Post by Veronica Eyenga, contributing Women On Business writer
People choose to become entrepreneurs for many reasons. For women, those reasons run the gamut and encompass everything from the need for more schedule flexibility to experiencing a glass ceiling.
In my case, I was unsatisfied working for someone else. I had a desire to be my own boss and lead my own company. I followed my dream, and today I am the President and CEO of a successful marketing and accounting firm outside of Baltimore, MD.
I know why I chose entrepreneurship, but I wanted to know why some of you did. Here’s what I learned from some of my fellow female entrepreneurs:
Ramona Russell, Uptown Liz: Ramona started her company, which promotes products from companies whose proceeds go to charity, after losing her sister, Liz, to breast cancer. Through her company, Uptown Liz, Ramona has been able to create a legacy for her sister and help others at the same time.
Sue Wilkowski, textSAT: Sue started textSAT after her daily SAT review texts to her own children were picked up by their friends. Today, Sue’s SAT tips are written by award-winning educators and sent out daily to streamline and supplement students’ SAT review processes.
Carrie McKean, Scarlet Threads: Carrie started Scarlet Threads in 2009 as a way to help impoverished Chinese families. The company’s core visions of Work, Dignity, and Beauty become a reality by allowing Scarlet Threads seamstresses to work from home, according to the needs of their families. By allowing seamstresses to work at their stated cost of labor and sharing a portion of the profits, Scarlet Threads benefits the communities as well.
Katie Goodman, GoodLife Eats: Katie began her food blog, GoodLife Eats, as a way to marry her two loves – food and family. Through her recipes, stories, and food photography, Katie found a much needed outlet for her kitchen creativity and more opportunities than she could have imagined possible. Today, Katie writes for Paula Deen Online and Craftzine.com while her own food blog serves as a supplemental source of income.
Eileen Parker, Cozy Calm: Eileen began her company, Cozy Calm, as an answer to her disability. After struggling in countless jobs, Eileen, who is autistic, decided to start her own business manufacturing and selling Cozy Calm weighted, hugging blankets. In the year and a half since the business opened, Cozy Calm has continued to grow and Eileen seems to have found her true joy.
These are just a few of the reasons why other women have become entrepreneurs. What about you? Why did you decide to take the leap? What convinced you that it was time to strike out on your own?
Tell us your story in the comments!
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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I’m not surprised when I see mumpreneurs (as we spell it in Australia) in action. Working mums have great insights into markets gaps and my experience of running my own business while raising my small son has been that when you’re not chained to the computer all day (because you can’t be – there’s so much else to do!) there is plenty of time for thinking and strategising. This makes the time I do spend at the computer (my main distribution channel and where I capture my blogs and book content) so much more effective. Good luck on all the mums for giving it a go… and I hope we’ll continue to see the rise of mumpreneurs into the future leaders of our businesses and communities.
Great article. I enjoy hearing about entrepreneurs who triumph potentially devastating situations and rise from it with a leaner, more efficient business and go on to achieve everything they desire.
the best way to become a millionaire is to become an entrepreneur”–