We were motivated to write our book, Mom Inc., by the growing numbers of women who were trying to do just what we were: Balance their careers and their families. We wanted to provide a business resource guide, with insights from dozens of Canadian entrepreneurs, for the women who were just beginning to contemplate entrepreneurship.
Sometimes in the early days of
Admiral Road we struggled to articulate our vision for our lives to others. It was perfectly clear to us, mind you. We wanted to work part-time to be available to our families, contribute to our households, and remain professionally engaged while our children were young. But trying to explain to our business school colleagues that we were starting a company so that we could work part-time was often met with blank stares.
As it turns out, our notion of running a business while raising our families wasn’t so outlandish after all. In recent years, the term “lifestyle entrepreneur” has cropped up to refer to the overwhelming number of business owners who rank lifestyle highly in their list of entrepreneurial motivations, just like we do.
At the forefront of the discussion is our favourite Dragon, Arlene Dickinson, one of Canada’s most renowned and beloved entrepreneurs. This mom of four and grandmother of three who has been blazing trails for decades recently launched a new company dedicated to serving the “entrepreneurial lifestyle.”
Dickinson believes that we are entering a period she calls the “Entrepreneurial Economy” with “more people choosing to take on the entrepreneurial lifestyle than ever before.” Dickinson has launched a web site,
You Inc., to share her insights, resources, and to build an entrepreneurial community online where we can meet, discuss, and share in the ups of downs of the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
You Inc. embodies one of the best things about the new, connected entrepreneurial landscape: Even when you’re working away on your own, you’re not really alone.
Check out
You Inc. for more information and resources.
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