In twentieth century America while young boys learned
construction with Lincoln Logs, little girls instinctively cuddled a Raggedy Ann. Even
today Raggedy Ann's red yarn hair, patched pinafore and button eyes offer images of
another era as she celebrates her 90th birthday in museums and private collections.
But in 1958 Barbie was born. All grown up
and designed with fantasy. This was no rag doll. Barbie's hair was real and brush-able;
her wardrobe generous and trendy. The 'Barbie' figure was to become the ultimate
achievement of the perfect body. Playing with Barbie during formative years, young girls
have acted out all of their dream.
The new millennium brought new images for
females. Lifestyle issues changed the way the media influenced the female psyche and
redefined some old messages about life, love and growing pains. "Stay sweet"
changed to "Be Strong". "Find the right man" changed to "Get your
degree". Careers in nursing were discouraged as parents pushed for Computer Science.
While professional women are up from 48% in
1993 to 50% today, they still hit a glass ceiling when it comes to the corporate pay
scale. Some would blame it on the more aggressive male who thinks nothing of asking for
his pay raises. There is truth in this observation; women tend to let the high quality of
their work speak for itself.
Can white-collar females have successful
relationships with blue-collar males? Good question. Confucius once said. "Ignorance
is a woman's virtue", but you won't sell that idea in the twenty-first century.
Ironically, intelligence and high professional positions can be obstacles unless one
prefers being single. Oprah Winfrey is a good example of a marathon courtship by choice.
A single woman's living quarters is a key
indicator of her economic status. Virginia Woolf said that a room and sufficient money
were enough for a woman who wants to write. But today, single females want more. A home
provides personal space and a sense of security, to say nothing of a good investment.
In a corporate setting the female
personality better be competitive. If you are aggressive in your climb to the top, if you
have something to offer that your male counterpart cannot, you may do very well. But the
average starting salary is about $40,000 annually and may, after five years increase to
$80,000. Perks will be offset by wardrobe and travel expenses. Is this enough?
Women have unique skills with
gender-related characteristics. They are excellent listeners and communicators, often
better able to build trust among both sexes. They are known to be more effective team
builders than men. Perhaps unconsciously, when groups of newly introduced men engage in
conversation they establish a pecking order. Women converse to cultivate a group bond.
When women are forced to balance career and
family, something suffers. A marriage can end up in divorce. Children grow up with too
much freedom. The promotion you waited for goes to your trainee. Cutbacks eliminate your
job. While this is not always the case, it happens often enough when considering life in
the fast lane.
There is another way. Certainly not as
glamorous but pulls in a six figure income without a resume or a business degree of any
kind. This is the best time to begin an online business.
Launch one today -- you don't have to make
it all up from scratch. There are first-class recipes out there! Do it because it's still
the likeliest, fastest, and best way to get rich. Do it because of how universally
accepted being an entrepreneur has become. Do it because it is a way out and a way
through; think of the wake you'll create!
Do it because we're not rookies anymore,
because the risk-reward equation has flipped. Do it because there is something within you
that is uniquely yours; you own it yet rarely acknowledge that it's there. The offer's on
the table! It's time now to bring it out, give it a title and share it with others.
© 2005 Esther Smith
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