Most days I do not feel inferior to men in the business market place but in much of my career I have had to face it head on. I have done more or better quality work and not been rewarded as equally as my peers that are male. This continues to be a slap in the face for women who are top in their field of choice. When I am faced with it head on, I rise above it, move forward in some way, and come out better for it. This is why I am where I am now being self employed striving to be top in my field.
In some ways, I think we set our self up for this behavior and wish we could stand together to move forward and walk beside our fellow men as equals. I have come upon this working towards updating some of my training to grow as my business grows. I have been searching for someone I can relate to and I would love a women role model since so far most of my teachers have been male. So I ordered a magazine about women in business hoping to be inspired. I just got my first edition and I am sadly disappointed. If I wanted to know about parenting tips or gardening tips, I would have ordered one of those magazines. I want to hear issues other women like me come upon in business. I do agree with health tips but they should be business health issues like stress relief or insurance options with new health care laws geared toward business owners. As a mother, I know it is hard to be the all star mom, business women of the year, and all the other roles each of us play in our lives. Sometimes as business women we need a break from all the roles we play at home and be looked upon for the business woman we are and we need to support each other, not cripple ourselves. My mom cuddled me when I was a kid and fell off my bike. She doctored up any boo boos that I had but my dad told it to me straight and encouraged me to get back on and ride. If we want equal rights to men we need to be able to offer tough love sometimes and play both roles. Having said that we can not go out there trying to prove such a point that we push everyone away and sometimes as women in business we do this so we can have personal success. It needs to be balanced.
There can be no excuses in business and as women we have lots of examples. If you did not send the mailing list out because your daughter had a chorus concert. Your business will not get the extra sales for that period of time. Do not allow yourself to fall victim to excuses but find solutions. The key is to find time for both, just as many men are finding they have to work harder to be more active in their children's life. As we adapt to both women and men helping in both areas we find it is harder to do but if we work as a team and stop fighting against each other the results are limitless.
I am hoping this inspires others like me to chase their dreams and not give up even when it feels like you are climbing uphill. Please share any resources you have found that are equal tothose available to men in the business world today or if you are searching too, contact me and maybe we can create the answer that others like us are trying to find. It does not matter what type of business you choose to do, just do it well.
"I didn't get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it."
