Women Entrepreneur Revolution: Ready! Set! Launch! REVIEW!
Today I want to tell you guys about a terrific read – Women Entrepreneur Revolution: Ready! Set! Launch!
Jenn starts out strong by stating that any ladies reading the book should already consider themselves role models. From the very get-go of starting your own business, you should consider the need for female role models – not only that you need one yourself at that point, but that someday some other woman might need you.
I don’t know about you, but that’s an awfully empowering statement to me. It’s really lodged in my brain. As a female, whenever I worked as a stagehand, I knew I had to be excellent. Not just good, I had to be as good as every guy on that crew. I had to make sure there was no reason for that company to not want to hire a woman whenever one applied. It’s not fair, but it’s a fact of life in male dominated careers – ladies, sometimes you’re representing more than just yourself.
It was weird to me though to think of that in this entrepreneurial light. To begin with, I don’t consider myself an entrepreneur. I’ve done some stuff and have some interests that are definitely entrepreneurial, but I never really characterized myself that way. One of the great things about Jenn’s book is that there are lots of little checkpoints as you read – asking you questions, making you pause to think and giving you baby step prompts to get you moving.
As I came across those, I realized that my blog really is sort of a business venture, but more because I do have a vision for it – one I never even fully realized until reading this book.
Can you think of 3 female role models right now?
It’s harder than you thought, isn’t it? And if we don’t include Oprah, how many of you just lost one of the 3? It took me longer than it should’ve, but eventually I came up with:
My 3 Female Role Models:
- My Mom –life and everything in general
- Kylie Ofiu –successful and profitable blogging
- Cathy of BubbleandGeek – running a successful Etsy shop
Now that we’ve found some role models, what’s stopping us? A key aspect is often fear. Fear of every kind you can imagine, but in another little gem, Jenn points out “often the best antidote for fear is action (41),” and I couldn’t agree more.
I loved the story of Sara Blakely, found of Spanx, who had to share something that she’d failed at that week at the dinner table while growing up. Her dad taught her that if you weren’t failing at something regularly, you weren’t trying, and not trying was the real failure.
Another neat little aspect of the book was the “Success” playlist – in a whimsical touch, Jenn included an assortment of inspirational tunes like Roar, Shake It Out and Applause.
I could also write an entire article on how much I loved her take on “being fine.” I loved the whole book with its different inspirational stories, especially the gems of wisdom from successful women, and great tips to keep moving towards your goals, but since this paragraph was my favorite, I’m going to finish up by sharing it with you and then telling you to go and buy this book! Especially if you’re trying to get your own business off the ground.
When the word fine enters your vocabulary – look out. Fine is such an emotionless reaction to being asked, “How are you?” Quite frankly, what is fine, anyway? It isn’t good, it surely isn’t great, but it is neither bad nor crappy, either. Fine is the response one gives you while also flashing that plastic smile resembling someone who’s heavily sedated. Trust me, you don’t want to go through life one more day just being fine (68).
Actually, one final thing, Jenn summed up her book herself with “Be inspired. Commit. Act.”
What are you waiting for?
*Please note that I was provided with a copy of this book for free in order to provide this review, but all opinions are my own. And legit. It’s a good read.*
*Part of Financially Savvy Saturdays on Femme Frugality and brokeGIRLrich*
This is such a great review! I love that you identified your role models and provided so much inspiration for others! Thank you for hosting Jenn! 🙂
Crystal recently posted…Author Jenn Aubert Talks “Women Entrepreneur Revolution” (Podcast)
I agree with Crystal! I’m so happy you stopped to note some of your role models too! It’s important we share with others the people who inspire us. Thank you for the lovely review!
Jenn Aubert recently posted…Interview with Wendy Hernandez
I haven’t heard about this book, but it sounds awesome! I recently did a top ten inspirational woman post and I knew my mom was at the top and I knew about 3-4 others, but I had a tough time thinking of ten and I thought that was really sad. As soon as I was “old enough” to become a mentor at the bank and now at my own company, I made it a life goal to be the inspirational woman that I would have wanted to inspire me through my career. I support, encourage and inspire women in careers in finance and beyond. When women work together and support each other, amazing things happen!
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Music Mondays – We Are One
I agree. There’s a not a finite amount of success out there!
Isn’t that crazy when you stop to jot down women who inspire you, it’s easy to stop around 3-4? However when you ask the question and really begin to keep an eye out, more people begin to surface.
Women’s moms came up over and over during my interviews which I loved. In fact, the book is dedicated to my mom who passed away 11 years ago. She had a quiet strength and even though she wasn’t an entrepreneur her view of living life without regrets is always present in my mind as I start new projects and ventures.
I love that you have made it your mission to inspire and support others! That in itself is inspiring. Thank you.
Jenn Aubert recently posted…Interview with Wendy Hernandez
You know they always push getting a mentor at work. They’re hard to find sometimes. Some are okay but it’s like you only want to eat part of their cake, not the whole cake because there are some habits that they may have that you’re not too keen about. Therefore I find I take the best of the best and try to mimic that. Thanks for the review, Mel!
debt debs recently posted…Top Ten Reasons You Need to Manage Your Finances
Yeah, finding mentors is definitely tougher than it should be! I’ve always felt that way about finding stage managers who are more experienced too. It’s very odd and difficult to find the right relationship to make the mentorship thing work out.
Agree. Mentors can be tough. But I like what you said Debs about picking out what works and scrapping the rest. I honestly don’t think you can find everything you need from one person, one mentor, one role model. You can learn so much from so many different people.
Jenn Aubert recently posted…Interview with Wendy Hernandez
Thanks, for your comment, Jenn. I always kind of wondered if I was being too picky, when I could never find one role model that met the key traits I valued. Nice to know that incorporating a few is a good way to go!
debt debs recently posted…Debt Debs Super Duper Advice
Becoming an entrepreneur means becoming a leader. A leader will always be looked up to by people. So yes, that’s excellent to always be a role model. Even if some female entrepreneurs don’t realize it, I bet they are role models for someone. That someone just may be too shy to say something. My first boss was a huge role model for me but I never directly said that… I feel he knows it now though.
I’m a guy but dang it if I wasn’t gonna leave my $.02! 🙂
Will recently posted…How to Avoid a Financial Hangover
LOL – male $.02 are always welcome! And while I do agree there’s a surprising silence from women on the entrepreneur front, I don’t always like the distinction between trying to empower women more or trying to empower men more. I think we’ll really have gotten somewhere when no one cares exactly who is saying what but what it is they’re saying.
Love what you said Will. There is no doubt that if you are putting yourself out there (in the entrepreneurial sense in this case and with authenticity and integrity ) you are inspiring others.
And I’m happy you left your $.02. Thank you!
Jenn Aubert recently posted…Interview with Wendy Hernandez
I work largely in a female dominated field lately, so listing 3 wasn’t quite as difficult. (Kylie is one of mine, too!) But I totally love this and realize my situation is the opposite of the norm. Sometimes when we are watching TV, the husband will say, “Oh, I hear she’s a bitch.” Which gets me on this rant about how women of that age had to be more confident and forceful to make it, and even with that, if a MSN exemplified the same behaviors we’d be using a whole different set of positive adjectives for them.
femmefrugality recently posted…Tips for Living in an Apartment with Young Children
I hadn’t heard of this book, but I’ll have to pick it up. It’s hard to find entrepreneur information geared towards women.
Tre recently posted…Do You Rebalance?
Sounds like a great book. I really like that phrase about the real failure is not trying, that is the main difference between an entrepreneur and a non-business minded person.
EL @ Moneywatch101 recently posted…New level of success, Whatâs Next?
I couldn’t agree more. Real failing is never trying at all. We need to reframe how we view failing and stop thinking that it defines you as a “failure”. Failing is simply taking risks, making mistakes, learning experiences and opportunities for growth.
Jenn Aubert recently posted…Interview with Wendy Hernandez
Great review! Pinned. We sure do love having you be a part of our party! Please stop by tonight at 7 pm, and party with us. It’s a thrill to have you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls