Do you have somebody who inspires and motivates you, someone who focuses you on achieving your ambitions and goals? Be it in sport, music or business, role models play a large part in our lives.
This week, Dame Judi Dench was named the nation's favourite female role model in a poll conducted for A Woman of Substance awards. She was followed by Joanna Lumley and Julie Walters, with JK Rowling, author of the legendary Harry Potter, and round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen McArthur in joint fourth place. The 1,000 British women polled, aged between 18 and 65, also named the Queen, Dawn French, Lady Thatcher and Paula Radcliffe as top ‘women of substance’.
Many of us are also inspired by the success and determination of people who may not be famous, but have achieved a great deal. Such inspirational women feature in Management Today magazine's annual list of top 35 young businesswomen. 19-year-old Ruth Amos is the youngest entrant with her successful StairSteady business, a huge achievement which we’re sure will inspire many other teenagers to start up their own businesses.
And we also think that Jamie Neal is an inspiration after his resilience, resourcefulness and determination helped him survive a fortnight in the Australian bush. Surviving tough times is a test of character and having the drive and courage to go forward can bring positive results.
Tell us about what inspired you to set up your business and who or what drives your ambitions?
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Hmmm - I think there is a 'role' for Role models - and not always the normal 'take' on them. For example, when women are first considering 'enterprise as an option' for income generation, the role models that are immediately accessible are so far removed from the experiences of us ordinary 'birds' that their fine feathers and achievements are way beyond where we 'see' ourselves that they can be somewhat intimidating and 'untouchable'.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, and this is purely my take on it, we should look backwards to how communities, people, women and "life' functioned prior to the Industrial Revolution - call me a socialist if you like! - but their is abundant evidence of women's entrepreneurial activity as a 'normal' part of everyday life, prior to the imposition of capitalist functionality, to support the realisation that women were equally entrepreneurial to men 'back then'. When seeking our role models, I think we need to look backwards for 'justification/validity' and forwards for proof!!