Entrepreneurship is, in the words of Mugatu, “so hot right now.”
But building your own business is more than just brainstorming logo ideas on a whiteboard or renting a house in Silicon Valley. It takes guts, passion, and a whole lot of work.
But don’t let the fear of failure scare you. The time to start a business is ripe, especially for women. With access to more resources than ever, female entrepreneurs are not just becoming their own bosses—they’re absolutely DOMINATING the game.
Not convinced? Here are 10 (of a million) reasons why you should be a #girlboss:
1. The Internet knows everything.
Back in the olden days before desktop computers were a thing, people actually had to go to libraries to find information. Crazy, right?
You now have the world at your fingertips—literally. A Google search can give you a book’s worth of information in less than a minute. Need to get in touch with a specific person? Chances are they have a website or a LinkedIn page.
2. Business is no longer a boys’ club.
We’ve all seen Mad Men, that Jon Hamm show that paints a pretty realistic picture of the agency life in the 1960s. The female characters on the show all face some form of discrimination, especially in their careers.
While we still have a long way to go, women-led businesses are growing and gaining more respect. By prospering despite their struggles in often male-dominated industries, entrepreneurs like Whitney Wolf Herd, founder of Bumble, are setting the example for a new generation of girl bosses.
3. FREEDOM!!!! (sort of)
Okay, so you’re not exactly “free” but you are your own boss. Long gone are the days of building someone else’s dreams. You’re in control of your own destiny. Just be prepared to grind it out for the long haul and, as Tim Gunn says, MAKE IT WORK.
4. There’s an app for that.
Along with the sheer awesomeness that is the Internet, most of us also have smartphones, those handy little devices that make being productive that much easier.
From apps for monitoring payroll to taking video calls, you can manage and run your business from your phone anywhere anytime.
5. You get to do what you’re passionate about.
No matter your thing, whether it’s making cake pops or coding, chances are your passion can also be a full-time gig, aka YOUR DREAM JOB. Renee Wang quit her job at Google and sold her house to fund her startup. Risky? Definitely. But she believed in her vision and the gamble paid off. Today’s she CEO of Castbox, one of the top podcasting apps.
6. Women-led businesses boost the economy.
Women aren’t just empowering other women through their ventures. They’re contributing to the economy as a whole, generating trillions of dollars in sales while creating millions of jobs in the U.S.
7. You’ll get out of that rut.
We all go through times when we feel uninspired. Building something for yourself is not just a way to get through hard times—it’s a way to overcome them. Yuki He, the founder of the mega-popular live broadcasting app LiveMe, credits becoming an entrepreneur with helping her find independence and break free from the constrictions of a typical 9-to-5 job.
8. You’ll see what you’re made of.
Starting your own company will require you to step outside of your comfort zone. From talking to (many) new people to staying up all hours of the night, being a business owner can take a lot out of you.
But you’ll also get to the opportunity to experience personal success most people only dream about, the kind that comes when you lay it all on the line and give it everything you have.
9. The odds are in your favor.
Despite raising less money than their male counterparts, lady entrepreneurs are proven to be more financially successful. For every dollar of funding they receive, female-founded startups make 78 cents compared to the 31 cents generated by male-founded startups. In other words, women-led businesses are always a good bet.
10. You have something to share.
You have a story to tell. Yes, YOU. More than ever, the world needs female voices. By finding your own way, you’re not just honoring those who came before you—you’re paving the way so more women can follow in your footsteps.
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