Opinion by: Nyakueth Buom Pal
Every day, I learn more about my freedom, liberty and I wonder how my fellow African women are doing. As I turned a new leaf of age, I realized much has to be done.
Let’s talk about women’s entrepreneurship and money. Specifically, women entrepreneurs want to make not just money but much of It. It may seem like a given, that if you start a business one of your top priorities will be to earn money. However, many women entrepreneurs tend to sidestep the issue of money. Actually aiming to be rich — and vocalizing it — is often a failed social experiment if you happen to be female. The ambition of any kind — including financial — is deemed an unlikable trait in women (though an admirable trait in men) and even though gender parity and overcoming the wage gap have become popular topics of conversation in the Time’s Up era, too often women are faulted for having money goals.
Women have been conditioned never to act, think or live above a level financially, socially, and mentally.
The average African woman is not raised to think independently or rather act independently, she is never viewed beyond the clutches of being called “Mrs”
Such women would choose MARRIAGE over a successful career or financial independence.
To attain this golden ‘Mrs’ title, just not to be mocked or called names.. but the thing is, no matter how low or high you put yourself as a woman, a man will always leave you, worse enough with a child or children to look after. So my sister, you better have your Independence and be called ” BITTER FEMINIST” than being penniless, heartbroken, and be left roaming in between selfish in-laws and a disappointed family with a child at hand!
Come to think of it. If ROCKEFELLA was a woman, he would have been accused of sleeping with all the rich men in America to get into the Forbes and as the part of the American builders! but because he was a man, no one ever dared to say that.
If society considers women to be this crazy MONEY lover, what then is preventing this gender to be financially hungry like men?
To make matters even worse, ask about ten or more both men and women about what kind of business one would want to run and the amount needed to start such a business. Mark my words, 90% of these women would choose to open a hair salon, cosmetics shop, or boutique. While men go for big businesses such as setting up a factory, industrial farming, contraction company, Finacial investment companies, etc. Big stuff with big Money!
My fellow women, where did we go wrong? What exactly is making us sell ourselves short?
Why can’t we think above normal?
There is a haven in breaking the glass ceiling and
Luckily, some fierce females are leading the pack when it comes to unabashedly seeking the power that comes with wealth, essentially rebranding what looks like to be female with money ambitions. And break those chains of mental and financial limitations. These women know no bounds of mediocrity. They are lioness of Africa, a squad of young female billionaires, women with billion dollars investment plans, ideas, and executing billion dollars projects.
You can join the pack and
Here are two (priceless) lessons you can start with.
- Don’t prioritize passion overpay.
Am not saying go bore yourself do a job you don’t love, but you can do whatever you cherish and still have your Worth fixed.
- State what you want clearly.
“I Want to Be Rich and I’m Not Sorry. I want to make the kind of money that allows me to jet on a Sunday to meaningfully charity show or event and come back to work on Monday as if I didn’t leave, afford a good life for my family, to afford a shark of lawyers if anyone ever lays a finger on me or my family, etc”.
Those are my everyday’s lines and you should start thinking of your guidelines too.
Whether as a nation, society, or right down to the family unit, financial success is the key to autonomy. I clearly understand that it’s not enough for me to be a published writer; or entrepreneur; My focal goal is the freedom that comes with having money — and lots of it. Money is power, and I intend on using my writing talent to attain much as I can. No limitations. I know others will call that obnoxious, but trust me I want to do what men do, because to them, having money isn’t being insane.
Women entrepreneurs are often said — more so than men — to be pursuing their “passion” projects. Double standard aside, there is nothing wrong with turning your passion into a business and certainly nothing amiss about following your dreams, though prioritizing passion overpay is a mistake. The societal critics on females who want to rise above the normal bar, and being in board rooms with men is quite tragic, yes, but there is nothing wrong with having Money. Actually having money gives you the power to make choices — where to live, what doctor to see, what charity to support — and having the means and ability to make these kinds of decisions should not be underestimated.
As a woman, what I know is you can’t approach anything from a point of view of ”I don’t deserve’ or ‘I’m not going to ask for it because I don’t want other people to get upset.” yet I know for a fact that when men go into these negotiations, they go in hard and ask for the world. There is nothing bad about knowing your worth and making sure everyone else does too.
If you’re an entrepreneur who offers a service — such as web design, social media marketing, or in the financial sector, I advise you, Learn to protect yourself by writing clear clauses in your business contracts.
Of course, not all monetary ambitions are self-centered!
VISION CAPITAL And DHORAN FOUNDATION, are determined to teach people of all ages that it’s possible to make money and do good at the same time. Making money helps you “create your own opportunity.”
The GIRLS TO PEARL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM teaches Young women how to budget for what they want — such as saving and investment. With such liberty, they have the chance to take a trip to different camps and donating to children’s homes. In the process, young women learn the power of earning money. They also learn that making money and doing well are not mutually exclusive but co-related.
Which is a powerful lesson for women to learn as well, especially since they’re more likely than men to use their earnings to help others. The Girls to Pearls model of money earning — balancing what you make between enriching your own life and helping those in need — is a great method to follow because it teaches women that it’s OK for money to be a means to more than philanthropy.
Women are socialized to be more empathetic than men, and while empathy is beautiful, noble, and even life-changing, it’s also wrapped up in the notion that women’s needs are secondary to everyone else’s. So, if you’re an entrepreneur considering donating a portion of your funds to a charitable cause, that’s amazing (and smart — millennials prefer to buy from companies that give back) but just remember that in a world where women make less money than men (yet live longer) it’s prudent to also look out for your own financial needs. without anything to subtract.
IAM in the pack and so can you.