Pamela Redmond Satran’s poem, “Every Woman Should Have…” (widely miscredited to May Angelou), has been circulating on the internet for nearly a decade. Though most of us have seen it at least a few times, the original poem is still great- inspirational, practical, and empowering, providing everyday wisdom for women of all ages. With the highest respect to Ms. Redmond Satran, here’s my take on her classic:
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Have…
A job working for someone else she can imagine going back to…and one to remind her why she became an entrepreneur…
Enough money within her control to quit her “day job” when she decides to become her own full-time boss…
Something perfect to wear if business partner, vendor, or client of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
A start-up stage she is content to leave behind…
…But bootstrapping stories outrageous enough that she is looking forward to sharing them (with Entrepreneur Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, her shareholders and employees…) in the future…
The realization that she might not ever retire because she loves what she’s doing so much…
A reliable accountant, a competent attorney, favorable merchant account terms, and a talented web designer…
Every Woman Entrepreneur Should Know…
How to work hard without compromising her ideals…
How to hire someone, review a contract, and sign a client…
How to fire someone, ask for client payment, and turn down a contract…
How to at least try to achieve “work-life balance”…
How to negotiate with vendors, clients, and anyone else she needs to…
How to talk about software, VoIP service, or other tech purchases with a salesperson in a way that makes it clear she’s done her research…
That she can’t change how many hours she’s given in a day, when clients choose to call her back, or whether her daughter will have a ballet recital the same morning as a huge, already-scheduled meeting…
That even though she can’t change these things, she’s still in charge of the way she deals with them…
That for some people, business is just business…
Where to go for a lunch meeting, an after-office cocktail, or advice on management issues she’s not sure of…
That she can truly accomplish anything she wants- once she makes up her mind to do it.
Go back and read the original for an extra dose of inspiration!
Absolutely phenomenal post, Merrin.
I’m printing this one up and tacking on my wall.
This is a great list – something for us all to aspire to!