There is quite a movement going on for the small craft-based business-man, and more often -woman. This rocks. It's a powerful way to take charge of your own life and checking account, and to be awesome in spite of the dreadful things people are saying about finding a job, lousy economy, etc. It's not that I doubt that it's rough, but for me personally, I know that my success has more to do with how hard and smart I work day to day than how good the economy is. When the economy picks up it'll be easier, but businesses succeed or fail individually in good or bad times.
Ages ago a friend was telling me about his skydiving adventures, and the risks involved. He mentioned statistics and said "...if you believe in statistics." I've thought about that. As an overall governmental average thing, sure, I believe in statistics. But from my personal perspective the only statistics I believe in are my own day to day successes or failures. It only pisses me off when someone talks about the bad economy, as if that outranked my own work and determination. So there.
It's a whole movement going on, and the bookstores and internet are chock full of writing about making your own business go. Which leads me to my one of my Big Opinions about feminist female empowerment...
I've said for ages that women were natural multi-taskers. Historically for ages we have had to be to care for and clothe our own selves, children, men, and in general keep things together, while the dudes had a single mind: kill stuff and bring it back, or build stuff. Takes a different mindset. And that makes us good business owners, coordinators, managers, and good at the balancing act that nurturing work and home requires.
I think some feminism gets confused with women living lives just like stereotypical top-level men. And don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of women kicking ass and taking names. I just think the top priority should be each woman structuring her own life according to her own desires and being true to herself. If that means all business, or stay at home mom, that's cool. But being awesome shouldn't mean abandoning femininity. I like femininity, and I personally feel this intense nurturing, caring, ferocious, seductive, protective maternal side of me that is uniquely female and I think it's pretty neat.
There may still be glass ceilings and inequality, but we are still in a better position than we have been in recorded history, at least in this country. I feel seriously fortunate that I am able to say this is my life, and this is how I want it, dammit, and make it that way without asking anyone permission.
In my own life I've always had in the back of my head that I don't want to have to choose between having a family and a career. It's clearly a mistake to abandon all personal interests to care for a family (I've seen that, and it backfires like crazy when the kids are grown), but I don't want a daycare place to raise my kids either. So, my answer is to run my own show. I love running my own show. It takes time to get it stable and successful, but I know I'll be able to adapt it to the way of life that I choose as it and I both grow.
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