Okay, let’s get real for a sec. 👀 Raise your hand if you’ve ever sat in a soul-sucking Zoom meeting thinking, “There’s GOT to be more to life than this.” 🙋♀️ Same, babe. Two years ago, I was that girl—staring at spreadsheets for 10 hours a day while my side hustle (selling handmade candles on Etsy) made more money than my “real job.” That’s when I realized: Financial freedom isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a middle finger to the patriarchy.
Let’s unpack this. Did you know women-led startups generate 78% more revenue per dollar invested than those led by men? 💥 Yet, female founders receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. Let that sink in. We’re literally being paid pennies to outperform the boys’ club. But here’s the plot twist: we don’t need their permission.
When I quit my job to focus on my candle biz full-time, my dad said, “Why risk stability?” Classic. 🤦♀️ But “stability” felt like code for “stay small.” So I did the math: My corporate gig paid $55k/year. My candles? $3k/month profit—part-time. Scaling up could triple that. Suddenly, “risk” looked a lot like “opportunity wearing glitter.” ✨
Here’s what nobody tells you about entrepreneurship:
1️⃣ Your network = your net worth. I joined a women’s co-working Slack group (shoutout to my BossBabes!). One member introduced me to a boutique owner who tripled my wholesale orders.
2️⃣ Failure is a flex. My first product launch flopped because I used cheap soy wax. Cue 300 lumpy candles. But that disaster taught me to test small batches—now my “Cinnamon Storm” scent sells out in 48 hours.
3️⃣ Money mindset matters. I tracked every cent for 90 days. Turns out, I was spending $200/month on oat milk lattes ☕️. Brewing at home funded my first Facebook ad campaign.
But let’s get deep. A Stanford study found women negotiate salaries 25% less often than men—yet when we do ask? We’re labeled “aggressive.” Sound familiar? Entrepreneurship flips that script. When you set prices, you’re not “greedy.” You’re valuing your damn time. My $38 candles aren’t “overpriced”—they fund my Roth IRA and my Bali “workcation.” 🌴
Still scared? Let’s talk cold, hard stats. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor says 40% of female business owners start with less than $5k. My startup cost? $872 (thanks, YouTube DIY tutorials). And guess what? Women reinvest 90% of income into their families vs. men’s 35%. So when we win, everyone wins.
Here’s your challenge: Open a separate bank account TODAY. Even $20/week adds up. Name it “Freedom Fund” or “Screw This, I’m CEO” 💅. Mine’s called “Divorce Party Money” (kidding… sort of). Small steps build momentum. Remember: Beyoncé didn’t build Parkwood Entertainment overnight.
