Did you guys know that March is Women's History Month? We wanted to take advantage of that, and chat a bit about what it's like to be a female business owner. Women tend to face obstacles and challenges that men don't always face. We invited San Diego photographer Monica Royal to be a guest this week & she was the perfect person to chat about this topic with! Monica has experienced many of these hurdles herself, and talks with us about how to be assertive and quit apologizing, which leads to more effective communication. Download from iTunes Here DISCLAIMER: While we recorded this particular episode with women in mind, we are well-aware that there are also many men out there who struggle with effective communication and suffer from these same obstacles! This episode isn't intended to exclude anyone, so you'll likely get some great tips from listening, no matter your gender! Photo Credit: Monica Royal Key Takeaways

1. Quit apologizing!! We are ALL most likely guilty of apologizing way more than we need to. Have you ever received the incorrect at a restaurant and apologized to the waiter about wanting to return it? We have! It makes no sense, but as women we oftentimes feel like the peacemakers of awkward situations, both in business and in our personal lives, so "I'm sorry" tends to be a go-to phrase in those cases. Instead of apologizing, try to reword your apology as a thank you. For example, "I'm sorry I'm late" can turn into "Thank you so much for being patient with me." This will help you appear stronger, and will also make TRUE apologies mean more!
2. Communicate better... by saying less. Monica tells us a story about a situation where she presented an art package to a large biotech firm. The price she came up with for the proper size artwork that fit the space ended up being a couple thousand dollars more than the company had anticipated. Long story short, she KNEW when she presented the package price to the CEO that she HAD to hold her breath & not speak. If she had started to speak, she would have rambled off reasons and excuses for the price (maybe even apologies for it), which would have weakened her stance as a professional photographer & business owner. Spoiler alert, the sale went in her favor. She stresses the importance of knowing when to shut up. This is KEY in being successful in sales & in business, and not something that always comes naturally to us.
3. Fake it till you make it. If you struggle with effective communication, and you don't have time to start therapy sessions to figure out WHY you are the way you are (undervaluing yourself, apologizing often, etc), Monica suggests the ever-popular "fake it till you make it" approach. Find a role model who is assertive, tough, and unapologetic, and model yourself after that. It's most likely going to be VERY difficult and uncomfortable. However, in the end, you'll probably come out alive, and better for it.

If you guys haven't listened to this full episode yet, you really should. Monica is a freaking hoot, and she's extremely knowledgable and informative about this topic. You ALSO should check out her work. She's a very talented macro photographer and she creates stunning works of art. Check her website out below & thanks for tuning in!! Relevant Links

• Monica Royal
• FB: monica.royal3
• Twitter: @monica_royal
• Instagram: monicaroyal
• PhotoSpark on Facebook

Photo Credit: Monica Royal Download from iTunes Here Download from iTunes Here