Okay ladies, let’s get real for a sec… 💅🏻✨ Ever had one of those ”What if I just… quit my job and sell handmade candles?” moments at 2 AM? Spoiler: I did. And let me tell you, entrepreneurship is less “girlboss aesthetic” and more “crying over spreadsheets while eating cold pizza” – but hey, I’m obsessed.
Let’s rewind. Three years ago, I was binge-watching Shark Tank in sweatpants when it hit me: Why are we always cheering for the guy with the beard and the tech bro vibe? Where’s the love for women building businesses between school drop-offs and societal side-eyes? That’s when I messaged my group chat: “Girls, we’re starting a thing.”
The ‘Why’ That Makes You Ugly Cry
My friend Claire (name changed because she’s still hiding her biz from her in-laws 👀) once told me: “Starting a business feels like giving birth to a baby that constantly needs CPR.” She launched her sustainable lingerie line after her corporate job told her “work-life balance isn’t a priority.” Fast forward: She’s now negotiating with Italian fabric suppliers during her toddler’s naptime.
But here’s the tea ☕: A 2023 study found women start businesses at 1.5x the rate of men… but receive 2% of venture funding. Let that sink in. We’re literally building empires with shoestring budgets and Pinterest-level DIY skills.
The 3 AM Panic Attack Protocol
Every female founder I know has a “bathroom floor business meeting” story. Mine? The day my first product sample arrived looking like a kindergarten art project. Cue me sobbing next to the toilet while Googling “how to sue a manufacturer.”
But here’s what nobody tells you: Those meltdowns become your superpower. Now when suppliers ghost me? I channel my inner Rihanna – “I’m a savage, classy, bougie, ratchet” plays in my head as I negotiate better terms.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Spreadsheets
Last month, I crashed a women’s co-working space (uninvited, full cringe mode). Best. Decision. Ever. Met a 60-year-old grandma launching a TikTok skincare line and a teen coding prodigy. We spent hours ranting about mansplaining investors and sharing Xanax… I mean, green juice recipes.
Pro tip: Your competition isn’t other women. That zero-sum game narrative? Toxic capitalism BS. My candle business literally grew 200% after collaborating with a “rival” soap maker on a self-care bundle.
When Your Hustle Gets Cute
Let’s normalize celebrating micro-wins like:
• Surviving a Zoom call without your kid flashing the camera 🚫👶
• Getting paid actual money for something you’d do for free
• That magical moment when “I’m just a hobby” becomes “I need an LLC”
My proudest moment? A customer DM’d me: “Your lavender candle got me through chemo.” That’s when I ugly-cried (mascara everywhere) and finally felt like a “real” CEO.
The Unsexy Truth About Freedom
Newsflash: Entrepreneurship won’t give you perfect nails or a 4-hour workweek. My typical day:
5 AM – Answer emails
7 AM – Make breakfast while testing new wax blends
10 AM – Beg influencers for collabs (they never reply)
3 PM – Existential crisis/coffee refill
8 PM – Packaging orders with Netflix true crime docs
But here’s the magic: That chaotic freedom beats cubicle life any day. I’ll take spreadsheet-induced bald patches over asking permission to live my life.
Your Turn, Queen
Thinking of taking the leap? Do this first:
1. Stalk female-focused business podcasts during commutes (my fave: “She Did That” 🎧)
2. Find your “business besties” – local meetups > LinkedIn
3. Practice saying “My rate is…” without apologizing
Final thought: The world needs your weird little idea. That kombucha-flavored lip balm? The app that matches plants with therapists? DO IT. Worst case? You fail gloriously and write a viral tweet about it. Best case? You accidentally build an empire. Either way – storytime at our future girlboss retreat? 🥂