| As a woman entrepreneur, my vision is for work | | | | of self-doubt and fear. Having been successful in |
| environments that support and sustain life; that invite | | | | senior management positions, and traveling to |
| health, humor, compassion and truth. We succeed | | | | Microsoft's Headquarters in Seattle Washington to |
| without having to sacrifice our integrity or anyone | | | | successfully lobby them to influence the computer |
| else's. We take part in creating something greater than | | | | industry in changing oppressive language, I was |
| ourselves; be part of something where the whole is | | | | prepared for the external doubters. I was less |
| more than the sum of its parts; a place where magic | | | | prepared for the internal dialogue of doubt. |
| and miracles are a part of life. We are able to grow | | | | This is the time when an entrepreneur needs the kind |
| and expand; to stretch; and finally, to spread our wings | | | | of support best achieved through mentorship. This is |
| and fly. Our experience of flight stands as a model of | | | | the time when we need to be reminded that simply |
| what's possible and a testimony to our courage to | | | | putting one foot in front of the other is the important |
| take the risks that will bring joy, vitality and delight back | | | | thing. This is when the red tape and information can be |
| into the realm of day-to-day living. | | | | overwhelming. This is when we don't even know what |
| Entrepreneurs as my coaching clients, tell me they | | | | we don't even know - so how can we ask questions? |
| want to be able to breathe deeply; to relax and to | | | | I often hear this called the information age - I disagree, |
| laugh; to create and bring new ideas and approaches | | | | as I cannot relate to all the information available. I |
| and opportunities into the light of day. We want to be | | | | participate in global networks and international work |
| able to have work be part of our complete life | | | | and constantly reach out to mentors. There are times |
| process and have room for our families and friends, | | | | when I need someone to point me in the right direction. |
| without the fear of being marginalized or made | | | | Don't give me the map when I need someone to take |
| irrelevant. | | | | me by the hand and lead me. This is also where a |
| As we know, things are changing rapidly today, with | | | | coach can assist. |
| the advances of science. As we move away from a | | | | Home-based business operators often spend large |
| traditional perspective and venture into a quantum | | | | chunks of time alone. Although telephone contact may |
| biological world-view, the lay of the land begins to | | | | be frequent, sometimes two or three days can go by |
| move and sway, leaving us with a sensation not unlike | | | | without seeing another life form that has fewer than |
| an earthquake. Likewise, moving from traditional | | | | four legs. The end result can be a sense of |
| employment to entrepreneurship causes those very | | | | disconnection from the world. However, this sense of |
| things that we have for so long considered to be solid, | | | | disconnection is minor compared to the sense of |
| to be real, and to be the structures of our reality, to | | | | disconnection that I sometimes feel from myself: from |
| begin to fade into movement and sway. | | | | my hopes and aspirations; from my plans; and from |
| All those romantic notions of independence, freedom | | | | the very dream that started the whole thing, so long |
| and great wealth may be overtaken by long hours, | | | | ago. What I've learned over the years is that holding |
| hard work and the uncertainties brought by never | | | | the dream is one thing - continuing to believe in my |
| knowing what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes, we | | | | ability to breathe life into it is quite another. One of my |
| may long for the "good ole' days" and the pay cheque, | | | | challenges has been to continue to believe in myself |
| paid holidays and child-care leave that went with it! | | | | when others didn't; when the evidence in my bank |
| And yet, truth be told, we wouldn't go back for all the | | | | statements, for all intents and purposes, screamed |
| money in the world! To build something from nothing; | | | | "Give it up!" and when even my fans and supporters |
| create and invent on a daily basis; and to contribute | | | | looked at me with great concern on their faces. I can |
| how, when and why I see fit are far greater rewards | | | | choose which of my internal voices to feed - success |
| that I could ever have imagined. The key is to keep | | | | or fear! |
| moving through and past those undeniable, moments | | | | |