I watched Get on Up, the movie based on James Brown’s a few months ago. As I watched him sing This is a Man’s World it made me wonder if this is still the truth, especially after recently celebrating International Women’s Day. Of course, the song continues that the world would be nothing without a woman or a girl, but it still begs the question, are men still the one’s in control?
I think we are seeing a shift that may change the way James Brown would see the world today if he were still alive. While we still aren’t seeing enough women in the boardrooms of the corporate world, I see a lot more of us deciding to leave the corporate culture altogether and do their own thing. I’m not going to quote statistics here, but I’m pretty sure that the numbers of women starting their own businesses are on the rise.
When I go to networking events, I see more and more women out there promoting businesses that they are passionate about. Whether they are doing direct sales or starting a business from the ground up, more and more women are realizing that the usual 9-5 isn’t going to give them the lifestyle that they want. We all want more freedom, more time to do the things that are important to us, while earning an income that allows us to do it comfortably.
While many still consider becoming an entrepreneur to be a risky endeavor, it is also one of the most gratifying. What is so great about the abundance of women entering the world of entrepreneurship is that you don’t have to look very hard to find support and encouragement along the way. There are a lot of women out there who are trying to change the way we do business. No one is denying the importance of being mindful of your bottom line at all times, but there is more to business than making a profit. It’s about fostering long-term relationships and coming from a place of service rather than focusing solely on the sale.
I’m curious to see where the next 10 years will take us. Will the number of female entrepreneurs continue to increase, or will we see a plateau? Personally, I believe that as more women become entrepreneurs and achieve success, they will inspire more of us to do the same. I think it’s up to us as existing business owners to support and encourage those who are considering entering the world of entrepreneurship.
I believe the most important thing is to be honest about the journey. Don’t sugar coat it and paint this idealistic view of what it means to leave your full-time job and do your own thing. This isn’t to scare anyone off, but to give them a realistic view of what’s in store. The saying that it takes 10 years to become an overnight success isn’t an overused cliché, but the truth!
It might still be a man’s world today, but I don’t think that it will stay that way for long. Women are taking control of their lives and their futures. We no longer want to be bound by the limitations of a typical corporate job. We want more, and we want to do it on our own terms. Scary? Definitely! Worth taking the risk? Absolutely!
Sandra Dawes is a certified life coach specializing in helping women who feel unfulfilled with their 9-5 follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.She has completed her first book,Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!
Connect:
www.embraceyourdestiny.ca
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook
www.twitter.com/sandradawes