Last month my fair city endured a nasty ice storm, complete with bitter cold temperatures.   Though not as hard hit as other cities caught in this polar blast, we still had tree limbs falling on roofs and blocking streets, and plenty of car crashes.  Schools, churches and businesses closed down.

With the roads that dangerous, I had to reschedule a meeting of twelve women business owners.  I phoned each of them to arrange a new date.

Guess where I found most of them? 

Eleven out of twelve were at work!  The only one at home has three small children and school was cancelled.

Some had no electrical power at their office and were working by candlelight, bundled up in quilts! 

Apart from being concerned for their safety, I have to say I was both amused and inspired.

The situation made profoundly clear to me the mentality of the small business owner:  we have work to do and the show must go on.  We have clients who need us, we have promises to keep, and we have employees who depend on us.

Some women entrepreneurs run businesses that must operate, regardless of weather, 365 days a year, twenty four hours a day.

During the storm, I talked with the owner of a home health and hospice business.  Though the power at her office went out, her business did not miss a beat.  “We saw every patient we could get to,” she told me.  “Our first priority is patient care and we can’t let the weather stop us.”

Another women owns a CPA firm.  Her clients had payroll and tax deadlines to meet.  “We have to be there for them,” she said.  “We have to get these computers up and get to work.”  She quickly borrowed two generators and bought another.  She needed three to generate enough power to run the heat, the lights, and ten computers. 

I’m convinced that women entrepreneurs share some sort of common DNA, despite their diverse backgrounds, personality types and skills.  This DNA is what people in the horse industry call “heart.” 

Thoroughbred breeders tell you that a horse with heart has this rare combination of energy and courage.  It won’t give up, won’t quit, no matter what the challenge.

Heart has nothing to do with the size, beauty or pedigree of the horse.  It’s an internal quality — a generosity of spirit that compels it to keep trying, to master the challenge no matter the effort.

Women business owners have heart!

That’s why I’m happy to see February 15—22, 2014 designated as National Entrepreneurs Week. 

Entrepreneurs (men and women) don’t get nearly enough credit or validation for the courage it takes to fly without a net.  We take for granted the tremendous pressure an entrepreneur feels for being responsible for the livelihoods of their employees and being responsible for the bottom line.  Not to mention, their own families!

The women business owners I know are not greedy capitalists, thinking only of their own profits or how to get rich.  They are driven by a genuine passion that even they can’t often find words to describe.  They are determined to do an excellent job at whatever they do.

Their work ethic is unmatched. 

Most people underestimate the diversity of expertise an entrepreneur needs – they have to be competent at an incredible variety of skills.  Unlike large corporations that have specialized departments to handle specific responsibilities, women business owners have to be knowledgeable about everything — from accounting to employment law, from management to marketing, from technology to teamwork, from website design to strategic planning.

Keep an eye on your local media and I’ll bet you this:  you’ll rarely see women entrepreneurs in the pages of your newspaper or featured in television interviews.  They don’t often seek recognition.  They humbly go about their daily lives, putting one foot in front other, doing the best they can to take care of their families, their customers and their employees.

I hope you’ll join me in taking this one week to appreciate and honor every woman entrepreneur you know (including yourself!) for the contribution she makes to her family, to her community and to the  economy.

Here’s to you, women entrepreneurs!  Take a bow. 

Take care,

 

 

 

P.S. 

My new book affirms the heart of women entrepreneurs, using metaphors and stories to teach new self-awareness and business skills. 

Because every woman entrepreneur deserves to achieve HER version of success!