Details
Publication Date: Jan 11, 2018
E-book ISBN: 9781946274120
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-946274-11-3
Why am I writing this memoir? I have had to ask myself who I am writing it for. When people hear my life story they frequently comment that I have done so many different things and some of them ask, “What is the thread?” I’ll answer my own question. ‘I am writing this for myself, to remember what I did and why, where I came from and how I got from there to here. I am also writing for the next generation of women who are looking for the thread that will weave their story.’
I have always considered myself to be an ordinary person. I grew up in a middle-class family, went to college as was expected, taught school, as was advised, and got married - as was the norm (twice!). A child raised in the ’50s who came of age in the “Sex, Drugs, & Rock ‘n Roll” era of the ’60s and ’70s, I have seen enormous changes in our society. Believe it or not, the biggest steps forward in the 1960s were the invention of pantyhose (which freed us from garter belts) and the pill (which freed us from unwanted pregnancy) My societal awareness came to life in the era of Mad Men. If you did not watch that series and are interested in learning what it was like for women in the ’50s and ’60s, you should find it on demand. Our expectations were to find a good husband but until that happened, or if that failed we should make the most of what was available in the workplace. If we were going to type for a living, we wanted to have a successful boss. My friend, Leslie, said she would never admit to being a typist so that she wouldn’t be slotted into a secretarial slot. Maybe, if we were very good, we would get to be the office manager. My friend, Julie Sue Auslander, captured the feeling of the times, “I never thought we would have a seat at the table, the current generation assumes they will. They expect to have a seat. We created that for them. It’s nice that the world has moved forward.”
I have to admit that I have had wonderful opportunities throughout my life to participate in exceptional organizations and meet extraordinary people. The world has changed dramatically for women during my lifetime and I have kept up with the changes. I’ve taken risks, made mistakes and learned great lessons. I have learned to take pride in my accomplishments and recognize the team that helped to make each of them possible. With each decade, the landscape for opportunities for women has evolved. More women graduate from college than do men, but they still, on average earn less. The desire to get a college degree has increasingly tilted to the women’s side but the entry to the C suite of corporate America is still pretty much closed. Access to capital for women entrepreneurs is still a challenge. Sure, more women have ascended to the top ranks of the Fortune 500; more women have won seats in both Congress and their state legislatures. There are more women governors. Importantly, there are role models that can be seen on the covers of national business magazines and television interview programs. All of these changes, I believe, have occurred because brave women have taken risks. We have given up secure positions with health benefits and retirement programs to venture toward uncharted new careers both as entrepreneurs and corporate executives. Today, they are taking risks by exposing sexually harassment in the workplace. More than a decade ago, the Center for Women’s Business Research conducted a study of more than 800 women business owners. Then CEO Sharon Hadary summed up the findings: “Contrary to public perception, women business owners are indeed risk takers. Two thirds (66%) are willing to take substantial or above average risk…these studies also show that the women who own and lead the larger, faster-growing businesses are confident in their financial decision making and their ability to lead profitable companies. I believe this self-confidence is key to their comfort with taking on risk to achieve their goals for business growth.”
The opportunities for women entrepreneurs have grown exponentially and I like to think that I had something to do with that. One’s life may play out in a chronological way but life’s accomplishments are not necessarily linear. There are ups and downs and even when we find our path, we are tempted by detours and tripped by the ruts in the road. My story is ordinary but was made extraordinary by the people I have met along the way. They inspired me, mentored me, taught me important lessons and I hope we all inspire you.
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