Road to success is not easy they say but if you have the edge and off course positive determination of doing something, well no obstacles hinder your way- the statement has been proved by Joanne Shaw, President and CEO of The Coffee Beanery.
Way back in 1976, when she laid the foundation of her first specialty coffee store in Dearborn, Michigan, she was not sure about its success but then she was determined and hence, didn’t take a back seat. And look what is she today, an owner of The Coffee Beanery that is running in twenty-eight states and seven countries. Isn’t that amazing?
Shaw, 33, was then a mother of two kids, when the idea of initiating a business crossed her mind. Taking a step into the corporate world was not that easy. She started with delivering specialty coffee to local offices and this job was specifically carried forward by her boys. Her hubby too played a vital role in her story of success. He gave a helping hand in maintain the household chores off course in bringing up the kids.
Within no time, her idea of ‘dessert coffee that had chocolate and whipped cream’ became a major hit.
Take a glimpse of some of the success stories:
Another interesting story is that of Julie Aigner-Clark, who too followed her intuition and consequent upon which, became an owner of The Baby Einstein Company. It all started with an idea of creating a series of children’s educational videos for the benefit of those parents who want their kids to learn classical music and arts. The series of videos became a major hit with the turnover of about $20 million in sales.
After selling her business to The Walt Disney Company in 2001, she collaborated with ‘America’s Most Wanted’ host John Walsh to develop, ‘The Safe Side,’ videos that educate elementary-aged kids about safety around strangers.
Success story of Joy Mangano too deserves a mention here. She believes that balancing work and family is not a tough job. Twenty years ago, she was a divorced mother who was residing with her three kids in a small two-bedroom apartment in Long Island, New York. She introduced ‘The Miracle Mop’ and ‘Huggable Hangers’, they were so much appreciated by people that the fame landed her in a 14-bedroom 42,000 square foot mansion.
Escalating graph of women owned business:
Even if we go by figures we find that out of 7.7 million businesses in the United States that employ more than 7.1 million people are majority owned by women.
If we compare the recent trend than the previous one, we’ll find that women-owned businesses have been growing at twice the rate of all businesses.
What could be the reason?
One reason for this could be the growing access women entrepreneurs have to financing. Certain programs have been established by banks such as, Wells Fargo, Wachovia and Key Bank, which aims at providing financial help to the woman so that they may start with any business venture.
Also, women must keep in mind that they’ll have to come out of their self created cocoons only then they can discover their hidden potentials and infinite strength that may lead them to reach the zenith of success.
