When I think of wise women, I think of women who are living in integrity, living with purpose and living their bliss. I’ve studied three wise businesswomen who have created an “ideal” life. I want to share what I believe are the lessons these empowered entrepreneurs can teach us about going for our own goals.
When I look for a wise woman to study, I look for someone who has accomplished her goal with dignity and honor and is still “real” – you know, someone I can relate to. I want to read her success story and believe that I too can be successful if I apply the same success principles she used.
I’d like to share the wisdom I’ve learned from Paula Deen, Roxanne Quimby and Rachel Ray. These are three self-made women in business who provide us with some powerful business-building success lessons.
1. Paula Deen – self-made restaurateur, television personally, best selling author and a role model for many women thinking of starting their own business. To think of Paula Deen as someone who suffered severe anxiety attacks and was too afraid to come out of her house, to the vibrant and successful woman she is today is awe-inspiring. I was fascinated to read how Paula Deen went from broke with two small children to the successful and savvy businesswoman she is today.
I’d say Paula Deen is on purpose. She values her family, her Southern roots, her ability to change lives for the better and her love of cooking. Paula Deen has combined all of her values into a well-run mega empire that is an inspiration to women who have a dream of expanding their comfort zone and creating a successful business.
2. Roxanne Quimby – you may not readily recognize her name but you will recognize the company she founded, Burt’s Bees. Roxanne went from rural Maine with no electricity, saw an entrepreneurial opportunity with bees wax and created an environmental friendly personal products empire.
I’d say Roxanne Quimby is living in integrity. Roxanne values nature. After selling Burt’s Bees she is dedicated to preserving the rugged beauty of her beloved Maine. When starting Burt’s Bees, Roxanne was determined to be socially responsible and engage in environmentally friendly business practices. Today, she partners with the Nature Conservancy to preserve acres and acres of seashore and timberland in Maine.
3. Rachel Ray – not a trained chef and yet is considered one of the most influential “cooks” on television and in print. Rachel is a television personality, owns a healthy pet food line, is a best selling author and also has her own line of kitchen products.
I’d say Rachel Ray is living her “bliss.” Rachel Ray’s love of cooking began as a child and led her as an adult to seek out her own opportunities and to take professional risks. She is probably best known for fine-tuning new and easy ways to enjoy the art of cooking. Rachel’s “bliss” is obvious by her attitude of pure enjoyment as she talks about food and cooking.
What do you think, are there entrepreneurial lessons we can learn from wise women in business – women who have blazed a trail for us? I believe if we study what the wise women of business have done, we can use many of these lessons in our own personal and professional lives.
Here is an offsite link to Amazon.com - you may want to read more and even purchase the autobiography “It Ain’t All About The Cookin” by Paula Deen – it tells a great entrepreneurial story: Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin'
Several years back I was given a copy of this book to review but all opinions are solely mine. I am also an affiliate of Amazon.com and if you purchase this book through this link, I will earn a commission.
