One of the great pleasures of being an After 55 entrepreneur is that, perhaps more than any other demographic, we can use our business to express who we are or who we want to be in the world. Being a for-profit business carries its own requirements, but a large percentage of us start businesses to give voice to our creativity–from painting or making jewelry to designing clothing for ourselves or our grandchildren, writing books or creating a business that has a life of its own. The examples are endless.
Every woman I have written about in my column has started or maintained her business not only to make money, but also because it is a true expression of who she is as a human being. These businesses model good business practices, but they are also a forum for expressing to the world how these women would like to be treated and viewed. I am sure there are exceptions, but each of the women I have interviewed is a fanatic about customer service. They have experienced the frustration of not having someone listen to them seriously about a problem and, at some level, vowed that if they had a business they would do it differently. My friend Barbara Luther, a very entrepreneurial intellectual property attorney, says that behind every successful woman is someone who dissed her (cleaned up here for younger eyes!). After I stopped laughing, I thought about it and find that it’s generally true.
In more ways than one, we are changing the world one business at a time. Now this is exciting!
This entry was posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 am and is filed under Marketing, Personal Growth, General Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.10 Responses to “The Pleasure of Being an Entrepreneur”
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May 26th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Great article! I feel that you are writing about me!
I would just like to add that a number of women like myself have started businesses in order to have more flexibility in their lives. Personally, I got tired of working 9 to 5 and working from home let’s me have more control over my schedule. Right now it’s 11pm and I’m just getting ready to start my work day. It was my choice to play during the daylight hours. Now it’s my choice to start working!
Jo Anne
(smile)
www.funcartattoos.com
May 28th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Joanne,
You are a woman after my own heart! Being a Woman of a Certain Age, I am occasionally up in the middle of the night. What do I do when I can’t sleep? Open up the laptop and get some work done — loving every minute!
Thank you for the kind words…I AM writing about you!
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I started a business after i turned 50 and at 60 I am still growing the business and having a ball. What is special about this is that I left the US after 23 years and relocated to Accra, Ghana where I now have a shea butter producing company employing 20 full time workers(mostly women) and 350 contract women worker. My goal is to empower as many women as possible in a country where women are treated as second class citizens and yet are responsible for taking care of the family.
I am glad for the opportunity of having a job with the flexibility to do what I want when I want. Eugenia
June 9th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Eugenia,
Isn’t in marvelous how you have combined doing well and doing good? What an inspirational story! This is what makes this time of life so very fulfilling and exciting!
June 12th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Bonnie, I was in the middle of writing, “The Life of an Entrepreneur,” and read your blog of 5/23/08 with Jo Anne and Eugenia’s replies. My mission is to foster, encourage and sustain the spirit of the Entrepreneur, but I don’t know when I have been more uplifted with “an incredible lightness of being,” than now in reading this. I’ve been an Entrepreneur nearly 50 years and needed your “spirit” today! Changing the world one business at a time, one Entrepreneur at a time! Exciting indeed. Give ‘em hell!
Great work,
Scott
June 12th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Scott,
Thank you so very much for your wonderful words. What a great mission you have — with your experience you know how much it is needed.
I’ll look forward to reading your book!
Bonnie
June 24th, 2008 at 1:56 am
what i love about being an online entrepreneur is the moment you open you email there would messages from potential clients that are inquiring for your services, what makes this special is i only advertise on free ads and thanks to my program( glyphius 2008) i was able to gather up more hit than before.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Lorenzo, that is the first time I have heard such a delightful way of looking at emails — and so true! A positive expectation I think makes all the difference.
June 29th, 2008 at 2:24 am
I Am 55 self employed and it really feels good. Some days you may work a little longer but you know why and that makes a difference.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Roy,
You are exactly on target — it is great to see the results of extra effort. The extra time spent can pay off in clear results. Many employees are working extra hours and don’t receive the recognition or appreciation nor see the direct result of their efforts. I’d say we are fortunate!