I grew up thinking I could do anything. I had never considered that being female would get in the way. I am not a feminist, really, but I am a strong, opinionated woman (and was that way as a girl). I do think I have been treated differently because I am a woman. I know we have “come a long way”, but I feel like there are still things that we have to overcome. My attitude has always been “forget” them, I will succeed anyway.

I remember when my son was younger. He saw a “girl” dentist. All day he kept calling her a “girl” dentist. This gave me the opportunity to let him know that she was “just a” dentist. And that girls can chose any job they want.

I also have 3 daughters. My lens has changed. I want them to see other woman succeed. Not that I don’t want them to see men succeed, but I want them to see other woman as dentist, doctors, nurses, lawyer, or business owners.

I do business with other woman. My community of women business owners include my accountant, insurance agent, our eye doctor, landlord for my new business venture, local gift/home decor shop owner, and even my direct sale business transactions. Once I sat down to write this, it had not occurred to me how much that factors into my decisions of who I do business with.

I want my girls to know they can do anything they put their minds too. I want them to see me and other women as an example of that.