State Farm® Celebrates Women Small Business Owners

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In celebration of women small business owners and the 100th anniversary of State Farm, we asked State Farm Agents, who are small business owners themselves, to provide the best piece of advice they received about running a business. Below are more than 100 pieces of advice covering a range of topics relevant to you!

Video Messages

 
Hear small business advice directly from State Farm agents across the country by playing the videos below.
 

 

Quotes

 
Click the dropdown beneath the headshot to read small business advice from each State Farm agent.

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Azzy Abu-Omar
"There is no limit to what you can do. Have faith in yourself, believe you can and you will. Speak success into your life and you will achieve it. Surround yourself with the other successful, empowering, motivational and uplifting women."
Alicia Alexander
"Putting your money into the community you support can go so much farther than anything else we can do. Intentionally spending with women owned small businesses might cost you a little more sometimes, but the good it does is worth it."

Michelle Anglin-Heisserer
"As a local small business owner, I am a believer in working hard each day, being a good example in your community, and always keeping a POSITIVE mind set!"
Beth Bales
"A tip I’ve been living by as a mom and small business owner is: Be where you are. If you are home, be engaged at home. If you are at work, be with work. So often our hearts go where we are not. We have to train our mind to be where our feet are planted in that moment."
Britney Bladel
"Put all of your heart in what you do, but don’t expect perfection and have a glass of wine ready for those days when things just don’t right!"
Bailey Bowen
"Make the leap, and trust that GREAT things can happen!"

Suzie Broderson
"Seek out other women owned businesses in your community and collaborate on how you can work smarter rather than harder – bring out the best in each other!"
RaNae Candia
"Empowered Women, Empower Women! When we are a role model to other young female entrepreneurs, and share our vulnerabilities, we grow as leaders and inspire them because they see we all experience the same fears. I tell my team, Don’t be afraid to fail forward, because the biggest growth comes from the struggles, and not the peaks of success!"
Christy Celeste
"Find your “why” in what you are doing and keep that gauge full and replenish you when you feel empty. Juggling family and your business is hard…but you can do hard things!"
Makayla Chadwick
"People do business with people, be yourself and people will love you for it."
Ulyanna Chung
"Sometimes you might feel like a one-woman show, but if you leverage your time by empowering your team one task at a time, your business will take quantum leaps!"
Dee Clark
"When you feel like quitting think about why you started! The “Why” behind it will continue to help motivate you through the good times & the bad."
Maureen Darby
"Learn from other professionals and mentors; build solid relationships; surround yourself with really good people, keep learning and when you’re in a position to pay it forward, help others."
Karen Davis
"The key to success is our ability to embrace change and adapt to our ever-changing environment."
Alejandra de la Torre
"A satisfied customer is the key to a successful business! You’ll need inspiration and initiative. Our businesses face pressure to grow and evolve rapidly to stay competitive. But growth can be difficult, and even those with strong initiative among us sometimes need an extra dose of inspiration. That’s why it’s important to tap into resources such as Mentors, Friends and most importantly family."
Darlene Denison & Danielle Plotner
"Have a dream, create a vision and keep that close to your heart, and make a business plan, execute daily with habits, and create consistency for the days of failure and “bam”, there is the success!"
Danielle Dixon
"Bet on yourself every time."
Cindy Doyle
"Work hard & play hard."
Sonya Drake
"Believing and having confidence within yourself are the keys to evolving."
Kelly Duong
"Follow your instincts because it will usually lead you to the right decision."
Lindsey Dykes
"Make your bed every morning. By making your bed every morning you are already completing one task on your to do list, which should put you in the right mindset to snowball that energy into completing more tasks throughout the day!"
Elise Encarnacion
"What is a business without customers? For this reason, I always put myself in my customer’s shoes and try to understand where they are coming from. Treat others the way you want to be treated."
Tisha Fast
"Be proactive, not reactive."
Samantha Ferrell
"Women have great power if they never limit themselves. They can be mothers and pursue their dreams simultaneously. Take the risk and create generational results!"
Laurel Flowers
"The most effective marketing strategy is actually free! It’s simply caring about the customers. When you’re doing the right thing for the customers and employees they’re going to be loyal to you, and send their friends to you!"
Pam Franz
"Welcome mistakes and failures as they are truly the impetus of wisdom, change, vision & growth."
Abby Gallegos Mousner
"Here’s to strong women, success is no accident it takes a lot of grit and determination, but I am proud to take it one day at a time to see the reward on the other side of this amazing journey as a women owned small business."
Lexi Goza
"Start from the belief that you are worthy of success and then just keep showing up and connecting with other like-minded women to support and elevate one another."
Denise Granville
"Work from your heart because that is what makes you special, always lean in since you are just as important as everyone else at the table, and when the world falls on your shoulders, ask for help."
Kendra Gries
"Find a “why” greater than yourself, something that makes it all worth it, and then keep pushing towards that every single day."
Courtney Gulledge
"Owning a business is a marathon, not a sprint! Stay in your lane and plan for the long term."
Jordan Hardy
"Get in the habit of asking yourself “Does this support the life I’m trying to create?"
Lydia Harville
"Be brave, be willing to take risks, embrace failure as an opportunity to grow, and never lose sight of your vision."
Mary Caroline Heath
"You can thrive when you recognize the female’s innate and unique ability to multi-task while possessing multiple strengths including the ability to lead, be creative, budget, market, collaborate, ask for help, as well as qualities of compassion and embracing change, ALL of which are critical for a successful business!"
Morgan Hedderich
"Be where your feet are. Be present at home, present with friends, present at work with customers and employees and don’t forget to make time for yourself!"
Pam Herndon
"To be successful in your business, brand yourself and be highly visible in your community! People like to do business with those they know and like."
Angela Holbert
"Be the best version of yourself you can be every day as your attitude is all you have control over."
Becky Jordan
"Identify a successful mentor in your community that is willing to be a “shoulder to lean on”, offering support and advice."
Courtney Khashabi
"Create and foster a network of diverse and trusted women who will be your tribe to lean on while you achieve all of your dreams and grow beyond obstacles."
Kristi Kim
"Discipline is willing to do what doesn’t come naturally. Be Disciplined!"
Haleh Krauter
"If you serve from the heart and help enough people get what they want and they meet their dreams, you will succeed."
Gina Lopez
"Know every day there will be different challenges and also amazing opportunities to build your business and leave a legacy for the future."
Taylor Maciaszek
"Keep an open mind and learn something new every day."
Janice Mathis
"People just want to be heard. Listen carefully to their concerns and address those first."
Rebecca Mathis
"1. Have your priorities in order 2. Be prepared for the good and bad 3. Always look for personal growth."
Jarica Mazerall
"Everyone feels fear when starting something new; don’t let that stop you from trying!"
Michele Meeks
"Develop a network of other women-owned business owners to regularly schedule lunch with – everyone faces the same challenges when it comes to hiring, employees, management, customer service. Together, you can share ideas to improve your skillset in these areas."
Berenice Mendez
"Don’t allow where you are today dictate your future. Live to inspire."
Kaci Miller
"We make it our mission to be a good neighbor and demonstrate that on a weekly basis."
Beth Moloughney
"Be a positive role model for the young girls in your community.  Show them success comes in many forms and giving back to the community is the best feeling."
Jenny Montes
"Speak Up. Shine the spotlight on others who deserve it, those who supported you and yourself."
Toni Moreland
"It is never too late to achieve your dreams! I was 48 when I decided to change careers and open my own business."
Whitney Mork
"Don't quit. Even if you fail."
Pam Neely
"My mentor told me I needed a head for business to be successful. That includes: An eye for possibilities, take charge attitude, comfort with chaos, the tenacity of a pitbull, creative instincts, enormous self confidence, a practical bent and super resiliency."
Jane Nicholson
"You will miss 100% of the shots that you do not take."
Kam Nijjar
"My biggest tip to all the daring & amazing women out there is to NETWORK, NETWORK, AND NETWORK when you start your small business. Then continue networking to keep growing your business!"
Kimberly Parks
"Be sure not to get lost in your business. You were a person who did things and liked things before you opened a business. Use that to give you the fuel and desire to work hard to continue to have and do those things."
Liz Portee
"When you know your numbers, you know your business."
Cassandra Preston
"A wife, a mother, and entrepreneur; be UNAPOLOGETICALLY every woman!"
Abir Pulskamp
"We CAN have it all…..a business & a family, it doesn’t have to be one or the other."
Lisa Ramlow
"Walk through life with a good heart and you will run with success."
Patty Rhodes
"Daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and fur-mama...If you are looking for someone experienced enough to handle ANYTHING life throws your way – look no further than a woman who owns a small business."
Carmen Ritz
"Opening a small business can be scary, but you can do it. Take the leap and live your life with no regrets."
Diana Sanchez
"Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently."
Lisa Sanders
"Done right, a small business will give you flexibility and freedom to enjoy your family, personal satisfaction from following your passion, and if you have employees the opportunity to mentor the next generation of small business owners."
Risha Sanders
"Be intentional about surrounding yourself with people who match your energy and align with your goals."
Jen Sias-Lyke
"You are in total control of your attitude and your effort. Make those two things your daily focus."
Krystal Smith
"Create a continuous mantra: I Am Enough, I belong in Every room I enter both metaphorically and physically."
Whitney Smith
"We believe in always demonstrating the practice of “Community Over Competition”. We often highlight other locally women-owned businesses on social media, support them ourselves by buying from them first, and look for ways to build other women business owners up when they need extra support, even if they are in the same field of work. There is room for everyone on the playground!"
Theresa Solon
"Be the person you needed when you started your business! Cheer, support, befriend, network, lend a helping hand to other women business owners, after all we are all much stronger when we stick together."
Tracey Sova
"I’m glad I was so optimistically naïve in the beginning because if I had known all the obstacles & challenges I’d face during my journey, I probably would have talked myself out of doing it. So whether you are just starting a business or been in business for 20 years, you don’t have to have all the answers to move forward."
Brittany Sud
"Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else."
Jess Sutcliffe
"Don’t listen to the voice of fear, push it aside because I can promise you everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."
Kellie Taylor
"Create a personal Board of Directors—a team that is going to help you to grow personally, professionally and spiritually. It can include your accountant, attorney, fitness coach and friends who will listen and offer emotional support."
Mallori Teegarden
"As a young woman small business owner, my advice is to stand tall when you don’t feel tall. You will feel inadequate but you can do it all and that is something that can never be taken away from you."
Noreen Thomas
"The best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
Maria Topete
"It doesn’t matter who believes in you, as long as you believe in yourself. "
Jennifer Vidrine
"I read somewhere that women in the workplace had to deal with family, career, and sanity. And, they could only choose two! I became a small business owner because I didn’t want to have to pick only two."
Emily Vinckier Pierce
"Surround yourself with supportive women – there is nothing more powerful than women who support each other and celebrate together!"
Tamika Walker
"Embrace failure. Consistently revamp, rejuvenate and recreate. Maintain balance."
Leslie West
"Be intentional about belonging.  Look for other women entrepreneurs to learn from: create a safe space to support and show up for one another."
Terza West
"Success is not an accident. It takes hard work, perseverance and passion."
Kathy Whitburn
"You're never too old to reinvent yourself! I began my new career and small business with my State Farm agency at the age of 57!"

Brandy Whiteside
"One candle lighting another does not diminish the first."
Lindsey Wilson Gosser
"To have a successful day, the two most important things I put on each morning are a smile and a grateful heart."
Jenna Wirth
"My advice for women in small business is that you are not on an island all alone, there are many women that are in the same shoes as you, reach out to them. Life is too short to feel alone navigating small business."
Monica Yarbrough
"Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it."
Walkiria Zarei
"Your past doesn’t determine your future, with determination and drive, you can accomplish anything you set your mind on."

 

This material is intended to inform State Farm® independent contractor agents of options for their consideration. There is no intent on the part of State Farm or its employees to manage independent contractor agents’ personal development or to assume any control over them or their business operations, or that of the agents’ employees.