Recognize and Celebrate Women’s Achievements
March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th is specifically International Women’s Day. It’s a day to recognize and celebrate women’s achievements, and to continue to advocate for gender equality. This year’s theme is Embrace Equity.
Equity is defined as impartial, unbiased, and fair. We did not all arrive in adulthood having had the same encouragement, education, benefits or support. We all deserve the same opportunity and respect, regardless of our background, gender, culture, or education. Equity is about equipping everyone who needs it with whatever it takes to be considered equal.
Today, as an entrepreneur in 2023, my professional circle consists of other supportive, amazing women. I network in groups that are mostly female-based, and most of my clients are female small business owners.
You will often hear entrepreneurs talking about their “why” - the reason they do what they do. My “why” is to have freedom and control, and to help others obtain the same. In my previous corporate jobs, I did not have control.
I started my professional career in male dominated businesses in the male dominated corporate world. I quickly learned that gender equality was sorely lacking - in terms of compensation, responsibilities and opportunities.
Here are a few examples of my experiences with gender inequity:
Know Your Worth
I had a male coworker who was doing the minimum, while I was working to my potential. We both received the same raise. I was told that as a single female, I did not need to make as much as him because he had a family to support.
You Don’t Belong in the Kitchen
At another job, I was one of just a few women working with almost 100 men. At the annual company BBQ the wives were expected by the men to organize the food at the BBQ, and although I wasn’t anyone’s wife at the time, I was told to go help the other women with the food.
Where were the men? Relaxing, talking, and playing softball.
I Can Do Anything you Can Do
And at a third job, I was going to apply for a different position in the company. The HR manager begged me NOT to apply. They said the job would go to a man anyway, so why would I want to do something that would make anyone else uncomfortable? That would be awkward.
Interesting fact: About one year after I left, that company was sued for sexual discrimination.
Then and Now
Back then, there wasn’t much you could do to fight those kinds of things. You dealt with it by paying your dues, working extra hours, and hoping someone would notice. Women were often treated unfairly. This is the way it was pretty much everywhere in corporate America. There were two choices - to tolerate it or leave. So I left.
Thankfully, things have changed, but there’s still work to do. I’d like to think the experiences I had back then would never happen today. We have truly seen the history of women in the workplace evolve.
When you choose entrepreneurship, you choose control. We are in control of who we work with, what we do, and how we do it. So the equity question lands with us.
If we feel a sense of inequity, we are most likely imposing it on ourselves. So how do you embrace equity for yourself?
Be clear about what you stand for
Be the CEO of your business - take control of your time.
Set and hold boundaries, and expect others to respect them, too.
Put the necessary structure in place to effectively and efficiently manage your business.
One strategy that is key to taking control of your time is a weekly planning practice. Download my FREE guide to implementing your weekly CEO Hour.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today