Musings on loving the (female) entrepreneur in your life

According to statistics cited by NAWBO in a report published in March 2014, women own more than 9.1 million firms. Currently, one in five firms with revenues of $1 million more are woman-owned.
Clearly, the women-owned-business sector is growing.
As a member of the Cleveland Chapter of the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization, I’ve gotten to know other women business owners as peers, colleagues and friends. Male or female, as entrepreneurs, we understand that we’re a different breed.
I recently attended an event during which a speaker showed a slide meant to illustrate the entrepreneurs’ mindset. It read, “While you debated whether the glass was half empty or full, I sold it.” The entrepreneurs in the room smiled and nodded somewhat smugly, the entrepreneurs’ significant others laughed, nodded and gave each other commiserative and knowing glances.
I could write about owning and running a business, though in honor of Valentine’s Day and in an effort to write a kinder, gentler column this month, I wanted to offer these tips about the entrepreneur in your life.
The in-depth research that went into this article consisted of a discussion over a bottle of wine between myself and two fellow women business owners: Lynlee Altman, Pinnacle Construction and Lisa Lewis, Primetime Delivery & Warehouse. We did go the extra step of interviewing our spouses/significant others.

  • Please know that if we don’t act as though we need you, it’s because we don’t need you. It’s better than that — we want you in our lives.
  • Throw traditional definitions, expectations and roles out the window — welcome the chaos and ability to create the “new normal” together.
  • The pride you show when we’re recognized means far more than the recognition itself.
  • Please laugh when people address you using our last name.
  • Sometimes it’s better not to say anything at all. Have a sixth sense for that timing.
  • Home is a safety zone. If we don’t want to talk about work — it’s because we covet the bubble at times.
  • Be sure of our love for you. We negotiate and navigate for a living; it’s so nice to know someone is on the same page without having to read it aloud.
  • Love and appreciate our silly side. We don’t get to show it that often.
  • We strive to be really good at everything we do and we have a tendency to be competitive and keep score. Let us know we’re winning in all the roles we have in life (wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend…).
  • We’ve chosen you, because we know that a weaker person wouldn’t know how to handle what we bring each day.
  • When we say we’re grateful, know how very much we mean it.

Wishing all a very Happy Valentine’s Day and a 2015 filled with much love, health, success, boundless patience and gracious humility.