How would your grandmother have handled entrepreneurship?

As this article states, "we owe so much to the women in our families who blazed the trail of their day and overcame obstacles that would probably shock us -- if we knew. Shouldn’t we celebrate them?"

Read more here.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 34
Jiang Qing

I was Chairman Mao's dog. What he told me to bite, I bit. ~ Jiang Qing

Wanted: Female Bosses To Sell Going It Alone

One thousand self-employed women in the UK will be recruited to help the government spread a ‘can-do’ attitude among enterprising females too timid -- yes you read that right -- to ‘go it alone.’

The plan to develop a national network of women-only business ambassadors was hatched yesterday by Margaret Hodge, the small business minister, at a conference in Brighton.

Speaking at the event, Ms Hodge said three quarters of a million more businesses could operate nationwide - but only if the UK matches the level of female start-up rates in the US.

Are you a 'can-do' ambassador? Then start spreading the word throughout the UK and the rest of the world.

Read more here.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 33
Rosa Parks

Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it. ~ Rosa Parks

AfghanMark

The Afghan Women’s Business Federation (AWBF) has created the new women’s rights certification trademark brand called “AfghanMark SM” which is a brand label (featured) that will be carried on future exported carpets made by Afghan women who are employed by the women-owned or women-managed carpet-making businesses that are members of the Afghan Women’s Business Federation of Afghanistan.

This is a major humanitarian, educational and business development breakthrough by Afghan women for Afghan women in the post-Taliban era of Afghanistan’s history.

Read more to appreciate Afghan women escaping to create their freedom and build their destiny too.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 32
Dorothy Hodgkin

She will be remembered as a great chemist, a saintly gentle and tolerant lover of people and a devoted protagonist of peace. ~ Max Perutz

The Entrepreneur Next Door

The National Center for Women’s Business Research knows its stuff when it comes to women entrepreneurs.

Among its findings:

• Women-owned firms are growing at nearly two times the rate of all firms;

• Women-owned businesses spend an estimated $546 billion annually on salaries and benefits;

• Sales for women-owned firms increased 66 percent between 1997 and 2004, compared to 42 percent for all firms.

"Women emphasize relationship-building as well as fact gathering and are more likely to consult with experts, employees and fellow business owners" in managing their companies, the center reported in its Web site.

It seems that for women entrepreneurs, it’s truly a matter of who you know.

Agree or disagree? Find out more here.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 31
Mother Teresa

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. ~ Mother Teresa

Celebrating Love Around The World

In America ignoring the hype of the “love” holiday isn’t easily done.

During the Valentine-giving season card racks of reds and pinks, hearts and flowers grapple for attention. Flower and candy shop owners -- hopefully that's you the ambitious entrepreneur -- prepare for one of their busiest days of the year. Enjoy the day!

Take an escape break

Weather in Chicago is windy, chilly (7 degrees below zero wind chill factor) and snowy so what better thing to do than to take an escape break from everything -- including work -- to enjoy what mother nature has given us. Here are a couple of photos taken along the Chicago lakefront and not too far from where I live and work. The snow angel just happens to be wearing my ski hat.

Million-dollar firms network, negotiate and analyze sales

Hitting a million dollars in annual revenue is a dream milestone for any entrepreneur. It's proof that she has arrived -- a testament to her skills as a visionary leader and a day-to-day operations manager. But if you ask any business trailblazer, she'll tell you getting there is hardly a road paved in gold nor a pot of gold at the end.

See if the factors mentioned here have played a part in your success.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 30
Simone de Beauvoir

This has always been a man's world, and none of the reasons that have been offered in explanation have seemed adequate. ~ Simone de Beauvoir

Women Entrepreneurs in Kabul, Afghanistan

A great blog post by Guy Kawasaki ... it begins with What’s the most inspiring story of entrepreneurship that you’ve heard in 2006?

Ten Questions With Aziza Mohmmand

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 29
Katharine Hepburn

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. ~ Katharine Hepburn

Women still scarce at the highest levels of management ...

... and typically outnumbered by men five to one but a handful of companies have adopted noteworthy initiatives to change that.

One giant step for companies but I see it as a big leap backwards for women. From what I read, nothing has changed since the publication of my article Escape From Corporate America in 2003. Hence why more and more women are escaping from corporate America to start their own businesses.

Read more here.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 28
Margaret Bourke-White

Work is something you can count on, a trusted lifelong friend who never deserts you. ~ Margaret Bourke-White

Everybody Loves Entrepreneurship

Once upon a time, small business was seen solely as the domain of idiosyncratic, iconoclastic outsiders, willing to forgo the security of corporate life to venture out on their own. But today entrepreneurs are America's role models.

Almost everyone wants to own a business -- from college students, who are signing up for entrepreneurial courses in record numbers; to those over age 65, who are forming more companies every year; to recent immigrants, who in 2005 started 25% more companies per capita than native-born citizens did.

We are in the midst of the largest entrepreneurial surge this country has ever seen. Where is it headed? Find out more here.

Separately and from the book "Women Who Changed The World:"

Chapter 27
Amelia Earhart

Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. ~ Amelia Earhart