Everyday Wonder Woman

Hi there! The topic of female entrepreneurs and women owned business is a subject matter that has been on my heart for a very long time.

I'll give you a little back history on me. As a seven year old, I was selling my candy from the Fourth of July parade to the neighbors. I raked leaves ($1 a bag) to buy a new pair of pajamas for a sleepover. Today I am happiest when watching Shark Tank with my dad, meeting with potential clients for my own videography business (shameless plug for Leah Rose Productions right here), networking, and editing videos with my handsome fiance. My mom raised me to be a strong woman, and my father raised me to always think outside of the box when it comes to businesses.

My own fiance noticed that I needed to start my own business, that it was an "itch I needed to scratch." I honestly have not been happier ever since launching my business a month ago today.

Entrepreneurship isn't always sunshine and rainbows though. Now I am not saying I am a feminist, and I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being a feminist. These are just my thoughts that I feel called to bring to light.

In one of my entrepreneurship courses in college, it was brought to my attention that Iowa was ranked 50th (dead last) in the United States for women owned businesses. Ouch!

So how come there is such a disconnect between society and successful women? Shouldn't we be uplifting powerful and strong women?

Today in media I have noticed that successful career women are painted in a negative light. Controlling, manipulative female CEO's who are selfish, domineering, and disrespectful to their staff. Just think of any tv show or movie with a woman boss or CEO. They are always painted as the "bad guy" with an inflated ego, tight fitting suit with an extra foam no whip soy sugar free macchiato in hand ordering people around with a perfectly manicured pointer finger.

Everyone hates them, no one wants them to succeed. No wonder women are nervous to strive to be like that! I know I was. At my full time job, I felt trapped to be successful. I am scared to seem "bossy" or too "strong" as I work with all males and don't want them to think I am that one "b" word. Yet I don't want to seem too "female" by being soft and feminine with all of my emotions in tow, getting walked all over with no spine. Being an assertive female in a male dominated work place while still maintaining my feminine morals (like wearing skirts and dresses and bright colored lipstick, using manors, and smiling too much) has been a learning curve for me.

Successful women in business should be seen as confident, not cocky. Compassionate not ruthless. Someone that others WANT to see succeed, and that others will work alongside to make sure that they do.

I had an ex boyfriend who refused to let me be in a career where I would potentially make more money than him. My husband to be cheers me along, tells me how proud he is of me for reaching career goals, and challenges me to be even better. Those are the kinds of people we need to surround ourselves with, not the ones who want to keep us in a box for fear that we will outshine them.

There are two current movies that truly stand out to me as models of strong, independent, fearless women who are WOMEN. They have emotions, go through hard times, love others well, and aren't afraid to be successful. They wear minimal makeup, and aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. They have a passion for what they are doing.

I am a highly emotional person. I thought that that trait of mine was a hindrance to being a successful woman. This is not the case, which I learned from these two movies. My sensitive female nature and emotions allow me to connect with others, and don't make me weak. They make me stronger.

The two movies I am talking about are the new Cinderella movie and the new Wonder Woman movie. One is a Disney princess, the other a comic book Super Hero. They both go through hard times, are strong and independent, and show EMOTION. They aren't stone cold, ruthless beings. They care about others around them, and we truly do root for them from the sidelines and want to see them succeed.

"I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind. Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness there is magic."

-Cinderella

"Now I know that only love can truly save the world. So I stay, I fight, and I give, for the world I know can be."

-Wonder Woman

"It's not about deserve. It's what you believe. And I believe in love."

-Wonder Woman

A tv show that I watch that also follows along with this path is Supergirl. She fights crime, but with a smile on her face and morals in her heart. She is quirky, silly, vulnerable and goofy. She makes mistakes and owns up to them. She doesn't put up a front and is candid with her emotions. You make a personal connection with her even though she is an "alien." Her friends and family love being around her even though she is in a place of power. My cousin was watching Supergirl on tv and told my aunt to call me and see if I was currently fighting crime (he truly thought I WAS supergirl. Honestly the best compliment I have received in the longest time.) I have been told that she is my doppelganger, maybe that's why I'm such a fan, but truly this is another great depiction of a strong, successful, woman making a difference.

"The thing that makes women strong, is that we have the guts to be vulnerable. We have the ability to feel the depths of our emotion, and we know that we will walk through it to the other side."

Supergirl

I am part of a group of women in business right here in good old Des Moines, Iowa who are chalked full with Cinderellas, Wonder Women and Supergirls called FemCity. In this group we lift up local successful women and cheer them on. We celebrate wins, encourage vulnerability, and just truly enjoy each others presence and successes.

"Real Queens fix each other's crowns."

If you would like to talk more about this topic over coffee, or would like to hear more about FemCity please feel free to email me at leahjoyevents@gmail.com or message me.

Let's change the world, one work place at a time. Throw out the hard and cold stigma of successful women with what can truly make a difference.

"Just because it's what's done doesn't mean it's what should be done!"

-Cinderella

xoxo,

Leah Joy