“I am proud of the woman I am today because I went through one hell of a time becoming her!”
This quote has always resonated with me as I reflect back on all of the challenges I’ve overcome in my lifetime. Having grown up in a very dysfunctional family environment it’s easy to relate to the motivation and strength behind this statement. Every challenge presented an opportunity to learn and grow.
As we celebrate Women’s Entrepreneurship Day today, I want to pay homage to the women who have inspired me to become the women I am today. Women like Oprah Winfrey who overcame poverty, teenage pregnancy and the death of her son to become one of the world’s strongest, most influential women today. Author J.K. Rowling, who persevered through the challenges of single motherhood scaping by on pennies to continue to follow her passion of writing until she succeeded. Finally, Malala Yousafzai, a strong independent activist who took on the Taliban speaking out publicly on young girl’s right to education and has gone on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
There are so many more, too many to name. Not to discount our male counterparts, women bring a strength that men can’t even begin to imagine. Determination and perseverance are ingrained of our genetic make-up. Consider the challenges we overcame to be recognized for our contribution to society in the early 1800’s when the Women’s Rights Movement first began. It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually we prospered. Now when we examine the fact that almost 40% of small businesses in the US are owned and operated by women, and that women businesses have grown by more than 115% in the last 20 years, we can see the footprint women have made on society today.
What’s most amazing is that the women entrepreneurs have bypassed all racial biases. In the last 45 years, the number of US companies found by black or Hispanic women has grown three to four times faster than the average rate.
In the first six months of 2019, 10 companies owned by women became unicorns. Unicorns are those startup companies that gross more than $1 billion. Boston Consulting group conducted a study that included 350 startups revealing that women-owned businesses were a safer investment that those run by men.
The bottom line is that women entrepreneurs bring an element to the business landscape that can withstand the sword of entrepreneurship with an armor comprised of gentle strength, humble compassion and rational discipline.
Let’s celebrate our day of reckoning by gathering a group of our female business leaders and recognizing our achievements together over a glass of wine!
MarketAtomy, LLC is a growth development-learning environment for small and medium business owners with one goal in mind…to empower them with the tools and knowledge needed to build their business on a rock-solid foundation. Through foresight and fortitude, entrepreneurial dreams become a reality. For more information, please visit marketatomy.com. Visit MarketAtomy.Academy to find out about the only Learning Management System developed for early stage business growth.
To reach Danna at MarketAtomy, LLC email danna.olivo@marketatomy.com.
