Where Are the Women in Small Business?

Most people would have a hard time thinking of more than a few names of women in small business. There are many reasons for this. First of all, most girls are not brought up to believe that they will be anything other than employees and mothers, while many boys are brought up seeing their own fathers as the head of a company, or at least told that they could one day own their own firm.

There are actually many women in small business today as owners, presidents, CEOs, and in upper management, but they are fairly low profile. A sociologist might tell you that is because women tend to “undersell” themselves, preferring to stand on the sidelines rather than hog all the attention.

There was a young woman named Martha Stewart, who after a stint as a model and a stockbroker decided that she would use her household skills as a way to make money. She started filming a short television program, showing helpful hints for homemakers, and that was the beginnings of what we now know as the Martha Stewart empire. She turned her love of art, design, and the home into an enormously successful business.

If you are thinking of going into business for yourself, you can certainly take a page out of Martha Stewart’s book – do what you love. By identifying what it is that you do well, what you enjoy, and what you would do even if you weren’t paid to do it, you can then put that very same passion into a small business.

Just like Martha, take something that is dear to you and use your passion to show it to the world. If you are passionate enough about your business, you will always find customers.