneur are preparation, careful planning and most importantly, checking your corporate mindset at the door.  Before you commit to your business endeavor full-time, follow these three tips to create your own financial safety net.

Get over yourself
One of the biggest challenges women face when striking out on their own is the tendency to want to do everything themselves.  “No one cares what your title was, and it can be a culture shock when you realize there’s no one to delegate to,” says Susan Slovic, author of  The Girl’s Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business.  As an entrepreneur, you must have a willingness to be flexible and do things differently.  You may be tempted to handle everything yourself in an effort to avoid paying lofty overhead expenses, but in order to ensure longevity in your business, you must learn to relinquish control.  Make certain your business is systematized, so it can be easily taught and duplicated, adds Slovic, and start small.  While your ideas may be grandiose, resist the urge to expand beyond what your financial resources will allow.  Instead of opening your own boutique right away, start out selling jewelry at your local flea market or launching an Etsy store online.

Ditch the corporate mindset
One of the biggest mistakes women make when starting a business is failing to develop a sustainable business model, beyond trading dollars for hours, says Slovic.  If your business can’t run without you, you’ve only created another job for yourself.  When determining your business model, consider how you will transform your business idea into multiple sources of income.  For example, if you’re an event planner, in addition to hosting events you might also decide to write a book giving tips on how to select the appropriate decor, start a blog and solicit advertising from vendors, or offer workshops.  The idea is to channel your passions into various incomes, so you don’t have to rely on one source of income if your primary revenue stream suddenly wanes or becomes obsolete.

Build a stable financial foundation
No matter how passionate or talented you are, it won’t matter if you’re under financial strain.  Before you make the leap, it’s essential that you organize your finances: reduce any debt, save more than you earn, and build a cash reserve of at least 10 months.  Your business may take from six months to a year before you start breaking even or recouping your start up costs. Moreover, research low-cost insurance options and keep your overhead costs as low as possible. Then you can expand as your business grows.

From Manolo Blahniks to Jimmy Choos, it’s the packaging of these brands that seduce us into spending $400 on a pair of shoes we’ll only wear once.  Establishing a personal brand is the foundation of success for today’s savvy woman.  Regardless of your current title or industry, the most important position you’ll hold is being the marketer of your own brand.  

A personal brand is the key to being memorable and right now, it’s extremely important to stand out from the crowd says Nancy Marmolejo, 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year and founder of Comadre Coaching. “We are so bombarded by marketing messages all day long; at the end of the day, she who stands out and is memorable wins.”

Uncover your inner brand
To effectively communicate your message and outer identity, it’s essential to think creatively and utilize your strengths.  Personal strengths contain the building blocks of your brand, says Marmolejo.  She adds that even your hobbies play a major role.  For example, a media consultant created a brand for herself that tapped into her hobby of historical homes.  Her logo features a caricature of herself sitting on the porch of an old house.  

Marmolejo recommends that women brainstorm all their strengths, areas of expertise, and even quirks when developing a personal brand.  Ask people you trust about what qualities they see in you.  She then suggests taking these words and feedback and looking for similar patterns.  Find metaphors related to them and see if you can start with some word plays.  The secret to creating a personal brand is to do what you can to stand out from the rest.  “When you’re authentic and work from your strengths, your brand becomes as unique as your fingerprint,” says Marmolejo  

Dive into viral marketing
Blogging is a great way to establish authority in your field, says Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success.  People who have blogs that turn up in Google searches are mostly professional and are high up in their fields.   Blogging can help you get your name known among these people.  Trunk also suggests commenting on other blogs.  It’s a faster and less time consuming method of expanding your contacts than attending traditional networking events.  

Develop your personal style

Another key element in building your brand is style.  Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte, image consultants and co-founders of Carrie and Danielle Inc.have launched a new branding tool to assist women in building a powerful persona called, “Style Statements.”  Your Style Statement is two words that best define your authentic self such as ”Feminine Design” or “Classic Vibrant.”   From your wisdom to your wardrobe; from your longings to your living room– your Style Statement is where your essence meets your expression,” says LaPorte.  
  

How can two words define you? Arranged by the 80/20 style statement principle, your first word and second word encapsulate the ideal spirit, look and feel of how you move through the world.  During a Style Statement appointment, Carrie and Danielle ask a series of questions, from playful to profound.  After an hour of reflecting and sharing what matters to you most, they present you with your Style Statement and its precise definition.  Women can use these words as a guide for designing a career and a life that best reflects their true selves. While a Style Statement can be useful in creating business success, says LaPorte, it’s not solely about packing yourself for appeal; it’s about genuinely being your authentic self in every dimension of your life.  

Now that you’ve assessed your personal strengths, established authority online, and developed a unique sense of style, it’s time to market your company – Me Inc. – to the world and start earning what you’re worth.

You’ve landed a new position and a new apartment to go along with it.  This can be an exciting, yet uncertain time.  Along with your fabulous new life comes a wide range of challenges – from adapting to a new work environment to unpacking and settling into your new home.  The trick to maintaining your cool is to master the art of asking for help.

As women, we’re the first to lend a helping hand, but when it comes to receiving help for our own crusade, we avoid it like an ex on a bad hair day.  “Single women have become so self- sufficient and use to doing things on their own that they don’t want to appearas needy,” says M. Nora Klaver, author of Mayday! Asking for Help in Times of Need.

Klaver attributes the unwillingness to ask for help to three fears: a fear of surrender or giving up control, a fear of separation or rejection, and a fear of shame.  To overcome these emotions, she suggests we show ourselves
compassion and realize that while we’d all like to pretend we’re superwoman, we can’t do it all.  Also, keep in mind that everyone needs assistance at one time or another, and sometimes the only smart thing to do is to ask for help.  If you’re still apprehensive, think about the consequences of not asking for support: more exhaustion, less energy, and more stress.  Worst of all, when you try to go it alone you double the amount of time it takes you
to achieve your goal.

So what’s the key to asking for support without appearing desperate? Before asking, make sure you know exactly what you need help with and what kind of help you need.  The more details you can provide, the more likely you’re to get your needs met.  Klaver then recommends taking a leap of faith and “jumping right in.”  For example, your new boss has assigned you a task that requires the use of new software, or you have no clue on how to complete a project.  The first step is to identify the best sources of information for your problem.  Then let everyone know you’re “new in town” and ask them to guide you.  Be sure you ask early, warns Klaver.  Waiting until the last minute poses the risk of you sounding out of control and incompetent.  

Aside from getting the assistance you need, there are several benefits to reaching out for help.  Showing vulnerabilities can deepen and transform your relationships, making you appear more attractive to the opposite
sex.  When you ask for help, you’re essentially saying to your potential helpmate: “I confess to you that I need something from you, and I admit to us both that I cannot do this alone,” writes Klaver.  Such a display of openness is inviting, which makes room for a new level of intimacy.  To increase your comfort level, start small by asking your mate to screw in a light bulb.  Then work your way up to asking him to rearrange the furniture, or to hook up your entertainment center.   

While asking for help may seem like the last resort, it’s the only way to get the life you want and deserve.  Not only will you receive the help you need, but you’ll reap the benefits of having more energy, less stress, personal growth and deeper relationships.  Instead of being a damsel in distress, you’ll be a damsel with a successful work and personal life.