"Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong, it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength" - G.D. Anderson, www.gdanderson.com

When it comes to building an empire, training an army or even wrangling your kids to school, quality always trumps quantity. Success is tangible; it is measured by the building blocks that create the empire, the skills taught to the military, and the negotiation tactics of getting the kids in the car. The results are the selling point.

"Quality is an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort" - John Ruskin, Writer and Philosopher

It is no secret that men are still taking the lead in property investment, but is this simply because the quantity of men in property is greater than that of women? 

Here we will examine the quality investment choices women make and whether they can outweigh the number of men in the industry.

This article will explore the power of healthy competition between men and women, how women could stand to help themselves more, and why the differences between men and women make for successful investment.

The role sketched out for women has expanded. It has grown beyond being a wife, a daughter and a mother; these roles are still prevalent; they have just been added to the list of responsibilities.

We are breadwinners, business owners, and entrepreneurs now too. We have always wanted to be more, have more options, and be able to make choices for ourselves. The willingness women have to learn and grow sets us apart from men. Though strong women of history have always existed, it seems that only now society is starting to see the real power women yield over their counterparts.

"Tremendous amounts of talent are being lost to our society just because the talent wears a skirt" - Shirley Chisholm, Politician, Educator and Author

Now trust me when I tell you that we are not here to badmouth men; that is not the goal here. Instead, the goal is to look at how women work and take heed of the attributes women possess when investing in their financial future.

Although we don't have the number of women in the investment game that we would like, why do women make superior investors?

1. TENACITY IS STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY

Understand your market, do your due diligence, and create contingency plans - this is the power of tenacity. Your grip on your future needs to be firm; it has to be tight - it means everything. Women do not squander chances as quickly as men because we are often only given one chance at succeeding. The state of the property market is ever-changing – interest rates, taxes, and property prices fluctuate, people change their minds, and regional plans can cause availability and desire to alter. Investors must stay on top of government planning and market changes. You must show flexibility and knowledge in your trade. 

Being tenacious should be worn as a badge of honour. Some people may find you stubborn, relentless and insistent; I believe these are the exact qualities someone investing in property should possess. Through this deliberate intention, you can finalise deals and make the right decisions for your future. 

Of course, men can be tenacious and bloody-minded, but chances are fewer and far between for women; we still have something to prove, so second chances are not as available to us.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/2018/10/15/tenacity-the-ultimate-skill-when-it-really-matters/?sh=71dc1b4c1bf5

2. BEING PROACTIVE IS PART OF OUR SURVIVAL GUIDE 

Problem-solving is a big part of what makes an investor a good investor. By nature, women are natural problem-solvers. Taking the bull by the horns to protect your family, money, or yourself is a woman's drive to be proactive and ultimately survive. Hence, the care we feel for our family, the point we must prove to our neighbours, and the focus we need to get s*%@ done. 

Property investment is all about action. Whether you need to move quickly on purchasing a property, take care of management issues regarding maintenance, resident issues, structural problems or deal with government changes, being proactive is par for the course for successful property management. 

To keep on top of these external issues, you must be prepared, willing to react quickly, multi-task and stay calm under the pressure of an unforeseen problem. This is where women have always been superior to men. Problem-solving, calmness, reacting appropriately and defusing challenging situations are essential. We are multi-taskers; we know how to manage more than one thing, which is what good property owners require. 

If you are a man and have ever wondered what it is like inside a woman's mind, imagine a browser open on your phone or laptop and see 2,435 tabs open all the time. AND I mean ALL OF THE TIME! 

"A woman is a full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform" — Diane Mariechild

3. WE ARE HAPPY TO COLLABORATE

Building your network is one of the most powerful assets you can hold in your arsenal when it comes to business. Talking, observing and combining skills are often the best way to see how others work, deal with issues and problem-solve. So if you want to invest in property but have no idea where to start - don't worry. It all has to be learned one way or another; I have several webinars, success stories and tutorials that can help you get started. The talent we possess to be empathetic and trusting means we acknowledge each other more effectively; we listen, learn and on the whole create a space where we can be heard in a space that feels safe and collaborative. That is how we learn and grow.

Find out more here

https://www.propertyinvestmentqueen.co.uk

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest"  - Benjamin Franklin

 You can never have too much knowledge when choosing the most suitable investments for your growing portfolio. So ask for help, work with others and listen to the experts. 

3.THE POWER OF RESILIENCE

Unfair treatment, discrimination, lower wages and less choice; the constant struggle life has thrown at women is still scarily commonplace, but despite this adversity, women have clawed back time and again to show that they are more than able to compete against men. The power of a woman's resilience is innately ingrained in our DNA. 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/women-more-resilient-leaders-than-men-virtual-team-trainer/

Based on April 2022 statistics, the UK is now second in international rankings for women's representation on boards at FTSE 100 level. We are still a long way from seeing a dramatic change in female CEOs, but this ranking does highlight that this year almost 40% of high-level positions are now held by women. 10 years ago this figure was less than 12.5% by comparison. Progress indeed, but more must be done.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sea-change-in-uk-boardrooms-as-women-make-up-nearly-40-of-ftse-100-top-table-roles

For the women and me I have worked with, resilience is one of if not the most important characteristic you can possess. It is a real force of nature that gets you to where you need to be. Resilience drives your focus, fuels your ambition and creates positive changes for your future. Think of those times you failed, were told you weren't good enough and missed opportunities; no matter whether your initial reaction was to lie down and admit defeat or dust yourself off, now is the time to use your resilience with pride and find your path to success.

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again" — Nelson Mandela

4. RISK OR OPPORTUNITY

While one of us can see risk, another can see opportunity. This difference can make or break your future as a property investment pro. Women, by nature, are more cautious than men. They have always had to be; they usually have more to lose. 

"I recognise no rights but human rights – I know nothing of men's rights and women's rights."- Angelina Grimke

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0512/low-vs.-high-risk-investments-for-beginners.aspx

Men and women both see risk and opportunities; this is not a gender thing. It is a personality thing. Some people are more cautious than others, while others consider themselves gamblers. Provided with an opportunity, women see and assess the outcomes in very different ways - as a woman. Your success rating might be about making money or winning a deal. However, success is measured by asking yourself, "will this serve my family and me in the future" "If I invest in this, will I make a return on my investment" "will this purchase support or hinder my family's future". As female leaders, our assessment is based on understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the situation. Risk or opportunity - that depends on you.

"Women are always saying, 'We can do anything that men can do'. But men should be saying, 'We can do anything that women can do'." - Gloria Steinem

5. THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

Striking while the iron is hot is critical! Women have never been more prevalent and involved in running companies, being industry leaders, and managing the household purse strings; in fact, it took women working together to bring power to us all. This is by no means a finished task – every day is a struggle when it comes to bias and equality, but every day we all fight together is a better day than yesterday. When Hillary Clinton used the slogan, "The Future is Female", she intended to encourage, inspire and support other women to take on new and challenging roles. Roles that could better themselves and create a path for young girls in the future.

“I remain convinced that ‘the future is female’ - Hilary Rodham Clinton

If we don't build something good for ourselves after all the oppression and bias that has gone before, we could be doomed to repeating the same patterns that have gone before. Women are on the up, so they are fundamentally geared towards creating success for themselves. Men have been allowed to prove themselves repeatedly for millennia; we have not. We have found our voices, found our skill sets and are paving the way for those that come after us. That is why women make good leaders, good parents and good investors. We do it every day, we invest time, money and heart into our endeavours. We already have the skills. We have just always needed someone to believe in us, champion us, and support us. It is beautifully poetic that the ones that have powered us are the ones that are like us, women helping other women.

It is these attributes that incomparably equate to success when used wisely. A successful strategy is about using these skills and using them to create opportunities. Those who succeed in property investment are the ones that know their market. They see the potential and understand the risks and what it takes to succeed.

Women have an innate ability to pick up things quickly; they do their due diligence and research. In essence, while women were 'coming up, they had to know their stuff; they had to prove themselves to be clever, understand what men understood, and be taken seriously as a powerhouse rather than just a mother and wives. It is ingrained in our DNA, it is part of what fuels our inner confidence, it is how we know the difference between risks and opportunity – we have had to prove we know the numbers, the people, the market and the goals, it has taught us to use this in everything we do, and it works! It has made us strong, successful leaders who are capable of investing in our future. 

"It was a risk. I had a husband and I was pregnant with my oldest son. But I don't look at risks the way other people do. When you're an entrepreneur, you have to go in feeling like you're going to be successful." – Lillian Vernon

The beauty of the human race is that everyone is different, it is all the small variables that make us who we are. Every investor is unique; they approach opportunities based on the most important values to them. Of course, there are common characteristics; there have to be when you are all in the same industry, but it is for you to find what works for you, the knowledge you possess and how you approach your investment. Understand your unique values, take the time to learn your craft, find the instinct you have for mitigating risk, and see a return on your investment in your bank account. 

If you would like to know more about how I can help invest in your future, CLICK HERE for more information.