Entrepreneurs often take the leadership positions in their own companies, but does this make them a leader? Being a great entrepreneur doesn't necessarily mean that someone will be a great leader but the entrepreneur must take the leadership role seriously to ensure business continuity. 

This will require not just the passion and dedication that makes an individual successful as an entrepreneur but it also requires developing a leadership mindset to help build relationships and accomplish results through others.

Hiring will probably be one of your most important roles and the individuals you hire will look to to you as leader for guidance and direction. As a result, you may need to shift your thinking from that mindset that made you successful as an entrepreneur in the first place. This is difficult but the business required you to have an entrepreneurial mindset, your employees will be looking for a leader.

It is important for you to develop a leadership mindset to help you navigate the challenges you will face in your role as leader. Thankfully, there are resources available to help you do that, seek them out and use them.

Everyone feels fear at some time or another. Successful small business leaders will feel fear but they will not allow those fears to paralyze them. Instead, they find ways to move forward despite those fears. The trick is to "know thy fears".

Fearless leaders know they have fears, they know what they are and work hard to shift the thinking that strengthens or supports them. Fearful leaders on the other hand allow those fear to take root and take control over their lives.

So don't be insecure to share your fears, be open and honest with yourself about your fears and be open and honest with others. Discussing your fears will only help to diminish the power and control they have over you and over your life.

Remember that it is natural to feel fear but if you learn to recognize your fears and be honest about them this will allow you to control your thoughts and reactions and have some level of control over your fears and over your results.

A new study by the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy highlights the contribution of women-owned businesses to the US economy. Key findings from the study include:

In 2012, women owned approximately 9.9 million businesses which generated approximately $1.4 trillion in sales and employed 8.4 million workers. Another 2.5 million businesses were equally owned by male and female accounting for an additional $1.1 trillion in sales and over 6 million jobs. 

As majority and joint business owners, women generated $453 billion in payroll and had 14.9 million workers through 12.3 million businesses. Read the full report here

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