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Men and women compete in the business galaxy, yet, because they're wired so differently, they shouldn't tackle projects the same way, says a company that celebrates that difference.
"Ladies Who Launch is about creativity and entrepreneurship as a lifestyle," said Sheilah Griggs, leader of the new Nashville arm of the national company. "It's a feminine approach to launching dreams or goals, businesses, relationships. It's founded on the idea that women launch in different ways and for different reasons than men."
Griggs is convinced the time is right for Ladies Who Launch. "Right now, women are launching businesses at twice the rate of men in this country," she said. "Women are leaving corporate America. Studies show that women would rather make less money and work harder just to control their own time and have their own vision."
Ladies Who Launch begins with an "incubator," an intensive four-week course limited to 12 women. During a weekly two-hour meeting, participants discuss ideas they have for projects, ranging from vague notions to already developed products. "A lot of women already have their businesses, some women are just starting their businesses, and some just want to," Griggs said. "It can be a woman whose dream has always been to write a book, to someone like me, who said, 'I think I have an idea, something I want to do with our company. I want to grow into a different area, but I don't know what that is.' It teaches you to talk about your project, as well as to help define it."
Griggs, who's vice president of Point 3 Media, said the first local incubator in September helped her fine-tune her thoughts about how her company could change. "In a more male-dominated environment or corporate environment, you're taught that 'this is how it's done, a formula.' This is more about a feminine approach to launching your business, and it's OK," she said.
The incubator costs $250. Graduates may then join the ongoing program, which includes weekly e-mails and speakers at a monthly meeting. Graduates may then join the ongoing program, which includes weekly emails and speakers at a monthly meeting, at an annual fee of $200. The for-profit group is in most major cities, has several thousand ongoing members and is growing steadily, Griggs said. "This really gives women a support system, a network," she said. "They're natural networkers, they're encouragers and they really do help one another. Women are idea generators, and that's what the focus is on."
A different approach
That philosophy has made a big difference to Lynne Jones of Springfield and Sue Goff of Clarksville. The friends came up with the idea for a humorous card game that encourages players to drop their excess emotional baggage.
They didn't know where to go from there, until Jones attended an incubator. Now the pair is just a month away from seeing their game called Travel Light hit the market. "The whole structure is ingenious," said Jones, who had already run a successful landscaping, floral and design business for 20 years. "You interact with others, and it's just amazing. The best thing is to listen to what others say. You have a very trusting relationship with these women. They're all businesswomen, and they're all serious about what they're doing.
"As the invitation card said, it's not a typical women's group or coffee meeting. They're really designed to help you launch your project and your idea."
Several things make Ladies Who Launch work, graduates say: The women share ideas freely; they work on each other's ideas; only positive comments are allowed; and it brings new contacts.
"I've done a lot of stuff in my day, but nothing compares to this," added Jones, who speaks with the zeal of a true believer. "You put your idea in, then the rest of the group helps you. Nashville has needed this. All women do, as far as I'm concerned."
She never even worked on her own card game during the incubator. "We had to work on someone else's project," Jones said. "We helped the other 11 women, coming up with ideas for their projects. You would be surprised at how much spring-boarded from that. When you begin to help someone else with their launch, you see how to do yours."
It may be hard for women to risk tossing out their hopes and dreams to strangers, but the group's positive atmosphere make it easy, the graduates agree.
"There's no negativity allowed in these meetings," Griggs said. "It's very much a supportive atmosphere, so it's very safe. It's, 'what do you want to do, how do you see yourself and how do you want to get there.' "
High hopes, big plans
Greta Severs started The Pilates Workshop in 2005, offering fitness classes and private instruction at her east Nashville studio. She's already got an idea for expanding her business to find ways for people to control their health-risk factors, too. Seeking inspiration and critical thinking to polish her plans, Severs will attend this month's incubator.
"This just seems like the right fit," she said. "I'm ready to get into a think tank about how to best launch this new part of the business. "I think that sometimes the best ideas come when you are just sitting there talking about what to do. I hope to have someone really hear what I'm trying to do, hearing it in a way that I may not even know that I'm saying."
The concept is simple, yet effective, Jones said. "When you keep your mind on someone else, how can you be selfish?" she asks. "Everyone is out for the good of the other one. There's no jealousy. We're all out for the encouragement of each other." That atmosphere extends to networking, as in traditional business groups.
For example, Griggs hired a fellow Launcher who makes custom candy wrappers. A photographer put her artwork up in shops owned by other members.
That's definitely a draw for Severs. "The more we can help each other, why not? I really am at the point with this part of the business that it's about contacts and ideas," she said.
"Who knows, maybe someone in this group is in medicine or disease management, which is where I'm going with this new part of the company. I feel that you can't have enough allies, and especially females. We have a different take on things. I hope to meet some people that, down the road, I can call on for more ideas.
"Or maybe I'll just get to help somebody. That will be cool, too."
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