Back in the 1800s and early 20th century, women in Britain used to gather in homes to make chains.
They’d work all day, stop to have babies and breastfeed while using hot metal irons to solder the chains together. Their children would play amongst the sparks and hot shards and they’d go to bed at night exhausted, only to do it all again the next day.
Of course, back then, these women probably had little choice, but that’s not the case today. So why is that women, working from home settle for working the chain gang?
Let me explain what I mean. It used to be that women had to choose between staying at home with their babies and going back to work. But that’s not the case anymore.
In the US, women-owned businesses are growing at 1.5 times the national average and micro businesses are leading the charge (American Express Open Forum, State of Women-owned Businesses, 2012).
The only thing is, there is still only a tiny percentage of women who are breaking through the six and seven figure ceiling. So what’s happening?
Here’s my take on things. I believe that women often underestimate their potential. There’s this crazy old wives’ tale floating around that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. I say bollocks!
My children follow their passions alongside me and I share what I’m doing with them, so that they learn to live a life with no limits. As grown-ups we have difficulty with this concept but the truth is this: If you believe you can’t run your solo business from your kitchen table and make a profit, you won’t.
Once you break through limiting self-beliefs, the “I can’ts” and the “am nots”, you start to see new possibilities for you, your business and your life.
So, if you’re sitting there wondering: “Who am I to do…” I simply say, “who are you not to?”
I used to be working the chain gang, making a few extra dollars on the side to supplement my partner’s nine-to-five salary.
But six months ago, I made a choice to honour my family and my worth and that sparked the journey towards creating the biggest event I’ve ever planned in my life, a telesummit aimed at inspiring women solo entrepreneurs and business owners to dream big and grow fast while living in alignment with their personal goals.
I’d seen lots of different online mega training events but never one aimed squarely at solo women entrepreneurs, craftisans, home-based business mums and dads and micro businesses.
So, I decided that it was high time there was a telesummit for people like us. I refuse to believe that businesses choosing to stay small, don’t want to learn how to grow and be profitable. Otherwise, why would we choose this work-at-home life?
It’s been an amazing ride. I’ve learned more than I could ever have imagined and I invite you to join me on the journey to making your solo business dream a reality at Startup Small — Dream Big — Grow Fast, a three day, free virtual event I’m running in conjunction with my accountability buddy Stacey Myers!
As women, we have this prime opportunity to make a bigger impact on the world. We don’t have to work the chain gang or limit ourselves to thinking that we can only “make a few dollars on the side”. The choice is yours. Why not you?
