(Forbes) -- Growing up in Israel, in a family that didn’t have much money, I always ended up with secondhand clothes and outdated outfits. I got made fun of a lot because of what I wore. What really upset me was when I put together an outfit I liked and they still made fun of me.
I didn’t want to get picked on for the rest of my life, so I got a part-time job and bought my own clothes. When I walked into class wearing a new outfit, I never felt so confident. Everyone was in shock. I was wearing jean shorts, white shoes and a matching white blouse.
Then it happened: Kids made fun of my new clothes.
At that moment, something inside me changed. I knew people would always find fault with me and try to bring me down. But that was also when I decided to stop caring so much about what people thought and said. It's when I learned to be myself regardless of what others think.
Fast-forward 30 years, and I now run an international fashion technology company that helps women around the world discover and purchase great fashion at low prices. As a female entrepreneur in what is still a man’s world in many ways, I constantly hear from naysayers while growing my business — especially when it comes to raising money. As a business founder, it's important to have thick skin, regardless of what people say. Here are six things you should aim to maintain while working with investors.
A Positive Attitude
Investors are constantly asking about and focusing on what's wrong, especially during the due diligence process. I remind myself daily of all the good things happening with my business. Specifically, I look at my team and think of how blessed I am to be surrounded by such hardworking and amazing people who believe in our mission. I look at my website, scroll through the pages that took so long to perfect and I smile to myself. I use our app, testing it and loving all of the features we built into it. I take note of all the reasons why I'm happy with how things are going. Recognize the parts of your business that you're excited about, make a list of them and keep it with you. Look at it once a day, and stay positive.
Your Health
Trying to secure funding can be a daunting process with lots of travel, multiple meetings, late nights and long boardroom negotiations. In my experience, you have to be physically fit to perform at your best. To maintain my health, I exercise often, ensure that I don’t drink much alcohol and meditate daily. When I have dinner with friends, I turn off my phone and practice being mindful in the moment. Disconnecting with the digital world helps me connect with myself and find my best ideas.
Great Communication
When seeking multimillion-dollar investments, you often have to communicate with multiple people — from accountants to cofounders to employees to investors and others. Always communicating with specificity is important to help lower the risk of miscommunication. I always repeat what someone says back to them so that we're always on the same page. I also address issues as they arise and prefer having face-to-face meetings with my managers when something goes wrong.
A Level Head
Over the years, I've learned that a big part of fundraising is simply not appearing desperate. When investors sense stress, anxiety or fear, they may try to capitalize on it. Having a level head is important as a leader. If my employees sense that there's something wrong, it can cause worry, which may lead them to look for new jobs. The last thing I need during fundraising is losing top employees. As CEO, I'm always focused on keeping them moving forward and making sure to lead by example. Doing these things helps keep me focused on what matters.
Strength In Negotiations
Many investors seem to work on their own terms, and I've met many who make tight timelines when demanding documentation for due diligence. They don’t seem to care that I'm still running a business while raising funds, and this often puts added pressure on me and makes me feel stressed and anxious. When this happens, I think of the Tai chi lessons I had when I was in China. The concept of Tai chi is to be patient and use your opponent’s energy. Movements are slow, intentional and strategic. During situations when investors make demands and put time constraints on me, I imagine that it's a tai chi match between them and me. I see their move and don’t fight it. I roll with the punches. I counter with calm and slow movements. I tell them very simply and honestly how long it will take me to get them the information they want. I don’t bend to their pressure or let their demands stress me out. I flow with them. I've learned not to react, but to listen, think and then decide on my next move.
Your Vision
Think about why you started your company. It can be easy to lose sight of where you're going when there are so many demands from investors or when there are millions of dollars on the line. While I work through the due diligence process, I always remind my team of the big picture, our vision and our company goals. I encourage everyone to take small steps and put one foot in front of the other but always stay on the path we started on.
Fundraising isn't always fun. In fact, it can be one of the most stressful parts about being a business owner. But if you maintain your attitude and your health, communicate well and keep a level head, you will likely be a stronger negotiator. And when you do sign on the dotted line and bring in investor money, it’s just the beginning. Follow your vision, keep moving and maintain your momentum, regardless of who may be naysaying you as you go by.
