The Myth of Momtrepreneur

On the Today show yesterday there was a story of a mom who had turned her skills of doll making into a much larger business. Unfortunately the Today Show’s spin was a mixture of Disney Fairy Tale logic and 1960’s Harvard machoism.

Despite the bad advice it was a great story. Why? Because someone created a gift that she shared first with her family, then friends, then the world and her generosity opened up doors that she never thought possible.

It wasn’t her idea (as the Today show posited). It wasn’t her ability to manage the market that made it. It was the generosity of her heart, her hard work, and recognizing a good thing when she had it that made her business thrive.

We as women running businesses don’t need to be patronized or marveled at, we need to be accepted for the gifts that we are giving and judged on how they turn out not how we got here. Yes it’s hard being a mom and a business owner, but it’s not a miracle. Anyone can do this, it’s just a matter of making your own map, celebrating life in every possible season, and being okay with the laundry being dirty once in awhile. :)