Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship: Why Many Women Choose to Leave the 9-5
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Why solopreneurship is still on the rise and women are leading the way.
I’m a hard worker. But I’m tired.
I’m a hard worker. But I have been pushing myself for 26 years.
I am a hard worker. But it’s still not paying off.
I'll admit, I believed the tale that people who struggled were just not working hard enough. That all I needed to succeed was to keep busting my ass.
I worked 2 jobs most of my life. In my 20s and early 30s that was fine. I had plenty of trauma I didn’t want to deal with anyway so staying busy made it easy to only ever think about work.
When I started making enough to work one job, my brain had time to ask questions. About my life. My fulfillment. About the purpose of work.
Who I was even doing all of this for? Am I existing purely for work? And how am I still struggling all the time? Where is that payoff I always believed hard workers get?
Like many of you, the pandemic forced me to reckon with everything. The purpose of life and work. The lie that hard work will build financial stability.
This story is old news now. Thousands of us have gone through this over the last 3-4 years.
But what do we do with this realization? We know we deserve more. But how do we find financial stability with fulfillment and work/life balance too? What are our options?
We can keep busting our butts in our current situation and will our frustration to pass. Pretend it’s not a problem until we forget about it.
We can look for a new job and hope that it provides more fulfillment, better pay, and flexibility. And that all of these better aspects will last until we can retire.
We can start our own business knowing that it may take a while for it to be profitable. Knowing that even when it is profitable, the success is all on us.
We can try to start our own business while we are still working. Promising 1-2 years of killing ourselves building a side hustle to turn into a primary job.
No surprise that “side hustle” businesses are blowing up right now. Of those options, this feels like the safest way…
Why is Entrepreneurship Good for Women?
FOLLOWING PASSIONS AND DREAMS:
Regular office jobs can put women in boxes that often do not match our passions. Many women are picking solopreneurship to follow their hearts. We want to turn what we love into a business. Creating and growing a business that reflects our values gives us the push we need.
BALANCING WORK AND LIFE:
Whether we have kids or not, we want a better balance between work and everything else. 9-5 jobs can sometimes take up more time than having your own business. Particularly if the job requires you to work in the office. Solopreneurs can set their own schedules and work around their lives.
BREAKING GENDER BARRIERS:
There's still not enough equality in many jobs and women lost a lot of ground during the pandemic. We are sick of the fight to move up. The fight to get paid fairly. The fight to be heard. And the fight to avoid harassment. Solopreneurship lets us skip those problems and make our own way without old rules.
LETTING CREATIVITY SHINE:
Big companies can sometimes stop new ideas from growing because of rules and bosses. Solopreneurship is like a playground for creativity. We can let our ideas flow and try new things without any limits.
BEING IN CHARGE:
We are the boss. Along with creative freedom, we make all the decisions including who we work with. We are steering our ship and know the results are from our hard work.
HAVING DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE MONEY:
Solopreneurs can earn money in many different ways. We aren’t locked into one platform, service, or structure. We can have multiple sources. This means we have more security compared to regular jobs. Knowing we have many streams of income means a different kind of job security.
WORKING FROM ANYWHERE:
Many women are using solopreneurship to give them the freedom to travel. Even if we choose not to travel, avoiding the commute is huge! And after the pandemic, there are more options than ever for businesses that run 100% remotely. There are more tools and tech services available to meet the needs of entrepreneurs.
BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY:
Solopreneurs don't have to be alone. The community is growing and so are the number of groups for solopreneurs. Women understand the importance of having a community. And we are turning to them to connect, share ideas, and help each other. Having friends on the same journey makes things better and less lonely.
ADAPTING TO LIFE CHANGES:
Life changes and women's priorities change too. Solopreneurship is flexible. We can easily change things around. This is great for adjusting to new family situations or trying different things. When we get to make the choices, even unforeseen circumstances (i.e. the pandemic) can be worked around.
LEAVING A MARK:
Lots of people want to do something that matters. Solopreneurship lets women create something important and leave a legacy. Making a difference in their own way is a big reason why we are becoming solopreneurs. The community of female solopreneurs wants to help other women. We are dedicated to assisting women who want to build their own path to success. This is the legacy we want to leave.
Switching from a regular job to being a solopreneur is a big choice. It is terrifying especially if you don’t have a safety net. But it is full of opportunities. Solopreneurship is a sign of our determination and courage. We are showing their strength and making their own paths to success.
If you're thinking about having more control over your life. Connecting with your passions and finding balance you can do it too. Reach out to other women who are doing the same. Reach out to me on Instagram, email, or LinkedIn. We are all still learning and most of us want to collaborate. Start your journey to solopreneurship and create a life that truly fits you. Your story is waiting, and it all starts with that first step toward your dreams.
