This morning as I read my email, as I always do well before dawn, I came across an article from Forbes magazine "Why Women Entrepreneurs Make Less Than Men". Immediately I became frustrated, as I always do when I read one of these types of articles. I quickly tweeted it out and commented - SO WHAT!
Do you ever ask yourself how different business in American would be if we changed the paradigm of success. Rather than judge the success of a business or a business owner on how much money is made, judge it (them) by how much is given to the community or the world?
Don't get me wrong! Women entrepreneurs like to make money too! I've worked with many men and women over the years, and making money is not something ONLY men think about. BUT, creating a business that is satisfying, gratifying and purposeful is definitely something more women think about then men.
In my exprience, the most successful businesses and enterpreneurs are those that develop businesses that not only make money, but offer a solution to a problem that plagues the pursuit of happiness for other human beings. This concept can be as broad as building a technology company that answers the age-old question of connecting with others (Facebook, HubSpot, Google) or creating a healthcare company specializing in changing America's health (EmpowHER, Beacon Partners).
The companies mentioned here are changing our world and making money, but they were started by people with passion for changing the world. Some of the entrepreneurs doing this work of changing how we live and work will make more money than you and I could truly imagine, but thier compass is not money BUT PURPOSE!
Finding purpose in work is the number one reason entrepreneurs do what they do! If you have started a business and find it difficult to get out of bed each day to do your work, it is more than likely you don't have enough passion for what you are doing.
Passion is important. Purpose is important. Passion and purpose are words I hear much more often from women than men. Take a look at the Forbes Richest People in America List. I don't need to tell you which people on this list have passion for what they do. I also believe that there are some people on this list that you wouldn't trade places with -- just for the money. Why do I say that? Because I know my audience reading this blog.
Recently, I read an article about how we look differently at nonprofit work and for profit work. The premise was that nonprofits are not expected to make money, not expected to pay high salaries, not expected to attract high talent. Again, another concept that we don't question and just follow along with.
Of course, the majority of nonprofit employees are women. And, the majority of small nonprofit executives are women. The very large nonprofits, with higher salaries, are led by men. Nonprofits are turly places where workers can find purpose and passion for their work. Is it any wonder that they are populated in the majority by women and that the idea they should remain underfunded and still get the job done is never questioned?
Perhaps, I have gone way off my topic for this blog. I hope my point of finding purpose and passion in one's work has come across loud and clear. Waking up each day knowing that your work matters will make you a very rich person. It will not, however, most likely, get you on the Forbes Richest Americans list.
I look forward to a day when I read my emails and the media has articles that answer the questions:
Why Do Women in Business Find Greater Satisfaction in Entrepreneurship?
Why Does Finding Satisfaction in All That You Do Trump Making Money?
What Happen To Honesty Being The Best Policy in Politics, Business and Life?
I could go on and on but I know you get the point. Need help with your business or health email me vicki@vickidonlan.com