ARE YOU NETWORKING ON LINKEDIN?
Build Your Profile to 100% & Become LINKEDIN!
Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals is one of the networking groups on LinkedIn.
By: Kim Kirmmese Toth, As a Women Business Owner, Where Did You Get Your Gumption?
Posted to Facebook by Cheryl Collins, Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide! Every now
and then, there is an article that really peaks my interest for whatever
reason. It could be the timing. It could be (as in the case of this article)
the telephone conversations I have had over the past several days. The people that have come into my life within
the last year and those that have been in my life for many years. It's ironic how you can begin to separate and
categorize those individuals (whether positive or negative) the impact that
their contribution makes. I come to
understand that the negative as well as the positive is beneficial. For me, the negative pushes me ever farther
to do more and increases the positive for a more progressive result.
If you are on LinkedIn and part of the group,
Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals, feel free to read my response to this
article. I may even blog this one. Have a very, very "gumption" life.
Posted to LinkedIn, Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Group by Cheryl Collins, Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide!I
believe that a certain percentage of (gumption, courage, guts, nerve, bravery,
common sense, good sense, and horse sense I genetically inherited from
a group of women at the very inception of my life. I give all credit, to my
mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunts, and cousins. These were women who never stopped the wheel
or progress. It was remarkable to watch
them take care of families, work; continue being educated in many areas, while keeping
their beautiful personal appearance. Women who were not afraid to be women, but at
the same time could stand toe-to-toe with any male in a conversation, degrees
in education, etc. Also, having a very
large male presence was attributable.
As an African American, the percentage of
individuals who were afforded the enlightment of being made aware of how
important it was to be an entrepreneur, or own your own business was minimal. What was constantly embedded in our thoughts
and were almost daily conversations was, as funny as it may seem, “the early
bird catches the worm.” Have your own
and make sure that you are not totally dependent on anyone. Understand that faith is the basis for things
unseen. It was stressed that what is
common to one individual may not be common to another. I
found out during the early years of my life that “gumption” was a must and not
having it or being a slacker was considered, not wanting anything out of life. Definitely a very big disappointment to the
individuals who paved the way for us.
Courage, guts, nerve, and bravery they all went hand-in-hand. The four meant that you were an individual
who had some direction, not afraid to think outside the box. Common sense, good sense, was in the category
of not wasting time. Horse sense was understanding
the possibility of the consequences of your actions and if horse sense were to
rise to the occasion, then you best be prepared to take the responsibility of
something not in line with moving forward in a positive direction.
As I am sure many people used to think, "I wondered why my parents used to say the same things over and over again" I realized that there was a method to their madness. Their purpose for how we were raised was to at least be 95% satisfied that we would stand on our own and contribute what we learned to pass on to our children and grand children. Their percentage went beyond 95% for me, as it hit 100% with my daughter. Her
gumption, courage, guts, nerve, and bravery are off the chart. Her very presence in a room commands
attention. All of the senses mentioned
here have been well-tested when it comes to my daughter.
I
didn’t go full force into entrepreneurship early on, but I started preparing
the path in my early twenties.
I
strategically placed myself in the presence of men who were on the entrepreneur
track and business owners and I literally followed them around the world. I gained even more confidence when traveling
with them throughout Africa, while seeing first-hand the import business. Although I put in my time in the legal
profession which proved to be even more of a benefit, I never loss the desire
to acquire my own. I never believed it
would be easy, but I have always believed that it would be fulfilling and
rewarding and the passion and desire would be scaled at 100%.
It
is gumption, courage, bravery and guts that were instrumental in establishing
Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide, so that women around the world would become more
enlightened and strengthened in knowing that women in other parts of the world
shared the same concerns regarding family, entrepreneur endeavors and business
ownership. The link “About Me” probably gives a clearer view of how endeavoring
to be an entrepreneur or business owner requires all of the qualities mentioned
in this article. Here’s to the women
entrepreneurs globally “You Can--don’t let anyone tell you that you
Can’t.” Have a very Gumption Day!
Reply from Kim Kirmmese Toth, Founder of Positive Aging, Inc. and Owner/President at The Health Centered Business Women.
"@Cheryl, You certainly were raised with a fire in your belly and you daughter is following in your footsteps. That is the biggest compliment of all isn't it?"
JOIN US! October 9-18, 2012--WEW will network in the United Arab Emirates.
er
