Inspiration

Why do we, as hard working, well educated, wonderful women completely discount our self worth?  Why are we so willing to believe what critics might say of us, instead of looking at ourselves and the quality of what we produce to see the truth of our own value?

Raise your hand if you struggle with this. 

*raises my hand*

*raises my other hand*

*raises third hand*  (I don't by the way - have a third hand.  What sort of weirdo do you take me for?)

This is one of The Hub's pet peeves with me.  I can't toot my own horn (do horns still toot?).  I struggle with admitting that I'm really good at my job.  Really good at a lot of the things I do.  And I really have a hard time assessing a monetary or other value to the things I do.   My favorite phrase is to say I'm a Jill of all Trades.  Which, as the saying goes, implies that I'm a master of none.  And maybe in some things (like knitting - darn that shifty yarn!) that's true.  But maybe in some other areas, I just completely discount my own value.

I might do this for a lot of reasons.  (Psych 101 alert - I did take Psych 101 in college, and that's about as far as my psychology experience goes.  So to say I'm a complete novice and not qualified to diagnose anything is a complete understatement.  This has been a public service announcement.  Thank you.)  I think part of the reason is societal.  We're taught from a very young age that proper women don't brag.  We're humble and discreet.   And isn't Pride one of the seven deadly sins?  Somehow that gets intertwined with the truth behind our abilities and gets lost.  You tell others that you're not "that good" at whatever long enough, and you start to believe it yourself!

I also think part of it has to do with a constant comparison driven mentality women subject themselves to.  There's always some woman out there who has their stuff more together.  You know the type, who works full time, makes a hot breakfast for her kids every morning, still runs all the family errands, hits the gym, makes a 9 course dinner and has it on the table right as her hubby gets home from the office and manages to do this all with perfect hair, perfect make-up and in the perfect outfit!  We have such unreasonable expectations of ourselves, that when we do really good work (home, office, projects etc) we can't see it.  I don't know who those super women are, but I'm sure they're freebasing something to get it all to come together like that.  And really, who needs addiction to add to their list of issues hmm?  Not me that's what I'm saying!

So today I want to feature several woman who have their own businesses.  Who know their worth and value and aren't afraid to say they're smart enough, good enough, and worth it.  I love these women!  And they truly deserve the endorsements!

This is not to imply that women who work for other people don't know their value or worth.  It just takes chutzpah in spades to start your own business, and a faith in yourself that so many of us struggle with.  Also, if I know you and left you out, it was a complete oversight on my part - leave a comment and I'll add you..  I'm blond, be gentle with me.  Oh, and these aren't paid endorsements.  I just am so darn proud of these women.  They're my idols!

Cinda Lester  - Architect
www.1212Architects.com
Love this woman.  Her strength, determination and faith in herself are unshakable.  Plus, she's an exceptional architect.  She's located out of Chicago.  Look her up.

Michelle Barager - Digital Everything
www.baragar.net
Michelle is Canadian in Alberta and started her business out pretty humbly by making digital year books for the high school she teaches at.  Now she's expanded into website design and other things digital.  She saw and opportunity and jumped in with both feet knowing she could swim.  I am in awe.  Truly.

Linda Gardiner - Dog Training
no website yet - c'mon Linda get on that!
Linda is also a Canadian girl located in Toronto and her passion was her pup Cooper.  Now she's starting a whole business around her love and using him to help train other dogs through the Hustle Up Dog Training program!  As a woman and an entrepreneur, she's inspiring.

Cindy Kuykendall - Cookielee Jewelry Consultant
www.cookielee.biz/esuite/home/cindykuykendall
Cindy is out of Los Angeles California and this jewelry line is HOT.  Cindy quit her job, and took this up full time because she not only believes in the product, but found her passion for selling jewelry was so much more fulfilling than her day job.  She wants nothing more than to find you that perfect something.

Megan Donner - Latasia Jewelry Consultant
www.mylatasia.com/jewelryqueen/
She's out of Rochester, NY.  The jewelry is divine and so is she!  She loves this jewelry.  Loves throwing the parties.  Loves talking with people and helping them finish the perfect outfit.  The website is a little rough, but she's better at coordinating jewelry than she is coding websites.  And I think we all prefer it that way!  She's definitely worth looking into.

Laura Harris Berrietter - Photographer
www.lhbfoto.com
I'm partial to this lady.  She's done some family photo shoots for us as well as the photos for my wedding.  I'm biased, I admit it.  Her work is wonderful, amazing, marvelous and yes, stunning.  She's Southern California based and so worth it.

Lauri Stumph - Photographer
www.lauristumphphotography.com/
She up and decided a few years ago that her passion was photography and her work is pretty remarkable - especially the little babies and toddlers.  She's in Minneapoilis.  Check her out.

I know I need to work on my confidence.  I know I need to work on tooting my own horn (again, do horns still toot?).  I need to be my own cheerleader.  Seeing other women do it is inspiring.  These aren't super women.  They're not freebasing anything that I'm aware of.  And yet, they do it.  They work, the live, they love.  It's probably not easy, but nothing in life that's worth it ever is.  And if they can do it, so can I.  And so can you!

Seriously.. Thoughts?