Enterprising Magazine, August 2010, reported that there are 10 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. that employ over 13 million people and generate nearly $2 trillion in annual sales. I had to re-read that sentence to make sure I understood the enormity of the numbers! Do you know there are 12 zeros in a trillion? Ladies, we are powerful force!
The news consistently is reporting that it is the small business owner that is going to pull our economy out of the double dip we are in. Perhaps, just perhaps, we could call this our unified purpose – to bring our beloved country out of economic despair. Sounds good to me, how about you?
What can we, 10 million strong, do to positively impact our individual businesses, our future and the future of our country? What decisions can we make and actions can we take today that will make tomorrow better? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Know who you are and what you have to offer.
Self-awareness is one of the ‘self-muscles’ that is often underdeveloped. The greater understanding you have of the totality of your strengths, skills and special talents, the more likely you are to access your total ‘self’ and put ‘all of you’ to work. Likely, to date, you have accessed only a fraction of what you are truly capable of. Think about that – really think about what you not tapping into.
2. Ask different questions.
I’m a big fan of asking questions – new questions, different questions. That’s the only way I know to uncover and discover new answers. I need to turn off- the WYOU station playing in my head and tune into a new wave length – WCAN. Also, by asking different questions, I can discover what limited thinking may be holding me back. What old, out-dated, beliefs and thinking are holding my energy, my potential and my future hostage?
3. Accept Responsibility.
This is where the defining action occurs. When we accept responsibility for living the life we want to live, we have truly stepped into our power. We move from inertia to action, from waiting for things to happen to making things happen. Our purpose becomes powerful – to make ourselves, our lives and our environment better than it is today.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please share and let’s give this concept the momentum and attention it deserves. Yes, it will make a difference and we can influence our future!
Susan