By Randy Gener

As women, there are particular hurdles that can make the journey upward toward positions of power and influence in myriad spheres especially challenging.  Whether we’re forging our own paths or following in the footsteps of those who’ve gone ahead, these trailblazers, innovators, explorers and disrupters can encourage, motivate and push us to reach new heights — in business and in life.But there’s no magic formula for entrepreneurial success, of course. Stepping into the unknown is scary, and some women doubt their abilities, feeling like impostors.  A typical sentiment or belief would run like this:  “I believe that no matter how thoroughly prepared a woman might be, she will feel unprepared, whereas a man will feel even more prepared than he really is.” Unfortunately, research supports this notion.

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Other women hesitate to pursue entrepreneurship from fear of not having enough time for themselves or their families.  The biggest challenge can relate to balancing running a business with running a household.My grandma used to say that no matter how good or bad you have it, there’s always someone who has it better than you and someone who has it worse than you. Comparison is the root of despair.

Ellen DeGeneres, the comedian, once stated: “I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put on this planet for a purpose, and we all have a different purpose… When you connect with that love and that compassion, that’s when everything unfolds.”

Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling than performing “Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes,” stated Margaret Wheatley, an American writer and management consultant who studies organizational behavior.

Every day, we get to choose to be grateful for what we have, regardless of where we want to be. All of us, however, can be grateful for the opportunity to pursue meaningful work and build a life we love. What more could we ask for?


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