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Women Entrepreneurs on Their Rags to Riches Journey

Guest post by: Dr. Madeline Lewis

Article Overview: Women overcoming the obstacles to reach their full potential.

Women Entrepreneurs on Their Rags to Riches Journey

How do women entrepreneurs, in this highly competitive and fast-paced environment move from "rags to riches" and reach the pinnacle of success? Despite their many challenges, succeeding is possible. It just takes seeing themselves as moving "water" that is always flowing outward and over barriers, not as an inert "rock" that has already stopped and remains stagnant.

Water is the current of continuous, directed movement that describes an underpinning theme of women entrepreneurs who have literally moved from rags to riches in their entrepreneurial journey. By making the conscious choice to embrace the philosophy of water, they have propelled themselves forward. With a wealth of insights, they have surged far beyond the shoreline of unmoving rocks and outward into many different life directions. Today, women have the capacity to unleash their powerful genetic makeup and strongly flow to live their dreams. Acting as water, not as rocks, gives women the opportunity to have their authentic voice heard. It is possible to find all categories of women entrepreneurs who master a fierce determination through a circuitous flow of understanding and finding their unique path.

The growth of women's rights in America charts an accelerating upswing that rides a crest of tremendous energy and power. It is like a small stream that initially meanders slowly over the land. Then, it meets a larger stream and finally a rushing river, gathering momentum and rapidly pushing forward to its final destination. Many other movements follow the same kind of accelerating history, but women's rights has a very specific type of power behind its strategic prowess and progress.

Early definitions of women's roles consisted of restraints, shackles, and no elective power. They were not welcome in business or politics, merely holding supportive, invisible roles, no matter their internal strength. If they worked for wages, it was at the lowest end of the spectrum. Nor could women stand at a pulpit or podium, run a business or participate in a real profession. The original Declaration of Sentiments, the guiding document of women's rights outlined in 1848 in Seneca New York, eliminated these oppressive laws and contained a call to action for equality in employment as well as in commerce as entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs have long defied any ornamentation, boxes or obstacles, not sitting still like a rock with no voice or forward movement. Currently, celebrations of water are found everywhere throughout the economic and political spectrums, where women continue to strive for financial equity, running large-scale businesses as CEO's and holding greater political status as evidenced by Nancy Pelosi, only third in line of succession for the Presidency, and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. These women enjoy a new kind of freedom. Yet, it does not come without a price. They must face their personal fears and overcome a great many adversities. They must continually make choices, since it is impossible to assume every role and responsibility allotted to women. Whether their entrepreneur dream starts with big goals or dreams or out of necessity, these women believe that chaos is opportunity. Big changes, especially unpleasant ones, are like freefalling over waterfalls, hitting hard and paddling strong once landing

Entrepreneurial women are changing the face of family, community, and business in their leadership roles and blazing pathways of entrepreneurial milestones. They are problem solving women's needs and societal issues that still remain unfulfilled. Many come from poverty, debt and desperation and recognize that they are modeling for others that are now coming up the ranks.

To be like the ever-moving waters, women must believe in themselves, yield to necessity and flow into the cracks of change. They must believe they can overcome adversity with a supportive and positive determination. Water is relentless. Over time, it can change the course of a river, wear down granite, dominate and change a landscape. In the height of their expanding impact, women innovators, inventors, politicians, heads of state and pioneering business women tap into their inner selves to celebrate their unique feminine qualities and subdue the challenges of the day. As mighty rivers that flow into the sea and oceans, they leave rags and discrimination behind and embrace riches and equality for themselves and other women.

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Article Tags: journey, obstacles, rags to riches, women entrepreneurs



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