A Fempreneur's 10 Most Deadly Plagues List

Every Friday for the last 41 years my husband and I have honored a “date night”. Last night, we went to the theater to see the movie “Exodus: Gods and Kings”. It’s an opportunity for us to just “be” without demands or stress and to enjoy calories that during the week we aren’t otherwise tempted to consume (yes my popcorn is buttered).

Although the movie was entertaining, it was a bit embellished from the biblical version: however, the depiction of the 10 deadly plagues was right on target. Watching the Egyptians continue to dismiss the admonitions of Moses, time and time again made me think about the stubbornness of human beings; and yes, I am definitely one of them!

My husband says I overthink things, but I could not help but wonder how this metaphor might apply to women specifically. As an advocate for the awakening of women in the 21st Century to seize opportunities to become financially stable; the future of my 5 year old granddaughter and young women globally are always on my mind.

I have experienced and observed so many self-inflicted plagues of women over the course of 45 years in business that I could actually see how we women, also fall into the trap of denial…like Ramses the Egyptian Pharaoh.

So if you will allow me, I would like to describe what I think are the 10 deadliest plagues of the 21st Century fempreneur:

1. No sense of self-purpose or contribution to the world
2. Distrusting of other women
3. Nebulous values
4. Lack of self-worth
5. Poor work ethic
6. Weak business acumen
7. Prideful
8. Inward not outward focused
9. Lack of “net” worth
10. Fear

So, in a few closing paragraphs I will summarize my thoughts pertaining to this list.

Each and every human being on this earth can take on the full mantle of his or her reason for existing or simply ignore it. As women we can hold on to the times that other females have disappointed us (or that we have disappointed ourselves) or we can keep our eyes laser focused on the reason that we must push forward.

Our pride, or fear of being seen for who we really are instead of who we aspire to become, must not keep us from serving other women who are challenged with the very same obstacles, when we know we have the power and business acumen to support them.

Finally, building our community or “net” worth is a labor of love. It does not happen overnight so a willingness to be consistently committed to the effort is essential. The process entails sharing values in an authentic way without fear of rejection. We are gently knocking on doors in hopes of finding a kindred soul that will support our mission in life.

When we know who we are (values); why we are on this earth (purpose) and what gifts will impact forthcoming generations (outward focused) we will find the courage to make our own exodus to a new future.