Women Entrepreneurs in Powerful Conversations
Yesterday, at the invitation of Sheila Winter Wallace, women gathered in a small group, talking… about their experience of who they are as women in business. The invitation was for us to come together and discover what a powerful conversation would sound like for us, as business women.
It was one of those rare occasions for me when I had the absolute luxury of sitting silent in the Program Room, listening as each of these unique, potent forces slowly and steadily opened the door wider and wider that we might all catch a glimpse of the soul that fires the passion. Without the need to advise each other, or guide each other to discovery, women shared what was meaningful to them and became a living invitation for the others to explore that same thought, within themselves.
It began as many things begin – slowly, haltingly, seeking to get the ‘lay of the land’ before taking a first step forward. It ended as great things often do, with women eager to engage and share yet one more thing before our time came to a close. Many lingered long after the morning ended, clearly ready to make the bigger leap to…. something!
If I were to identify the three things that took the greatest form during the three hours, they would be:
* being authentic – being able to create a successful business that would honor who the person was, rather than the person having to redesign herself in order for that business to succeed;
* being connected – knowing that there are other women who share the desire to be authentic AND are willing to take the risk to do what is required for connections to awaken and deepen; and
* being able to trust that the truth is more valuable than the veneer – seeking and finding those others (clients and colleagues, alike) who are welcoming of something more meaningful in business.
Each of the women who spoke – sometimes, with heart pounding in her chest and voice cracking – did so from a deep desire to reveal herself and to ensure delivery of the message: that this kind of conversation was indeed, a meaningful and powerful one; and that she welcomed the opportunity and wanted more!
A deeply personal moment unfolded for me as I had the opportunity to hear six women that I’ve worked with over the years (some as recently as the last 12 months and some for 2 years and more) step into the conversation and share the truth of their experience. When they spoke, the vibration in the room changed. Their voices were strong, clear and definite. They spoke without hesitation and without need of permission from anyone. Without the need to have the answers, they were committed to engaging the larger questions in their lives; and were willing to trust that although they may not yet know the details of their journey, they would be fine in trusting that it would take them to where they wanted to go: each inextricably connected to herSelf.
When they spoke, the room fell silent. When they finished speaking, the silence lingered in the room as the vibration of their sound echoed through those of us listening. It was entrancing for me to bear witness to these magnificent women in full flight! I know, in every fibre of my being, that they are already changing their world, and that of all who come in contact with them. I am honoured to journey with them.
And so, there it is: yet another moment of women gathering in small groups, talking… and changing their worlds in three short hours! Already, dates are set for two more such events in Ottawa (contact Sheila@actandinspire.com for info) and the rumblings of women gathering can already be heard. I’ll be gathering with a small group of Entrepreneurial Women at Oceanstone in February, each of them eager to press the edges and discover how to manifest a successful business as a conduit for accelerated change – for self and other.
What conversations are you having these days?
