Entrepreneurship is Economic Freedom for Women
“I just want to do work that I’m passionate about.” “I feel stuck where I’m at.” “I’m tired of working a full-time job and having a side hustle.” “How can I sustain myself financially and care for my family without working full-time?” “My job just isn’t working for me, or my family. I’d love to be my own boss.”
Do these statements feel familiar? They’re commonly used by individuals who find themselves working full-time jobs with side hustles. They wrestle with daily frustration at work because they haven’t figured out to make their five-to-nine a nine-to-five. They might also be lacking the resources needed to take the plunge, as well as guidance on how to run a successful business.
It’s true that entrepreneurship sounds glamorous, and it can be a vital way for women to escape toxic work environments while building financial security. But it can also be intimidating. Especially when all you know is the stability of full-time employment. The constant fear of the unknown drives many women away from completely submerging themselves in the work they are passionate about. It’s scary to take a leap of faith and pour your all into your passion, knowing it may not work out in your favor!
Along with fearing what could go wrong, many aspiring entrepreneurs fear the responsibility that comes with entrepreneurship. There’s obtaining an LLC, figuring out taxes, registering and marketing a business, developing a business plan, securing enough business each month, researching and applying for additional funding sources, and of course, running the business. In addition to outsourcing for extra help if needed, following a strict budget, finding reasonably priced out-of-pocket health insurance, and temporarily sacrificing regular luxuries.
But while fears often plague the mind of the full-time employee with a side hustle, they still crave the freedom that comes with being their own boss because entrepreneurship is freedom. It is ensuring that you can stay at home with your child(ren) when they are sick. It is having the luxury of working how long or how often you want to. It is not adhering to a specific work schedule. It is being able to go on vacation, take mental health days, and care for yourself without wondering how many sick or personal or vacation days you have left. It is the freedom to operate fully in your creativity without having to condense it into small increments of time throughout the day or limit it to evenings and weekends. It is the freedom of no longer feeling stuck in a job that pays the bills but offers little to no fulfillment. And it is a pathway toward economic freedom.
At Women Employed, we have always fought to improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity. Our belief that entrepreneurship is a way for women to build economic security is not new; however, with the amount of women leaving the workforce during the pandemic for all the reasons described above―there was no better time than now to launch a Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub (WE Hub)! The WE Hub will bring statewide business resources together in one place specifically made for women in an interactive way that goes beyond the expected library of links. If you are a woman that resonates with the above message or know a woman who does―check us out at wehub.org and sign up to receive further updates.
